Oakland University Senate
Meeting of April 9, 1970
3 p.m.. Main Cafeteria, Oakland Center Addition
AGENDA
Submitted by Frederick W. Obear, for the Steering Committee
Please note that this meeting and all future meetings of the University Senate will begin at 3 p.m.. half an hour earlier than has been our prior custom.
A. Old Business
1. Recommendation from the ad hoc Blue Ribbon Commission on Educational Reform (Mr. Davis). Second reading, eligible for final vote.
The Commission recommends:
a. THAT THE UNIVERSITY SENATE ENDORSE THE PRINCIPLES CONCERNING STANDARD AND INDEPENDENT CONCENTRATIONS DESCRIBED IN SECTIONS I A, B, AND C, PAGES 4 AND 5 OF THE FINAL REPORT OF THE AD HOC BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON EDUCATIONAL REFORM, AND REFER THEM TO THE COLLEGES AND SCH0OLS FOR CONSIDERATION AND SPEEDY IMPLEMENTATION.
b. THAT THE UNIVERSITY SENATE MODIFY THE DEGREE REQUIREMENT FOR THE B.A. AND B.S. DEGREES SO THAT A STUDENT MAY GRADUATE WITHOUT A DEPARTMENTAL MAJOR. THIS LEGISLATION SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE IN EACH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE UPON THE IMPLEMENTATION BY THAT SCHOOL OR COLLEGE OF THE STANDARD AND INDEPENDENT CONCENTRATION LEGISLATION DESCRIBED ABOVE.
Comments by the Academic Policy Committee:
The independent concentration. APC strongly favors the proposed enabling legislation by the Senate, and urges the Committee on Instruction of Arts and Sciences to draw up a program following the lines suggested by the Commission.
The standard concentration. APC is inclined to favor the Commission proposals requiring that each department provide at least one degree path of limited length, but we feel that some further discussions about feasibility, especially outside of Arts and Sciences, are necessary, and are likely to result in some exceptions to the general rule.
2. Recommendation from the Blue Ribbon Commission (Mr. Davis). Second reading, eligible for final vote.
The Commission recommends that the Senate endorse and implement the following grading policies:
a. THE GRADE 0.0 SHALL BE ABOLISHED. ANY STUDENT WHO REGISTERS FOR A COURSE, AND REMAINS IN IT PAST THE DATE UPON WHICH THE FINAL CREDIT COUNT IS MADE, BUT WHO FOR ANY REASON DOES NOT RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THE COURSE, SHALL RECEIVE AN N GRADE.
b. EACH COURSE SHALL BE DESIGNATED IN THE COURSE SCHEDULE BY THE INSTRUCTOR OR BY THE DEPARTMENT IN THE CASE OF MULTI-SECTIONED COURSES, AS AVAILABLE ONLY ON AN UNGRADED "SATISFACTORY-NO CREDIT" BASIS (S-N) OR AVAILABLE ON AN OPTIONAL GRADED OR UNGRADED BASIS.
PRIOR TO THE FINAL DROP DEADLINE, EACH STUDENT SHALL INDICATE TO THE INSTRUCTOR OF AN OPTIONALLY GRADED COURSE WHETHER OR NOT HE OR SHE WISHES TO RECEIVE A GRADE.
AT THE END OF THE TERM, THE INSTRUCTOR SHALL REPORT EITHER A GRADE, OR "SATISFACTORY" (S) OR "NO CREDIT" (N), AS INSTRUCTED EARLIER BY THE STUDENT.
THE INSTRUCTOR SHALL DETERMINE THE STANDARD REQUIRED FOR AN UNGRADED STUDENT TO RECEIVE CREDIT. THE SOLE CRITERION SHALL BE THAT THE QUALITY OF THE WORK BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE INSTRUCTOR FOR CREDIT TOWARD GRADUATION. IN NO CASE, HOWEVER, SHALL THE STANDARD BE HIGHER THAN THAT REQUIRED FOR A GRADED STUDENT TO OBTAIN A GRADE OF 2.0.
c THE TERM REPORT SHALL BE A COMPLETE RECORD FOR THE STUDENT, HIS OR HER ADVISER, AND THE ACCOUNTING OFFICES OF ALL WORK FOR WHICH THE STUDENT WAS REGISTERED AFTER THE ADD DEADLINE. IT SHALL BE AN INTERNAL DOCUMENT.
THE TRANSCRIPT SHALL BE A RECORD OF THE STUDENT'S ACADEMIC WORK WHICH HE OR SHE PRESENTS FOR CREDIT TOWARD GRADUATION. IT SHALL NOT SHOW COURSES FOR WHICH THE STUDENT WAS REGISTERED BUT DID NOT OBTAIN CREDIT. THE TRANSCRIPT SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR EXTERNAL USE AT THE REQUEST OF THE STUDENT.
d. FOR A STUDENT WHO PRESENTS 5 OR MORE UNGRADED COURSES FOR CREDIT, THE REQUIREMENT OF A 2.0 GRADE POINT AVERAGE FOR GRADUATION MAY BE WAIVED BY THE SENATE UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE ACADEMIC STANDING AND HONORS COMMITTEE.
Note: Comments by the Academic Policy Committee on this proposal appear in the April 2nd Senate Agenda, under item A 3.
The following amendments were introduced and seconded, and are also eligible for final vote:
i. Mr. Burke moved to amend the first paragraph of item A 2b as follows: change the final period to a comma, and add the phrase "or available only on a traditionally graded basis." Seconded by Mr. Cherno.
ii. Mr. Hildum offered the following as a substitute for the wording of the entire fourth paragraph of item A 2b: "The standard of performance required for an ''S" grade shall be that required for a graded student to obtain a grade of 2.0." Seconded by Mr. Cherno.
iii. Mr. Akers introduced the following amendments to item A 2b on behalf of Mr. Gorvine and ten of his colleagues in the Department of History. Seconded by Mr. lodice.
a. Substitute for the entire second paragraph of item A 2b:
"A student electing to be graded on an S-N basis shall so declare at registration, and his instructor shall be so informed by the registrar. A student initially registered for S credit may elect to receive numerical grading at any time up to the drop deadline but a student registering initially for numerically graded credit may not later elect to be graded on an S-N basis."
b. Add as a fifth paragraph of item A 2b:
"No more than one-quarter of the students total credits toward the degree shall be in courses graded S."
c. Add as a sixth paragraph of item A 2b:
"Courses in which the instructor elects to grade all students on an S-N basis shall not be counted against this limit of one-quarter."
d. Add as a seventh paragraph of item A 2b:
"Each department shall have the option of limiting the number of S credits its majors may apply toward fulfilling the major requirement."
3. Recommendation from the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Hildum). Second reading. eligible for final vote.
The Academic Policy Committee recommends:
a. THAT ALL GRADES BELOW 1.0 BE REPLACED BY N.
b. THAT THE FOLLOWING GRADES BE ELIMINATED: 3.6 - 3.9, 4.1-4.3.
SUMMARY: WITH THESE CHANGES, THE GRADING SYSTEM WOULD BE AS FOLLOWS:
N, 1.0-3.5 (IN STEPS OF 0.1), 4.0. (I AND P ARE UNCHANGED.)
Note: Extensive comments by APC in support of this proposal appear in the April 2nd Senate Agenda, under item A 3.
The following amendment was offered by Mr. Beardman, seconded by Mr. Gibson, and is eligible for final vote.
i. Amend item 3b by eliminating the numbers 3.6-3.9, and the comma following. The summary will then read as follows:
"With these changes, the grading system would be as follows: N, 1.0-4.0 (in steps of 0.1). (I and P are unchanged)."
4. Recommendation from the Blue Ribbon Commission (Mr. Davis). Second reading, eligible for final vote.
The Commission recommends the adoption of the following general education requirement.
a. EACH STUDENT SHALL TAKE NOT LESS THAN 25% (3 COURSES OR 32 CREDITS) OF HIS COLLEGE WORK IN ACADEMIC AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE CONCENTRATION. THESE EIGHT COURSES SHALL INCLUDE TWO FRESHMAN EXPLORATORIES, ONE SENIOR COLLOQUIUM OR FOUR CREDITS IN UNIVERSITY FORUM, AND FIVE COURSES OUTSIDE THE CONCENTRATION CHOSEN IN CONSULTATION WITH THE STUDENT'S ADVISER.
AS A GUIDELINE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF APPROPRIATE AREAS FOR GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES, EACH STUDENT'S CONCENTRATION SHALL BE ASSIGNED BY THE COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION TO ONE OF THE CATEGORIES LISTED BELOW.
(1) SCIENCE�PHYSICS, BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, MATHEMATICS, ENGINEERING.
(2) SOCIAL SCIENCE�POLITICAL SCIENCE, ECONOMICS, SOCIOLOGY, ANTHROPOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY.
(3) ENGLISH, FOREIGN LANGUAGE, CLASSICS, LINGUISTICS.
(4) HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY.
(5) FINE ARTS: ART, MUSIC.
(6) AREA STUDIES, AND NEW INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS SUCH AS ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES.
EACH STUDENT MUST THEN TAKE AT LEAST FIVE COURSES CHOSEN FROM CATEGORIES OTHER THAN THE ONE TO WHICH HIS CONCENTRATION IS ASSIGNED. WHEN A STUDENT APPLIES FOR INCLUSION ON THE GRADUATION LIST, HE SHALL PRESENT TO THE REGISTRAR A FORM ON WHICH HE CLEARLY INDICATES THE COURSES TAKEN AS PART OF HIS CONCENTRATION AND THOSE TAKEN AS GENERAL EDUCATION.
b. THE SYSTEM OF LETTER DESIGNATION OF FRESHMAN EXPLORATORIES AND SENIOR COLLOQUIA BY CATEGORIES SHALL BE DISCONTINUED. A STUDENT MAY ELECT ANY TWO EXPLORATORIES AND ANY SENIOR COLLOQUIUM OR ANY FOUR CREDITS IN UNIVERSITY FORUM TO FULFILL THIS REQUIREMENT.
Mr. Hildum introduced the following as a substitute motion for the entire item A 4. Seconded by Mr. Akers. It is eligible for final vote.
i. 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:
a. 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 EMPATHIC. SPECIFICALLY, THE FINE ARTS, ENGLISH AND FOREIGN LITERATURE, THEATER, DANCE, ETC.
b. 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.
c. 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,
d. 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.
Comment:
ii. Assumptions
a. The bachelor's degree implies not only some concentration of study around a discipline or a particular topic, but also at least an acquaintance with a variety of fields of inquiry.
b. Since one cannot expect such an acquaintance with all disciplines, it's necessary to settle on a small number of categories representing important differences in approach and subject matter, such that possibilities for the transfer of learning might be expected to be greater within than between categories.
c. Acquaintance means no more and no less than that. It means more than one try at an area, to avoid accidental biases; but it is less than an extended friendship with an area, which can grow only out of the student's own choice.
Note that, although the above distribution requirement is stated as including eleven courses, every major will involve at least two of them, so that only nine courses outside the major would be required; and for those majors with corequisites in other categories, the number is reduced to seven.
Although APC has not specified an effective date for this action, we feel the possibility of implementation this year should at least be discussed, to make clearer to us all what problems remain to be solved.
Mr. Cherno moved to amend the Hildum substitute motion by adding the following sentence to the last paragraph:
IT IS ALSO UNDERSTOOD THAT THE REQUIREMENT MAY BE MET BY COURSES DIRECTLY INVOLVING PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, SUCH AS WORKSHOPS, FIELD TERMS, AND OTHER OFF-CAMPUS PROGRAMS, ETCETERA, AS WELL AS BY COURSES OF A TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC NATURE IN A TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM SETTING.
Seconded by Mr. Matthews; it is eligible for final vote
ADDENDA TO SECTION A, OLD BUSINESS
The following amendments were offered at the evening session, Tuesday, April 7, but were too late for inclusion in the earlier pages of this agenda. They are nevertheless eligible for final vote.
Mr. Hetenyi offered several motions regarding University requirements; after the close of the formal session Mr. Hetenyi and his second, Mr. Burdick, agreed to the division of the motions. One of his motions is presented here as an amendment to item A 1, and the other is offered as a substitute for item A 4.
A 1. Mr. Hetenyi moved to add a paragraph "b" to item A 1:
THAT THE UNIVERSITY SENATE FURTHER ENDORSE THE PRINCIPLE THAT A STUDENT MAY GRADUATE WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN AN "ELECTIVE PROGRAM" WITH NO MAJOR OR CONCENTRATION WHATSOEVER, AND REFER THIS PRINCIPLE TO THE COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS FOR CONSIDERATION AND IMPLEMENTATION.
Item A I b in the printed agenda will then become item A I c.
A3. Mr. Beardman offered as a substitute motion for item A 3 a and b:
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.
A 4. Mr. Hetenyi offered as another substitute motion for the Commission proposal A 4 a and b the following:
THE UNIVERSITY DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENT SHALL CONSIST OF TWO FRESHMAN
EXPLORATORIES (OR EQUIVALENCE VIA COMPETENCY EXAMINATION OR TRANSFER
CREDIT) AND ONE SENIOR COLLOQUIUM OR TWO UNIVERSITY FORUM COURSES.
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS MAY BE IMPOSED IF DESIRED BY
THE SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES UPON STUDENTS PURSUING MAJORS OR STANDARD
OR INDEPENDENT CONCENTRATIONS, BUT NOT UPON THOSE IN ELECTIVE PROGRAMS.
Seconded by Mr. Burdick.
B. New Business
1. Motion from the Assembly of the College of Arts and Sciences (Mr. Matthews). First reading.
THAT THE SENATE REQUEST THE CHANCELLOR TO SEEK AUTHORIZATION FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES TO OFFER THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE.
Comment: On March 10, 1970 the Assembly of Arts and Sciences approved the request to offer the B.S. degree with the following stipulations:
1. that the B.S. degree should not have a set of general degree requirements different than those for the B.A. degree and
2. that each department wishing to sponsor students for the B.S. degree should submit a program of instruction designed to that end the Committee on Instruction.
For some time the Department of Chemistry has argued that certain of its students, principally those going directly from college into industry, were disadvantaged by not having the B.S. The College has taken this action largely with those students in mind. However, it is anticipated that over the years other departments may wish to develop B.S. programs.
2. Proposed amendment to the Constitution of Oakland University, offered by the Graduate Council (Mr. Johnson). First reading.
The Graduate Council shall be responsible for the recommendation to the Board of Trustees of all candidates for graduate degrees. Its presiding officer, the Dean of Graduate Study, shall be a member of the University Senate and the University Tenure and Appointment Policy Committee.
Comment: These provisions are consonant with the constitution that has just been approved by the Graduate Council and by its constituent departments. The first�recommendation of degree candidates�reflects the charge to the Council, contained in Amendment 1 to the University Constitution, that it be the legislative agency of the University responsible for "general and specific degree requirements at the graduate level." The Council recommends ex officio membership of the Dean in the Senate on the grounds that his membership would facilitate exchanges between the Senate and the Council particularly regarding the institution and termination of graduate programs. It recommends his membership in the Tenure and Appointment Policy Committee out of the need for him to be concerned with the faculty's qualifications for graduate instruction.
3. Recommendation from the Steering Committee (Mr. Obear).
a. In keeping with precedent, the Steering Committee recommends
THAT THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTION OF THE GRADUATE COUNCIL NOT BE AMENDED ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE. (Procedural motion, eligible for final vote.)
b. THAT THE SENATE APPROVE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE GRADUATE COUNCIL. (First reading.)
4. Recommendation from the Steering Committee (Mr. Obear).
THAT ALLEN CHAMBERLIN, A STUDENT, BE APPOINTED TO FILL THE STUDENT SEAT IN THE LONG-RANGE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
Comment: Mr. Chamberlin has played a very active role in the deliberations of the Long-Range Development Committee during the last two months and in the opinion of the present faculty-staff membership would make an excellent addition to the official membership of the committee.
FWO:JED:gar
3/8/70
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