MINUTES OF MEETING NUMBER 76
OF The
sENATE OF mICHIGAN tECHNOLOGical university

24 April 1974

(Senate Minute pages: 937-957)

Meeting No. 76 was called to order on Wednesday, April 24, 1974 at 7:05 p.m. in the Faculty Lounge by President V.L. Doane.

The roll was called by the Secretary. Twenty-four members or alternates were present. Absent were Barstow (AL), Boutilier (MA), Danielson (IWR), Edelen (SC), Olson (MG), Ortner (AL), and Stebler (AT).

 

The Minutes of Meeting No. 75 were approved as distributed.

Senate President's Report was delivered by President Doane and is included here as Appendix A (Available by Request from the Senate Office).



Report on Meetings of the Academic Council and Board of Control

  1. Hodek's report on recent meetings of the Academic Council is included here as Appendix B (Available by Request from the Senate Office).

  2. Doane reported that there had been no meetings of the Board of Control meeting since the last Senate meeting but that she would include a report on the meeting of April 26 in these minutes. See Appendix C (Available by Request from the Senate Office).

 

Committee Reports

A. Curricular Policy

Spain introduced Proposal 8-74, Baccalaureate Credit for Associate Degree Courses by moving that it be adopted. Following a second and a brief history of the proposal by Spain, Alexander moved that the proposal be amended by changing the second sentence to read as follows: "The courses and the credits acceptable in a baccalaureate degree program shall be the prerogative of the degree-granting department." The amendment was seconded and following a ruling by the chair that the amendment would be considered editorial in nature, the amendment passed. Following a discussion, the proposal passed by a vote of 20 Yes, 2 No.

Spain then moved the adoption of Proposal 9-74, Development of 3-2 Programs. After a second, Spain reviewed the history of the concept of the 3-2 program here at Michigan Tech. In the subsequent discussion several objections were made to giving blanket approval to a new program where no details were specified. Horvath then moved to amend the proposal editorially by removing the designation "9-74" and re-title the proposal as a "Resolution", thus emphasizing the fact that it is a resolution of support and that any details involving departure from established University policy would still come before the Senate at some future time. The amendment was seconded and passed. The amendment has the effect of deleting the number "9-74" from the list of proposals for the 1974-75 Senate. The Resolution then carried by a vote of 22 Yes, 0 No.

Spain then moved the adoption of Proposal 10-74, External Degree Programs. Following a second, Horvath moved to amend the proposal by striking the sentence reading, "The Curricular Policy Committee makes the following recommendations, etc." and replacing it with, "The administration of such programs should be subject to the following conditions:

  1. External degree programs, etc.
  2. Any external degree program, etc.
  3. Any instructors hired, etc."

The amendment was passed. Alexander then moved to amend the proposal by striking the opening clause, "Be it resolved that." The amendment passed, and the chair ruled that both amendments were editorial in nature. Proposal 10-74 then passed in its final form by a vote of 17 Yes, 3 No.

Spain then described the two alternatives the committee had to select from as concerns the HU-SS approved course list. One is to have a University-wide list generated which would include courses suitable for each and every major on the campus. The other is to have a separate list for each school or college. In the discussion which followed it was pointed out that the former alternative would require that the universal list comply with the requirements of the most restrictive curriculum. The feeling was that this would be engineering and the restrictions would preclude the inclusion of courses such as speech and photography. Spain agreed to convey the comments to the committee.

B. Institutional Evaluation

Quinones read excerpts from the minutes of a recent meeting of the committee. His report appears here as Appendix E (Available by Request from the Senate Office). In response to a question from the floor as to the work of the committee on evaluating facets of the University other than the faculty, Quinones responded that he was concentrating on faculty evaluation as a focal point for a start by the committee.

C. Instructional Policy

Hodek reported that, as of now, no faculty member has contacted the committee in response to its offer to meet with individuals concerning administrative attempts to influence grading. He concluded with the remark, "Apparently everyone is happy."

D. Academic Calendar - Structure

Weaver listed the members of the committee and reported that their work is well under way. The members are : Barstow (Business Administration), Pintar (Engineering), Stinson (Arts and Sciences), Frederick (Forestry), Parker (Applied Technology), and Susan Dennis (Student).

E. Audio-Visual Instructional Material

In Rakestraw's absence, DelliQuadri read his motion to approve Proposal 7-74, Audio-Visual Materials Policy, as amended. The motion was seconded and carried by a vote of 14 Yes, 3 No.

F. Curricular Impact - No report.

G. Elections

President Doane informed the Senate of Mr. Velics' illness and reported that Professor Bahrman and Elvira Gundlach had promised to tabulate the results of the Senator-At-Large election in time for inclusion in the minutes of this meeting.

Secretary's Note: The first election was inconclusive since the top three candidates did not receive a majority. For the information of all concerned, members of the Senate will be informed of the results of a run-off election as soon as they are available after May 6. Names of the newly-elected Senators will also appear in the Annual Report.

H. Elections Procedure - No Report

I. Promotion Policy Review

Crowther reported that the committee had submitted to Vice President Stebbins a new set of proposed criteria for promotion. No final agreement had been reached at this time. The set appears here as Appendix F (Available by Request from the Senate Office).

DelliQuadri asked the Secretary what the status of the review procedure was, requesting that a report be included in the minutes.

Secretary's Note: The above submission is part of the consultation process between the Vice President and the Senate called for in item III of the Promotional Policy adopted by the Board of Control in 1972. That policy makes no mention of a review procedure, nor does Senate Proposal 6-72 which formed the basis for the policy. A further search back through the minutes reveals no mention of such a procedure in any recorded Senate business back to May 1966.

J. Roles of the Senate and Faculty Association

In Stebler's absence, President Doane read his report which is included here as Appendix G (Available by Request from the Senate Office).

 

Old Business

Julien reported on the salary data transmitted to the Senate by President Smith in response to Proposal 4-74. In his report Julien commented on data which was requested but not forthcoming, i.e., breakdown by departments and administrative salaries. Several comments were made to the effect that the data received were probably all that the administration felt that it could release. Most of the comments reflected satisfaction with the data.

Secretary's Note: The data will be published in detail in the Annual Report to the Faculty which will be prepared this summer. See your Senator for Julien's summary.

Thayer introduced Proposal 11-74, Use of Faculty Evaluation by moving its adoption. Following a second and a lengthy discussion, the motion was defeated by a vote of 3 Yes, 14 No.

 

New Business and Voluntary Remarks

President Doane mentioned the need for a committee to nominate candidates for Senate offices during the coming year and asked for volunteers for membership on that committee.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

 

Ralph S. Horvath
Secretary