Avoiding any overtone arising from use of the word “casual,” Senate has changed the procedures for casual academic of appointments of faculty to ‘adjunct’.
In addition to other minor editorial revisions, the name change would also identify the appointments using terminology recognized across Canada, particularly by federal granting councils.
The second substantive proposed change is the elimination of language that prevents this type of academic appointment being given to an individual who has an employment relationship with the Western.
For example, the modified document would allow a PhD-qualified researcher in a non-academic staff position to hold a parallel non-remunerated adjunct faculty appointment. Such an appointment would make the individual eligible to apply for tri-council research grants and eligible for consideration for membership in the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Toxicology dropped at Schulich
With a decline on the number of toxicology courses offered at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, modules in Pharmacology and Toxicology will now simply be Pharmacology.
Over the years, the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology has seen a decline in the number of toxicologists. This has been due mainly to retirements and the replacement of toxicologists by pharmacologists.
The department is of the opinion that it is no longer offering a true ‘Pharmacology and Toxicology’ program but rather one dealing with mostly pharmacology-related topics.
Scholarships and awards
South Asian Bar Association Student Award – This award will be presented annually to a full-time undergraduate Law student based on academic achievement and financial need. Preference will be given to a student who shows leadership through participation in the South Asian Law Student Association. Valued at $1,500, the award was established by the South Asian Bar Association of Toronto.
Dr. and Mrs. Charles Lin Clinical Award – The award will be presented annually to a full-time student in third or fourth year in the Doctor of Dental Surgery Program based on financial need with a preference for a student who has demonstrated improvement, proficiency or excellence in congenial patient care and clinical general dentistry. Valued at $500, the award was in made possible by a gift from Dr. Charles (DDS ’79, MBA ’96) and Carla (BA ’82) Lin through Foundation Western.
New Faculty of Law chair
Senate has approved the creation of the Stephen Dattels Chair in Corporate Finance in the Faculty of Law. The creation of this chair is made possible through a $500,000 donation from Stephen Dattels. The Faculty of Law will provide additional funding to ensure the minimum funding of $135,000 per year for a named chair, effective July 1.
The Stephen Dattels Chair in Corporate Finance will, in addition to duties in the area of corporate finance law, be responsible for further developing a special natural resources corporate finance initiative within the Faculty of Law, along with developing active links among Western Law, Earth Sciences and the Richard Ivey School of Business, to graduate a new generation of lawyers ready to meet the corporate finance needs of the mining sector.
In 2005, Dattels donated $100,000 to establish the Stephen Dattels Fellowship in Mining Finance in the Faculty of Law.
Enrolment at five-year high
While first-year enrolment has been frozen at 4,350, The University of Western Ontario is enjoying its highest enrolment numbers in the last five years.
Student enrolment for the 2008-09 school year (including the affiliate colleges) has reached 33,798. With a continued emphasis on graduate expansion, 2009-10 is projected to surpass 34,000 for the first time in university history – with a projected enrolment of 34,587 in 2012-14.
No takers of budget discussion
Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Fred Longstaffe briefly updated Senate on the latest budget news and the recent economic statement released by the university.
The two major changes since the last Senate meeting, he says, was the increase in the percentage units will be required to trim from their budget – two to 2.5 per cent. In making a budget submission, units are typically required to trim three per cent from their previous base budget. In the coming two years that reduction will be an average of 5.5 per cent.
Longstaffe says the university will hold the line on hiring and re-appointments with only ‘mission-critical positions’ allowed, which must be approved by a vice-president.
Following his presentation, no senators asked questions or presented opinions regarding these changes or any other budget-related item.
The Provost’s Recommendations on Faculty Budgets will be released in mid-February and this year will also include a brief report on Support Unit budget recommendations.