THE
university SENATE OF
MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Minutes of Meeting 439
19 April 2006
Synopsis:
The Senate
(1) heard that Proposal 28-06 on lecturers had been withdrawn to permit broader discussion
(2) heard that Proposal 12-06 on biochemistry and molecular biology and 17-06 on exercise science majors were approved at the state academic officers meeting
(3) heard that Proposals 13-06 and 20-06, amendments of
tenure policy for extending the tenure clock and clarification of early tenure,
respectively, have been approved by the Administration and will go to a vote of
the faculty in the fall
(4) heard that the Administration approved Proposal 23-06, Master of
Business Administration, and it will be on the Board of Control agenda next
week
(5) heard that the Administration approved Proposal 24-06 to extend
Martin Luther King Jr. Day to a Full Day Recess (for students)
(6) announced election results for university committees: Ombuds Search Committee - James Gale; Faculty Distinguished Service Award - Diane Shoos; Faculty At-Large Senator - Michelle Miller; Academic Tenure Committee - Bruce Mork
(7) announced the membership of the Search Committee for the
Dean of Engineering: Seth Donahue, David Shonnard, Kris Mattila, Leonard
Bohmann, Norma Boersma, Alex Mayer, Pete Moran, and Brad King from academic
departments, Pete Edick (USG), and Pete Tobias (GSC); Becky Christiansen will
be ex officio from Human Resources
(8) elected Susan Martin and Dana Johnson to the Provost Search
Committee
(9) passed Proposal 9-06, Transfer
of Tenure and Rank between Academic Units, Proposal 10-06, Guidelines for
Transfer of Tenure and Rank between Academic Units, and Proposal 11-06, Revised
Procedures for Establishment and Amendment of Charters (to replace University
Senate Proposal 16-92)
(10) passed Proposal 25-06, Annual and Provisional Academic Calendars
(11) unanimously opposed Proposal 26-06, K-Day Recess Date
(12) passed Proposal 27-06, Commitment to International Research, Education, and Service
(13) approved Proposal 29-06, 2007-2008 Calendar, 2008-2009
Provisional Calendar
(14) re-affirmed earlier proposals passed by the Senate regarding tolerance and discrimination and passed a resolution condemning the 7 April chalkings.
1. CALL TO
ORDER AND ROLL CALL
President Sloan called the University Senate Meeting 439 to order at 5:42 pm on Wednesday, 19 April 2006, in Room B45 EERC.
Secretary Glime called roll. Absent were liaison Don Beck and representative from the Enrollment Management group. Liaisons in attendance were Becky Christianson (Staff Council) and Liz Van Heusden (USG). Academic Services C and Auxiliaries currently have no elected representatives.
2. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS
Guests included Kayla Stewart (Daily Mining Gazette), Pat Heiden (Chemistry), Cory Shorkey (K-Day Planning), Nicole Young (IFC K-Day Planning), and Jesse Manthei (IFC VP/K-Day Advisor).
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
President Sloan added item 7B, Provost Search Committee, to the agenda. Item 9A, Proposal 28-06 on lecturers, was withdrawn from the agenda by the originators of the proposal because neither could be at the meeting to introduce it and because there was widespread concern that it needed more time and thought.
Waddell requested the addition of item 9C for a resolution.
Senator Janners asked what committee would work on Proposal 28-06. Sloan responded that the present Committee on Academic Policy had refused to consider the proposal. It might go to the Executive Committee or the new Academic Policy Committee.
Waddell MOVED and Clancey seconded the motion to approve the agenda. The motion to approve the agenda as amended PASSED on voice vote with no dissent.
4. approval of minutes from meeting 437
Jambekar MOVED and Helminen seconded the motion to approve the minutes of Meeting 437 as presented. The motion PASSED on voice vote with no dissent.
5. President’s Report
President
Sloan reported that the Provost is unable to be here tonight because he is in
Washington, D.C.
Proposals: Proposal
12-06 on biochemistry and molecular biology and 17-06 on exercise science were
approved on 8 April at the state academic officers meeting and are on the Board
of Control Agenda next Friday. The Board
will also consider the proposed name change for the Department of Physical
Education.
The
Administration approved Proposals 13-06 and 20-06, amendments of tenure policy
for extending the tenure clock and clarification of early tenure respectively,
on 17 April. These amendments will go to a vote of the tenured and tenure-track
faculty in the fall, as required by tenure procedures.
The
Administration approved Proposal 23-06, Master of Business Administration, on 6
April and placed it on the Board of Control agenda for its first approval.
On
12 April the Administration approved Proposal 24-06 to extend Martin Luther
King Jr. Day to a Full Day Recess, with language indicating that the recess was
intended for students.
Election Results: The Election Committee chair provided names of the following winners of the recent constituency election for committee membership: Ombuds Search Committee - James Gale; Faculty Distinguished Service Award - Diane Shoos; Faculty At-Large Senator - Michelle Miller; Academic Tenure Committee - Bruce Mork.
We
appreciate all those who participated in this election.
Constituents: The
Executive Committee, at their meeting Thursday, approved the new professional
staff constituency groupings presented by the professional staff committee,
chaired by Joanne Polzien.
Provost Search: Tonight
we will elect two new members for the Provost Search Committee, one from
Sciences and Arts and one from the schools. The Search Committee chair met with
the President yesterday to discuss how the search should proceed.
CIO Search: Public
forums were held last week for each of the three final CIO candidates, John
Velat and Senators Walt Milligan and Scott Ackerman. The search committee is
preparing a report for the Provost.
Dean of Engineering Search: The
Search Committee for the Dean of Engineering includes representatives Seth
Donahue, David Shonnard, Kris Mattila, Leonard Bohmann, Norma Boersma, Alex
Mayer, Pete Moran, and Brad King. USG has appointed Pete Edick and GSC has
appointed Pete Tobias. Staff Council has one appointment and the Provost has
three. Becky Christiansen will be ex
officio from Human Resources. The committee can begin meeting once
three-fourths of the members are known.
6. Election of members of Provost Search committee
A. Representative from Sciences and Arts: Susan Martin (Social Sciences) was the only nominee. Boschetto-Sandoval MOVED and Janners seconded the motion to elect Susan Martin by acclamation. The motion PASSED on voice vote with no opposition.
B. Representative from "outside the colleges": Dana Johnson (School of Business) was the only nominee. Jambekar MOVED and Clancey seconded the motion to elect Dana Johnson by acclamation. The motion PASSED on voice vote with no opposition.
6. old business
A. Proposal 9-06, Transfer of Tenure and Rank between Academic Units
Waddell MOVED and Clancey seconded the motion to approve Proposal 9-06. The motion PASSED on voice vote of academic units with no opposition.
B. Proposal 10-06, Guidelines for Transfer of Tenure and Rank between Academic Units
Boersma MOVED and Nordberg seconded the motion to approve Proposal 10-06. The motion PASSED on voice vote of academic units with no opposition.
Pollins MOVED and Sutter seconded the motion to approve Proposal 11-06.
Senator Vitton asked about passing the charter by a simple majority. He stated that it would mean that the charter could discriminate against the minority.
The motion PASSED on voice vote of the full Senate with opposition.
D. Proposal 25-06, Annual and Provisional
Academic Calendars
Wagner MOVED and Waddell seconded the motion to approve Proposal 25-06. The motion PASSED on voice vote of academic units with no opposition.
E. Proposal 26-06, K-Day Recess Date
Boschetto-Sandoval MOVED and Clancey seconded the motion to approve Proposal 26-06.
President Sloan explained that its intent was to have two short weeks instead of one very short week.
Senator Janners asked if the people who plan K-Day had already started planning for fall 06.
Jesse Manthei (Vice President of IFC, K-Day advisor) responded that extensive planning was already completed.
Nicole Young (IFC K-Day Planning Committee) asked that the Senate not change K-Day for next year because nearly everything is already planned.
Cory Shorkey (K-Day Planning Committee) stated that he has long-term concerns as well. K-Day has been a long-standing tradition as a welcoming event. This concern goes beyond the concerns for next year, for which contracts have been signed and the legwork completed.
Liz Van Heusden (USG) asked that the Senate not change the long-term K-Day time. There are many activities after the second week, with a major event every weekend. The second week is calm and helps students settle into the rigors of studying.
Manthei confirmed what Van Heusden said, adding that he preferred a break from the activities during the second week.
Senator Amato stated that she was not convinced of any academic benefit (to having it a week later). It would be better to lose the first week when students are still moving courses.
Senator Miskioglu (Instructional Policy Committee) stated that the committee proposed the change based of the fact that if you have an afternoon class, it would meet only once the first week. He was now being convinced it was not a good idea to make the change.
Bruch MOVED and Williams seconded the motion to amend the proposal to begin in Academic year 2007-08.
Travis Pierce (Student Life) stated that the starting year doesn't matter. K-Day is part of the program for retention and welcoming of freshmen. It is the culmination of a lot of activities the first week. There are lots of week-end activities the other weeks.
The motion to amend PASSED on voice vote with no opposition.
Senator Nordberg stated that when the calendar was initially set up, there was concern about lab setups. Half-day holidays presented a problem with setting up and taking down multiple times. Having two weeks with holidays could increase that problem.
Senator Wagner stated that the semester doesn't always start after Labor Day. For first-year programs, it is important for students to get connected the first week. If K-Day is the first week, the students can focus on academics the second week.
The motion to approve Proposal 26-06 FAILED on voice vote of the academic members of the Senate with no support.
F. Proposal 27-06, Commitment to International
Research, Education, and Service
Waddell MOVED and Bruch seconded the motion to approve Proposal 27-06. The motion PASSED on voice vote of the full Senate with no opposition.
7. New Business
A. Proposal 29-06,
2007-2008 Calendar, 2008-2009 Provisional Calendar
Boschetto-Sandoval MOVED and Fynewever seconded the motion to approve Proposal 29-06. The motion PASSED on voice vote of academic units with no opposition.
Janners MOVED and Lewandowski seconded the motion to approve the resolution, which was distributed during the Senate meeting. This motion re-affirmed earlier statements passed by the Senate and made the statement "In light of the anti-gay chalkings that appeared on campus on the morning of April 7, we affirm our commitment to this proposal [Proposal 5-03], and we condemn these chalkings."
The motion to approve PASSED on voice vote of the full Senate with no opposition.
[Note: The addition of "sexual orientation" to the university discrimination statement was approved, along with other additions, in December 2005 and is now on the University website at <http://www.admin.mtu.edu/admin/boc/policy/ch3/ch3p7.htm> and <http://www.admin.mtu.edu/admin/procman/ch4p5.htm>. The Senate Assistant will investigate putting this resolution on the website with the statements from President Mroz and the USG and GSC Presidents, and sending it to all students.]
8. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 6:22 pm.
Respectfully Submitted by Janice M. Glime
Secretary of the University Senate