MINUTES OF MEETING NUMBER 162
OF The
Senate OF mICHIGAN tECHNOLOGical university

4 May 1988

(Senate Minute pages: 2812 -2829)

President Shapton called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. on Wednesday May 4, 1988 in the Faculty Lounge of the Memorial Union.

Roll: Twenty three members/alternates were present. Absent were: Theresa Spence, Alan Hambley, Mark Welnetz, Ralph Hodek, William Predebon, Joan Francioni, Randy Owsley, Steve Hoerger, and Dale Stein. Dave Yao was present as a representative for the students.

Visitors: Linda Belote, Dean of Students; Alan Brokaw and Ted Lockhart.

Minutes of Meeting No. 161 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).

Committee Reports

A. Elections

Elections were held for the positions of Athletic Council Member, Sabbatical Leave Committee Member, and General Education Committee Members. The results of this election were:

Athletic Council: Robert C. Stebler and Terrell L. Warrington
Sabbatical Leave Committee: Wilber H. Campbell, Donald R. Lucking and Terry D. Monson
General Education: Francis O. Otuonye and Susan T. Bagley

Senator Tampas reported that elections for the two Senator-at-Large positions will be held before the end of the school year, along with a member of the Academic Tenure Committee.

B. General Education

A report was provided (Appendix C - Available by Request from the Senate Office). Alan Brokaw discussed the report in some depth. Several questions arose concerning problems with the practical aspects of the requirements. The report was accepted.

C. Curricular Policy - No report.

D. Instructional Policy

The committee has been studying the teaching effectiveness proposal and will provide a more in-depth study in the fall. The committee had two recommendations: 1. Recommend present policy stay in place, and 2) Recommend the policy be republished in the Faculty Handbook. The committee is collecting material and comments for further review.

E. Institutional Evaluation - No report.

F. Budget - No report.

G. Faculty Fringe Benefits

A report was provided (Appendix D - Available by Request from the Senate Office). Some discussion followed regarding some of the possible changes that might occur if the modifications to the fringe benefits package are implemented. Two items were suggested: 1) That a faculty and staff committee define a "Wellness Committee" and 2) A committee be formed to study tuition remission for spouses and dependents.

Since the spouse/dependent tuition remission question was asked earlier, President Shapton took responsibility to ask for a response to this question from the administration.

H. Faculty Handbook - No report.

I. Planning - No report.

J. University Computer Committee - No report.

K. Quality of University Life Task Force

Senator Adler provided a brief verbal report on the results of the student survey. This included some examples of comparisons of MTU student responses to national norms. Senator Adler said an in-depth report of the study will be provided in the fall.

 

Old Business - None

 

New Business

President Shapton said the administration is interested in conducting a Senate/Administration workshop early in the next school year. He will investigate available dates.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:51 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
David B. Sprague
Secretary, MTU Senate