Oakland University Senate
Seventh Meeting
April 13, 1978
3:00 p.m.
128-130 Oakland Center
MINUTES
Senators Present: Arnold Barry, Boulos, Braun, Burke, Cherno, Easterly, Eberwein, Edgerton, Evans, Gardiner, Grossman, Hetenyi, Heubel, Hildum, Hohauser, Holladay, Jackson Johnson, Jones, Kleckner, Liboff, Matthews, Merz, Moeller, Obear, O'Leary, Ozinga, Pogany, Randolph, Riley, Russell, Torch, Torongeau, Tower, Wargo and Weiner
Senators Absent: Allvin, Bantel, Blatt, Butterworth, Coffman, DeMent, Doherty, Felton, Ghausi, Hampton Hovanesian, Howes, O'Dowd, Orton, Osthaus, Schwartz, Seeber, Sloane, Stransky, Ward and Wllliamson
Mr. Obear presided.
Mr. Obear had no comments of a general nature to make, nor were there queries from the floor.
The meeting was called to order at 3:20 p.m.
Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Kleckner moved approval of the minutes of March 16, 1978, as distributed. Mr. Cherno expressed once again good-natured exasperation over the fact that colons, semi-colons and commas tend always to be illegible in the mimeographed minutes. The Secretary sympathized with Mr. Cherno but indicated he didn't quite know what to do about it. Someone suggested a new typewriter, to Mr. Willams' (secretary to the secretary) evident pleasure, for repeated attempts to repair the offending mechanism seem always to have failed. A request for replacement could be sent to the Executive Budget Committee but since the approximate cost would be $750.00, it would seem the appeal would be placed in very low priority given other University needs such as a new computer.. The Secretary recommends that Mr. Cherno adopt an attitude of resignation in the face of the small annoyances of life. Such an attitude, adopted by the Secretary at an early age has succeeded in maintaining his blood pressure to tolerable levels, but, it must be confessed, not in curbing his need to smoke. A potentially interesting even instructive discussion of the Secretary's exuberant use of colons, semi-colons and commas (the use of periods seems not to be in question) in the preparation of agendas and minutes was foregone in favor of more substantive matters before the body.
The minutes of the meeting of March 16, 1978, were approved by voice vote, as distributed.
Attention was then directed to the agenda.
A. 0ld Business:
1. Motion from the Graduate Council concerning establishment of a program of graduate studies leading to a Master of Arts degree in Linguistics (Johnson/DeMent) unamended was approved by voice vote without discussion as follows:
MOVED THAT THE UNIVERSITY SENATE RECOMMEND TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE BOARD THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROGRAM OF GRADUATE STUDIES LEADING TO THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN LINGUISTICS, EFFECTIVE UPON AUTHORIZATION BY THE APPROPRIATE FUNDING AGENCIES OF THE STATE.
B. New Business
1. Motion from the UCUI to raise the credit requirement for the B.S. in Management degree from 124 to 128 was introduced by Mr. Moeller and seconded by Mr. Tower.
Mr. Moeller pointed out that at Oakland University only 31 courses were available within the present 124 credit limits for this degree while at the University of Michigan 38 courses were available and cited other examples as well; Mr. Moeller attributed this difference to Oakland University's four-credit per semester course system. Upon query, Mr. Tower replied that this new credit requirement would apply to students entering in fall, 1978. No amendments were offered.
2. Motion from the UCUI concerning institution of a "Z" (auditor) grade was introduced by Mr. Moeller, seconded by Ms. Braun.
Ms. O'Leary referring to the comments wanted to know how many people constituted a number. Mr. Moeller cited as an example a course in the Japanese language this last fall which had thirteen regular registrants and twelve auditors, not however, a typical situation. Ms. Braun wished to know how a faculty member teaching a course with auditors could get credit for credits not delivered. Mr. Beardslee said that the State does not fund auditor credits, but there was no reason why such credits could not be taken into account when calculating student/faculty ratios; Mr. Obear agreed. Mr. Liboff queried whether the "Z'" would appear on a transcript; the answer is yes. In effect the "Z" is a certification of attendance, but if an instructor does not take attendance, then the ''Z'" is simply a record of registration. Considerable discussion ensued on this matter, it finally being clarified that whether or not attendance might be taken was up to the instructor or department. Mr. Hildum wished to know whether auditors would be charged full tuition; Mr. Moeller replied that would be up to the Board, but he supported full tuition charge, as is done at U of M, Wayne and other schools. No amendments were offered.
3. Motion concerning a new Constitution of the College of Arts and Sciences was Introduced by Mr. Torch and seconded by Mr. Ozinga.
Mr. Torch explained that the main change in the Constitution was to replace the present Assembly, which comprises virtually the whole faculty, with a representative Assembly along the lines of the Senate; a second change was to restrict membership of the Executive Committee to members of the new representational Assembly; a third change was adoption of Robert's Rules of Order as the official parliamentary guide.
Mr. Russell wondered should chairs be ruled out of the bargaining unit, whether a constitutional amendment would be required; no conclusive answer was forthcoming, although Mr. Bertocci, principle authority on the new document, opined that in the event of contradiction/ the contract would control. Ms. Easterly questioned the use of the word chairman throughout the document, rather than a more sexually neutral expression. Mr. Bertocci replied that use of the word chairman was limited to only a few places in the document, but the matter could be taken care of in the form of a "perfection" should he be so directed.
4. Motion concerning nominations to standing committees was introduced by Mr. Tower/seconded by Mr. Riley.
An error placing Mr. Bellamy (Financial Aids Committee, p. 6) in Education rather than Economics/Management was noted and an error continuing Mr. Friedman (Financial Aids Committee, p. 6) while in fact he had resigned from the University was also noted. The Steering Committee will propose another nominee.
Mr. Edgerton pointed to another putative error concerning Mr. Evans on the Campus Development and Environment Committee: Mr. Edgerton said that Mr. Evans had told him that he (Evans) was not, nor ever had been a member of this committee and did not wish to be a member. The Steering Committee promised to look into the matter. (See comments, item I, (New Business), agenda of April 20; 1978). With the exceptions thus noted the Senate confirmed the nominations as contained in item 4, (New Business), agenda of April 13, 1978.
5. Motion to endorse a new President's Committee on Sports and Recreation was introduced by Mr. Tower, seconded by Mr. Jones.
Mr. Foster expressed concern over the impact of athletics on the quality of academic life on campus. Ms. Randolph noted that the present membership included three students, while the proposed committee would have but one appointed by the President. Mr. Ozinga, seconded by Mr. Burke moved to amend the main motion such that the paragraph under Membership be changed to read:
1. Five members appointed by the President, at least two of whom shall be students nominated by the University Congress.
Amendment approved by voice vote.
Attention was then directed to the Main Motion as amended. Further discussion resulted in editorial changes accepted by Mr. Tower and Mr. Jones, such that under Charges, paragraph 2, second line ''all" be substituted for "the" and under Charges, paragraph 4 the phrase "of the faculty membership" be stricken.
Discussion then developed concerning lack of representation of members of the physical education academic staff on the committee: Various attempts to formulate a proper amendment finally resulted in a motion to amend Membership, paragraph 2, introduced by Mr. Riley, seconded by Mr. Russell to read:
2. Four faculty members, one of whom shall be of the staff offering academic credit instruction in the area of physical education, nominated by the Steering Committee and confirmed by the Senate, serving two year terms staggered such that one serves an initial one year term and one of whom shall head the faculty delegation thus nominated and confirmed.
After considerable discussion and upon call of the question, the motion to amend failed with only four 'ayes' noted.
Attention was then directed to the Main Motion as amended by Ozinga/Burke which upon call of the question was adopted by voice vote as follows:
MOVED THAT THE UNIVERSITY SENATE ENDORSE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON SPORTS AND RECREATION WITH THE FOLLOWING CHARGE AND MEMBERSHIP:
Charge:
1. Advise the President on policies governing intercollegiate and intramural athletics at Oakland University, except those concerned with the academic eligibility of students engaged in organized athletics which shall be reserved to the Committee on Academic Standing and Honors to propose and monitor.
2. Advise the President on policy concerning all organized sports and recreation activities at Oakland University including all use of and charges for the University's physical facilities devoted to sports and recreation.
3. The President shall have a standing invitation to report annually to the Senate on matters concerning athletics, sports and recreation at the University and especially the President shall seek the advice of the Senate. prior to the establishment of any additional Intercollegiate sports.
4. Upon request of the Senate the head of the faculty membership shall report to the Senate on the activities of the Committee.
Membership:
1. Five members appointed by the President, at least two of whom shall be students, nominated by the University Congress.
2. Three faculty members, nominated by the Steering Committee and confirmed by the Senate, serving two year terms staggered such that one serves an initial one year term and one of whom shall head the faculty delegation thus nominated and confirmed.
3. The President (or his designee) who shall Chair.
6. Motion to dissolve the Athletics Committee was introduced by Mr. Tower, seconded by Mr. Jones. Motion carried by voice vote.
7. Motion to confirm nominations to the new Committee on Sports and Recreation was introduced by Mr. Tower, seconded by Mr. Wargo.
Motion carried by voice vote as follows:
MOVED THAT THE SENATE CONFIRM THE NOMINATIONS OF THE FOLLOWING AS MEMBERS OF THE NEW COMMITTEE ON SPORTS AND RECREATION:
Jennie Cross - (one year term)
Joseph Hovanesian - (two year term)
Amit Tagore - (two year term) Head of Faculty Delegation
Upon proper motion, duly seconded the meeting was adjourned at 4:57 p.m.
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SENATE
The following faculty have volunteered to serve with the University Congress:
L. Nichols Grimes, Biological Sciences
Mary Ann Krammin, Nursing
Janet Krompart, Library