Oakland University Senate
Sixth Meeting
January 31, 1974
MINUTES
Present: Senators Akers, Barnard, Barthel, Beardman, Bingham, Brieger, Burke, Coffman, Coon, Covert, DeMent, Doane, Pfeil, Feeman, L. Gerulaitis, R. Gerulaitis, Gregory, Haskell, Hitchingham, Hovanesian, Johnson, Liboff, Light, Lind, Matthews, McKay, McKinley, Moorhouse, Obear, O'Dowd, O'Leary, Paslay, Riley, Seeber, Shantz, Solomon, Strauss, Sturner, Tipler, Torch, Tower, and Woodard
Absent: Senators Barron, D. Burdick, H. Burdick, Evarts, Gardiner, Graber, Gray, Hetenyi, Kilburn, Palmer, Schillace, Schmidt, Schwartz, Sherry, and Susskind
Mr. O'Dowd called the meeting to order at 3:25 p.m.
Mr. Williamson asked the President about the status of the University's Affirmative Action program. Mr. O'Dowd outlined steps that have been taken with regard to the program and announced his intention to seek authorization for a full-time Affirmative Action Officer. He further stated that Mr. Obear is presently working with the deans in order to develop affirmative action guidelines for faculty hiring.
A. Old Business
I. Motions from the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Feeman)
*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 STUDENT SPENDS IN OUTSIDE PREPARATION EACH WEEK.
Amendment to item A.I.a.
*THAT THE WORD "SCHEDULED" BE SUBSTITUTED FOR "CLASSROOM".
With respect to the proposed legislation, Mr. Feeman commented on its likely impact upon enrollment and upon lab and classroom utilization. He also spoke to the question of including additional two-hour blocks on Monday and Wednesday, expressing a preference for keeping the schedule as simple as possible for the present. He stated that if specific needs emerged after implementation of the schedule, additional modules could be added. Mr. McKay asked whether the Academic Policy Committee supported A.1.a. to which Mr. Feeman responded that it did. Discussion followed on the proposed amendment to A.I.a.
Amendment approved.
Amendment to item A.I.a. proposed by Mr. McKay (seconded by Ms. Gerulaitis):
THAT THE WORDS "50 MINUTES OF SCHEDULED" BE DELETED
Amendment failed.
* 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.
Amendment to item A.l.b.
* THAT THE WORDS "IS SCHEDULED" BE SUBSTITUTED FOR "MEETS".
Note: Mr. McKay asked that the minutes show that "equivalent and equal are not the same".
Amendment approved.
Mr. Doane asked about alternatives to meeting classes four times a week and what might happen should the proposed legislation fail. In response Mr. Doane, Mr. O'Dowd suggested that failure to modify our scheduling practice would put Oakland on the defensive in its legislative efforts. He expressed the concern that rather than discussing University needs with the Legislature, time would necessarily be spent in responding to claims that Oakland University's classes are overvalued and to suggestions that its FYES count be revised downward. Mr. Burke asked if the APC had studied other scheduling alternatives, specifically 3 credit courses meeting 3 times. Mr. Feeman stated that the adoption of such an alternative would involve changes in graduation requirements, existing program patterns, and teaching loads. Mr. Matthews added that while the alternative suggested by Mr. Burke had been considered by APC it was thought not to be viable. Rather, it was thought by the Committee that the proposed matrix would achieve the desired results with the least amount of disturbance to the system.'
Items A.I.a. and A.l.b., as amended, carried.
2. Motion from the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Feeman)
* THAT THE SCHEDULE MATRICES FOR DAYTIME AND EVENING UNDERGRADUATE CLASSES APPENDED TO THIS AGENDA 3E ADOPTED EFFECTIVE WITH FALL 1974 CLASSES.
Amendment to item 2 proposed by Mr. Gerulaitis (seconded by Mr. Gerulaitis).
* THAT ITEM 2 BE AMENDED TO ADD "SUBJECT TO REVIEW BEFORE FEBRUARY I, 1975".
Amendment Approved.
Amendment to item 2 proposed by Mr. Krompart (seconded by Mr. Seeber):
THAT THERE BE 2 HOUR MODULES ON MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY FROM 8-10(GG) A.M. AND 10-12(HH) A.M.
During the discussion, Mr. Feeman recommended that for the most part, the schedule, as proposed, should not be manipulated. Mr. Seeber asked that it be modified to permit some flexibility with respect to scheduling during the experimental period. Mr. Feeman reiterated that it was the intention of the APC to try the schedule as designed with the possibility of inserting additional modules at a later date.
Amendment failed.
Item 2, as amended, carried.
3. Motion from the Steering Committee
THAT THE SENATE RECOMMEND TO THE PRESIDENT A UNIVERSITY CALENDAR FOR 1975-76 AS SET FORTH ON THE ATTACHMENT TO THIS AGENDA.
* It was moved by Mr. Gerulaitis, seconded by Mr. Coffman, that item 3 be referred back to the Steering Committee. Approved.
B. New Business
1. Motion from the Steering Committee moved by Mr. Obear, seconded by Mr. Torch:
* THAT THE FOLLOWING BE APPOINTED TO THE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE FOR TERMS AS INDICATED:
Wm. Moorhouse, Ch. (2 years)
Howard Witt (I)
Karl Gregory (2)
Approved.
2. Motions from the Academic Standing and Honors Committee. Items withdrawn by Ms. Bingham.
Meeting adjourned at 5:05 p. m
Nancy Covert, Acting Secretary
University Senate
Office of the Provost/ss
3/5/74
*Motions and amendments adopted at this meeting.