Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Board of Governors

Board of Governors / Meeting Agendas, Minutes + Reports / Archive / 2010 / November 25, 2010 Meeting Summary

November 25, 2010 Meeting Summary

Board Members present:  M. Francis, Chair, B. Louie, Chancellor;
A. Petter, President; A. Barton; L. Brown-Ganzert; A. Dhillon; B. Elton;
A. Giardini; N. MacKay; J. McPhee; G. Myers; R. Patel; P. Percival;
B. Taylor

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 Reports
    For Information
    2010/2011 Year to Date

    To September 30, 2010

    $24,228,356
     

    To October 31, 2010

    $24,823,724

  2. The Board approved Terms of Reference for the:

  • Philosophy Graduate Endowment Fund Supporting the Philosophy Graduate Research Award;
  • SFU Library Special Collections Endowment Fund;
  • Philosophy Undergraduate Endowment Fund Supporting the Peter Horban Award;
  • Ying Chen Award in Creative Writing;
  • Christian Friesen Memorial Award;
  • SFU Bruker Prize in Chemical Spectroscopy. 

  1. The Board approved an agreement between the University and the SFU Community Trust to compensate SFU for the parking lots that will be eliminated as a result of the ongoing development of UniverCity on Burnaby Mountain.

  2. The Board noted for information SFU's confirmation to the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Markete Development of the University's second quarter budget forecast and projections for 2010/11 to 2013/14.

  3. The Board noted for information the Year-to-Date Budget to Actual Variance Report as of September 30, 2010.

  4. The Board approved the re-appointment of Mr. Leo Eutsler to the Administrative/Union Pension Plan Board as the Poly Party representative for the period December 1, 2010 to November 30, 2013.

  5. The Board approved the change in the W.J. VanDusen Endowment Terms of Reference so that the endowment funds can be used for the establishment of the W.J. VanDusen Professorship.

B. Academic Operations

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

  • The Full Program Proposal for a Concentration in Early Modern World History in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, effective May 2011;
  • That authority be given to the Faculty of Environment to initiate undergraduate programs under the Develpoment and Sustainability Program, effective immediately;
  • The proposal to halt admissions to the Integrated Studies Program within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, effective Fall 2010 and to discontinue the Program upon the current cohort's completion in 2013;
  • The transfer of the Department of Archaeology from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences to the Faculty of Environment, effective April 1, 2011.

  1. The Board received for information the External Reviews and Action Plans of the Department of History and the School of Resource and Environmental Management.

  1. Other matters dealt with by Senate on October 4, and November 1, 2010 were noted.

  2. The mid-year update of the 2010/11 Faculty Renewal Plan was provided to the Board for information.

C. External Relations 
  1. The Board discussed the update from the President on his intention to develop a Strategic Vision for SFU that will involve an extensive consultation process over the coming nine months.

D. Other

  1. The Board heard an update from President Petter on recent meetings and activities in which he has been engaged.
  2. The President reported on the positive feedback he has received about the appointment of Carole Taylor as the University's next Chancellor.
  3. The Board was informed that the search for a Vice-President, External Relations is underway.
  4. The Chair reported that Board member Nancy MacKay has been re-appointed by Order-in-Council to a two-year term ending October 22, 2012.
  5. The Chair informed the Board that on November 17, the External Relations Committee heard a presentation from members of a group called SFU Against Goldcorp and Gentrification (SAGG) opposing SFU's acceptance of a $10 million gift from Goldcorp and the naming of the new Contemporary Arts building.  Following a discussion, there was consensus that the Board would take no further action on the matter and the Chair would inform SAGG in writing of this decision.
  6. The Chair noted that effective January 2011, the circulation of paper material for Board meetings will be discontinued and Board documents will be accessible on a secure web site.
  7. The Chair informed the Board that for the eighth time, SFU has been ranked the #1 comprehensive university in the Maclean's magazine annual university rankings, and also placed third in the magazine's national reputational rankings.
  8. SFU's Semester in Dialogue class was commended for a recently organized event on energy held in Burnaby.
  9. The Board received a report from the Vice-President, Research on research-related matters and notable achievements, and an analysis of SFU's fall 2010 standings in a number of research-based rankings.  The Board was informed that SFU will receive $9 milllion in federal funding for new/renewed Canada Research Chairs.
  10. The Board received an update from the Vice-President, Academic on the source of college transfers, and copies of a supplement to Simon Fraser University News updating the University community on the synergy between academic planning and the accreditation process underway with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

CLOSED SESSION

A. Finance and Administration

  1. The Board received fundraising progress reports for September and October 2010.
  2. The Board approved a motion authorizing SFU to enter into discussions regarding the potential provision of sports facilities for SFU Burnaby.
  3. The draft minutes of and report to the Investment Advisory Committee meeting of October 14, 2010 were received by the Board for information.

  4. Other matters were discussed.

B. Academic Operations

  1. Faculty Appointments

The following academic appointments were approved and have been accepted:

  1.  
    1. Dr. Margaret Krawchuk, Assistant Professor, Geography, 1 Aug 11 - 31 Aug 15 
    2. Dr. John Clague, Earth Sciencees, re-appointed Tier I Canada Research Chair in Natural Hazard Research 
    3. Dr. Andrew Feenberg, Communication, re-appointed Tier I Canada Research Chair in the Philosophy of Technology 
    4. Dr. Angela Kaida, Health Sciences, Tier II Canada Research Chair in Global Perspectives on HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health
    5. Dr. Mary-Ellen Kelm, History, re-appointed Tier II Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Histories, Medicine and Society
    6. Dr. Jonathan Kesselman, School of Public Policy, re-appointed Tier I Canada Research Chair in Public Finance
    7. Dr. Steve Robinovitch, Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology, re-appointed Tier II Canada Research Chair in Injury Prevention and Mobility Biomechanics
    8. Dr. Arthur Robson, Economics, re-appointed Tier I Canada Research Chair in Economic Theory and Evolution
    9. Dr. Glen Tibbits, Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology, re-appointed Tier I Canada Research Chair in Molecular Cardiac Physiology
    10. Dr. John Welch, Archaeology/REM, re-appointed Tier II Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Heritage Stewardship
  1. Administrative Appointments

The following administrative appointments were appproved and have been accepted:

  1. Dr. John Bowes, re-appointed Director, Interactive Arts and Technology, 1 Sep 10 - 31 Aug 12 
  1. Other

The Board approved:

  1.  
    1. A 50% transfer in Archaeology to the First Nations Studies Program, effective 1 Dec 10 
    2. A modified appointment in Business Administration, 1 Sep 11 - 31 Aug 13 

C. External Relations 

  1. The Board received for information an update on Government Relations matters.

D. Audit

  1. The Board received for information the Audit Plan for 2010/11 and an update to the University's Enterprise Risk Management Plan.  The Board also heard a report from the Audit Committee Chair J. McPhee on other matters dealt with by the Committee at its meeting of November 4, 2010.

E. Other

  1. The Board received for information the President's Activity Report for September and October 2010 and he elaborated on meetings with several provincial government ministers/deputy ministers, in particular with regard to the removal of the universities from the Government Reporting Entity and government's fulfillment of its Memorandum of Understanding to expand SFU Surrey.

  2. Other matters were discussed.

The next Board of Governors meeting will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 27, 2011 in Rooms 1300/1500 of the Segal Gradiate School of Business, SFU Vancouver, 500 Granville Street.

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.