MINUTES OF MEETING NUMBER 139
OF The
Senate OF mICHIGAN tECHNOLOGical university
12 December 1984
(Senate Minute pages: 2350-2381)
Secretary L. Ottenstein called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. on December 12,1984 in the Faculty Lounge of the Memorial Union.
Roll: Twenty four members/alternates were present. Absent were: Gary Gimmestad (KRC), Martin Jurgenson (Forestry), William Predebon (AL), Brad Baltensperger (AL), Alan Brokow (BA), Bruce A. Haataja (IWR), Philip Parks (PH), Dale Stein and E.H. Timothy Whitten. Visitors present were: Neil Hutzler, Billie Wahlstrom.
Minutes of Meeting No. 138:
The minutes of meeting No. 138 were approved as written.
President's Report
President Baltensperger's written report was presented (Appendix A Available by Request from the Senate Office). It was pointed out that computing lab fees were not going to be modified during this year as previously suggested, but are going to be reevaluated and modified for next year.
Vice President's Report
The Vice President attended the Academic Council Meetings of November 13, 1984 and December 11, 1984 and submitted written minutes of those meetings (Appendix B - Available by Request from the Senate Office).
Vice President Whitten explained what had prompted the discussion mentioned in Point 5 of the December 11, 1984 minutes. Apparently a student had received a grade change in a course based on a second exam. There are some equal opportunity questions raised by a practice which allows some students alternate ways of satisfying a grade requirement. There is apparently no consistent policy regarding this across the campus. Point 7 from that report was also discussed. There are departments on campus that are not in compliance with the criteria published in the catalog regarding credit for courses and the amount of work expected per credit.
Committee Reports
A. Curricular Policy
The committee has just completed two proposals which are under new business.
B. Instructional Policy
The committee has met and approved the academic calendar through 1987-88 as proposed by the administration. The committee is planning a survey to be submitted to the faculty after the first of the year with the intent of identifying areas of concern. Topics to be addressed include: the late drop policy, current drop date, alternate grading systems, quarters vs. semesters.
C. Institutional Evaluation
President Stein's response to Proposal 2-84 was discussed (Appendix C - Available by Request from the Senate Office). A motion was passed that the committee chair meet with President Stein to discuss this issue further and report back to the Senate.
D. Faculty Handbook
The committee is comparing the Provisional Information Booklet for the Faculty with the old Faculty Handbook to determine what changes have been make. The major change noted so far is related to consulting. Faculty members are requested to inform members of the committee of any important differences that they note between the new and old books.
E. Retrenchment Planning
A revised version of the retrenchment planning document has been sent to President Stein and the AAUP for review.
F. Teaching Effectiveness
The committee expects to present their report at the February Senate meeting.
New Business
A. Proposal 2-85: Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering - Environmental Engineering
During discussion of Proposal 2-85, Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering - Environmental Engineering, an editorial change was made which replaced all references to the Ph.D. thesis with references to the Ph.D. dissertation to be consistent with other degree descriptions. It was moved, seconded, and approved unanimously that Proposal 2-85 Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering - Environmental Engineering be adopted with the recommendation that the environmental engineering committee reconsider part c under the Program of Study and Research.
B. Proposal 3-85: Commitment to Develop a Master of Science in Rhetoric and Technical Communications
It was moved, seconded and approved that Proposal 3-85, Commitment to Develop a Master of Science in Rhetoric and Technical Communications be adopted. Proposal 3-85 was considered an emergency submission so that it could be presented at an upcoming Board of Control meeting and State Academic Officers meeting.
C. General Education Requirements
MTU Vice President Whitten presented the report on the general education requirements with the expressed hope that the Senate would treat it as a high priority item. Concerns raised during the discussion included the effect that this would have on the total number of hours required for students to graduate, the likelihood of students taking all their thematic courses in SS and HU since they would not have the prerequisites for courses in their majors, and the ability for non-science and engineering majors to satisfy the science and math requirements with philosophy and foreign language courses. It was decided to schedule a special Senate meeting on January 22, 1985 at 1:00 to discuss the general education requirements. All department Senators were requested to make a report to the Curricular Policy Committee by noon on January 14 with their department's response to the proposal. The Curricular Policy Committee was requested to use this information to prepare a report to submit to the Senators prior to the January 22 special meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Linda M. Ottenstein
Senate Secretary