Faculty of Arts Research Advisory Committee

Simon Fraser University
Burnaby
British Columbia
Canada

Minutes of FARAC Meetings


FACULTY OF ARTS
RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Monday, April 15, 1996
AQ 6106


MINUTES

Present: David Burley Archaeology
Peter Froehlich Contemporary Arts
Pat Brantingham Criminology
Steve Easton Economics
Carole Gerson English, Co-Chair
Grazia Merler French
Alison Gill Geography
Mark Leier History
Paul McFetridge Linguistics
John Tietz Philosophy
Michael Howlett Political Science, Co-Chair
David Cox Psychology
Ellen Gee Sociology/Anthropology
Pat McLeman Recording Secretary
Guests: Bruce Clayman V.P. Research
Ellen Loosley Office of Research Services
Kathy Mezei SSHRC Council Member


The meeting came to order at 1.35 p.m.

1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The agenda was approved with one correction. The title of item 5.8 was changed to read: ORS Space Re-organization Plans.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of 22 February, 1996 were approved. It was suggested the minutes be distributed through e-mail.

3. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
SSHRC Small Grant Forms. Copies of the new SSHRC small grants forms were distributed to committee members by campus mail.

4. SSHRC/NSERC/NCE RESULTS
Out of the 40 submitted SSHRC applications, 22 were funded; 13 are on the 4A list (approved but insufficient funding) and 5 were rejected. It was noted that this is a higher success rate than last year.
Faculty from Archaeology and Geography were successful in obtaining NSERC funding this year.
An award list showing Science Council BC funded applicants and their discipline will be circulated shortly. As well, we are awaiting news from Forest Renewal B.C.
The V.P. Research office will on an ad hoc basis give applicants some support to promote and encourage major project funding applications for Centres of Excellence and similar competitions that require a quick response.

5. BRUCE CLAYMAN, V.P. RESEARCH
ELLEN LOOSLEY, OFFICE OF RESEARCH SERVICES
5.1 SFU Internal Award Adjudications
. There will be no reduction in the President's Research Grants for this year. . Mr. Hanson (from SSHRC) will visit the university regarding SSHRC's review of its General Research Grant funding. He will talk about the changes to the GRG application cycle and the new terms of reference. . Discussion took place regarding grant competition deadlines and improvements that could be made.
5.2 Budget Cuts and Research at SFU
Current university position was discussed.
5.3 Intellectual Property Issues
There are two policies:
1. The patent policy
2. The copyright policy

As these two policies currently conflict the V.P. Research is working on a resolution.
5.4 Ethics Guidelines Changes
The University Research Ethics Review Committee has made several changes in this policy. Ethics approval is no longer required for elite interviews. A voluntarily informed consent form to be signed by subjects has been developed.
5.5 Workload Policy Implications for Research
The V.P. Research has been strongly voicing the implications this policy will have for Research to the Administration .
5.6 Library and Inter-Library Issues
The imposition of charges for Inter-Library Loans has been postponed for 6 months, pending the gathering and analysis of additional data by the library.
5.7 NSERC problems in Arts
This item was not discussed, as faculty in Archaeology and Geography have now obtained NSERC funding.
5.8 ORS Re-organization Plans
The V.P. Research Office will be moving to the second floor of Strand Hall this time next year. Please note title changed to read: ORS Space Re-organization Plans.
5.9 ORS Information Sources
. Ellen Loosely gave an overview regarding various databases. A commercial database called "FundMe " is available through the Office of Research Services. This database is not available on the WWW due to licensing restrictions. . The UBC Office of Research Services and Administration has assembled a database of granting agencies and programs which is available over the WWW. Its use is strongly recommended by ORS staff as a useful tool for those seeking to inform themselves of a broad range of funding possibilities. . In addition to these databases, lists of competition deadlines and direct access to agency gopher servers can be found in the ORS section on the WWW. Researchers can directly access the federal granting agencies' own gophers for viewing information regarding granting programs and regulations.
Bruce Clayman left the meeting at 2:35 p.m.


6. SSHRC ISSUES - KATHY MEZEI
Kathy Mezei gave a brief overview of the SSHRC Council structure and of current issues at SSHRC . She explained that SSHRC Council is comprised of 20 government appointed members, 2 of whom represent B.C. She expressed her interest in receiving feedback, opinions, input or concerns from SFU faculty, to raise at SSHRC Council meetings. She can be reached by e-mail at mezei@sfu.ca.
It was noted that despite SSHRC's increasing orientation toward team research, the majority of SFU faculty members in the humanities and social sciences prefer to work independently.

7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Members will be sent an e-mail regarding the NSERC de-briefing meeting.
The next meeting will be held during the Fall semester.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:10 p.m.
/pmc



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