MINUTES OF MEETING NUMBER 160
OF The
Senate OF mICHIGAN tECHNOLOGical university
17 February 1988
(Senate Minute pages: 2790 -2801)
President Shapton called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday February 17, 1988 in the Faculty Lounge of the Memorial Union.
Roll: Twenty seven members/alternates were present. Absent were: William Sewell, Paul Sundeen, and Dale Stein.
Visitors: Several visitors were present: Linda Belote, Dean of Students; Don McWerthy, Jan Miner, and Kristine Bobish, students.
Minutes of Meeting No. 159 were approved as printed. Conrad Heuvers was reported to be the alternate for Mathematical Sciences.
President's Report - Appendix A (Available by Request from the Senate Office).
A discussion of the University Computer Committee followed.
Vice President's Report - Appendix B (Available by Request from the Senate Office).
A discussion of the financial impact of the new incentive retirement program followed.
It was noted that the 80 point system of eligibility parallels that of the State of Michigan. Also, the new program is more restrictive than the previous program. The Budget Liaison was asked to investigate the financial effects of the retirement program on the University.
Vice President Whitten commented on the changes regarding the affirmative action procedures on all nontenurable positions.
Committee Reports
A. Curricular Policy - No report.
B. Instructional Policy
This committee provided Proposal 3-88 regarding the Repeat Policy (covered under New Business).
Senator Janners commented that the committee is presently studying the status of the Teaching Effectiveness Program.
C. Institutional Evaluation - No report.
D. Faculty Fringe Benefits - No report.
E. Faculty Handbook - Senator Hambley provided a verbal report (Appendix C - Available by Request from the Senate Office).
F. General Education - No report.
G. University Computer Committee - No report.
Senator Francioni commented that the committee will be meeting with the Deans early in the spring quarter.
K. Quality of University Life Task Force - Senator Adler provided a verbal report Appendix D - (Available by Request from the Senate Office).
Old Business - None
New Business
A. Proposal 3-88, Repeat Policy
Proposal 3-88, Repeat Policy was brought up before the Senate for discussion and action. The proposal was accepted after being amended with two dissenting votes.
The proposal appears as amended in Appendix E.
An extended discussion of the proposal focused on students' possible abuse of the new rule, as well as the effect on a student's grade point average. This is especially a concern for seniors who have repeated several courses and do not have a high enough GPA to graduate. Due to the averaging policy after 20 credits of repeated courses, it is difficult for a student to improve the GPA without receiving an A for the repeated course.
It was also noted that a number of students' difficulties relate to the quality of advising they receive. Several students spoke in favor of the proposed policy.
Vice President Whitten commented that MTU had received the preliminary response of the NCA accreditation team. It is expected to be released shortly. There were a few minor problems, but it appeared to be a very positive report.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.