Senate approves revisions to research chair policy

Revisions to Policy on Research Chairs

During its first meeting of the academic year October 4, Senate approved major revisions to the university’s Policy on Research Chairs. The changes are designed to expand the program, making it more accessible to researchers at different stages of their careers, and more competition-based.

The revisions include replacing the existing two-tier system with three Concordia University Research Chair (CURC) designations: Tier 1 for full professors, Tier 2 for associate professors, and a new scholar designation for assistant professors.

Each chair would come with a research funding allocation of $20,000 and a salary stipend graduated over the three levels: $15,000 for Tier 1, $12,000 for Tier 2, and $9,000 for New Scholar.  

Under the former policy, Tier 1 CURCs were for a period of seven years, and Tier 2 CURCs were for five years. Under the revised policy, all CURCs awarded will be for five years.

The revised Policy on Research Chairs also eliminates the existing system in which chairs can be renewed for a second term. “Everyone has to go back into competition to get a chair, regardless of whether they’ve held one previously,” explained Graham Carr, vice-president of Research and Graduate Studies.

The CURCs operate with a funding envelope of $2 million. Carr told Senate that the new system will allow the university to award 65 chairs, instead of the existing 50, without increasing the funding envelope of $2 million.

Since the system of university research chairs was created in 2000, with a renewal period of seven years, many of them will again become available in 2014. The revised policy will allow the university to run a competition for four new scholar chairs, four Tier 2 chairs, and three Tier 1 chairs beginning next June.

President welcomes new Senators

President Alan Shepard began his remarks to Senate by welcoming both new and returning members. He extended a special welcome to Concordia’s new Provost, Benoit-Antoine Bacon, and his team, which includes Deputy Provost Lisa Ostiguy, and Vice-Provosts Catherine Bolton and Jorgen Hansen.

He also provided an update on several physical infrastructure projects, including the completed renovation of the Birks Student Centre, and the upgrades to the Ed Meagher Arena on the Loyola Campus, which are expected to be completed in a few weeks. The president also mentioned the addition of 33 new bike racks on Concordia’s two campuses this summer, which increased the amount of bicycle parking by 100 per cent.

The president also thanked members of the Concordia community who participated in this year’s popular Shuffle on September 27. So far, more than $55,000 has been raised for student scholarships.

Shepard also pointed out that Concordia has moved up in several international university rankings lately, including cracking the top 500 of the 2013 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).

Committee Appointments

Senate members approved appointments to nine of its committees, including Academic Planning and Priorities, Academic Programs, Ethics, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Finance, Library, Research, Special Graduation Awards, and the Senate Steering Committee. Click for More.