Oakland University Senate

18 MARCH 1960

MINUTES

PRESENT: Mr. Amann, Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Cusack, Mrs. Desparmet, Mr. Eklund, Mr. Fitzsimmons, Mr. Gherity, Mr. Hammerle, Mr. Hoopes, Mr. Kluback, Mrs. Kovach, Mr. Matthews, Mr. McKay, Miss North, Mr. Pearson, Mr. Pope, Mrs. Popluiko, Mr. Rhode, Mr. Stoutenburg, Mr. Straka, Mr. Tafoya, Mr. Taulbee, Mr. Tomboulian, Mr. Varner, Mrs. White, Mr. Wilder
ABSENT:  Mr. Alexander, Mr. Burke, Mr. Danielson, Mr. Swanson, Mr. Schwab

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Varner,

Mr. Hoopes was asked if he had prepared the statement he desired inserted in the minutes of the January 26, 1960, meeting. Mr. Hoopes asked for a continuation of the deferred action until the next meeting. Deferment granted.

The secretary was requested to read the minutes of the February 19, 1960, meeting. Mr. Fitzsimmons moved that the reading of the minutes be suspended and approved as reported. Seconded by Mrs. White. Mr. Varner asked the secretary to interpret the probationary policy as approved at the last Senate meeting. Mr. Stoutenburg explained the policy by dividing it into three parts. First, no first term student will be requested to withdraw from the University for academic reasons. However, any student whose grade point average is less than 1.60 at the end of the first term will be placed on probation. Second, if a student's cumulative grade point average is below a 1.00 at the end of the second term he will be reported to the Dean of the Faculty for possible academic dismissal. Third, a student on probation who has a cumulative grade point average of at least.1.00 but less than 1.60 at the end of the second term will be given a second warning. The student will be told he must raise his cumulative grade point average to a 1.60 before the end of his next term in attendance or be reported to the Dean of the Faculty for possible academic dismissal. Motion approved.

Mr. Varner reported on the budget situation for the 1960-61 school year. He stated that the Senate's bill was built on last year's appropriation plus a percentage formula, the net result of which should allow MSUO approximately $879,000.00 for the coming year. This means a reduction of about $185,000.00 from what we had asked for and $140,000.00 from what the governor had recommended for us.  The formula,  however, does not take into consideration the special problems of MSUO. It will be necessary to cut back our entering freshman group to about 400 or less. We will have a total faculty of 40 instead of 60 next year. This budget action denies the opportunity for approximately 400 students in the area to go to college. There will not be as generous a raise in salary as had been previously hoped for.

The Capital Outlay bill came out of the Senate with $500,000.00 for MSUO to begin construction on a $2,000,000.00 Science Building. It was through Mr. Ahren's help that this came about. The building will be located just south of the classroom building and just north of the barns. It is scheduled to be completed by fall 1961.

Mr. Varner announced, effective July 1, Mr. Matthews and Mr. McKay will be placed on an eleven month appointment. Mr. Matthews will be given the title of Assistant to the Dean for Humanities and Social Sciences, and Mr. McKay will be the Assistant to the Dean for Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Their teaching load will be reduced by one course. They will be on duty during the summer with a one month vacation, and while Dean Hoopes is away, Mr. Matthews will serve as Acting Dean. These are annual appointments subject to useful and necessary rotation as needed. This action does not require State Board of Trustees approval.

Mr. Varner discussed the feeling of MSU toward MSUO as a result of news articles printed recently. He stated that he had written to Dr. Hannah and explained that we did not write these articles, but if there were any ways in which we could improve this situation, we would do so.

The establishment of five new committees and their membership was announced. Mr. Varner stated that these five committees. The Committee on University Bulletins, Committee on Cultural Programs, Committee on Developmental Programs, Committee on Student Publications and Committee on Scholarship Selections, plus the Admissions Committee, Committee on Instruction and Research Grant Committee have been constituted in the belief that they would be of the best possible use to the University.

A. The University publications of a general nature will be handled by the University Bulletins Committee. This does not mean the committee will write the publications but will review each of the publications. Mrs. White will serve as chairman.

B. The Committee on Cultural Programs will take the leadership in developing the kind of extra curricular programs that will be useful for developing the cultural side of the students. It may include lectures, concerts and plays. It may also involve the continuing of faculty seminars where we have an opportunity for various disciplines to hold forth on a variety of other kinds of activities. This committee will want to work with Mr. Fritz and also the Dean of Students on occasion. Mr. Straka will serve as chairman.

C. The Committee on Developmental Programs has a particular part to play at this point. We perhaps should strike to get help from the Foundation. This is the committee which will originate and explore any kinds of programs that seem to be worthwhile. This is really a kind of new ideas committee. Mr. Pope has been asked to serve as chairman. The Dean of the Faculty is to serve as an ex officio member.

D. The Committee on Student Publications: The students need some guidance and leadership and may need to be given some advice on what they should and shouldn't do. Mrs. Cusack will serve as chairman.

 E. The Committee on Scholarship Selections: We expect to award between 50 and 60 scholarships this spring. Some of the machinery is already in motion. In the next several weeks we will be selecting the recipients.  Mr. Pearson has been asked to serve as chairman.

 Mr. Amann pointed out that there were people serving on the committees who were not members of the Senate. He felt that they should be members if they are to serve on the committees. Mr. Varner stated that it was decided by the Educational Policy Committee that they should be asked to serve on the committees because of the valuable ideas they could offer to the Senate.

 These committees will report to the Educational Policy Committee and through the E.P.C. to the Senate.

Mr. Hoopes moved that the 'D' grade be used as the lowest possible grade that indicates a student has passed a course, received credit for a course and satisfied the prerequisite requirements for other courses. Seconded by Mr. Fitzsimmons. After a short discussion Mr. Fitzsimmons amended the motion to read, "The 'D' grade be used as the lowest possible grade that indicates a student has passed a course, received credit for a course, and satisfied the prerequisites for courses given in series." Seconded by Mr. Hoopes. Mr. Fitzsimmons withdrew his amendment and Mr. Hoopes withdrew his second in favor of Mr. Matthews amendment that a period be placed after ''courses" the first time it appears in the motion. Seconded by Mr. Pearson. Motion approved.

Mr. Hoopes moved that from now on no A, B, C, D, or F grade received by any student in any course may be erased from his record by subsequent retaking of the same course. Seconded by Mr. Amann. Mr. Wilder amended the motion to read "From now on no grade received by any student in any course may be erased from his record by retaking the course. Seconded by Mr. Stoutenburg. Motion approved as amended.  Mr. Kluback, Mr. Fitzsimmons and Mrs. Popluiko are recorded as voting against the amended motion.

Mr. Hoopes moved that a three digit numbering system for all courses be adopted with one of the digits to identify the level of the course. Seconded by Mr. McKay. Motion approved.

Mr. Hammerle moved that any student giving evidence of proficiency in any course required for graduation may, upon petition to the Dean of the Faculty, be granted permission to take an examination to demonstrate this proficiency. If the results of the examination are satisfactory, he may be exempt from those graduation requirements but will receive no credit in the course. Seconded by Mr. Gherity. Mr. Hoopes stated that he had supported this motion at the time it was placed on the agenda by the Educational Policy Committee but since then has changed his original position. He explained that other universities give credit toward graduation, and a student might elect to enroll in another school if faced with the choice of credit or no credit. Mr. Hoopes invited the Senate to react now or later  to what he had said and suggested that the matter be returned to the Educational Policy Committee for discussion. Mr. Hammerle withdrew his motion and Mr. Gherity withdrew his second. Mr. Pope moved that this matter be sent back to the Educational Policy Committee. Seconded by Mr. Stoutenburg. Motion approved.

Mr. Hammerle raised the problem of excess noise in the library and offered to spend two hours a week in the library to maintain discipline. Miss North explained that several lectures had been delivered to the students on this subject but the results had been negative. Miss North suggested that identification cards be collected from students who were talking and be given to Mr. Alexander. Mrs. Cusack stated that the Student Government should be permitted to work out a solution for this problem. Mr. Hammerle suggested leaving room 108 open at all times for students. Mr. Varner stated that he would be willing to take such drastic measures as dismissing a student from school for disturbing the library. Mr. Varner appointed the Social Science professors, (Mrs. Collins, Mr. Rhode, and Mr. Gherity), Miss North, Mr. Alexander and Mr. Wilder, chairman, to work as a committee to solve this problem.

Meeting adjourned.

Next scheduled meeting: April 15