Oakland University Senate
Tenth Meeting
(Second Session)
May 8, 1978
3:00 p.m.
128-130 Oakland Center
MINUTES
Senators Present: Arnold, Burke, Easterly, Evans, Gardiner, Ghausi, Grossman, Heubel, Hovanesian, Holladay, Johnson, Jones, K. Kleckner, Matthews, O'Dowd, O'Leary, Orton, Randolph, Russell, Schwartz, Tower, Wargo and Williamson
Senators Absent: Allvin, Bantel, Barry, Blatt, Boulos, Braun, Butterworth, Cherno, Coffman, DeMent, Doherty, Eberwein, Edgerton, Felton, Hampton, Hetenyi, Hildum, Hohauser, Howes, Jackson, Liboff, Merz, Moeller, Obear, Osthaus, Ozinga, Pogany, Riley, Seeber, Sloane, Stransky, Torch, Torongeau, Ward and Weiner
Mr. Matthews presided.
The meeting was called to order at 3:20 p.m.
Minutes of the meetings of April 20, 27, May 3 (first session) were held over.
Attention on was directed immediately to the agenda.
Special Business (continued from the session of May 3,1978)
1. Motion from the Steering Committee (Tower/Heubel) as amended (DeMent/Gardiner and Williamson/Arnold) concerning Senate acceptance of initial planning documents, 1978.
Discussion centered first on the question of converting to a "three-credit per semester" (page 35)** course system, with Mr. Williamson expressing concern as
to what the status of such a "plan'' might be: Was it something the University "will" do, or was it something that was being recommended for study? Mr. O'Dowd
replied it was indeed the latter and that in any case, such a conversion could be effected only over a three-five year period, even after it was agreed upon
by the Senate. Mr. Wargo queried the Entry Year Program (page 36), were there any specific plans? Mr. O'Dowd replied it was an old idea being advanced once
again for consideration. Mr. Orton queried the idea of generalizing computer introduction, (page 33); how, in what courses? Discussion on the proposal
became general with Mr. Williamson suggesting computer instruction might be part of general education. Mr. Orton queried (page 57) the statement concerning
strengthening the quality of faculty over a 15 year period; any plan, any quantitative schedule? Mr. Matthews replied there was none but opined that the statement reflected a good guess as to what was likely to happen over the long haul.
Mr. Williamson questioned inclusion under Capital Outlay of a basic science research building, wondering whether it would be wise to have a science building dedicated only to research, Mr. O'Dowd replied that the funding for such a building would have to be private (non-state), that he thought donors could be found for such a project, but not for a regular teaching/research structure which probably should be financed by the state. Mr. Burke inquired about out-state and out-of-state student recruiting; he was referred to page 50 wherein this matter is addressed. Ms. O'Leary expressed unease that the Planning Document seemed not to emphasize intellectual, academic goals, but were preoccupied with bland statements of curricula, with enrollment projections, capital outlays and so on; Mr. O'Dowd pointed out that the Planning Document includes the Role and Mission Statement which is designed to reaffirm the intellectual purposes of the University and which serves as a preamble to the Planning Document. Mr. Grossman queried statements concerning an ''integrated work force" (page 59); are there any ''goals and timetables" to be reviewed: Mr. O'Dowd replied that in some units there are and that others are being developed.
Discussion having been terminated, the Chair entertained a call of the question; there being none opposed, the Chair asked for a vote on, the motion as amended, which motion carried by voice vote with only one ''nay" in opposition, as follows:
MOVED THAT THE UNIVERSITY SENATE ACCEPT AS INITIAL PLANNING DOCUMENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY PLANNING COMMITTEE THE FOLLOWING:
1. The Role and Mission of Oakland University; redraft of the statement dated March, 1978.
2. University Five-Year Goal Statement; 1978 through 1982; redraft of statement dated January, 1978.
3. Summary of the University Planning Document-1978 (1978 through 1993) dated April, 1978.
4. Recommendations from the University Planning Document-1978.
AND THAT FULL DISCUSSION OF THESE DOCUMENTS WILL BEGIN WITH THE SEPTEMBER, 1978 MEETING OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE.
Upon proper motion duly seconded, the Tenth Meeting of the First Session (1977-78) of the 1977-1979 Term of the Oakland University Senate was adjourned at 4:40 p.m. sine die.
**Page citations refer to Item 4. (Recommendations from the University Planning Document-1978) of the motion.
GTM-.Jw
5/12/78