Synopsis: The Senate

(1) heard that the academic faculty elected Tom Courtney to the Academic Tenure Committee and Carol Berkenkotter to the Faculty Review Committee.

(2) approved 1999-2000 Senate Committee assignments.

(3) introduced Senate Proposals 3-00, Revision of Senate Bylaws and 4-00, Policy on Half-Semester Courses.

(4) tabled Proposals 1-99, 2-99, 3-99, and 4-99.

(5) amended and passed Proposal 16-99, Professional Development Leave for Non-faculty, Non-represented, Exempt Staff.

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1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
President Seely called University Senate Meeting 320 to order at 5:32 p.m. on Wednesday, 13 October 1999, in Room B45 EERC.

Secretary Reed called roll. Absent were At-large Senator Carol MacLennan and representatives from Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Education, Institute of Wood Research, School of Technology, Institute of Materials Processing, and Research and Graduate School/University Relations/Administrative Offices. Liaison in attendance was Ted Soldan (Staff Council).

2. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS
Marcia Goodrich (Tech Topics) was the only guest.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
B. Reed MOVED and Pegg seconded the motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion to approve PASSED on voice vote with no dissent. [Appendix A. NOTE: Only official Senate and Library archival copies of the minutes will contain a full complement of appendices.]

4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MEETINGS 317 AND 318
Prince MOVED and Long seconded the motion to approve the minutes of meeting 317 as presented. The motion PASSED on voice vote with no dissent.

Ftaclas MOVED and Ouellette seconded the motion to approve the minutes of meeting 318 as presented. The motion PASSED on voice vote with no dissent.

5. REPORT FROM SENATE PRESIDENT
President Seely reported that the Senate received a communication from Dean Janners regarding the new members of the Academic Integrity Committee. They are Faith Morrison, Anthony Moretti, and Andrew Wellbuam. A training session will be scheduled soon.

The Senate Elections Committee reported that the academic faculty elected Tom Courtney to the Academic Tenure Committee and Carol Berkenkotter to the Faculty Review Committee. President Seely publicly thanked all of those who agreed to stand for election.

Seely met with Bob Warrington and Max Seel to begin a process of discussion with the deans and administrators regarding the Senate proposal to initiate a strategic planning review process.

Seely received a note from President Tompkins stating that as a result of the National Advisory Board meeting he was establishing a nine person working group to assist him in the development and initial implementation of a strategic planning process. Seely was asked to serve. Warrington and Seel will co-chair the working group. The preliminary charge to the committee states: The Working Group will help me put together the ground rules "for development of portfolios" from key entities, that is Colleges and Schools, Information Technology, Student Affairs, etc. according to a "standard template." Each portfolio will be limited to no more than 16 pages double-spaced, the dozen or so portfolios will be distilled to a final strategic statement of no more than 24 pages. The ground rules will include a vision statement that the working group and I, and also through a public process, will have agreed upon. Portfolios will be expected to align with and support that vision statement.

The intent is to have the document prepared by March for the Board of Control retreat. The 24 page first draft will be a primary basis for that retreat. The document will also be discussed across campus through various mechanisms.

The Fringe Benefits Committee, Senate Officers and Provost Dobney will meet on October 21 to discuss Senate Proposal 12-98, Revision of the Retirement Medical Benefit Plan.

The Senate web page is up and running.

President Seely reported on reaction to recent radio advertisements that were launched through the integrated marketing plan under Advancement. Concerns were over statements in the ads with reference to "tree-huggers" and "computer nerds." The immediate response was to pull the ad and adjust the language. The target audience was 12 - 17-year-olds and the intent was to present Michigan Tech as more than an engineering school.

The first television ad will be filmed on campus on Thursday, October 14.

Senator Davis and Vice President for Finance and Administration Bill McGarry will make a presentation at the October 27 meeting regarding the June 30, 1999 financial statements.

Seely is working to reestablish the Ad Hoc Committee on Distance Education.

Seely is seeking a Senate member willing to serve on the Faculty Distinguished Service Award Committee.

6. COMMITTEE BUSINESS/REPORTS
1999-2000 Senate Committee Assignments
Seely presented a slate of committee assignments. Williams MOVED and Kunz seconded the motion to approve the slate of committee members as presented. The motion to accept PASSED on voice vote with no opposition. [Appendix B]

Seely asked the interim chairs to convene a meeting to select the chairs of the committees.

7. NEW BUSINESS
The two proposals were introduced as new business. [Appendices C-D]
A. Proposal 3-00, Revision of Senate Bylaws
This proposal is intended to reflect a recent internal reorganization of the School of Forestry and Wood Products by removing the Institute of Wood Research as a represented unit in the Senate. The IWR faculty would be represented by the School of Forestry and Wood Products unit and the staff would be represented by the Academic Services Non Engineering unit.

B. Proposal 4-00, Policy on Half-Semester Courses
This proposal is in response to a request from departments to develop a procedure to offer specialized courses. It is designed to establish such a procedure for a three-year trial period.

8. OLD BUSINESS [See minutes, page 8135, for a copy of these proposals.]
A. Proposal 1-99, Policy and Procedures for a Financial Crisis

B. Proposal 2-99, Policy and Procedures for Periods of Financial Stress

C. Proposal 3-99, Board of Control Policy for a Financial Crisis

D. Proposal 4-99, Board of Control Policy for a Period of Financial Stress
Vilmann MOVED and Drummer seconded the motion to accept Proposals 1-99, 2-99, 3-99, and 4-99.

Senator Kunz asked if the procedures during a financial crisis could be implemented in sufficient time to cope.

Senator Snyder responded that Bob Keen indicated that the committee gave considerable thought to the time line, and that the steps for declaring a crisis can be accomplished in a few days. Blanning noted that the proposals would eliminate unilateral declarations of a crisis situation.

Senator Ftaclas stated that Proposal 2-99 does not include statements relative to preferential rehiring of removed persons, noting an inconsistency with the wording of 1-99.

Seely responded that the statements are in 1-99 and will check to see if the statements are supposed to be in 2-99.

Davis MOVED and Williams seconded the motion to table Proposals 1-99, 2-99, 3-99, and 4-99. The motion to table PASSED on voice vote with no opposition.

E. Proposal 16-99, Professional Development Leave for Non-faculty, Non-represented, Exempt Staff [Appendix E]
Long MOVED and Williams seconded the motion to bring Proposal 16-99 from the table. The motion to bring from the table PASSED on voice vote with no opposition.

Senator LaCourt (Chair, Professional Staff Policy Committee) reviewed the policy, procedures, and application form. A major area of concern was the approval process. There is no veto power until the application is at the vice presidential level. Supervisors review applications but do not approve.

Senator Moore asked that the clause "(except in cases of University financial stress or crisis - refer to separation policy)" be added to item 7 of the application to be consistent with the policy. President Seely ruled the change as editorial. There were no objections.

Chavis MOVED and Prince seconded the motion to table Proposal 16-99. The motion to table FAILED on voice vote.

Snyder MOVED and Williams seconded the motion to amend the Approvals section of the policy so that it reads, "The Professional Development Leave application must be reviewed by the immediate supervisor and forwarded through appropriate supervisory levels up to the appropriate vice presidential level. The application can only be approved or rejected by the appropriate vice president (or equivalent) and the president." President Seely ruled the amendment as editorial. There were no objections. The motion to amend PASSED on voice vote with no opposition.

There was no further discussion. The motion to accept Proposal 16-99 as amended PASSED on voice vote.

9. ADJOURNMENT
Williams MOVED and Drummer seconded the motion to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 6:59 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted by David D. Reed
Secretary of the University Senate