A regular meeting of the Concordia University Senate, held May 11, 2001

Rector’s remarks: Dr. Lowy reminded senators that the Loyola Medal is awarded every two years, and is now accepting nominations; previous recipients include Oscar Peterson, Maureen Forrester, Jacques Ménard. Second, applications are now coming in from prospective students, and he pointed out that personal contact helps to close the gap between applications and decisions to attend Concordia. “We have a collective responsibility to be generous with our time.” Finally, he announced that a formal groundbreaking for the new science complex will take place June 15, at 11 a.m. at Loyola.

Provost’s remarks: The Senate Committee on Academic Planning and Priorities has received a strategic plan from the Faculty of Fine Arts, and it will be discussed at a future Senate meeting.
Provost/Vice-Rector Research Jack Lightstone also said that plans are going forward to re-equip and “IT-enable” large classrooms and the library. He also said that due to the large number of new hires, current and anticipated, the Faculty Research and Development Program, which has given start-up, bridge funding and re-entry grants, will concentrate entirely on start-up grants, and these will be automatically given to each new tenure-track faculty member.

Digital Arts: Dean of Fine Arts Christopher Jackson announced that a $6-million Institute in Digital Arts, a joint project with UQAM, has been approved.
Accounting: Dean of Business Mohsen Anvari announced that the AACSB will soon announce accreditation of the John Molson School of Business’s accountancy program. He also said that 10 scholarships are being established for foreign students, and will be named after the Hon. Pierre Sévigny.

Information for students: Student senator Sami Nazzal suggested that basic information on student services should be in the course outlines. Dr. Lightstone said this was a constructive suggestion and he would bring it up with the deans.

Curriculum changes: Changes were approved in undergraduate programs in the Fine Arts and Engineering and Computer Science.

TESL Centre: A resolution was approved that makes the TESL Centre (Teaching English as a Second Language) part of the Education Department rather than a separate academic unit.
Mechanical/Industrial: A name change was approved whereby the Department of Mechanical Engineering will be called the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.

Professor Emeritus: The steering committee proposed a resolution that clarifies the policy adopted at the March meeting of Senate regarding this designation, such that faculty members retiring in good standing may use their rank at the time of their retirement, e.g. Associate Professor, or Professor, plus Emeritus. Approved.

Fast-track: Dr. Lightstone quipped that the fast-track provisional approval process for short graduate programs had taken all of three years to work its way toward approval. This meeting approved the criteria, the process having previously been approved.

Awards for graduate mentoring: This proposal by the School of Graduate Studies to provide a companion set of awards for its existing research awards once again encountered opposition from the Faculty of Arts and Science, although the senator representing graduate students said that his constituency endorses the project. This proposal will go back to steering committee.

Next meeting: May 25