Oakland University Senate
April 11, 1968
MINUTES
PRESENT: Miss Attwood, Messrs. S. Appleton, Atkinson, Burdick, Burke, Cafone, Cherno, Davis, Dutton, Galloway, Gerulaitis, Hahn, Hetenyi, Hoopes, Howes, Iodice, Johnson, Miss Juth, Messrs. Kent, Kleckner, Langer, Lyons, Matthews, McKay, O'Dowd, Pino, Shank, Simmons, Stoutenburg, Susskind, Swanson, Tomboulian, Torch, Varner, Williamson, Mrs. White.
ABSENT: Messrs. Butler, Fernald, Gibson, Hammerle, Harding, Heubel, Hough, Linsalata, Lowy, Norris, Richter, Righter.
GUESTS: Messrs. Forbes, Sullivan and Yennior.
Chancellor Varner called the meeting to order at 3:45 p.m.
Chancellor Varner reported on his visit with Representatives Bishop and Ford sub-committee members of the House Appropriations Committee, and Mr. Ellis, a staff member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, regarding the budget. Little new was learned but the Chancellor feels we have friends in Messrs. Bishop and Ford. Final action on the appropriation bill could come as early as May 15.
Chancellor Varner announced that the bids on the Oakland Center expansion came in approximately $500,000 high. "For the moment," he said, "we are reviewing the whole project but will take no immediate action."
Mr. O'Dowd announced that we had 896 paid deposits from new students and Oakland University was taking steps to close freshman admissions for this fall.
Mr. Hetenyi moved to accept the minutes of March 26. Seconded by Mr. Gerulaitis.
* Mr. Simmons drew attention to a typographical error in Mr. Burke's motion on page 2. The word "satisfied" in the third sentence should be "satisfies."
With this correction noted the minutes were approved.
Old Business
Mr. Johnson restated his motion of March 26, previously seconded by Mr. Righter; regarding the recommendation from the ad hoc Committee on the University Calendar.
* After a brief discussion the motion was adopted.
THE AD HOC CALENDAR COMMITTEE URGES THE ADOPTION OF THE FOLLOWING SIX POINTS TO TAKE EFFECT IN THE SPRING SEMESTER PERIOD OF 1969.
a. THAT FALL AND WINTER SEMESTERS BE SCHEDULED IN ESSENTIALLY THE SAME FASHION AS IN RECENT YEARS.
b. THAT THE EXAMINATION PERIODS FOR THE FALL SEMESTER AND FOR THE WINTER SEMESTER EACH BE LENGTHENED TO FIVE DAYS.
c THAT THE SPRING SEMESTER BE REPLACED BY A SPRING SESSION AND A SUMMER SESSION OF ABOUT EIGHT WEEKS EACH. PROGRAMS FOR THESE SESSIONS SHOULD BE DEVELOPED BY THE FACULTIES WITH CLEARLY CONCEIVED CLIENTELES AND COURSE SEQUENCES IN MIND AT LEAST INITIALLY, THE SPRING SESSION SHOULD OPERATE PRIMARILY FOR OAKLAND UNDERGRADUATES AND TI-IS SUMMER SESSION PRIMARILY FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS AND STUDENTS FROM OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY. THE SPRING SESSION WOULD THEN BE CLOSELY TIED PERFORCE TO THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR. WHILE THE SUMMER SESSION COULD DEVELOP TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY INDEPENDENT OF THE OTHER TERMS AND SO AS TO FREE MUCH OF THE FACULTY FROM DUTIES DURING THAT PERIOD. A COURSE IN EITHER SESSION WOULD ORDINARILY INVOLVE AS MANY CONTACT HOURS AS IN THE REGULAR SEMESTER. UNDERGRADUATE COURSES RUNNING THROUGH BOTH SESSIONS WOULD ORDINARILY NOT BE PERMITTED.
d. THAT THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES FOR SPRING OR SUMMER SESSION TEACHING BE USED:
1) AN INSTRUCTOR WILL ORDINARILY TEACH A SINGLE COURSE DURING A SESSION; AND
2) DETERMINATION OF THE FREQUENCY A GIVEN INSTRUCTOR MAY TEACH IN THESE SESSIONS WILL BE LEFT TO DEANS AND CHAIRMEN, SUBJECT TO THE PROVOST'S APPROVAL, AND NOT GOVERNED BY ANY RULE SUCH AS ONE PROSCRIBING MORE THAN FIVE CONSECUTIVE SEMESTERS OF TEACHING.
e. THAT INDICATIONS TO THE STUDENT OR TO THE PROSPECTIVE STUDENT THAT HE MAY GRADUATE IN SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN FOUR YEARS DISAPPEAR FROM OUR LITERATURE (SEE PAGE 6 OF THE PRESENT CATALOG FOR AN EXAMPLE).
f. THAT THE SENTENCE "THIS CALENDAR IS SUBJECT TO REVISION," APPEAR AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH PUBLISHED CALENDAR.
Chancellor Varner introduced Mr. Dave Yennior, newly elected student Senator, who will take office in the fall.
Mr. Burke reintroduced his report of March 26, from the Academic Policy Committee regarding the grading system.
Mr. Hetenyi restated his motion of March 26, previously seconded by Mr. Simmons, regarding acceptance of the Academic Policy Committee report and recommending no change in the grading system.
Mr. Tomboulian moved that Mr. Hetenyi's motion be divided into two parts and each be voted on separately. Seconded by Mr. Davis.
Following considerable discussion Mr. Davis called the question. Seconded by Mr. Burke. Carried.
Mr. Tomboulian's motion was then voted on but not adopted.
Mr. Simmons called the question on Mr. Hetenyi's motion. Seconded by Mr. Hetenyi. Carried.
* Mr. Hetenyi's motion was then adopted.
THAT THIS REPORT BE ACCEPTED AND NO CHANGES IN THE GRADING SYSTEM BE INSTITUTED.
Mr. Cherno asked if these definitions of grades will be sent to faculty each year. The general consensus was that the Academic Policy Committee's report on the grading system should be distributed to faculty and should appear in the Student Handbook but the notion that these were definitions was not accepted. Mr. Burke said the intent of the Committee was to use the statements as guidelines.
Mr. Cherno reminded the Senate that on January 16, he moved to table the Placement Council's report, regarding General Hershey's letter to the local draft boards, for a period not to extend beyond April 15, in order to allow the Assembly of the College of Arts and Science to discuss the report. Dean Matthews stated that the Steering Committee would have a letter on this subject immediately so the matter can be put on the agenda for the next Senate meeting.
Mr. Hetenyi asked if the Hershey Resolution had been sent and whether a reply had been received. Mr. Stoutenburg said the Resolution had been sent but there had been no answer to date.
New Business
Mr. O'Dowd reported the action of the Steering Committee. He said the following statement has been used in recent academic violation cases and will be considered working guidelines until the Senate can act on this legislation which will probably be in the fall.
The Steering Committee has accepted and hereby puts into effect a report from the Academic Standing and Honors Committee entitled Procedures in Cases of Academic Violations. This report shall serve to guide university practice in this area until the originating committee has time to refine the report and present it to the Senate for final adoption. The Steering Committee will schedule an open hearing on this subject in the fall and urges all departments to examine and discuss the report prior to the open hearing. The full text of the report is contained in the second attachment to this agenda. (See attachment to these minutes).
Mr. Iodice asked if the Board of Trustees would defend the faculty in case of a lawsuit as a result of implementing the procedure.
Chancellor Varner said a definitive answer would have to be obtained from the Board of Trustees but it was inconceivable to him that the Board would not support a faculty member short of an insane action by the faculty member. The Board's general attitude is to protect its community both faculty and students.
Mr. McKay stated that the Academic Standing and Honors Committee is attempting to set up procedures that would minimize the faculty member's liability. He said that action taken against a student would be by the Committee not by the faculty member.
Chancellor Varner suggested that Mr. Leland Carr, attorney for the Board, be invited to Oakland for a general discussion of due process, etc. The members of the Senate agreed this would be a good idea.
Mr. Iodice said the Faculty Affairs Committee was looking for insurance to protect the faculty member but found insurance companies reluctant to consider such a policy. Mr. Swanson said faculty members at MSU have accomplished this liability coverage through their Homeowner's policy.
Mr. Tomboulian suggested that the "Procedures in Cases of Academic Violations" be distributed once a year similar to the grading information and hoped that this information would also appear in the Student Handbook
Mr. McKay informed the Senate that Mr. DeMent is writing the pamphlet "On Property and Propriety in Ideas" with the focus on education rather than punitive action
Upon a motion by Mr. Hetenyi the meeting was adjourned at 5:09 p.m.
HNS:ld
*Motions and amendments adopted at this meeting.