Oakland University Senate
December 17, 1965
Minutes
PRESENT: Messrs. S. Appleton, G. Brown, Burke, Cammack, Cherno, Clarke, Collins, Dutton, Haden, Hammerle, Harding, Hetenyi, Heubel, Hoopes, Lessing, Lowy, Malm, G. Matthews, Johnson, O'Dowd, Simmons, Stoutenburg, Susskind, Swanson, Tipler, Tomboulian, Varner, Williamson
ABSENT: Beardslee, M. Brown, Burdick, Galloway, Gibson, Marz, Mobley, Pitts, Stubblefield, Brace
GUESTS: Messrs. Atkinson, Crowder, Daniels, Davis, Kent, Lepley, McKay, Obear, Potter, Torch
Chancellor Varner called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m.
Chancellor Varner discussed his visit with Governor Romney re: Senate Bill 685, the subsequent veto, and his decision to veto any supplemental appropriation bills for operation money.
The Board of Trustees approved, on December 16, a supplemental appropriation request for $395,000. However, it was decided not to submit it because there appeared to be no support for it in the legislature.
Mr. Heubel moved to accept the minutes of November 9, 1965. Seconded by Mr. Williamson. Adopted.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Mr. Tomboulian reintroduced the recommendation of the Committee on Instruction to adopt the policy "Academic Work Recorded as S and U" seconded previously by Mr. Simmons.
Concern was indicated by several Senators for the Committee on Instruction's procedure for considering departmental request for granting grades of S and U for certain courses. After a brief discussion Mr. Williamson moved to amend the motion to insert the words "Academic Affairs Committee" for "Committee on Instruction" in the third paragraph.
Seconded by Mr. Matthews. Not adopted.
Mr. Hetenyi moved to amend the motion by stating that the present semester is exempt from paragraph three of the motion.
Seconded by Mr. O'Dowd. Adopted.
COMMENT: By the adoption of this amendment the two courses approved for "S" and "U" fall semester 1965 are French 101 and Charter College 101.
Mr. Hammerle stated that, "In a programmed course such as French 101 this past semester, a student can be graded only as having finished the program or as having failed to finish it. In Chorus, grades apparently can be based only on attendance. In Charter College, classes are being taught in a way that precludes the use of numerical grades. For these examples, and for courses like them, numerical grades seem inappropriate; S and U would be more useful and probably will be employed if this motion passes.
"However, it is my understanding that grading with S and U will be restricted to those courses for which numerical grades are inappropriate. Most of the University Courses and most of the offerings of each department will continue to be graded numerically."
Mr. Appleton moved to amend the motion by making Mr. Hammerle's statement as part of the intent of the motion.
Seconded by Mr. Lessing. Adopted.
COMMENT; It was explained by Messrs. Atkinson and Tomboulian that an S grade in a course will remove a previous F grade earned in the same course or its equivalent. It was also noted that where the rule applied, the repeat course fee would be required.
The motion with amendments was adopted.
Academic Work Recorded as S or U
Certain courses may carry academic credit towards 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.
INTENT: The grades of "S" and "U" will be restricted to those courses for which numerical grades are inappropriate.
2. Mr. O'Dowd reintroduced the recommendation of the Steering Committee seconded previously by Mr. Williamson;
Except on occasions 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 regular Senate meetings.
Comment:
The members of the Steering Committee believe that the approval of this motion will improve communication with the student body, strengthen the institutions that are represented, and recognize the importance of students in the development of university policy.
Mr. Appleton moved to amend the motion by deleting all the words after "welcome" and inserting "on a one-year trial basis as a voting member on a regular voting basis."
Seconded by Mr. Cammack. After a brief discussion Mr. Appleton withdrew his motion and Mr. Cammack his second.
Mr. Appleton moved to refer the motion to the Steering Committee to act as an ad hoc committee to work out two or three new plans for this motion.
Seconded by Mr. Collins. Adopted.
3. Mr. O'Dowd presented the following amended version of the resolution concerning a School of Performing Arts moved at the November 9, 1965 Senate Meeting and seconded by Mr. Hetenyi. The Steering Committee recommends the following resolution for adoption:
A Resolution
The Academic Senate supports the establishment of a School of Performing Arts. This School should 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 should have the freedom to determine the admissions requirements, academic standards, curricular sequences, and degree requirements for its students, subject to the approval of a body representative of the Oakland faculty. In addition, subject to Board approval, the faculty may determine the patterns of appointment to the faculty of the School of Performing Arts and 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.
The motion was adopted.
4. Mr. Hoopes moved the recommendation of the Athletic Policy Committee to approve the document entitled. The Intercollegiate Sports Program. As part of the proposal it is recommended:
That basketball be authorized for a three-year trial period.
Seconded by Mr. Williamson. Final action to be taken at a subsequent meeting.
5. Mr. Hoopes moved the recommendation of the Steering Committee with the approval of the Academic Affairs Committee to adopt the following motion:
The Meadow Brook School of Music is authorized to operate as a credit- granting academic program following the general organizational format established in the summer of 1965.
Comment:
The initial authorization of this program was for one year. The success of the program in the first summer is offered as the reason for recommending that the Meadow Brook School be accorded a more permanent status as a credit-bearing program.
Seconded by Mr. Williamson.
Mr. Collins moved that the above motion be voted on today.
Seconded by Mr. O'Dowd. Twenty-four Senators approved the Collins' motion.
The original motion was adopted.
6. Mr. O'Dowd reported the following for the Steering Committee:
The Steering Committee has established the ad hoc Committee on Honors Programs in response to action of the Senate on April 22, 1965. Mr. Haden has agreed to serve as chairman, and he will be joined by Mr. Hough and Mr. Pitts in exploring "suitable means of dealing with the academic needs of the University's most talented students."
Meeting adjourned at 5:58 p.m.
HNS:je