Members present:  Aigbedo, Barber, Bee, Berven, D., Berven, K., Chamra, Clason, Connery, Condic, Dalton, Doman, Dvir, Frick, Fu, Graetz, Groebel, Grimm, Hoag, Hoffman, Johnson, Latcha, Lauer, Leibert, LeMarbe, Lim, Meehan, Miller, Moudjian, Riley-Doucet, Roth, Russell, Schartman, Schweitzer?, Shablin, Solomonson, Stein, Thompson, Thor, Williams, Zhang
Members absent:  Dulio, Dunn, Eis, Estes, Folberg, Gallien, Gamble, Giberson, Giblin, Grossman, Hightower, Pickard, Polis, Rammel, Reger, Scott, Sethi, Stano, Tanniru, Taschereau, Tiegs, Wood

Interim Provost Susan Awbrey called the meeting to order at 3:10 P.M.   She noted that in the absence of Mr. Grossman (Senate parliamentarian), Karen Miller had kindly agreed to step in as parliamentarian for this meeting. 

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

1. Campus Smoking Policy Update -- Mr. Roberts, Ms. Hanson

Mr. Roberts (Assistant Vice President Finance) and Ms. Hanson (Manager of Environmental Health and Life Safety) were present to update the Senate on the campus smoking policy.  Mr. Roberts explained that the history of the campus smoking policy at Oakland University has gradually evolved over the years towards its current policy proposal which is that smoking will be banned on campus.  He noted that it is already illegal to smoke in public buildings in Michigan.  The present policy of allowing smoking outdoors 50 feet away from the buildings on campus will be changed to make Oakland University a smoke-free campus by Fall 2013. 

Mr. Shablin expressed his support for the change and asked if there are other universities that have a similar policy.  Ms. Hanson replied that most higher institutions in the USA are moving this way, with Lansing Community College and the University of Michigan being the campuses that have had smoke-free policies for the longest period of time.  She added that there will be an aggressive campaign on our campus to move in the direction of being smoke-free.  Mr. Latcha asked how the new policy will be enforced for students.  Mr. Roberts said that whereas there are legal sanctions if a person smokes inside buildings,  there are no legal sanctions for outdoors, but that the smoke-free campus policy would be enforced and supported as any other university policy, meaning there is a process for faculty, staff and students.  For students, this would go through the Dean of Students office.  However, Mr. Roberts pointed out that it is not possible to ticket a student for smoking on campus outside a building.  Mr. Chamra asked whether this policy would apply to chewing tobacco, and Mr. Roberts replied that the policy is not a tobacco ban, but rather a policy dealing with secondhand smoke-- although he observed that there are institutions that have a tobacco-free policy, and Oakland University may head in that direction eventually.  Ms. Miller asked whether Mr. Roberts and Ms. Hanson had consulted with the Dean of Students to find out how many infractions his office might predict.  Mr. Roberts thought it would be difficult to make predictions.  Mr. Doman asked what plans there were to accelerate the new smoke-free culture.  Ms. Hanson said there are smoking cessation efforts that will be used, and there will be marketing to get people interested in smoking cessation resources.  Mr. Meehan asked if there had been any discussion for the use of surveillance to enforce the smoke-free policy.  Ms. Hanson replied that surveillance is not practical because smoking is not an illegal activity.  Mr. LeMarbe asked if the no-smoking policy would also apply to the Meadowbrook Music Festival which is operated by the Palace, and the golf course.  Mr. Roberts said that exceptions can be made by the President of the university to the policy if the request is made. 

2. Changes to Undergraduate Catalog—Mr. Crabill

Mr. Crabill explained that in 2010, Oakland University invested in a new online catalog.  OU stopped producing a paper version of the graduate catalog, but the undergraduate catalog is still published.  The online version allows for longer descriptions of the programs.  The paper version is now 600 pages long in an 8 ½ “ x 11” format.  He observed that it is rare to find a university that continues to print a paper copy of the undergraduate catalog.  2013/14 will have a paper version, but after that date, the undergraduate catalog will be online.  Ms. Miller asked about advising, and whether advisers would have access to former catalogs online when advising those students who take a long time to graduate.  Mr. Crabill said that they would.

3. Creation of a 3+3 program with BIS and Cooley Law School—Mr. Crabill

Mr. Crabill provided background to the 3+3 program between the BIS and Cooley Law School, pointing out that back in 2009 or 2010, Cooley Law School came to the BIS with the idea of a 3+3 program so that students could matriculate more quickly.  He informed the Senate that BIS and Cooley Law School have now created a 3+3 program that will be activated in the Fall of 2013.  Mr. Meehan brought to the Senate and summarized a letter (posted online) written by David Dulio (Chair, Political Science, who could not be present)  on the subject of the 3+3 program.  In this letter, Mr. Dulio observed that he had just found out about the 3+3 program the day before the Senate meeting, and wanted to express his concerns that there had been a lack of consultation.  He wrote that it looks like this program creates a de facto Pre-Law major whereas his department is careful to say that there is not a Pre-Law major on campus.  Mr. Meehan summarized that as far as Mr. Dulio is concerned, this is about the issue of self-governance, and he noted that although courses for the 3+3 plan are mostly from the CAS, the program is also new to the CAS COI—However, there has been no consultation process with them .  Mr. Meehan then stated that Mr. Dulio was questioning in the letter the constitutional status of informational items at the Senate.  Mr. Meehan observed that Article 3 #1 Item 7 of the Senate constitution addresses that a new program needs to go through governance, and he explained that Mr. Dulio was requesting a delay of one month on this agenda item until Mr. Dulio’s department has had a chance to review the program.  Mr. Crabill responded that as far as faculty governance is concerned, he did not realize that this program would have to go through the CAS COI, and he did not think this would be a good precedent. He stated that it did go through the faculty council of the BIS, however. The process started two years ago, and he was certain that the CAS Dean’s office was aware of it.  Mr. Meehan said that there is no record of the CAS COI having been consulted, even though courses for the program would be taken in the CAS.  Mr. Crabill said that, in fact,  a student could do this program without CAS classes, except for those in the General Education category.  Mr. Meehan re-iterated that he was proposing on behalf of Mr. Dulio (chair, Political Science) that there should be a one-month delay so that Mr. Dulio’s department  can be consulted, because that is where Pre-Law advising is housed.  Ms. Awbrey pointed out that this modification is actually an articulation agreement, and normally these do not come to the Senate.  She asked if the Senate wants articulation agreements  to come before the Senate.  Mr. Grimm said that the Senate constitution says that all programs of academic importance should be discussed, and this is an important program.  Ms. Miller said that she thinks articulation agreements should come to the Senate.  Mr. Russell agreed, and said that there is no reason not to delay this -- it overlaps other programs, and there may be philosophical discussions as to if there should even be a Pre-Law major.  Mr. Crabill pointed out that students do not need an undergraduate degree to go to Law School.   Ms. Awbrey asked Mr. Crabill  about the date scheduled for the signing of the agreement, and Mr. Crabill said that this would be on March 7, and so there was time for consultation. Mr. Meehan made the following motion:

Moved that the  3+3 program be delayed so that there can be in consultation with the Department of Political Science. (Meehan, Russell)

Ms. Miller asked if this should be put to the Steering Committee.  Mr. Meehan said that it is an information item on the agenda, but it is something that should be discussed, and there should be consultation.  Mr. Shablin said he thought it was important to clarify that consultation did happen with UCUI, if not with the Political Science department. 

The motion was then amended as follows:  “Moved that the 3+3 program be delayed so that there can consultation with the Department of Political Science before March 5”.  (Doman)

The amendment was unanimously approved. 

Mr. Leibert said that he felt the Senate was blind-sided by a program that went through without governance, so the motion is important, and he added that a mechanism should be put in place to prevent this type of problem.  Ms. Awbrey stepped down as chair to comment that redundancy is an issue that should be discussed at the SPRC.  Mr. Latcha asked if this program has gone through program review.  Mr. Crabill stated that this was a program modification and it had gone through UCUI. Mr. Dvir pointed out that we do have an established process, and although it appears that they have followed it, it needs to be established if the process has been followed, and if it has been followed, then this program should be moved along.  Ms. Williams  asked Mr. Crabill if he could  clarify  that this program is not new, but rather a modification to an existing program, allowing BIS to substitute credits, and Mr. Crabill concurred with this.  Mr. Russell observed that BIS is a flexible program, and he expressed his concern that if a student does not like a course, then the student could conceivably not take the course, such as Chemistry, for example.  Mr. Doman said that he would like to reframe the discussion, and note that we are not changing policy with the motion, but rather showing respect for a colleague.  Mr. Doman noted that Mr. Dulio was out of the loop, and the motion is a fair motion about respect, talking and listening to colleagues.  Mr. Aigbedo asked what would happen if they could not come to an agreement.  Mr. Crabill said that if that happened, he would meet with the Steering Committee.

Mr. Frick called the question.

The motion passed, with the following members dissenting:  Shablin, LeMarbe, Condic, Johnson, Groebel.

Mr. Crabill said that he would schedule a meeting with Mr. Dulio and subsequently report back to the Steering Committee.  

4. Health Sciences Modification

Ms. Wren explained that Health Sciences was seeking a change so that the majority of their courses would have the Health Sciences rubric.  The NH rubric would disappear, and the HS rubric would be the only one used.  This would align the School of Health Sciences with other nutrition programs more neatly.

5. Appointment of New Member to Senate Elections Committee

Ms. Awbrey announced that Mr. Clason had agreed to serve on the Senate Elections Committee.

6.  Provost’s Updates

Interim Provost Awbrey provided the following updates:

• The title of the director of the Honors College has been changed to ‘Dean’
• Several new structures have been approved by the BOT, including a new student housing complex, a parking structure, outdoor recreation fields, and a headquarters for grounds maintenance operations
• The library road extension project will have the road terminate at the small facilities planning building

 A. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

The January 17, 2013 minutes were approved, with the addition of Mr. Grimm to the list of members absent.  (Latcha, Doman)

B. OLD BUSINESS  

1. Motion from the Steering Committee to recommend approval of the Master of Public Health Sciences

MOVED that the Senate recommend to the President and Board of Trustees approval of the Master of Public Health (Condic,  Latcha)

Ms. Wren was present to answer questions.  Mr. Grimm asked when the electives would be taken.  Ms. Wren replied that it is a largely prescribed program, with two required courses in the Fall, and two required courses in the Winter semesters.  Students would take an elective class in the first year, and a second elective class in the second year, Fall or Winter.  Mr. Grimm asked whether this would be a heavy load.  Ms. Wren responded that it is a consistent load, and that they need 42 credits to be accredited.  The highest number of credits for an MPH is at the University of Michigan which requires 60 credits.  Mr. Aloi reported that the Senate Budget Review committee had thought that the budget was very rich and hinged on the program getting accreditation. The SBRC had met with Ms. Wren, and are now in line with the budget., and so Mr. Aloi expressed SBRC’s support given that the program is going for accreditation.

The motion was approved unanimously. 

C. NEW BUSINESS

1. Motion from the Academic Standing and Honors Committee to change the membership and charge of the committe

MOVED that the Registrar be added as a member of the Academic Standing and Honors Committee as a non-voting, ex-officio member and that the phrase “to present to the Senate the Registrar’s list of candidates for graduation with any recommendations for deletions or additions to the list; and to review and transmit to the Senate nominees for University Honors” be removed from the charge and replaced with “to review students regarding granting of University Honors and make its report to the Senate”.  (Aigbedo, Thompson)

Mary Stein was present to explain the reasons for the proposed changes, which included bringing the charge in line with how this matter is actually handled these days. 

She also proposed an amendment to the motion, as follows: 

To replace “the Registrar be added as a member of the Academic Standing and Honors Committee as a non-voting, ex-officio member” with “the Registrar and a professional adviser be added as members of the Academic Standing and Honors Committee as  non-voting ex-officio members”.   (Stein)

Ms. Stein observed that she had discussed the amendment with Mr. Eddie Cheng (Chair, Academic Standing and Honors Committee), and he is supportive. 

D. GOOD AND WELFARE

Interim Provost Awbrey said that one new member is needed for the Senate General Education Committee, and volunteers are encouraged to come forward.

E. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Dikka Berven (secretary)