Oakland University Senate
November 9, 1965
Minutes
PRESENT: Messrs. S. Appleton, Brace, G. Brown, M. Brown, Burdick, Burke, Cammack, Cherno, Collins, Dutton, Galloway, Heden, Hetenyi, Heubel,
Johnson, Leasing, Lowy, Malm, Marz, Matthews, O'Dowd, Pitts, Simmons, Stubblefield, Susskind, Tipler, Tomboulian, Vann, Varner, Williamson
ABSENT: Messrs. Beardslee, Clarke, Gibson, Hammerle, Harding, Hoopes, Mobley, Stoutenburg, Swanson.
GUESTS: Messrs. Cripps, Daniels, Kent, Pettengill, Torch
Chancellor Varner called the meeting to order at 4:17 p.m.
Mr. Heubel moved to accept the minutes of October 20, 1965. Seconded by Mr. Stubblefield. Approved.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Mr. Burke moved to accept the minutes of April 22, 1965. Seconded by Mr. Stubblefield.
a. Mr. Heubel moved to amend the minutes by changing the fourth paragraph on page 3 to read:
"Mr. Appleton moved to suspend the rules so that a straw vote might be taken, a measure requiring a two-third vote of the Senate. Seconded by Mr. Cherno. Adopted." Mr. Heubel's amendment was adopted.
b. Mr. Heubel pointed out that, with regard to line 2E of the general education requirements listed on page 8, the phrase "(Asian Civilizations)" was not intended by the previous Academic Affairs Committee to have been part of the legislation, and urged the present Academic Affairs Committee not to consider itself bound by it.
c. Mr. Simmons moved, on behalf of the Academic Affairs Committee, that the Senate postpone approval of these minutes until the next meeting. Seconded by Mr. Galloway. Not adopted.
d. Mr. O'Dowd moved to add, in the last paragraph on page 2, after the phrase "in the Art-Music Group," the phrase "and the Area Studies Group." Seconded by Mr. Hetenyi. Adopted.
e. Mr O'Dowd questioned the absence, on page 9, of an explanatory footnote to the legislation in paragraph 4 which dealt with the g.p.a. requirements for admission to graduate study. When it was made clear that the explanatory footnote was not an integral part of the legislation, Mr. O'Dowd withdrew his question.
The minutes of April 22, 1965 were then adopted.
2. The Chancellor entertained questions from the Senate. In the course of answering these, the Chancellor stated that:
a. The Senate may hear reports from the administrative committees.
b. There is some hope for favorable action on the bill currently before the State Legislature which would grant aid to small colleges whose enrollments were higher than expected.
c. It is likely that Matilda Wilson Hall will be ready for occupancy by March 1.
3. Mr. O'Dowd moved the recommendation of the Steering Committee that the Cultural Programs Committee and Commencement Committee be combined into a single commitee and that the membership of the Cultural Programs Committee approved at the last Senate meeting serve as the newly established committee. The Senate is asked, therefore, to approve the following title, charge, membership specification, and membership.
Committee on Cultural Programs and Commencement
To formulate policy for and render advice to those agencies responsible for the development of programs designed to enrich the cultural life of the University community; to advise on commencement activities and ceremonies; and to consult with the Chancellor with regard to commencement speakers and candidates for honorary degrees. Membership will consist of seven members.
The 1965-66 Committee will include:
N. Susskind, Chairman
J. Beardman,
J. Davis
D. DeCharms
D. DiChiera
D. Malm
R. McGarry
Seconded by Mr. Stubblefield. Adopted.
4. Mr. O'Dowd moved the recommendation from the Steering Committee that the membership specification of the Library Committee be changed to the following:
Membership will consist of five faculty members and University Librarian; the latter will be an ex officio member of the Committee and non-voting.
Comment:
Mr. O'Dowd explained that the purpose of this motion was to provide representation for faculty members outside the College of Arts and Sciences.
Seconded by Mr. Pitts.. Adopted.
5. Mr. O'Dowd moved the recommendation of the Steering Committee to nominate the following for membership on the:
Committee on Instruction
P. Tomboulian, Chairman
T. Dutton
P. Evarts
D. Lowy
J. Moeller
T. Atkinson, ex officio
Library Committee
R. Williams on, Chairman
D. Boddy
M. Briod
J. Cameron
D. Potter
F. Cammack, ex officio
Seconded by Mr. Pitts. Adopted.
6. Mr. Appleton moved the recommendation of the ad hoc Committee on Constitutional Revision, By-laws, and Procedures for revision of the University Organization document (revisions underlined):
II. Academic Senate. Oakland University
1. Organization and Function
(a) through (e) as before
f. A senator may question the Chancellor on any matter within the jurisdiction of the Senate by submitting such questions, in writing, to the Chancellor and to the Secretary of the Senate. At the start of every regular meeting of the Senate, immediately following approval of the minutes of the previous meeting, a period not to exceed one-half (^) hour will be devoted to responses by the Chancellor or any appropriate person designated by him. Any senator may put supplementary questions orally.
g. Substantive motions will normally be submitted first to the Steering Committee for disposition. A senator may introduce any substantive motion directly onto the floor of the Senate, however, by filing a written copy of the motion with the Steering Committee at least ten (10) days in advance.
h. Except by concurrence of twenty-four(24) senators, the Senate may not vote on main substantive motions until one (1) week after they have been circulated, together with relevant committee recommendations and reports, to the Assembly. Upon demand of twelve senators, one hearing open to the electorate shall be held before final action may be taken on any motion not ruled procedural.
Seconded by Mr. Stubblefield. The three paragraphs were voted on separately.
Measures "f" and "g" were adopted. Measure "h" was not adopted.
7. Mr. Tomboulian moved to amend in the name of the Committee on Instruction the motion re: Course and Credit System introduced at the October 20 meeting.
Course and Credit System
The unit of credit is the semester hour. Courses carry four semester hours of credit unless otherwise specified. Normally, the maximum student registration is 16 to 18 credits a semester. With his adviser's permission, however, a student who has completed 12 or more credits at Oakland may register for as many as 21 credits provided that his cumulative grade-point average is at least 2.60. All other students may take more than 18 credits only as a result of a successful Petition of Exception.
(Comment: Mr. Tomboulian explained that the modification consisted of a limitation of permission to students not new freshmen or new transfer students.
Seconded by Mr. Stubblefield. Adopted.
NEW BUSINESS
8. Mr. Tomboulian moved the recommendation of the Committee on Instruction to adopt the following policy as an addition to the grading system.
Academic Work Recorded as S or U
Certain courses may carry academic credit toward graduation and are recorded only with "S" and "U" on the transcript. The letter "S" (for satisfactory) means that the academic performance is equal to 2.0 or better on the decimal grading scale. The letter "U" (for unsatisfactory) means that no academic credit should be granted for the work and that prerequisite or transfer requirements are not met.
Courses completed with these letters would not affect the grade point average. (Thus the grade point average would reflect only those courses for which decimal grades are recorded.) If the course is completed with an "S", the course credit counts toward graduation and would appear in the "transfer credit" column on the grade report. If a "U" is received, the credit would not appear in this column.
A department wishing to offer a course which falls into the above category must obtain approval from the Committee on Instruction in advance of the semester in which the course is to be offered. All sections of the course must be recorded in the same manner.
Seconded by Mr. Simmons. Final action to be taken at a subsequent meeting.
9. Mr. O'Dowd moved for the Steering Committee:
Except on occasion when by a vote of the Senate or by a ruling of the Chairman that the proceeding of the Senate shall be closed, the Editor of the Oakland Observer, the chief student officer of the Dormitory Council and of the Commuter Council will be welcome as visitors to the regular Senate meetings.
Seconded by Mr. Williamson.
Mr. Appleton moved that the measure by tabled.
Seconded by Mr. Hetenyi. Adopted.
10. Mr. O'Dowd moved the recommendation of the Steering Committee to support the following resolution and that it be adopted by the Senate.
A Resolution
The Academic Senate supports the establishment of a School of Performing Arts that will offer a new degree. This school shall have the freedom both in curriculum design and in the development of personnel policies to establish the highest quality professional program in the performing arts. The faculty of the School of Performing Arts shall have the freedom to determine the admissions requirements, academic standards, curricular sequences, and degree requirements for its students. In addition, subject to Board approval, the faculty may determine the pattern of appointment to the faculty of the School of Performing Arts and may adjust these to the reality of the professional arts world rather than to traditional university practices. The School of Performing Arts should contain the most imaginative program that can be devised to encourage the development of future professional performing artists.
Seconded by Mr. Hetenyi. Final action to be taken at a subsequent meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
HNS:je