Oakland University Senate
Thursday, April 19, 1979
3:15 p.m.
128, 129, 130 Oakland Center
MINUTES
Senators Present: Butterworth, Cherno, Coffman, Coon, DeMent, Eberwein, Edgerton, Evans, Ghausi, Goudsmit, Grossman, Hampton, Hovanesian, Jaymes, Johnson, Jones, Kleckner, Kohn, Krompart, Matthews, McKay, Merz, Moeller, Obear, O'Dowd, Osthaus, Pogany, Rogers, Russell, Scherer, Stanovich, Torch, Twietmeyer
Senators Absent: Allvin, Arnold, Bantel, Barry, Blatt, Boulos, Braun, Burke, Doherty, Felton, Halsted, Heubel, Hildum, Hohauser, Holladay, Howes, Jackson, Ozinga; Riley, Seeber, Stransky, Tower, Wargo, Weiner, Williamson
Mr. O'Dowd presided.
Mr. O'Dowd had no special comments to make. Ms. Rogers announced the Board's approval of a student initiated plan to raise new money for the Library's reference collection by means of a check-off system: the Alumni Association has already indicated support for this program.
The meeting was called to order at 3:25 p.m.
Mr. O'Dowd called for approval of the minutes of 4/12/79 as distributed. Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Russell so moved. Ms. Goudsmit questioned the adequacy of the minutes in regards to Old Business, Item 2, P. 2; this view was supported by Mr. Butterworth who suggested that following his remarks as recorded, Mr. O'Dowd's statement that he (O'Dowd) thought such concerns were unnecessary unless there occurred a precipitous drop in enrollments, should be inserted. So ordered. Mr. Russell likewise requested that his observation following Mr. Obear's concluding remarks, to the effect that the present tenured faculty of the Institute would be required to choose the locus for a primary appointment and that this might prove to be a very difficult choice, be recorded. So ordered. With these corrective inclusions, the minutes of 4/12/79 were approved as distributed by voice vote.
Attention was then directed to the agenda.
A. Old Business
1. Motion from the Graduate Council concerning the establishment of a program leading to the degree of Master of Science in Applied Mathematics (Johnson/Grossman).
No further questions or comments were forthcoming and upon call of the question, the motion unamended carried by voice vote as follows:
MOVED THAT THE SENATE RECOMMEND TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE BOARD THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROGRAM OF GRADUATE STUDIES LEADING TO THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS, EFFECTIVE UPON AUTHORIZATION BY APPROPRIATE AGENCIES OF THE STATE.
2. Motion from the Graduate Council concerning the establishment of a program leading to the degree of Master of Science in Applied Statistics (Johnson/Arnold).
No further questions or comments were forthcoming and upon call of the question, the motion unamended carried by voice vote as follows:
MOVED THAT THE SENATE RECOMMEND TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE BOARD THE, ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROGRAM OF GRADUATE STUDIES LEADING TO THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN APPLIED STATISTICS, EFFECTIVE UPON AUTHORIZATION BY APPROPRIATE AGENCIES OF THE STATE.
3. Motion from the Center for Health Sciences concerning the establishment of a program leading to the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Industrial Health and Safety.
Ms. Rogers inquired about the plan to spread LS over four semesters, using two credit blocks rather than the usual four. Mr. Pak reported that this arrangement had Mr. Evarts' approval. Mr. DeMent pointed to the heavy concentration of technical subjects in the first two years of the program and expressed belief that LS was being sacrificed to professional courses. Mr. Pak replied that the Curriculum Committee of the Center for Health Sciences, which had reviewed and refined the proposed curriculum, had not merely tried to squeeze LS in but regarded the four semester, two credit sequence as a positive advantage to LS and the students who were anticipated in the program. Mr. DeMent lamented the tailoring of General Education to the needs of professional and technical programs: If the proposed LS sequence is a better way of teaching the subject, then should not it be adopted generally?
Mr. O'Dowd remarked that important to the discussion was an understanding of the potential student clientele of this program: part time, evening students, highly motivated but perhaps five to ten years out of high school, employed in the auto plants and at least in initially members of the UAW (which is interested in this program); such students require, perhaps, a different educational tactic than FTlAC's one that links the learning of prose writing directly to professional courses in subjects they already have pragmatic experience of. Mr. Matthews pointed out that the motion before the Senate is concerned with credit distribution within degree credit limits and that the sample curriculum in the Proposal is just that, a sample, no doubt as tentative as any curriculum just starting out is bound to be. Mr. Russell remarked that perhaps the sample ought to emphasize the part-time characteristics of the students, to which Mr. Matthews agreed. Mr. McKay voiced concern the certificate at the end of the first two years. Who would issue it? Mr. Pak responded that the Director of the Program would issue it, probably in a simple statement testifying that, indeed, the student had completed the first two years. Mr. Eberwein wondered how many would proceed into the full degree program? Mr. Pak predicted a high attrition rate, but also felt that a significant number would in due course complete the degree program since the degree would have great leverage on career development: Perhaps one-half would finish the full four year program. Mr. Edgerton wanted to know about the relation (and possible overlaps) of this program with the Environmental Health Program. Mr. Pak asserted that there would be virtually no overlap, since the Environmental Health Program was very close to a pre-med concentration and was intended for students who would go on to graduate school; IHS students in all likelihood would not continue beyond the BS. He did not expect much horizontal movement between the two programs. Ms. Rogers noted that the chemistry sequence was still not settled. Mr. Pak assured the Senate that as soon as fiscal problems were worked out, a satisfactory chemistry sequence would be available. Mr. Russell pointed out that the real obstacle was the Hannah Hall Laboratory Renovation; once that was completed, there should be little problem.
Mr. DeMent, appreciative of the clarifications brought out through discussion, commended Mr. Pak; the certificate feature was in his view excellent, and perhaps more such technical-professional programs should be developed along these lines. Mr. McKay inquired into the absence from the motion of the usual 'effective upon funding' formula . Mr. O'Dowd remarked that two $30,000 planning grants had already been appropriated and expressed confidence that additional funding would be made available. Mr. Matthews pointed out that technically, the IHS program had already been approved by the Legislature and hence, the familiar formula was redundant. Mr. O'Dowd closed the discussion with the observation that the UAW was interested in the program as a potential source of leadership for the union.
Agreeably to the house, the question was called and the motion unamended was approved by voice vote with scattered nays but no call for division as follows:
MOVED THAT THE SENATE RECOMMEND TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE BOARD THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROGRAM OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES LEADING TO THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INDUSTRIAL HEALTH AND SAFETY EFFECTIVE FALL, 1979 WITH THE FOLLOWING DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
1. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF 136 CREDITS:
a. MAJOR CREDITS (IHS) 48
b. REQUIRED BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS 32
c. REQUIRED OPTIONS 15
d. GENERAL EDUCATION 24
e. LEARNING SKILLS 4-8
f. FREE ELECTIVES 8
2. SATISFACTION OF ALL GENERAL UNIVERSITY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS.
B. New Business
1. Nominations of certain faculty to seats on Senate Standing Committees from the Steering Committee moved by Mr. Russell and seconded by Mr. Cherno.
The motion being procedural and with no discussion, the nominations as presented on the agenda of 4/19/79, New Business, Item I, pp. 2-4, were confirmed by voice vote with no opposition.
C. Good and Welfare: Private Resolutions
None were offered.
D. Information Items
1. Mr. O'Dowd noted the report from UCUI to which there was no discussion.
2. Mr. O'Dowd joined the Steering Committee in congratulating the 1977-79 Senate on work well done. Before the President could entertain a motion of adjournment, Mr. Matthews requested that such motion be phrased "the Senate shall adjourn until the meeting of September 13"; with this formulation the continuity of the SENATE, despite the two-year nature of any particular Senate's mandate, would be maintained, and the new Senate could thereby reasonably be empowered to approve the minutes of the last meeting of the old. Mr. Matthews pointed out that the Secretary would thereby be greatly comforted.
Speaking from the depth of his compassionate nature, Mr. Coon seconded by Ms. Scherer, then moved adjournment of the University Senate until the meeting
of September 13, 1979. By voice vote without opposition, it was so ordered the 1977-1979 Senators, grateful for release but already saddened by loss of office, filed from the hall.