Senate holds first meeting of academic year

The first meeting of Concordia’s Senate for the 2011-12 academic year prompted lively discussion on issues ranging from governance to open access.

Governance
In his introductory remarks, President Frederick Lowy provided an overview of action taken by the Board of Governors in response to the report submitted in mid-June by the External Governance Review Committee (EGRC).

The Board asked the Ad Hoc Governance Committee, which has been reviewing Board governance since the fall of 2009, to review the report and make its recommendations pertaining to matters that were solely within the jurisdiction of the Board. The EGRC recommendations dealing with matters requiring Senate or joint Senate and Board approval were not dealt with by the ad hoc committee since Senate has not yet discussed those issues. The recommendations related to the Board are being presented to the Board at its September 28 meeting for review and approval.

Senators supported the spirit of bicameralism outlined in the EGRC and endorsed the report unanimously. However, concerns were expressed about the pace at which the ad hoc committee was moving in terms of implementation of some of the recommendations and without discussion jointly with Senate.

A second motion was passed asking the ad hoc committee to delay action by the Board until a joint meeting of representatives of the Board and Senate could meet to discuss specific recommendations. Senate also passed a motion inviting the Board to participate in a joint committee, which would report to both the Board and Senate by November 30.

Senators support signing of the Berlin Declaration on Open Access
Senators approved a recommendation from the Academic Planning and Priorities Committee that President Lowy sign the Berlin Declaration on Open Access on behalf of Concordia. The declaration emphasizes the role the Internet has had in redefining the practical and economic realities of knowledge dissemination.

By joining the more than 300 institutions supporting the declaration, Concordia continues to demonstrate leadership in promoting access to publicly funded research and creative work via the Internet.

University Librarian Gerald Beasley said Concordia’s endorsement was well-timed given that the first North American edition of the Berlin Open Access Conference Series is planned for November 2011. 

Related links:
•  Full agenda and background documentation for September 9 Senate meeting
•  Background on governance discussions at Concordia
•  Concordia University Senate
•  Open Access at Concordia
•  The Berlin Declaration on Open Access