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Board of Governors / Meeting Agendas, Minutes + Reports / Archive / 2009 / September 24, 2009 Meeting Summary

September 24, 2009 Meeting Summary

Board Members present: M. Francis, Chair; B. Louie, Chancellor;
M. Stevenson, President; A. Barton, L. Brown-Ganzert; A. Dhillon; 
B. Elton;  K. Harding; J. McPhee; D. Pekarsky; P. Percival; B. Taylor; J. Zaichkowsky  Regrets:  P. Dhillon

OPEN SESSION

A. Finance and Administration

  1. Fundraising Progress Reports: The Board noted year-to-date progress reports as follows:

    Month

    Fundraising Progress Report
    For Information
    2008/2009 Year to Date

    To July 31, 2009

    $3,174,498

  2. The Board approved the Terms of Reference for:

  • The Interactive Arts and Technology Student Union Annual Award;
  • The Blankstein Endowment Fund for Swimming;
  • The Jim Fulton Memorial Endowment Fund;
  • The Dr. Cam Coady Foundation Lecture Series in Health Issues;
  • The SFU-India Student Mobility Scholarships Program. 

  1. The Board received a Residence and Housing occupancy report for fall 2009.

  2. The Board received the University's Statement of Financial Information for the year ended March 31, 2009.

  3. The Board received for information the 2009 Annual Report of the Sustainability Advisory Committee.

  4. The Board noted for information SFU's confirmation to the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development of the University's first quarter budget forecast and projections for 2009/10 to 2012/13.

  5. The Board noted the University's Financial Year-to-Date Position as of July 31, 2009.

B. Academic Operations

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

  • The dissolution of the BC Synchrotron Institute as a Schedule A Centre in the Department of Physics within the Faculty of Science;
  • The creation of the Centre for Research on Sexual Violence as a Schedule A Centre in the School of Criminology within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences;
  • The proposal for a Certificate in Police Studies in the School of Criminology in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences;
  • The proposal for a MA in Humanities in the Department of Humanities in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. 

  1. The Board received for information a report prepared by the Vice-President, Academic -- SFU Academic Vision, Outcomes and VPA Goals for 2013.

  2. Other matters dealt with by Senate on September 14, 2009 were noted.
C. Other
  1. The Board was informed that for the second year in a row, the SFU Pipe Band won its sixth world pipe band title in Scotland on August 15, 2009.
  2. The Board was informed that SFU's final budget letter has not yet been received from government.
  3. The Board was informed that on Septemeber 29, 2009 at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, SFU alumnus and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, His Excellency Pakalitha Mosisili, will address the President's Forum on stepping up the response to the AIDS Pandemic in Lesotho.
  4. Board members were reminded that Convocation ceremonies will take place in Burnaby on October 8 and 9, 2009.
  5. The Board Chair reported that he had attended three luncheons at which the new deans of Education, Applied Sciences, and Communication, Art and Technology were introduced.
  6. Congratulations were extended to Chancellor Brandt Louie, Board member Peter Dhillon, and Professor Emeritus Roy Miki, Department of English, on being named to the Order of British Columbia.
  7. The Board learned that work has begun on the renewal of the Chemistry Building at SFU Burnaby, and faculty, staff and laboratories have now relocated for the duration of the renovation.
  8. The Board received a report from the Vice-President, Research on research-related matters, and was informed that the process has begun to update the Strategic Research Plan.
  9. The Board received an update from the Vice-President, Academic on the implementation of the revised university structure, upcoming decanal searches, the three-year academic planning process, and fall 2009 enrollment data indicating that targets have been exceeded for new domestic and international undergraduate students. Preliminary graduate enrollment data suggest that SFU has exceeded the number of funded spaces for 2009/10.
  10. The Board heard an update from the Vice-President, Finance and Administration on planning and preparedness strategies in the event of an outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus.

CLOSED SESSION

A. Finance and Administration

  1. The Board received a fundraising progress report for July 2009.
  2. The Board received for information a Capital Projects and Planning Program Status Report.
     
  3. The Board approved a motion for the University to explore an alternative arrangement for the provision of student residence and housing facilities at SFU Burnaby.
  4. The Board approved a proposal for the expansion of SFU Surrey pending adequate funding being provided.
  5. The Board discussed preliminary budget information for 2010/11 and received draft materials for the upcoming community budget consultations.
  6. The Board approved a naming opportunity for the softball field.
  7. Other matters were discussed.

B. Academic Operations

  1. Faculty Appointments

The following academic appointments were approved and have been accepted:

  1.  
    1. Dr. Scott Lear, Assoc. Professor with tenure, Health Sciences and Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology, 1 Sep 09, and Pfizer/Heart & Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon Chair in Cardiovascular Prevention Research, 1 Sep 09 - 31 Aug 14
  1. Other 

The Board approved:

  1. A transfer from a half-time appointment in International Studies to full-time in History, effective September 1, 2009
  2. A transfer from Communication to the Master of Publishing Program, effective September 1, 2009
  3. A transfer from Geography to Resource and Environmental Management, effective November 1, 2009
  4. Professor Emerita status for Dr. Carolyne Smart, Business Administration, effective September 1, 2009
  5. Professor Emeritus status for Dr. Greg Snider, Contemporary Arts, effective September 1, 2009 

C. Other

  1. The Board received for information the President's Activity Report for July and August 2009, and heard an update on meetings subsequently held with government officials.
  2. The Board heard a brief report from the L. Brown-Ganzert, Chair of the External Relations Committee, on matters discussed at the Committee's meeting of September 22, 2009.
  3. Other matters were discussed.

CONFIDENTIAL SESSION

  1. The Board approved the President's Agenda dated July 22, 2009, which will be forwarded to Senate for information.
  2. Other matters were discussed.
  3. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Board heard a short presentation from and engaged in a discussion with Mr. Murray Dinwoodie, City Manager, City of Surrey, and Ms. Joanne Curry, Executive Director, SFU Surrey, about the City's long-term development plans and SFU's relationship to them.  Board members and Vice-Presidents were then introduced to the four incoming deans: Drs. Nimal Rajapakse, Applied Sciences; Kris Magnusson, Education; John Pierce, Environment; and Cheryl Geisler, Communication, Art and Technology.

The next Board of Governors Meeting will be held at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 26, 2009, in Room 126 of the Halpern Centre, SFU Burnaby.

In the place where innovative education, cutting-edge research and community outreach intersect, you'll find Simon Fraser University. Our vision? To be Canada's leading engaged university.

Born in 1965, SFU has become Canada's leading comprehensive university with vibrant campuses in British Columbia's largest municipalities — Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey — and deep roots in partner communities throughout the province and around the world.