Oakland University Senate
Fourth Meeting
December 11, 1975
Minutes
Present: Alt, Atlas, Barren, Bertocci, Burke, Cameron, Coffman, Cowlishaw, DeMont, Doane, Evarts, Freeman, Genyea, Hampton, Hetenyi, Hitchingham, Hovanesian, Karasch, Keegan, Ketchum, Klein, Matthews,, McKay, Moberg, Moeller, Obear, O'Dowd, Russell, Scherer, Schluckebier, Schuldenberg, Schwartz, Seeber, Shacklett, Sponseller, Strauss, Swartz, Tower and Voight
Absent: Barnard, Cherno, Felton, Gardiner, Hamilton, Hammerle, Heubel, Johnson, Keelin, Liboff, McKinley, Paslay, Pogany, Ruscio, Shantz, Swanson, Torch, Tucker, White and Williamson
Mr. O'Dowd presided.
Before turning to the formal agenda, Mr. O'Dowd commented upon the recent $250,000 cut from the University's appropriated budget ordered by Governor M511iken. Taken in conjunction with the fact that about $167,000 worth of utility costs which we had expected to be covered by the State, will now come out of the regularly appropriated support, this figure means we are about $400,000 short in our 1975-76 budget despite the recent tuition increase. Mr. O'Dowd indicated that the 1976-77 fiscal year looks just as gloomy, with a shortfall difficult to cover even with further tuition increases. Discussion ensued concerning the possible impact of a state-wide student political movement aimed at reviewing the apparent trend of throwing an increasing share of the cost of higher education onto student tuition.
In response to a question concerning the Senate Constitution, Mr. O'Dowd indicated it would be on the January Board agenda.
Meeting was called to order at 5:50 p.m. On motion of Mr. Hetenyi, seconded by Mr. Coffman, the minutes of the meeting of November 15, 1975, were approved as distributed. Attention was then directed to the formal agenda.
A. Reports from standing committees.
1. Academic Budget and Planning Committee:
Ms. Scherer reported for the Committee to the effect that the semester had been devoted to clarifying the Committee's charge with the Steering Committee, defining the relation of Academic Policy Committee with Budget and Planning, and attempting to set up standard procedures for judging budgetary impact of programs presented for review.
2. Academic Career and Advising Committee:
Ms. Burdick reported for the Committee to the effect that the Committee was studying a proposal for a centralized advising system which she expected would be presented to the Senate in February.
3. Academic Conduct Committee:
Ms. Schwartz reported for the Committee to the effect that the Committee was reviewing the procedures used in academic conduct cases, had acted on guidelines for instructors in cases of alleged academic misconduct, and was about to seek clarification of its guidelines from the Steering Committee. In response to a query, Ms. Schwartz reported that this year the Committee had acted on two cases and that there were two more on the docket.
4. Academic Policy Committee:
Mr. Fullmer reported for the Committee in written form, providing the Senate with a list of major Committee agenda items for 1975-76 as follows:
Actions Taken:
a. Reviewed legislation for Statistics Concentration.
b. Transferred routine "committee on instruction" duties for Learning Skills and New-Charter College to Faculty Council for General and Career Studies.
c. Reviewed the 1974 policy of advising students about normal course loads during Spring and Summer terms.
d. Examined data from mathematics placement tests to determine if a study should be made leading to an arithmetic proficiency requirement. Simpler arithmetic tests are needed.
e. Reviewed proposal for the implementation of a Physical Therapy program. The proposal is being forwarded to the Budget and Planning Committee.
In Process:
a. Developing a five-year calendar.
b. Reviewing scheduling matrix.
c. " Studying grade inflation and grading system
d. Reviewing proposal for an Operations Research program.
e. Studying the possibility of converting to variable credit system.
f. Monitoring course rubric inventory.
Anticipated:
a. Development of guidelines for academic policy.
b. Review nature and status of petitions of exception.
c. Monitor activities of the Faculty Council for General and Career Studies.
5. Academic Standing and Honors Committee:
Mr. Chipman reported for the Committee to the effect that aside from consideration of the report on this agenda, the Committee had routinely monitored grade runs, had given extra advising to probationary students, and would attempt to explore the 56 hour grade turn-in policy.
6. Admissions Committee:
Mr. Swartz reported for the Committee to the effect that the Committee was reviewing current admissions policy with an aim to clarification; for example, contrary to belief in some quarters, the University does not have an open admissions policy nor does it practice open admissions; the Committee is reviewing the follow-up services rendered admitted persons, and is working closely with Mr. Beardslee's office to develop accurate data in the admissions area.
7. Athletics Committee:
No one was present to report; this Committee will be asked to report at the next meeting.
8. Campus Development and Environment Committee:
Mr. Freeman reported for the Committee to the effect that the Committee had met twice and plans to meet monthly hereafter; the Committee has met with Mr. Karas on smoking and litter problems, and is developing a policy for protection of wildlife on campus and the development of an arboretum.
9. Financial Aids Committee:
No one was present to report; this Committee will be asked to report at the next meeting.
10. Research Committee:
Mr. Hovanesian reported for the Committee to effect that the Committee was reviewing small grant ,proposals, evaluating applications for summer fellowships and will soon consider small grants to students.
11. Teaching and Learning Committee:
No one was present to report; this Committee will be asked to report at the next meeting.
Upon query of Mr. Matthews for the Steering Committee, the Senate expressed satisfaction with the idea of including routine committee reports on appropriate agenda.
B. Old Business:
* I. From the Agenda of December II, 1975, Motion 1. and amendment:
Attention was first directed to the Barron-Hetenyi amendment.
| Mr. Hampton inquired whether under the amendment an unanimous approval of smoking by a class was needed for smoking to occur. Mr. Hetenyi responded that it was the intent of the amendment to require such approval class by class, for smoking to be permissible.
Upon call for the question, the amendment was carried by voice vote with only scattered nays.
Attention was then turned to the main motion as amended.
Mr. Freeman for the Campus Development and Environment Committee asked that a resolution of that Committee on this issue be read into the minutes:
The CDEC supports a ban on smoking during University classes with the following exception: a class can waive the no smoking rule if all present wish to do so.
Mr. Freeman observed that this resolution was supported by the Barren-Hetenyi amendment.
Upon query, Mr. Alt submitted a petition circulated by University Congress supporting the motion as follows:
The faculty and students of Oakland University, who have signed below, are petitioning the University Senate to stop smoking in the classroom when one or more individuals in the class are opposed to it, whether their opposition is based on sound medical reasons or on personal preference. However, if all the individuals in a class agree that it doesn't bother them, they may smoke in that class.
Mr. Alt stated that 1201 signatures were affixed to the petition.
Mr. Bertocci in an effort to clarify the consequences of the motion, as amended inquired whether should it carry, smoking was in effect banned, with each class needing to take initiative to permit smoking in its environs: Mr. Bertocci was assured that this indeed was the meaning of the motion,
Mr. Alt then called the question. There being no opposition, the motion as amended was carried by voice vote, with only scattered nays.
* 2. From the Agenda of December II, 1975, Motion 2.:
Mr. Alt reported that the University Congress endorsed the motion and report, provided the API was for internal committee use only and would not appear on a student's transcript.
Mr. Chipman assured Mr. Alt that such was and would continue to be Committee policy. Mr. Alt accepted the assurance.
Upon call for the question, the motion carried by voice vote with only scattered nays.
C. New Business
None
Mr. Matthews inquired whether the Senate would feel aggrieved should lack of an ample agenda suggest not meeting in January? Curiously the Senate seemed agreeable to skipping the January meeting on that condition.
Upon valid motion duly seconded, by persons inadvertently unrecorded (apologies are hereby offered) the meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m.; this meeting's brevity can be matched only by the importance of the actions taken in it, for both of which praise be.
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SENATE
As required by recent legislation, the new University Committee for Applied Statistics has been established with the following, membership:
Harvey Arnold --Mathematical Sciences
William Bezdek --Sociology/Anthropology
Anita Bozardt --Education
Thomas Casstevens --Political Science .
David Doane --Economics and Management
David Evans --Engineering ..,. .
Richard Pettengill-- Library
Amos Spector --Psychology
Tung Weng (CHAIRPERSON)-- Engineering