Oakland University Senate
8th Meeting
Thursday, April 1, 1971
3 p.m., 128-30 Oakland Center
AGENDA
Submitted by Frederick W. Obear, for the Steering Committee
A. Old Business
None: (Items Bl and 2 below were placed on the March 18th agenda, but were not introduced at that meeting.)
B. New Business
1. Resolution from the Steering Committee (Mr. Obear) First Reading
THAT, IN THE PREPARATION OF THE UNIVERSITY CALENDAR, EVERY REASONABLE EFFORT SHALL BE MADE TO AVOID CONFLICTS BETWEEN RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS AND REGISTRATION AND FINAL EXAMINATION PERIODS. WHEN SUCH CONFLICTS ARE UNAVOIDABLE BECAUSE OF OTHER SCHEDULE REQUIREMENTS, ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS SHALL BE MADE TO PERMIT ANY AFFECTED STUDENTS TO REGISTER OR TAKE THEIR FINAL EXAMINATIONS AT OTHER TIMES.
2. Motion from the Academic Policy Committee and the ad hoc Committee on the Applied Social Sciences (Messrs. Hildum and Sturner) First Reading
THE UNIVERSITY SENATE HEREBY ENCOURAGES CONTINUED PLANNING FOR A SCHOOL OF COMMUNITY SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT AND APPROVES THE INTENT, APPROACH, AND BROAD OUTLINES OF THE CURRICULUM SUMMARIZED IN THE FEBRUARY 25, 1971, PROPOSAL SUBMITTED BY THE AD HOCCOMMITTEE ON THE APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES. (Attached to the March 18 agenda)
IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE PROPOSED SCHOOL WOULD NOT BE IMPLEMENTED UNTIL THE UNIVERSITY SENATE, HAVING SEEN A FIVE-YEAR BUDGET AND AN OUTLINE OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM, HAS GIVEN ITS APPROVAL.
3. Resolution from the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Hildum) First Reading
ALL PREVIOUS SENATE ACTIONS LIMITING THE NUMBER OF SPEECH COURSES GIVEN AT THIS UNIVERSITY ARE HEREBY RESCINDED.
Comment: Serious discussion of and interest in a range of new courses and the possible establishment of a department of speech communication make it appropriate to remove the former arbitrary limitations so that the College of Arts and Sciences may move freely in this area.
4. Resolution from the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Hildum) First Reading
THE SENATE APPROVES THE ADDITION OF A NEW COURSE, UC 063: INTRODUCTION TO JAPAN. TO THE CURRICULUM AND CATALOG, AND AS AN OPTION UNDER THE UC AREA STUDIES DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENT.
Description and Comment from the Area Studies faculty;
UC 063 Introduction to Japan
Topics include history, philosophy and religion, literature and the arts, government, and social organization.
Comment: The addition of Japanese studies to the Oakland curriculum was a natural outgrowth of well established programs in Asian studies, most direct of the China program. During the 1969-70 academic year courses were introduced in Japanese history, literature and art. This year a tutorial in Japanese language has been added, and because of the favorable response it is likely that a full-time instructor of Japanese will be hired for next year (or at such time that new positions are again allocated) and the language offered on a regular basis. In short, Japanese studies at Oakland are rapidly coming into their own and, as a result, a larger role in both the Area Studies Program and the general curriculum seems appropriate. This is the background for the university course proposed here.
Japan is not only a major center of East Asian civilization, but also an important variant within the Chinese cultural sphere. For this reason courses on Japan enrich a program of Chinese studies and are an indispensable element of any program of East Asian studies. Specifically, Introduction to Japan is designed to complement Introduction to China as an area course focusing on an East Asian civilization and, moreover, to provide the student specializing in China with a broader perspective into both the unity and diversity of East Asia. Beyond this it is hoped that this course will help reinforce and strengthen our concentration in East Asian studies. Finally, for the student considering upper division courses in Japanese history (History 377 and 378), Introduction to Japan is a recommended elective.
5. Resolution from the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Hildum) First Reading
THE UC 03 SERIES OF EXPLORATORIES IS ABOLISHED.
Comment: Reactions of both students and instructors in the 03 courses indicate that, although some improvements in writing resulted, the gains were not at all owing to the 6-hour, 8-credit format. It seems likely that the 01 format with designated sections to tackle the writing problems, will be more economical and just as effective. Writing tests for all entering freshmen are to be continued, and it is understood that special provisions will be made within the UC 01 series to serve the needs of students with writing disabilities.
6. Resolution from the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Hildum) First Reading
STUDENTS MAY RECEIVE CREDIT DESIGNATED AS COMPETENCY CREDIT ON THEIR TRANSCRIPTS FOR OAKLAND UNIVERSITY COURSES, GRADED ON AN S/N BASIS PROVIDED THAT THEY REGISTER FOR THE COURSE AT REGISTRATION (WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT CHAIRMAN, DEAN, OR PROGRAM DIRECTOR), PAY A FLAT FEE EQUAL TO HALF OF THE INCREMENT FROM 16 TO 20 CREDIT HOURS, AND PASS AN APPROPRIATE COMPETENCY EXAMINATION NO MORE THAN SIX WEEKS AFTER REGISTRATION THE ADMINISTRATION OF THESE EXAMINATIONS SHALL BE CONDUCTED UNDER PROCEDURES TO BE DETERMINED BY THE ACADEMIC POLICY COMMITTEE AND THE OFFICE OF THE PROVOST.
Comment: Present provisions for comping out yield only transfer credit with course designations on the transcript, although departments may agree to waive departmental course requirements, and the total of such arrangements may not exceed 20%, of the graduation requirement. APC wishes to have this faculty take greater responsibility for competency testing and award our own course credits, but at a fee to help defray administrative costs and discourage casual gamesmanship with the system.
The examinations would of course be prepared and graded by faculty members designated by department chairmen, but they probably should be administered a central office of the University such as the Office of the Provost or Office of the Registrar. Further, they should all be given on the same day to permit adequate supervision and to minimize possible abuses.
7. Resolution from the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Hildum) First Reading
THE PRESENT REQUIREMENT FOR THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE WHICH READS "A STUDENT MUST BE REGISTERED AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY FOR AT LEAST EIGHT CREDITS DURING THE SEMESTER IN WHICH THE DEGREE IS TO BE CONFERRED." SHALL BE CHANGED TO "THE LAST EIGHT CREDITS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A BACHELOR DEGREE MUST BE TAKEN IN RESIDENCE AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY."
Comment: The present regulation makes it necessary for students with I or P grades in what they intended to be their final term to re-enroll for more than the required number of credits for graduation or to petition to have the requirement waived. The change would continue the rule that a student must do his final work here, but would do away with the unnecessary problems pose the same semester limitation. Nothing in this change, of course, would interfere with the right to petition for exception to the new rule.
8. Report of Steering Committee activities (Mr. Obear)
The Steering Committee has received copies of the following resolutions which were submitted to the President by the University Tenure and Appointment Policy Committee:
a. THE COMMITTEE ENDORSES THE PRINCIPLE THAT AN ATTEMPT BE MADE TO OBTAIN RELIABLE INFORMATION ON STUDENT PERCEPTION OF TEACHING EFFECTIVENESS OF FACULTY MEMBERS AND LIKEWISE PROPOSES THAT THIS INFORMATION BE CONSIDERED AT ALL LEVELS WHERE ACTION IS TAKEN ON A FACULTY MEMBER'S RETENTION, TERMINATION, PROMOTION AND AWARDING OF TENURE.
b. THE UNIVERSITY TENURE AND APPOINTMENT POLICY COMMITTEE INSTRUCTS EACH DEPARTMENT OR OTHER ACADEMIC UNIT WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR INITIATING PERSONNEL RECOMMENDATIONS TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES, TO BE APPROVED BY THE APPROPRIATE COLLEGE/SCHOOL COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS, BY WHICH STUDENT PERCEPTION OF TEACHING EFFECTIVENESS CAN BE ASCERTAINED FOR ITS FACULTY MEMBERS, AND FURTHERMORE ASKS THE TEACHING AND LEARNING COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AS REQUESTED TO THESE UNITS IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING PROCEDURES, CRITERIA, INSTRUMENTS, ETC. FOR EVALUATION.
Comment: The University Tenure and Appointment Policy Committee is a constitutional committee rather than a Senate committee, and thus may report personnel actions directly to the President without review by the Senate. Since the above resolutions deal with policy matters, however, the Steering Committee suggests that the Senate may wish to serve as an open forum for informal discussion of the issues raised by these proposals.
FWO:JED:jp