Oakland University Senate

Eighth Meeting
March 20, 1975

 MINUTES

Present: Senators Barthel, D. Burdick, Burke, Coffman, Covert, Feeman, Gardiner, Haskell, Herker, Hetenyi, Hovanesian, Keegan, Krompart, Liboff, Light, Matthews, McBride, McKay, McKinley, Moorhouse, Obear, O'Dowd, Palmer, Shacklett, Schwartz, Taylor and Wyatt

Absent: Senators Akers, Atlas, Barnard, Barron, Beardman, Bingham, Brieger, H. Burdick, DeMent, Evarts, L. Gerulaitis, R. Gerulaitis, Graber, Gray, Hitchingham, Hough, Johnson, O'Leary, Paslay, Riley, Schillace lace, Seeber, Strauss, Sturner, Susskind, Tipler, and Torch

Mr. O'Dowd chaired the meeting and called it to order at 4:15 p.m.

Upon motion of Mr. Burke, seconded by Mr. Coffman, the minutes of the meeting of March 13, 1975 were approved as distributed.

(The agenda for this special meeting was a continuation of that distributed for the meeting of March 13, 1975. No new agenda was prepared. Thus, under Old Business, Item I in the following minutes was Item 4 on the agenda of  March 13 and Item 2 was Item 5 on that agenda.)

A. Old Business

I. Mr. O'Dowd noted that there was a motion on the floor having been moved by Mr. Feeman, seconded by Mr. Coffman.

THAT THE SENATE ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:

WHEREAS THE SENATE AGREES IN PRINCIPLE WITH THE CONCEPT OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATION, AS DESCRIBED IN THE REPORT PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF STUDENT SERVICES AND TRANSMITTED BY THE ACADEMIC POLICY COMMITTEE,

BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SENATE EXPRESSES ITS SUPPORT OF THIS VENTURE AND ENCOURAGES ALL ACADEMIC UNITS TO DO LIKEWISE.

Comment: The Academic Policy Committee presents the Proposal on Cooperative Education (enclosed with the January 16, 1975 Senate Agenda)
to the Senate for its consideration. No legislation is required since no new programs or degrees are involved. However, the APC feels that the proposed effort has many advantages for Oakland students and wishes to support it. It also feels that a supporting Senate resolution would be of great assistance in maximizing communication concerning it and cooperation with it.

The Senate gives its support to the proposal with the understanding that those who are charged with its implementation and administration will pay careful attention to the following significant aspects of it.

1) The proper matching of students with jobs in accordance with the basic principles set forth in the proposal.
2) Adherence to the statement on credits given in the proposal; that is, "No credit should be awarded solely on the basis of work experience gained by the student as a result of participating in the cooperative program."
3) Careful advising of students in the program and coordination of effort among the academic units participating in it.
4) Course scheduling to fit the needs of participating students  to avoid unnecessary discontinuities in their study programs.
5) The need to maintain all commitments made to participating students.
6) Recognition of the implications of the program for possible curricular changes.
7) The need to protect the rights of various academic units in determining the extent of their involvement in the program

Second reading.

Mr. Feeman, requested, with concurrence of Mr. Coffman, permission g of the chair to withdraw the motion. There being no objection, the motion was withdrawn.

2. Motion on proposed Constitutional amendment (Moved by Mr. Wyatt, seconded by Mr. Burke):

 * THAT ARTICLE V, SECTION iv OF THE CONSTITUTION BE CHANGED TO READ:

All members of organized faculties shall be eligible to serve as Senators. All students in good standing shall be eligible to serve as Senators.

Comment: The provision currently reads:

"All members of organized faculties shall be eligible to serve as Senators. All full-time students in good standing who have earned a minimum of 48 undergraduate or 8 graduate credit hours at Oakland University shall be eligible to be elected to the Senate. Only full-time students in good standing who have earned a minimum of 60 undergraduate or 16 graduate credit hours at Oakland University shall be eligible to serve in the Senate."

Mr. Wyatt states:

The arguments against the existing system are:
1. It unduly restricts the Congress in its selection of students to be senators for the following reasons:
    A. It eliminates the possibility of considering part-time students who might have the most time to devote to the Senate.
    B. It eliminates the possibility of our considering sophomores or freshmen who might be more capable than available upper-class candidates.
    C. It eliminates the possibility of our considering transfer students who, through comparable experience at other institutions, might be more capable than available candidates.
2. It is discriminatory. No such provision exists stipulating that faculty members must have spent a specific time at Oakland before becoming eligible for a Senate  seat.
3. It is unclear and bizarre. The idea that a student may be elected with 48 credits but not serve until he has 60 is confusing and meaningless in light of the current selection process.

Second reading.

Motion was approved by voice vote.

B. New Business
1. Resolution from the Budget and Planning Committee

Moved by Mr. Liboff, seconded by Mr. Feeman, that the Senate endorse the following resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED: THAT THE UNIVERSITY SENATE HEREBY ENCOURAGES THE CONTINUED PLANNING OF A CENTER FOR HEALTH SCIENCE FACULTIES AS THE ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATIVE LOCATION FOR HEALTH SCIENCE PROGRAMS WITH THE AIM OF IMPLEMENTATION IN THE 1975 FALL SEMESTER. THIS SUPPORT IS BASED ON THE EXPECTATION THAT A DETAILED SPACE PLANNING REPORT WITH RELATED EQUIPMENT COSTS WILL BE PROVIDED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

Comment: The Budget and Planning Committee endorses the Report of Committee on Recommendation V on "Center for Health Science Faculties" with the reservation that the planning for space needs in connection with health sciences is viewed as yet inadequate and in need of further development. Especially in health sciences a close correlation between space and equipment needs may be possible and thus the resolution of support carries a proviso that additional space and equipment estimates be provided.

First reading.

2. Motion from the Academic Policy Committee concerning the 1976-77 University Calendar

Moved by Mr. Feeman, seconded by Mr. Coffman:

THAT THE UNIVERSITY SENATE RECOMMEND TO THE PRESIDENT THE 1976-77 CALENDAR DISPLAYED IN AN ATTACHMENT TO THIS AGENDA.

Comment: For comparison purposes, a summary of instructional days for the five year period 1972-77 is as follows:

(proposed)

The Faculty Agreement for 1974-75 states that "the University Senate shall be responsible for recommending the specific dates of the University Calendar to the President."

First reading.

3. . Motion from the Academic Policy Committee

Moved by Mr. Obear, seconded by Mr. Feeman:

THAT THE DATE OF SPRING COMMENCEMENT BE CHANGED FROM "THE WEEKEND AFTER MEMORIAL DAY" TO "A DATE-AFTER THE END OF THE WINTER SEMESTER, SUCH DATE TO BE SET BY THE PRESIDENT."

Comment: This change in legislation would make it possible for the spring commencement to be held on a date soon after the completion of the winter semester at a time when there is a sense of accomplishment on the part of faculty and students alike, a circumstance which should be recognized in as personal a way as possible. A substantial and evident dwindling of interest occurs when commencement does not take place soon after the completion of the winter semester. An earlier date assumes, however, a faster final processing of students for degree certification.

First reading.

4. Motion from the Financial Aids Committee

Moved by Mr. Obear, seconded by Mr. Gerulaitis:

THAT THE CHARGE TO THE FINANCIAL AID COMMITTEE BE EXPANDED TO READ

"TO CONSIDER, RECOMMEND, EVALUATE AND REVIEW ALL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES RELATIVE TO THE OPERATION OF THE FINANCIAL AID SYSTEM, AND TO FUNCTION AS AN APPEALS BOARD WHICH WILL HEAR AND RESOLVE DISPUTES BETWEEN THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AIDS AND APPLICANTS FOR AND RECIPIENTS OF FINANCIAL AID."

Comment: The current charge to this committee reads "To recommend policies governing all financial aid to students". The Financial Aid Committee endorsed this proposed change in November, 1974, but did not submit it for consideration by the Senate until the President  task force on financial aid had an opportunity to examine the proposal in depth.

First reading.

5. Informational Item

Mr. O'Dowd noted the following informational item:

1.  In December Mr. Willlamson expressed concern about Constitutional  wording which disenfranchised faculty members who are not in any  organized faculty for the purposes of representation on the Senate and for voting in Senate elections. The problem was referred to the University Senate Elections Committee which responded to the Steering Committee stating that it did not feel competent to deal with a matter of such complexity and that the matter could be more effectively dealt with by a Constitutional revision committee.

The Steering Committee has instructed Mr. Light as chairperson of the Senate Elections Committee that for purposes of the Election and Constitution referendum this winter those persons from Learning Skills and from the Academy of Dramatic Arts who (as described In Article III, Section ii of the Constitution) have the rank of Professor, Associate Professor, and Assistant Professor other than those on visiting status; and all instructors and special instructors who have served a minimum of two years at the University shall be assigned to the College of Arts and Sciences for voting purposes. This procedure shall be for this election and referendum only. It is expected that the problem will be resolved prior to another election.

Mr. O'Dowd commented briefly regarding University financial status and anticipated enrollment for 1975-76.

The Steering Committee was advised to assume that the Constitutional amendment regarding the chairpersons of Senate Committees would pass the referendum. This will enable that Committee to begin preparing for the election of new Senate Committee members.

Meeting was adjourned at 5 p.m.

William H. Jones, Secretary
University Senate
WHJ:sls
3/24/75