Senate Highlights: September 23, 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.

Academic Amnesty for Global Climate Strike

Senate passed a motion supporting students who wanted to take part in the Global Climate Strike on Friday, September 27. The motion, recommended by the Senate Planning and Governance Committee (SPGC), stated that all individuals involved in teaching at Dalhousie  from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm on September 27 allow students who wish to participate in the strike to do so without academic penalty due to their absence, subject to some requirements and stipulations.  the following: The strike in Halifax was part of a series of rallies taking place around the world to raise awareness of climate change and the need for action.

Continuing appointment with annual academic career development (Faculty of Medicine)

Senate approved wording changes to a document that governs regulations concerning continuing appointment with annual academic career development (also referred to as tenure-stream appointment) in the Faculty of Medicine.

Senator Darrel White, a professor of medicine and senior associate dean in the Dalhousie Medical School, noted in remarks at Senate that the motion was intended to ensure consistency across policies and practices.

Question Period: Question regarding Culture of Respect and Fall 2019 Convocation Date

Adam Robertson, assistant vice provost (student affairs) and university registrar, answered a question submitted to Senate online about the date and time of Fall Convocation and the challenges to participation by members of the Jewish community due to its overlap with Yom Kippur.

Robertson said the date of Convocation is set based on numerous factors, including activities of the academic term, with a careful eye to faith-based and statutory holidays. He said the reference document used by his office to schedule convocation this year did list Yom Kippur as falling on October 9, but unfortunately through “human error” the Registrar’s Office failed to acknowledge some additional considerations about the holiday. Those included that the holiday begins at sundown on October 8, the day before, and requires a great deal of preparation for those who observe it.  “I really want to take this moment on behalf of the Registrar’s Office to offer my sincere apologies for the oversight,” said Robertson.

To avoid any future conflict, he said the Registrar’s Office has reviewed the reference list in conjunction with other campus leaders to ensure there is a comprehensive reference document that includes information on the nature of each holiday and any considerations that might impact convocation, including annotation of holidays that begin at sundown the previous day. In addition, he said a committee has been established as another checkpoint and that special arrangements have been made for those impacted by the timing of this year’s convocation. “Ensuring a positive and inclusive graduation experience where graduates have full opportunity to celebrate with their families and supporters is our first priority.”

Appointment of Interim Vice Chair of Senate, Student Affairs

Senator Angela Siegel was approved as interim Senate Vice Chair, student affairs, effective Sept. 24, 2019-June 30, 2020. The recommendation for approval came from the Senate Nominating Committee. Senator Siegel is an instructor in the Faculty of Computer Science and program director of the Bachelor of Applied Computer Science.

Executive Reports

President’s Report: Highlights of Teri Balser’s first report to Senate as interim President and Vice-Chancellor included commendation for a number of individuals, including those on the Lord Dalhousie Panel that released its final report in early September. She noted that Dal is the first university in Canada to commission a report of this type, which included recommendations on how the university can address the legacies related to Lord Dalhousie, slavery and race. “I’m looking forward to seeing where we can go with this,” she said. Dr. Balser also provided an update on strategic planning, noting that self-study teams formed this fall will write reports on a variety of topics that will include high-level recommendations for Deep Saini to consider when he takes over as President and Vice-Chancellor in early 2020.

Chair’s Report: Senate Chair Kevin Hewitt congratulated a number of individuals for different accomplishments, including Nursing professor Ingrid Waldron for the reception of the film There’s Something in the Water, which is based on her book of the same name. Dr. Hewitt congratulated Dr. Estelle Joubert (Fountain School of Performing Arts), Dr. Lisa Goldberg (School of Nursing), and Professor Michelle Williams (Schulich School of Law) for being named as Dal’s inaugural Provost Fellows and former Senator Pemberton Cyrus for his JD Fraser Service Award from Engineers Nova Scotia. He also noted that starting in January the second Senate meeting in each month will be devoted to meetings where Senators can take part in more participatory dialogue around topics and issues. The idea came from the Senate Officers retreat this past summer during discussions with Interim President Balser and will create a “think tank” space for Senators to help the university community understand a complex issue affecting the academic mission, solve a problem faced by faculties, or make a decision relevant to Senate’s role and stewardship of the academic mission.