Oakland University Senate
November 12, 1970
MINUTES
PRESENT: Messrs. Akers, J.R. Appleton. Barthel, Briod, Burke, Butler, Cherno, Dahlmann, Davis, DeMent, L.V. Gerulaitis, Gibson, Haskell, Hetenyi, Heubel, Hildum, Iodice, Phil Johnson, P.J. Johnson, Kent, Kleckner, Light, Mascitelli, Matthews, McKay, Obear, O'Dowd, Seeber, Simmons, Stern, Stoutenburg, Tipler, Torch, Torgoff, Witt.
ABSENT: Messrs. Beardman, H. Burdick, Coon, Cramer, Dovaras, Harding, Righter, Rue, Susskind, Swanson.
President O'Dowd opened the information session at 3:15 p.m.
President O'Dowd discussed the State's revenue picture and how it may affect higher education. He said he thought the Governor would not recommend a reduction in the appropriations to colleges and universities, but place a freeze on the filling of new or unfilled positions. The President discussed the students' concerns regarding their role in the appointment and reappointment of faculty.
Mr. Appleton reported the resolution of the resident advisers' earlier demands.
President O'Dowd reported the difficulty the university is having in acquiring insurance coverage and described the increase in cost over previous years.
President O'Dowd called the meeting to order at 4 p.m.
* Mr. Obear moved the approval of the October 15 Senate minutes. Seconded by Mr. Davis.
Two minor changes were made by the Secretary and entered in the official minutes. Approved.
OLD BUSINESS
* Mr. Obear reintroduced his October 15 motion to approve the constitution of the School of Economics and Management. After a brief discussion, the motion was adopted.
"THAT THE SENATE APPROVE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT."
* Mr. Mascitelli reintroduced his October 15 motion that grades should be used only to measure academic achievement. After a brief discussion, this motion was adopted.
"IT IS THE POLICY OF THIS UNIVERSITY THAT GRADES SHOULD BE USED ONLY TO MEASURE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. IN CASES IN WHICH ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT SUCH AS PLAGIARISM OR CHEATING HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE ACADEMIC CONDUCT COMMITTEE, IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT A STUDENT SHOULD RECEIVE NO CREDIT FOR A PIECE OF WORK WHICH HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE NOT HONESTLY PREPARED. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT PROPER THAT A STUDENT BE AUTOMATICALLY DENIED COURSE CREDIT OR ASSIGNED A PENALTY GRADE IN THE COURSE BEYOND THAT WHICH IS A CONSEQUENCE OF RECEIVING NO CREDIT ON THE UNACCEPTABLE WORK. SINCE THE UNIVERSITY HAS PROVIDED A SET OF PROCEDURES AND A SYSTEM OF PENALTIES FOR DEALING WITH CASES OF ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT, INSTRUCTORS SHOULD NOT USE COURSE GRADES AS AN ADDITIONAL MEANS OF PENALIZING STUDENTS FOR ACADEMIC OFFENSES."
Both the motion and the substitute motion moved by Mr. Davis at the October 15 Senate meeting regarding the University Congress constitution were withdrawn by the Steering Committee and the students, respectively, in favor of a new motion from the Steering Committee moved by Mr. Obear that
Whereas the University Senate has already expressed itself as welcoming "the efforts being made by students to organize a student congress,"
Be it resolved that it is the sense of the University Senate that the Student Body, ought and by right, has a major responsibility to recommend university policy in the area of student life to the President and the Board of Trustees of Oakland University.
Seconded by Mr. Stern.
Mr. Obear moved for the students a substitution that:
"The University Senate recommends to the President and Oakland University Board of Trustees that the Constitution of the University Congress, with the exception of Article III, Sec. 8, be approved and established. The Congress derives its authority ultimately from the Board of Trustees and directly through the Board's representative, the President. It is the sense of the University Senate that the Student Body ought, and by right has, primary responsibility to recommend university policy in the area of student life to the President and the Board."
Seconded by Mr. Stern.
* After lengthy discussion, Mr. Stern moved to amend the substitute motion to add after the words "with the exception of" the words "ARTICLE III, SEC. 1 AND."
Seconded by Mr. Gerulaitis. Adopted.
* Mr. Appleton moved to amend the amended substitute motion by adding at the end of the motion the following statement:
"FURTHER IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A JOINT COMMITTEE BE ESTABLISHED WITH REPRESENTATION FROM MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE AND THE UNIVERSITY CONGRESS TO DETERMINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO BODIES."
Seconded by Mr. Davis. Adopted.
The Senate then voted on the substitute motion as amended. Not adopted.
* Mr. Appleton moved to amend the original motion by adding a third paragraph
"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT A JOINT COMMITTEE BE ESTABLISHED WITH REPRESENTATION FROM MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE AND UNIVERSITY CONGRESS TO DETERMINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO BODIES."
Seconded by Mr. Davis. Adopted.
The original motion as amended was then adopted.
"WHEREAS THE UNIVERSITY SENATE HAS ALREADY EXPRESSED ITSELF AS WELCOMING "THE EFFORTS BEING MADE BY STUDENTS TO ORGANIZE A STUDENT CONGRESS,"
BE IT RESOLVED THAT IT IS THE SENSE OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE THAT THE STUDENT BODY, OUGHT AND BY RIGHT, HAS A MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY TO RECOMMEND UNIVERSITY POLICY IN THE AREA OF STUDENT LIFE TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT A JOINT COMMITTEE BE ESTABLISHED WITH REPRESENTATION FROM MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE AND UNIVERSITY CONGRESS TO DETERMINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO BODIES."
NEW BUSINESS
* Mr. Obear moved for the Steering Committee "THAT THE MOTION BELOW BE MADE ELIGIBLE FOR VOTE TODAY."
Seconded by Mr. Hildum. Adopted.
* Mr. Obear moved for the Steering Committee
"THAT PROFESSOR MARC BRIOD BE APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF THE TEACHING AND LEARNING COMMITTEE, AND PROFESSOR SHELDON APPLETON BE ADDED TO THE MEMBERSHIP."
Seconded by Mr. Gerulaitis. Adopted.
Mr. Hildum moved for the Academic Policy Committee "Each School or College in the university may determine its own general education requirements, providing that the requirements include two freshman exploratories (or equivalent by competency examination or transfer credit). The university requirements in effect for the graduating class of December 1970 will remain in effect for each School or College until it chooses to enact new requirements."
Seconded by Mr. Cherno.
Final action on this motion will be taken at a subsequent meeting.
Mr. Obear reported for the Steering Committee the status of the Student Conduct Committee.
Mr. Cherno moved the meeting be adjourned. Seconded by Mr. Gerulaitis.
Meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
Submitted by
H. N. Stoutenburg
Secretary
University Senate
*Motions and amendments approved at this meeting.