Oakland University Senate

April 7, 1964

Minutes

PRESENT: Messrs. APPLETON, BEARDSLEE, BROWN, M., BURDICK, CHERNO, CLARKE, EKLUND, GALLOWAY, HADEN, HETENYI, HEUBEL, HILDUM, HOOPES, HOWES, HUCKER, LEE, LOWY, MAHER, MATTHEWS, MCKAY, OBEAR, O'DOWD, ROOSE, SIMMONS, STOUTENBURG, STUBBLEFIELD, SUSSKIND, SWANSON, TAFOYA, TOMBOULIAN, VARNER, WILDER,
ABSENT: Messrs. COLLINS, HAMMERLE, MOBLEY, SEIKEN, SELLS, SIMONS, WILLIAMSON
GUESTS: Messrs. BROWN, G., SHADRICK, TIPLER.

The meeting was called to order by Chancellor Vamer at 4:15 p.m.

Mr. Chemo moved to adopt the minutes of March 20, 1964, as presented by the secretary. Seconded by Mr. Stubblefield. Approved.

The chair asked if there was further discussion on Mr. Tomboulian's motion about changing the "N" grade deadline to the end of the ninth week or about Mr. Appleton's amendment. Mr. Appleton was asked to restate his reason for preferring a fifteenth week deadline to the proposed ninth week deadline. Mr., Appleton again pointed out that the instructor was in the best position to judge a student's achievement in a course and it may be to the best interest of everyone if a decision could be delayed until the end of the semester.

Chancellor Vamer asked Mr. Swanson if an increase in "N" grades would affect the legislature's evaluation of credit taught by a faculty. Mr. Swanson stated that the legislature does not consider an "N" grade as a completed course and therefore an increase in "N" grades, would work to the University's disadvantage. He further explained that credit taught is a factor used by the legislature in determining appropriations for the next fiscal year. Mr. Appleton's amendment. Not approved.

Mr. Tomboulian's original motion was approved and will be incorporated in the 1964-66 catalog.

"Courses can be dropped at any time up to the end of the ninth week. The only grade recorded by the Registrar for a course dropped during this period is an "N" grade. Permission of both the instructor and the academic advisor is required to drop a course; denial of permission is to be subject to review by the Committee on Instruction."

"If a student withdraws from the University after the end of the ninth week of a semester, the student's instructors, in consultation with the Dean of Students, will assign an "N" or 0.0 grade in the course in question."

The chair asked if there was further discussion on Mr. Tomboulian's motion regarding the final examination period.

Mr. Brown moved to amend the motion by changing the words "four days"  to read "one week." Seconded by Mr. Chemo. After considerable discussion Mr. Brown withdrew his motion and Mr. Chemo his second.

Mr. Stoutenburg asked whether the three-and-one-half hour examination period meant that the instructor could prepare and administer a three-and-one-half hour examination or whether the instructor was still limited to the preparation of a two-hour examination with a time limit of three-and-one-half hours for the students to write the examination.  Mr. Tomboulian stated that it was the intent of the motion to leave this matter to the instructor.

Mr., Stoutenburg then pointed out that the present motion does not allow for courses with multiple sections to give a single examination and asked Mr. Tomboulian whether the committee had considered this point in recommending the motion. Mr. Tomboulian answered by saying that no provisions had been made for this situation and that the Committee did not intend to provide for this situation.

The motion as originally written was then approved.

"That a period of four days be scheduled at the end of each semester in which examinations may be given, or classes held, at the option of the instructor. The scheduling should permit no more than one three-and-one-half-hour meeting period in the morning, and one three-and-one-half-hour meeting period in this afternoon of each of the four days. The exception to this schedule would be evening classes which would have evening meeting periods.

The chair asked if there was further discussion on Mr. Tomboulian's motion regarding class attendance.

Mr. Heubel moved to amend the motion by deleting the word "freshman". Seconded by Mr. Howes. Not approved.

Mr. Chemo moved to amend the motion by placing a period after the word "registered" and deleting the words "unless the instructor specifies otherwise." Seconded by Mr. Lee.

The discussion concerned itself with whether the total student body should be expected to attend scheduled classes or whether this policy should be limited to the freshman students only. It was stated that implementing an attendance policy was usually treated differently by each instructor.  Mr. Chemo's amendment was not adopted. Mr. Tomboulian's original motion was approved.

"Freshman students are expected to attend all scheduled class meetings of the courses in which they are registered, unless the instructor specifies otherwise."

The chair asked if there was further discussion on Mr. Matthews' motion regarding the establishment of Area Studies concentrations to accompany departmental major programs,

Mr. Hucker moved to amend the motion by adding the word "normal" between the words "following course" before the colon and to add the words as "specified by the" between the words "major department" in part (a).  Seconded by Mr. Heubel. Approved.

Mr. Matthews' original motion as amended was then approved.

"That in addition to the regular departmental major, each departmental major may be combined with a concentration in Area Studies, with the following normal course distribution: (a) six courses in the major as specified by the department; (b) six courses appropriate to the student's area specialization as prescribed by the Committee on Area Studies and the major department, and (c) Area Studies 490 to be taken for purposes of writing a  senior essay- or research project with an area emphasis."

Mr. Varner reported that Mr. John Milnor, one of the three individuals to receive a honorary degree at the April Commencement will be out of the country on April 18, and unable to accept this honor. The Commencement Committee suggested that the granting of the degree be deferred until next year. Mr. Hildum moved that this degree be given at the fall convocation.  Seconded by Mr. Heubel.

It was then asked that this me tter be voted upon today by using paragraph I 1, (f) of the Organization of the Senate. Twenty-four senators voted to approve a vote on Mr. Hildum's motion at this meeting, Mr. Hildum's motion was not approved.

Mr. Tomboulian moved the recommendation of the Committee on Instruction that the new conversion table replace the one adopted by the Senate April 15, 1963. Seconded by Mr. Stubblefield.

Mr. Chemo moved that Mr. Tomboulian's motion be voted on today by using paragraph II 1. (f) of the Organization of the Senate, Seconded by Mr. Appleton, Twenty-four senators voted to approve a vote on Mr. Tomboulian's motion at this meeting.

Mr. Heubel moved to amend the motion by substituting the word "good" for "outstanding" opposite 3.0 in paragraph B-l a-(2) of the Agenda for the meeting of April 7, 1964. Seconded by Mr. Chemo. Approved.

Mr. Tomboulian's motion as amended was approved.

This schedule incorporates the principle that all C work represents satisfactory work (acceptable for graduation). There is no exact equivalent of several numbers and letters, but since 70 is a common graduation requirement, this was used to define a 2.0.

Using this conversion chart, grades below (C-) are penalty grades. Their meaning is that although credit is given for the course, the work is unacceptable for graduation without a compensating grade above 2.0 in another course.  The following descriptions of various grades are hereby recommended:

4.3 highest grade
4.0 excellent
3.0 good
2.0 satisfactory
1.0 inadequate but receives credit
0.5 lowest grade receiving credit
0.0 failure; no credit

Mr. Tomboulian moved the recommendation of the Committee on Instruction that:

"(1) only the last grace received will be used in computing the cumulative g.p.a. and the credits carried.

(2) A single line shall be drawn through the previous course record on the transcript. The word "repeat" should appear on the transcript following the designation of the course repeated.

(3) A course may be repeated no more than twice.

(4) Grades received in courses repeated shall not be used in determining honors.  In computing honors, the first grade received shall be used.

(5) A special fee is paid for any repeated course."

Seconded by Mr. Stubblefield, Final action to be taken at a subsequent meeting,

Mr. O'Dowd moved the recommendation of the Steering Committee that "all members of the Senate who are available on campus in late August will assemble to act on behalf of the entire body in approving the recommendation of seniors for honors and degrees. The requirement of a minimum of fifteen votes for the enactment of legislation will be suspended for this one summer meeting of the Senate."

Seconded by Mr. Stubblefield. With the approval of the Senate, the motion was approved.

Messrs, Appleton and Chemo asked whether the grades given under the grading system used in the spring and fall semesters of 1963 could be changed. Mr. Tomboulian stated that the Committee on Instruction was prepared to handle requests of this kind.

Meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.