Posted on Sept. 13: Sept. 11 Senate meeting highlights

Highlights from the Sept. 11 McMaster Senate meeting

Enrolment forecast

McMaster's projected enrolment figures continue to grow.

As of Sept. 10, 4,862 first-year students were enrolled at McMaster,
reported University registrar George Granger. The number includes 147 first-year nurses enrolled in the collaborative nursing program at the Mohawk and Conestoga locations. When these students are subtracted from the total enrolment figure, McMaster is 306 students over its modified Senate level 1 target of 4,409.

“Our first-year full-time student body is roughly 16.5 per cent larger
than last year,” said Granger.

McMaster's total undergraduate enrolment currently stands at 16,601
(full- and part-time) compared to 15,069 on the same date last year, he says.

At the graduate level, 1,799 full-time students are registered in full-time PhD programs as of Sept. 10 — 739 more than a year ago, says Fred L. Hall, dean of graduate studies.

In August, a tentative agreement was signed by McMaster President Peter George and all other Ontario university presidents, agreeing to take a share of undergraduate enrolment growth for this year and next. The final agreement will provide student forecasts to 2005-06.

In return, the government has committed to provide full average funding for this enrolment growth up to the level of the revised projections, says George. This funding will be provided through the University Accessibility Funding envelope.

To receive the funding, McMaster must achieve enrolment target levels and depending on enrolment outcomes across the system, there will normally not be funding for students in excess of the agreed upon target, George says.

“The important good news is that we do have the assurances of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities that full average funding will be received for his growth,” he says.

Degree designation change

Two recently approved professional master's programs in the School of Rehabilitation Science have undergone a degree designation change.

In effect for the first graduating classes this fall, master's programs in physiotherapy and occupational therapy are now called Master of Science in Physiotherapy (MSc(PT)) and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSc(OT)).

The professional or entry level master's programs in occupational therapy and physiotherapy are new within Ontario and nationally, says Fred L. Hall, dean of graduate studies. “McMaster is the first Canadian institution to offer a professional master's degree in physiotherapy and the second Canadian institution to offer a professional master's degree in occupational therapy.”

Distinguishing between degree designation provided to occupational therapists and physiotherapists with advanced research master's qualification and those with professional qualifications is important, adds Hall. “This change will provide our graduates a designation which is consistent with the national standard and easily recognizable by employers, patients and other health professionals.”

Distinguished Alumni Award

Deputy minister of finance Kevin Lynch and award-winning scientist Martin Green will receive Distinguished Alumni Awards at Fall Convocation on Nov. 8.

Lynch, who graduated from McMaster in 1980 with a PhD in economics, will receive the Award for the Arts.

Named by MacLean's Magazine as one of the 50 most influential Canadians, Lynch sets policies on all major economic issues, such as the challenge of an ageing population, income inequality and competing fiscal objectives without incurring foreign debt interest payment obligations.

Green, professor at the University of New South Wales and photovoltaics researcher, will receive the Award of Science. Green graduated from McMaster in 1974 with a PhD in electrical engineering.

His award-winning research has led to significant innovations in solar cell technologies that have resulted in a 63 per cent efficiency increase for converting sunlight into electricity. His solar cells were also used in the homes of the Athlete's Village for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.