Michigan State University Oakland Academic Senate Meeting

February 25, 1961

Minutes

PRESENT: Messrs: Amann, Appleton, Beardslee, Burke, Chemo, Clarke, Mrs. June Collins, Walter Collins, Eklund, Fitzsimmons, Fromm, Galloway, Hammerle, Hetenyi, Holmes, Hoopes, Mrs. Kovach, George Matthews, Mrs. Mildred Matthews, McKay, Miss North, Obear, O'Dowd, Pearson, Pope, Mrs. Popluiko, Rhode, Schwab, Mrs. Gloria Shapiro, Samuel Shapiro, Shishkoff, Simmons,  Miss Stevenson, Stoutenburg, Straka, Susskind, Swanson, Tafoya, Tomboulian, Mrs. Urla, Varner,  Mrs. White, Wilder
ABSENT: Messrs: Mrs. Caulkins, Gherity, Kluback, Lepley, Mrs. Rothschild, Taulbee, Wisner

Meeting was called to order by Mr. Vamer. Minutes of the January 23 meeting were approved.

Auditorium--The Board of Trustees has authorized the employing of an architect (Odell, Hewlett & Luckenbach) to draw preliminary plans for an auditorium on campus near Meadowbrook Hall. Total cost for the building, architect fees, and grounds is limited to $2 million. Mr. Vamer invited those faculty members interested in the planning of the auditorium to express their interest. A small working committee will be appointed shortly.

TV Continental Classroom- -Mr. Vamer explained the request of the Mathematics and Psychology departments to allow MSUO students to take the television Continental Classroom Statistics course for credit. Both the Administrative Group and the Committee on Instruction supported the request and instructed the departments concerned to authorize such enrollments pending final approval by this group. Mr. Rhodes moved that the Continental Classroom program be approved ipso facto. Seconded by Mr. George Matthews. Approved.

Teacher Certification for Graduates of Other Institutions�Mr. Chemo moved that

1. Evaluation of credentials presented by graduates of other institutions will be made by the Director of Admissions to determine acceptability of such individuals for teacher certification. This is to include:

a. A check of accreditation of the degree-granting institution;

b. A consideration of the time lapse between obtaining of the degree and application at MSUO;

c. A consideration of the activities in which the intervening time has been spent to gain insight into probable proficiency in areas of training and into such factors as might indicate probable success or failure in the teaching profession.

2. Candidates accepted by the Director of Admissions will have their programs planned by the professor in charge of teacher education.

a. Where the degrees are of recent vintage or where the holder of a degree has used the areas of his training fairly continuously in the intervening years, it will be assumed that the subject areas in which certification is sought are sufficiently at the applicant's command not to necessitate repetition or refresher work.

b. Where questions exist about the competence of the applicant at the time of his admission, refresher work and/or additional formal instruction will be included in his program. The amount and nature of such work--also the means of ascertaining competence in case of doubt�will be determined by agreement between the professor in charge of teacher education and the head of the disciplinary department involved.

c. In all cases the programs will be such as to meet certification requirements in the subject areas and in the professional areas prescribed by MSUO, or the equivalents thereof. In addition, the candidate will have to satisfy the professor in charge of teacher education that his command of the English language is appropriate for the profession of education.

3. Since candidates admitted under these conditions will not be graduates of MSUO, institutional prescriptions beyond those listed above will be waived in their programs.

Seconded by Mr. Hetenyi. Mr. Tafoya moved to amend paragraph 2 to read "Candidates accepted by the Director of Admissions will have their programs planned by the professor in charge of teacher education in conjunction with the head of the disciplinary department." Seconded by Mr. Matthews. Approved as amended.

Athletic Policy Report--It was agreed that this matter be considered by the Assembly at its next meeting rather than exclusively by the Senate.

University Curricular Prescription--Mr. Chemo moved

1. That a maximum of nine courses be required in any major field except in the field of Teacher Education, where the norm would be eight courses.

2. That any student in good standing be allowed without further permission to take a fifth course in any two of his last four semesters.

3. That the Senior Colloquium be dropped as a University Course requirement

4. That the successful completion of thirty-one courses remain as the minimum requirement for graduation.

5. That the attached proposals be accepted as the University standards for the various curricula.

6. That save for normal adjustments to be handled by the Committee on Instruction, no major changes in this area be put into effect before September 1, 1963.

Seconded by Mr. Obear.

Mr. Vamer reviewed the various steps that led up to the motion and the supporting proposed majors. He said that the EPC has attempted to increase the flexibility in the curriculum, to maintain where possible the University Course concept, and to allow in the major a maximum of nine courses except in a teaching major where eight courses would be the limit.

Mr. Stoutenburg moved that Mr. Galloway be permitted to cast proxy votes for Mr. Wisner and Mrs. Caulkins, that Mr. Tafoya be permitted to cast a proxy vote for Mrs. Rothschild, and Mr. Tomboulian be permitted to cast a proxy vote for Mr. Taulbee. Seconded by Mr. Simmons.  Approved.

Mr. Susskind moved to amend the motion in order to allow the Teacher Education sections of the University Curricular Prescriptions to be acted upon separately. There was no second.

Mr. Fitzsimmons moved to amend the motion to allow the question to be divided into its six parts so that each section could be discussed separately and then vote on the question as a whole. Seconded by Mr. Amann. Approved.

Mr. Appleton made a privileged motion to suspend decisions for one hour to permit free discussion of the question. Seconded by Mr. Pearson. Approved.

At the end of the hour time limit, Mr., Amann moved a further suspension of the rules for a straw vote on Mrs. White's  proposal. Seconded by Mr. Burke. (All students be required to take, in addition to the required University Courses in Rhetoric & Literature, two literature courses). Vote: yes - 26; no - 15.

Mr. Chemo moved another suspension of the rules for a straw vote on Mr. Susskind's proposal. (That the Teacher Education's sections of the University Curricular Prescriptions be acted upon separately from the rest of Mr. Cherno's original motion on this matter). Vote: yes - 16; no - 19.

Mr. Eklund moved for a recess until 12:30 and then return for one hour for final action. Seconded by Mr. Holmes. Approved.

Mr. Chemo moved, in compliance with Mr. Fitzsimmons' amendment, "That a maximum of nine courses be required in any major field except in the field of Teacher Education, where the norm would be eight courses."

Seconded by Mr. Hetenyi.

Mr. Fitzsimmons moved to amend the motion to place a period after the word "field' and delete the rest of the statement. Seconded by Mr. Susskind. Approved as amended.

Mr. Chemo moved, "That any student in good standing be allowed without further permission to take a fifth course in any two of his last four semesters." Seconded by Mr. Galloway. Approved.

Mr. Chemo moved, "That the Senior Colloquium be dropped as a University Course requirement." Seconded by Mr. Fitzsimmons. Approved.

Mr. Chemo moved, "That the successful completion of thirty-one courses remain as the minimum requirement for graduation. Seconded by Mr. O'Dowd.

Mr. Susskind moved to amend the motion to read, "That the successful completion of thirty-five courses be the minimum requirement for graduation" and to send it back to the EPC for further study. Seconded by Mr. Amann. Amendment was later withdrawn in favor of Mr. Appleton's amendment.

Mr. Appleton moved to amend the motion to read, "That the successful completion of thirty-one courses be established as the minimum requirement for graduation for students presently enrolled and those to enroll in the fall of 1961" and to send it back to the EPC for further study. Seconded by Mr. Burke. Approved as amended.

Mr. Cherno moved, ''That the attached proposals be accepted as the University standards for the various curricula."

Seconded by Mr. Hammerle.

Mr. Fitzsimmons moved to amend the motion to read, "That the attached proposals be accepted as the University standards for the various curricula except that the University Course requirement in English Studies be expanded to three courses." Seconded by Mrs. White. Approved as amended.

Mr. Hetenyi moved to amend Mr. Fitzsimmons amendment to read after the words "three courses" with these two stipulations (1) A student can take an examination to exempt himself from having to take Composition; and (2) the second part of the literature course can be in the literature of a foreign language in the original, or in the translation, or in English Literature. Seconded by Mr. Appleton. Disapproved.

Mr. McKay moved to amend the motion by reducing the University Course requirement in the Music and Arts to one course so that all students can elect a semester of literature. Seconded by Mr. Obear.Disapproved.

Mr. Holmes moved to amend the motion to indicate in all publications that the University Courses in Music and Art read one semester of Music and one semester of Art. Seconded by Mr. Hetenyi. Approved.

Mr. Amann moved to amend the motion further by adding "for students presently enrolled and those to enroll in the fall of 1961." Seconded by Mr. Appleton. Approved.

Mr. Burke moved to amend Mr. Amann's amendment that all students who enroll prior to fall,  1961 will not be required to take the third semester of English Studies. Seconded by Mr. McKay. Approved.

Mr. Appleton made a substitute motion for item #5 of Mr. Chemo's original motion (''That save for normal adjustments to be handled by the Committee on Instruction, no major changes in this area be put into effect before September , 1963.") regarding the University Curricular Prescription recommending that the EPC study a nine-semester graduation requirement to ascertain its feasibility. Seconded by Mr. Fromm. Approved.

Mr. Amann moved to amend the substitute motion that the EPC take into consideration the favorable attitude of the faculty toward the nine-semester position. Seconded by Mr. Appleton. Approved.

Meeting adjourned.

Summary of Action Taken on University Curricular Prescription:

A. That a maximum of nine courses be required in any major field.

B. That any student in good standing be allowed without further permission to take a fifth course in any two of his last four semesters.

C. That the Senior Colloquium be dropped as a University Course requirement.

D. That the successful completion of thirty-one courses be established as the minimum requirement for graduation for students presently enrolled and those to enroll in the fall of 1961 and send this back to the EPC for further study.

E. Acceptance of proposed curricula as presented by the EPC except that the University Course requirement in English Studies be expanded to three courses and that all students who enrolled prior to the fall of 1961 will not be required to take the third term of English Studies.

F. All publications read one semester of Music and one semester of Art in the University Bulletin.

G. Recommend that the EPC study a nine-semester graduation  requirement to ascertain its feasibility and to take into consideration the favorable attitude of the faculty toward the nine-semester position.