Oakland University Senate
Fifth Meeting
January 24, 1974
MINUTES
Present: Senators Akers, Barnard, Bingham, H. Burdick, Burke, Campbell, Doane, Feeman, L. Gerulaitis, Gregory, Haskell, Hetenyi, Hitchingham, Hovanesian, Johnson, Liboff, Light, Matthews, McKay, McKinley, Moorhouse, Obear, O'Dowd, O'Leary, Palmer, Schillace, Schmidt, Krompart, Strauss, Sturner, Torch, Tower, and Woodard.
Absent: Senators Barron, Brieger, D. Burdick, Coffman, Coon, Covert, DeMent, Dovaras, Evarts, Gardiner, R. Gerulaitis, Graber, Gray, KiIburn, Paslay, Riley, Schwartz, Seeber, Sherry, Solomon, Susskind and Tipler.
Following a brief discussion during which President O'Dowd reported that approximately ^250,000 in year end gifts were received at the most recent board meeting; that the latest 1973-74 enrollment projections exceed 7900 FYES of which 20% are graduate; that the Christmas at Meadow Brook Hall function netted $36,000; that the University's athletic teams continue their successful record; and that the University's reactions to the energy crisis have yielded approximately 18% in fuel savings, the Senate convened at 3:42 p.m.
Upon a motion by Mr. Gerulaitis and a second by Mr. Krompart the minutes of the meeting of November 13, 1973, and December 6, 1973, were approved.
Mr. O'Dowd recognized the return to the Senate of Senators Barnard and Burke and was informed by Dean Torch that the College of Arts and Sciences has named Mr. Krompart to replace Mr. Shantz. Mr. Obear announced that Bruce Campbell would serve in Rick Lind's position and until new congress elections are held.
A. Old Business
1. Admissions Committee Membership
*THAT ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP BE INCREASED BY TWO FACULTY SEATS, CAUSING THE MEMBERSHIP SPECIFICATIONS TO READ:
SIX FACULTY: FOUR STUDENTS: THE DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS, ex officio AND NON-VOTING: AND THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS (OR HIS DESIGNEE), THE DEAN FOR STUDENT SERVICES, AND THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL AIDS, EACH OF WHOM SHALL BE ex officio AND VOTING.
Mr. Obear explained that because of the increased workload of the Admissions Committee, particularly during the remainder of this year, additional members were needed. As additional support for the motion, he reminded the Senate that the Admissions Committee had developed subcommittees in response to several proposals before it. Mr. Burdick inquired if this is the kind of workload which would justify an increased membership on the committee or was it a casual occurrence which might be handled by the committee as currently constituted. Mr. Obear gave assurances that the Steering Committee annually reviews the workload, composition, and scope of the Senate's standing committees and therefore has the opportunity to respond accordingly.
Motion approved.
B. New Business
1. Campus Development and Environment Committee.
a. Mr. Obear, seconded by Mr. Gerulaitis, moved
* THAT MOTION b. BELOW BE MADE ELIGIBLE FOR FINAL VOTE AT THIS MEETING.
Approved.
b. Mr. Obear, with second, moved
* THAT THE NAME OF THE CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE BE CHANGED TO ''CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE" AND THAT ITS CHARGE BE AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS (ADDITIONS TO THE CHARGE ARE UNDERLINED: DELETIONS ARE BRACKETED):
TO CONSIDER THE ESTHETIC AND ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF BOTH PRESENT PRACTICES AND FUTURE PLANS FOR THE PHYSICAL MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CAMPUS, [AND] TO RECOMMEND POLICIES IN THESE AREAS AND TO ADVISE THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER RESPONSIBLE FOR CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT. SUCH ISSUES AS NEW CONSTRUCTION, LOCATION OF UTILITIES AND PARKING FACILITIES, ESTHETIC ACCOUTERMENTS, MAINTENANCE PRACTICES, AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF AREAS FOR OUTDOOR EDUCATION SHALL FALL WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE.
Mr. Obear suggested that since the Assistant President for Campus Development was most closely associated with the concerns of the Committee that its name be changed to reflect that relationship. Mr. Gerulaitis suggested that the name change might more appropriately be made in that of Mr. Brown's Office, i.e. from the Campus Development Office to the Campus Environment Office. Mr. Liboff offered that the committee might report to a different officer.
*Mr. Feeman, with second, moved that the proposed committee name be "Campus Development and Environment Committee".
Amendment approved.
Main motion approved.
c. Mr. Obear, seconded by Mr. Light, moved
* THAT THE PERSONS WHOSE NAMES ARE ASTERISKED ON THE LIST BELOW BE APPROVED FOR MEMBERSHIP ON THE CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR TERMS AS INDICATED:
*John Barnard, Ch., (2 years)
*Peter Binkert (I)
*James Schmidt (I)
*Steve Miller (2)
Carmen Urla (I)
4 Administrative Professionals
4 students
Glen Brown (ex officio)
Mr. Burdick pointed out that Ms. Urla was the only proposed committee member whose name appeared without an asterisk and was reminded that she is a continuing member of the committee and that the asterisks designate new committee members or those whose terms have expired and who would be reappointed at the passage of the motion.
Mr. McKay observed that the committee would be a broadly based one, not purely faculty, and expressed the hope that it would have the full cooperation of the administration.
Mr. Gerulaitis moved, with second, that the committee name as stated in the motion be changed to "Campus Development and Environment Committee" to conform to the action taken in B.l.b.
Amendment approved.
Main motion approved.
2. Athletics Committee
Mr. Obear, second by Mr. Johnson, moved:
* THAT PAUL TIPLER BE NAMED CHAIRPERSON OF THE ATHLETICS COMMITTEE FOR THE 1973-75 TERM.
After assurance that Mr. Tipler's athletic ability had been affirmed by the Steering Committee, the Senate passed the motion without dissent.
3. Course credits and contact hours.
Mr. Feeman, seconded by Mr. Matthews, moved
a. THAT ONE CREDIT UNIT IS EQUIVALENT TO A TOTAL OF THREE HOURS OF WORK PER WEEK INCLUDING 50 MINUTES OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND THE ESTIMATED TIME THAT AN AVERAGE STUDENTS SPENDS IN OUTSIDE PREPARATION EACH WEEK.
b. THAT THE STANDARD OAKLAND UNIVERSITY COURSE IS A 4-CREDIT COURSE WHICH MEETS 200 MINUTES PER WEEK AND REQUIRES THE EQUIVALENT OF 12 HOURS OF WORK PER WEEK.
First reading.
A protracted, yet substantive, discussion ensued. Mr. Burke asked why it was necessary to spell out that two hours of work were expected outside the classroom. Mr. Feeman, anticipating further questions, highlighted the commentary which appears in the agenda for this meeting.
Specifically, he outlined the internal and external pressures which bring these proposed motions to the Senate at this time - respectively pedagogical and state audit concerns. He reminded the Senate that at a sparsely attended open hearing on January 12, 1974 several questions had been raised and answered. He reviewed the state auditor's report which showed that there exists the widest possible range of interpretations of the April 1965 legislation which defines "one credit unit". An internal audit authorized by Mr. Obear substantiated the state auditors' findings that, except in a few departments, 4 credits are given for three contact hours per week. It was further pointed out that Oakland was the only school on the list including those with whom we are normally associated where the credits/FTE exceeds contact hours/FTE. Mr. Feeman, resting his argument on these and other facts contained in the commentary of the agenda for this meeting reaffirmed his desire to support the motion.
Mr. Feeman acknowledged that neither the graduate program nor the spring and summer sessions present a problem in this regard.
Mr. Burke wondered why hours of study outside the classroom needed to be specified by legislation at all. Mr. Feeman re-read the 1965 legislation and pointed out that the practice has become to require less work than stated, hence the motion.
Mr. Schillace asserted that the more explicit the definition of the credit unit the less flexibility and therefore the less room for non-standard courses.
Mr. Feeman agreed and added that the motion's basic purpose would be to provide a standard definition which could be used in the university catalog and publicized otherwise. He indicated that the APC did not intend the motion to dictate how faculty should teach but rather it offered a structured system within which those faculty who wished to use extra time could do so.
Mr. Hetenyi, seconded by Mr. Johnson, moved to amend motion 3.b. by substituting "is scheduled' for "meets". Mr. McKay submitted that if 3.b. were to be adopted as amended, then there would be no need for motion 3.a.
Mr. Feeman reasserted the need for clarification in the catalog of the statement ''one credit equals one semester hour".
Mr. McKay argued that the definition of the credit hour already exists as a result of the 1965 legislation.
Mr. Akers suggested that the University's current practices were consistent with those of the best colleges and that since accrediting agencies approve, we should not bow to the pressures exerted by auditors. He suggested that the University submit a substitute statement explaining its position and defending the flexibility inherent in the current system. He cautioned against the dangers of forcing the University's curriculum into a common track. He voiced a deeper concern - that the University should not engage in subterfuge but rather should "face them down on academic grounds". Mr. Gerulaitis applauded his statement.
Mr. O'Dowd stated that the easy response to the problem would be to offer 3 credit hours for 3 contact hours. He reminded the Senate of the budgetary implications of that move. He stated further that the State auditors report to the Legislature and that at the most recent appropriation hearings the 4 for 3 formulation was raised. His opinion was that if there existed a schedule which allowed a 4 for 4 formulation he doubted there would be an effort to make faculty meet classes more than is currently necessary.
Mr. Matthews, seconded by Mr. Krompart, moved to amend motion 3.a. by ^ substituting "scheduled" for "classroom''.
4. Class schedule matrices.
Mr. Feeman, seconded by Mr. Hetenyi , moved
THAT THE SCHEDULE MATRICES FOR DAYTIME AND EVENING UNDERGRADUATE CLASSES APPENDED TO THIS AGENDA BE ADOPTED EFFECTIVE WITH FALL 1974 CLASSES.
First reading.
(Note: A revised daytime matrix, distributed at the meeting, was actually being moved. The revised matrix contained these changes; the Friday 12-1 block reads "X,Z"' and an additional code entry reads "X: MTThF 12 am". The revised matrix may be found with the file copy of these minutes or with the January 31, 1974 agenda.)
Mr. Akers wished to know if a study had been done on the effect of the proposed matrix on class enrollments, since it appeared that students would be encouraged to take one less course because of interference with jobs.
Mr. Doane pointed out that the schedule allows for several scheduling possibilities such that students could choose to do approximately what they are doing now.
Mr. Barthel suggested that a student survey would be valuable to ascertain their preferences for class/course times. Citing the ingenuity of the system, he hypothesized that an increase in enrollment could be derived from appropriate planning.
Mr. Akers requested that the number of students enrolled by hour be made available to the Senate before its next meeting. Mr. O'Dowd agreed and requested that Mr. Sturner make the data available.
Mr. Torch revealed since the University's laboratory facilities were at maximum capacity now, a fuller utilization of the day was an imperative for all departments - new matrix or not.
Mr. Hovanesian suggested that the Senate consider making all O.U. courses 3 credit courses, thus allowing better times for laboratory sessions. Mr. Akers concurred. Mr. Hetenyi stated that such a decision would require changes in teaching loads for most faculty.
4. 1975-76 University Calendar.
Mr. Obear, seconded by Mr. Moorhouse, moved:
THAT THE SENATE RECOMMEND TO THE PRESIDENT A UNIVERSITY CALENDAR FOR 1975-76 AS SET FORTH ON THE ATTACHMENT TO THIS AGENDA.
First reading.
(Note: The calendar attached to the agenda was corrected at the meeting in one particular: the end of classes in the winter, 1976 term, should
read "April 16, Friday".)
Upon motion of Mr. Gerulaitis, seconded by Mr. Johnson, the Senate adjourned at 5:14 p.m.
James H. Bullock, Acting Secretary
University Senate
Office of the Provost/ss
2/14/74