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Page 5728 Minutes of Senate Meeting 242 27 Sept 1995
THE SENATE OF MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Minutes of Meeting No. 242
27 September 1995
Synopsis: The Senate
(1) Heard a report from Dean Klippel on suspending the MS in Operations
Management.
(2) Heard a report from Christa Walck on the Faculty Development Project.
(3) Heard a report from Bill Bulleit on the Ad Hoc Committee on Teaching.
(4) Heard a report from Tim Wakeham on the Wellness Program.
(5) Defeated Proposal 3-96, Due Process.
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1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
President Bornhorst called the Senate meeting to order at 5:30 PM on
Wednesday, 27 September 1995, in Room B37 of the Electrical Energy
Resources Center.
Secretary Glime called roll. Absent were At-large Senator Whitt,
representatives from Biological Sciences, Business and Engineering
Administration, Fine Arts, Institute of Materials Processing, and Keweenaw
Research Center. Liaisons in attendance were Yadu Dar (GSC), David Henke
(USG), and Ted Soldan (Staff Council).
2. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS
Guests included Gene Klippel (Dean of Business and Engineering
Administration), Bill Bulleit (Chair of Ad Hoc Committee on Teaching), Tim
Wakeham (Coordinator of Wellness Program), Steve Batzer (GSC), Marcia
Goodrich (Tech Topics), and Fred Dobney (Executive Vice President and
Provost).
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
President Bornhorst recommended exchanging agenda items 6. B. and 6. C.
and item 6. F. will be included in the report from the Senate President.
Soldan MOVED and Sandberg seconded the motion to accept the agenda as
adjusted. There were no objections so the agenda was APPROVED. [Appendix
A. NOTE: only official Senate and Library archival copies of the minutes
will contain a full complement of appendices.]
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MEETINGS 235, 236, 237, AND 238.
Heyman MOVED and Soldan seconded to approve the minutes of Meeting 235.
The motion CARRIED on a voice vote.
Carstens MOVED and Filer seconded to approve the minutes of Meeting
236. The motion CARRIED on a voice vote.
Arici MOVED and Soldan seconded to approve the minutes of Meeting 237.
The motion CARRIED on a voice vote.
Heyman MOVED and Filer seconded to approve the minutes of Meeting 238.
The motion CARRIED on a voice vote.
5. REPORT FROM SENATE PRESIDENT
Proposal 4-96, Conflict of Interest Statement for the Board of Control
has been forwarded to the Administration. [Appendix B]
Proposal 27-95, Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures has been
approved by President Tompkins. [Appendix C] There will be a workshop on
academic integrity on 29 September.
There are still six slots for conferences with the TIAA/CREF counselor
on 17 October, according to Ingrid Cheney.
At the suggestion of Senator Whitt in meeting 240, shared governance
will be discussed in the Senate in a forthcoming meeting.
The Provost and Senate officers met on 25 September 1995.
There are vacancies on several university committees. Senators are
asked to nominate members from among their constituents to serve on these
committees: Presidential Commission for Women, Presidential Commission on
Diversity, University Inquiry Committee for Scientific Misconduct, Academic
Integrity Committee, Athletic Council, Sabbatical Leave Committee, and
University Committee on Academic Tenure.
The Provost has requested three committees to follow up on promises he
made to the Senate last year. To examine the sabbatical leave and other
opportunities for faculty development, the Provost suggests a committee of
Senate-appointed members from the Executive Committee, the Finance
Committee, and the Academic Policy Committee, and three members appointed
by the Provost - a dean, a department chair, and a member of the Sabbatical
Leave Committee. [Appendix D]
The second suggestion is for a task force on tuition to review graduate
tuition. He recommends that this committee have Senate-appointed members
from the Institutional Planning Committee, the Finance Committee, and the
Research Policy Committee; three appointments by the Provost - the Chief
Financial Officer, the Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate
School, and a department chair; and a representative from the Undergraduate
Student Government and one from the Graduate Student Council. [Appendix E]
The third recommendation is to form a committee to review and recommend
improvements in the TIAA/CREF retiree health benefits. He suggests that
the Senate appoint a member from the Fringe Benefits Committee, the Finance
Committee, the Ad Hoc Committee for Professional Staff Issues, and that the
Provost appoint two - the Chief Financial Officer and the Manager of
Benefits. [Appendix F]
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Page 5729 Minutes of Senate Meeting 242 27 Sept 1995
The President of the Senate recommended that if no nominee exists for a
committee position the President with assistance from the officers will
seek nominees and present to the Senate for confirmation.
A discussion followed on the proposals from the Provost and whether
these should be special committees or fall under the jurisdiction of
existing Senate committees. The Senate will discuss that issue after the
Senate committees are formed.
6. COMMITTEE BUSINESS/REPORTS
A. Dean Klippel (Business and Engineering Administration) reported to the
Senate on the decision to suspend the MS in Operations Management. He
reported that the suspension was agreed upon by a faculty vote of 20 to 1
with 2 abstentions. The decision was based on recommendations of an
outside reviewer in regard to precandidacy in AECSB. Provost Dobney
interprets that the program would not have to have Senate approval for
reactivation.
C. (agenda adjusted) Christa Walck reported on the Faculty Development
Project. She suggested ways of enhancing faculty development and reported
the use of faculty focus groups to gather information on perceptions of
areas where development is needed. [Appendix G]
B. (agenda adjusted) Bill Bulleit reported on the Ad Hoc Committee on
Teaching. The committee considered evaluation, the Center for Teaching
Excellence, and Teaching Awards. Based on the findings of Christa Walck on
faculty development, the Committee recommends that MTU implement a Center
for Teaching, Learning, and Faculty Development as an expansion of the
present Center for Teaching Excellence and the Center should have a full-
time director who reports to the Provost. Senator Chavis suggested the
inclusion of diversity issues in the development program. Other senators
suggested that there is little reward for tackling teaching or
administrative improvements and that there need to be rewards in the
system, particularly for major experiments and changes in courses.
[Appendix H]
D. Tim Wakeham, Coordinator of the Wellness Program, reported on the new
program. He stated that the program described in the recent announcement
regarding membership at the Court House has been changed. New membership
will cost $200 for 12 months. There are various programs for getting back
part of the money based on actual participation. A similar program is
available at the Student Development Center. Facilities are being enlarged
at the Court House and several of the competing activities have been moved
elsewhere. The Fringe Benefits Committee should examine the possibilities
of other fitness options, particularly to make it more accessible
financially for staff.
E. The President of the Senate reported, as a member of the Board of
Control Relations Committee, on recent Board actions. The Board has
approved the PhD in Geological Engineering. They likewise approved the
Conflict of Interest Policy except for the full sentence amendment proposed
by Senator Whitt and passed by the Senate. In the future, the Senate
report will be a regular part of the Board Agenda. The Board strongly
supports involvement by MTU in Charter schools and that the Senate should
become active on this issue. They feel that faculty should review faculty
hires, teaching, and curriculum for MTU charter schools. The President of
the Senate will invite President Tompkins to discuss charter schools with
the Senate. Provost Dobney commented that he asked the Board that there be
no additional cost to MTU. Senator Leifer suggested that the Senate bring
two speakers who are familiar with charter schools, one to present pros and
one the cons. Senator Little has heard one person speak about charter
schools and recommends him as a good speaker.
F. The need of nominees for the university committee representatives was
discussed in the Report from the Senate President.
G. The Senate Assistant distributed the Preliminary List of 1995-96
Committee Assignments [Appendix I]. Copies will be sent to Alternates.
Senators and alternates wishing to change assignments should find someone
to trade committees with them. The Senate officers used the policy to give
first choices where possible and that only one person from a unit could be
on a committee.
7. OLD BUSINESS
A. Arici MOVED and Thayer seconded the motion to approve Proposal 3-96,
Due Process. [See minutes, page 5714, for a copy of this proposal.] There
were no objections to the voting units as the full Senate. Thayer MOVED
and Sloan seconded the motion to strike the word "planned" in item 1. The
motion FAILED by voice vote. Senator Beck suggested that the Senators be
provided with copies of Roberts' Rules of Order. The motion to approve
Proposal 3-96 was DEFEATED 8 yes to 25 no by secret ballot.
Vichich MOVED and Filer seconded the motion to adjourn. The meeting
adjourned at 7:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Janice M. Glime
Secretary of the Senate
.