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The Senate of
Michigan Technological University
Minutes: Special Meeting No. 1 of 1992
Special Meeting No. 1 of 1992 was called to order by President
Julien at 7:02 PM on 1992 January 15 in Ballroom A of the Memorial
Union Building.
I. Roll call
Thirty one Senators or Alternates were present for this
meeting. Absent: D. Poplawski, G. Pliska-Matyshak, W.
Powers.
II. Visitors
The following visitors were recognized.
Kris Lippman
Frank Monasa
Phyllis Boutilier
Richard Brown
Samson Marshall
James Waber
III. Minutes
The minutes for the two previous meetings were not ready
for review.
IV. President's report
A. President Julien yields the floor to C. Tompkins
1. Fund raising campaign for the Performing Arts
Center was announced.
*Chairman named - J. Klungness (Iron Mountain)
*Major donors are to be identified and visited.
2. There will be an appearance by C. Tompkins on
"Media Meet" (channel 13) on Thursday, Jan.16.
3. Cabinet report
a) State budget may have a 2% increase.
b) Cabinet agrees there should be one fewer Vice-
President. Those presently in vice-president
positions will retain their titles.
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c) The cabinet will consider search procedures on
Friday, January 17.
d) C. Tompkins would like a simple evaluation
procedure which can be done frequently.
e) An internal posting for the financial manager
position will be made.
f) G. Becia is the new chair person for the staff
council.
g) The Board of Control was asked to have
informal meetings with some Senate represent-
atives and with the Cabinet. The Board of
Control meeting agenda is discussed at and
items are suggested. This is a chance for the
Senate to influence the Board of Control
meeting agenda.
B. L. Julien reported that the Academic Council has been
dissolved. Department Heads and Deans are going to
meet with the Provost instead.
C. L. Julien read a letter from M. Vable about
evaluations and the disposition of written comments.
1. Tompkins said there was a discussion in the
cabinet about the legal aspects of releasing the
comments.
2. He says it is difficult to avoid the risk of libel
action by disgruntled people who have been
evaluated. The evaluators should be aware of the
risk and accept it. It is still not clear that
MTU will provide legal defense if a libel suit
should arise.
3. E. Horst - the MTU legal counsel - said that any
comments or summaries of comments will probably be
subject to public disclosure under the Freedom of
Information Act.
V. Vice - President's Report
A. Board of Control Liaison Committee has a place on
the Board of Control agenda for the January 31
meeting. The Board wants a report about the vote of
confidence held on _______________.
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B. There will be an informal meeting with the Board of
Control on Friday, January 31, 1992 (10:00 AM,
President's home). Some topics which might be
discussed are:
1) Fringe benefits committee report
2) Spouse tuition waiver program
3) Provost search; search guidelines
It was moved by W. Shapton and seconded by C. Selfe
that the Senate Vice-President and the chair persons
of pertinent committees represent the Senate at
informal meetings with the Board of Control.
This motion was deferred to new business.
VI. Committee Reports
A. Budget Liaison Officer
Administrative officers of MTU do not believe that
there is anyone now employed who is qualified to
serve as Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer. The
current applicants for the position of financial
planning officer do not have the correct
qualifications for the Treasurer position. It is
not appropriate to use the same list of candidates.
The job description for the Treasurer position is
still not clear.
B. Curricular Policy Committee
No report
C. Fringe Benefits Committee
This committee is examining new issues such as the
tuition waiver for spouses.
D. Institutional Evaluation Committee
1) C. Tompkins is interested in having simple
evaluation procedure which gives rapid feedback
and which can be used frequently.
2) The committee is developing an evaluation system
which can be used for reappointment decisions and
action. The questionnaire part of the procedure
can be used by anyone to obtain frequent
feedback.
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3) The evaluation procedure contains an
understanding that department heads and deans
will have three-year appointments.
4) Position descriptions are needed as part of the
standard to be incorporated into the evaluation
procedures.
5) Two staff council members - Diane Garrow and ____
Kirk - are attending meetings to provide liaison
with the corresponding staff council committee
on evaluation procedures.
E. Instructional Policy
No report. K. Huevers accepts appointment as the
committee chairperson.
F. Board of Control Liaison Committee
This report was given as part of the vice-presidents
report.
G. Election Committee
The selection of representatives for the Provost
search committee will take place at a special
meeting 1992 January 22 at 5:30 PM at a place to be
announced.
W. Melton moved and C. Selfe seconded that the
nominations be open through Friday 1992 January 17.
Passed (no dissent).
Nominations should be sent to P. Tampas.
The voting procedure is described in the memorandum
from P. Tampas dated 1992 January 7. This is
attached as Appendix A.
The voting can be done expeditiously by show of
hands.
VII. Reports from ad hoc and affiliated committees
A. University Planning - no report
B. Computer executive - no report
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C. Retirement benefits - report under new business
D. President's cabinet - given with President's report
E. Search committee procedures.
The committee is now working on procedures for
department heads and deans. The first draft about
procedure for searching for internal candidates is
complete. Discussions are beginning.
VIII. Old Business
A. Budget for Senate expenses
D. Hubbard proposes the following items.
1) Secretary - 1/4 time $4,000.00
2) Travel for consultants $1,500.00
3) Printing and duplicating $1,200.00
4) Legal advice fees $ 500.00
5) Travel to off-campus
Board of Control meetings $1,000.00
TOTAL $8,200.00
No action.
B. Voting procedures
This was discussed in the elections committee
report.
C. Senate Constituency and Constitution
The task force reported as follows.
1) Information is being developed in order
to have a sense of how other universities
operate.
2) Develop a model constitution to be discussed.
3) Clarification of the change to the task force
is needed. The group could define the potential
constituents and make a recommendation.
It was moved by C. Selfe and seconded by K. Huevers
that the present committee draft a new Senate
constitution.
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Passed (one dissenting vote).
New members volunteer for duty on this committee.
John Pilling
James Waber
Peter Laks
IX. New Business
A. Retirements benefits proposal
K. Huevers moved and C. Selfe seconded that the
proposal about augmented retirement benefits by the
Ad Hoc Fringe Benefits Committee be recommended to
the MTU administration and Board of Control.
The proposal is attached as Appendix B.
The discussion centered on three points.
1) There is a strong feeling that a uniform policy
is needed and that favoritism and special deals
should be eliminated.
2) Most people support the medical benefits section
of the proposal.
3) There is less support for the insurance and
annuity section of the proposal.
It was moved by T. Sharik and seconded by P. Laks to
table the motion until the next regular Senate
meeting.
Motion to table was defeated.
The motion was passed. 19 Yes 3 No.
B. Informal meetings with Board of Control.
The motion made in connection with the Vice-
President's report (Item V (b) above) was passed.
The meeting adjourned at 10:10 PM.
Submitted by
Davis W. Hubbard
Secretary
.