Oakland University Senate
Fifth Meeting
Thursday, February 19, 1976
5:15 p.m.
128-130 Oakland Center
AGENDA
Submitted by George T. Matthews, for the Steering Committee
A. Old Business:
None
B. New Business:
I. Preliminary Comment
The normal business which the Steering Committee might have placed on this agenda has been put forward to the agenda of the meeting of March 18. The Steering Committee considered the present business to be of such seriousness as to warrant this action.
In addition the Steering Committee has called a special meeting of the Senate for February 26/1976, 5:50 p.m.,128-130 Oakland Center to provide opportunity for a second reading of the motions on this agenda. This interruption of the Senate's stately routine has been occasioned by the recently announced "position shift layoffs" (the intrusion of this down-to-earth jargon into the normally elevated diction of the Senate should be noted but not deplored). On January 21, 1976, Mr. Donald E. Morse requested the Steering Committee to arrange for an inquiry especially designed to explore possible alternatives to the ''position shift layoffs" and to provide the full Senate with an opportunity to discuss and respond to the several issues involved.
The Steering Committee, aware of the need for speed/asked the Academic Budget and Planning Committee and the Academic Policy Committee to undertake this special assignment. The Committees consulted the Provost (coincidentally, some might say providentially, the Provost on January 21, 1976, had independently offered to meet with the Committees on this matter), parlayed with members of "adversely affected units" and others (in some considerable number as it turned out), and in numerous joint meetings inquired, discussed, typed, squabbled, retyped, debated and finally voted to the end now before the Senate with this agenda.
Before turning to the business at hand, the Steering Committee wishes publicly, in the name of the University Senate, to thank the members of the Academic Budget and Planning Committee (Ms. Jacqueline Scherer, Chairperson, and Mesdames Pogany, See and Williams and Messrs. Bagale, Bragg, Bunger, Jackson, McGregor, Moberg, Righter and Tafralian) and the Academic Policy Committee (Mr. Daniel Fullmer, Chairperson, and Mesdames Blank, Piehl, Titus and Williams and Messrs. Carr, Fink, Jackson, McBride, Moeller, Ozinga, Pequette, Pierson, Ruggles, Stone and Tower) for the enormous labor they have expended on this most important assignment. For their speedy and thorough work, the Chair recommends a round of applause.
II. Report on Alternatives to the Proposed Position Shift Layoffs. (Ms. Scherer for the Academic Budget and Planning Committee and
the Academic Policy Committee) Attached to this agenda.
In placing this report, which will not be read unless called for, upon this agenda the Steering Committee regards it as having been received by the Senate. The receipt of the report makes it an official document of the Senate but does not imply either approval or rejection.
The report may be discussed informally under the ordinary obligations of parliamentary courtesy, but as the Chair rules may not be made the object of a motion nor be subject to amendment.
III. Motions from the Academic Budget and Planning Committee and the Academic Policy Committee (Ms. Scherer for both committees)
1. Motion (Ms. Scherer)
THAT, THE SENATE RECOMMEND TO THE PRESIDENT THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF AN ADEQUATE PRIVATE ENDOWMENT FOR THE ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ART, THE TWO YEAR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM OF THE ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ART BE SUSPENDED EFFECTIVE FALL SEMESTER, 1977.
First Reading. Debatable and amendable but not subject to final vote.
2. Motion (Ms. Scherer)
THAT THE SENATE ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:
WHEREAS ACADEMIC PRIORITIES DESERVE CONSIDERATION AT LEAST EQUAL TO THAT OF STUDENT FACULTY RATIOS;
WHEREAS TENURED FACULTY MEMBERS ARE AFFECTED BY THE PROPOSED POSITION SHIFT LAYOFF;
WHEREAS THE SUSPENSION OF ANY DEGREE PROGRAM OR OF A MAJOR THEREIN OR OF ANY ACADEMIC UNIT IS OF SUFFICIENT IMPORTANCE TO THE UNIVERSITY TO DESERVE FULL SENATE DEBATE AMD LEGISLATIVE ACTION;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SENATE RECOMMEND THAT THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES RECONSIDER THE PROPOSED POSITION SHIFT LAYOFF AND MAKE NEW, BUT NOT NECESSARILY DIFFERENT, RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PROVOST;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SENATE MANDATES THAT ANY PROPOSAL IN THE NEW RECOMMENDATIONS TO SUSPEND ANY DEGREE PROGRAM OR A MAJOR THEREIN OR ANY ACADEMIC UNIT AS A RESULT OF A POSITION SHIFT LAYOFF BE PRESENTED TO THE SENATE FOR FULL DEBATE AND LEGISLATIVE ACTION.
First Reading. Debatable and amendable but not subject to final vote.
3. Motion (Ms. Scherer)
THAT THE SENATE ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:
WHEREAS THE PROPOSED POSITION SHIFT LAYOFF AFFECTS TENURE FACULTY MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY;
WHEREAS THE ISSUES OF TENURE ARE SO COMPLEX AND IMPORTANT THAT THEY SHOULD RECEIVE FULL DELIBERATION;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SENATE RECOMMEND TO THE PRESIDENT THAT WHERESOEVER POSSIBLE TENURED FACULTY MEMBERS CAPABLE OF USEFUL INSTRUCTION SHOULD NOT BE LAID OFF BY A POSITION SHIFT LAYOFF FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR, 1977-78.
First Reading. Debatable and amendable but not subject to final vote.
4. Motion (Ms. Scherer)
THAT THE SENATE ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:
WHEREAS ENROLLMENT TRENDS ARE PARTIALLY A FUNCTION OF GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS;
WHEREAS EXISTING PROGRAMS MAY BE REEVALUATED AND RECONSTITUTED;
WHEREAS NEW PROGRAMS MAY BE IMPLEMENTED BY FACULTY MEMBERS CURRENTLY AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY THAT IN TURN MAY AFFECT ENROLLMENT TRENDS;
WHEREAS AT THIS CRUCIAL TIME FOR OAKLAND UNIVERSITY THERE IS A NEED FOR CONSENSUS ON THE CONFIGURATION AND DIRECTION OF THE UNIVERSITY IN THE FUTURE;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SENATE RECOMMEND THAT THE STEERING COMMITTEE SELECT AN APPROPRIATE VEHICLE FOR A STUDY TO BE MADE ON THE CONFIGURATION OF THE UNIVERSITY IN THE FUTURE.
First Reading. Debatable and amendable but not subject to final vote.
Comments on Motions 1, 2, 3 and 4: These motions grow out of the Report on. Alternatives to the Proposed Position Shift Layoffs already noted as received.
Office of the Provost/j
2/16/76
Attachment
Appendix: Three Beardslee Memos