Oakland University Senate
17 January 2008
Minutes
Members present: Andersen, Berven (D), Bhargava, Condic, Connery, Debnath, Doane, Dulio, Eberly-Lewis, Frick, Goslin, Graetz, Hawley, Ingram, Khattree, Larrabee, Lee, LeMarbe, Lombardo, Machmut-Jhashi, Mittelstaedt, Mitton, Moudgil, Murphy, Nixon, Otto, Pelfrey, Polis, Preisinger, Rammel, Russell, Sangeorzan, Severson, Shablin, Spagnuolo, Sudol, Thompson, Voelck (represented by Lepkowski), Wharton, Williams, Wood, Zou
Members absent: Berven (K), Brown, Dvir, Giblin, Hightower, Kissock, Moore, Rigstad, Spedoske, Tanniru, Townsend
Summary of Actions:
1. Senate Updates:
---Update on ad hoc committee to study new program approval process�Mr. Severson
---Update on First Year Experience�Ms. Awbrey
---Summer Calendar�Mr. Snyder, Mr. Shablin
2. Roll Call. Approval of November 2007 minutes.
3. Motion to approve changes in membership of General Education Committee. First reading. Mr. Murphy, Mr. Goslin.
4. Motion to approve changes to the undergraduate degree requirements for second-degree students. Ms. Bhargava, Ms. Thompson. First reading.
5. Motion to staff senate standing committees. Approved. Ms. Williams, Ms. Condic.
Welcoming senators at 3:20, Mr. Moudgil invited Mr. Severson to provide an update on the committee established to examine the process of review of new program proposals. The following individuals have been named to this ad hoc committee: Tim Larrabee (representing UCUI and SEHS), Richard Rozek (representing SPRC and SHS), Balaji Rajagopalan (representing SBRC and SBA), Mohammed Zohdy (representing Graduate Council and SECS), Carrie Motyka (representing Assessment Committee and SON), and Michelle Piskulich (at-large member representing CAS).
Ms. Awbrey then presented the Senate with an update on the Foundations of Excellence Project, a national initiative to engage universities in a comprehensive process to improve the design and implementation of the first year experience. Oakland University�s involvement was prompted as a way to increase retention and graduation rates, areas that despite improvement still need attention. Ms. Awbrey gave an overview of the nine standards of excellence developed by the FOE, the work that has been undertaken at OU thus far, and the four-part evidence-based action plan. For today�s update, Ms. Awbrey focused on two elements of the �engaging students� component: first-year philosophy and first-year goals and expectations. Each was developed over the course of a year and after a number of intensive discussions. She reported that that the philosophy and goals will be given to students at orientation, included in the catalog and on the website. The philosophy is as follows: The First-Year Experience at Oakland University lays the foundation for student success by creating an environment that encourages intellectual growth and embraces learning as a life-long pursuit. OU emphasizes personal responsibility, perseverance, and involvement in the campus and wider communities. Students are encouraged to behave ethically, to explore diverse perspectives, and to develop global awareness through strong academic programs enriched by activities and events.
According to Ms. Awbrey, engagement in learning and discovery is central to this model. She then explained three other categories that have been articulated in terms of students� expectations: learning and discovery; personal responsibility; and community orientation. Lastly, Ms. Awbrey noted the following areas of the action plan that are currently being worked on: advising, cohort and block registration, communications, coordinated services and readiness, diversity, first-year seminar, teaching and learning, and technology.
Vice-Provost for Student Affairs, Mary Beth Snyder, and Registrar, Steve Shablin, presented the final update, which concerned a revised summer calendar. Ms. Snyder explained that issues regarding the current calendar arose initially within the School of Nursing, where a 15-week course was implemented that spanned both spring and summer sessions. According to federal financial aid regulations, aid can only be awarded within a designated instructional period, not between periods. The group assembled to study the issues first consulted with the AAUP to determine whether the contract would allow a calendar change. When it was established that it was possible given the contract language, a proposed solution was put forth that would involve a change in semesters. The new calendar will bring financial aid practices into federal compliance by creating a myriad of instructional periods referred to as �parts of term.� Mr. Shablin observed that the new calendar featuring 16 parts of term will allow a smooth execution of financial aid and administrative processes.
Mr. Moudgil remarked that the calendar changes will allow flexibility to both students and faculty. Ms. Berven asked for clarification of the number of instructional days and weeks, and was assured that there is no alteration from the current standard. Ms. Wood raised the issue of adding time to the present class modules, to which Mr. Shablin replied that there would be no change in class modules for summer 2008, but that discussion could continue in the future regarding start/end time for class modules. Mr. Goslin wondered about executive format classes offered on weekends, and Mr. Shablin stated that representatives from the School of Health Sciences were present during the planning meetings and that he anticipates further discussions will take place regarding specific programmatic needs.
The secretary proceeded with the roll call, after which a motion was made by Ms. Wood, seconded by Ms. Andersen, to approve the minutes from 15 November.
Turning to new business, Mr. Moudgil introduced the first motion, which was moved by Mr. Murphy and seconded by Mr. Goslin:
MOVED that the membership of the General Education Committee consist of the following
Nine faculty members, one of whom shall be chair, and one student; ex officio and non-voting: the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, a representative from the Advising Steering Committee, the Registrar or designee, and the Director of the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment or designee.
Ms. Berven asked for information about what the change in membership entails, and to answer that, Mr. Moudgil asked Mr. Debnath, chair of the General Education Committee to comment. Mr. Debnath replied that this change would add the Director of OIRA to the committee as a permanent, non-voting member. Since the Director, Laura Schartman, has been advising the committee informally for several years, lending her expertise on enrollment and assessment, the committee believes that her inclusion as a permanent member is warranted.
The second item of new business was moved by Ms. Bhargava and seconded by Ms. Thompson:
MOVED that a student who has completed an undergraduate degree at a regionally
accredited institution (including Oakland University) is not required to complete Oakland University�s general education requirements for the second bachelor�s degree. A student who has completed a bachelor�s degree (or equivalent) from an international university will have his or her transcript evaluated to determine what general education courses at OU will be required.
Mr. Debnath also addressed this motion, noting that the rationale for the motion focuses on encouraging students with undergraduate degrees from regionally accredited institutions to come to OU for second degrees, and not requiring that they complete the general education requirements. Mr. Moudgil clarified that the faculty on the General Education committee supported the change in policy and further noted that it is a student-friendly measure. Mr. Goslin observed that students currently coming in from other institutions with courses that need to be evaluated are referred to faculty in that particular academic unit. He pointed out the last part of the motion, and wondered who would be evaluating transcripts from international students. Mr. Debnath replied that the registrar�s office currently handles these requests and will do so in the future. Mr. Goslin was still unclear about this, as the registrar presently calls on specific faculty in the units to assess transcripts, yet there is no amongst the faculty who assesses general education requirements. Ms. Gilroy noted that transcripts of second-degree students do not come to the registrar�s office and that departmental advisors are currently evaluating these. Over time, she noted, the advisors have been conferring with the registrar�s office to insure uniformity for undergraduate students pursuing the same degree. Thus, the new policy will take care of all students who receive their degrees in the United States. For international students, departmental advisors would review specific courses, and if it was determined that a course did not meet an Oakland equivalent, it would then be reviewed by the General Education committee.
Mr. Moudgil offered support for the motion because of its student-friendly aspects, commenting that student exit interviews over the past few years have indicated that some facets of our system have proved to be inflexible.
The final item of new business was a motion to staff senate standing committees, moved by Ms. Williams and duly seconded by Ms. Condic. Approved.
MOVED that the persons below be appointed to the committee designated:
SENATE STEERING COMMITTEE
Mary Mittelstaedt (SON) � Winter 2008 (replace Jay Meehan)
ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE
Pat Piskulic � Winter 2008-2009 (replace Madelyn Kissock)
Chris Clason � Winter 2008 (replace Fran Meuser)
GENERAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Youngjoo Kim (SEHS) � Winter 2008-2009 (replace Marilyn Mouradjian)
SENATE PLANNING REVIEW COMMITTEE
Richard Rozek (SHS) � Chair, Winter 2008
Jim Serocki (SBA) � Winter 2008 (replace Mary Stein)
UCUI
David Dulio (CAS � Social Sciences) � Winter 2008-2010
Harvey Qu (CAS-Mathematics) � Winter 2008-2009
Mr. Moudgil then turned to good and welfare. Mr. Russell inquired about the status of OU webmail, to which Mr. Moudgil replied that the system is overworked and that he would ask Terrie Rowe to address the issues related to our webmail system. Mr. Moudgil asked senators, in the spirit of good citizenship, to reduce the number of unnecessary emails, particularly those with multiple addresses.
A motion to adjourn, made by Ms. Lee, seconded by Ms. Otto, met with general approval.
Respectfully submitted,
Tamara Machmut-Jhashi
Secretary to the University Senate
posted 3/19/2008