THE SENATE OF MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY Minutes of Meeting 272 26 March 1997 Synopsis: The Senate (1) elected Phil Sweany (Computer Science), Faith Morrison (Chemical Engineering), and Kurt Pregitzer (Forestry) to serve on the Search Committee for the Vice Provost for Instruction. (2) extended the date to 31 March for nominations for Senator At-large. 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Vice President Soldan called special Senate Meeting 272 to order at 5:33 p.m. on Wednesday, 26 March 1997, in Room B45 of the Electrical Energy Resources Center. Secretary Glime called roll. Absent were representatives from Business and Economics, Army/Air Force ROTC, IWR, Enrollment Management, Student Affairs/Educational Opportunities, Research/University Relations/Administrative Offices, and Finance/Advancement. Liaison in attendance was Ted Soldan (Staff Council). 2. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS Guests included Marcia Goodrich (Tech Topics), and Carol Hoepe (friend of Senator Sloan). 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice President Soldan suggested moving item 5 New Business, before item 4 and adding item 6, Nominations of Senators At-large. Carstens MOVED and Walck seconded the motion to approve the agenda as amended. The motion to approve PASSED on voice vote with no dissent. [Appendix A. NOTE: Only official Senate and Library archival copies of the minutes will contain a full complement of appendices.] 5. NEW BUSINESS Proposal 10-97, Amendment of Senate Constitution and Bylaws [Appendix B] The proposal was introduced. 4. ELECTION OF SENATE MEMBERS FOR VICE PROVOST FOR INSTRUCTION SEARCH COMMITTEE Vice President Soldan presented three slates of nominees for the Search Committee for Vice Provost for Instruction - College of Sciences and Arts: Jack Jobst (HU), Sallie Sheldon (Biol. Sci.), Phil Sweany (Comp. Sci.); College of Engineering: Faith Morrison (Chem. Eng.); Kurt Paterson (Civ. & Env. Eng.); Ghatu Subhash (ME-EM), Madhu Vable (ME-EM); Schools: Vern Dorweiler (Business), Bob Filer (Technology), Kurt Pregitzer (Forestry). Elections proceeded for one position at a time until one person received a majority of the votes, according to Search Procedures for Deans and University Administrators. Vice President Soldan asked for additional nominees for the College of Sciences and Arts. None were forthcoming. Leifer MOVED and McKilligan seconded the motion to close nominations. In a secret ballot vote, Jobst received 12 votes, Sheldon 9, and Sweany 10 on the first ballot. In the runoff secret ballot, Sweany received 17 votes and Jobst 14. Vice President Soldan asked for additional nominees for the College of Engineering. None were forthcoming. Leifer MOVED and Nesbitt seconded the motion to close nominations. In a secret ballot vote, Morrison received 13 votes, Paterson 8, Subhash 5, and Vable 5. In the runoff secret ballot, Morrison received 21 votes and Paterson 10. Vice President Soldan asked for additional nominees to represent the three schools. None were forthcoming. Leifer MOVED and Nesbitt seconded the motion to close nominations. In a secret ballot vote, Dorweiler received 4 votes, Filer 13, and Pregitzer 14. In the runoff secret ballot, Filer received 15 votes and Pregitzer 16. The Senate-elected members of the search committee, therefore, will be Phil Sweany, Faith Morrison, and Kurt Pregitzer. 6. NOMINATIONS FOR SENATOR AT-LARGE Vice President Soldan reported that there were only two nominees for the position of Senator At-large. The officers had discussed this and felt that the Constituents should be given a choice and we should insure that all departments had an opportunity to nominate. In the past, President Bornhorst sought additional nominees after the nominations closed so that the Constituents had choices. Senator Walck stated that if the officers were going to twist arms to get nominees, it should be done before nominations closed. It would look to those persons who volunteered or were nominated that they were not satisfactory candidates. Secretary Glime responded that officers would not know until nominations closed whether there were sufficient nominations. Furthermore, in the past the runners-up had been treated as alternates if one of the elected Senators At-large was unable to serve for part of a term. Soldan ruled that the deadline for nominations would be extended and invited any objections. Walck objected and MOVED not to extend the deadline. Sloan seconded the motion. Senator Reed stated that he knew the date had been extended two years ago to seek additional nominations. Walck responded that it was a bad precedent; we should stop doing it because it looks bad. Senator Whitt stated that the period of time provided seemed to be especially short. Senate Assistant Meyers stated that the amount of time was about the same as before. Senator Shonnard asked if the constituents would vote for one or two people. Soldan answered two. Senator Pegg stated that he agreed with Walck in principle, but that we should not change the procedure THIS year. Shonnard agreed that one week was too short, but that a month was too long. Senator McKimpson stated that if the arm-twisting was done before the deadline, it would reduce the incentive to nominate or volunteer. The motion not to extend the deadline for nominations was DEFEATED 7 yes to 20 no by show of hands. Vice President Soldan announced that the deadline for nominations would be extended to Monday, 31 March. Leifer MOVED and Carstens seconded the motion to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 6:13 p.m. Respectfully Submitted by Janice M. Glime Secretary of the Senate