Oakland University Senate
21 September 2006
Minutes
Members present: Andersen, Berven (K), Dillon, Eberly, Eberwein, Eis, Fink, Frick, Goldberg, Goslin, Grossman, Hamilton, Haskell, Ingram, Latcha, Lee, LeMarbe, Lepkowski, MacDonald, Magnan, Mili, Mittelstaedt, Moudgil, O'Mahony, Osthaus, Otto, Polis, Russell, Schweitzer, Shablin, Stein, Thompson, Tracey, Voelck, Williams, Wood
Members absent: Berven (D), Deng, Downing, Giblin, Graves, Hightower, Khattree, Klemanski, Miller, Orzach, Reger, Sevilla, Silberman, Sudol, Townsend, Wendell
Summary of Actions:
1. Informational Items:
Cooley Law School Update - Mr. Moudgil
University Assessment Report - Mr. Lepkowski
Overview of the Foundation of Excellence First-Year Experience - Mr. Clason
2. Approval of Minutes, April 13, 2006 (Mr. Latcha, Mr. Frick)
3. Motion to approve B.S. degree in Operations Management. Second reading. (Mr.Lepkowski, Ms. Stein). Approved.
4. Motion to endorse a Tracking Schedule for New Program Proposals. Second reading. Item referred back to Steering Committee for further consideration.
5. Election of Steering Committee member - Mr. Goslin
6. Motion to approve changes in membership of the Academic Conduct Committee. (Ms. Stein, Ms. Williams). First reading.
7. Motion to amend language to reflect membership composition. (Ms. Tracey, Mr. Dillon). Approved.
8. Motion to staff Senate Standing Committees. (Ms. Williams, Ms. Stein). Approved.
At 3:12 Mr. Moudgil welcomed senators and expressed his wishes for a productive academic year. The first informational item pertained to the granting by the American Bar Association of a full, three-year program of study leading to the J.D. degree (90 credits) at Oakland University. Mr. Moudgil presented a brief history of the relationship between Cooley and OU, which began four years ago with a 15-credit cohort, and then expanded to a two-year program of study. Recently, an agreement was reached regarding shared MBA/JD and MPA/JD credits. Cooley now occupies space in O'Dowd Hall, and as available space continues to be an issue on campus, discussions are currently underway that may lead to a new building for the law school in the future, an enterprise that will be funded completely by the law school. Mr. Moudgil also shared with the Senate that the most recent bar exam results revealed that Cooley graduates surpassed the State average of 73% (first-time takers passing the exam). Cooley's 74% was higher than Wayne's passing rate of 69%, MSU's 67%, UD Mercy's 57%, and lower than UM's 91%.
Mr. Moudgil then brought to the Senate's attention an upcoming lecture by Erik Peterson, Senior Vice-President, Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. His talk, titled "Seven Revolutions,� deals with a forecast of key trends and challenges, which leaders in government, business, and other sectors will face until the year 2025. The seven areas Peterson will address include population; resource management; technological innovation; the dissemination of information and knowledge; economic integration; conflict; and the challenge of governance. Mr. Moudgil urged everyone to attend this informative and dynamic lecture.
Mr. Lepkowski then presented information on an administrative document generated by the OIRA office that outlines the assessment process at OU. As a four-year veteran of the Assessment Committee and now chair, Mr. Lepkowski commented on the overall importance of the assessment process to the university. In the effort to build a "culture of assessment," he invited faculty to participate in an Assessment conference at IUPUI at the end of October. Anyone interested should contact Kay Palmer in the OIRA office. According to Mr. Lepkowski, last year the Assessment Committee reviewed 37 programs, reports, and plans, as well as conducted two workshops, and granted the first Assessment Excellence award. In addition, he reminded the Senate that the Assessment Committee must review all new program proposals. Mr. Lepkowski also expressed gratitude to Ms. Walli Andersen, who chaired the committee last year, and announced that an upcoming workshop will feature the Department of Psychology, winner of the excellence award.
Mr. Moudgil moved to the next item of the calendar, informing the Senate that Mr. Shablin will present the information at a later time because of the current ratification of the new faculty contract.
Next, Mr. Clason presented an update on the Foundation of Excellence First Year Experience.
Describing the work of the various committees involved with the FYE project, he outlined the nine dimensions of student experience that were studied by the 70+ member task force, which included a first-year philosophy, advising, orientation, faculty engagement, and so forth. Mr. Clason announced that an action plan has been created. It includes four areas: increasing collaboration between academic and student affairs, and increasing communication between programs designed to address the needs of first-year students; engagement of first-year students through a shared philosophy and mandatory first-year seminar; engagement of faculty by providing incentives for course improvement and development; and the need for on-going assessment of first-year students. Mr. Clason encouraged feedback and participation in the implementation of the targeted areas this year, and also encouraged attendance at a lecture on the First-Year Experience scheduled on October 10 by Dr. John Gardner.
Mr. Moudgil expressed his support of these initiatives, with the aim of increasing retention and graduation rates. He remarked that the profile of the university could be raised markedly in the long term with a successful first-year program.
The secretary proceeded with the roll call, after which Mr. Latcha moved to approve the minutes of the April 13 meeting. With Mr. Frick's second, the motion was approved.
Old 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, the motion was approved without discussion.
The next item involved the second reading of a Tracking Schedule for new program proposals. Mr. Moudgil indicated that because several colleagues expressed a desire to voice their opinions on the document, this item is being referred back to the Steering Committee for further consideration and refinement.
New Business
Mr. Goslin, chair of the Senate Elections committee, conducted an election to replace a member of the Steering Committee for 2006-2007. Ms. Schweitzer nominated Mr. Russell. With no other nominations, Mr. Latcha's motion to close the nominations, duly seconded by Mr. Goldberg, was approved. Mr. Moudgil congratulated Mr. Russell.
The next item of new business involved a motion, made by Ms. Stein, to change the membership of the Academic Conduct Committee.
MOVED that the membership of the Academic Conduct Committee consist of the following: fifteen faculty members, of whom one shall be chairperson; four students and two alternates; and the Vice-President for Student Affairs (or designee), who shall be ex-officio and voting.
Mr. Moudgil invited the Vice-President for Student Affairs, Ms. Mary Beth Snyder, to offer comments on the proposed changes. She explained that increasing the number of faculty and students on the committee is intended to create a more efficient conduct system, particularly in allowing greater flexibility in scheduling conduct hearings (growing in number every year). Mr. Grossman then asked about the difference between a student and an alternate. After some discussion, a motion to amend the language was made by Ms. Tracey, seconded by Mr. Dillon, and approved to reflect the following: fifteen faculty and fifteen students.
Ms. Mili asked about other activities that deal with plagiarism and academic misconduct. Mr. McIntosh remarked that a number of initiatives are undertaken every year, including workshops to educate students on the issues of cheating and plagiarism. He added that a five-week series in the student newspaper this fall will feature information about academic misconduct.
Mr. Lepkowski inquired whether the additional number of students on hearing boards (with decreased representation of faculty) would compromise the role of faculty in maintaining academic integrity. Mr. McIntosh replied that students involved in the conduct process are often more harsh in the sanctioning process than are faculty, and that they become strong advocates and ambassadors of the process.
The final item of new business was moved by Ms. Williams:
MOVED that the persons listed below be appointed to the committee designated:
ACADEMIC COMPUTING COMMITTEE
Walli Andersen (Rhetoric, Communication & Journalism) - 2006-2007
ACADEMIC STANDING AND HONORS COMMITTEE
Youngjoo Kim (School of Education and Human Services) - 2006-2007
ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE
Chris Clason (Modern Languages & Literatures) - Fall 2006
Fran Meuser (Modern Languages & Literatures) - Winter 2007-2008
Shannan McNair (School of Education and Human Services) - 2006-2009 (at-large)
Shannon Flumerfelt (School of Education and Human Services) - Fall 2006
CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
Derek Hastings (History) - Chair, Fall 2006
GENERAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Cathie Breidenbach (Rhetoric, Comunication & Journalism) - 2005-2007
PLANNING REVIEW COMMITTEE
Richard Rozek (School of Health Sciences) - 2006-2008
Ingrid Rieger (Modern Languages & Literatures) - Winter 2007-2009
UNIVERSITY RESEARCH COMMITTEE
Vince Khapoya (Political Science) - 2006-07
Procedural Motion: Debatable, amendable, and eligible for final vote.
The motion was approved. With no items for the good and welfare, Ms. Lee's motion to adjourn was met with cheerful approval at 4:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Tamara Machmut-Jhashi
Secretary to the University Senate
posted 10/17/06