MINUTES OF MEETING NUMBER twenty-nine
OF THE
sENATE OF the mICHIGAN tECHNOLOGical university
8 November 1966
(Senate Minute pages: 256-259)
The meeting opened at 7:03 p.m., Tuesday November 8, 1966, in the Faculty Lounge, Senate President G.E. Bahrman presiding.
The roll was taken. All except Prof. W. Been, Prof. E.W. Niemi, and the Soo representative were present.
Dr. Brown moved that Prof. W. Barstow be the Senate Parliamentarian. This was seconded and passed by vote. The minutes of Meeting #28 (p. 254-255) show the revised version of the by-laws. Further action was taken on these as follows:
Prof. Hennessy moved, Prof. Stebbins seconded, that by-laws one through six be adopted. The motion passed unanimously.
Prof. Oswald moved, Prof. Bredekamp seconded, that by-law seven be adopted. The motion failed, not having 16 votes.
Prof. Halkola moved, Prof. V.W. Johnson seconded, that by-law 7A be changed to read, and be adopted. The motion passed.
7 - Adoption:
A. With a quorum (20) present, a majority of those present and voting shall be required for the adoption of proposals and the passing of motions.
Prof. Stebbins moved, Prof. Oswald seconded, that by-laws 7B and 7C be adopted. The motion passed.
Prof. Bredekamp moved, Prof. Stebbins seconded, that by-law 8 be changed to read, and be adopted. The motion passed.
8 - Quorum: Two thirds (20) of the Senate membership shall constitute a quorum and shall be required for the transaction of business in all cases.
It was moved, seconded, and passed that the minutes of Meeting #28 be accepted as amended.
It was moved, seconded, and passed that the minutes of Meeting $27 be accepted as previously distributed.
Old Business.
Proposed By-laws for new constitution. This was handled as accounted above.
Proposal 4-59, Sabbatical Leave
The committee appointed at President Smith's request (minutes page 223) had prepared a report which had been distributed to the Senate members in advance of the meeting. This proposal is reproduced here.
POLICY ON SABBATICAL LEAVE AT M.T.U. I. General Policy
The policy of granting sabbatical leaves of absence is intended for the mutual benefit of the institution and the person granted such a leave. Sabbatical leaves shall be granted faculty members in order to provide a period of creative activity for the purpose of furthering professional competence. It is the policy of the institution to be liberal in interpreting various kinds of activity as appropriate to sabbatical leave, but the granting of such leave will in no case be automatic, and each request for sabbatical leave will be judged on its own merits.
II. Types of Leave
A. Any member of the general faculty of Michigan Technological University who has served for six years* may apply for a year's leave of absence on half pay.
B. A member of the general faculty of Michigan Technological University with less than six years' service may under extraordinary circumstances be considered for leave. In such circumstances, the request must have the approval of the Department Head.
C. Any person receiving sabbatical leave must agree to return to his position for the following year, with such exceptions as the President of the University may permit.
IV. Procedure
A. A committee on sabbatical leave shall be established. It shall consist of two members of the General Faculty appointed by the President of the University, and three members of the General Faculty chosen by the Senate.
B. The applicant for sabbatical leave shall prepare a detailed description of his program for research, study, or other activities that he proposes to conduct during his period of absence. He shall present his request for leave to his Department Head or immediate supervisor, who shall transmit it, with his comments, to the committee on sabbatical leave.
C. The committee on sabbatical leave shall screen, scrutinize, and make recommendations to the President on all applications for sabbatical leave. The committee on sabbatical leave shall make an annual report to the Senate, including any policy changes that seem desirable.
IV. Money from Outside Sources
Faculty members on sabbatical leave of absence may receive money from fellowships, grants, or other sources. In their application for sabbatical leave, they shall record the amount and source of money they expect to receive from outside sources.
*The definition of a year depends on the faculty member's terms of employment. For those on a 9-month appointment, a year shall be interpreted as meaning 9 months; for those on a 12-month appointment, as 12 months.
Prof. H.B. Anderson discussed the proposal and with the help of Prof. Rakestraw explained its derivation from study of the policies of other State Universities. Prof. Anderson moved adoption, Prof. Bredekamp seconded.
A long discussion followed during which many questions were asked and answered and many suggestions made. Several of these are included at the end of the minutes.
Prof. Barstow moved, Prof. Bredekamp seconded, to amend the proposal as follows:
I. Change (line 3) "shall" be granted to, "may" be granted.
II. Delete part II B
III. Change part III A to read (second sentence): It shall consist of 5 members from the General Faculty appointed by the President of the University. (Period) Delete all following comma.
After discussion, a straw vote was taken on each part of the amendment. Each passed. Following this the whole amendment was passed by vote.
Prof. Bayer moved, Prof. Boutilier seconded, to return to part III A to proposal as written. The motion failed to pass.
Prof. Yerg moved to add an Item V - Sabbatical Report. "On returning to the University the individual shall present a full written report concerning the use of his leave to the President." No action was taken on this.
Vote was taken on the proposal 4-59 as amended and it passed.
Prof. Bredekamp moved to recess for two weeks. Prof. Barstow ruled that move to adjourn supersedes. The meeting adjourned at 9:06 p.m.
President Smith: Sabbatical leave and leave to do graduate work is not the same.
Prof. Rakestraw: The requirement of outstanding service to the University was ruled out by the committee as an essential for Sabbatical leave because it penalizes the instructor or assistant professor who desires to take advanced study.
Prof. Hennessy: Will decisions granting sabbaticals be rendered on basis of proposals submitted by applicants?
Vice President Stebbins: Sabbatical leave should be for men who have worked long and hard; for persons of good service to encourage achievement, and to improve teaching and research. Leave for Ph.D. study a different entity.
President Smith: Grants for sabbatical leave can be made only to the extent that funds are available. Approximately 85% of our State funds are used for salaries and wages. Sabbatical leave must be taken from this amount.
Prof. Bredekamp: Sabbatical leave would permit catching up, not necessarily research or study. If very heavy loads carried, catching up is necessary. Opposed to idea that Sabbatical just a reward.
Prof. Rakestraw: The committee feels that sabbatical leave can be presented to the Legislature as a line item in the appropriation request.
President Smith: A line item would not mean that we would get more money. It merely means that the legislature would tell us how to spend those particular dollars. We would lose flexibility, get no more money, and probably encourage further line items which would make it impossible to make necessary adjustments during the fiscal year.
Prof. Bredekamp: If Administration cannot implement this policy, then that is that.
Vice President Stebbins: Persons on sabbatical leave must be replaced while away.
Prof. H.B. Anderson: The replacement cost of the men on sabbatical is a real factor.
Prof. Halkola: Sabbatical leave costs might reduce salary increases.
Respectfully submitted,
G.W. Boyd, Senate Secretary