Oakland University Senate

Seventh Meeting
February 21 , 1974

MINUTES

Present: Senators Beardman, Bingham, Burke, Coffman, Evarts, Gardiner, L. Gerulaitis, Graber, Haskell, Light, McKay, McKinley, O'Dowd, Riley, Shantz, Solomon, Strauss, Torch, Tower, and Woodard
Absent: Senators Akers, Barnard, Barron, Barthel, Brieger, D. Burdick, H. Burdick, Coon, Covert, DeMent, Doane, Pfeil, Feeman, R. Gerulaitis, Gray, Gregory, Hetenyi, Hitchingham, Hovanesian, Johnson, Kilburn, Liboff, Lind, Matthews, Moorhouse, Obear, O'Leary, Palmer, Paslay, Schillace, Schmidt, Schwartz, Seeber, Sherry, Sturner, Susskind, and Ti pier

A. Old Business - None

B. New Business

a. Ms. Bingham moved, seconded by Mr. Torch:

THAT MOTIONS b, c, AND d BE APPROVED FOR FINAL VOTE AT THIS MEETING.

Procedural Motion

Approved.

b. Ms. Bingham moved, seconded by Mr. Gerulaitis:

THAT THE FACULTY OF OAKLAND NOMINATE FOR THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE, CONFERRED AS OF DECEMBER 19, 1973 THE STUDENTS NAMED ON A LIST DISTRIBUTED WITH THE JANUARY 31, 1974 AGENDA. [A copy is attached to the record copy of these minutes.

Approved.

c. Ms. Bingham moved, seconded by Mr. Krompart

THAT WITH RESPECT TO THE DECEMBER 19, 1973, GRADUATION LIST THE SENATE FIND ADEQUATE FOR THE THREE LEVELS OF UNIVERSITY HONORS THE FOLLOWING GRADE POINT AVERAGES: CUM LAUDE 3.60-3.69; MAGNA CUM LAUDE 3.70-3.86; SUMMA CUM LAUDE 3.93-3.94.

Approved.

* d. Ms. Bingham moved, seconded by Mr. Coffman :

THAT UNIVERSITY HONORS BE AWARDED TO THOSE PERSONS NAMED IN A LIST TO BE DISTRIBUTED AT THE SENATE MEETING AND WHOSE GRADE POINT AVERAGES MEET THE CRITERIA ESTABLISHED IN c. ABOVE. [A copy of this list is attached to the record copy of these minutes]

Approved.

Ms. Bingham inquired of the Senate as to what the membership believed an appropriate percentage of any graduating class that should be given honors. Mr. Haskell commented that a percentage figure makes sense only when based on a full year and not just a single graduating class. When there are three or four groups graduating during the year there will likely be several small groups where a percentage calculation makes little sense. (A summary of past GPA cut-off points for university honors was distributed. A copy is attached to these minutes).

Mr. Gerulaitis stated that a percentage figure should be available as a safety valve so that a disproportionate group would not be awarded honors.

Mr. McKay recommended a single line GPA for each honors category based on the theory that there is little evidence to suggest that grading standards have or are changing from year to year. A 3.5 GPA this year is as good as a 3.5 last year or the year before.

Mr. Torch questioned the whole concept of University and departmental honors stating that there is too little consistency in grading practices across the University to make the honors concept worth its existence. There appeared to be some agreement that a percentage of 10% as an honors safety valve seemed appropriate.

Upon motion of Mr. Torch, seconded by Mr. Beardman, the Senate adjourned at 4:12 p.m.

William H. Jones, Acting Secretary
University Senate
Office of the Provost/ss
3/2/74

 *Motions and amendments adopted at this meeting.