MINUTES OF MEETING NUMBER 155
OF The
Senate OF mICHIGAN tECHNOLOGical university
25 March 1987
(Senate Minute pages: 2668 -2689)
President Shapton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday March 25, 1987 in the Faculty Lounge of the Memorial Union.
Roll: Twenty two members/alternates were present. Absent were: Alan Brokaw, Bradley Baltensperger, Bruce Haataja, Philip Parks, David Carlson, David Sprague, Martin Jurgensen, Steve Hoerger, Donald Cape, and E.H. Timothy Whitten.
Visitors: Linda Belote, Don McWethy, Jeff Beard, and John Hetrick.
Minutes of Meeting No. 154
It was pointed out that the results of the Student Council Late Drop Survey had numbers questionable in light of the methods used in conducting the survey. Therefore, the Senate should not take the numbers from this survey as substantial research. With this clarification the minutes of Meeting 154 were approved.
President's Report (Appendix A - Available by Request from the Senate Office).
Vice President's Report (Appendix B - Available by Request from the Senate Office).
Dr. Stein commented that the MTU portion ($20.7 million) of the budget for the Minerals and Materials Engineering Building will actually have $10.7 million coming from state sources and $10 million from private sources.
It was moved that a letter be sent to Gerald McGlynn and Julius Harwood on behalf of the University Senate recognizing them for their many years of hard work on the Board of Control. Motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Committee Reports
A. Curricular Policy - No report.
B. Instructional Policy
A questionnaire has been completed that will be administered to selected students and faculty. It will examine the issue of "feedback" and the drop date policy issue. This committee is also looking at the repeat rule and 21 credit hour limit rule. Can the current rules be changed? Academic advisors are invited to give input into this committee's examination of the repeat rule.
C. Institutional Evaluation - No report.
D. Budget - Appendix C (Available by Request from the Senate Office).
E. Faculty Fringe Benefits - Appendix D (Available by Request from the Senate Office).
F. Elections - No report.
G. Faculty Handbook - No report.
H. Planning - Appendix E (Available by Request from the Senate Office).
Issues focused on by this committee will be presented in further detail at the May 6, 1987 meeting of the Faculty Senate.
I. General Education - No report.
J. Drop Policy Review - Appendix F (Available by Request from the Senate Office).
At this point in the meeting the results of a telephone survey of MTU students on the question of the drop policy and academic feedback were submitted for inclusion in the minutes.
K. Computer Fee Policy - Appendix G (Available by Request from the Senate Office).
In general, the Senate was in agreement with this committee's analysis of the drawbacks of the current computer fee policy. The committee's proposed alternative fee policy touched off much discussion. Dr. Stein stated that the revenue generating nature of the proposed policy is unacceptable. John Francioni requested that the Senate recommend that the old computer fee policy be put back into effect until the new alternative policy can be thought up. Dr. Stein indicated he would prefer to have an opportunity to discuss this matter further with the computer people involved rather than immediately return to the old policy. President Shapton stated that the committee had made its point to the university president. This committee will continue to function and additional members from other academic disciplines will be added.
Old Business - None
New Business - None
A motion was called to adjourn the meeting. Motion approved.