Senate Meeting Synopsis | February 5, 2018

Posted on Tuesday, February 6th, 2018

The second Senate meeting of the 2017-18 session was held on February 5, 2018, and was chaired by President Franco Vaccarino.

Co-Chair of the Senate Student Caucus, Lindsey Fletcher, commenced the meeting with a territorial land acknowledgment.

The President offered oral remarks, including an update on recent achievements of leaders in the University of Guelph community, an update on ongoing renovations to the MacKinnon building and connection to the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation (IICSI), an update on the Board’s consideration of a request to divest from fossil fuels, and an update on recent changes in the provincial cabinet and ongoing work in government relations.  The Provost congratulated the President on the recent announcement of his reappointment, and the President thanked the community for kind words of congratulations and expressed excitement for the coming term. 

University of Guelph Retirees Association (UGRA) President, Dr. Peter Kevan, provided a presentation on the initiatives led by the UGRA and areas of collaboration between the UGRA and various departments of the University.  The UGRA’s full presentation can be found online, at the end of the Senate meeting package.

VP (Research) Malcolm Campbell provided an update on the implementation of the principles of the strategic research plan, including the ongoing OMAFRA negotiations, CIHR funding success, and changes to Research Link, among others.  The VP (Research)’s full presentation can be found online, at the end of the Senate meeting package.

Provost and VP (Academic) Charlotte Yates provided a presentation and update on the university budget process and current budget model.  The Provost’s full presentation can be found online, at the end of the Senate meeting package.

Other items of business at the meeting included:

  • A report from Student Senate Caucus co-chair Nick Manuel.
  • Approval of the Policing on Establishing University Policies and Procedures.
  • Approval of program changes to degree requirements for the PhD in Physics.
  • Approval of program changes to the MA and PhD in Sociology.
  • Approval to changes to the MA Program in Public Issues Anthropology.
  • Presentation of quality review reports for: Department of Biomedical Sciences; Guelph-Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work in Chemistry and Biochemistry; Department of Food Science; Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Honours; Collaborative Toxicology Program; School of Environmental Sciences; and Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics. 
  • Update on the joint meeting of the Boards of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies as it relates to the expansion of the Fall Study Break, noting that no motion will be brought forward at this time.
  • Additional items presented for information, included: update from the COU Academic Colleague, graduate curriculum changes, update on Senate elections for 2018-19, graduate faculty appointments. 

The complete meeting agenda package is available on the University Secretariat website and includes detailed information on the items listed above.

The next Senate meeting will be held on April 9, 2018, 5:30 pm, in the OVC Lifetime Learning Centre Room 1714.  Meetings are open to the public and visitors who wish to attend should contact the University Secretariat at univsec@uoguelph.ca

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