Oakland University Senate
First Meeting
Thursday, September 29, 1977
3:15 p.m.
128-130 Oakland Center
MINUTES
Senators Present: Arnold, Bantel, Boulos, Braun, Butterworth, Cherno, Eberwein, Edgerton, Felton, Hampton, Hetenyi, Heubel, Hildum, Hohauser, Holladay, Hovanesian, Jackson, Jones, Kleckner, Liboff, Matthews, McKay, Merz, Moeller, Obear, O'Dowd, O'Leary, Osthaus, Ozinga, Pogany, Randolph, Riley, Russell, Schwartz, Sloane, Stransky, Torch, Torongeau, Tower, Ward, Wargo and Weiner
Senators Absent: Allvin, Barry, Blatt, Burke, Coffman, DeMent, Doherty, Easterly, Gardiner, Johnson, Keegan, Scherer, Seeber, Tucker, Williamson and Witt
Mr. O'Dowd presided.
Mr. O'Dowd indicated he had no announcements to make, but welcomed the Senate to its first meeting of the new 1977 - 1979 term and of the new 1977 - 1978 session.
Mr. Heubel, speaking as the Chair of the Academic Policy and Planning Committee, inquired about the status of the idea of Oakland University founding a medical school. Mr. O'Dowd replied that the issue had been raised by Senator Huffman at the August 24 meeting of the Board in the form of an inquiry. If the state were to determine that sometime in the future Michigan should establish another state-supported medical school, would Oakland develop such a school? Mr. O'Dowd continued to the effect that, although neither he nor the Board has sought a medical school, it would be inappropriate to reply "no" to Mr. Huffman's rhetorical question. But, preliminary inquiry about medical education confirms that it is enormously expensive and could only be seriously contemplated after thorough study over several years. In any case, even if we were to start tomorrow, it would be more than a decade before a student could enter and longer before one graduated. Mr. O'Dowd concluded by saying that if Oakland University makes any move at all, the first step would be to request funding for a team of consultants to give the matter the closest possible study.
The meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m. and the minutes of the meeting of April 21, 1977, were approved upon motion of Mr. Heubel seconded by Mr. McKay.
Attention was then directed to the formal agenda.
1. Election of the Steering Committee:
Mr. Kleckner, former Chair of the Elections Committee conducted the election in the absence of members of the present committee. Mr. McKay inquired about standard procedures for elections of this sort and suggested the Elections Committee develop same for approval of the Senate; the suggestion was noted for reference to the Steering Committee.
Eight persons were nominated., and upon two withdrawals the remaining six were elected by acclamation as follows:
Jane Eberwein, College of Arts & Sciences
Joseph Hovanesian, School of Engineering
William Jones, School of Education
Joel Russell, College of Arts & Sciences
Ray Torongeau, University Congress
John Tower, School of Economics & Management
2. Constitution of the School of Nursing:
Ms. Felton moved seconded by Mr. Tower, that the Constitution of the School of Nursing as presented on the agenda be approved. Numerous suggestions designed to perfect the document were made. Mr. McKay was concerned with the membership of the faculty assembly;, but his questions were resolved by reference to the constitutions of the Senate and the schools. Concern was also expressed over the membership and charges of the proposed committee on appointment and promotion a Mr. Joel Russell being most helpful in unraveling tangles. Ms. Felton assured the Senate she would refer the suggestions to the nursing faculty and would bring forward corrections designed to perfect the document at the second reading, October 20, 1977.
3. Committee Reports:
Mr. McKay inquired whether the Steering Committee had studied the reports for policy implications; Mr. Matthews assured Mr. McKay that this matter would be on the new Steering Committee's agenda.
4. Steering Committee Report:
No comments.
Upon proper motion duly seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
George T. Matthews/j
Office of the Provost
10/3/77