Oakland University Senate
Thursday, September 11, 1980
First Meeting
128-130 Oakland Center
MINUTES
Senators Present: Beardman, Berger, Bertocci, Boulos, Brown, Burke, Caligiuri, Chipman, Christina, J. Eberwein, R. Eberwein, Feeman, Felton, Garcia, Gardiner, Ghausi, Griffith, Hammerle, Heubel, Hitchingham, Horwitz, Johnson, Jones, Karasch, Kleckner, Matthews, McMahan, Miller, Moeller, Obear, Otto, Pettengill, Pine, Riley, Scherer, Shantz, Shepherd, Somerville, Stevens, Strauss, Tower, Wilson
Senators Absent: Bieryla, Edgerton, Hetenyi, Jaymes, Kingstrom, Liboff, Mittra, Mourant, Pak, Schmidt, Williamson
Interim President Matthews called the meeting to order at 3:13 p.m., welcoming returning senators and introducing new members. New presidential appointees to the Senate are Messrs. Pierson and Wilson. New student members, appointed by the Congress, are Ms. Griffith and Mr. Caligiuri. Mr. Mittra succeeds Mr. Tower as a representative of the School of Economics and Management now that Mr. Tower assumes the responsibility of representing the Center for General and Career Studies. The Executive Committee of the College of Arts and Sciences will meet shortly to designate senators who have resigned, gone on leave, or departed to new offices. Mr. Obear concluded the introduction of new members by presenting Dean Pine of the School of Human and Educational Services. Mr. Matthews then commented on the following interesting issues from his perspective in the oblong office:
1. Enrollments show continued growth and promise to set a new record of over 12,000 students. We are enjoined to maintain a cautious attitude on enrollments, however, recognizing that demographic trends will make it increasingly hard for the University to attract new students. State support has not risen in recent years to cope with increased student numbers, but it may be imprudent to set a cap on admissions without intensive study.
2. Budget projections remain uncertain, and final allocations will probably be delayed until after the November elections. Knowing the dismal economic condition of the state, however, we should plan on minimal new appropriations: somewhere between a 0.0 and 4.7% increase. The University has fortified itself against disaster by limiting equipment and library purchases and eliminating a number of AP and CT positions while increasing faculty in contractual proportion to enrollments, but we cannot economize long on support services without seriously injuring the quality of student life.
3. President Matthews has appointed Barbara Murphy as Affirmative Action Officer. She is responsible for developing plans to put the University in compliance with federal and state guidelines and for engendering positive attitudes toward equitable employment opportunities for minorities, handicapped persons, and women
4. The Medical School proposal approved by the Senate last April is now receiving intensive scrutiny by a subcommittee of the Board of Trustees. A resolution on medical education is likely to appear on the Board's October agenda.
5. O'Dowd Hall may be ready for occupancy in the spring, arrangements for replacing the faulty glass are now being concluded.
Following these announcements, Mr. Bertocci inquired about the road now being cut across the campus, parallel to Walton Boulevard. Mr. Matthews identified the project as the North Connector Road which will allow passage between the east and main campuses without recourse to either the highway or the dirt road. It has been projected in the University master plan for many years and is funded by the State Highway Department. Mr. Obear called attention to a bicycle path under construction, more or less paralleling the North Connector Road.
Having assimilated so much new information, the Senate then approved the minutes for its April 17, 1980, meeting without discussion, amendment, or opposition (Moved, Mr. Strauss; Seconded, Ms. Boulos).
A. Old Business:
None
B. New Business:
1. Steering Committee Election: Mr. Kleckner presided over the election of three new members of the Steering Committee to complete the terms of Messrs. Russell, Tower, and Twietmeyer. Five persons were nominated and three elected: Messrs. Christina, McMahan, and Strauss.
2. Standing Committees: Mr. Feeman, seconded by Mr. Miller, moved that the Senate approve the membership of standing committees, as nominated by the Steering Committee. He noted the addition of the Academic Computing Committee to the familiar roster. The nominations were approved by unanimous vote.
3. Financial Aids Committee Charge: On behalf of the Steering Committee, Mr. Feeman proposed that the charge to the Financial
Aids Committee be revised to read:
"To consider, recommend, evaluate, and review all policies and procedures relative to the operation of the financial aid system and to function as an appeals board which will hear disputes between the Office of Financial Aid and applicants for and recipients of financial aid and render advisory opinions thereon." (Moved Mr. Feeman; Seconded Mr. Christina).
He called attention to Mr. Bellamy's annual report from that committee, urging revision of its charge to conform to the actual limits of its authority. Responding to Mr. Stevens' question about how financial aid disputes are actually resolved Mr. Christina called upon his experience to report that review by the Financial Aid Committee is one of many stages on the way to a final University decision; he highly recommended passage of this measure when it becomes eligible for a vote at the next Senate meeting.
4 Discussion of Presidential Selection Activities: In the absence of Mr. Hetenyi, Mr. Shantz reported on the review process. Various advisory committees and a subcommittee of the Board have now reached slightly different tentative lists of semi-finalists. After a meeting next week, when the Board group will meet with advisory committees to explain and try to resolve discrepancies, the Board should reach an official list of semi-finalists and begin to set up an interviewing schedule Mr. Shantz expressed concern about probable delays in starting the interview process, noting that long waits could lead to attrition among the remaining candidates. He refrained from giving an exact reply to Mr. Strauss' question about the number of semi-finalists but thought the list a reasonable length at this point in the search.
5. Annual reports of Standing Committees: Following customary procedure, Mr. Matthews noted the annual reports accompanying the agenda as received by the Senate and referred them to the Steering Committee for review and possible action. Mr. Obear noted that reports from the Undergraduate Committee on Instruction and the Academic and Career Advising Committee have yet to be submitted; they will be circulated among Senators when received. There was no discussion of any committee report.
C. Good and Welfare: Private Resolutions
For the good of the order, Mr. Bertocci asked to be reminded of the purpose of private resolutions. Mr. Matthews explained that any senator may use this opportunity to present a motion or express a concern for Senate action or Steering Committee dispositions. There were no such resolutions offered, although several people availed themselves of the opportunity to get information.
Mr. Bertocci's inquiry about why we begin classes before Labor Day brought Mr. Kleckner's answer that each course, including those with only one meeting a week, must have fourteen weeks of instruction; given Labor Day and Thanksgiving holidays, this scheduling can only be accomplished by starting early unless we want a minimal Christmas recess. Mr. Riley wondered when the traffic barrier at the Lepley Sports Center would be removed to eliminate traffic congestion and was offered semi-confident reassurance that we shall all move more freely in a few weeks.
D. Information Items:
1. A new Senate Elections Committee, chaired by Mr. Kleckner and including Ms. Karasch and Mr. Pettengill, has taken office. The committee demonstrated its qualifications by conducting the Steering Committee election at this meeting.
2. Mr. Matthews commended the Steering Committee on its admirable selection of dates for 1980-81 Senate meetings.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m. (Moved, Mr. Beardman; Seconded, Mr. Bertocci).
Respectfully submitted:
Jane D. Eberwein
Secretary of the University Senate