Oakland University Senate
April 7, 1970
3:30 p.m
[see below for 7:30 p.m. session]
MINUTES
PRESENT: Messrs. Akers, J.R. Appleton, Barthel, Beardman, Briod, Burdick, Burke, Butler, Cherno, Coon, Davis, DeMent, Gerulaitis, Gibson, Harding, Haskell, Hetenyi, Heubel, Hildum, Phil Johnson, Kent, Meckler, Mascitelli, Matthews, McKay, Obear, Rue, Seeber, Simmons, Stern, Stoutenburg, Susskind, Swanson, Tipler, Torch, Torgoff, Witt.
ABSENT: Messrs. Cramer, Dovaras, Button, Fernald, Good, Iodice, P.J. Johnson Letvin, Miss Mattis, Messrs. O'Dowd, Righter, Springfield.
GUESTS: Open meeting with many guests.
Provost Obear reconvened the April 2 recessed Senate meeting at 3:30 p.m.
Mr. Heubel was appointed parliamentarian for this session.
Mr. Beardman moved a substitute motion for the April 2 Agenda items 3 a and b recommending "that the University use the letter grades A, B. C, and N. Grades of N shall not appear on University transcripts. Seconded by Mr. Akers.
Mr. Hildum moved the following substitute motion recommended by the Academic Policy Committee for April 2 Agenda items 6 a and b.
"The general education requirement at Oakland University shall consist, of two freshman exploratories, one senior colloquium or its equivalent in University Forum credit, and 8 credits in each of the following four categories:
1. The study of, or participation in, esthetic activities, where the goal is communication of feelings and complex impressions and the mode of thought is intuitive and emphatic. Specifically, the fine arts, English and foreign literature, theater, dance, etc.
2. The study of natural facts, with an eye to bringing them under human prediction and, on occasion, control by devising plausible theories to explain them and devices to manipulate them. Specifically, the natural sciences and engineering.
3. The study of the thought and behavior of human beings, using much of the apparatus of logic and verification typical of natural science, but fundamentally different not only in the level of complexity of the subject but in its self-reflexive character�the fact that the scientist, his research, and his audience are all part of the subject matter�which puts the concepts of prediction and control in a different light. Specifically, the social sciences as usually understood, plus management, history, most of philosophy, and area studies.
4. Study about, or attainment of proficiency in, systems of symbols as independent of particular content. Specifically, foreign language (as distinct from literature), linguistics, certain philosophy courses, computer programming, and mathematics.
It is understood that foreign language courses must be properly sequential, and that a student may, if it is possible to arrange some qualification test, comp out of any distribution requirement."
Seconded by Mr. Gerulaitis.
Mr. Cherno moved to amend the Academic Policy Committee's substitute motion by adding the following sentence to the last paragraph:
"It is also understood that the requirement may be met y by courses directly involving personal experience, such as workshops, field terms, and other off-campus programs, et cetera, as well as by courses of a traditional academic nature in a traditional classroom setting."
Seconded by Mr. Matthews.
Mr. Hetenyi moved a substitute motion for April 2 Agenda items 6 a and b and Mr. Cherno's substitute motion that "all course requirements, other than total graduation credits, be eliminated and the student who has earned 124 credits be permitted to graduate."
Seconded by Mr. Burdick.
Mr. Hetenyi moved to amend his substitute motion by adding the following phrase to the end of his substitute motion:
"except that students not presenting one year of freshman English or writing competency will be required to take two freshman exploratories. All seniors must take a senior colloquium."
Seconded by Mr. Seeber.
Provost Obear, with the consent of the Senators, recessed this session of the April 2 Senate meeting until 7 p.m.
Submitted by
H. N. Stoutenburg, Secretary
University Senate
Oakland University Senate
April 7, 1970
(7:30 p.m)
MINUTES
PRESENT: Messrs. J.R. Appleton, Beardman, Briod, Burdick, Burke, Butler, Cherno, Davis, DeMent, Gerulaitis, Gibson, Haskell, Hetenyi, Heubel, Hildum, Kleckner, Matthews, McKay, Obear, Seeber, Stern, Stoutenburg, Tipler, Torch, Torgoff, Witt.
ABSENT: Messrs. Akers, Coon, Cramer, Dovaras, Dutton, Fernald, Good, Harding, Iodice, P.J. Johnson, Phil Johnson, Kent, Letvin, Mascitelli, Miss Mattis, Messrs. O'Dowd, Rue, Simmons, Springfield., Susskind, Swanson,
GUESTS: Open meeting with many guests.
Provost Obear reconvened the third session of the April 2 Senate meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Cherno asked in what order the final voting will take place on the substitute motions and amendments. Mr. Heubel indicated that the items will be handled in reverse order to the way they were made. Mr. Cherno suggested that the Senate may want to move as a committee of the whole and take a straw vote on the several substitute motions and amendments in order to establish a procedure which will allow the Senate to achieve what it wants to accomplish.
In answer to a question regarding the binding nature of the Blue Ribbon Commission's recommendations, Mr. Davis explained that the details of that document are not binding on the schools and colleges but an expectation of good faith would be anticipated.
Mr. Matthews stated that with the anticipated future curricular expansion of the University, it would be absurd for the University Senate to set general education requirements of all university students. He said that these requirements should be left to the colleges and schools to determine.
Mr. Stern moved to amend April 2 Agenda item 6 a so that paragraphs 2 and 4 can be combined and items 3 and 5 can be combined.
Seconded by Mr. Burdick.
Mr. Hetenyi asked that his substitute motion and amendment made just before the recess, be for April 2 Agenda items 4 a and b instead of items 6 a and b.
Mr. Stern moved that "the above restraints indicated in his previous amendment of item 6 a shall not apply to those students in the Hetenyi motion and amendment to Agenda item 4 a and b."
Seconded by Mr. Gerulaitis.
Mr. Stern moved to "delete all of April 2 Agenda item 6 a before the paragraph which starts with 'Each student must then take at least five courses. . . " by replacing Items 6 a (1-6) with the Academic Policy Committee's motion above regarding general education requirements.
Seconded by Mr. Gerulaitis.
After some discussion, Mr. Stern withdrew his motion and Mr. Gerulaitis his second.
This session of the April 2 Senate meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m.