Senate Highlights: March 11 and 25, 2019

Following meetings of the Dalhousie University Senate, Dal News highlights some of the presentations and decisions made.

Senate is the university’s senior academic governing body, with membership consisting of elected representatives from Dal’s Faculties and the University Libraries, elected student representatives, a representative from the University of King’s College and Dal’s senior academic administrators. Senate is responsible for approving new programs; granting degrees/diplomas; managing the reviews of Faculties, centres and institutes; and setting academic regulations and the academic calendar.

Senate meets on the second and fourth Mondays of the month, from September through June. Learn more about Senate and its business at the Senate website.

March 11 meeting

Fossil Fuel Investment Review Report

Senate voted to publicly endorse the following statement, as an outcome of the engagement with the Board of Governors on the Ad Hoc Committee of Senate Report on Fossil Fuel Divestment:

Dalhousie University believes that anthropogenic climate change poses substantial risk (“CCR”) to human and natural systems, and that local and international efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels are critical to addressing this risk. Dalhousie University believes how companies respond to this risk, and to efforts, is an important consideration when assessing long-term value. Companies which deny the reality of climate change and fail to take actions to address this risk, or oppose actions to mitigate climate change, may pose an unwarranted risk to the Endowment Funds. Staff’s formal reviews of investment managers will include specific questions on CCR in the respective investment strategies. Consistent with the Principles of Responsible Investing, related measures will be reviewed and reported on an ongoing basis.

Likewise, subject to assessment of business strategy, management and financial metrics, opportunities in alternative energy and other technologies to mitigate the impacts of CCR have the potential to be good investments.

The Ad Hoc Committee, commissioned in 2014, reported in 2016 and subsequently a working group was established to pursue its recommendations through engagement with the Board of Governors, with the intention of reviewing institutional policy and practice on ethical investment and other strategic initiatives to address climate change. This engagement helped inform the report of the Board’s Investment Committee (approved February 2019) that sought to enhance and clarify communication of Dal’s Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) investment practices and its enhanced investment risk assessments specifically related to climate change. The language endorsed by Senate is reflected in the report.

The Chair of Senate commented that, “The outcome of Senate’s engagement with the Board is an excellent example of how together faculty, administration, and students can solve vexing issues through respectful engagement." He thanked all parties involved for the significant time and effort devoted to the cause which yielded an outcome that was supported across all constituencies, and which serves as a model for addressing other issues of concern.   

Delegation of Minor Policy Amendments

Senate approved the delegation of minor policy amendments to the University Secretary, rather than Senate at large. These amendments include: substitutions to reflect changes in position titles; substitutions to reflect new, approved Faculty, department or unit names; substitutions to reflect new, approved policy titles; amendments to incorporate gender-neutral language; and website links within policies.

Budget Advisory Committee report

Teri Balser, provost and chair of Dalhousie’s Budget Advisory Committee (BAC), presented the BAC’s draft operating budget plan to Senate for discussion and input. An updated plan was subsequently shared with the Dal community later in March. For more info on the budget plan, visit dal.ca/budget.

Steps to make diversity and inclusion a reality

This meeting’s presentation came from Margaret Robinson, acting coordinator of the Indigenous Studies program, but who spoke as student liaison for the Queer Faculty Caucus. She highlighted the importance of Dalhousie building on its policy foundation to create dedicated funds, space and representation for LGBTQ+ students/faculty, engaging them in enacting policies in ways that work for them.

March 25 meeting

Department name change: Earth and Environmental Sciences

Senate approved a name change to the Department of Earth Sciences to reflect its recently approved merger with the Environmental Science program. The new departmental name will be the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Discussion for the merger between the Earth Science department and Environmental Science program began in 2016 when a review of the latter identified concerns (including space, size and administrative issues) that were preventing the program from reaching its full potential. The disciplines of Earth Science and Environmental Science have much in common scientifically, and it was recognized that both the department and the program would benefit from a closer association. The merger was approved by the Faculty of Science Council in December 2018.

Definition of a student

Senate approved a formal definition of a student that reads as follows:

A Dalhousie student means a person registered in or enrolled at Dalhousie in any academic work or placement for a program that leads to the recording and/or issue of a mark, grade or statement of performance in a university-recognized student information system.

Although “students” are referred to in many policies and regulations, Dalhousie has not previously had an agreed-upon definition of a student. Operationally, the definition of a student, with respect to access to services and resources, has been driven by a student’s presence in Banner, the university’s student information system. However, this created gaps for groups such as ESL learners, pathway learners, and professional/continuing education adult learners.

A working group co-chaired by Andy Cochrane (College of Continuing Education) and the university registrar (first Mike McAllister, transitioning to Adam Robertson) worked through the new definition, looking at which learners should be recognized and making suggestions for what level of services and resources should be offered.

“This is a watershed moment for students at Dal,” said Cochrane, a longtime advocate for this initiative.

The new definition primarily has implications for individuals in non-credit programs, primarily pathways programs. This will require further work to assess the financial and other implications of providing increased services to this group, with appropriate fees and funding for any additional resources required will need to be determined and approved.

Steps to make diversity and inclusion a reality

This meeting’s presentation was from Sara Abdessamie, president of the Dalhousie Accessibility and Inclusion Society. A third-year Medical Sciences student, Sara highlighted her society’s work to make campus more accessible for students, faculty and staff. She highlighted areas where Dal is doing well (its current campus-wide audit for example), as well as the need to improve in wheelchair access and engaging faculty in accessibility and accommodation supports.

Learn more about the Dalhousie Senate at its website. Approved minutes for Senate meetings are available on DalSpace.