Oakland University Senate

June 6, 1960

Minutes

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

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Varner.

Mr. Varner:

A. Announced that the date set for the tea for faculty members and wives at the Kirk in the Hills had been postponed until fall. The date will be announced later.
B. Urged those present to try to attend the MSUO faculty tea at Pontiac Northern on June 6 since it was the first of its kind.
C. Stated that the Guthrie Theatre will locate its new installation in Minneapolis.
D. Announced that his visit with Mr. Faust, a Vice President of the Ford Foundation, was a preliminary meeting and Mr. Faust agreed to take the several proposals presented to him under advisement. Mr. Pearson announced that the list of students sent to the faculty are the group who have applied for the advanced student scholarships for the sophomore year. Professors interested can volunteer letter of recommendation for any student on the list.

Mr. Straka described the plans for next year's lecture concert series. There will be one major speaker per term:

Fall term we will have Mr. John Scott, Foreign Editor of Time Magazine.
Winter tern we will have Mr. Werner VonBraun, Missile Expert
Spring term we will have Mr. Ed Sullivan, Television Producer.

 MSUO is able to have these nationally known figures because of a working arrangement with MSU (Dr. Wilson Paul). Other programs will include Carl Haas, President Detroit Chamber Music Society; a string quartet from the University of Michigan; the British, French, German and Italian Consuls in Detroit and one or more art shows.  Mr. Galloway, newly appointed representative in Fine Arts, has stated he would be willing to present his works. Mr. Straka asked those present to recommend to the Cultural Program committee any person who has a reputation in their field for inclusion or consideration in the cultural program development. Money for these events will come from general University funds. There will be no extra activities fee charged the student. MSU charges nothing and has a full calendar. They bring in programs on a break-even basis.

Mr. Stoutenburg asked about admitting the general public and Mr. Straka said we should invite the general public from the beginning but on a controlled basis. The major problem is space and second, all students should have the first opportunity to attend.

Mr. Rhode stated that the Young Democrats invited the faculty and students to hear Mr. John Swainson, candidate for the Governor of Michigan, who will visit MSUO on Thursday, June 9 at 2:00 P.M. in the cafeteria.

Educational Policy Committee:

Mr. Hammerle moved that "any student suspended for academic reasons not be readmitted until one calendar year has elapsed". Seconded by Mr. Tomboulian.

Mr. Amann amended the motion to read, "that any student 'dismissed' for academic reasons not be readmitted until one calendar year has elapsed". Seconded by Mr. Wilder. Approved.

Mr. Hanmerle moved that the "requirements for admission to MSUO, effective fall term, 1961, be the same as those now in force except that standing in the top 1/4 of the graduating class be required". Seconded by Mr. McKay. Mr. Hammerle pointed out that this motion leaves the entrance for 1962 unspecified. The Committee on Admissions is now working on substantial modifications to the admission requirements which will be worked out to the mutual satisfaction of all concerned. The proposed modification and any new admission requirements must be approved by the Board of Trustees.

The present requirements are:

1. Principal's recommendation.

2. Graduation in top half of one's class.

3. Student must present a minimum of 15 units. Ten of these units must be in the traditionally academic areas (a minimum of 3 in English, 4 recommended, and the balance can be divided into 3 of these 4 areas - Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies). Three of the remaining 5 can be in the disciplines discussed above or in Art, Music, Commercial, Industrial Arts, Agriculture or Home Economics. The remaining 2 can be areas described above or in any courses used by the high school for graduation. Students planning majors in Science, Mathematics, or Business Administration must present 3 years of Mathematics -- l 1/2 of Algebra, 1 of Geometry and 1/2 of Trigonometry.

4. Those students not in the top half of their class may take entrance examinations.

5. College agreement is also observed.

Mr. Hoopes amended the notion to include in the catalog the proposed entrance requirements of the Committee on Admissions and a statement to encourage principals and/or headmasters to recommend students they believe are likely to succeed. Seconded by Mr. Pearson. Approved.

1.  Minimum of 16 units
2.  Principal's recommendation
3. Unit requirement:

English - 4 years
Foreign Language - 2 years (in the same language)
Science - 2 years (must include one year of lab science)
Social Science - 2 years
Mathematics - 3 years (Algebra  1 1/2, Geometry  1, and Trig.1/2)

Mr. Hammerle moved that, "for formal admission to junior standing, a student must satisfactorily complete 92 credits with a grade-point average of 2.0. A student completing 92 credits with a grade-point average below 2.0 will be placed on academic probation and allowed two quarters in which to remove this deficiency. If he achieves a 2.0 average, he subsequently is subject to the standard probationary policy, but must have an average of at least 2.0 in order to be graduated." Seconded by Mr. Hoopes. 

Mr. Tomboulian amended the motion to read 84 credits instead of 92.   Seconded by Mr. Matthews. Mr. Hammerle pointed out that his original motion was to define junior standing so that there would be a common - basis which could be used to determine when a student can be accepted as a major in a discipline. Amendment disapproved.

Mr. McKay amended the motion to read 83 credits instead of 92.  Seconded by Mr. Burke. Approved.

Mr. Hammerle moved that a student may take a course a maximum of 3 times if grades of F are received each previous time. Seconded by Mr. Tomboulian. Mr. Wilder amended the motion to allow a course to be taken only twice if failed the first time. Seconded by Mrs. White. The vote for the amendment was 9 - yes and 12 - no. Disapproved. The original motion was then accepted.

Mr. Hammerle moved that, "upon successful petition, a student be permitted to repeat no more than once a course in which he has received a grade of "D". Seconded by Mr. McKay.

Mr. Burke asked if a D grade was to be considered as a conditional grade. The secretary read from the minutes of March 13, 1960, ''that the D grade be used as a last possible grade that indicates a student has passed a course". Motion disapproved.

Mr. Hammerle moved if a student earns a D or better grade, he may not take the course for credit. Seconded by Mr. Burke. Motion approved.

Mr. Hammerle moved that, "the cumulative grade-point average be computed as follows: divide the total number of grade-points earned by the total number of hours attempted." Seconded by Mr. Tomboulian.

The Registrar was asked to explain procedures used in other schools --

A. 2/3 of the schools follow the pattern recommended.

B. 1/4 of the schools allow the last grade of a repeated course to stand (whether higher or lower).

C. Balance of schools use system unique to their situation.

Motion approved.

Mr. Vamer asked the faculty to consider the following calendar for the 1960-61 school year.

Fall 1960
September 15 and 16---Orientation and Registration
September 19 through December 7--- Classes (56 days)
December 9, 12 and 13--- Final Examinations

Winter 1961
January 3 and 4---Orientation and Registration
January 5 through March 17----Classes (52 days)
March 20 through 22---Final Examinations

Spring 1961
March 30 and 31--- Orientation and Registration
April 3 through June 9--- Classes (49 days)
June 12 through June 14--- Final Examinations

It was agreed that this calendar will be followed.

The pros and cons of the quarter semester and trimester plans were discussed. Mr. Varner restated his position of establishing a 12-month program at MSUO at the nearest possible time. Mr. Stoutenburg explained that the term as defined by the Board of Trustees was 50 class days. He further pointed out that there was no set number of days universally used for quarters or semesters. Each school defines their own. For example,

It was agreed that names will not be used in the schedule book to identify specific professors with certain sections of a course. Mr. Stoutenburg explained his point of view regarding centralized versus decentralized registration. Mr. Varner asked that additional thought be given to holding orientation and registration to one day.

Meeting adjourned.