MINUTES OF MEETING NUMBER 144
OF The
Senate OF mICHIGAN tECHNOLOGical university

1 May 1985

(Senate Minute pages: 2458 -2480)

President's Report

President Baltensperger's written report was presented (Appendix A - Available by Request from the Senate Office).

Vice President's Report

Since the Vice President had a class conflicting with the Academic Council meeting, Senator Monson substituted for him at the April 16, 1985 meeting and submitted written minutes of that meeting (Appendix B - Available by Request from the Senate Office).

Committee Reports

A. Curricular Policy

The committee has completed work on the Geotechnical and Signal Processing options under the Ph.D. in Engineering program and proposals concerning these are under New Business.

B. Instructional Policy

The committee plans on recommending to the Senate in the Fall that the distinctions granted at graduation be changed as proposed at the last Senate meeting (Appendix C - Available by Request from the Senate Office).

Results of the faculty survey were presented (Appendix C - Available by Request from the Senate Office). The committee feels that the drop period and changing to semesters are two subjects that should be studied further. Because of the strong sentiment for a change in the grading policy, the committee will be presenting a related proposal in the Fall.

The committee also presented a suggested policy concerning grade changes developed by them and one developed by Biology (Appendix C - Available by Request from the Senate Office). They reported, however, that neither suggestion nor the planned change presented by Vice-president Whitten addressed the real issue. They felt that the issue raised was under what circumstances, if any, should a student be allowed to repeat an exam. This is distinct from when instructors should be allowed to change a course grade.

C. Budget

A written report was presented by the Budget Liaison Officer (Appendix D - Available by Request from the Senate Office).

D. Elections

Ballots will be going out shortly to the Faculty to elect two Senators-At-large and a member of the University Tenure Committee.

E. Faculty Handbook

The committee has met with Vice President Whitten and made some recommendations for changes in the Faculty Handbook. No action is expected until Fall.

F. Retrenchment Planning

The proposed Retrenchment Planning document will be presented under New Business.

G. Teaching Effectiveness

A proposal will be presented under New Business.

H. General Education

A copy of a memo to Deans and Department Heads from the General Education Committee was presented (Appendix E - Available by Request from the Senate Office). The committee is trying to establish its role as monitors as opposed to implementers of the General Education Policy and to encourage faculty to begin the development of the necessary thematic clusters, etc.

Old Business

President Stein commented on the progress being made in the computer planning process. IBM has made their presentation and the results were not as good as expected. At least two additional vendors, DEC and Sperry, will be on campus in the near future. It is hoped that some general guidelines will be developed over the summer.

New Business

A. Election of Candidates for Vacancy on the University Sabbatical Leave and the University Athletic Council

The following people were elected as the Senate nominees to the University Sabbatical Leave Committee: William Francis, Dave Kenny, Harold Evensen

The following people were elected as the Senate nominees to the University Athletic Council: Darrell Smith, Martyn Smith, Carl Vilmann.

B. Proposal 7-85, University Retrenchment Policy

Proposal 7-85, University Retrenchment Policy was approved. President Stein indicated that this proposal will have to go before the Board of Control for approval. A motion was passed to thank the University Retrenchment Policy Committee and to dismiss them.

C. Proposal 8-85, Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering - Sensing and Signal Processing

Proposal 8-85, Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering - Sensing and Signal Processing was approved.

D. Proposal 9-85, Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering - Geotechnical Engineering

Proposal 9-85, Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering - Geotechnical Engineering was approved.

E. Proposal 10-85, Teaching Effectiveness

Proposal 10-85 was presented. Some of the changes between this proposal and the original draft were presented. These include a reduction in the frequency of required student evaluations for tenured faculty and a reduction in the frequency of peer evaluation and the structure of peer evaluation. In addition, the results of the evaluations should be used during the trial year. Linda Belote, chair of the committee, made a presentation estimating the cost of the proposal.

During the discussion of the proposal, it was suggested that the teaching improvement center be named The Center for Teaching Excellence. This suggestion was ruled an editorial change and incorporated into the document. The remainder of the discussion was primarily centered around the peer evaluation and the form to be used for it. The form was amended to include a "not applicable" rating. The amended proposal is attached (Appendix F - Available by Request from the Senate Office).

A roll call vote was taken. The proposal was approved.

The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.

Linda M. Ottenstein
Senate Secretary