Oakland University Senate
Seventh Meeting
Thursday, 13 March 1986
3:10 p.m.
Rooms 128-130 Oakland Center
AGENDA
Respectfully submitted by Keith R. Kleckner for the Steering Committee
A. Old Business:
1. Motion from the College of Arts and Sciences to amend its constitution with regard to new standing committees (Mr. Copenhaver; Mr. Grossman). Item B.I. from the agenda of 13 February 1986.
MOVED that the Senate recommend to the President and the Board of Trustees that Article IV, v, of the Constitution of the College of Arts and Sciences be amended to read as follows:
Article IV. v. In addition to the standing committees provided for herein, the Assembly, in consultation with the Dean, shall establish such other standing committees as it deems necessary. Motions to establish standing committees must have two readings, on two separate meeting days, before the Assembly and require a two-thirds majority vote of all Assembly members for passage. Motions to abolish or to alter the composition or charge of any standing committee created by the Assembly under this provision must have two readings, on two separate meeting days, before the Assembly and require a two-thirds majority of all Assembly members for passage.
Article IV. vi. Same as present Article IV. v
Second Reading. Eligible for final vote at this meeting. Senate procedures hold that constitutional changes may be debated on the floor but not amended. If changes are needed, the motion is referred back to the sponsoring unit with appropriate recommendations.
2. Motion from the University Committee on Undergraduate Instruction regarding catalog requirements for minors and concentrations (Ms. Eberwein; Ms. Gerulaitis). Item B. 3. from the agenda of 13 February 1986.
MOVED that effective Fall 1987any department, or concentrations committee may require that a student file an approved plan study for a concentration or minor in order to complete the requirements for that concentration or minor. This plan of study may be based on any catalog in effect at the time the plan of study is filed, but not one predating the student's matriculation to Oakland University. Any academic unit requiring this documentation shall so state in the undergraduate catalog as part of the minor/concentration description.
A student may, for his/her clarity, negotiate a minor or concentration in writing with the program coordinator. This is particularly encouraged for those students using transfer courses to satisfy some portion of the program.
Changes to an approved written plan of study require prior authorization from the coordinator.
In the absence of a plan of study establishing the individual requirements of the minor or concentration, the student is bound for purposes of the minor or concentration to the catalog which he/she selects for the major.
Second Reading: at this meeting. Debatable, amendable, and eligible for final vote
Comment: In response to suggestions raised at the 13 February 1986 meeting, UCUI now offers this proposal on catalog requirements for concentrations and minors as a separate motion from the one that follows. It has been modified slightly to accommodate the different administrative systems of the various academic units offering minors and concentrations while maintaining the student's right to seek written assurance that agreements made with a program coordinator will be binding at the time of graduation.
3. Motion from the University Committee on Undergraduate Instruction to modify the present policy on catalog applicability (Ms. Eberwein; Ms. Gerulaitis). item B.3. from the agenda of 13 February 1986.
MOVED that effective winter 1986 a dual catalog policy be established to allow students to complete requirements for the major from one catalog, and the university and general education requirements from a second catalog. (University requirements are currently defined as the residence requirement, G.P.A. of 2.0, 32 credits at the 300 level and above, the writing proficiency requirement, and for students who have enrolled since September 1985 would also include general education.) Neither catalog can be more than six years old at the time of graduation nor predate the student's matriculation at the university; although a student changing major may be required by his or her academic unit to follow, for major courses only, a catalog no earlier than that in effect at the time of admission to the new major program. A student changing major must satisfy-general education requirements associated with the new major. Distribution requirements for any school or college (currently only the Arts and Sciences), are considered for these purposes, major requirements, not general education.
Second Reading: Debatable, amendable and eligible for final vote at this meeting.
Comment: This motion, like the preceding one, has been revised somewhat in response to Senate discussion last month. Rewording highlights the one real policy change incorporated here: the establishment of an official two-catalog policy. Language added at the end clarifies the status of the Arts and Sciences distribution requirement as a function of the student's major rather than a part of general education. Commentary from UCUI (attached to this agenda) explains the alternatives adoption of this policy would make available for students.
B. New Business:
1. Motion from the School of Engineering and Computer Science to approve a new constitution (Mr. Metzner):
MOVED that the Senate recommend to the President and the Board of Trustees that the new constitution of the School of Engineering and Computer Science (attached as a supplement to this agenda) be approved.
First Reading: Not eligible for final vote at this meeting. Senate procedures (as mentioned with respect to A.I. above) hold that constitutional- changes may be debated on the floor but not amended. If changes are needed, the motion is referred back to the sponsoring unit with appropriate recommendations.
Comment: This constitution formally introduces the current name of the school (formerly the School of Engineering) and makes several administrative changes in its operations. Chief among these are the specification of associate deans and the strengthening of the role of department chairs.
2. Motion from the Graduate Council to approve a Master of Science program in Health Science (Mr. Dahlgren):
MOVED that the Senate recommend to the President and the Board of Trustees approval of an M.S. program in Health Sciences to be offered by the School of Health Sciences.
First Reading: Debatable,, amendable) but not eligible for final vote at this meeting.
Comment: The attached proposal from the School of Health Sciences explains the rationale for introducing this program and outlines its curriculum and expected costs. The proposal has been favorably reviewed by the Academic Policy and Planning Committee, which judged it consistent with the University's mission and compatible with its existing programs.
3. Motion from the Steering Committee regarding emeritus faculty rank (Mr. Hough):
MOVED that, upon appropriate nomination and recommendation, the title and status of professor emeritus(a) may be conferred upon any eligible member of the Oakland University faculty upon retirement.
a. To be eligible for nomination for this honor, the faculty member must be tenured at the time of retirement and have had continuous full-time service as a member of the faculty for at least 15 years prior to retirement; those whose initial appointments were at the level of associate professor or professor must have been tenured at Oakland University for at least 10 years.
Special Provision (expires 30 June 1987) Academic units may nominate colleagues who retired 14 August 1981 and 14 August 1985 and who met the eligibility requirements stated above, but who were not awarded emeritus(a) title and status. For these cases as for all others, the procedures laid down in c, d, and e below should be followed.
b. In exceptional and rare circumstances, and for demonstrated good cause, emeritus(a) title and status may be awarded to a tenured faculty member who resigns (as distinct from retires) his/her appointment for purposes of accepting academic appointment elsewhere, or for other honorable purposes. The case for such exceptional award must be documented powerfully by the-nominating academic unit and be found persuasive by the President and the Board of Trustees.
c. Nomination should be initiated by the eligible retiree's primary academic unit (college, school, department, center) by procedures established by the academic unit itself.
d. The nomination should be made in writing to the appropriate Dean by the academic unit. In the event an academic unit fails to nominate an otherwise eligible retiree within one year from the announcement of intent to retire, the Dean may request a recommendation. A negative recommendation must be accompanied by a strong statement cause. The Dean may not veto a positive recommendation except for matters of fact, such as length of service and the like; he/she may insist upon review of a negative recommendation.
e. The Dean forwards the nomination with his or her recommendation to the Provost and the President. Emeritus status is effective upon action by the Board of Trustees.
f. A professor emeritus(a) shall:
Be listed In the appropriate University catalog, if he/she so wishes;
Be listed in the University Telephone Directory, if residence in the nearby area is maintained and if he/she so wishes;
Receive a proper Identification card indicating the emeritus(a) title and status;
Be invited to attend all University ceremonials, processions, commencements, and convocations;
Have the right to attend meetings open to the faculty, but without the right of vote on any matter, unless specifically so empowered;
Enjoy such additional rights and privileges as Oakland may determine.
First Reading: Debatable, amendable, but not eligible for final vote at this meeting.
Comment: This proposal is advanced by the ad hoc Committee on Emeritus Professor Rank (George Matthews, chair, Peter Bertocci; Jean Braun; Oded Izraeli; Abraham Liboff; Howard Witt). It is the view of this committee that the University's present policy is needlessly restrictive. At least rhetorically it seems to limit the award of emeritus(a) title and status to those of distinguished and exemplary stature. The committee regards such selectivity to be inappropriate to the occasion-retirement after years of honorable service--of the conferral. Therefore, the committee recommends the bestowal of emeritus(a) title and status upon all eligible tenured faculty members at the time of retirement,. At the same time, the committee recommends a change in the rules of eligibility. The addition of -tenured' is deliberate; the committee seriously examined the issues involved and decided that the title and status of emeritus(a) should be reserved for those tenured faculty who hold; the generic rank of professor. This change would exclude special instructors with job security from award of emeritus(a) title and status. Further, in order to emphasize the value of long-term commitment to Oakland University, the committee recommends that the number of years of continuous full-time service needed to be increased (in most cases) from 10 to 15 years. (A copy of the original Senate legislation recommending establishment of emeritus//faculty rank accompanies this agenda.)
4. Motion from the Academic Policy and Planning Committee to extend the time allowed for passage between classes (Mr. Chipman):
MOVED that the class scheduling matrix be modified to allow a 13 minute interval between class times.
First Reading:. Debatable, amendable, but not eligible for final vote at this meeting
Comment: The University Congress, concerned that the current 8 minutes allotted for passage between classes is insufficient for students (especially those with physical handicaps) to move between far-flung classroom buildings, has recommended that the Monday, Wednesday, Friday scheduling matrix be extended to allow 13 minutes of passing time. Congress presented two proposed schedules to the APPC for its consideration: one beginning classes at 7:30 a.m. and continuing until the current afternoon dismissal time, the other beginning at 8:00 a.m. and extending somewhat later into the afternoon. The APPC, after consulting with the Registrar and the Assistant Provost, recommends this extension to 13 minutes, not only for M/W/F but for T/Th classes as well. Note that the additional passing time on Tuesdays and Thursdays is achieved by dropping 3 minutes from each class period, which still allows as much instructional time in a week as M/W/F classes experience. (The APPC also recommends that classes continue to start at 8 a.m. to make the most efficient use of building space. The attached schedule indicates how the modules would be expected to look in Fall 1986, if this motion passes. The Senate is not asked to approve this scheduling matrix, however, but only the principle that there should be a 13-minute interval between classes.)
C. Good and Welfare
Private Resolution
D. Information Items