Michigan State University Oakland Academic Senate Meeting

November 14, 1962

Minutes

PRESENT: Messrs. APPLETON, BEARDSLEE, BURDICK, CHERNO, CLARKE, COLLINS, GALLOWAY, HADEN, HAMMERLE, HEUBEL, HOOPES, HUCKER, MAHER, McKAY, MOBLEY, OBEAR, O'DOWD, POPE, ROOSE, SCHWAB, SELLS, SIMMONS, SIMONS, STOUTENBURG, SUSSKIND, TAFOYA, TOMBOULIAN, VARNER, WILDER and WILLIAMSON
ABSENT: Messrs. BRUNO, HETENYI, HILDUM, HOLMES, MATTHEWS, SEIKEN, STUBBLEFIELD, SWANSON and WHITE

The meeting was called to order at 4:08 by Chancellor Varner.

Minutes of the October 22 meeting

Mr. Obear moved to amend the minutes to read that in Item 3 under "Old Business". "The Tomboulian motion was adopted. The original Matthews motion as amended was adopted." Seconded by Dean Sells. Adopted.

Mr. Cherno moved that Item 3 under "Old Business" read "Item E of the memorandum of October 12". Seconded by Mr. Mobley. Adopted.

Mr. Simons moved that the minutes be adopted as amended. Seconded by Mr. Heubel. Adopted.

A. Old Business

1. Dean O'Dowd moved adoption of the following motion originally presented to the October 22 meeting of the Senates "The chairman of the Senate shall designate a spokesman who may provide an account of the actions of the Senate to student publications at their request". Seconded by Mr. Wilder. (It is the intention that actions be reported, but not the discussions which led to specific actions.) Adopted.

Chancellor Varner appointed Dean O'Dowd to be the spokesman for the Senate to university student publications. Dean O'Dowd accepted.

2. Reporting the activities of the Senate Steering Committee, Dean O'Dowd said that the motion presented by Mr. Hetenyi at the October 15 meeting concerning the catalog that will govern a student's graduation has been referred to the Academic Affairs Committee.

The Steering Committee has created an ad hoc committee on comprehensive examinations. This action was taken to carry out the Senate action of April 25. Members of the committee are Mr. Hetenyi, chairman, and Messrs. Mobley and Haden.

At the suggestion of individual Senators an ad hoc committee has been appointed by the Steering Committee on the Constitution, By-laws, and Elections Procedures of the Senate to study the Constitution and elections procedures of the Senate. The ad hoc committee is to make recommendations for improvement of the Constitution, By-laws and elections procedures as well as to propose any By-laws that may be desirable to expedite the business of the Senate. Members of the committee are Mr. Hoopes, chairman, and Messrs. Obear, Wilder, Appleton and Burdick.

3. Mr. Beardslee, reporting for the Student Affairs Committee, moved the adoption of the motion presented at the October 22 meeting: "Students whose average is below 2.0 may not serve as officers or members of committees of student organizations. Such students must also abide by any additional rules that various organizations may make regarding standing required for participation. Each student organization or activity must file with the Dean of Students' Office a statement signed by its faculty adviser indicating its policy on participation by students of low academic standing." Seconded by Mr. Galloway. Considerable discussion followed. Mr. Cherno raised the question of whether the committee really wanted the opinion of the Senate. Mr. Beardslee replied that it did. Mr. Cherno moved to call the question. Seconded by Mr. Hucker. Not adopted.

Mr. Chemo moved to amend the motion as follows: Delete the first two sentences. "Each student organization or activity must have approved by the Dean of Students a signed statement by its faculty advisor indicating its policy on participation by students of low academic standing." Seconded by Mr. Simons. The organization would determine the definition of "low academic standing". The Cherno amendment was adopted.

Discussion returned to adopting the Beardslee motion. Mr. Pope moved to call the question. Seconded by Mr. Williamson. Adopted. The Beardslee motion as amended was adopted.

B.  New Business

1. Dean O'Dowd moved adoption of the slate of nominees for the Standing Committees of the Senate as attached to the agenda of November 9, with the exception of the Committee on Instruction, which is appointed by the Academic Affairs Committee, with the concurrence of the Steering Committee. Seconded by Mr. Hammerle.

The question was raised whether persons asked to serve on a committee were notified in advance and given an opportunity to refuse. Dean O'Dowd replied that it was taken for granted that anyone had the right to decline a committee appointment. Mr. Susskind suggested that when new appointees were written of the appointment, they also be told of this right.

Mr. Hucker moved that action be taken on accepting the slate of nominees immediately. Seconded by Mr. Tafoya. Passed

The slate of nominees as presented by the Steering Committee was adopted. (See attached)

 2. Dean O'Dowd moved adoption of the following Steering Committee recommendation for action at the next meeting "All members of the Senate electorate who are not members of the Senate are welcome to attend meetings as visitors. Any other persons may be welcomed as visitors by note of the Senate. Visitors may not participate in Senate proceedings except by vote of the Senate." It was the intent of the Steering Committee that those persons attending would do so at the invitation of a member of the Senate for a particular purpose.  

Mr. Hammerle moved that the meeting be adjourned. Seconded by Mr. Maher. Accepted