*************************************************************** Page 3399 The Senate Michigan Technological University Minutes of Special Meeting No. 4 of 1992 Special Meeting No. 4 of 1992 was called to order at 7:04 PM on 1992 April 15 in Ballroom B-2 of the Memorial Union Building. I. Roll Call 24 Senators or alternates were present. Absent: P. Tampas, W. Bulleit, J. Daavetila, J. Lukowski, P. Laks, J. Fynewever, J. Ellis, T. Shipley, G. Pliska-Matyshak II. Visitors B. K. Whitten F. H. Erbisch R. E. Blevins III. Minutes The minutes for Special Meeting No. 3 of 1992 were approved with the changes made on page 3384 regarding the report of the computer executive committee. IV. President's Report President Julien made a short statement about evaluations of President Tompkins and about rumors circulating. V. Vice-President's Report No report. VI. Committee Reports A. Budget Liaison Officer A financial report was given by R. Blevins (cash position) and W. Powers (1992-1993 budget). 1. Cash Position R. Blevins gave a report about the MTU cash position for 1988 through the first quarter of 1992. These data are plotted in Appendix A, Figure 1. He has retrieved the total cash data but has not examined individual items. He is devoting his time to current accounts. Senators urged some attention to historical data to avoid repeating the negative cash position of Summer and Fall 1991. He also showed a comparison with the cash position model and the actual cash position. These data appear in Figure 2. As of mid-March, we are very close to the model prediction even though the results for the period January 1992 to March 1992 show that the actual cash was always $2 million to $4 million less than the model prediction. This was explained by paying debts sooner then planned. *************************************************************** Page 3400 2. 1992-1993 Budget W. Powers gave a summary of the 1992-1993 budget. The information is contained in Tables 1 and 2 in Appendix A. 3. Contingency Plan W. Powers presented two plans to be implemented if the State of Michigan fails to make the June 1992 payment of $4.5 million. These plans are shown in Table 3 of Appendix A. Plan I: Borrow $4.5 million for two years. The repayment plan items are listed in the approximate order if priorities. a) Defer a $10 million reserve fund. b) Rolling reserve. c) Increase tuition without increasing scholarships by the same amount as the tuition increase. d) Do not purchase equipment with state funds; delay purchase orders greater than $5000; do not provide matching. e) Reduce research excellence funds from $750,000 to $450,000. f) Defer the $500,000 contribution for the health benefit enhancement or part of it. g) Defer restoring the 4% salary reduction. The sense of the Senate was that the academic departments should not be cut any more. B. Fringe Benefits Committee 1. A new draft of augmented medical benefits was presented. A copy is attached as Appendix B. 2. B. Whitten discussed prefunding the long term liability for retirement benefits. C. Curricular Policy Committee The committee report and two proposals were attached to the call for the meeting. The committee asked that proposals 10-92 ( Definition and Role of Certificate Programs) and 11-92 ( Certificate in International Business) be received for action at the next Senate meeting. The report is attached a Appendix C. Moved by D. Hubbard; seconded by L. Leifer. Proposals 10-92 and 11-92 be received for action at the next meeting. *************************************************************** Page 3401 Passed Unanimously. D. Institutional Evaluation Committee 1. Evaluation of the MTU administration for feedback purposes will go ahead. Regular test scoring sheets will be used. The process will be initiated by the administration by sending out the questionnaire and forms. 2. Revised proposal 2-92, 3-92, 4-92, 5-92, 6-92, 7-92, 8-92, and 9-92 were introduced. Moved by M. Vable; seconded by W. Shapton. Motion is given on following page. *************************************************************** Page 3402 Motion The MTU Senate shall submit proposals 2-92 through 9-92 for approval of the faculty. Should any of these proposals receive approval by a simple majority of the eligible faculty, the Senate will forward those proposals to the administration recommending implementation for the 1992-93 academic year. The 1992-93 academic year shall be a trial period for all approved proposals. During this trial year, Departments/Colleges/Schools will be asked to follow the approved proposals. Should any unit decide to modify a proposal, that unit will inform the Senate in writing of: 1. The enacted modification or modifications. 2. The reason or reasons necessitating any modifications. Following the trial year, the Senate will reconsider these proposals using all information supplied by the unit. Changes that impact faculty governance will require additional referendums. Following any modification, the Senate will initiate the process necessary to include the substance of any approved proposals into the faculty handbook. *************************************************************** Page 3403 The discussion included the following amendments. On page 11. Add to item 1--Search Committee-- the following sentence inserted before the last sentence in that item. "Candidates for the position are not eligible to serve on the search committee." On page 15. The same change as for page 11. There were also some editorial changes on pages 4 and 6. The motion passed (unanimous). The complete text of the proposal including the editorial changes but not the amendments is attached as Appendix D. The vote mentioned in the motion will be carried out by the election committee and will be completed by May 5. VII. Reports From Affiliated Committee A. President's Cabinet 1. There was discussion in the Cabinet about inconsistencies in the promotion and tenure process. The Cabinet recommends that the Senate examine the promotion and tenure policy and recommend changes. 2. The Cabinet has the perception that MTU is losing some of the best and brightest faculty members. They recommend that the Senate study attrition of faculty--reasons, trend, etc. VIII. Old Business The budget discussion was included in the budget liaison officer report. IX. New Business A. Proposals 10-92 and 11-92 were introduced as part of the curricular policy committee report. B. President Julien suggests a special discussion of Task Force findings by subcommittee chairpersons. X. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 PM. *************************************************************** Page 3404 APPENDIX A. Budget and Cash Position Discussion *************************************************************** Pages 3404 Appendix A Budget and cash position discussion 3405 3406 3407 3408 3409 3410 3411 Appendix B Modified retirement medical benefit program 3412 Appendix C Curriculum policy committee report 3413 3414 3415 Missing page 3416 Missing page 3417 Missing page 3418 Missing page 3419 Appendix C Proposal 10-92 3420 Appendix C Proposal 11-92 3421 3422 Appendix D Documents on faculty governance to 3456 These pages are avilable to be read in the MTU Library. .