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Board of Governors / Meeting Agendas, Minutes + Reports / Archive / 2009 / January 29, 2009 Meeting Summary

January 29, 2009 Meeting Summary

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

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 October 31, 2008

    $7,472,812

    To November 30, 2008

    $7,963,856

    To December 31, 2008

    $8,618,465

  2. The Board approved the Terms of Reference for the:

  • Close to Home Scholarship Endowment Fund;
  • Rogers Group Financial - Clay Gillespie Annual Graduate Scholarship;
  • The Sophos Annual Computing Science Scholarship;
  • The Gutteridge Family Support Bursary Fund;
  • Mark Staley Award in Men's Basketball;
  • Brodie Osborne-Campbell Memorial Endowment Fund;  
  • SFU Pipe Band Operations Endowment Fund; 
  • Capgemini Graduate Entrance Scholarships in Business Administration;
  • Shahrgon Annual Graduate Award in Critical Independent Journalism Studies for the Promotion of Democracy. 

  1. The Board approved a four-tiered parking rate structure for SFU Burnaby and associated rates for each tier for September 2009, September 2010 and September 2011.

  2. The Board approved revisions to Policy GP 24, Fair Use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), effective immediately.

  3. The Board approved revisions to Policy GP 22, Fire Safety, effective immediately.

  4. The Board received the annual 2008 Due Diligence Report for information.

  5. The Board noted for information SFU's confirmation to the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development of the University's third quarter budget forecast and projections for 2008-09 to 2011-12.

  6. The Board noted the Financial Year-to-Date Position to December 31, 2008.

B. Academic Operations

  1. The Board received for information the External Review of the Department of Chemistry.

  2. The Board received for information the Report from the Faculty of Environment Interdisciplinary Programming Committee.

  3. The 2007-2008 Annual Report of the SFU Library and the 2007-2008 Annual Report on Student Discipline Matters were received by the Board for information.

  4. The Board received for information the Final Report of the Senate Committee on Academic Integrity in Student Learning and Evaluation.

  5. Other matters dealt with by Senate on December 1, 2008 and January 12, 2009 were noted.

C. Other
  1. The Board welcomed new Alumni Order-in-Council appointee Lynda Brown-Ganzert, replacing retired Board member Pauline Rafferty effective January 14, 2009.
  2. The Board was informed that M. Francis, Order-in-Council member, has been reappointed to the Board for a further three years to December 2011.
  3. On behalf of B. Elton, Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Media, Communications, Government and Community Relations (MCGC), the Board heard a brief report from N. McKinstry regarding the ongoing work of the MCGC at its most recent meeting on January 14, 2009.
  4. The Board received a report from the Vice-President, Research on recent research related matters.
  5. The Board was informed by the Vice-President, Academic that the three-year academic planning process is underway.
  6. The Board learned that administrative and curriculum planning for the three new Faculties, (Applied Sciences, Communication, Art and Technology, and Environment), effective April 1, 2009, is proceeding on schedule.
  7. The Board was informed by the Vice-President, Academic that five decanal searches are underway.
  8. On behalf of the Board, President Stevenson thanked N. McKinstry for her outstanding contributions to the work of the Board during her two terms as Chair.

CLOSED SESSION

A. Finance and Administration

  1. The Board received for information the Fundraising Progress Reports for October, November and December 2008.
  2. The Board received for information a Capital Projects and Planning Program Status Report as of January 2009.
     
  3. The Board received an update on the 2009/10 budget process.
  4. Other matters were discussed and approved.

B. Academic Operations

  1. Faculty Appointments

The following academic appointments were approved and have been accepted:

  1.  
    1. Dr. Catherine Black, Associate Prof. with tenure, French, 1 Jul 09
    2. Dr. Robert Holt, Associate Prof. with tenure, half-time in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, 5 Jan 09
  1. Administrative Appointments

The following administrative appointments were appproved and have been accepted:

  1. Dr. Barbara Frisken, re-appointed Chair, Physics,
    1 Sep 09 - 31 Aug 11 
  2. Dr. Jane Pulkingham, re-appointed Chair, Sociology & Anthropology,
    1 Sep 09 - 31 Aug 10 
  3. Dr. Zu-Guang Ye, Chair, Chemistry, 1 Sep 09 - 31 Aug 14.
  1. Other

The Board approved:

  1.  
    1. A modified appointment in Communication, effective 1 Sep 09 
    2. A transfer from Contemporary Arts to the Explorations Program,
      effective 1 Jan 09 
    3. The extension of a modified appointment in Contemporary Arts, from
      1 Sep 08 - 30 Apr 09 
    4. The extension of a modifed appointment in Computing Science, from
      1 Sep 09 - 31 Aug 11 

C. Other

  1. The Board had an opportunity to discuss the issues surrounding SFU's possible admission to Division II of the National Collegiate Athletics Association.
  2. The Board received for information the President's Activity Report for November and December 2008.
  3. The Chair briefly reported on a positive meeting that she and Deputy Chair M. Francis recently had in Victoria with the Deputy Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development.
  4. The Board was informed of a number of upcoming University events and the Chair encouraged the participation of Board members.
  5. The Board heard a report from Audit Committee Chair J. McPhee on matters dealt with by the Committee at its meeting of November 4, 2008.
  6. M. Francis, Chair of the Governance Committee, gave a report to the Board on matters discussed by that Committee on January 14, 2009.
  7. Other matters were discussed.

CONFIDENTIAL SESSION

  1. The Board approved the re-appointment of Dr. B. Mario Pinto for a second five-year term as Vice-President, Research, effective September 1, 2009.
  2. The Board elected Mr. Michael Francis as Chair of the Board, and Mr. Daniel Pekarsky as Deputy Chair of the Board, for a 12-month period effective January 30, 2009.
  3.  The Board received written confirmation from President Stevenson that he would not be seeking a third term as President and discussed the upcoming process for the selection of a new President as prescribed in Policy B 10.06, Presidential Search Committee.
  4. Other matters were discussed.

The next Board of Governors Meeting will be held at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 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.