MINUTES OF MEETING NUMBER 145
OF The
Senate OF mICHIGAN tECHNOLOGical university

18 September 1985

(Senate Minute pages: 2481 -2485)

President's Report

President Baltensperger's presented both a written and verbal report was follows: (Appendix A - Available by Request from the Senate Office).

1. Schedule of Senate Meetings for 1985-86 (Appendix A ) President Baltensperger noted that two meetings were at 8 pm rather than the usual 7 pm. He apologized for this, but found it impossible to change because the faculty lounge had already been booked on those two days for 7 pm and he felt it wiser to meet at 8 pm than to change the place of the meeting.
   
   
2. The Senate Roster for the 1985-86 Academic Year (Appendix B - Available by Request from the Senate Office). President Baltensperger indicated that the roster presented was complete with the exception of senators from KRC and the Graduate Student Council.
   
   
3. Paul Nelson resigned saying that it would be easier to get a replacement for him in the Senate than to find someone to teach 15 Tenth Graders in religion.
   
   
4. The Senate President has received from Vice President Whitten a proposal to implement a Master of Science Degree in Rhetoric and Technical Communications. The proposal has been forwarded to the Curricular Policy Committee.
   
   
5. The Senate President reminded members that as of the most recent annual report to the Senate, Committees would now be for a definite term and would expire at the end of that term.

Vice President's Report

Senator Monson referred the Senators to Appendix B - Available by Request from the Senate Office) of the minutes and then noted that the Vice President for Academic Affairs would be making a report on the Research Professorship.

Committee Reports

A. Curricular Policy - No Report.

B. Instructional Policy

The Chairman reported that they would emphasize in their next discussions the grading policy of the University and the Drop Date.

C. Institutional Evaluation: No Report.

D. Budget: No Report.

E. Faculty Fringe Benefits:

The Chairman reported that he would be presenting a Faculty Spousal Tuition proposal. Senator Suzanne Beske-Diehl commented that she thought such a proposal had already been given to the President of the University. The Senate President responded that President Stein had suggested that he wished a new proposal to come forth. The Senate President interpreted that answer as meaning that the University President had rejected the proposal. The Senate President indicated that there were some deficiencies in the original proposal and that it had reached the University President at an inopportune time. It arrived at his desk just after a cap had been put on enrollment.

Mr. Sewell rose at this time to ask if he could refer the question of parking for part-time faculty to the Fringe Benefits Committee. The Chair said he would take it under advisement.

F. Elections

The Chair noted that Donald Koss and Chris Passerello were elected as Senators-at-Large and Jim Gerdeen was elected to the Committee on Academic Tenure. The Senate President called for and got a motion to destroy the ballots.

G. Retrenchment Planning

The proposal discussed by the Senate was sent to Dr. Stein. Some objections were raised to parts of the proposal by a subcommittee of the Board of Control. The Chair will meet with Dr. Stein to further discuss the matter.

H. Teaching Effectiveness

The Chair reported that it was decided that the Director of Teaching Excellence would report to the Dean of Special Academic Programs, Dr. Calvin Gale. A Selection Committee consisting of Linda Belote, Duane Abata, and Calvin Gale proceeded to select a Director of Teaching Excellence. They settled on Dr. Robert Jones who began work August 6. He is now hard at work consulting with departments, planning workshops, accepting and considering suggestions from the faculty.

I. Planning: No Report.

J. General Education

A handbook of General Education, which will be continually refined, has been prepared for students.

K. Sabbatical Leave

A written report listing leaves approved and reports of sabbaticals made was approved. Three nominees to be presented to the President from which he will choose one must be made at a future Senate meeting.

Old Business - None

Election of Officers:

The Senate President noted that a Committee on Elections had drawn up a slate of officers whose names had been printed on ballots, but he indicated that further nominations would be entertained from the floor. The nominees included:

President: Alan Brokaw
Vice President: Suzanne Beske-Diehl and William Predebon
Secretary: Spencer Hill

No nominations from the floor were made for the Office of President and a motion was made, seconded, and approved that Alan Brokaw be elected to the position by acclamation.

No further nominations were made for the Office of Vice President. Suzanne Beske-Diehl was elected to that position.

George Meese was nominated from the floor for the Office of Secretary. Spencer Hill was elected.

A motion to destroy the ballots was made and approved.

President Brad Baltensperger thanked the Senate for the support he had received during the year as President and turned the gavel over to President Elect Brokaw who called for a motion to adjourn which was promptly approved.