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 THE   UNIVERSITY    OF   BRITISH    COLUMBIA
Vancouver Senate Secretariat
Senate and Curriculum Services
Enrolment Services
2016-1874 East Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1
www.senate.ubc.ca
VANCOUVER SENATE
MINUTES OF MARCH 18, 1992
Attendance
Present: President D. W. Strangway (Chairman), Vice-President D. R. Birch, Miss K. Bentsen, Dr.
L. L. Bongie, Dr. M. A. Boyd, Dr. D. M. Brunette, Professor P. L. Bryden, Dr. R. L. Chase, Dr. S.
Cherry, Dr. J. D. Dennison, Miss C. J. Forsythe, Mr. C. Fung, Mr. E. B. Goehring, Dean M. A.
Goldberg, Dean J. R. Grace, Dr. S. E. Grace, Dr. R. D. Guy, Dr. S. W. Hamilton, Mr. M. L.
Hanik, Rev. J. Hanrahan, Dr. J. G. T. Kelsey, Ms. J. Lahey, Mr. O. C. W. Lau, Mr. D. K. Leung,
Mr. S. Lu, Dr. D. M. Lyster, Mr. S.W.T. Mak, Dean M. P. Marchak, Dean B. C. McBride, Dr. J.
A. McLean, Mr. W. B. McNulty, Dr. A. G. Mitchell, Ms. E. Onno, Dr. L. Paszner, Mrs. S. K.
Prpic, Miss C. L. Rankel, Dr. P. Resnick, Dean J. F. Richards, Dean P. B. Robertson, Mr. A. J.
Scow, Dean N. Sheehan, Dr. C. E. Slonecker, Mr. M. Sugimoto, Dr. R. C. Tees, Mr. G. A. Thom,
Mr. L. Waldman, Miss R. Walia, Dr. D. A. Wehrung, Dr. R. M. Will, Dr. D. Ll. Williams, Ms. N.
E. Woo.
Regrets: Chancellor L. R. Peterson, Mr. S. Alsgard, Mr. D. A. Anderson, Dr. A. P. Autor, Mr. J.
A. Banfield, Dean C. S. Binkley, Mr. R. Bush, Dr. D. G. A. Carter, Professor E. A. Carty, Dr. T. S.
Cook, Dr. K. Dawson, Mr. N. A. Davidson, Dr. G. W. Eaton, Dr. A. J. Elder, Dean M. J.
Hollenberg, Dr. M. Isaacson, Mr. J. Jacob, Dr. M. M. Klawe, Dr. S. C. Lindstrom, Dr. H.
McDonald, Dean J. H. McNeill, Dean A. Meisen, Dr. R. J. Patrick, Ms. B. M. Peterson, Professor
R. S. Reid, Mr. M. M. Ryan, Dr. G. G. E. Scudder, Dean C. L. Smith, Dr. L. de Sobrino, Dr. L. J.
Stan, Miss S. Sterling, Dr. W. Uegama, Dr. A. Van Seters, Dr. J. Vanderstoep, Dr. J. M. Varah,
Dr. W. C. Wright, Jr.
Call to Order
Minutes of the Previous Meeting
Dr. Hamilton i        That the minutes of the sixth regular meeting
Dr. Cherry J        of Senate for the Session 1991-92, having been
circulated, be taken as read and adopted.
Carried.
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Minutes of March 18,1992	
Chairman's Remarks and Related Questions
Chairman's Remarks and Related Questions
BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTRE
President Strangway stated that a decision had been reached in connection with the
Biomedical Research Centre and that in the fairly near future a recommendation would be
coming forward to Senate.
LABOUR DISPUTE
President Strangway informed Senate that discussions were continuing between the
University administration and the mediator, and between the mediator and the unions. He
stated that it was his hope that there would be a resolution to the matter in the near
future, and said that he would welcome comments from members of Senate.
Professor Resnick commented on the strike situation. He referred to a letter signed by
approximately 80 faculty members which addressed some of the issues. He recognized
that the floor of Senate was not where labour negotiations should be discussed but wished
to express his concerns about the situation. He appealed to the University and the unions
to make every effort to reach an amicable settlement in the very near future.
Senate agreed to allow a representative of CUPE 2950 to speak on the labour dispute. He
voiced concerns with respect to strike-breaking and to the salary settlements that had
been offered by the University, particularly with regard to pay equity. In response,
President Strangway stated that he was unaware that strike-breaking was going on. With
regard to salary settlement, President Strangway pointed out that these concerns should
be addressed at the negotiating table.
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Minutes of March 18,1992	
Senate Nominating Committee Membership
Senate Nominating Committee Membership
In accordance with established procedures, the following vacancies on the Nominating
Committee were declared as of April 1, 1992:
■ Ms. K. Bentsen - student representative
■ Mr. L. Waldman - student representative
Members were informed that a call for nominations to fill these vacancies would be sent
to all members of Senate, and that nominations would remain open until the April 22,
1992 Senate meeting. If more than two nominations are received an election will be held
at the April meeting.
Reports of Committees of Senate
ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE
Dr. Will, Chair of the Committee, presented a report on a proposed enrolment quota for
new students entering the B.Sc. (Agr.), and a proposal from the Faculty of Law to admit
up to 10 students per year on a half-time basis.
FACULTY OF LAW
The following proposal had been circulated:
A limited number of students are permitted to complete the LL.B. degree on a half-
time basis, subject to the following conditions:
1. Students applying in the regular, discretionary, or Native categories shall be
eligible to apply for half-time study, and shall be considered under the same
criteria as full-time students in those categories.
2. This half-time category is not a general part-time program. Students must
satisfy the Committee that they have special needs due to factors such as family
responsibilities, financial hardship, health problems or physical disabilities.
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Reports of Committees of Senate
3. A half-time student shall register for half of the normal course load of full-time
students, and shall complete the full requirements for the degree in no more
than six academic years of attendance.
4. The maximum number of half-time spaces in First Year shall be ten.
5. Students who have completed First Year on a half-time basis may apply to
complete second and/or third year on a half-time basis, upon meeting the
special needs criteria.
6. Half-time students may transfer to full-time status provided that they have met
the academic requirements up to the relevant date.
7. Full-time students in good standing may, for compelling personal reasons, be
permitted by the Admissions Committee to transfer to the half-time program
for an appropriate period of time. However, the maximum number of students
in any part-year of the half-time program shall not exceed ten.
8. Half-time students are expected to attend classes, complete class work and sit
examinations in the same manner as full-time students. While efforts will be
made to accommodate half-time students in course selection, such students will
require sufficient flexibility to meet class requirements."
The Committee recommended approval of the proposal, and further recommended:
i)   that the first paragraph of the Calendar statement "Admission Requirements"
(p. 175) be extended to include the sentence "A limited number of students are
permitted to enrol in the LL.B. degree program on a half-time basis," and that
appropriate editorial changes be made in other sections of the Calendar to
reflect the possibility of pursuing the LL.B. degree on a half-time basis; and
ii)  that the number of permitted half-time admissions into the first year of the
LL.B. program be included and identified in the enrolment quota for first year
presented to Senate annually for approval.
Dr. Will l        That the proposal of the Faculty of Law to
Professor Bryden i       admit up to 10 students per year on a half-time
basis be approved.
Carried.
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Minutes of March 18,1992	
Reports of Committees of Senate
In response to a query, Professor Bryden stated that this was a first measure but that the
Faculty hoped to be able to admit more than 10 students on a half-time basis eventually.
However, matters such as accreditation from the Law Society had to be looked into
before any further expansion could be considered.
Dr. Will stated that the Committee had been assured that admission on a half-time basis
would be implemented fairly, and that there would be no allocation of places until all the
applications had been carefully considered.
The motion was
put and carried.
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
The Committee recommended approval of an enrolment quota of 150 new students in the
first year of the B.Sc. (Agr.) program. It was stated in the material circulated that there is
not presently an admission quota in place for this program. Following a decade of
declining admissions to first year, the number of students admitted to first year doubled
last year (95 vs. 48). In light of a reduction in the admission quota for first year Science,
and because the first year of the B.Sc. (Agr.) program is very similar to the first year
Science program there exists the potential for a substantial number of students to appear
in first year of the B.Sc. (Agr.) program. There is a capacity to accommodate some growth
in the B.Sc. (Agr.) program but the Faculty wishes to control that growth in relation to
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Reports of Committees of Senate
resources available to provide high quality instruction in the first and subsequent years of
the program.
Dr. Will l        That an enrolment quota of 150 new students
Dean Richards J        in the first Jear °fthe B-Sc- (A8r-) program be
approved.
Carried.
TRIBUTES COMMITTEE
Memorial Minute
The following memorial statement had been prepared in accordance with the custom of
Senate, in recognition by the University and Senate of the late John E. A. Parnall.
IN MEMORIAM
JOHN E. A. PARNALL (1914-1992)
No organization as complex as The University of British Columbia could conduct its
affairs efficiently without the assistance of competent and loyal support staff. Jack
Parnall provided both leadership and dedication to one of the most essential elements
of the university structure, the Office of the Registrar. In innumerable ways he
touched the lives of every student, every faculty member and every administrator in
this university. He performed his duties conscientiously and efficiently, and always in
a manner which earned him the respect of all who knew him or knew of him.
Jack Parnall was born in 1914, and educated in Victoria. He attended Victoria College
and earned a B.A. from UBC in 1935 and a B.Ed, one year later. After serving as
meteorological officer in World War II, and completing an M.A. degree in
mathematics from the University of Toronto, Mr. Parnall began a thirty year career as
a teacher in the subject field he loved.
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Reports of Committees of Senate
His teaching career included high schools in Abbotsford, Esquimalt and Victoria and
as a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at this university. He was appointed
Associate Registrar in 1951 and succeeded C. B. Wood as Registrar in 1957. He
continued to teach mathematics until 1975, however, when he reluctantly surrendered
to the demands of his office. His success as a teacher was widely known throughout
the student body and could be measured by standing room only in his lectures.
Jack Parnall was a professional in every aspect of his work. He held offices in the
Canadian Association of University Registrars, The Pacific Association of Collegiate
Registrars and Admissions Officers, as well as numerous government advisory bodies.
He represented the university at both the Association of Universities and Colleges of
Canada and the Commonwealth Association of Universities. He also found time to
serve the wider community as a member of the Board of the B.C. Yukon Division of
CNIB.
But it was the way in which he carried out his duties as Registrar which earned Jack
Parnall the esteem of the entire university community. He became the final and
essential source of authority of all the policies and procedures that sustained the
academic enterprise. No matter how complex the problem or how frustrating it was
for the committee which was charged with solving it, Jack Parnall always found the
answers. His diplomatic skills were famous and matched only by his patience and
good humour.
No member of the university community knew more students, more faculty or more
support staff. In every case his interest in their welfare was sincere and unreserved. It
was written at the time of his retirement:
"If Jack were to leave only one reminder of his years at UBC, it would be his warm
and human approach to everyday student problems. For this alone he will be
remembered by countless grateful students and sometimes frustrated faculty."
It is appropriate that the Senate, a body to which he gave 22 years of wise and
essential counsel, should record its appreciation of Jack Parnall at this meeting.
To his beloved wife Edna, and to others of his surviving family, the Senate of The
University of British Columbia extends its deepest sympathy.
Dr. Dennison i        That the memorial statement for John E. A.
Dean Goldberg i        Parnall be spread on the minutes of Senate and
that a copy be sent to the relatives of the
deceased.
Carried.
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Minutes of March 18,1992	
Reports of Committees of Senate
FACULTIES OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND ARTS
School of Family and Nutritional Sciences
A proposal that the administrative responsibility for the School of Family and Nutritional
Sciences be transferred from the Faculty of Arts to the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
had been circulated.
It was stated in the material circulated that the School provides instruction toward the
degrees of B.Sc. in nutritional sciences, B.Sc. (Dietetics), B.H.E., and B.A. in family
science; plus M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in human nutrition; and M.A. in family studies.
An accreditation review recommended that the dietetics program be transferred to a
science-based Faculty. An academic review subsequently supported that recommendation
and further recommended that the nutrition program be similarly transferred. The
academic review also considered possible alternative administrative locations for the other
components of the School. After extensive discussion within the School, and between the
School and Deans of Arts, Agricultural Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the current
faculty expressed their preference for transfer to the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences.
The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and the School now collaborate in the delivery of
nutritional sciences, and students in other School programs take courses in departments in
the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. The Faculty and the School are
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Reports of Committees of Senate
also involved in the delivery of professional programs which offer opportunities for closer
collaboration. No curricula or program changes are proposed at this time. However,
other recommendations of the Review Committee will be considered by the Faculty of
Agricultural Sciences in the future.
Dean Marchak l        That the administrative responsibility for the
Dean Richards i        School of Family and Nutritional Sciences be
transferred from the Faculty of Arts to the
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences.
Carried.
FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES
Revised Calendar statement on "Faculty as Graduate Students"
The following revised Calendar statement on "Faculty as Graduate Students" had been
circulated (addition in bold):
The Faculty of Graduate Studies does not normally accept, as graduate students
seeking an advanced degree at this University, members of the full-time teaching staff
of The University of British Columbia. In exceptional circumstances, however, a
faculty member may, with the approval of the Dean of the Faculty in which the
teaching appointment is held, the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and the
President, be admitted to a graduate program in some department or school
completely separate from the one in which the teaching appointment is held. Doctoral
students accepted under these provisions will be required to take leave of absence from
their teaching positions until Admitted to Candidacy.
It was stated in the material circulated that the current Calendar statement prohibits full-
time teaching staff of the University becoming graduate students. The intent of
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Reports of Committees of Senate
this rule seems to be to prevent conflicts of interest or perceived conflicts of interest in
assuring that graduate students are not evaluated differently because they are
simultaneously colleagues.
This problem is clearly far less if the person is a faculty member in one unit and a student
in a totally different unit, and this is recognized already in PeB-19 of the University's
Policies and Procedures (also the Faculty's Policy 9.1) which provides for a mechanism, in
exceptional circumstances, for faculty members to take leaves or become part-time while
pursuing graduate degrees in other departments.
The Calendar currently makes no mention of this possibility, and it is not widely known.
The Calendar statement is seen to be discriminatory towards faculty members who have
limited mobility to go away to do graduate degrees elsewhere. To make the possibility of
exceptions more accessible, it is proposed that the Calendar statement be modified.
Dean Grace l        That the revised Calendar statement on
Dr. Tees i        "Faculty as Graduate Students" be approved.
Carried.
Graduate Exchange Agreement between The University of British Columbia, McGill University
and the University of Toronto
A proposal to establish a Graduate Exchange Agreement between The University of
British Columbia, McGill University, and the University of Toronto, had been circulated.
It was stated in the material circulated that the three universities, being
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Reports of Committees of Senate
English-speaking research-intensive universities of Canada, wish to facilitate exchange of
graduate students for scholarly work and to take advantage of special facilities and
courses which are found at each of the three. This agreement will provide a simple
mechanism for students from each of the three universities to work at or take courses at
the other two universities without having to pay extra fees.
It is agreed that each university, whenever feasible, will allow a graduate student in good
standing from one of the other two universities to register as an exchange, visiting or
special graduate student at the other university without paying fees at the institution being
visited, except for student activity fees. Courses taken will be credited at the home
institution and may amount to no more than 40% of the total program requirements. The
exact implementation and percentage will vary with the policies of each university. The
intention is to have roughly equal flows of students to and from each of the universities;
the flows will be monitored and checked periodically to verify that, averaged over several
years, they are equitable.
A simple form would be drawn up and used in each of the universities. To be accepted,
four signatures would be required: (1) by the Departmental Graduate Advisor or Chair at
the home university certifying that the student is in good standing and has the permission
of the department; (2) by the Graduate Dean at the home university affirming that the
student is in good standing, and approving the exchange; (3) by the Chair of the
department being visited certifying that the department is willing to have the student as a
visitor; (4) by the Graduate Dean at the university being visited
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Other business
confirming the university's willingness to accept the student. Where courses are taken,
arrangements for transfer credit will be made between the two Registrar's Offices.
Dean Grace }        That the Graduate Exchange Agreement
Dean McBride between The University of British Columbia,
McGill University, and the University of
Toronto be approved.
Carried.
Speaking in support of the proposal, Dr. Birch informed Senate that an initiative was also
underway with the University of Montreal at both the graduate and undergraduate level.
Other business
STUDENT SENATORS
On behalf of Senate, President Strangway expressed thanks and appreciation for the
contributions made by those students who were attending their last Senate meeting.
Students were requested to continue to serve on committees until replacements are
approved by Senate.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF SENATE
On behalf of the student senators, Mr. Brian Goehring expressed thanks and appreciation
to Fran Medley and asked that it be recorded in the minutes.
POSITION OF STUDENTS IN CASE OF A STRIKE
The following guidelines on the position of students in case of a strike were circulated at
the meeting:
I.      Students who do not cross picket lines
a)  Students who choose not to cross a picket line as a matter of conscience must
inform the Dean of the Faculty in which they are registered either in person, by
telephone or by letter that they will not be attending classes or writing
examinations; otherwise it will be assumed that they will be attending and
writing. They will be responsible for fulfilling course requirements and, insofar
as possible, they will be evaluated on the basis of the work they are judged to
be able to do under the circumstances.
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Other business
b) A student who misses an essential component and/or a scheduled examination
as a result of refusing to cross a picket line as a matter of conscience may be
expected to attend a make-up session and/or write an examination scheduled in
a supplementary examination period.
II.      Classes or Examinations not held because of a Strike
1. Students unable to fulfill course requirements as a result of the strike:
A student who, as a consequence of the strike, is unable to fulfill course
requirements, e.g. because the strike has made it impossible to obtain necessary
and unique library materials, is responsible for informing the instructor or, if
the instructor is absent, the Head of the Department or the Dean of the Faculty.
2. Evaluation of student performance:
a. Faculty will attempt to examine or otherwise evaluate students according to
the normal evaluation plan for the course.
b. If classes are not held, students will be evaluated on the readings or other
sources for which they could reasonably be expected to be responsible, but
will not be evaluated on material which would have been available only in
cancelled classes.
For examination purposes, therefore, students may be responsible for:
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Other business
(i) the required readings for the entire course; (ii) the material presented
in classes (lectures, seminars, laboratories, etc.) prior to the strike;
(iii) the material presented in classes not affected by the strike
(should there be periods in which some parts of the campus are
struck and not others).
3.   If examinations are cancelled:
If there were a minor disruption in the schedule, an attempt would be made to
modify the examination schedule in order to hold all examinations close to
their scheduled time and, if that were impossible, an attempt would be made to
provide an evaluation without a final examination.
III.      Providing information and reassuring students
It is important that you anticipate the possibility of a strike and do your best to
reassure students. Faculty should, therefore, ensure that:
a) students have a clear and up-to-date course outline in which required readings
are identified;
b) students realize they are responsible for having access to the required
textbook(s);
c) students know where the department office is so that they can check for the
posting of information on classes cancelled or otherwise interrupted;
d) evaluation of student performance at the onset of a strike is complete, up-to-
date and available to the Department Head.
Dr. Birch stated that the University was very cognizant of the tremendous pressures that a
labour dispute places on students as well as on faculty and staff. In anticipation that the
University might not be able to avert a labour dispute, the following statement
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Other business
had been included in the correspondence dated February 28, 1992 circulated to all faculty
members: "...If a strike should occur, it should be remembered that strikes are legal and
that members of the University community are free to follow their conscience in deciding
whether or not they wish to cross picket lines. Staff members' and students' decisions
must be respected. The intent of this letter is to encourage you to provide reassurance to
your students and to ensure that you are able to evaluate their work fairly and assign
them grades for their courses."
One of the attachments to that correspondence was the material circulated at the meeting
outlining procedures for students who do not cross picket lines. Dr. Birch stated that the
student senators had suggested to him that these administrative guidelines might have
more academic status if they were endorsed by Senate. He had therefore brought the
material to Senate for its consideration. But, since the guidelines were now in effect, he
felt that it would be difficult to amend them. However, if Senate wished to endorse the
guidelines, subject to review by a committee such as the Committee on Academic Policy,
suggestions related to the application of the guidelines could be considered.
Dr. Birch said he wished to emphasize that the right of faculty members and students to
follow their conscience must be respected. In cases where the actions of a faculty member
had been interpreted as coercive, intimidating, or directive, the University had sought to
find out the basis for such actions and to ensure that it is not repeated. He stated that
where there are large numbers of faculty and students, there is always the potential for
misunderstanding, as well as the potential for individual
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Other business
initiative which might not be in line with a set of guidelines agreed to by the Deans. He
stressed that it was tremendously important that added pressure not be placed on the
students beyond that which they experience as a natural outcome of a labour dispute.
Miss Carole Forsythe, student senator, noted that in previous labour disputes, there had
not been a policy on the position of students in case of a strike, and thanked the
administration for producing one on this occasion. However, the student senators were
worried about what was going to happen to students because the policy was a little too
general and somewhat ambiguous. During a brief discussion of a proposed motion, Senate
agreed to waive the requirement of notice of motion. Miss Forsythe subsequently moved
the following motion:
Miss Forsythe l        Be it resolved that Senate respect the right of
Mr. Lau i        students to follow their conscience in deciding
whether or not to cross the picket lines in the
current labour dispute with the University;
furthermore, be it resolved that all students
unable to fulfil course requirements as a result
of the labour dispute with the University shall
be referred to the policy statement entitled
"Position of Students in Case of a Strike"
submitted by Vice-President Birch;
furthermore, be it resolved that the Academic
Policy Committee be requested to recommend
a detailed policy to Senate regarding the
academic position of students in future labour
disputes with the University.
Speaking to the motion, Miss Forsythe explained that some professors were telling
students that if they did not cross picket lines and attend classes they would be assigned a
failing grade for the course, which was contrary to the policy circulated.
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Adjournment
Miss Lahey asked for clarification of the last sentence of item I.(a) which states: "...They
(students) will be responsible for fulfilling course requirements and, insofar as possible,
they will be evaluated on the basis of the work they are judged to be able to do under the
circumstances." She stated that some professors were saying that students are responsible
for the material if the lecture is held. Dr. Birch responded that students will not be
responsible for material that is uniquely available in lectures that they have not attended
either by virtue of the class being cancelled or by their respecting a picket line. He stated
that it was very difficult to find wording to cover all eventualities.
After further
discussion the
motion was put
and carried.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9.15 p.m.
Next Meeting
The next regular meeting of Senate will be held on Wednesday, April 22, 1992.