Oakland University Senate

January 16, 1968

ACADEMIC SENATE MINUTES

PRESENT: Messrs. S. Appleton, Atkinson, Miss Attwood, Messrs. Burke, Cafone, Cherno, Davis, Dutton, Galloway, Gerulaitis, Harding, Hetenyi, Hoopes, Hough, Iodice, Johnson, Miss Juth, Messrs. Kleckner, Linger, Linsalata, Lyons, Matthews, McKay, O'Dowd, Pino, Richter, Righter, Shank, Stoutenburg, Swanson, Torch, Varner, Williamson, Mrs. White.
ABSENT: Messrs. Burdick, Butler, Fernald, Gibson, Hahn, Hammerle, Howes, Kent, Lowy, Norris, Susskind, Tomboulian.
GUESTS: Messrs. Rue, C. Smith, Sullivan.

Chancellor Varner called the meeting to order at 3:45 p.m.

The Chancellor reported that the Matilda Wilson Memorial of reference and bibliographical materials for the Library was proceeding through the efforts of
the Library staff and the Business Office. Orders have been placed, and the Business Office is working out the financial arrangements with the Community
National Bank in Pontiac.

* Mr. Torch moved to accept the minutes of November 28. Adopted. Seconded by Mr. Righter.

* Mr. McKay moved that agenda items A l a, b, and c be made eligible for vote today. Seconded by Mr. Righter. Adopted.

* Mr. McKay moved the recommendation of the Committee on Academic Standing and Baccaulaureate Honors, "that the faculty of Oakland University nominate the undergraduate students named in the list to be distributed at the meeting for the bachelor's degree as of January 16, 1968. These students have been recommended for the bachelor's degree by their respective school and college faculties." Seconded .by Mr. Matthews. Adopted.

* Mr. McKay moved the recommendation of the Committee on Academic Standing and Baccalaureate Honors, "that the faculty of Oakland University nominate the graduate students named in the list to be distributed at the meeting for the master's degree as of January 16, 1968. These students have been recommended for the master's degree by their respective school and college faculties," Seconded by Mr. Hetenyi. Adopted.

* Mr. McKay moved the recommendation of the Committee on Academic Baccalaureate Honors, "that University Honors be awarded to the students named in the list to be distributed at this meeting." Seconded by Mr. Righter. Adopted.

Mr. . McKay explained the procedure for identifying the University Honors recipients. The committee has established guidelines within certain grade point averages for the three categories of University Honors. This semester there was no student in the 4.0 range so the honor summa cum laude was not used. For the magna cum laude, the minimum grade point average is 3.65 and for the cum laude, the minimum grade point average is 3.45. This semester magna cum laudes were given to students between 3.66 and 3.79. The cum laudes were between 3.48 and 3.61.

Mr. Appleton asked if these University Honors were to be kept secret until the April graduation. Registrar Atkinson said his office has had many transcript requests from these graduates for the purpose of making application for employment and to graduate schools. Because of this, his intentions are to have these Honors placed on the official record card in order to assist the students.

It was agreed by those present that the University Honors information should be announced at this time. Chancellor Varner said that he would write a letter this week to congratulate the recipients.

Mr. Righter asked if the University was considering a December commencement program. Mr. Hetenyi then asked when would the University return to one commencement program per year. It was agreed that it was again time to review the policy governing commencement programs. The Chancellor asked the Steering Committee to study the matter.

Mr. O'Dowd moved the resolution prepared by the Placement Council that the University Senate express its grave concern about the actions of General Hershey encouraging local selective service boards to take punitive action towards students who express disagreement and dissent with military recruiting practices.

"The members of the Senate of Oakland University are deeply concerned by the letter sent by General Lewis B. Hershey to local selective service boards on October 26, 1967 in which it was implied that University students may be reclassified for expressing disagreement with military recruiting practices. Subsequent public statements by General Hershey have amplified this interpretation of the original letter and deepened its implications. We believe that this letter by its very imprecise wording endangers the established privilege of students to express vigorous dissent on the college campus. In effect, it is an attack on the freedom of expression that is central to the concept of the modern university. We urgently request that the letter be withdrawn and students be relieved of a repressive threat of reprisal for legal expressions of disagreement."

Seconded by Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Linsalata moved to amend the resolution by substituting the word faculty in the first sentence for the word Senate. Seconded by Mr. Williamson.

Mr. McKay stated that he felt this resolution should be put to a vote of the faculty.

* Mr. Hetenyi moved a substitute motion to leave the word Senate as is and add the following phrase: "as elected representatives of the University community" after the words Oakland University. Seconded by Mr. Williamson. Adopted.

Final action on Mr. O'Dowd's motion to be taken at a subsequent meeting. Mr. O'Dowd moved to accept the report of the Placement Council concerning the use of University facilities by prospective employers of Oakland students as reported in Attachment A to the agenda. (See copy attached.) Seconded by Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Burke moved that Mr. O'Dowd's motion incorporate the "Note" (item 2b in the agenda) explaining what acceptance of Attachment A would mean. There was
no second.

Mr. Hetenyi moved to amend the motion by adding "but without necessarily accepting the policy outlined therein." to the end of the first sentence in the "Note." Seconded by Mr. Burke.

Mr. Linsalata called to question. There was no second.

* Mr. Cherno moved to table the Placement Council report for a period not to extend beyond April 15, 1968, in order to allow the assembly of the College of Arts and Sciences to discuss the report. Seconded by Mr. Gerulaitis.

Mrs. White called the question. Seconded by Mr. Williamson. Adopted.

Mr. Cherno's motion was then adopted.

Mr. McKay moved that the Senate make the Placement Council resolution re: General Hershey eligible for vote today. Seconded by Mr. Dutton.

After a brief discussion, Mr. McKay withdrew his motion and Mr. Dutton his second.

Mr. Burke moved the recommendation of the Academic Policy Committee "that all trips by officially sponsored activities which require students to miss classes must meet the following conditions:

1. No one activity may schedule trips involving more than a total of five class days in any one semester.

2. For any trip involving three or more class days, each student must submit to the director of the activity a note from the instructor of each course affected, to the effect that. the requirements of this course can still be met by the student going on the trip*

3. In order to maintain some control on the number of such trips, the Dean of Students should be informed of each one well in advance, and will make an annual report to the Academic Policy  Committee."

Seconded by Mr. Righter.

Following a lengthy discussion, Mr. Righter moved to postpone the motion.

There was no second.

Mr. Lyons moved to amend the motion by omitting Condition 2 and amending Condition 3 by omitting the word will and substituting after the word and "should inform the student's instructor and." Seconded by Mr. Appleton.

Final action on this amendment and the motion to be taken at a subsequent meeting.

Mrs. White moved the recommendation of the ad hoc Senate Visitors Policy
Committee that

"a. meetings of the Senate are open to all members of the Senate electorate. They are not open to any non-member excepting by special action of the Senate.

b. Non-Senators may not participate in any discussion of the Senate except by special action of the Senate or by recognition from the chair.

c. Any Senator may move at any time that the open session be adjourned and that the Senate reconvene in the executive (closed) session after the necessary length of time it takes to clear the meeting room of all non-Senators, This motion may be carried by a simple majority of Senators present and voting,

d. The Chancellor, as presiding officer of the Senate, may request a motion for executive session at any time as outlined in (c) above,"

Seconded by Mr. Torch.

* Mr. Johnson moved to amend item (a) by adding to the end of the second sentence, "or invitation of the Chancellor." Seconded by Mr. Burke. Adopted.


Final action on the motion to be taken at a subsequent meeting.

* Mr. O'Dowd moved the recommendation of the Steering Committee that the following undergraduate students be appointed to the specified standing committees of the Senate:

a. For the Athletic Committee: Oscar Carlson and Edwin Johnson.
b. For the Student Publications Committee: Roger D. Brooks and Robert L. Quick.

Seconded by Mr. Hetenyi.

Mr. Davis moved that Mr. Brooks name be removed from the Student Publications Committee. Seconded by Mr. McKay. Mr. Davis indicated that Mr. Brooks had been in ill health, and he questioned his ability to participate actively as a member of the committee under these circumstances. After a brief discussion, Mr. Davis withdrew his motion and Mr. McKay his second.

* Mr. Appleton moved that Mr. Brooks name be referred back to the Steering Committee for further consideration because of the reported health problem.

Seconded by Mr. Hetenyi. Adopted.

Mr. O'Dowd's motion was then adopted.

Mr. O'Dowd reported the activities of the Steering Committee to the Senate.

a. The members of the ad hoc Student Nominating Committee which contributed item 5 above are Miss Attwood, Mr. Colton, Mr. Richter, Mr. Simmer, Mr. Tennyson, and Miss Juth, chairman.

b. The members of the ad hoc Senate Visitor Policy Committee which contributed item 4 above are Mr. Atkinson, Miss Attwood, and Mrs. White, chairman.

c. Messrs. Appleton, Brieger, Burdick, and Hammerle have joined the Student Life Commission filling vacancies among the Senate appointees to the Commission.

d. The Steering Committee proposed that beginning in the fall semester 1968, the Senate should meet on the first Thursday of each month during the regular academic year with the exception of September and January when it should meet on the second Thursday of the month. Additional meetings will be scheduled to coincide with the dates established for awarding degrees and to transact additional business as determined by the Steering Committee.

e. The Steering Committee has received a lengthy report from the ad hoc Committee on the university Calendar containing a detailed and thoughtful analysis of calendar problems for the spring semester 1968. The committee recommends that the established spring semester calendar be continued in its present form for at least the coming year. It is suggested that a few eight-week. May and June, courses might be developed this year as a pilot program. The Steering Committee has accepted the report and advised the administration of its support of the recommendations. A general report of this action was sent to all members of the University in a memo dated January 8, 1968.

Meeting adjourned at 6 p.m.

*Motions and amendments adopted at this meeting.

HNS: Id
Attachments (3)