Oakland University Senate
9th Meeting
Wednesday, April 12, 1972
3:15. p.m.
128-130 Oakland Center
Please Note Meetings Scheduled:
Thursday, April 20, 3:15 p.m., 128-130 Oakland Center
Wednesday, April 26, 3:15 p.m., 128-130 Oakland Center
AGENDA
Submitted by Frederick W. Obear, for the Steering Committee
A. Old Business
Note: Items 1 and 2 are a continuation of the March 28th Agenda, items B5 and B6. These motions are in first reading, and are reprinted below for convenience.
1. Motion from the Steering Committee (Mr. Obear)
THAT THE UNIVERSITY SENATE RECOMMEND TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVAL OF THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE UNIVERSITY TENURE AND APPOINTMENT POLICY COMMITTEE TO CHANGE RULE 4 ON PAGE 9 OF THE POLICY HANDBOOK FOR FACULTY FROM THE PRESENT WORDING:
IF A STAFF MEMBER WHO WAS RECOMMENDED FOR REAPPOINTMENT BY HIS DEPARTMENT CHAIRMAN AND DEAN IS NOT REAPPOINTED, AND/OR IF PROPER-NOTIFICATION WAS NOT GIVEN DURING THE FINAL YEAR OF AN APPOINTMENT, AN EXTENSION OF THE YEAR BECOMES AUTOMATIC. THE STAFF MEMBER SHALL CONSIDER THIS ARRANGEMENT AS OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION OF SEPARATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY AT THE END OF THE YEAR'S EXTENSION.
TO:
IF A STAFF MEMBER HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN PROPER NOTIFICATION DURING THE FINAL YEAR OF AN APPOINTMENT, AN EXTENSION OF ONE YEAR BECOMES AUTOMATIC. THE STAFF MEMBER SHALL CONSIDER THIS ARRANGEMENT AS OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION OF SEPARATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY AT THE END OF THE YEAR'S EXTENSION.
Comment:
The effect of this modification in our tenure rules would be to grant an automatic extension to a faculty member only for reasons of improper notification. No longer would a faculty member recommended for reappointment at the department and college level but not reappointed by action of the Board be granted any extension.
2. Proposed Constitutional Amendment from the University Tenure and Appointment Policy Committee (Mr. Obear) to add to Article VII, section iii. of The Constitution of Oakland University and of the University Senate that:
THE UNIVERSITY TENURE AND APPOINTMENT POLICY COMMITTEE SHALL CIRCULATE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZED FACULTIES ITS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MODIFICATIONS OF RULES, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF APPOINTMENT, REAPPOINTMENT, PROMOTION AND TENURE. WITHIN TEN CLASS DAYS OF THE CIRCULATION BY THE COMMITTEE OF SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS, FIFTEEN PERCENT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZED FACULTIES, OR FIFTY MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZED FACULTIES, WHICHEVER IS LESS, SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO PETITION THE PROVOST TO CALL A MEETING OF ALL THE FACULTIES TO DISCUSS THE ACTION OF THE COMMITTEE. A MAJORITY OF THE FACULTY MEMBERS PRESENT AT SUCH A MEETING SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO INSTRUCT THE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT A REFERENDUM BY MAIL BALLOT OF ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZED FACULTIES. THE REFERENDUM SHALL ASK FOR A YES OR NO VOTE ON THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE. IF A MAJORITY OF THOSE RETURNED VALID BALLOTS INDICATES DISAPPROVAL, THE ACTION OF THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE DISALLOWED.
3. Motion from the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Witt). Second Reading, eligible for final vote.
THAT ENTERING STUDENTS WHO HAVE HAD NO PREVIOUS COLLEGE EXPERIENCE AND WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED SUPERIOR PREPARATION AND ACCOMPLISHMENT BE CONSIDERED FOR ADMISSION INTO THE ACCELERATED DEGREE PROGRAM AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY. STUDENTS WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL IN ENTERING THE PROGRAM WILL BE AWARDED ADVANCED PLACEMENT CREDIT AND WILL HAVE THEIR DEGREE REQUIREMENTS REDUCED TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY MAY EARN A BACCALAUREATE IN THREE ACADEMIC YEARS.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ACCELERATED DEGREE PROGRAM ARE:
a) A RECOMMENDATION TO THE ACCELERATED DEGREE PROGRAM BY A PERSON QUALIFIED TO JUDGE THE STUDENT'S ACADEMIC ABILITY.
b) SCORES AT OR ABOVE THE NATIONAL MEAN FOR BEGINNING COLLEGE SOPHOMORES IN EACH OF THE FIVE COLLEGE-LEVEL GENERAL EXAMINATIONS OR EQUIVALENT ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS.
c) A RECOMMENDATION BY AN OAKLAND UNIVERSITY FACULTY MEMBER IN THE STUDENT'S MAJOR FIELD OF INTEREST BASED UPON A PERSONAL INTERVIEW.
CANDIDATES FOR AN ACCELERATED DEGREE WILL HAVE 20 CREDITS OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENTERED UPON THEIR TRANSCRIPTS, THEIR CREDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR A DEGREE WILL BE REDUCED BY 12 AND ALL GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS WILL BE WAIVED. SUCH STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO MEET ALL OTHER DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AND MUST MAINTAIN THE SAME ACADEMIC RECORD AS REGULAR STUDENTS.
BY SCORING SUCCESSFULLY ON COMPETENCY EXAMINATIONS, COLLEGE-LEVEL SUBJECT EXAMINATIONS OR ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS, A STUDENT MAY EARN AN ADDITIONAL 28 CREDITS BY EXAMINATION, HOWEVER, CREDIT WILL NOT BE AWARDED FOR EXAMINATIONS COVERING THE SAME SUBJECT MATTER AS THE EXAMINATIONS IN PART 2 ABOVE. DURING THE FIRST YEAR IN THE PROGRAM PARTICIPATING STUDENTS WILL BE ASSIGNED INDIVIDUAL FACULTY ADVISERS.
Proposed Amendment: Mr. Marz seconded by Ms. White, moved to delete the phrase in the first sentence of the third paragraph "their credit requirements for a degree shall be reduced by 12" and to add as a second sentence: "Twelve credits shall be earned by satisfactory completion of a thesis."
4. Motion from the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Witt). Second Reading, eligible for final vote.
THAT A DEPARTMENT OF SPEECH COMMUNICATION BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1972.
5. Motions from the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Witt). Second Reading, eligible for final vote.
a) THAT THE PORTION OF THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF ARTS AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREES DEALING WITH GENERAL EDUCATION BE AMENDED TO READ:
i) A GENERAL EDUCATION COMPONENT, INCLUDING PROVISION FOR MEETING THE UNIVERSITY STANDARDS OF PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH COMPOSITION, SET BY THE SCHOOL OR COLLEGE CONCERNED AND APPROVED AND REVIEWED BY THE UNIVERSITY SENATE.
b) THAT THE USE OF FRESHMAN EXPLORATORIES TO TEACH WRITING BE DISCONTINUED.
c) THAT PROCEDURES AND UNIVERSITY STANDARDS FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH COMPOSITION BE ESTABLISHED, THE PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS TO BE ARRIVED AT BY A COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE STEERING COMMITTEE AND INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE.
6. Motion from the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Witt). Second Reading, eligible for final vote.
THAT A DEPARTMENT OF COMPOSITION BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES AND HAVE AS ITS CHARGE:
i) THE INSTRUCTION OF STUDENTS IN WRITING SKILLS AND DEVELOPMENT OF COMPETENCE IN THOSE AREAS NECESSARY TO DEMONSTRATE PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH COMPOSITION.
ii) THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTS TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL PROBLEMS NEEDING PARTICULAR ASSISTANCE.
iii) THE DEVELOPMENT OF TESTS THAT WILL PLACE STUDENTS AT VARIOUS LEVELS IN THE WRITING COURSES OR CERTIFY THEM AS HAVING SATISFIED THE REQUIREMENT VIA DEMONSTRATED COMPETENCE.
iv) EMPHASIS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF READING SKILL AS WELL AS WRITING SKILL AND PROVISION OF SPECIAL COURSES IN THE FIRST AND SECOND SEMESTER FOR THIS PURPOSE.
v) IN COOPERATION WITH THE SPEECH COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT, THE PROVISION OF INSTRUCTION IN SPEECH COMMUNICATION FOR THOSE WHO WANT OR WOULD BENEFIT FROM SYSTEMATIC WORK IN THIS AREA.
Comment:
It is suggested that the Department of Composition:
a) have a full-time chairman responsible for all matters pertaining to organization of courses, coordination of work with other academic units and staffing.
b) have an advisory committee drawn from the interested disciplines in Arts and Sciences and from other appropriate schools in the University.
c) have a professional staff capable of diagnosing difficulties in a reading, writing, and speech communication and providing appropriate help in these areas.
d) draw on the current Oakland University faculty members to teach courses within the Department of Composition. Faculty members in education (reading specialists), English, linguistics, speech communication, etc. may wish to hold joint appointments in this academic unit.
In the operation of the Department of Composition it is suggested that:
a) after proficiency evaluation, a student would be assigned to an appropriate writing course or be exempted from the requirement.
b) the diagnostic evaluation would recommend not just basic help needed but also advanced work of value to the student.
c) proficiency for certification could be demonstrated at any time.
d) students would enroll in an appropriate writing course each semester until they had successfully completed the requirements for the proficiency certificate. Schools and Colleges may wish to limit the credits in regular course work leading to proficiency in English Composition that could be counted toward degree requirements.
Proposed Amendments:
a) Mr. Matthews, seconded by Ms. Hirschfeld, moved to change the name of the proposed department from "Department of Composition" to "Department of Learning Skills Development."
b) Mr. Tomboulian, seconded by Mr. Marz, moved to change the name to "Department of Communication Skills."
c) Mr. Schillace, seconded by Mr. Marz, moved to add after section v:
vi. and that the instruction of students in writing skills and the development and certification of competence in English Composition be comparatively and empirically evaluated by a team of appropriate university faculty staff and that the annual written results of such an evaluation be submitted to all interested and appropriate university groups;
And that the evaluation team coordinate its efforts through and be accountable to the Senate Teaching and Learning Committee who shall commission, monitor and review the work of the team.
d) Dean Matthews, seconded by Mr. Obear, moved to substitute for the words "In the College of Arts and Sciences" the words "under the jurisdiction of the Provost's office."
e) Mr. Russell, seconded by Mr. Evarts, moved to designate the proposed unit as a school.