Code committee reports to Board

By Laurie Zack

At the meeting of the Board of Governors yesterday, executive member Rita Lc de Santis gave an overview of the work of the Review Committee of the Code of Rights and Responsibilities (CORR).

She said the work of the committee was “to prepare a general revision of the Code, updating it and correcting deficiencies and weaknesses that have become apparent over the years.

“CORR also sought to attempt to introduce procedures into the Code which give the university and the rector the ability to take reasonable action when exceptional circumstances arise.”

She said the Code was a living document, and would be subject to constant revision to reflect both the evolution of the university and the changing perception of rights and responsibilities within the university community.

After an initial discussion of the document, the Board agreed to allow a 15-day period for Board members to submit written comments and amendments. The document will be revisited at the next Board meeting.

Student fees

There was a long discussion over proposed student fee increases. The Frigo Vert fee levy was approved by the Board (from $1.70 a semester to $0.25 per credit), but a $1 increase in CSU fees to establish a student centre building fund raised questions. The building fund fee had never been approved by the Board.

Clarification was asked about the legal responsibilities of the university to collect such an increase, the total amount charged to students by the CSU and student club and organizational fees, and the structure to be set up to oversee building fund fee money. The CSU fee increase will be brought back to the Board.

Arts & Science

In a written report to the Board, the Rector (who is presently in India) announced the creation of an advisory committee concerning the future of the Arts and Science Faculty.

He described the role of the committee: to examine relevant data, interview people concerned, consider the resolution recently approved by the Arts & Science Council and recommend whether the structure of the Faculty should be maintained as is or whether it should be divided into two or three Faculties.

Dr. Lowy will chair the committee consisting of Alain Benedetti, Nabil Esmail, Jack Lightstone, Martin Singer and former McGill principal Bernard Shapiro.

Search committees

An advisory search committee was set up for Rector and Vice-Chancellor. Rector Lowy’s second term ends May 31, 2005.

It consists of a chair, two Board members representing the community-at-large or alumni, five full-time faculty members (two from Arts & Science and one from each of the other Faculties), one representative each of part-time faculty, the senior administration, undergraduates and graduate students, and two representatives of the administrative and support staff.

The search committee will report to the Board on a monthly basis.

An advisory search committee was also set up for Dean of Fine Arts. Dean Christopher Jackson’s second term also ends May 31, 2005.

The committee will comprise a chair, one Board member representing the community-at-large or alumni and one representing faculty outside Fine Arts, four full-time faculty members, one representative of part-time faculty, one dean outside Fine Arts, one undergraduate and one graduate student representative from Fine Arts and one representative of the administrative and support staff.

Terence Byrnes (A & S), Dale Doreen (JMSB) and Osama Moselhi (Eng) will represent full-time faculty, Michael Tremblay part-time faculty, Lina Lipscombe the administrative and support staff and Adam Slater undergraduate students on the evaluation committee for Vice-Rector Services.

The Board approved the renaming of the Department of Computer Science to the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering.

A presentation was made by Alex Farrell on behalf of the Sir George Williams Alumni Association. He outlined the rich heritage of Sir George Williams and expressed a concern that the designation Sir George Williams Campus be maintained in campus signage and promotional material and be present among students and the public in general.

He was reassured by Provost Jack Lightstone, and will meet with the Board Communications Committee, chaired by John Parisella.