Oakland University Senate
9th Meeting
Tuesday, April 13, 1971
3 p.m., 128-30 Oakland Center
AGENDA
Submitted by Frederick W. Obear, for the Steering Committee
A. Old Business
(comments in support of most of the following motions were presented in the April 1 agenda)
1. Resolution from the Steering Committee (Mr. Davis) Second Reading, eligible for final vote
THAT, IN THE PREPARATION OF THE UNIVERSITY CALENDAR, EVERY REASONABLE EFFORT SHALL BE MADE TO AVOID CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE REGISTRATION AND FINAL EXAMINATION PERIODS AND RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY? LIKELY TO BE OBSERVED BY SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF STUDENTS. WHEN SUCH CONFLICTS ARE UNAVOIDABLE BECAUSE OF OTHER SCHEDULE REQUIREMENTS, ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS MAY BE MADE INFORMALLY, OR STUDENTS MAY PETITION THE PROVOST IN WRITING FOR PERMISSION TO REGISTER OR TAKE THEIR EXAMINATIONS AT OTHER TIMES.
Comment: This motion has been slightly revised to deal with the points raised by Mr. Cherno at the first reading.
2. Motion from the Academic Policy Committee and the ad hoc Committee on the Applied Social Sciences (Messrs. Hildum and Sturner) Second Reading, eligible for final vote
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 HOC COMMITTEE ON THE APPLIED SOCIAL
SCIENCES. (attached to the March 18 agenda)'
IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE PROPOSED SCHOOL WOULD NOT 3E 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) Second Reading, eligible for final vote
ALL PREVIOUS SENATE ACTIONS LIMITING THE NUMBER OF SPEECH COURSES GIVEN AT THIS UNIVERSITY ARE HEREBY RESCINDED.
4. Resolution from the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Hildum) Second Reading, eligible for final vote
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.
5. Resolution from the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Hildum) Second Reading, eligible for final vote
THE UC 03 SERIES OF EXPLORATORIES IS ABOLISHED.
6. Resolution from the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Hildum) Second Reading/eligible for final vote
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.
7. Resolution from the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Hildum) Second Reading, eligible for final vote
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'S DEGREE MUST BE TAKEN IN RESIDENCE AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY."
B. New Business
1. Resolution from the Steering Committee (Mr. Davis)
THAT THE WORDS "INCLUDING THE LIBRARIANS" BE DELETED FROM THE SECOND PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE V, SECTION i, OF THE UNIVERSITY CONSTITUTION."
Comment: Since this motion merely brings the language of this section into agreement with previous actions of the Senate which extended faculty status to the librarians, the Steering Committee suggests that it is a procedural motion, eligible for final vote, and that it does not require ratification by a referendum of the electorate.
2. Resolution from the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Hildum) First Reading
a. THE SENATE AUTHORIZES THE ADDITION OF A NEW COURSE UC 070: INTRODUCTION TO THE SLAVIC WORLD. TO THE CURRICULUM AND CATALOG, AND AS AN OPTION UNDER THE UC AREA STUDIES DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENT.
Comment: The following comments in support of this proposal are submitted by Professor Robert Howes:
I herewith request that the Senate approve the request of the Slavic Studies faculty of the Area Studies staff that there be authorized a course called Introduction to the Slavic World (UC 070) to be offered for the first time in the fall semester, 1971. The course would serve to fulfill the university area studies requirement.
The Senate is familiar with the rationale behind introductory area studies courses, and I shall not burden you with a lengthy explanation of why I feel that Oakland should offer an introductory course on the Slavs. The unique cultural achievements and present importance of the several Slavic nations are so great that any detailed theoretical justification for such a course seems superfluous. At the more practical level I should point out that we have a number of qualified faculty members who are interested in offering such a course; there will be, I am sure, considerable student interest in such a course (witness the enrollment in our introductory courses in Russian history and in our course in Russian literature in translation).
It is impracticable to offer a specific description of this proposed course. It will deal with such topics as the ethnography, history, religion, social and political organization, literature, art and music, of the Slavic nations. It will be offered at different times by various members of the Slavic Studies staff whose main interests lie in different disciplines. At present Messrs. Corrigan and Freeman of Modern Languages, Mr. Ozinga of Political Science, and Messrs. Orton and Howes of History, are prepared to offer a section of the course. I think it is fair to say that sections taught by Corrigan, Ozinga, and Howes would concentrate on Russia, whereas sections taught by Orton or Freeman might well give as much attention to the non-Russian Slavic nations as to Russia.
I propose that only one section of this course be offered in the fall of 1971.
This proposal is sent to you with the approval of Professor Thomas and the Area Studies Curriculum Committee. It has the enthusiastic support of the Slavic Studies faculty.
b. THAT THE SENATE AUTHORIZE A FINAL VOTE ON THE PRECEDING MOTION AT THE NEXT MEETING OF THE SENATE.
Comment: The next scheduled meeting of the Senate in May is limited to the awarding of degrees and conferring of honors unless specific action is taken to authorize additional agenda items, usually of a relatively noncontroversial nature.
3. Proposed constitutional amendment submitted by the University Congress (Mr. Barkdull) First Reading
a. ARTICLE V, SECTION i, OF THE UNIVERSITY CONSTITUTION SHALL BE AMENDED AS FOLLOWS: THE SENTENCE "THREE SENATORS SHALL BE CHOSEN BY THE STUDENTS OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY" SHALL BE CHANGED TO: "THE STUDENTS OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY SHALL ELECT THREE SENATORS FOR EVERY 1,000 FULL-TIME STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE WINTER SEMESTER PRIOR TO THE ELECTION OF A NEW SENATE."
Comment: After conclusion of the agenda at the April 1 meeting of the Senate representatives of the University Congress presented a proposal for increased student representation in the Senate. Since the constitution requires that any items introduced at the Senate be circulated prior to the meeting, these proposals could not be considered at that time. The Steering Committee has now drafted the necessary constitutional amendment to permit implementation of this resolution, should the Senate so desire. The Steering Committee has previously recommended against a change in the present apportionment of three seats to the student body, so this proposal is presented without recommendation.
Under the proposed legislation, the student representation in the 1971-73 Senate would be increased to 15 senators. (As defined by the Registrar, "full-time students" are undergraduates taking12 hours or more, and graduate students taking 3 hours or more. There are currently 4,710 full-time undergraduates and 227 full-time graduate students, for a total of 4,937 full-time students.) The requirement that the number of student senators be determined for both years of a Senate session is necessary to permit apportionment of elected faculty seats in accordance with the constitutional provision which states that "no organized faculty shall
be awarded more than forty-nine per cent of the (total) seats in the Senate." Therefore the total membership of the body for the two year session must be known prior to the apportionment. Student senators shall still be elected for one year terms as provided by Article V, section iii.
b. THAT THE SENATE DIRECT THE STEERING COMMITTEE TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SENATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO PERMIT A SECOND READING AND FINAL VOTE ON THE AB0VE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Procedural motion, eligible for final vote
Comment: Since the constitutional amendment is of a substantive nature, the Steering Committee feels that it would be inappropriate either to proceed directly to final vote at this meeting or to carry it over to the May meeting, which usually has a very small attendance and to which the normal quorum rules do not apply. The Steering Committee therefore suggests that the vote on this procedural motion be viewed or a test of the sentiment of the Senate on the constitutional amendment proper. If the motion is adopted, another meeting will be scheduled. If it is defeated, the constitutional amendment is lost.
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