BACKGROUND:

The Association of Michigan Collegiate Faculties, AMCF, was founded in 1971 to permit cooperative efforts of the faculties of the state-supported baccalaureate institutions in Michigan.

It acts through an Assembly to which each institution sends two delegates, chosen by a senate or similar body. In recent years the Assembly has met four times a year, almost always in East Lansing.

AMCF has been co-sponsor of a series of symposia on issues of major interest to faculties. The most recent one was held in November 1977 on coordination of higher education in Michigan. In January-February 1978 it was co-sponsor of a seminar on the process of funding higher education.

AMCF has developed strong contacts with officials in the Executive Office of the state, the Department of Education, Board of Education, Legislative Fiscal Agency. Representatives of these agencies often attend Assembly meetings.

The government task force working on the formula funding model for higher education has in two successive years requested an analysis of its proposals by AMCF. Revisions after the first task force proposal indicate that AMCF's analysis had some effect.

The agenda for Assembly meetings has included items of serious concern: state support for private colleges, control of teacher certification, legislation eliminating mandatory retirement, state retirement fund.

The need for such an organization appears to be steadily increasing as the new problems of enrollment declines develop. The Association of Michigan Collegiate Faculties hopes that member institutions will increase their efforts to support the work of AMCF in every way they can.

Michigan Technological University joined the Association of Michigan Collegiate Faculties in 1973. Advantages of MTU's belonging to AMCF include: becoming a better informed Faculty, and having the opportunity for direct communication between the Faculty and the State Legislature.

PROPOSAL:

The Michigan Technological University Faculty shall elect two representatives to the Association of Michigan Collegiate Faculties from a list of nominees selected by the Joint Committee on Relations Between the Senate and Faculty Association. The Senate shall elect one representative and the Faculty Association shall elect the other, in separate elections conducted by the two organizations. The term of office shall be two years. AMCF representatives shall be members of the academic Faculty and shall serve no more than three consecutive terms. An unexpired vacancy created by resignation or otherwise shall be filled by appointment by the president of the organization for which the vacancy occurs, from a list of nominees selected by the Joint Committee on Relations Between the Senate and Faculty Association, for the remainder of the unexpired term.

The two elected AMCF representatives shall be authorized to be away from campus in order to attend four or more AMCF meetings per year.

The Senate recommends that the University pay all travel expenses of the two elected representatives to attend a minimum of four meetings of the Association of Michigan Collegiate Faculties per year. These expenses include transportation, food, and lodging.

Adopted by Senate: 4 May 1978
Approved by Administration: 11 September 1978 with the exception that the University will not pay travel expenses.