111. ^ Tuesday, January 27th, 1931 A special meeting of the Senate of The University of British Columbia was held on Tuesday, January 27th, 1931, at 8:15 p.m., in the Board Room. Present: President L. S. Klinck (in the Chair), The Honourable the Minister of Education, Mr. Joshua Hinchliffe, Chancellor R. E. McKechnie, Dean F. M. Clement, Dean R. W. Brock, Dean D. Buchanan, Mr. E. A. Lloyd, Dr. G. G. Moe, Mr. J. M. Turnbull, Dr. H. Vickers, Mr. H. F. Angus, Dr. A. H. Hutchinson, Mr. J. N. Harvey, Dr. Frank P. Patterson, Mr. E. C. Hayward , Mr. D. L. MacLaurin, Mr. G. W. Clark, Mr. P. H. Elliott, Rev. Dr. J. G. Brown, Rev. Dr. W. H. Vance, Dr. G. G. Sedgewick, Mr. Sherwood Lett, Mr. H. T. Logan, Mr. A. E. Lord, Dr. Evlyn F. Farris, Mrs. Beatrice Wood, Dr. C. Killam, Miss A. B. Jamieson, Mr. Sydney Anderson, Dr. W. B. Burnett, The Most Rev. A. U. de Pencier and Mr. Lyle A. Atkinson. The Secretary read the call of the meeting: To consider the present and future basis for admission to the University. An expression of regret at his inability to attend the meeting was received from Canon Sovereign. Letters from the Deputy provincial Secretary were read announcing that the following persons had been appointed members of Senate by orders in council: J. Newton Harvey, Esq., ) For a period of three Vancouver ) years from January 21st, Frank P. Patterson, Esq., ) 1931, and until their M.D.C.M.,F.R.S.C.E., ) successors are F.A.C.S., Vancouver ) appointed. E. C. Hayward, Esq., B.A. Victoria ) For a period of three ) years from January 24th, ) 1931, and until his suc- ) cessor is appointed. _j 112. Tuesday, January 27th, 1931 The President extended to the new members a hearty welcome to the deliberations of the Senate and expressed the hope that they would enjoy their association with the Senate and its duties. The President then introduced the Honourable Mr. Hinchliffe. The Honourable Mr. Hinchliffe, in his opening remarks, stated that he had come to the meeting in his official capacity, to lay before Senate the considered opinion of the Government in regard to the one particular question referred to in the notice of meeting. The Minister then read his notes, which follow: SALIENT POINTS BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION AT A CONFERENCE HELD BY HIM WITH THE SENATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA ON JANUARY 27th, 1931. 1. The Board of Governors has, through the Minister of Education, called the attention of the Government to the condition of affairs at the University, especially in regard to overcrowding, stressing the point that a prompt decision as to the steps to be taken to amend such condition is imperative. 2. Two results of this overcrowding are specifically pointed out by the Government:- (a) That many classes are much too crowded for effective teaching to be carried on, and (b) That by reason Of this overcrowding there is greatly increased danger of loss of life should a fire occur. 3. The Board of Governors has taken the stand that the duty of deciding what shall be done in regard to this matter lies entirely with the Government. 4. The following suggestions which have been made to the Board have been handed on to the Government: ^ m " • """ 113. Tuesday, January 27th, 1931 1. Reduce the registration to the point where the present accommodation is adequate. 2. Decline to organize new Faculties or Departments. i 3. Restrict the scope of existing Departments to the work being done at present. 4. Leave the question of increased accommodation in abeyance for the time being. 5. The Government is of the opinion that there are only two practicable methods by which the difficulty of overcrowding may be overcome. J. (a) Increase the accommodation, (b) Reduce the registration. ,. As at present it is absolutely impossible for the Government to provide funds for such increased accommodation as would relieve the overcrowding, and, L as apparently, for some years to come the same con dition is likely to prevail, (a) is out of the *" question. ]^k There seems, therefore, to be only one course left, y ^^ namely, to reduce the registration to the point for which the present accommodation will suffice. ( 6. The Government finds that, under Section 2 of 75 of 1926-27 the Senate is charged with the duty of deter- > | mining "all questions relating to the admission of students to the University or to any Faculty thereof", but, since the Board of Governors declares that the ^ Provincial Government is the body that must decide the vital question of limitation of registration, the ^ Government feels that it is justified in coming to this Senate, and declaring its policy, and asking the , Senate to put that policy into effect. k 7. The University has, the Board of Governors declares, | ; followed the policy laid down by the former adminis- * tration, viz., that the institution should be open, ■j free of charge, to all students with the requisite academic standing. No material change, except the imposition of a moderate fee on students, has been made, nor could, the Board of Governors declares, any material change be made until the Board was officially Ft. advised by the Administration that it desired such change . V__| I w >: 114. 1 Tuesday, January 27th, 1931 ^kw 8« The Government takes the position that conditions are now entirely different from those which prevailed at the time the former Administration laid down its policy, and that it is now absolutely impossible for British Columbia to provide a University, "open and z free of charge to all students with the requisite academic standing". Indeed from the very beginning the University Act has never required, for in Section 9 of 1924 it limits the liability of the University to the extent of its resources. 9. Seeing, then, that the Board of Governors definitely J attributes to the Government the duty of laying down a policy regarding registration at the University of British Columbia; seeing that conditions are very different from what they were when the former Administration laid down the policy that it desired to have ji followed; seeing that the situation at the University in regard to overcrowding demands immediate attention, , the Government feels that it is not exceeding its duty u when it lays down its policy in regard to registration, and suggests to the Senate that it desires to see that policy carried out. r 10. The Government desires, (a) That no more students be allowed to enter the < University than the buildings can accommodate in such a manner as to allow the work of the Univer- l sity to be done in the most efficient way, (b) The Government desires that the candidates for { admission received each year shall be those who appear to offer the best possibilities of assimi- £ lating and making good use of the education ob tained at the University, and suggests that the vacancies available each year be filled from the applicants in the order of merit in which they appear upon the Matriculation pass list. ' I. 11. The Government is moved to lay down this policy by i certain considerations in addition to those advanced by the Board of Governors. (a) It would appear that many students now are admitted who should never enter University because, * as the President has stated, only about 40% of those who register eventually graduate. (The i^^ Government is of the opinion that probably 31% ^m sould be nearer the mark). f 1 115. Tuesday, January 27th, 1931 (b) The Government is aware, from the statements of parents of past or present students, that a certain number of students now attend University although they have no intention of doing any real study. (c) Now that the Government has officially been made aware of the possibility of loss of life through overcrowding in case of fire, it has no course open but to suggest, as it has already done, that the attendance be strictly limited to the accom- moda tion . (d) As the Government is interested in seeing that the money spent on University education is spent to the greatest advantage, it is moved to suggest that students be admitted in order of merit as their names appear on the Matriculation list. The Honourable the Minister stated that he did not wish to enter into a debate but would be pleased to hear any questions which might be asked. His wishes in this regard were respected. A discussion followed in which uuestions were asked and views presented. After the withdrawal of the Honourable the Minister," the President stated that copies of the statement submitted by the Board of Governors to the Minister, with Accompanying memoranda, and a copy of the Minister's statement to Senate, would be sent to members of Senate, thus putting into the hands of Senate all information available at the present time. ^ 116. "1 > '- f Tuesday, January 27th, 1931 Dr. Sedgewick) Dr. Vance ) That the President be authorized by Senate to supply members of Senate with copies of the papers as stated, and that Senate stand adjourned to re-assemble at the call of the Chair. Carried Secretary ^@/' Chairman