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UBC plans statement of priorities
The University of B.C. plans to
prepare and publish a statement of
objectives and priorities that will guide
the University's academic development
in the foreseeable future.
The deans of UBC's 12 faculties
have been asked to prepare realistic
statements with obtainable objectives
for    the    pursuit    of   excellence    in
teaching, research and other academic
objectives.
President Douglas Kenny said the
request to the deans was part of an
on-going process of academic planning
that began when he took office in
July, 1975.
The latest request, he said, should
be seen as an extension of a discussion
paper prepared earlier this year at the
orts
- • ™ lubyt&W^aiMTo..^..
Published by Information Services, University of B.C., 2075 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, B.C.
V6T 1W5. 228-3131. J. A. Banham and Judith Walker, editors. Vol. 23, No. 15,
Recently erected display showing key figures and events in UBC's early history
attracts Jagtar Saroya, left, third-year mechanical engineering, and Rob Rithaler,
fourth-year science.  Display is located on Main Mall.
Biochemist wins Biely prize
Outstanding work on DNA research
has won Dr. Michael Smith the 1977
Professor Jacob Biely Faculty Research Prize.
Prof. Smith of UBC's Department
of Biochemistry did post-doctoral
work with Nobel Prize winner Gobind
Khorana. Dr. Korana, who began his
biochemical research that led to his
prize while at B.C. Research at UBC,
has described Prof. Smith's recent
work as breakthroughs.
Prof. Smith has discovered a simple
method of building short chains of
DNA, the fundamental genetic building   block   of   life.   A   chain  of DNA
consists of a spiraling ladder of
molecules. Each "rung" or base group
of the ladder can be formed from four
different groups of molecules.
Using an enzyme in his biochemical
manipulations, Prof. Smith can build a
sequence of molecules into a chain of
DNA for a specific gene. His method is
simpler than other methods now available and so can be used by a greater
number of biochemists and biologists.
While   on sabbatical at Cambridge
University in England last year. Prof.
Smith   contributed   to   work   that   is
described   as   a   milestone  of modern
Continued on p. 3 "People"
request of the Board of Governors that
dealt with the priorities and objectives
of the University in a situation of
virtually stable overall enrolment.
He said that in the discussion paper
prepared for the Board, the prime
objectives of the University were
described as the provision of quality
education for students, maintenance
of strength in areas of concern to the
province and the nation, the
encouragement of excellence within
the faculty, and direct service to B.C.
and Canada.
"The statements requested of the
deans," President Kenny said, "stem
directly from the discussion paper and
will serve as the basis for planning
academic development at UBC and
setting realistic objectives in the light
of enrolment patterns and the present
economic climate in Canada."
Deans have been asked for a
statement of broad and specific
objectives and priorities, with
consideration being given to financial
resources, the basic components of a
university in terms of essential
departments and faculties, the
minimum size required for viability of
a department or faculty, and long-term
enrolment patterns.
Also requested are concise
statements on objectives in
undergraduate, graduate and
continuing and professional-education
teaching; pure and applied research;
and other academic activities,
including creative and professional
work.
In drawing up statements of
objectives, faculty heads have been
requested to give consideration to
stated or perceived provincial, national
and international concerns and
priorities, and the effect of UBC
faculty priorities on programs given at
other public universities and
commyinity colleges in B.C.
Deans have been asked to state
priority areas and disciplines and what
program developments are required in
the stated areas. Statements are
requested on the need for
development of joint programs with
other faculties, the effect such
programs will have on enrolments and
the resources needed for
implementation.
The document also requests
justification for graduate and
undergraduate teaching and research
programs, with particular reference to
low-enrolment areas.
Deans have been asked to submit
their statements to Dr. Michael Shaw,
UBC's vice-president for University
development, by Jan. 23. Senate
Commerce to be tougher
New regulations for the
advancement of students in the
Faculty of Commerce and Business
Administration were approved by
UBC's Senate on Nov. 16.
The new regulations will apply only
to those students registering in the
faculty for the first time in September,
1978. Students currently enrolled in
the faculty are exempt.
Under the new regulations,
commerce students carrying a normal
course load will be classified as having
failed the year if they pass all courses
but achieve an average below 55 per
cent, or if they do not pass all courses
and achieve an average below 60 per
cent in the courses passed.
A third regulation provides that a
student who fails in 6 units or more
(the regulation now reads "more than
6 units") of a required year's work will
be considered a failure on the year and
will not receive credit for courses
passed in that year. Students
transferring from other faculties will
not be given credit for courses passed
in a failed year.
Admission regulations firm
Senate's admissions committee has
reaffirmed its position on the timing
of new UBC entrance regulations that
were approved in September.
Committee chairman Prof. Cyril
Finnegan told Senate at its November
meeting that the timing of the new
regulations had been reconsidered
twice since September, the second
time in response to numerous letters
received by the University from school
boards and teachers' associations.
Prof. Finnegan said the committee
had reconsidered the timing for the
implementation of each of the new
regulations and had unanimously
agreed to reaffirm its original
recommendations.
The first of the new regulations
applies to students entering UBC in
September, 1978, from grade 12.
Calculation of their standing for entry
will be made on the basis of their 10
best relevant subjects.
Prof. Finnegan told Senate this
regulation "will probably help a
number of students," since the only
change from the existing regulation
will be to reduce from 12 to 10 the
number of courses on which the entry
calculations will be made.
The problem, Prof. Finnegan said,
seems to revolve around what is meant
2/UBC Reports/Nov. 23, 1977
by the word "relevant." He said
counsellors in the school system have
no trouble understanding the meaning
of the term because the Registrar's
Office and the Office of Student
Services see to it that counsellors are
well supplied with documents
concerning admission to those
faculties that accept students from
grade 12 — Agricultural Sciences, Arts,
Education, Science, and the nursing
program in Applied Science.
Students seeking admission in 1979
will be required to present three arts
and science courses at the grade 12
level in addition to English 12.
Prof. Finnegan said the committee
had run a computer analysis to
determine how many of the 3,003
students admitted from grade 12 in
1977 had grade 12 subjects beyond
English 12.
He said more than 60 per cent had
three grade 12 subjects, more than 80
per cent had two subjects, and 96 per
cent had one. He emphasized that
these percentages were minimal, since
the computer was not programmed to
pick up two grade 12 subjects which
are not required by any faculty for
admission to UBC.
He said the committee had
requested the registrar to insert a
notice in the UBC calendar stating that
special consideration would be given
to applications from students who
were unable to meet this requirement
"through no fault of their own."
For entry to UBC in September,
1981, students must have math II,
science II, French II or a foreign
language, or three courses at the 12
level in addition to English II and 12
and social studies II, Prof. Finnegan
said.
Prof. Finnegan said the regulations
apply only to students coming from
grade 12 and that applications for
admission from mature students are
always treated on an individual basis.
Internship for psychologists
Senate has approved a new
one-year, post-doctoral internship
program in clinical psychology in the
Faculty of Medicine.
The purpose of the program is to
allow a small number of clinical
psychologists who hold doctoral
degrees to take an interdisciplinary
program for the development of skills
in mental health intervention — and to
prepare them for work with
psychiatric colleagues.
The-'"students- wirr be" trained "in"
UBC's      Psychiatric       Hospital       by
Department of Psychiatry faculty.
Advertising not necessary
Senate has approved a motion
modifying regulations passed in 1971
that make it mandatory to advertise
UBC faculty posts nationally in
Canadian publications.
The modification makes it possible,
in well-documented cases, for heads of
departments, directors of schools and
institutes, deans of faculties and vice
presidents to be appointed internally
"without necessarily advertising such
vacancies outside the University."
Dean George Volkoff, head of the
science faculty and sponsor of the
motion, emphasized to Senate that he
was not saying there should be no
advertising of vacancies for such posts.
He said that when the 1971
regulations were passed there were no
budgetary problems. Today, he said,
the University has a virtually stable
enrolment and limited resources. He
said his motion would make it possible
to advertise in fewer cases, especially
where there are well-qualified people
at the University already.
Dean Volkoff said his motion was
not meant to apply to vacancies for
professorial or other ranks at UBC.
Institute discontinued
Senate has voted to discontinue the
Institute of Astronomy and Space
Science in the Faculty of Graduate
Studies and to incorporate the
institute's functions into the
Department of Geophysics and
Astronomy in the Faculty of Science.
Graduate Studies dean Prof. Peter
Larkin told Senate the institute had
been set up in 1969 when five western
Canadian universities were discussing
establishment of a consortium to
manage the proposed Queen Elizabeth
telescope, which was to be built on
Mount Kobau in the south Okanagan.
The federal government decided
not to proceed with the telescope in
B.C. Another instrument is currently
under construction in Hawaii.
Dean Larkin said the University had
also received a negotiated development
grant from the National Research
Council to support astronomy at the
time the institute was formed.
That grant, he said, has now been
spent and research activities related to
it were now carried out under normal
operating-grant arrangements.
President Douglas Kenny, chairman PEOPLE
of "Senate;" "said" the Faculty of
Graduate Studies deserved
congratulations for having carried out
a review of a University unit and
recommending that it be discontinued
because of changed circumstances.
Senate also approved motions from
Dean Larkin asking that consideration
be given in five years to establishment
of a separate Department of
Astronomy, and requesting the
president to establish a Committee on
Space Science.
Dean Larkin said the committee
would co-ordinate work going on in a
variety of University departments in
the areas of satellite imagery and
design. He said the committee was
needed to serve as a liaison between
UBC and a recently formed national
body on space science activities.
Librarians get Senate seat
Professional librarians employed at
UBC have been granted representation
on Senate.
A motion to allow full-time professional librarians to elect one of their
number to Senate was approved at
Senate's November meeting on the
recommendation of the Committee on
the Implementation of the Universities
Act.
Only those professional librarians
who have been employed at UBC for
four months or more will be eligible to
stand as candidates and to vote in the
election.
In addition to seeking Senate
membership, the UBC Librarians'
Association asked that Senate designate professional librarians on campus
as "equivalent to faculty members" as
defined under the Universities Act.
Prof. Peter Pearse told Senate the
Committee on Implementation of the
Universities Act did not support the
proposal to designate librarians as
being equivalent to faculty members
but was prepared to support representation on Senate "in view of the very
important academic function of professional  librarians at the University."
Continued from p. 1
biology. The group he worked with
solved the chemical sequence for a
particular DNA chain consisting of
5,000 base groups.
The $1000 Jacob Biely Prize is
awarded annually for distinguished
research carried out in the previous
three years. It is named in honor of
Prof.   Biely,   former   head   of  UBC's
Department of Poultry Science.
*   *  *
Eight members of UBC's non-faculty employed staff have been nominated for a seat on the Board of
Governors and five members of the
faculty are running for two Board
positions.
Nominees for the seat open to
non-faculty employed staff are: Jerry
C. H. Andersen, a library assistant in
the Woodward Library; Ken Andrews,
a physical plant electrician and the
incumbent; Jeff Hoskins, mail clerk in
the Faculty of Commerce; Dennis
Magrega, a counsellor in the Office of
Student Services; Frances Takemoto,
senior accountant in the Finance
Department; Graham Thome, audiovisual section, Instructional Media
Centre; and Laszlo J. Veto, senior
technician, Department of Botany.
The election for the position will be
conducted by mail ballot. Election
date is Dec. 14.
Nominated for the two faculty
positions on the Board are: Prof. John
Calam, Faculty of Education; Prof.
Charles McDowell, Chemistry, and an
incumbent; Prof. Francis E. Murray,
Chemical Engineering; Prof. Peter
Pearse, Economics; and Prof. R. D.
Russell,   Geophysics  and  Astronomy.
The election for the two positions
will be conducted by mail ballot.
Election date is Dec. 2.
Prof. Gideon Rosenbluth of the
Department of Economics and the
other faculty member now serving on
the Board, is not a candidate for a
second term.
*   *   #
President Douglas Kenny has accepted an invitation to serve on the
National Advisory Council of Canadian Friends of Tel Aviv University. .
Tel Aviv University is Israel's largest
university, with more than 18,000
students and 1,700 faculty. In addition to its regular programs, it offers
one-year undergraduate programs and
summer   sessions   for   Canadians.
The Canadian Friends of Tel Aviv
University is a group involved in
establishing programs of Canadian-
Israel academic and cultural interchange.
In addition to Dr. Kenny, 29 other
distinguished Canadians have joined
the advisory council, including the
presidents of Carleton and Dalhousie
universities.
* *   #
The Science Council of Canada has
released the report of a committee
chaired by Dr. David Bates, former
dean of medicine who continues to
teach in the physiology and medicine
departments of UBC's medical school,
on the containment of long-term
hazards to human health in the
environment and in the workplace.
The report makes recommendations
to industry, labor, government and
public decision-makers on six
environmental hazards studied by the
committee. These included asbestos,
mercury, radiation and oxides of
nitrogen.
Dr. Bates was also a key speaker at
a national conference entitled
"Hazards at Work: Law and the
Workplace," held in Toronto in
mid-November. He spoke on "Policies
for  Occupational   and  Environmental
Health."
* *   *
The report of a team headed by Dr.
David Robitaille of the Faculty of
Education which carried out a
province-wide assessment of the
mathematical skills of students in
grades 4, 8 and 12, has been released
by Education Minister Patrick McGeer.
The team found that basic
arithmetic skills of students in B.C.
schools are generally satisfactory but
greater attention is required for
application of these skills to
consumer-related problems.
A similar assessment of student
skills in the field of social studies, to
be released soon, is under the direction
of Prof. Ted Aoki, also a member of
the Faculty of Education.
_^'^___^f^__fmf^=_f^_pi[''^m§i^_m^ymmfMf^f_m__i_^i^
\ Continued from p. 4
\   FRIDAY, DEC. 2 (Continued)
| 4:00 p.m.     GEOPHYSICS   AND   ASTRONOMY  SEMINAR.   Dr.
| Michael      Chinnery,      Massachusetts      Institute      of
j Technology,   on    How   Large   Can   Earthquakes   Be?
j Room 260, Geophysics and Astronomy Building.
j    7:30 p.m.     ICE HOCKEY.   UBC   vs.    Richmond.   Thunderbird
. Winter Sports Centre.
.    8:00 p.m.     UNIVERSITY   SYMPHONY   ORCHESTRA  directed
| by    Douglas    Talney    plays    Music    of    Beethoven,
| Schubert and E. Wilson. Recital Hall, Music Building.
8:00 p.m.     BASKETBALL. UBC Thunderettes vs. Western Washington. Gym A, Physical Education Centre.
SATURDAY, DEC. 3
8:00 a.m.     VOLLEYBALL.   Women's   Invitational   Tournament.
Play    continues   until   approximately    11    p.m.   War
Memorial Gymnasium. f
2:00 p.m.     SOCCER.   UBC   Thunderbirds   vs.   Dover   Olympics. I
Thunderbird Stadium. J
8:00 p.m.     UBC OPERA WORKSHOP. French Tickner directs An J
Evening of Opera — Excerpts from master works of j
18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Old Auditorium. j WEEK AT UBC
Notices must reach Information Services, Main Mall North Admin. Bldg., by mail, by 5 p.m. Thursday of week preceding publication of notice
"l/ATjcoTJvin^NlPi^^^^ ™~
9:00 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 26 - 8:15 p.m.
Prof. Robert Rosenblum, Cecil H. and Ida Green Visiting Professor
to UBC from New York University, speaks on Picasso — and the
Guernica of 1937. Lecture Hall 2, Woodward Building.
SUNDAY, NOV. 27
3:00 p.m.     MUSEUM  OF  ANTHROPOLOGY.  Jerry  Smith  and
Beau   Dick,   Indian  artists,   discuss their  work  in   an
informal setting. 6393 N.W. Marine Dr.
MONDAY, NOV. 28
9:00 a.m.     PEDIATRICS MEDIA SHOW on Idiopathic Scoliosis.
Continues until Friday, Dec. 2, with shows from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. 715 W. 12th Ave.
12:30 p.m. CANCER RESEARCH SEMINAR. Bob Whiting,
Cancer Research Centre, UBC, on Studies of Chromate
Mutagenesis in Cultured Human Cells. Library, Block
B, Medical Sciences Building.
POETRY READING bv Robert Hoaa. Canadian Doet.
Mildred Brock Lounge, Brock Hall.
MANAGEMENT SCIENCE SEMINAR. Prof. E. Love,
Economics and Commerce, Simon Fraser University,
on Production Scheduling via Product Decomposition.
Room 312, Angus Building.
CHEMISTRY SEMINAR. Prof. S. Masamune,
Chemistry, University of Alberta, on Synthesis of
Macrolide Antibiotics. Room 225, Chemistry Building.
3:45 p.m. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SEMINAR. S. Tom,
mechanical engineering graduate student, on The
Feasibility of Using Supercritical C02 as a Coolant for
the CANDU Reactor. Room 1215, Civil and
Mechanical Engineering Building.
{ 4:00 p.m. BIOCHEMICAL DISCUSSION GROUP. Chris
1 Richardson,  Biochemistry,  UBC, on Assembly of the
I Membrane of Semliki   Forest  Virus.   Lecture Hall 3,
| Woodward Building.
I 4:30 p.m. ZOOLOGY-PHYSIOLOGY SEMINAR. Dr. David
I Smith, Zoology,  UBC, on Blood Pressure Regulation
j in Fish. Room 2449, Biological Sciences Building.
| 8:00 p.m. COLLEGIUM MUSICUM. Hans-Karl Piltz and John
i Sawyer direct Music of the Renaissance. Recital Hall,
■; Music Building.
IMMUNOLOGY SEMINAR GROUP. Dr. John North,
Bacteriology      and      Immunology,      University      of
California at  Berkeley, on  B Memory Cells in Vitro.
■ Salons B and C, Faculty Club.
> PEOPLES OF THE WORLD IN FILM series. Sholom
i: Altman, Anthropology, SFU, presents The Dani of
? New Guinea — Dead Birds. 1155 W. Georgia.
i Admission, $4.
I   TUESDAY, NOV. 29
}     12 noon ACADEMIC   WOMEN'S   ASSOCIATION   lunch   for
:. members   and   friends.   Salons  A,   B  and  C,   Faculty
Club.
DEVELOPMENTAL   MEDICINE   SEMINAR.   Dr.   D.
Seccombe on Peroxisomes and their Isolation. Room
15,   2nd  floor.  Centre for   Developmental   Medicine,
il 811 W. 10th Ave.
I 12:30 p.m. LAW LECTURE. Visiting UBC professor A. W. R.
. Carrothers, president. Institute for Research on Public
i Policy, on The Challenge of Public Policy Research in
i Canada. Main lecture hall, Curtis (Law) Building.
; BOTANY SEMINAR. Bob Sheath,  Botany,  UBC, on
Fresh Water Rhodophyta of Southern Ontario. Room
\ 3219, Biological Sciences Building.
< 3:30 p.m. GEOLOGY LECTURE. C. Jay Hodgson, Geological
| Sciences, Queen's University, on Ore Metal
\ Associations    in     Volcanogenic    Massive    Sulphides.
Room 330-A, Geological Sciences Building. Discussion
< follows in same location at 8 p.m.
> OCEANOGRAPHY SEMINAR. Dr. Pat Crean,
i Institute of Oceanography, UBC, on Numerical Model
Simulations    of    the    Tides   and   Streams   Between
| Vancouver   Island   and   the   Mainland.   Room   1465,
Biological Sciences Building.
4:30 p.m.    CHEMISTRY     SEMINAR.      Prof.      S.     Masamune,
Chemistry,       University      of      Alberta,      on      The
j Cyclobutadiene    Problem.     Room    250,    Chemistry
f Building.
UBC PUBLIC AFFAIRS. Host Gerald Savory, Centre
for Continuing Education, discusses The Canadian
Unity Issue: Regions and the Party System with guests
Dr. David Elkins and Dr. Richard Johnston, Political
Science, UBC. Channel 10, Vancouver Cablevision.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30
12 noon PHARMACOLOGY   SEMINAR.   Dr.   Thomas   Perry,
Pharmacology, UBC, on Neurotransmitters of
Cerebellar Neurones: Contributions from Studies of
Inherited Human Cerebellar Disorders. Room 114,
Block C, Medical Sciences Building.
12:30 p.m. COLLEGIUM MUSICUM. Hans-Karl Piltz and John
Sawyer direct Music of the Renaissance. Recital Hall,
Music Building.
HABITAT   REVISITED   film   series.   Upper   lounge.
International House.
3:30 p.m.     STATISTICS        WORKSHOP.        R.
Engineering,   Phillips   Cables    Ltd.,   on
Communication    Cable   Manufacturing.
Angus Building.
4:30 p.m.     CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SEMINAR.
McGill University, on End Effects in Fluidized Bed Reactors. Room 206, Chemical Engineering Building.
Hauschildt,
Statistics in
Room   412,
J. R. Grace,
THURSDAY, DEC. 1
9:00 a.m. MEDICAL GRAND ROUND. Dr. Anthony W. Chow,
Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, and
Harbor General Hospital, Los Angeles, on Herpes
Simplex Encephalitis. Lecture Hall B, VGH.
12:30 p.m. UNIVERSITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA directed
by Douglas Talney plays Music of Beethoven,
Schubert and E. Wilson. Recital Hall, Music Building.
GREEN VISITING PROFESSOR. Gordon Craig,
University of Edinburgh, on James Hutton and the
Scottish Contribution to Geological Time. Lecture
Hall 2, Woodward Building.
PHARMACOLOGY SEMINAR. Dr. J. H. Dirks,
Medicine, UBC, on Renal Handling of Calcium:
Physiology and Pharmacology. Lecture Hall 3,
Woodward Building.
2:30 p.m. CONDENSED MATTER SEMINAR. K. Abdolall,
UBC, on The Lipid Water Interaction in Lyotropic
Mesophases. Room 318, Hennings Building.
3:45 p.m. APPLIED MATH AND STATISTICS. Prof. J. J. Levin,
Mathematics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, on The
Behavior of Solutions of Integrodifferential Equations.
Room 2449, Biological Sciences.
4:00 p.m. PHYSICS COLLOQUIUM. K. O. Hodgson, Chemistry,
Stanford, on EXAFS Studies of Metalloproteins.
Room 201, Hennings Building.
8:00 p.m. UBC OPERA WORKSHOP. French Tickner directs An
Evening of Opera — excerpts from master works of the
18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Old Auditorium.
FRIDAY, DEC. 2
9:00 a.m.     PEDIATRICS GRAND ROUND. Dr. David Scheifele,
Pediatrics,   VGH,   on   Current  Concepts of  Bacterial
Meningitis. Lecture Hall B, VGH.
12:30 p.m. HABITAT REVISITED film series. Upper Lounge,
International House.
3:30 p.m. SOIL SCIENCE SEMINAR. Terry Rollerson on
Accumulation of Debris in the Ablation Zone of
Present Day Mountain Glaciers; and David Moon,
Agriculture Canada and Soil Science, UBC, on Soils
Data for Forest Planning. Room 154, MacMillan
Building.
LINGUISTICS COLLOQUIUM. James Patrie,
Linguistics, UBC, on Historical Background of Ainu.
Room 2225, Buchanan Building.
ZOOLOGY-PHYSIOLOGY SEMINAR. Dr. Pierre
Laurent, Comparative Physiology, Strasbourg, France,
on Comparative Studies of Gill Blood Pathways in
Different Classes of Fish. Room 2449, Biological
Sciences Building.
COMPUTER SCIENCE COLLOQUIUM. Dr. Terry
Beyer, University of Oregon, on Reducing Clerical
Burden in Programming Languages. Room 301,
Computer Sciences Building.
Continued inside
4/UBC Reports/Nov. 23, 1977