OPEN SESSION

A. Finance and Administration

1. Donations: The Board noted donations to new and existing funds as follows:

2. The Board approved the addition of a new section in each of the Board policies regarding questions of interpretation.

3. The Board noted for information the Financial Year-to-Date Position through February 28, 2007.
4. The Board approved the 2007/2008 Operating Budget, Tuition Fees, Student Services and Athletics and Recreation Fees (click here to access the pdf documents).

B. Academic Operations

1. The Board approved the following actions recommended by Senate:

• establishment of the Institute for the Study of Teaching and Learning in the Disciplines as a Schedule B Institute reporting to the Vice-President, Academic;
• new Major, Minor and Honors programs in World Literature;
• new Joint Major and Joint Honors in Computing Science and Philosophy in the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, and Applied Science;
• new Global Health concentration within the M.Sc. in Population and Public Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences;
• creation of the Children's Health Policy Centre as a Schedule A Centre within the Faculty of Health Sciences;
• the First Nations University-wide Strategic Plan; an annual progress report to the Board was requested;
• new Master's of Digital Media at Great Northern Way campus;
• revised M.B.A. program.

2. The Board noted that external reviews have taken place in the Department of French, the School of Computing Science, and the Environmental Science program.
3. The Board received for information the Annual Reports of the Senate Graduate Studies Committee and the Senate Library Committee.
4. The Board approved the Faculty Renewal Plan for 2007/2008.

C. Other

1. The Board was informed that the Board Chair, Nancy McKinstry, was honoured with the SFU Business Impact Award at the Faculty of Business Administration/Business Administration Student Society annual banquet on March 22, 2007.
2. The Board learned that the SFU Women's Basketball Team won the CIS National Women's Basketball Championship and the SFU Women's Cross-Country Team won the NAIA National Championship.
3. The Board heard a brief report from the Chair of the Governance Committee about the issues discussed at the Governance Committee meeting of March 20, 2007.  In preparation for a future presidential search, a review of Policy B10.06 - Presidential Search Committee - is underway.  Any recommended revisions will require the approval of both Senate and the Board.  The Governance Committee also reviewed the Board's bi-annual self-evaluation forms from 2006, and the annual Conflict of Interest Disclosure form.
4. The Board was informed that on March 23, 2007, the University of Alberta's Board of Governors voted to eliminate mandatory retirement for academic staff at age 65.
5. The Board heard that Professor Dennis Krebs, Psychology, was awarded a 3M Teaching Fellowship.
6. The Board was informed that with regard to the results of the Canadian Undergraduate Survey Consortium questionnaire reported in the MacLean's Annual Guide to Canadian Universities, a detailed analysis of the data reveals a difference of only 1% between Nipissing University at the top and SFU in 8th position out of 28 institutions.
7. The Board learned that the Ministry of Finance has no plans to change the reporting thresholds required under the Financiall Information Act, currently set at $75,000 for employee remuneration and $25,000 for supplier payments.
8. The Board learned that Dr. Nigel Lockyer will replace Dr. Alan Shotter as Director of TRIUMF effective May 1, 2007.
9. The Board heard a report on the following research-related matters:

Highlights of the 2007 Federal budget of potential benefit to SFU include:

• $510 million up to 2010 to the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI),
• $120 million in 2006/07 CANARIE Inc.. for its research broadband network,
• $10 million over the next 2 years to the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIAR) to help international students and researchers,
• $350 million in 2006/07 and the following 2 years to the Centres of Excellence in Commercialization and Research,
• $4.5 million over 2 years for a graduate internship program,
• $11 million in 2008/09 for the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program to accelerate the creation of new networks, of which SFU will receive $450,000/year for 2 years for a new international partnership initiative program under MITACS which will foster international collaboration,
• 10% increase in funding from 2008-2013 for the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS).

In the Human Frontiers of Science program, 6 awards in total, 3 of which involved SFU researchers:

• Dr. Erika Plettner, Chemistry, (team leader; $450,000/year for 2 years)
• Dr. Nancy Forde, Physics, (member of a four-person team; $450,000/year for 3 years)
• Dr. John Bechhoeffer, Physics, (member of a three-person team; $250,000/year for 3 years)

CLOSED SESSION

A. Finance and Administration

1. The Board received for information a document summarizing the budget and funding sources for the Health Sciences Building (ASSC2).
2. The Board received for information a Capital Design and Construction Program Status Report as at March 9, 2007.
   

B. Academic Operations

1. Faculty Appointments

The following academic appointments were approved and have been accepted:

1.  
   1. Ms. Yupin Yang, Instructor, Business Administration, 1 Jul 07 - 31 Aug 11
   2. Dr. Matthew Garvert, Assistant Prof., Geography, 1 Aug 07 - 31 Aug 11
   3. Dr. Ash Parameswaran, reappointed J.L. Wighton Professor of Experimental & Laboratory Studies, Engineering Science, 1 Sep 04 - 31 Aug 09 
   4. Dr. Vicki Lynn Kelly, Assistant Prof., Education, 1 May 07 - 31 Aug 11
   5. Dr. Ronda Arab, Assistant Prof., English, 1 Aug 07 - 31 Aug 11
   6. Dr. Mark Pickup, Assistant Prof., Political Science, 1 Sep 08 - 31 Aug 12
   7. Dr. Steven Weldon, Assistant Prof., Political Science, 1 Aug 07 - 31 Aug 11
   8. Dr. John O'Neil, Professor with tenure, Health Sciences, 1 Aug 07
   9. Dr. Eric Beauregard, Assistant Prof., Criminology, 1 Sep 07 - 31 Aug 11

2. Administrative Appointments

The following administrative appointments were approved and have been accepted:

1.  
   1. Dr. Tom Grieve, reappointed Chair, English, 1 Sep 07 - 31 Aug 09
   2. Dr. John O'Neil, Dean, Health Sciences, 1 Sep 07 - 31 Aug 12

3. Other

The Board approved a transfer in home department from History to the Urban Studies Department with a joint appointment in both areas, effective 1 July 2007.

C. Other

1. The Board learned that a joint universities-ministry task force has been formed to make recommendations about criteria used to determine the elements of the quarterly financial forecast amounts and assumptions.
2. The Board received the President's Activity Report for January and February 2007.
3. Other matters were discussed.

The next Board of Governors Meeting will be held at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 31, 2007 in Room 126 of the Halpern Centre, SFU Burnaby.