Senate Meeting Synopsis for May 28, 2018

The fifth Senate meeting of the 2017-18 session was held on May 28, 2018, and was chaired by President and Vice-Chancellor, Franco Vaccarino.

Chair of the Board of Graduate Studies, Miana Plesca, commenced the meeting with a territorial land acknowledgment.

The President offered oral remarks, thanking Senators for their service to the University community; noting the upcoming retirements of Brenda Whiteside, Associate Vice-President (Student Affairs) and Chuck Cunningham, Assistant Vice-President (Communications and Public Affairs); noted the recent passing of retired University Professor Emerita, Dr. Nonita Yap, and offered condolences to her family; highlighted JumpStart Day being hosted at the University of Guelph; highlighted the inaugural Arrell Food Summit; noted the name change for the Department of Geography to the Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics; and, highlighted the University’s positive momentum in rankings as determined by the Centre for World University Rankings.

The Assistant Vice-President, Office of Diversity and Human Rights, Jane Ngobia presented amendments to the procedures for the Human Rights policy for information.

The Provost noted the Board’s approval of the 2018-19 Budget Plan, thanking Senators for their input; provided an update on the revisioning process for Information Technology (IT), including the hiring of a new Chief Information Officer and anticipated IT improvements in the future; and, provided an update on the University’s success in attaining funding for experiential learning opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Vice-President (Research) Malcolm Campbell provided an overview of the Canada Research Chair (CRC) program and an update on a reduction in CRCs for the University and associated impacts, indicating that the University is now gaining positive momentum for an increase in the next allocation; and thanked John Livernois, Associate Vice-President (Research Services) for his work in the Office of Research and efforts to successfully address the CRC allocation during his tenure.  The Vice-President (Research)’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 Senate meeting dates for 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21. 
• Approval of the 2018-19 Senate Standing Committee membership. 
• Nomination of the Member-at-Large to Chair Senate Priorities and Planning Committee with ballot to follow [Professor Ian Newby-Clark was subsequently elected]. 
• Approval of the Political Science Major with Co-op Option.
• Approval of changes to the admission requirements for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program.
• Approval of the Integrated Admission Pathway and English Language Requirements.
• Approval of the deletion of the Master of Clinical Studies program.
• Approval of the new field in Computer Engineering for the MEng, MASc and PhD in Engineering.
• Approval of changes to the Appointment of External Examiner for PhD Defense Policy.
• Approval of changes to the Maximum Registration Policy (now Program Duration Policy).
• Presentation of cyclical review one-year follow up reports for: Department of Psychology, Department of Animal Biosciences, and Department of Plant Agriculture.
• Additional items presented for information included: Year-end Senate Standing Committee reports, update from the COU Academic Colleague, 2017-18 Senate evaluation survey results, undergraduate curriculum changes, graduate curriculum changes, graduate faculty appointments, a non-degree program review, one year follow up reports, medal announcements for the Spring 2018 convocation ceremonies and the 2019 call for honorary degrees.

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 October 2, 2018, 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