Oakland University Senate
Fifth Meeting
Thursday, March 10, 1988
3:10 p.m.
Oakland Center, Rooms 128, 129, 130
AGENDA
Respectfully submitted by Keith R. Kleckner for the Steering committee.
A. Old Business:
None.
B. New Business:
1. Motion from the Graduate Council (Mr. Dahlgren):
MOVED that the Senate endorse the phasing out of the current baccalaureate program in Physical Therapy and its replacement with a new undergraduate/graduate program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree, with a major in Health Sciences, upon completion of a prescribed program of study comprising 138 semester hours and a Master of Physical Therapy degree upon completion of a prescribed program of study comprising an additional 49 semester hours.
First Reading: Eligible for discussion but not final vote at this meeting.
Comment: Undergraduate physical therapy programs,, including Oakland's, are characterized by substantial credit-hour requirements in order that curricula include all of the studies necessary for licensure and entry into professional practice. The Physical Therapy profession nationally is moving to restructure preparatory programs into a five-year format, with the first professional degree being awarded at the master's level. This move is endorsed by the American Physical Therapy Association, the national accrediting body for physical therapy programs. of the four other physical therapy programs in Michigan, one already operates in this new fashion, another will begin to do so in fall 1988, and the remaining two are preparing to follow suit in fall 1989.
Under this proposal students preparing for careers as physical therapists would enter the University as pre-physical therapy students and follow a course of study including general education, basic science, and the health sciences core curriculum, as is presently the case. Admission to the three year physical therapy major program occurs at the conclusion of the sophomore year. All general university undergraduate degree requirements are completed by the end of the fourth year, along with some professional course requirements, and students qualify for receipt of a bachelor's degree at this point. Because the students are then not yet prepared to sit for a professional licensure examination, the degree designation is Bachelor of Science with a major in Health Sciences. The MPT degree is awarded upon completion of an additional (full) year of study at the graduate level. (Copy of full proposal enclosed for Senators only.
2. Motion from the University Committee on Undergraduate Instruction (Mr. Downing):
MOVED that multiple grades of 0.0 earned during or after the fall semester 1988 in a given course be calculated only once in computing a student's grade point average.
First Reading: Eligible for discussion but not final vote at this meeting.
Comment: Under current Senate policy in effect since fall 1984, students who unsuccessfully repeat failed courses accumulate 0.0 grades in the calculation of their grade point averages. Earning any other numerical grade in a repeated course causes only this most recent grade to enter into the GPA. This practice is a result of translating the former system incorporating N grades, in which N grades accumulated on a student's record until removed by a successful repetition of a course, into the current arrangement where the N grade has been replaced by the 0.0 and is factored into GPA calculations.
Applied to a student whose only work in a given semester was an unsuccessful repetition of a previously failed course, this motion would yield a GPA at the close of the subject semester identical to that at the outset. Under current practice, that student's GPA would deteriorate due to the presence of another 0.0 in the same course.
3. Distinguished Professorships
Attached is a draft statement, endorsed by the academic deans, concerning appointment to the rank of distinguished professor. Oakland will be discussing with the FRPC appointments to this rank in the near future so as to comply with the Board of Trustees' desire to honor faculty holding emeritus(a) rank under the old policy at the same time that new emeritus(a) professors are named under the new, broader interpretation of the latter title.
Based upon a "sense of the Senate" discussion of this statement an ad hoc committee of faculty and deans will be convened to perfect the draft for Senate endorsement.
C. Good and Welfare:
D. Information Items:
1. Theatre and Dance programs: status of proposed majors.
2 . Science building architect selected.
DRAFT DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR DRAFT
Introduction
Oakland establishes the following criteria and policies for the appointment of distinguished professors. The rank is to be awarded by the Board of Trustees upon the recommendation of the Provost and President and based on the criteria presented below.
Criteria: The appointment of individuals to distinguished professorships will be based on the criteria for professorships set forth in the document Oakland University Tenure and Promotion Statement, May 1984, and, in addition, the rigorous application of one or more of the following criteria:
1. Preeminence in Scholarship. Distinction as a scholar, a researcher, an artist, a performer or in some other role that advances learning or enriches the arts. Pertinent evidence will include: publications, performances or exhibitions; evaluations by leaders in the field; awards conferred by or office in professional organizations; lectureships or visiting professorships; participation in professional symposia and meetings; memberships in honorary academic and professional organizations.
2. Preeminence in Teaching. Outstanding performance in the classroom; exceptional contributions to the advancement of teaching through such activities as the writing of texts and monographs; the development of courses, laboratories, short courses or other formats of instruction; and the development of innovative approaches to the teaching/learning process; continual concern for the intellectual growth of students by setting high standards, promoting academic excellence, and maintaining thorough and rigorous systems of evaluation. Evidence of accomplishment shall include: published materials; evaluations by recognized leaders in the field; teaching excellence awards; widespread adoption of published instructional materials by other institutions; office in academic and professional organizations dedicated to the advancement of teaching.
3. Preeminence in Public Service: Prominence in public and professional service supportive of university programs and missions which have had a substantial and positive effect on external perceptions of the university; evaluations by recognized leaders in the field in which service is performed; elective or appointive offices held; contributions to the organizational work of academic professional associations and societies at all levels and to activities which extend the university's scholarly and instructional capabilities into external agencies and communities; honors and awards received for meritorious service.
Policy
The policy governing the awarding of the title distinguished professor includes the following provisions:
1. The term "distinguished" shall be used only in conjunction with the rank of professor and standard professorial titles (e.g. Distinguished Professor of Economics, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Accounting, etc.) or, in special cases, with the title University Professor (i.e. Distinguished University Professor)
2. Consideration of candidates shall be based on the criteria described above.
3. Length of service at Oakland shall not be a factor in determining nominees or recipients.
4. The title shall not be used to increase the initial salary of any appointees.
5. The term of appointment is for the duration of active service at Oakland University except for removal for cause. If the faculty member retires from the university and meets the criteria established for emeritus status, the title distinguished emeritus (a) professor will automatically be assumed and will carry emeritus benefits with it. (See emeritus policy for listing of criteria and benefits.)
6. The university may, for a specified length of time, elect to compensate distinguished professors above and beyond regular salary or other considerations.
Procedure
Nominations may be made to the Provost by an academic unit or dean. During the review process additional recommendations will be solicited from the academic unit or dean and from the Faculty Reemployment and Promotion Committee (FRPC). Appointments are effective when approved by the Board of Trustees, upon the recommendation of the President.