MINUTES OF MEETING NUMBER 146
OF The
Senate OF mICHIGAN tECHNOLOGical university

30 October 1985

(Senate Minute pages: 2485A-1 -2485A-13)

President's Report

The President's Report is attached (Appendix 1 - Available by Request from the Senate Office).

Vice President's Report: See Appendix 2 (Available by Request from the Senate Office).

Committee Reports

A. Curricular Policy

Proposal 1-86 Master of Science in Rhetoric and Technical Communication is discussed under New Business below.

B. Instructional Policy

Proposals 2-86 and 3-86 are discussed below under New Business.

C. Institutional Evaluation: No proposals and no report.

D. Budget:

Interim Report: See Appendix 3 (Available by Request from the Senate Office). President Stein explained the apparent discrepancy between the 1.3% increase in the operating budget and the slightly larger figure he reported in his speech to the faculty. Gifts are not reported in the official budget because there is no way to know how much they will be. President Stein's speech, however, did include gifts.

E. Faculty Fringe Benefits - No Report

F. Elections - No Report

G. Faculty Handbook - No Report

Senator Monson did note the need to replace Dick Schwartz and Dennis Miller. Senators interested should contact Senator Monson.

H. Teaching Effectiveness

Dick Predebon was asked by Chairman Marty Janners to report verbally. Linda Cummings and Jim Stagg are the new Graduate Student members of the committee. Senator Predebon also reported on the progress of implementing the Teacher Evaluation program noting that both student-teacher evaluation and peer evaluation are already largely in place. The committee sees the effective weighing of the teacher evaluation program as its major objective for the year.

I. Planning: No Report.

J. General Education: No Report

Old Business - No old business discussed

New Business

Proposal 1-86, Master of Science in Rhetoric and Technical Communication.

Some questions were asked relative to the demand existing for this type of Master's Degree. Dr. Wahlstrom assured the Senate that demand was great because there were only a few such programs in the country, and that where these programs exist it has been necessary to turn students away. Some concern was expressed that as the proposal was sent to the Senate, it had the effect of changing the Graduate School requirements. But at the suggestion of some of those present, a minor change in the statement of the requirements satisfied those concerned that the program did not change the Graduate School requirements. That minor change is part of the proposal finally passed and appended to this report as Appendix 4 (Available by Request from the Senate Office).

Proposal 2-86, Academic Distinction

President Stein expressed some concern about the costs of implementing the proposal. He noted that the Registrar's Office had, in the interest of saving funds for other programs, been under-funded and under-staffed and had complained about the additional $800 this new proposal would cost them. Doubt was expressed by some Senators that the proposal would cost $800. President Stein suggested that the Senators who complained should discuss the matter with the Registrar's Office and not with him, but that if the proposal should pass, costs should come out of an addition to the Matriculation fee. President Brokaw suggested, and the Senate accepted the suggestion that the motion be tabled so that the true costs of the proposal could be ascertained (Appendix 5 - Available by Request from the Senate Office).

Proposal 3-86, Grade Change Policy

A lengthy discussion of this proposal took place. Opposition to it seemed to center on the inflexibility of requiring a written justification for any change in grade. The proposal was defeated by a vote of 12 yeas and 14 nays. The Instructional Policy Committee was instructed to review the practice of retaking examinations to see if it conforms adequately with the Institution's policy of equal opportunity.

The Senate adjourned at 8:30 p.m.