(page numbering of Sp Mtng #3 (1991) is out of sequence with
other minutes of 1991)
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The Senate of
Michigan Technological University
Minutes of Special Meeting No. 3 of 1991 (November 12, 1991)
President Julien called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. on
November 12, 1991 in room 131 of Fisher Hall.
I. Roll call of regular members
Twenty-nine members or alternates were present. Absent:
William Shapton, Terry Shipley, William Bulleit, and Peter
Laks.
II. Recognition of visitors
Frank Monasa, Anne Erlebach, Barry Pegg, John Caron, Jim
Carstens, Bill Sewell, Carol MacLennan, Mary Ann Beckwith,
Kris Lipman, Allen Solomon, and Marilyn Cooper.
III. Minutes of Meeting No. 184
It was moved and seconded that the minutes of Meeting No. 184
be approved as printed. Passed.
IV. President's Report.
A. Larry Julien asked Curtis Tompkins to make remarks about
the current state of affairs at MTU. These remarks were
to include discussion of new business items F (President's
Cabinet) and G (ESI liaison).
B. Tompkins announced the names of the faculty members
elected to the President's Cabinet--Terry Sharik, Cynthia
Selfe, and Samson Marshall.
C. Tompkins discussed the University Planning Committee
reports which have been prepared previously. For further
panning and to implement the plans, we need to consider
trade-offs. Next week we will begin a whole university
brainstorming session about goals and expectations for MTU
for the next few years. Some guidelines were suggested.
1. The goals and expectations must be financially sound.
2. We must operate in such a way that students needs are
paramount.
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D. Tompkins discussed his examination of the 1989 personnel
listings and his comparison with the present listing. He
says that academic units have lost 93 positions in those
two years. The exact nature of the lost positions was not
discussed. He also said that administrative units have
gained positions, although the number was not given.
E. The 1992-93 budget process also begins next week.
1. A slogan for this exercise was proposed.
"Vector to Excellence"
Vision
Expectations
Communications
Timely
Ongoing
Reliable
F. Tompkins discussed his meeting with the ESI board on
November 11, 1991. After two hours of discussion
following a dispute about whether or not the vice
presidents should attend, he began to understand that
Ventures is operating on the edge of bankruptcy with all
assets mortgaged and practically zero income. He does not
expect that MTU will see any return of funds from Ventures
for at least two years if ever. He asked the ESI Board
how Ventures is doing on its mission which he described as
follows:
1. Enhance the reputation of MTU.
2. Return funds to support MTU programs.
The answer is that Ventures is not doing well. The
Ventures people are nervous about revealing privileged
information.
G. Tompkins also reported on a meeting with the MTU Board of
Control subcommittee on finance also held on November 11,
1991. He believes that one cannot find a negative impact
of Ventures on the MTU budget. There is no discernable
positive impact either. There is no evidence that the
$2.4 million payment to Michigan Tech Ventures in 1984 had
any effect on the present deficit or cash flow
difficulties. The funds used in this way were not
available for other purposes, however.
V. Vice President's Report.
No report.
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VI. Committee Reports
These reports were not presented in the order listed in the
agenda.
E. Fringe Benefits Committee.
The committee report was included in the minutes of
meeting No. 185. Leslie Leifer made some comments about
the report. He described the differences between medical
expense coverage under the Michigan Public Employees
Retirement Program and the TIAA-CREF program. Medical
expenses are not provided by the TIAA-CREF plan. This
benefit was not explained when the opportunity to change
to TIAA-CREF was made available in 1969. The discussion
of health benefits continues. New employees should be
informed about differences in medical care coverage before
they select their retirement program.
Curtis Tompkins says we should look upon the recent
changes in medical coverage as permanent. Trade-offs with
expenditures in other areas are involved here.
F. Institutional Evaluation Committee
A report and draft proposal is attached as Appendix A. A
proposed format for an evaluation questionnaire is also
attached. The committee asks for guidance to improve the
proposal. Details are needed about exactly who will be
eligible to participate in the evaluation of department
heads and deans. There are some comments about the
eligibility of visiting faculty and temporary instructors
to participate in the evaluations.
At this point in the meeting, Old Business items were
discussed. The discussion of the remaining committee reports
was deferred until later in the meeting.
VIII. Old Business
A. Evaluation of deans and department heads.
This item has been covered under the report of the
Institutional Evaluation Committee.
D. Procedures for changing the form of departmental
governance.
The ad hoc committee presented the draft report attached
as Appendix B. This report is to be discussed as Old
Business at the next Senate meeting.
The discussion of committee reports was continued.
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VI. Committee Reports (continued)
A. Election Committee
1. The election for faculty members for the President's
Cabinet had the following results. 239 ballots
submitted.
Terry Sharik - 81
Cynthia Selfe - 77
Samson Marshall - 69
Mark Plichta - 51
Thomas Drummer - 44
David Sikarski - 43
The first three people are declared to be elected as
members of the cabinet and the next three people are
declared elected as alternate members of the cabinet.
By having alternate members, the faculty is likely to
have three representatives present at each meeting.
2. New elections may be held to fill faculty positions on
other administrative advisory groups. Peter Tamps was
asked to prepare a written election procedure.
3. There was a request for a complete list of all
committees including Senate committees, President's
Cabinet, financial task force, Task Force Committee on
Size, Quality, and Cost, and other standing and ad hoc
MTU committees.
B. Budget Liaison Officer
No report. Christa Walck was appointed to replace Davis
Hubbard.
C. Curricular Policy Committee
No report.
D. Faculty Handbook Committee
No report.
E. Instructional Policy Committee
No report.
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VII. Reports from Affiliated and/or ad hoc Committees
A. University Planning Committee
No report.
B. University Computer Executive Committee
No report.
C. Retirement Benefits Committee (listed in error in the
agenda as the Fringe Benefits Committee)
The report is included in the minutes of meeting No. 185
but was not discussed except as noted in connection with
the Fringe Benefits Committee report.
The discussion of Old Business was continued.
VIII. Old Business
E. Board of Control Liaison Task Force
The document to be presented to the Board of Control at
the meeting to be held on November 22, 1991, was
presented. The task force asks for more ideas for topics
to be discussed at working session to be held with the
board. The report is attached as Appendix C.
This liaison group should be more permanent than a "task
force". The Senate must discuss appointing the group as a
standing committee.
C. Search Committee Procedures Task Force
This task force presented a report focussing on searches
for the provost and vice president. The report is
attached as Appendix D. This will be an Old Business item
to discuss at the next Senate meeting.
B. Senate Constitution and Constituency Task Force
This committee has been working mainly by telephone and
mail. Right now, they are focussing on the constituency
list. There is a concern for individuals who do not have
representation. Each person should be represented by some
council--Senate, Staff Council, or Collective Bargaining
Unit.
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XI. New Business
A. Financial Advisory Board Report
The original board was composed of Christa Walck, James
Gale and three bankers. The bankers withdrew because of
conflicts of interest perceived. A charge for this group
must be established. Some suggestions were as follows:
1. Make financial reports and management letters
available.
2. Make the cash flow model and currency information
available.
3. Make the budget widely available.
B. Coalition for a Just University
A letter from this group was read by Peter Tampas. A copy
is attached as Appendix E. A discussion of the letter and
its implications followed, and the following points were
brought out.
1. The Senate should consider seriously whether or not it
should serve as an administrative unit for any group
that wants to call for a referendum. What is the usual
state guideline for a ballot proposal? There should be
some mechanism by which people can bring requests for
referenda to the Senate.
It was moved by Terry Sharik and seconded by Cynthia
Selfe that a task force be formed to establish
procedures for carrying out referenda. Passed.
William Sewell as appointed to head this task force and
to report at the next Senate meeting.
2. It was moved by Carl Vilmann and seconded by Madhukar
Vable that each senator poll her or his constituency
about holding a vote of confidence about the
performance of the MTU vice presidents. Passed with
one dissenting vote.
3. Another special meeting was proposed for Wednesday,
December 4, 1991, at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the following
items:
- Referendum task force report
- Poll about vote of confidence
- Board of Control Liaison
- Search guidelines committee report
The meeting was adjourned at 10:09 p.m. Submitted by Davis
Hubbard, Secretary
.