MINUTES OF MEETING NUMBER 46
OF The
sENATE OF mICHIGAN tECHNOLOGical university

 14 May 1969

(Senate Minute pages: 417--434)

Meeting No. 46 was called to order at 7:03 p.m., Wednesday May 14, 1969, in the Faculty Lounge of the Memorial Union, with President M.W. Bredekamp presiding.

The roll was taken. 24 members were present. (Quorum 20). Members absent were Barstow (BA), Oswald, (EE), Polich (Army ROTC), Wyble (AL), Johnson (Ford Forestry), Nordeng, (GE), Hollad (Air Force ROTC).

 

Minutes of Meeting No. 45

The minutes of Meeting No. 45 were accepted as previously distributed.

 

Senate President's Report

  1. President Bredekamp raised the question as to whether there should be a general faculty meeting for an annual Senate report.

  2. President Bredekamp noted that the Senate Minutes will be filed in the Library hereafter.



Committee Reports

  1. Election Committee

    Senator Patterson reported the results of the recent election as follows:

    Senators-at-Large - Three Year Terms: M.W. Bredekamp, C.L. DelliQuadri

    235 electors voted, 13 ballots were voided for lack of envelope signature, 1 ballot voided for voting too many candidates, leaving 221 valid ballots.

    Departmental Representatives -- Three year terms:
    Business Administration - K.O. Alexander
    Engineering Mechanics - H.W. Lord
    Institute of Wood Research - J. Hamilton
    Mechanical Engineering - R. Bayer
    Mining Engineering - R.E. Greuer
    Physical Education - O.J. LaJeunesse
    Physics - R.O. Keeling
    Social Sciences - E. Vandette

    It was moved that the report be accepted and the motion was approved by show of hands.

    The 1969-1970 Senate Roster is contained in Appendix A (Available by Request from the Senate Office).

  2. Curricular Policy Committee

    Senator Freyberger reported that there were no formal proposals to be considered, but that the committee was still active, particularly on the question of the status of ROTC at Michigan Tech.

  3. Instructional Policy Committee

    Senator Hennessy moved the adoption of Proposal 11-69 as follows:

    Academic advancement by the student is measured in terms of quarter hour credits, or simply, credits. One credit should, on the average, require three hours of a student's time each week for one quarter. These three hours may all be spent in the classroom or laboratory, or may be divided between home study and class or laboratory attendance. One hour in class; two hours in individual study is a typical division. Course descriptions in the catalog show the number of credits for the course. Until the student determines by experience whether he requires more or less time than the average student, he should multiply the course credits by three to determine the demands the course will place on his time during a typical week of the quarter.

    Vote by show of hands: 19 Yes, 0 No, 5 Abstain. Proposal 11-69 was adopted by this action.


    Senator Hennessy moved the adoption of Proposal 12-69 as follows:

    Proposal 12-69 - Description of a Unit Credit for the Graduate Catalog

    Unit of Credit (Graduate)

    One credit should, on the average, require four hours of a student's time each week for one quarter. These four hours may be divided between classroom, laboratory, or individual study at the instructor's discretion. The course description in the catalog will indicate the manner in which the course is normally conducted.

    Vote by show of hands: 6 Yes, 11 No, 7 Abstain. Motion defeated. Proposal not approved.


    Senator Hennessy moved the adoption of Proposal 13-69 as follows:

    1. The teaching faculty should observe the spirit of the credit hour concept expressed above in the design of course syllabi and appropriate curriculum committees should include the above premise as one of the basic considerations in approving or disapproving a course.

    2. Once the scope and objective of a course has been appropriately defined and approved, it is not within the privilege of academic freedom for an individual faculty member to make unilaterally, a significant change in either scope or objective when he teaches the course. If a difference of opinion occurs within a department as to what is or is not significant, the matter should be resolved by the faculty as a whole of that department.

    Vote by show of hands: 21 Yes, 2 No, 1 Abstain. Proposal 13-69 was adopted by this action.

    A progress report on Summer Salary Rate Considerations was previously distributed to the Senate members by the Instructional Policy Committee. This report was referred to briefly by Senator Hennessy, but it was not discussed at length. Senator Halkola moved that the report be received. This motion was approved by voice vote. The report has been included in the permanent files of the Senate.

  4. Student - Faculty - Senate Relations Committee

    Senator Halkola responded for the committee and referred to a progress report. A motion was made to receive the report, and this motion was approved by voice vote. This report is contained in Appendix B in its original form (Available by Request from the Senate Office).

  5. Honors Program Committee

    Senator Hamilton presented an oral report for this committee. He indicated that the committee planned a series of meetings with various departments to discuss the honors programs. He was not able to set a date for completion of the committee's work at this time.

  6. Change of Status Committee

    Senator Bayer presented an oral report for this committee. He indicated that the committee had met four times and had discussed the problem with Academic Departments and appropriate administrative officers, but no report has been prepared at this time.

  7. Accommodations Programs Committee

    Senator Price responded for the committee by referring to a formal committee report. A motion was made and approved by voice vote to accept the report. The report is contained in Appendix C in its original form. (Available by Request from the Senate Office).

  8. Sick Leave Committee

    Senator Ortner indicated that no meetings of this committee had been held since their last report.

  9. Senate Coordinating Committee

    Senator Thayer indicated that no meetings of this committee had been held since their last report, but that there had been an addition to the membership of the committee.

Old Business

Action on Proposal 10-69 (previously discussed on p. 413, 414 Senate Minutes) had been postponed. Senator Sachs moved that the proposal be considered at this meeting. Vote by show of hands: 8 Yes, 14 No, 2 Abstain. President Bredekamp ruled that postponement was an improper motion and that in effect the Proposal had been tabled so that it was automatically on the floor for discussion.

Senator Hennessy moved that the motion be tabled. Vote by show of hands: 9 Yes, 13 No, 2 Abstain. Motion defeated.

A vote was taken on an amendment (by substitution) to Proposal 10-69 as follows:

The faculty Senate shall annually solicit from faculty members such a monetary contribution as may enable the Senate to meet its budgeted expenses. All faculty members who are qualified to vote for members of the Senate shall be canvassed for this purpose by departmental representatives, who shall tender to an appropriate officer of the Senate the sums they have collected, together with an accounting of those who have contributed.

Vote by show of hands: 2 Yes, 18 No, 4 Abstain. Amendment defeated.

A vote was taken on Proposal 10-69 as follows:

The Faculty Senate of Michigan Technological University recommend to the President and the Board of Control that the Faculty be annually assessed a sum, to be fixed each year by Senate resolution, the moneys to be used for Senate expenses.

7 Yes, 16 No, 1 Abstain. Motion defeated.

New Business

  1. Senator Caspary (speaking for the joint committee on Student Behavior Policy) moved that Proposal 18-69 be endorsed by the Senate for forwarding to the administration and the Board of Control.

    Proposal 18-69 - Resolution on Disruption of University Activities

    The citizens of Michigan have, through the constitutional autonomy clause, placed the governing authority of the pubic universities in elected or appointed boards. Within the framework of the law, these boards have in turn shared their power with both faculty and students, but by the same law the boards have the ultimate responsibility for the control and direction of the universities and must therefore retain the ultimate and final authority for control and direction.

    Students enrolling in, persons employed by, or people visiting the Michigan Technological University do so voluntarily and in so doing assume an obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the University's function as an educational institution.

    Michigan Technological University stands for freedom of speech, freedom of inquiry, freedom of dissent, and freedom to demonstrate in a peaceful manner. But freedom requires order, and it is not possible to have one without the other. The Board of Control therefore reaffirms the long-time understanding that any effort to impede the holding of classes, the carrying forward of University business, the arrangements for properly organized and scheduled events on the campus, the reasonable movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or the discharge of his responsibility by any University officer or employee, constitutes an invasion of the rights of the faculty, students, and the general public, is contrary to the interests of the University, and will not be tolerated.

    In any such attempt to interfere with University activity, the leaders and participants are held responsible and are subject to appropriate legal and disciplinary action, including suspension and expulsion from the University, under established procedures.

    In this reaffirmation of freedom with order, Michigan Technological University also pledges itself to maintain open channels of communication through which those who have grievances, suggestions, questions, or who are dissatisfied with the status quo may express themselves in a meaningful manner and through which they may bring about orderly change.


    Senator Hennessy moved to refer the Proposal 18-69 to a committee for further study. This committee was to be established by the President of the Senate. Vote by show of hands: 10 Yes, 11 No, 3 Abstain. Motion defeated. A vote was taken on proposal 18-69 by show of hands: 15 Yes, 6 No, 3 Abstain. Proposal 18-69 was adopted by this action.


  2. Proposal 19-69 involves an amendment to the Senate Constitution. President Bredekamp moved the adoption of Proposal 19-69 as follows:

    "Be it moved that the Constitution of the Senate be amended to change the term 'General Faculty" as used therein to the term "Academic Faculty' as officially defined."

    Note: Steps necessary for amendment of the Constitution:
    1. Adoption by the Senate --- 2/3 majority of quorum
    2. Readoption within six months by a 2/3 majority of quorum
    3. Adoption by a 2/3 majority of the "General Faculty"

    Vote by show of hands: 22 Yes, 0 No, 2 Abstain. Step 1 of adoption procedure approved by this vote.

  3. Proposal 20-69 - Amendment to Constitution

    Senator Erbisch moved the adoption of Proposal 20-69 as follows:

    The Senate of Michigan Technological University recommend to the General Faculty, President, and the Board of Control that Article I - Name of the Constitution of the Senate be amended to read: "The name of this organization shall be the President's Faculty Advisory Council of Michigan Technological University."

    A vote was taken by show of hands: 2 Yes, 21 No, 1 Abstain. Proposal defeated.

  4. Report on Nuclear Engineering Curriculum

    President Bredekamp requested that Dr. Stebbins report on the status of the Nuclear Engineering Curriculum. Dr. Stebbins reported that extensive studies have been made concerning the Nuclear Engineering Program over the last several months. It has been found that the program was extremely expensive and that it was difficult to obtain staff. As a result, it is felt that a proper educational service cannot be continued on a practical basis, and therefore, the plan is to discontinue the program.


    A motion to adjourn was defeated at this time.

  5. President's Summary

    President Bredekamp presented the following annual report:

    The Michigan Technological University Senate has been a working organization this year. No longer can it be said that nothing has been done. All business presented to it has been acted upon in as reasonable rate as can be expected.

    There has been no request made for action that is not now in committee or in the process of debate. Twenty proposals have been presented for action, of which only four have not been decided, with three new proposals tonight.

    Our Senate members have been assigned to committees -- both of the Senate and jointly with the administration -- and have never refused an assignment. All members are either on a Senate committee, administration committee, or an officer of either the Senate or Faculty Association. Every effort has been made to prevent overloading of a willing worker.

    Two major problems are facing the Senate:

    1. The problem of communications with the faculty and with the administration.
    2. Translating and revising the academic policies developed in the past for the College (largely unwritten) into working policies for the University.

    The communication link with the faculty and students which we have suggested this year needs to be reinforced by each Senate member -- (a) the History and the Purpose of the Senate should be understood by all members at least (Minutes p. 375-378) and (b) the operation of the Senate (Minutes p. 393) should be understood by ALL faculty members, and if they have any suggestions, they should be instructed to use the proper approach.

    The communication link with the administration has been established and the beginning of a cooperative system may be slowly taking place. It has been generally accepted that the feeling of the Senate is that consultation with it should take place prior to the establishment of a change in operations that includes within it a change in policy.

    The academic policies worked on and recommended this year (Pass-Fail Option, Lecture-Recitation Interpretation, Honors Program, Curtailment of Classes, Final Exams, Evening Exams, Advanced Placement, Credits for Approved Electives, Language Credits, Meaning of Credit, Dropping Credits, Mid-Term Grades) have been a mixture of new ideas and reestablishment of older ones -- largely unwritten.

    A new academic program of Cooperative (Industry-College) Education has been accepted.

    The Senate has branched out in areas affecting the academic faculty -- although not in the classroom or academic program. These include the relation with others (the Faculty-Student Relations, the Faculty-Administrative Coordinating Committee, and the Ombudsman proposal), and the individual problems of the faculty (parking, retirement, sick leave, sabbatical leave).

    The establishment of new Senate procedural rules has simplified the internal working of the Senate.

    The Senate has its share of sadness, too. We have lost our Secretary of long standing whose minutes and reports of action of the Senate gave a personality to the Senate, even in the period when the Senate was considered "inactive" -- Gilbert W. Boyd.

    Senator Halkola moved that the Senate receive with appreciation the President's report. Unanimous approval was expressed by voice vote.

  6. Senator Kenny moved to discharge the Ad Hoc Committee on Grievance Committee -- Procedures with the thanks of the Senate.
    Unanimous approval was expressed by voice vote.

  7. Senator Price moved that the Senate sponsor a General Faculty Meeting which would be used for the purpose of presenting an annual Senate report to the faculty.
    Vote by show of hands: 13 Yes, 7 No, 4 Abstain

  8. Senator Freyberger made the following motions with regard to tenure on Senate Committees:

    1. Tenure on Standing Committees of the Senate shall be two years, with the appointments staggered so that overlap of membership is provided during operation of the committee.
      Vote by show of hands: 22 Yes, 2 Abstain

    2. Members of Standing Committees of the Senate shall not be appointed to other Senate committees.
      Vote by show of hands: 23 Yes, 1 Abstain


The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

G.P. Krueger
Senate Secretary