Board members present:  B. Elton, Chair; A. Petter, President; A. Barton; L. Brown-Ganzert; A. Dhillon; A. Giardini; N. MacKay; G. Myers; R. Patel; P. Percival; B. Taylor

Regrets:  M. Francis; B. Louie; J. McPhee

OPEN SESSION

A. Finance and Administration

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

b. The Board approved Terms of Reference for the:

• Janet Collins Endowment Supporting the Janet Collins Undergraduate Bursary;
• Michael Stevenson Presidential Legacy Endowment Fund;
• SFU Business Dean's Strategic Priorities Fund;
• Kaiser Foundation for Higher Education Fund for Student Professional Development;
• Lena Gertrude Adam Memorial Endowment Supporting the Lena Gertrude Adam Bursary.

c. The Board approved the University's 2011/12 Operating Budget and Financial Plan, including tuition fees for undergraduate and graduate programs, and Student Services and Recreation-Athletics fees.  A link to the document is available on the Finance web site:  http://www.sfu.ca/finance/

d. The Board approved revisions to Policy B10.05 – Budget Policy Objectives.

e. The Board received for information the University Planning Framework, updated as of
    March 2, 2011.

f.  The Board received for information an update on progress being made in following the process of accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.  The report was received for information by Senate on March 7, 2011.

g. The Board discussed and tabled revisions to Policies B10.09 – Investment Governance Policy and GP 20 – Endowment Management Policy, and deletion of Policy AD3.15 – Investment Management Operating Procedures.

h. The Board discussed and tabled a proposed new policy formalizing the consultation process with students on tuition and fees.

B. Academic Operations

a. The Board received for information the 2009/10 Annual Report of the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies.

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

The suspension of admission and dissolution of Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Mathematics (major, honours) and Statistics (major, honours) in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences effective summer 2011 and fall 2011 respectively;

The dissolution of the Extended Minor in Latin American Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences effective fall 2011;

The 2011/12 Enrollment Plan attached as Appendix A to Enrollment Information for Senate, and 2011/12 domestic and international undergraduate admission targets to each Faculty, by semester and basis of admission category as indicated in Tables C1 and C2 respectively of Appendix C (Senate Paper S.11-30).

c. Other matters dealt with by Senate on February 7 and March 7, 20211 were noted.

d. The Board approved the 2011/12 Faculty Renewal Plan.

C. External Relations

a. The Board discussed an update from the President on the consultations completed and scheduled with the community and SFU, and media coverage as of March 1, 2011, in connection with the envision>SFU process.

D. Other

a. The Board heard an update from President Petter on government relations matters, most particularly regarding recent changes that Premier Christy Clark has made to cabinet.

b. The President commented on the search that is underway for a Vice-President, External Relations.

c. The Board received a report from the Vice-President, Research on research-related matters and notable achievements, and was informed that on March 31 at SFU Burnaby and on April 11 at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, SFU's chemists will host panel discussions on Japan's nuclear crisis.

d. The Board received an update from the Vice-President, Academic on his recent visit to Griffith University, Queensland, Australia, and SFU's role in the development for the City of Vancouver of a "semester in the city" program open to students from all institutions who want to devote a full semester to working with city staff on research topics connected to "green" initiatives.

e. The Board learned that results of the student U-Pass referendum are expected to be known on March 25, 2011.

f.  The Board was informed that Associate Professor Kris Starosta and Senior Lecturer Jean-Claude Brodevich, Chemistry, have each provided expert comment to the media on the Japanese nuclear crisis.

CLOSED SESSION

A. Finance and Administration

a. The Board received fundraising progress reports for January and February 2011.

b. Other matters were discussed.

B. Academic Operations

a. Faculty Appointments

The following academic appointments were approved and have been accepted:

Dr. Susan O'Neill, Associate Prof. with tenure, part-time (50%), Education, 1 May 11

2. Dr. Anders Knudby, Assistant Prof., Geography, 1 Aug 11 – 31 Aug 15

b. Administrative Appointments

    The following administrative appointments were approved and have been accepted:

1. Dr. John Craig, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, 1 Apr 11 – 31 Aug 15

2. Dr. John Harriss, re-appointed Director, School for International Studies, 1 Sep 11 – 31 Aug 14

3. Dr. Richard Lockhart, re-appointed Chair, Statistics and Actuarial Science,1 Sep 11 –
31 Aug 14

4. Dr. James MacEachern, Chair, Earth Sciences, 1 Sep 11 – 31 Aug 14

5. Dr. Catherine D'Andrea, re-appointed Chair, Archaeology, 1 Sep 11 – 31 Aug 13

c. Other

    The Board approved:

1. Modified appointment to half-time (50%), Education, effective 1 May 11

2. Modified joint appointment, 75% First Nations Studies Program and 25% Archaeology,
    effective 1 Apr 11

3. Transfer of appointment from Archaeology to 75% First Nations Studies Program and 25% Archaeology, effective 1 Apr 11

4. Modified appointment to 60%, History, 1 Sep 11 – 31 Aug 14

C. External Relations

a. The Board received for information an update on Government Relations matters.  The Board was informed that in the recent re-organization of provincial ministries by Premier Christy Clark, the Hon. Naomi Yamamoto has been named Minister of Advanced Education.

b. Other matters were discussed.

D. Employee Relations Committee

a. The Board received for information a Pension Report on the pension plans for employees.  It discussed the going concern liability and a solvency issue associated with the Pension Plan for Administrative/Union Staff.  Based on early projections of the 2010 actuarial valuation for the Plan, SFU will probably need to pay $2.2 million annually to cover the going concern liability and take out letters of credit to cover any solvency deficiency.

E. Other

a. The Board received for information the President's Activity Report for January and
    February 2011.

b. Other matters were discussed.

CONFIDENTIAL SESSION

a. The Board approved the President's Agenda 2010/11 – Building on Success – Looking to the Future, and Backgrounder to the President's Agenda – Toward a Strategic Vision for Simon Fraser University, dated September 20, 2010.

b. The Board approved that Michael G. Francis be awarded the title 'Board Chair Emeritus,' in accordance with Policy B10.13.

The next Board of Governors meeting will be held at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 26, 2011 in the Halpern Centre, Room 126, SFU Burnaby.