MINUTES OF MEETING NUMBER 150
OF The
Senate OF mICHIGAN tECHNOLOGical university

30 April 1986

(Senate Minute pages: 2518 -2521)

President's Report

The President referred to his written report attached as Appendix 1 (Available by Request from the Senate Office). He noted that President Stein approved of Proposals 4-86 and 5-86 with the qualifications mentioned in the report.

As the next item of business President Brokaw introduced Vice President for Research, Ray Decker to explain why it was decided to drop the term "Research Faculty" for those working full time in research under his direction. Dr. Decker reassured the members of the Senate that he did not intend to downgrade full-time researchers by dropping the title "faculty." He simply felt that the term faculty referred to personnel who were doing, at least, some teaching. The term he suggested to replace "faculty" was "Research Professionals." One Senator suggested that faculty was a broad term covering all the members of a profession including those who were full-time researchers. Another Senator expressed the wish that the Senate had had a chance to discuss the matter before a change was made. It was concluded that a committee should be appointed to investigate the change and charged with reporting back to the Senate. President Brokaw, who proposed the committee, suggested that it include three members from the research divisions and one Academic faculty member. Hearing no objection to the motion, it was decided that such a committee should be appointed by President Brokaw.

Vice President's Report:

The Vice President's report consisted entirely of a written report endorsing the Oakland University's statement on Academic Freedom submitted to the last MTU Board meeting. The Oakland statement and the present MTU statement appear as Appendix 2 (Available by Request from the Senate Office). The Vice President expressed the recommendation of the Senate Executive Council, which had met earlier that the Oakland statement was "more comprehensive than the current MTU policy on academic freedom found in the Board of Control Policy Manual." Vice President Beske-Diehl noted also that the Oakland statement protects the rights of students directly in a way that our present MUT policy does not.

There was a general consensus among the Senate that the Oakland statement was better than MTU's present statement except for one word. The Oakland statement includes this sentence: "The Board of Control expects the University faculty to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity and to act only in ways that will further the mission of the University." Some faculty found the word "only" in that statement to be too strict a limitation on Academic Freedom. After discussion it was moved by Bradley Baltensperger that we endorse the Oakland statement as an improvement on our present statement with the understanding that the word "only" be stricken from the statement. Considerable discussion followed concerning whether or not the Board was actually going to discuss the Oakland statement and whether or not the Senate was premature in suggesting this change without knowing what the AAUP is recommending. It was decided that the motion should be amended to the effect that the Senate recommend the Oakland statement or one like unto it to replace our present statement. The motion passed on a voice vote.

Committee Reports

A. Curricular Policy

The Chair reported that the committee would be reporting on the new major in Environmental Engineering under new business.

B. Instructional Policy

The Chair reported that the committee would be sending faculty a questionnaire asking them two questions: "Do you provide input on the progress made by students before the fourth week of the term?" and "Will you provide input to the student prior to the fourth week from now on?" Both questions were intended to encourage faculty to give such input so that the new four week deadline for withdrawal with any "W" being recorded will cause less of a hardship on students.

C. Institutional Evaluation: No report.

D. Budget - No report.

E. Faculty Fringe Benefits

Considerable discussion took place over the discovery reported at the last Senate Meeting that some faculty members had been informed that there was reduced contribution made to the Michigan Retirement while the faculty member was on leave. Since such a reduction could drastically affect faculty should they be retiring within five years of a leave, the Senate felt the University should make full contributions while persons were on leave and that the Senate should go on record as asking the administration to do so. At that point one faculty member reported that the University promised to pay his full retirement contribution while on leave. The Chair of the Fringe Benefits Committee called the Senate Secretary before the Minutes were written to report that the University had agreed to make full contributions to retirement while faculty were on leave. The person representing the administration was puzzled that any faculty member should have received a letter indicating that he might "buy back" the contribution lost while on leave.

The Chair also reported that ERO reported that the Blue-Cross-Blue Shield rates were going up, that ERO was not happy about it but felt that it could do nothing about it. Some Senators expressed unhappiness with Blue-Cross-Blue Shield and some said that they were under the impression that the administration was considering new carriers. The Chair said he was under the impression that new carriers had been investigated but that Blue Cross with all its faults was tentatively judged by ERO to be the best.

F. Elections

The Senate elected nominees for the University Sabbatical Leave Committee, the University Athletic Council, and the University General Education Committee. The procedure calls for the Senate to nominate three persons for the Sabbatical Leave Committee, three for the University Athletic Council, and two for the University General Education Committee. The President then appoints one person to each committee from the nominees submitted by the Senate. Five persons were nominated for the University Sabbatical Leave Committee: Harold Nufer, G.P. Alger, Ross Johnson, Michael Gilpin, and Vigil Synder. The three selected by the Senate were Ross Johnson, Michael Gilpin and Virgil Snyder.

William Francis, Terrell Warrington, Vincent Hauge, Charles Joyner, and Donald Daavettila were nominated for the University Athletic Council. Selected by the Senate were William Francis, Terrell Warrington and Donald Daavettila.

Nominated for the University General Education Committee were William Rose, Willie Melton, Paul Callanan, Vern Watwood, Vincent Hauge, Charles Nelson, Alice Soldan, and Janet Dalquist. Selected were William Rose and Vern Watwood.

G. Faculty Handbook

Chairman Monson presented a written report commenting upon the Provisional Information booklet and explained how changes in the Procedures Manual become part of the Faculty Handbook. After a brief discussion it was moved that the Senate approve the Provisional Information booklet with the exception of the patent policy. The motion suggested that the patent policy needed clarification. The motion passed on a voice vote.

H. Planning: No Report.

 

New Business

The Chair presented as new business the final approval of Proposal 8-86 Establishment of a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering (Appendix 5). After a brief discussion the Senate approved Proposal 8-86.

Attached to these Minutes also are suggestions for self-study (Appendix 6 - Available by Request from the Senate Office) in preparation for the coming NCAA Accreditation visit. President Brokaw suggested that the committee primarily responsible for the self-study was soliciting faculty input.

The Senate adjourned at 8:45 p.m.