Oakland University Senate
13 April 2006
Minutes
Members present: Andersen, Berven (D), Cardiff, Dillon, Downing, Eberly, Eberwein, Eis, Frick, Goldberg, Goslin, Grossman, Hamilton, Haskell, Klemanski, Latcha, Lemarbe, Lepkowski, MacDonald, Machmut-Jhashi, Magnan, Mili, Miller, Mittelstaedt, Moudgil, O�Mahony, Polis, Rammel, Russell, Severson, Sevilla, Shablin, Silberman, Stamps, Stano, Stein, Sudol, Thompson, Tracey, Tracy, Voelck, Wendell, Wharton, Williams
Members absent: Deng, Fink, Giblin, Graves, Hightower, Ingram, Meehan, Osthaus, Otto, Reger, Schweitzer, Wood
Summary of Actions:
1. Informational Items:
Update on Class Scheduling Task Force--Mr.. Moudgil
Barnes and Noble Bookstore contract�Ms. Snyder
E-Learning/Update on Learning Management System�Ms. Cheal
Joint-Programs: JD/MBA/MPA�Mr. Downing
Industrial and Systems Engineering (SECS)�Mr. Frick
Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences with a Specialization in Biological Communication- Mr. Moudgil
2. Roll Call. Approval of February minutes.
3. Motion to approve a B.S. in Operations Management (Mr. Lepkowski,
Calling the meeting to order at 3:10, Mr. Moudgil updated the Senate on the class scheduling task force. He noted that the Steering committee worked diligently to balance representation on the task force, and that Professor Robby Stewart will serve as chair. A report from the task force, due in December 2006, will be shared with the Senate.
Next, Peggy Cooke, Director of Auxiliary Services, presented an update on the Barnes and Noble contract. She began by introducing Richard Fekel, Director of the Oakland Center, and Debbie Ogg, Manager of the Bookstore. Ms. Cooke explained that with the end of the current contract, June 15, 2006, a bidding process resulted with proposals from three vendors � Barnes and Noble, Follett Higher Education Group, and Nebraska Bookstore (parent company of Textbook Outlet).
An OU committee evaluated the bids in terms of the opportunities offered in improved bookstore operations and financial return to the university. Barnes and Noble was recommended to the Board, based on plans to add renovations to the existing store, create a satellite location in the OC, and emphasize campus community relationships (including a plan to integrate textbook ordering with registration). The financial proposal by Barnes and Noble included capital investment of $550,000 for renovations, two unrestricted contributions to the university in the second and fourth years ($100,000 each) of a five-year agreement, and $5000 each year for student textbook scholarships.
Mr. Fekel was then invited to speak on issues relating directly to the Oakland Center. He explained that as an auxiliary service, the OC has been funded by student fees, which amount to roughly 50% of operating revenue. The balance of revenue is self-generated through services and events hosted on campus and from the leasing of various spaces in the building. The operating budget is approximately 2.1 million dollars, so the Barnes and Noble contribution is significant. The total past five-year commission amounted to nearly 2.8 million dollars, from which $980,000 was transferred to the general fund for academic support. He noted that the facilities continue to pose challenges, such as the lower level location of the bookstore, which is not easily noticed on a routine basis, and store size, which at 10,000 sq. ft. (including storage and receiving areas) is a bit small for the size of the OU campus. In summary, Mr. Fekel noted that the bookstore commissions help the OC to reduce dependency on student fees and provide additional revenue to the general fund.
Next, Ms. Ogg spoke about building relationships with faculty, students, and the university community. Bookstore staff will be available to individual units to help with their needs, including visits to faculty and departmental offices if requested, and will also be sending email confirmations on book orders. Faculty and staff also receive a 10% discount. Another service available is the Faculty Center Network, a free resource for faculty that will function as a �one-stop shop� for information about textbooks (what other universities are using, faculty reviews of books, publisher information, desktop orders and more). From the Bookstore website faculty may order their texts on-line. She noted that when Registration Integration is implemented, students will be able to order their texts at the same time as they register for classes, with the option of books shipped to the student or held at the bookstore for pick-up. On-line ordering is currently available for students, along with a 5% discount with Spirit Cash Card purchases. Lastly, Ms. Ogg mentioned that Barnes and Noble gift cards are also available at the bookstore.
Ms. Cooke finished the presentation by showing an illustration of the renovated layout of the store and the planned satellite store. She also mentioned the possibility of a future Bookstore Advisory committee to address and promote communication between faculty and bookstore staff.
The next item on the agenda was presented by Cathy Cheal, Assistant Vice President of E-Learning and Instructional Support. She updated the Senate on changes to the university learning management system. Because of its unexpected purchase by a competitor, Blackboard, the current management system, WebCT (version 4.1) will not be supported after June 2007. After considering the options through product demonstrations, a faculty survey and test pilot, an E-Learning advisory group and the Academic Computing Committee voted to recommend the adoption of Moodle, an open-source product. Moodle offers several advantages over other products, including no license restrictions, control over the upgraded versions, and its cost, which will result in half of the cost of WebCT/Blackboard over a five-year period.
Ms. Cheal outlined the implementation schedule, beginning with faculty workshops to learn Moodle in spring 2006. Faculty will be able to use either Moodle or WebCT through June 2007. Upon conclusion of her presentation, a question was raised regarding student experience with the new system. Ms. Cheal replied that Professors Gary Moore and Robby Stewart, who used the system, had no problems, and that students found it easy to use. Mr. Stamps inquired about the percentage of OU classes offered on-line, to which Ms. Cheal responded that 30% of classes incorporate WebCT, and that 60 are on-line courses. Mr. Moudgil noted that OU created the first Nursing program in the state of Michigan to offer an entirely on-line program of study.
Mr. Downing presented the next agenda item regarding a joint program with Cooley Law School that involves an agreement for transfer of credits. He explained that the agreement would allow OU students pursuing a MBA or MPA to apply 6 academic credits to the JD degree. Conversely, Cooley students would be able to do the same in the other direction. Mr. Downing thanked all those who worked on the agreement, especially Mr. John Nussbaumer, Associate Dean of Cooley at OU, and those individuals in SBA and CAS who helped to coordinate the endorsement.
Mr. Frick then presented information on a new department in the School of Engineering and Computer Science: Industrial and Systems Engineering. He noted that a decision was made to discontinue the B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering in Manufacturing, and to revive an ailing B.S. in Systems Engineering by forming a small academic unit consisting of five faculty members to provide a focus on manufacturing on an undergraduate level. SEHS will evaluate the program in three years. The program includes the development of two general education courses outside the department, including a new class to be offered in the fall titled �How Things Work.�
CAS Associate Dean, Kathy Moore, then presented the next informational item: the Ph.D. program in Biomedical Sciences with a Specialization in Biological Communication. As she noted, in January 2000 the Senate approved the program, which represents the third specialization associated with the Ph.D. in Biomedical Science. The program, however, was put on hold until budget adjustments could be made for its implementation. Early in winter term 2006 the budgetary issues were resolved, and preparations are now underway to move the program forward. Professor Doug Wendell has agreed to serve as coordinator of the program, which is expected to serve two to three students per year for the next five years.
Mr. Moudgil then added another informational item, congratulating Professor Joel Russell on his recent election to serve as the President of the Michigan AAUP.
The secretary proceeded with the roll call, after which a motion to approve the minutes of the February meeting was made by Mr. Tracy and duly seconded by Mr. Sevilla.
Without old business, the Senate turned to the first item of new business.
MOVED that the Senate recommend to the President and the Board of Trustees approval of a
B.S. program in Operations Management.
Moved by Mr. Lepkowski, and seconded by Ms. Stein, remarks on the program were offered by Professor Tom Lauer, Chair of Decision Information Sciences in the School of Business. He explained that operations management is among three primary functional areas of business, along with marketing and finance. Although courses in operations management have been offered in SBA for many years, a major in the program will create more career opportunities for students. Because of our location in one of the key manufacturing areas of the country, and because no other university in the surrounding area offers a comparable program, it is expected that this new degree program will be an important addition to the SBA curriculum.
Mr. Polis inquired about the differences between the new program and that offered in Industrial Systems and Engineering. Professor T.J. Wharton explained that they key difference is the emphasis on managerial issues rather than the technical issues involved in engineering. Mr. Grossman asked for clarification regarding the capstone course in the major; Mr. Wharton indicated that POM450 Operations Strategy is intended to fulfill the capstone requirement. As this was the first reading of the motion, Mr. Moudgil then turned to the second item of new business.
MOVED that the Senate endorse the Tracking Schedule for New Program Proposals.
Mr. Tracy, who crafted the tracking proposal, made the motion and then described the genesis of the tracking schedule. He noted that the Senate Planning Committee began discussing a solution to a growing problem of inefficiency in moving new program proposals through various Senate committees. The tracking schedule was designed so that a proposal would reach committees simultaneously, and that their responses would allow revisions to the document to be made at one time. This process is expected to shorten the total time for review to about four or five months.
Several senators commented. Mr. Sevilla asked where the tracking information would be available; Mr. Tracy responded that is likely to be found on the Senate webpage. Mr. Sudol wondered whether a vote by the Senate was actually needed for the document. In his opinion, the tracking schedule appears to be a set of procedures, and that should the need arise to alter the document in the future, the Senate would be required to vote again. Mr. Tracy noted that the change in procedure would be a major shift in process (simultaneous vs. sequential movement through committees), but if a vote is not necessary, then that is acceptable. Mr. Grossman added that since the motion indicates an �endorsement� that further changes could be made without being brought back to the Senate. Mr. Grossman and Ms. Eberwein commented on the potential �stopping� points for proposals. Ms. Eberwein wondered whether circumstances could arise which might prevent proposals from reaching consideration by the Senate. Mr. Tracy replied that he could not envision a situation in which a proposal would reach the Steering Committee with support from all relevant committees and not be considered for approval by the Senate.
The final item of new business, a procedural motion to staff Senate standing committees, was moved by Ms. Stein, and seconded by Mr. Latcha.
MOVED that the persons listed below be appointed to Senate standing committees and that the persons so designated be appointed as chair.
ACADEMIC COMPUTING COMMITTEE
Gary Moore (SON) --2005-2007 Chair
John Halpin (CAS)--2005-2007
Marshall Kitchens (CAS)--2005-2007
Subramaniam Ganesan (SECS) --2005-2007
Robert Slater (Library) --2005-2007
Ram Orzach (SBA)--2006-2008
Yang Xia (CAS)--2006-2008
Vijay Sugumaran (SBA)--2006-2008
Howard Schwartz (SBA)--2006-2008
ACADEMIC CONDUCT COMMITTEE
Serge Kruk (CAS)�2005-2007 Chair
Anne Becker (CAS)�2005-2007
Elysa Koppelman (CAS)-- 2005-2007
Deb McGinnis (CAS)�2005-2007
Rachel Smydra (CAS)�2005-2007
John Klemanski (CAS)--2005-2007
Claude Baillargeon (CAS)--2006-2008
Linda Pavonetti (SEHS) --2006-2008
Cynthia Miree-Coppin (SBA)--2006-2008
Beth Kraemer (Library)--2006-2008
Mariah Malec (CAS)--2006-2008
Floyd Willoughby (SBA)--2006-2008
ACADEMIC STANDING AND HONORS COMMITTEE
Eddie Cheng (CAS)�2005-2007 Chair
Diane Petrella (CAS)�2005-2007
Suha Kridli (SON)--2006-2008
Dan Ring (Library)--2006-2008
Mohammad Bazaz (SBA)--2006-2008
ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE
Frank Lepkowski (Library)--2006-2009 Chair
Eileen Johnson (SEHS) --2004-2007
Linda Morrison (SBA)�2004-2007
Carrie Motyka (SON)�2005-2008
Floyd Willoughby (SBA)�2005-2008
Charles Marks (SHS)�2005-2008
Nancy Joseph (CAS)--2006-2008
Madelyn Kissock (CAS)--2006-2009
Kay Li (SECS)--2006-2009
ATHLETICS COMMITTEE
Robby Stewart, Chair
William Cramer (Library)�2004-2007
David Kidger (CAS) -- 2005-2008
Karl Majeske (SBA)--2006-2009
Caroline Jumel (CAS)--2006-2009
BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE
Austin Murphy (SBA)�2004-2007 Chair
Margaret Pigott (CAS)�2004-2007
Zissimos Mourelatos (SECS)�2005-2008
Balaji Ragagopalan (SBA)�2005-2008
John Krauss (SHS)--2006-2009
Barbara Mabee (CAS)--2006-2009
CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
Richard Stamps (CAS)�2005-2007 Chair
Derek Hastings (CAS)�2005-2007
Wanda Reygaert (SHS)�2005-2007
Barbara Oakley (SECS)--2006-2008
Mark Rigstad (CAS)--2006-2008
GENERAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Andrea Eis (CAS) 2006-2008 Chair
Shawn Lombardo (Library)�2005-2007
Sylvie Lombardo (CAS)�2005-2007
Suzanne Spencer-Wood (CAS)�2005-2007
Thomas Suda (CAS)�2005-2007
Debatosh Debnath (SECS)--2006-2008
Bill Connellan (CAS)--2006-2008
Anandi Sahu (SBA)--2006-2008
Anne Mitchell (SON)--2006-2008
HONORARY DEGREE COMMITTEE
Miron Stano (CAS) --2005-2008 Chair
Brian Connery (CAS) -- 2004-2007
Tamara Machmut-Jhashi (CAS) -- 2005-2007
Satish Walia (CAS) --2005-2008
Shravan Chintala (ERI)--2006-2009
Mike Lewis (CAS)--2006-2009
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Ambika Bhargava (SEHS)�2005-2008 Chair
Karen Markel (SBA)�2004-2007
Chaunda Scott (SEHS)�2004-2007
Catherine Tyler (SBA)--2006-2009
Uma Venkateswaran (CAS)--2006-2009
LIBRARY COMMITTEE
Stacey Hahn (CAS)�2005-2007 Chair
Fuad Hasanov (CAS)�2005-2007
Cynthia Sifonis (CAS)�2005-2007
Qian Zou (SECS)�2005-2007
Linda Hildebrand (Library)�2005-2007
Robert Slater (Library)�2005-2007
Cathy Larson (SHS)--2006-2008
Meghan Harris (SON)--2006-2008
Ann Pogany (Library)--2006-2008
Jeanie Robertson (CAS)--2006-2008
Kris Condic (Library)--2006-2008
Barbara Harrison (SON)--2006-2008
Ji-Eun Lee (SEHS)--2006-2008
PLANNING REVIEW COMMITTEE
Frances Jackson (SON)�2005-2008 Chair
Ching Ko (SECS)�2004-2007
Seigo Nakao (CAS)�2004-2007
Ronald Tracy (CAS)�2005-2008
Mary Stein (SEHS)--2006-2009
Mohan Pisharodi (SBA)--2006-2009
RESEARCH COMMITTEE
Jerrold Grossman (CAS)--2005-2007
Margaret Willard-Traub (CAS)�2005-2007
Paul Licker (SBA)�2005-2007
Dean Purcell (CAS)�2005-2007
James Hansen (SEHS) �2005-2007
Rasul Chaudhry (CAS)--2006-2008
Sayed Nassar (SECS)--2006-2008
Kasaundra Tomlin (SBA)--2006-2008
STUDENT ACADEMIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
Fran Meuser (CAS)�2005-2008 Chair
Judith Hovey (SON)�2005-2007
Joel Russell (CAS)�2005-2007
Joseph Shively (CAS)�2005-2008
Anne Switzer (Library)-2006-2009
Monica Tracey (SEHS)--2006-2009
TEACHING AND LEARNING COMMITTEE
Chris Clason (CAS)--2005-2007 Chair
Elyce Cron (SEHS)--2005-2007
Jennifer Heisler (CAS)--2005-2007
Henry Aigbedo (SBA)-2006-2008
Melodie Kondratek (SHS)--2006-2008
Anne Mitchell (SON)--2006-2008
UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE ON UNDERGRADUATE INSTRUCTION
Nivedita Mukherji (SBA)--2004-2007
Barbara Penprase (SON)--2004-2007
Michael Smith (CAS)�2005-2008
Darrin Hanna (SECS)--2006-2009
Millie Merz (Library)--2006-2009
Timothy Larrabee (SEHS)-2006-2009
Charlie McGlothlin (SHS)--2006-2009
The Senate voted to approve, with an abstention by Mr. Russell.
Mr. Moudgil then turned to the Good and Welfare. Mr. Stamps inquired about the status of the Foundations of Excellence task force. Mr. Moudgil commented on the work of various subcommittees that have explored issues related to the First Year Experience, and remarked that retention has been a key aim. Mr. Moudgil indicated that a full report on the First Year Experience would be presented to the Senate at a later date.
Mr. Moudgil concluded the meeting by thanking Senators for a successful year after which a motion to adjourn by Mr. Tracy, seconded by Mr. Sevilla, was met with general approval at 4:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Tamara Machmut-Jhashi
machmutj@oakland.edu
Secretary to the University Senate
posted 8/14/2006