Senate holds final meeting of the year
Concordia’s Senate held its final meeting of the year on May 18, which featured an open session discussion on the ongoing student protests regarding the Quebec government’s planned increase in tuition fees.
Senate approves new master's program in design
Senate unanimously passed a motion approving a new graduate program within the Department of Design and Computation Arts. The 45-credit Master of/Magisteriate in Design “is unique in Montreal and Quebec,” stated Lorrie Blair, associate dean of academic and student affairs in the Faculty of Fine Arts, in her introduction to the program. “It will offer an interdisciplinary, integrative, and ecological approach to training future designers for the workplace or for postgraduate and doctoral work in design research."
The new master's program is built around three streams: visual communication, the built environment, and interaction design. “It compellingly reflects the strengths of our dynamic and forward-looking department, and projects them to create rich opportunities for graduate studies in design and computation arts,” said Rhona Richman Kenneally, chair of the Department of Design and Computation Arts. “We are proud to have received enthusiastic responses to this initiative from a number of pivotal departments and entities across the university.
“As with our undergraduate programs, this one is entirely consistent with Concordia's signature of interdisciplinary, collaborative, and sustainable research and practice, and will, we are confident, prove a strong and engaging contribution to our Faculty of Fine Arts, the School of Graduate Studies, and to Concordia as a whole,” she added.
Presentation on 2012-13 operating budget
Concordia’s Chief Financial Officer Patrick Kelley presented Concordia’s operating budget for 2012-13 to Senate. The final budget will be presented to the university’s Board of Governors for approval on June 21.
Kelley outlined the main financial goals contained within the budget, while explaining that Quebec’s ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport has yet to present its final numbers with respect to tuition fee increases, a fact that makes the process of creating the budget far more challenging.
Kelley’s team prepared the budget using a projected tuition fee increase of $254 per year, the amount most recently proposed by the government. In conclusion, he explained the university is “going to have to live with uncertainties for a while,” and must adopt a budget that is “reasonable” given the facts we have today.”
Final Senate meeting for outgoing president
Senate also thanked outgoing President Frederick Lowy for his service to Concordia over the years. Lowy was president and vice-chancellor of Concordia University from 1995 to 2005. He was reappointed president for an interim period in February 2011. Alan Shepard will replace Lowy as president and vice-chancellor. His five-year term begins on August 1, 2012.
Outgoing speaker of Senate recognized
Outgoing speaker Donald Boisvert was thanked for his years of service to Senate and the university. Boisvert was elected speaker in January 2008, taking over from the late John O’Brien. Associate Professor Boisvert began working at Concordia in 1979 as program development officer in the Dean of Students Office. He worked in numerous positions until becoming dean of students, a position he held from 1996 until 2003. Currently he is an associate professor and undergraduate advisor in the Department of Religion. Incoming President Alan Shepard will take on the role of chair of Senate when meetings resume in September.
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