Oakland University Senate
22 September 2005
Minutes
Members present: Andersen, Berven (D), Cardiff, Deng, Dillon, Eberly, Eberwein, Eis, Fink, Goslin, Graves, Grossman, Hamilton, Haskell, Ingram, Klemanski, Latcha, LeMarbe, Lepkowski, Machmut-Jhashi, Magnan, Miller, Mittelstaedt, Moudgil, O�Mahony, Orzach, Osthaus, Reger, Schweitzer, Sevilla, Silberman, Stamps, Stein, Sudol, Townsend, Tracey, Tracy, Voelk, Wood
Members absent: Berven (K), Downing, Frick, Giblin, Goldberg, Hightower, MacDonald, Meehan, Mili, Otto, Rammel, Shablin, Thompson, Williams
Summary of Actions:
1. Information Items: Appointments of Senate Parliamentarian, Secretary, Elections Committee; Overview of Foundations of Excellence First-Year Experience Project -- Ms. Awbrey
2. Roll Call. Approval of Minutes, April 2005. (Ms. Eberwein, Mr. Fink)
3. Election of Senate Steering Committee. (Mr. Goslin)
4. Motion to staff Senate Standing Committees (Mr. Tracy, Mr. Stamps). Approved.
Opening the meeting at 3:15, Mr. Moudgil congratulated the newly elected Senators and welcomed them to the first meeting of the academic year. He began with the traditional appointments of Senate Parliamentarian, Mr. Grossman, and Senate Secretary, Tamara Machmut-Jhashi, and thanked them for their service. He also acknowledged the members of the Senate Elections committee: Brian Goslin (Chair), Barbara Hamilton, and Richard Stamps. Mr. Moudgil then added another informational item, mentioning the successful NCA review of Oakland University and thanking all those involved in the process. He noted that NCA requires no more information from Oakland until the next review in 2009.
Mr. Moudgil then introduced the Vice-Provost for Undergraduate Education, Ms. Susan Awbrey, who gave an overview of a national project that Oakland University will be involved in this year. The Policy Center on the First Year of College, an extension of the University of South Carolina�s national resource center on the First-Year Experience, initiated the Foundations of Excellence Project in 2003, with funding from the Lumina Corporation. The FOE Project is designed to encourage universities to engage in a comprehensive process focused on improving all aspects of the first-year experience, including co-curricular activities, with the goal of improving student learning as well as retention. Ms. Awbrey pointed out that Oakland�s graduation rate is 46.7% currently, and believes the project could help improve this rate.
Ms. Awbrey explained that a model of what constitutes excellence in the first year was created by the Policy Center, based on input from 275 institutions as well as its research partner, Penn State. Nine dimensions of excellence were identified and then used to evaluate achievement in each of the areas. Oakland University is part of a cohort of 27 institutions who are undertaking a self-study this year. The NCA is also excited about this project and has indicated that participating institutions could replace the NCA comprehensive visit with a targeted self-study review. According to Ms. Awbrey 61 Oakland people willing to participate in the First-Year Council have been identified, nearly half of them faculty. Those invited thus far represent each of the General Education areas, the Academic Skills center, and curriculum committees. Nine subcommittees have been organized to gather evidence regarding Oakland�s performance in the nine dimensions. The chairs of those committees compose a task force that will keep the project moving. In addition, two web-based surveys will be carried out: one will solicit responses from academic advisers and instructors of 100- and 200-level courses; the other will be directed to students. Lastly, Ms. Awbrey noted that the self-study will generate a plan for improvement in curriculum and student services. She invited input from all interested parties.
Thanking Ms. Awbrey, Mr. Moudgil pointed out the opportunity that the self-study affords us, remarking that much time and energy will be saved in the future if a comprehensive visit from NCA can be avoided.
Mr. Moudgil then explained that President Russi�s annual Senate address on the budget will take place at the November meeting. Characterizing Oakland�s position in Lansing as positive, Mr. Moudgil noted that that Oakland is in an enviable situation, with a projected 3.4 million coming back to the university, constituting a 7% increase in the budget, compared to an average of 1% increase to other universities (except three). The net gain to Oakland will be in the range of 2.4 million, taking into account the 800,000 cut last year. Mr. Russi will clarify the budget situation in November and discuss its impact on Academic Affairs.
The secretary then proceeded with the roll call, after which Ms. Eberwein�s motion to approve the minutes of April 2005, seconded by Mr. Fink, met with general approval.
New Business
Mr. Moudgil invited Mr. Goslin to conduct the election of the new Senate Steering committee. Speaking for the Elections Committee, Mr. Goslin moved to place in nomination the names of seven colleagues for six available seats: Wallis Andersen (CAS); Frank Lepkowski (Library); Mary Mittelstaedt (SON); Jo Reger (CAS); Mary Stein (SEHS); Ron Tracy (SBA); and Lynne Williams (SHS). Ms. Hamilton seconded the motion.
With no further nominations from the floor, Mr. Goslin prepared to distribute the ballots. Mr. Grossman interjected with a point of order, noting that Senate policy insists that all votes be public and that secret ballots may not be used. Mr. Goslin then asked Senators to sign the back of their ballots before submitting them, to which Mr. Grossman reiterated that Senate rules dictate that a public vote must be recorded in the Senate minutes with a tally of who voted for whom. He added that the Senate made this decision several years ago, with the intention that all votes be fully disclosed. Ms. Hamilton suggested that a nominee might wish to withdraw his/her name so that a vote could be made by acclamation. Ms. Reger indicated her willingness to do so. Mr. Stamps moved to accept the slate of candidates; Ms. Wood seconded, and the Senate voted to approve, with one abstention from Ms. Eberwein.
Mr. Moudgil expressed gratitude to the new Steering committee members for their willingness to serve the Senate. Next, Mr. Moudgil turned to a procedural motion to staff Senate standing committees, which was moved by Mr. Tracy.
MOVED that the persons listed below be appointed to the committees designated:
ACADEMIC CONDUCT COMMITTEE
John Klemanski (Political Science) -- 2005-2007
ACADEMIC COMPUTING COMMITTEE
Gary Moore (Nursing) -- Fall 2005 (replacement for Yang Xia, Physics)
Kieran Matheison (Decision and Information Science) -- Fall 2005 (replacement
for Mark Isken (Decision & Information Science)
ATHLETICS COMMITTEE
Robby Stewart (Psychology) -- Fall 2005 (replacement for David Kidger , MTD)
Joseph Schiele (Decision & Information Science) -- Fall 2005 (replacement for
Ed Farragher (Accounting & Finance)
GENERAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Stafford Rorke (Health Sciences) -- Fall 2005 (replacement for Don Mayer, Management and Marketing
HONORARY DEGREE COMMITTEE
Miron Stano (Economics) -- 2005-2008
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Howard Schwartz (Management and Marketing) -- Fall 2005 (replacement for
Karen Markel (Management & Marketing)
POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Ferman Chavez (Chemistry) -- 2005-2007
Catherin Haar (Rhetoric, Communication & Journalism) -- 2005-2007
UNIVERSITY RESEARCH COMMITTEE
James Hansen (Counseling) -- 2005-2007
Seconded by Mr. Stamps, the motion was approved without discussion.
Good and Welfare
Ms. Hamilton raised an issue regarding class size and excellence, and wondered who determines caps on class enrollments. Mr. Moudgil replied that the professor teaching a course should make the decision under normal circumstances, but because of the situation with the university budget in the past several years, accommodations have had to be made so that faculty positions would not be eliminated. Growing enrollment has increased both revenue and class size, but Mr. Moudgil pointed out that with budgetary improvement the issue of class size should be resolved in time. Ms. Hamilton expressed concern about the writing intensive courses that are part of the new General Education curriculum.
Mr. Grossman posed a question regarding meetings that are taking place among deans and other administrators concerning the issue of defining Oakland�s distinctive undergraduate experience. He asked about the role that faculty governance will play in the process, particularly in regard to any statements defining Oakland�s distinctive nature, since the Senate constitution states that all matters of academic importance shall be brought to the Senate and that the charge of the Senate Planning Review Committee includes working with Academic Affairs on university plans, objectives, roles, and mission. Mr. Moudgil assured Mr. Grossman that the issue will come to the Senate when the time is appropriate.
With a motion to adjourn made by Mr. Tracy, the meeting ended at 3:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Tamara Machmut-Jhashi
Secretary to the University Senate