Senate Notes
A regular meeting of University Senate, held Feb. 3, 2006
Applications: Provost Martin Singer said the university has the highest enrolment in its history, 24,000 FTEs (full-time-equivalent, students); the intention is to cap enrolment at 25,000. Applications have increased by 2.81-per-cent over last year. However, those from graduate and international students have decreased. The application fee is a factor. In the case of international students, the delay in processing visas is a problem for all Canadian universities. Recent trips to China and India (see page 2) will help; however, Chinese universities are more competitive for their own students, and the effect of 9/11, which delivered international students to Canada instead of the U.S., has faded.
Institute on Diversity: Former Provost Jack Lightstone introduced the Concordia Institute for Cultural and Social Diversity on behalf of 50 professors from three faculties. It will go to the deans and faculty councils, and if approved, be submitted to Senate for approval. He said it will conduct research and deliver the results to the community at large. He hoped Engineering would also participate. The Institute will benefit from an endowment, plus a modest contribution from the university. The full 26-page proposal can be viewed on the Senate website via the Secretariat page.
Jason Camlot (Arts & Science) asked what had become of a proposed Institute for the Humanities. Dean David Graham said he and Dean Catherine Wild would shortly make a formal proposal for this body.
Financial picture: CFO Larry English presented the final results for 2004-05 and the 2005-06 operating budget. Last year the deficit was $2.6 million, but it ended up being $9 million. Nearly $7 million of this amount, the result of the collective agreements that in some cases went back three years, was accrued (paid and projected payouts).
The university is paying out $13.38 million this year to service the debt on its new buildings; this will continue for 40 years. However, a graph of the financial solvency of all Quebec universities indicates they all dipped about the same amount last year. Concordia continues to be in the soundest financial health, with an accumulated surplus of $10,465,000 thanks in part to nearly $30 million in internally restricted funds.
In answer to a question about the reason for overspending by about $3 million for administration (not counting Advancement), English said there was no single reason beyond the under-funding of the university. However, Juan Segovia (JMSB) said the budget as presented was not sufficiently explicit, and left many questions. He said the academic sector’s spending had increased by 3 per cent, but the administrative departments had overspent by much more, some by over 100 per cent. He urged more efficient and effective management of the university’s resources.
English said the budget had been approved by the Board. The next iteration of the 2005-06 budget would go to the May 19 Board meeting and be presented to Senate May 5.
Searches: Claude Lajeunesse reported that the search for Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies, was proceeding. Singer said the search for Dean of the JMSB was also in hand. Christopher Ross (JMSB, CUFA President) asked why the function of the new VP was not discussed at Senate, to which Lajeunesse replied that the job profile would be composed in due course by the search committee.
Credit courses in Cont Ed: In answer to a question by Ross, the President said this proposal would be discussed in the faculties, after which it would come to Senate.
Academic vs. non-academic VPs: In answer to a question by Ross about a proposal to categorize VPs, Lajeunesse said he was not present when this proposal was made, and it would be up to the chair of the Board to decide if the proposal would be brought to Senate.
Online course calendar: University Counsel Pierre Frégeau reported that he could find no legal requirement for the course calendar to be printed.
Senate meetings: Several students expressed disappointment that three Senate meetings have been cancelled over the past year.
Next meeting: March 17.