THE university SENATE OF
MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

 

Minutes of Meeting 435

1 March 2006

Synopsis: 

The Senate

(1)   heard that all proposals sent to the Board of Control were approved at its meeting on 24 February

(2)   were advised that nominees are needed for a number of university committees and senatorial positions.

(3)   heard a presentation by Christa Walck on Proposal 23-06, Master of Business Administration Degree

(4)   discussed Proposal 24-06, Proposal to extend Martin Luther King Jr. Day to a Full Day Recess

(5)   discussed the Career Day Resolution from Undergraduate Student Government.

1.     CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

President Sloan called the University Senate Meeting 435 to order at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, 1 March 2006, in Room B45 EERC.

Secretary Glime called roll.  Absent were at-large Senators Don Beck and Brenda Helminen and representatives from Army/Air Force ROTC, Physical Education, Academic Services A, Academic Services C, and Auxiliaries.  Liaisons in attendance were Becky Christianson (Staff Council), Liz Van Heusden (USG), and Nick Nanninga (GSC).  Academic Services C and Auxiliaries currently have no elected representatives.

2.     RECOGNITION OF VISITORS

Guests included Phil Ribeiro (Pres. USG), Kayla Stewart (Daily Mining Gazette), Sharron Paris (Registrar), and Christa Walck (Dean SBC).

3.     APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Seidel MOVED and Polzien seconded the motion to approve the agenda. 

Senator Milligan asked what happened to the proposals that were introduced in the last meeting.  President Sloan responded that they had been sent back to committee for consideration of the comments made at the last meeting.

The motion to approve the agenda PASSED on voice vote with no dissent. [Appendix A. NOTE: Only senate and library archival copies of minutes will have a full complement of appendices.]

5.     approval of minutes from meeting 434

 Waddell MOVED and Clancey seconded the motion to approve the minutes of Meeting 434 as presented.  The motion PASSED on voice vote with no dissent.

6.     President’s Report

President Sloan reported that the Provost will miss this meeting and the next one due to a conference on technology startups and the Board of Control retreat.

Proposals:  The Board of Control at its meeting last Friday approved all Senate proposals presented to it. These included:

·          final approval for the BS in Anthropology

·          first approval for the BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

·          first approval for the BS in Exercise Science

·          the degree title change in technology

·          the new Ombuds policy

The Provost today, before leaving for the airport, has outlined several issues he and other members of the Administration have with Senate proposals 9-06 and 10-06 on transfer of faculty between units and 11-06 on charters.  These proposals will be reviewed by the appropriate committees.

Evaluation of the President:  The evaluation survey for the president has ended.  The Administrative Policy Committee is compiling the results, which are expected at the Senate meeting on 22 March.  The Board of Control, which holds a retreat in Detroit that same day, has requested preliminary feedback for its own evaluation of the president.

Nominations and Elections

Senators:  So far 3 out of 8 academic units with vacancies have elected and reported representatives for the next term.  Four staff units have vacancies to be filled for the next term.  There is one nomination for the faculty at-large vacancy.

Committees:  There are openings on the Academic Tenure Committee: a) one tenured faculty member elected by academic faculty and b) a slate for presidential appointment (one vacancy); Athletic Council: two vacancies filled by slate for presidential appointment; Faculty Distinguished Service Award Committee: one elected by faculty (Beth Smock's position); Ombudsman Search Committee: one member elected by the academic faculty (also required is one person appointed by President - do we need a slate of nominees?) and one person elected by and from the Senate.

We will send you information about these openings right after spring break so you can see if any of your constituents are interested. Because we have agreed to try to hold elections for those positions elected by academic faculty at the same time as the Senator-at-large election, we will need to determine nominees earlier than usual.

There were no questions.

7.     New Business

A.  Senator Gorman introduced Proposal 23-06, Master of Business Administration Degree. [Appendix B]

Walck (Dean of the School of Business) presented the MBA program.  This program name is more recognized than the current name of MSBA.  It also fills a need for more flexibility for the students.  The MBA is a spin-off of the current MSBA, so it does not need as much documentation as a new program, but it still does need state approval.

The program is designed so it can be completed in three semesters, or one calendar year.  It requires 36 credits, whereas the MSBA requires only 30.  It will be a plan D Master's, which is typical for the MBA.  With an anticipated 50 students per year getting an MBA and a projected 100 students as the program grows, there would not be enough faculty time to cover 50 oral defenses a year.  Since the program targets  MTU graduates in science and engineering, it could function like a fifth-year Master's, but would also be available to other students.

Students accepted this year into the MSBA  program would have a choice between that and the MBA program once it is approved.  After the MBA program is in effect, no more students would be accepted into the MSBA program.  The school also has an approved MSOM (Operations Management) program, but does not currently offer it.

The AACSB is the accrediting body for the business programs.  In 2002 they changed the rules to a more mission-driven approach and approve programs that are crafted around the mission of the universities.

The School of Business has determined that the fast track is the best choice for their students.  There is no other MBA program in the Upper Peninsula, and the nearest program is over 200 miles away.

The curriculum would consist of 24 credits of core courses and 12 credits of electives.  It does not include any new courses at this time.

The program would not require any additional resources.  They have a $750,000 Brule Challenge Grant in which Board of Control member Brule offered $250,000 if the School could triple it.  Two new faculty lines have already been allocated, but have not been filled yet because they were waiting to see what expertise would best fit their new program.

The next review of their program is scheduled for 2010.  The AACSB considers a new program to be accredited until it is reviewed.

They hope to start this program in fall 2006.  That would be a transition year in which both programs would be active.

There are three summer courses planned; the school will try to choose core courses as well as electives for the summer.

Senator Nitz asked how many engineers would have the prerequisites required for the listed courses.  Walck responded that the science and engineering degrees required calculus and that most students would have taken some of the other courses as well.  Most students would probably need three of the prerequisites. 

Senator Johnson stated that the School of Technology has planned its programs so that students can go to the business program's Master's.  He asked if the requirement for 36 hours is likely to adversely affect these students.  Most of them don't want to spend more than one year.

Walck responded that they need to plan and take prerequisites as undergraduates.

Senator Vitton asked if the MSBA degree wouldn't be more impressive.  Walck responded that most people have to ask what an MSBA program is; the MBA degree is widely known.

Phil Ribeiro (Pres. USG) asked if there would be any accreditation problem.  Do we have the right faculty?

Walck responded that they already have a number of good faculty in the right areas and would be hiring two more.

When asked about the number of students expected, Walck responded that she expected about 50, but she would love to double that number.

President Sloan stated that the Chair of the Finance Committee was unable to attend this meeting but that he had stated that he saw no problems with the proposal since outside money was available.

Walck added that the Graduate Dean, Provost, and other deans had a favorable response to the proposal.

B.  President Sloan introduced Proposal 24-06, Proposal to extend Martin Luther King Jr. Day to a Full Day Recess [Appendix C].

Senator Wood asked if this could cause changes to any other holidays.  Sloan responded that it would not.

Nitz asked about effects for next year.  Secretary Glime responded that next year it would fall on the first day of the semester, so that classes would start on Tuesday instead.  Glime explained that when the calendar change to semesters was discussed, the Senate had discussed a full day vs. a half day for MLK Day and decided on the half day, in part, because of such years as 2007 when the semester starts on MLK Day.  There was concern then that there would be no opportunity for the programs sponsored by BSA to provide education on what Martin Luther King Jr. stood for. 

Liz Van Heusden (USG) stated that the USG had considered the proposal and defeated it.  They argued that it would take away from classes and that one could also argue to make President's Day a holiday because both were national holidays.

Johnson countered that a half day is very disruptive due to multiple sections of labs and lectures.  His faculty were overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal.  They also felt that a half-day holiday was hypocritical.

Senator Janners stated that observing doesn't mean not working.  We can observe the day by talking about the issues.  Vitton stated that the U of M had only a half-day holiday.  Van Heusden added that Northern does not have a holiday.

Johnson reiterated his support for a whole day or not at all.

Senator Miskioglu agreed that there is the same problem with K-Day.

Senator Sutter stated that if you lose one lab, you also lose the other lab days that week. 

Senator Boschetto-Sandoval stated that if there are classes that day, students will not necessarily discuss the issues related to celebrating the life of Martin Luther King Jr.; it will be business as usual.

Wood stated that our way of recognizing MLK Day impacts our attraction to minority students.

Senator Milligan responded that we need to ask the Black Student's Association for their view.

C.  President Sloan introduced the Career Day Resolution from Undergraduate Student Government.  Senators had been given a copy of a proposed Senate Resolution on the subject to get a sense of the Senate [Appendix D].  

Senator Turnquist presented a perspective from the Career Center.  He stated that in 2004-05 there was 95% placement of our students.  They have to prep students for the interviews, so Career Day must be later in the year.

Companies call students and encourage them to attend the Career Day/Job Fair.  They try to avoid days when there are sports events, Board of Control meetings, or other major meetings; they need all the rooms they can get.

When the company representatives come, they want to spend several days here and come only once.  It is expensive for them to come here.  Although students meet representatives on Career Day, 60% of the interviews are on the following two days.  Approximately 2000 interviews occurred on the day after.  The interview times are not set up until Career Day, at the request of the interviewers.  If they get the type of students they want, the companies are willing to invest more money in the University, not just in interviewing, but also in supporting programs and research.

Senator Bruch asked how far in advance the dates of Career Days are known.  Turnquist responded that the first Tuesday in October is the preferred day.  It is known now for next fall.  Janners asked if we didn't just have a Career Day.  Turnquist responded yes, that we now have two per year.

Johnson asked what the hours are for Career Day.  Turnquist responded it ran 9-4.  When asked if it could be on Saturday, the Advisory Board advised against it, stating that companies wouldn't come.

Ribeiro stated that having exams and needing time to study for them on Career Day leaves little time to go to the SDC for Career Day.  Vitton asked what the probability is that a student would have three exams on that particular day. 

Senator Waddell asked if this only affects juniors and seniors.  Turnquist responded that it is important for all four years.  Students need to start planning careers early and need to line up internships and co-ops.

Ribeiro reminded the Senate that students have to be there to sign up for interviews.

Glime asked if it was possible to continue Career Day in the evening so that students with tests could have an opportunity to sign up for interviews.  Turnquist responded that the evenings are used for information programs and the interviewers would not be available.

Janners asked if the proposal is only for the fall Career Day or for both.  Ribeiro responded that it is intended for both.

Senator Kern questioned what is meant by exam and suggested that it must be clear in the proposal what is meant by exam.  She asked if faculty were already accommodating students who needed to go to Career Day.  Ribeiro responded that some do and some don't; the USG feels that if this is treated as a recommendation it will be ignored by the faculty. 

Nitz stated that there would be lots of exams the week between Winter Carnival and Career Day because of the moratorium on exams on Carnival Day.  Ribeiro stated that students prefer exams the week before Carnival, not the week after.

Vitton observed that there seem to be more problems due to interviews than to Career Day itself.

Turnquist reminded the Senate that we should not put obstacles on the companies.

Boschetto-Sandoval asked if a reminder could be sent to the faculty about times to avoid for exams.  Sloan added that many faculty are unaware of days when they are not to give exams or have misconceptions about them.  She has asked the Senate Assistant to find the dates and send a reminder to faculty before each term so that they can consider these in developing the syllabus.

Waddell stated that he couldn't find the Winter Carnival policy in the Faculty Handbook.  Others said it was in the catalog and Student Handbook.

Johnson stated that he didn't understand that students spend the whole day at Career Day.  He was concerned that the School of Technology has many half-semester courses and it is already hard to schedule enough tests.

Sharron Paris (Registrar) stated that a subcommittee of the Student Commission is working on providing the faculty with a calendar of events to build around.

Senator Boersma asked if evening exams would work.  Van Heusden responded that she felt students were okay with that.

Vitton reminded the Senate that evening is when the interviewers meet with groups of students and provide free pizza.  Waddell asked if faculty didn't already have the option to excuse students for a university-sponsored event.  Janners responded that it isn't required.  Ribeiro added that the same faculty who are inflexible in scheduling exams are inflexible on excusing students.

Turnquist stated that companies can't believe that we can get 3000 students there and that we are the most prepared.

Senator Jambekar asked why the interviews couldn't be virtual.  Turnquist responded that the companies prefer one-on-one; lots of people are not comfortable with interviewing through a TV medium.

Paris stated that a sense of the Senate doesn't hold up historically.  There needs to be a policy.

Kern stated that she prefers to accommodate a professional absence rather than one for recreation like Winter Carnival.

Boschetto-Sandoval commented that many students become ill after Winter Carnival and that maybe it would be better to have Career Day scheduled later.  Turnquist responded that the companies want them earlier but that Carnival interferes.

Senator Sutter stated that the proposal needs to be worded more generically to cover both Career Day events.

Turnquist added that it needs to include all students; it is important to graduate students too.  Johnson added that it is important for freshmen.

Bruch asked if it would be a Senate proposal.  Sloan responded that the Executive Committee will discuss this and decide whether to make it a proposal.  Senators should send feedback to President Sloan.

8.     Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 6:50 pm.

 

Respectfully Submitted by Janice M. Glime

Secretary of the University Senate