The University
Senate
of Michigan Technological University
Minutes of Meeting 532
10 April 2013
1. Call to order and roll call. President Bill
Bulleit called the University Senate Meeting 532 to order at 5:30 pm on
Wednesday, April 10, 2013. The Senate Secretary Brian Barkdoll called roll.
Absent were representatives of the Army/Air Force ROTC, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry,
Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology, Materials Science and Engineering,
Academic Services B, Auxiliaries, Student Affairs, and the Graduate Faculty
Council.
Recognition of visitors. Guests included
Max Seel (Provost’s Office), Dave Reed (Research),
and Stephen Anderson (Daily Mining Gazette).
2. Approval of
agenda. He
asked if there were any changes; the agenda PASSED on a voice vote.
3. Approval of
minutes from Meeting 531. Bulleit asked if
there were any changes. There being no additional suggestions, the minutes were
APPROVED on a voice vote.
4. Presentation: “Budget Issues” by David Reed, VP for Research
presentation
info.
Reed
answered questions regarding the university budget, including the university
debt using bonds issued for things like dorms and other buildings. Some bonds were refinanced to obtain a lower
interest rate, resulting in a lower net cost to the university. Another bond will be refinanced this year
that was interest-only with the principal due upon maturity. This bond will stretch out to 2028 with
payments on the principal also to avoid a large expenditure at maturity, even
though it will cost more overall.
The
bond rating company stated that the university’s financial outlook looks
negative due to available cash and
declining state appropriations. MTU is smaller
than other institutions and, therefore, has a smaller cash reserve. In addition, we have a more diverse revenue
stream that affects us. Items that
affect bond ratings could be layoffs and reduced budget, but MTU is trying to
avoid those measures. Our 2013 rating
will be downgraded to an A1 rating with a stable outlook. A1 rating is a common rating on other MI universities. There probably will be a negligible effect on
the bond interest rate.
Regarding
financial aid, appropriations have increased and will more next year. The discount rate has decreased slightly and may
be reduced more to cut costs. After
plateau tuition takes affect the administration will look at the discount rate
and may make adjustments.
International
student surcharge will be enacted to offset reporting and tracking costs by the
administration. The administration met
with international students and talked about issues such as no surcharge in
summer and phasing the surcharge in, since it can be substantial for students
to pay. Concerns were raised that the
number of graduate students may decline over this surcharge. Our out-of-state tuition is one of the
lowest, however.
5. Reports
a. Senate President
Bulleit said that Proposal
12-13 regarding dean searches had some changes but was signed by admin. The amended proposal was APPROVED unopposed.
b. Senate Standing Committees
Riehl
said that election voting has been sent out for some positions and asked for
more nominations for non-filled positions for a vote next meeting.
Dewey
presented information
on a proposed new bus system to help with the parking situation. It would consolidate the city bus system and the
university may contribute also. Alumni
Way plan may reduce parking and may cause traffic congestion at the west
end. This proposal would give people a
choice of transportation.
6. Old Business:
a. Proposal 13-13: “Review and Reappointment of
Deans of Colleges” presented by Administrative Policy Committee (Voting
Units: Full Senate)
Cleaning up language mostly. APPROVED
unopposed.
b. Proposal 20-13:
“Academic Calendar for 2014-15 and Provisional Calendar 2015-16”
presented by Instructional Policy Committee (Voting Units: Full Senate)
APPROVED
unopposed.
c. Proposal 21-13: “Audit Grades presented by Instructional
Policy Committee” (Voting Units:
Academic)
Proposal requested by the Registrar’s Office to stop
working around audits instead of an F grade.
An amendment to allow one exception for flexibility was not
approved. The original proposal was
APPROVED with one opposed.
d.
Proposal 22-13: “Proposal to Amend Teaching and Course Evaluations” presented
by Instructional Policy Committee (Voting Units: Academic)
Hamlin said that the original proposal was changed to
keep data release the same as now with comments to instructors and averages to the
supervisor. It was brought up that
electronic systems will record data and could be obtained by the Freedom of
Information Act and that the evaluation should retain Q20 so we can compare
with past evaluations, but it was countered that only Q20 may then be used by administrators,
however, which the proposal sought to avoid.
Amendment 1 was APPROVED 8 to 5. A sunset provision proposed for Q20, in which
the original Q20 will retire after 6 years, (end of 2018/19) was APPROVED
unopposed. An amendment on comparing old
and new scores using a specific statistical approach was proposed but was
amended to allow the CTL to compare old and new evaluation instruments and
present the comparison to the Senate on an annual basis, which was APPROVED
unopposed. The amended proposal was APPROVED
with one dissent and one extension.
e. Proposal 23-13: “Proposal for a Minor in
Aerospace Engineering” presented by Curricular Policy and Finance Committees (Voting
Units: Academic)
APPROVED unopposed.
f. Proposal 24-13:
“Class Attendance Proposal” presented by Instructional Policy Committee (Voting
Units: Academic)
Hamlin showed editorial clarifications. APPROVED unopposed.
7. New Business
a. Proposal 25-13:
“Proposal to Amend Senate Policy 701.1” presented by the Senate
Executive Committee (Voting Units:
Academic)
0% appointments to facilitate inter-departmental
interaction, help on thesis committees, and help get research grants. We have adjunct positions but these are
perceived as teaching positions at most universities. Concerns were raised regarding updating
charters, whether faculty could be the thesis adviser in another department,
and if this will artificially inflate the faculty numbers.
b. Proposal 26-13:
“Blended Learning Policy” presented by Academic Policy Committee (Voting
Units: Academic)
Meyer said that copyright
for blended learning material is unclear in the present university policy in
regards to who owns copyright for course videos and software and who gets financially
remunerated for courses. The proposal
would facilitate clarification of these issues.
8. Adjournment.
President
Bulleit adjourned the meeting at 7:41pm.
Respectfully
submitted
by
Brian Barkdoll