Collection F0078 - York University Senate collection

The Senate meets on the last Thursday of each month (September to June). At its first meeting it elects a Vice-Chair, who presides over the meetings in the absence of the Chair. At a regular meeting of the Senate, the Executive Committee presents nominations for officers of the body as well as nominations for the membership of the Standing Committees. The Order of Business for meetings is set down in the Senate 'Handbook', and the body adopts the rules of the House of Commons with regard to the conduct of meetings. The Chair is permitted to vote on all questions, but no member may have more than one vote. The Senate may resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole at which time the Chair of Senate shall appoint a chair to sit for the duration of the meeting of the Committee.
Statutory matters of the Senate include the creation of departments and faculties, the establishment of chairs in any of the arts and sciences, the creation of faculty councils to act as executive committees for the Senate. The Senate has power to regulate the admission of students, to determine courses of study and graduation requirements, to institute degrees and to establish rules and procedures to govern the business of the Senate. The passing of statutes requires a first reading, consideration by Committee of the Whole, and second reading. A non-statute may go through more than two of these stages in any one meeting.

The Academic Policy and Planning Committee (APPC) is the key committee of the Senate responsible for examining and formulating long-term and short-term academic policy. Its functions include recommending to Senate new faculties, departments, programmes, and research centres as well as recommending reviews of existing structures. In addition, it makes recommendations to the Board and the President regarding budgetary considerations for the academic function of the University, and in respect to tenure of faculty (but not of individual cases). Prior to 1980, there were several sub-committees of APPC including the Steering Sub-Committee (which acted as an executive to the APPC), a budget sub-committee, two planning sub-committees, a Non-Faculty Colleges Sub-Committee and a sub-committee on instructional aid resources. The Sub-Committee on Non-Faculty Colleges was charged with examining the academic, social and cultural roles of these Colleges and the structures necessary to make them work. The Sub-Committee' s mandate expired in 1981.
The Committee currently has two standing sub-committees: the Long Range Planning Sub-Committee which reports to APPC on long-range trends in education, the introduction of new disciplines, future social requirements, library technology, and new methods of promulgating and organizing research.
The Technical Sub-Committee is responsible for defines, obtains and analyses data and supporting documents related to proposals before APPC. APPC also has the right to establish sub-committees for particular issues.

The Curriculum Committee was established to co-ordinate and oversee curriculum development in the University, to review existing curricula and to examine and propose changes to them. It had the power to accept or reject any routine changes to programme proposals. It was charged in 1971 with power to exercise initiative with respect to policy matters involving curricula, including the specific issue of Canadian content. The committee was superseded in 1979 by the Committee on Curriculum Policy and Instruction.

The Committee on Curriculum Policy and Instruction, successor to the Curriculum Committee, was created in 1979 to formulate policy and make recommendations on all matters concerning the improvement, evaluation, and coordination of curriculum, teaching and learning in the University. This included the examination of proposals for new degree and non-degree programmes. The Committee sets policy for and oversees the production of University calendars and fosters the rational coordination of resources for the teaching and learning goals of the university. There were several sub-committees of the Committee on Curriculum Policy and Instruction.
The Sub-Committee on Calendar Review had power to approve or reject any curricular proposal which was of a routine nature and to bring forth matters of policy recommendation to the Committee. In 1983 this Sub-Committee was re-named the Sub-Committee on Curriculum Review.
The Sub-Committee on General Education was charged with coordinating the efforts of the non-professional faculties and promoting general education at the University. The Sub-Committee on Teaching and Learning was responsible for investigating means of improving the teaching effort of the University, facilitating the exchange of ideas on instructional methods, and was to seek funds and allocate grants in support of instructional development from funds administered by the University. The Sub-Committee on Non-Degree Studies was to assume over-all responsibility for non-degree courses and programmes and to gather information about non-degree education throughout the University and in relation to the external community.
The Committee on Curriculum Policy and Instruction was absorbed by the Committee on Curriculum and Academic Standards in 1986.

The Committee on Examinations and Academic Standards was responsible for the co-ordination and oversight of all matters relating to examinations and academic standards in the University. This involved investigation and approval of all rules and regulations, consideration of grading practices, and reviews in other areas of assessment. It was also responsible to the Senate for all appeals of students in matters of grades and academic standing. In 1986 the Committee was absorbed by the Committee on Curriculum and Academic Standards, with the exception of its appeals mechanism which was assumed by the Senate Appeals Committee.

The Executive Committee is the senior committee of Senate. It directs the flow of Senate business to appropriate committees, administers the process of nominating members to serve on Senate, and receives the reports of many of the other committees. Along with the Senate proper, the Executive has the power to create committees to deal with matters of general concern that are not the purview of any other Senate committee. The Committee acts as the Senate's liaison with the Board of Governors and must meet with its Executive Committee at least twice a year. The Executive also acts in the name of the Senate during the summer months. The Sub-Committee in Honorary Degrees and Ceremonials is attached to the Executive Committee.

The Committee was established in 1964 to oversee the creation and programme of the Institute for Behavioural Research, as it was getting off the ground. The Body was renamed Institute for Social Research in 1984.

The Committee on the Organization and Structure of Senate and the University was to advise and recommend to Senate on matters pertaining to the organization and function of Senate and it's committees, academic government in the University, and the Senate's relations with other bodies in the University and with external bodies. Established Oct 22, 1970.

The Senate Committee on Research (SCOR) is responsible for the establishment and review of policies for the development of research excellence. It explores initiatives relevant to research policy and makes recommendations on the research objectives of the University. SCOR approves the establishment and reviews the procedures for the University 's various types of research institutes and centres. The Committee insures that Senate is informed of all funds in the University that are provided for the support of research. It recommends policies governing the allocation of all research funds, and advises on policy guidelines of the University for their administration and expenditure. In addition, the Committee reviews the activities and proposals for establishment of new research institutes and centres, review the work of the Office of Research Administration and its sub-committees to insure that University policies with respect to research activity, openness and freedom are maintained.

The Co-ordinating Committee was established by Senate in 1972 to follow-up on the studies begun by the Joint Committee on Alternatives which had been established by the Board of Governors and the Senate to investigate York's 1972-1973 budgetary crisis and its academic implications. The Co-ordinating Committee was charged with furthering those investigations. It conducted meetings with the President concerning the budget, and established a sub-committee to deal with the computing needs of the university.