GFC tables motions to recommend BoG approval of IT security policy

At the September 22 meeting of the University of Alberta’s General Faculties Council (GFC), a motion to recommend that the Board of Governors (BoG) approve the proposed revisions to the information technology (IT) security policy was tabled after extensive discussion.

The redeveloped IT policy suite consists of two streamlined policies: the IT use and management policy and the IT security policy.

Duncan Elliott, faculty of engineering representative, motioned to amend the motion. Elliott thanked those who helped amend the policy, but stated that the IT security policy “still contains contradictions.” According to Elliott, the policy contradicts government and contractual obligations.

Elliott moved to have section one of the policy statement be amended. Part of this amendment includes allowing faculty members and applicable staff to administer their own IT infrastructure and services, provided that they adhere to university polices and document this to Information, Services, and Technology (IST).

In response to the amendment, Todd Gilchrist, vice-president (university services, operations and finance), said “from a security perspective, IST is charged with ensuring the security of our entire systems, and I’m not sure that allowing individuals to exercise the application of those is considered adequate or normal recognized practice.”

Multiple GFC members raised concern with the amount and quality of consultation surrounding the policy.

The motion to amend failed. Science representative Brian Lanoil moved to table the original motion. The original motion was tabled.

UASU and GSA presidents present goals for the year

Additionally, U of A Students’ Union (UASU) President Pedro Almeida and Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) President Aashish Kumar presented their goals for the year.

Almeida highlighted the four main themes for this year’s goals: “Enhancing Student Experience and Engagement,” “Fostering a Safe, Accessible, and Inclusive Campus,” “Improving Academic and Professional Development,” and “Strengthening Organizational Capacity and Financial
Sustainability.”

Goals of particular importance to GFC include supporting student representation at different levels of university administration, and making recommendations to university for improvement in areas including safety and campus sexual and gender based violence.

Kumar said that there’s been “a lot of structural issues with the GSA,” but the GSA has been working on these issues and consulting students in the process. He highlighted the GSA’s childcare grants and emergency bursaries as key advocacy points for the association.

Kumar emphasized the need to ensure there’s more scholarship opportunities for course-based Master’s students. Additionally, he noted that the GSA has been advocating at the federal level on issues relating to recent visa delays.

Peter Lougheed Schools

Marvin Washington, former dean of the college of social sciences and humanities, discussed the creation of the Peter Lougheed School of Politics and Democracy. To align with the terminology of “school,” the existing Peter Lougheed Leadership College will be renamed to the Peter Lougheed School of Leadership.

Lise Gotell said it’s important for GFC to consider whether proper governance is being followed in the creation of these schools. She mentioned that section 26(1)(l) of the Post-Secondary Learning Act gives GFC authority to recommend the establishment of faculties, schools, and departments. Gotell asked why the creation of the Peter Lougheed School of Politics and Democracy was not on the agenda for decision.

Provost and Vice-president (academic) Verna Yiu said that this is “primarily an administrative unit and not an academic unit.”

Washington added that the word “school” was selected because it’s “the least restrictive.”