January 31, 2013 Meeting Summary

Board Members present:  B. Taylor, Chair; A. Petter, President; C. Taylor, Chancellor; B. Cunningham;
J. Francis; A. Giardini; A. Hall; J. Hinchliffe; J. Kim; N. Schmitt; J. Singh

Regrets:  L. Brown-Ganzert; A. Pilarinos; D. Poole

OPEN SESSION

A.        Finance and Administration

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

 
Fundraising Progress Report
For Information - 2012/2013 Year to Date

To November 30, 2012

$42,119,858

To December 31, 2012

$48,619,119

 

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

  •         Patricia Graham Annual Scholarship in Global Communication;
  •         Keith Watts Memorial Fund for Men’s Soccer;
  •         Beedie Undergraduate Award for International Business Students;
  •         Beedie Undergraduate Bursary for International Business Students;
  •         Beedie Undergraduate Business Award;
  •         Beedie Undergraduate Business Bursary;
  •         Vancouver Ski Club Athletics Endowment;
  •         Gladys Andrée Crute Endowment Fund.

c.         The Board approved a new University Research Assistant Policy R50.04, effective immediately.

d.         The Board approved signing new contracts between the University, the South Coast British Columbia Transportation
            Authority, and each of the two Student Societies (SFSS and GSS), for the provision of the UPass to SFU students from
            May 1, 2013 to April 30, 2016, subject to student approval of the referendum to be conducted by each Society.

e.         The Board noted for information SFU’s confirmation to the Ministry of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology of
             the University’s third quarter budget forecast and projections for 2012/13 to 2015/16.

f.          The Board noted for information the Year-to-Date Budget to Actual Variance Report as of November 30, 2012.

g.         The Board received a report from the Vice-President, Finance and Administration summarizing the major activities and
             initiatives in the departments within her portfolio as of January 2013.

B.         Academic Operations

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

  • The title change for the Major in Art and Culture to Major in Visual Culture and Performance Studies, in the School for the Contemporary Arts within the Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology, effective Fall 2013; and,
  • The dissolution of the Joint Major in Anthropology and Art and Culture Studies in the School for the Contemporary Arts within the Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology, effective Fall 2013.

b.         The Board received for information:

  • The Annual Report for 2011/2012 of the Senate Committee on Continuing Studies;
  • The Action Plan from the External Review of the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry;
  • The Centre and Institute Report 2011/2012; and,
  • The 2011/2012 Annual Report on Student Discipline Matters.

c.         Other matters dealt with by Senate on December 3, 2012 and January 7, 2013 were noted for information.

d.         The Board approved the revised Policy R20.01 – Ethics Review of Research Involving Human Participants, effective
             immediately.

e.         The Board received a report from the Vice-President, Academic on various academic related matters.

C.        Other

a.         On behalf of the Board, the Chair expressed condolences to student Board member Angie Hall on the death of her father
             Gary Hall, an SFU staff member.

b.         The Board congratulated Deputy Chair Anne Giardini, QC, who was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond
            Jubilee Medal by Rosemary McCarney, President and CEO of Plan Canada, for her contributions to the work of Plan
            Canada in general and specifically to their “Because I am a Girl” campaign.

c.         The Board Chair welcomed Alison Blair, attending her first Board meeting since being appointed Associate
            Vice-President, Finance effective January 7, 2013.

d.         The Board Chair welcomed Scott McLean, Director of Public Relations for SFU Vancouver, attending his first Board
            meeting as Acting Director of Public Affairs and Media Relations, since the December 2012 retirement of Don
            MacLachlan.

e.         President Petter commented on the BC Labour Market Profile released by the Research Universities’ Council of BC.  In
            2016, the number of jobs requiring university, college or trades credentials will exceed the supply of BC graduates – a
            skills deficit that will continue to grow through to 2020 and one that cannot be met through immigration.  He noted that
            8,400 of the 18,800 jobs that could go unfilled by 2020 will require a university degree.  He indicated that immediate
            government action is needed to ensure that BC stays competitive, maintains its quality of life and leads in research and
            innovation.

f.          The Board received a report from the Vice-President, Research on research-related matters and notable achievements. 
            The Board was informed that Dr. Ryan D’Arcy, a neuroscientist at SFU and Surrey Memorial Hospital, will hold the new
            Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation B.C. Leadership Chair in Multimodal Technology for Healthcare Innovation.

g.         The Board approved the appointments of Mark McLaughlin as a Trustee of the Administrative/Union Pension Plan Board
            of Trustees as a University representative commencing January 1, 2013 to November 30, 2015, and Alison Blair as a
            Trustee of the Pension Plan for Members of the Academic Staff as University representative commencing December 13,
            2012 to an indefinite term.

CLOSED SESSION

A.        Finance and Administration

a.         The Board received fundraising progress reports for November and December 2012.

b.         The Board received for information a Capital Projects and Planning Program Status Report as of January 2013.

c.         The Board received for information a report from the Vice-President, Finance and Administration.

B.         Academic Operations

a.         Faculty Appointments

            The following academic appointments were approved and have been accepted:

  • Dr. Ryan D’Arcy, BC Leadership Chair (LEEF Chair) in Multimodal Technology for Healthcare Innovation, Engineering Science and Computing Science, 1 Sep 12 – 31 Aug 17

b.         Administrative Appointments

            The Board approved:

  • Dr. Alexander Dawson, Director, International Studies, 1 Jan 13 – 31 Dec 15
  • Dr. Elizabeth Elle, Chair, Biological Sciences, 1 Sep 13 – 31 Aug 16
  • Dr. Neil Boyd, Director, Criminology, 1 Sep 13 – 31 Aug 16
  • Dr. Kamal Gupta, Director, Engineering Science, 1 Apr 13 – 31 Mar 16

c.         Other

            The Board approved:

  • Modified appointment, School of Communication, 1 May 13 – 31 Aug 15
  • Modified appointment, Faculty of Education, 1 Jan 14 – 31 Dec 15

C.        External Relations

a.         The Board received a report from the Vice-President, External Relations summarizing the major activities and initiatives
            in the areas within his portfolio as of January 2013.

b.         The Board received for information an update about SFU’s 50th Anniversary Campaign.

c.         The Board heard an update from the Vice-President, Advancement and Alumni Engagement about the Alumni Relations
            Strategic Plan and the development of software to better link alumni with SFU and with each other.

D.        Audit

a.         The Board received for information the Audit Plan for 2012/13 and an update to the University’s Enterprise Risk
            Management Plan.  The Board also heard a report from Audit Committee Chair B. Cunningham on other matters dealt
            with by the Committee at its meeting of November 30, 2012.

E.         Employee Relations

a.         The Board received the annual report of the Employee Relations Committee for information.

b.         Other matters were discussed.

F.         Other

a.         The Board received the President’s Activities Report for November and December 2012.

b.         The President noted that a major focus of the University’s government relations strategy in the coming months will be to
            continue advocating with both political parties the importance of proceeding in 2013 with the first phase of the expansion
            of the SFU Surrey campus to 800 student full-time equivalent students.

c.         Mario Pinto, Vice-President, Research, gave a presentation to the Board about engaging research at SFU and further
            illustrated the groundbreaking work underway at the University by showing a video about Dr. Ryan D’Arcy’s focus on
            neurotechnology to help patients with devastating brain illness and traumatic brain injuries.

d.         The Board approved the signing of the Health Services contract between Fraser Health Authority and Simon Fraser
            University Health and Counselling Services for the period April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2014.

e.         Other matters were discussed.

CONFIDENTIAL SESSION

a.         The Board approved the re-appointment of Dr. Jonathan Driver as Vice-President, Academic and Provost for a five-year
            term beginning September 1, 2013.

b.         In accordance with Section 22(2) of the University Act, the Board waived the absences of Lynda Brown-Ganzert at Board
            meetings in 2012.

c.         The Board re-elected Mr. Brian Taylor Chair of the Board and Ms. Anne Giardini, QC, Deputy Chair of the Board, for the
            period January 31, 2013 to the end of the January 2014 Board meeting.

 

The next Board of Governors meeting will be held at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2013 in the Halpern Centre, Room 126, SFU Burnaby.