The University Senate

of Michigan Technological University

 

Minutes of Meeting 515

1 February 2012

 

Synopsis:

·         Introduction of Proposal 12-12: “BS in Engineering Management” (Voting Units: Academic) presented by Dean Darrell Radson, Curricular Policy and Finance Committees

·         Presentation: “Graduate Student Government” by Kevin Cassell and Margo Woller-Carter

·         Discussed Proposal 11-12: “Evaluation Procedure for the University Senate” (Voting Units: Full Senate) presented by Senator Madhu Vable

 

1. Call to order and roll call. President Rudy Luck called the University Senate Meeting 515 to order at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012. The Senate Secretary Brian Barkdoll called roll. Absent were representatives of Army/Air Force ROTC, Biomedical Engineering, Material Science and Eng., Physics, Auxiliaries and Cultural Enrich., Advancement, IT, Student Affairs, Undergraduate Student Government, and Staff Council.

Recognition of visitors. Guests included Max Seel (Provost Office), Stacey Kukkonen (Daily Mining Gazette), Anita Quinn (Human Resources), Kyle Axline (Undergraduate Student Government), Darrell Radson (School of Business and Economics), Jackie Huntoon (Graduate School), Travis Pierce (Student Life), Brad Wagner (School of Business and Economics), Margo Woller-Carter (Graduate Student Government).

2. Approval of agenda. Luck asked if there were any changes; there being none Luck declared the agenda stood approved.       

3. Approval of minutes from Meetings 514.  Luck asked if there were any changes; there being none Luck declared the minutes stood approved.

 

4.  Introduction of Proposal 12-12: “BS in Engineering Management” (Voting Units: Academic) presented by Dean Darrell Radson, Curricular Policy and Finance Committees

Radson gave some background why the degree is needed stating that some alumni of COE are concerned about curriculum and are asking for this type of degree.  Firms want to hire people as managers that have both a technical and business background.  Other universities have this type of program.  Graduates from Radson’s previous university had no problem getting jobs with this degree in technical sales, product management etc.  and are respected by both management and engineers.  This degree fits with the SBE mission of merging business and engineering.  The degree is cross-disciplinary and was developed with help from Leonard Bohmann from the College of Engineering.  Students will be able to specialize in one of the engineering disciplines.  Riehl asked where students will come from.  Radson replied that at other universities students were about 70% directly into the program and 30% transfer from engineering.  Riehl asked if there were any advantages over a student getting an engineering degree and an MBA? Radson replied that it could save time and it’s what companies want, according to advisory board member(s). Luck asked if the student will get much engineering knowledge. Radson answered that they would get as much as companies may want or they could learn more on the job. Vable asked what effects the program would have on the student body, i.e., more quality or quantity?  Radson stated that freshman enrollment is declining due to high tuition in SBE.  This degree will attract more students.  Seel added that even internal transfer to this program will help increase retention. Onder asked what the difference was between this program and the current Service Systems Engineering program. Radson replied that there is more business including our business two-semester capstone courses.  Riehl asked if employers were looking for more of an industrial/service systems engineer with an engineering focus or more on an engineering manager with a management focus. Radson replied that they are looking for more balance of both technical and business skills.  Also, this program will have a Business Development Experiences 2-course capstone sequence that SSE does not have in which business and engineering enterprises work together.  Luck asked for comments from the Curricular Policy Committee and the Finance Committee. Storer stated that CPC supports it.  Mullins suggested that the program be made accreditable by both the business accreditation body, AACSB and the engineering accreditation body, ABET.  Radson replied that AACSB accredits schools, but they look at each program.  This program will be in the next accreditation cycle for SBE.  Seel said that they had been talking for 2 years and had input from alumni, SBE, and COE already and that changes could be made later.  Mullins expressed concern that graduates could not go on for an engineering graduate degree unless the program was ABET accredited. Seel said that the program was not designed for that.  Luck asked if they have looked at how many more courses to make it ABET accredited.  Mullins stated that ABET accreditation does not go by the number of courses.  Mullins also asked for clarification of the definition of adding “30-40 students.”  Radson replied that these were total in the program over the next 3-4 years and added that these were usually smaller programs.  

 

5. Presentation: “Graduate Student Government” by Kevin Cassell and Margo Woller-Carter

Cassell and Woller-Carter, gave a presentation addressing several issues of interest.  Cassell encouraged faculty to attend the Graduate Research Colloquium. He gave an update on GSG travel grants.  The graduate students were asked about reducing Thanksgiving break to two or three days and the general feedback was not to do so.  They also did not feel that a 2-3 day study break after the sixth or seventh week of the semester was necessary or would help relieve student stress.  Regarding a survey about what could be done to make graduate students more research active, the responses suggested having more research topics, allowing more than 30 credits in the masters degree, getting more details about research options, making the Annual Research Report accessible, and online sharing of research interests.  Woller-Carter gave info on health care stating that graduate students would like a walk-in clinic at the SDC.  There are courses on health issues. Some feel that there currently is not adequate care. GSG is working with Huntoon and the Benefits Committee.  One option is to have a mid-level person such as a physician’s assistant that is overseen by a doctor.  GSG is working with an MTU committee on going smoke-free, and suggested having help available for quitting smoking.  Some international students are used to socialized medicine and our health system is confusing.  Portage Health personnel came in to explain the system to them.  Regarding parking, there is concern over increased parking fees, issues with Lot 39 spaces cut, and accessibility. Which lots will be plowed at 7AM so graduate students can come in early to set up for 8AM labs? Students want extended bus hours after 5PM if they work late.  Also, the Emergency phones on campus are hard to find.  Additionally, students want improvement on IT issues such as speed.  Onder asked about the smoke-free committee and stated that he worked on it previously. Woller-Carter stated that a new committee is working on it now. 

 

6) Reports

a. Senate President

Luck gave an update on the BLG meeting regarding health care stating that MTU is considering going from self–insured to fully insured or networking with other universities.  Consultants have been hired and will report more later.  Also, the MI Senate exempted universities from health care exemptions for domestic partners. Luck thanked the MTU Senate for their Sense of Senate resolution on this matter.  Luck asked for approval of typo correction regarding dates on the proposals regarding the newly proposed physics degrees and it was passed.  Seel said that the typos were found before approval by the MI Senate.  Luck stated that Onder was appointed as the Convener for the Research Policy Committee and Riehl for the Elections Committee.

 

b. Senate Standing Committees

Caneba said that a draft is ready of the President and VP evaluation and was forwarded to the President for any additional questions to add. Onder encouraged feedback on the new MTU Conflict of Interest Policy once it is finalized by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. Luck also encouraged feedback.

c. Provost

Seel stated that the Senate President will now introduce the graduating class at the commencement ceremony.  Seel also thanked the Research Policy Committee and former Chair Barkdoll for administering the Research Productivity Survey.  Reed is discussing the suggestions from the survey with his staff and will make details known at a later date.  Seel also stated that he will follow up on smoke-free issue.

 

7) Old Business: None

 

8) New Business:

Proposal 11-12: “Evaluation Procedure for the University Senate” (Voting Units: Full Senate) presented by Senator Madhu Vable

Vable emphasized that the evaluation procedure is for Senate processes, priorities, and communications. No individual senator or Senate committee will be evaluated. He said the feedback from the Senate constituents on Senate issues will make the Senate more relevant in the operation of the university.  He followed the proposal for the evaluation survey of the administration.   He suggested the work could be reduced by conducting the survey every other year and by collating the comments for each question for distribution to Senators. Unlike administration evaluation there are no individuals being evaluated hence the need for confidentiality is small and the comments associated with each question could be distributed to the Senators for synopsis. He asked for feedback from the Senators.  Herbig asked if the questions could be added to the survey evaluating the administration. It was generally concluded that this would be confusing to the respondents.  Storer pointed out that there could be hundreds of comments.  Vable pointed out that there is typically about a 25% response rate. Storer suggested adding to the proposal about all senators helping organize the responses.  Onder wondered how it will help the Senate improve itself.  Vable responded that a formal structure gets more information than informal suggestion.  Vable suggested the Administrative Policy Committee should be responsible for coordinating the Senators and overseeing the evaluation.    There was no immediate answer. Vable will make some changes and send out a revised version.  Caneba mentioned that there is a lot of work involved with regard to the administration evaluation that it might be possible to with have his committee be a coordinating committee with Senators pitching in to write the synopsis for 1 question each.

  Storer suggested no open-ended questions at first, then modify later based on responses.  Woller-Carter said that university-sanctioned survey software allows for follow-up questions only if dissatisfied and that that may limit the amount of open-ended comments to read through.

 

9. Adjournment. 

Onder moved to adjourn; Scarlett seconded the motion. President Luck adjourned the meeting at 6:45pm.

 

Respectfully submitted
by Brian Barkdoll
Secretary of the University Senate