The University Senate of Michigan Technological University

Minutes of Meeting 534

24 April 2013

1. Call to order and roll call. President Bill Bulleit called the University Senate Meeting 534 to order at 5:47 pm on Wednesday, April 24, 2013. The Senate Secretary Brian Barkdoll called roll. Absent were representatives of the Army/Air Force ROTC, Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, ME-EM, Academic Services A and B, Auxiliaries, Finance, Student Affairs, and the Graduate Student Government, and Undergraduate Student Government.

Recognition of visitors. Guests included Max Seel (Provost’s Office), Bonnie Gorman (Dean of Student’s Office), and Mike Meyer (Center for Teaching and Learning).

2. Approval of agenda. President Bulleit asked if there were any changes; the agenda PASSED on a voice vote.

3. Approval of Minutes from Meeting #532.

President Bulleit asked if there were any changes; the agenda PASSED on a voice vote.

4. Senate Elections for University Committees

The following were selected in the various positions listed:

Senate President: Brian Barkdoll

Senate Vice President: Shane Sullivan

Senate Secretary: Martin Thompson

Faculty At-Large Senator: Stefaan De Winter (3Yr), Ching-An Peng (1Yr)

Staff At-Large Senator: Brian Cadwell

Faculty Review Committee: Rudy Luck (3Yr), Ashok Goel (1Yr), 3Yr Alternate TBD (Pending acceptance of Amy Hamlin or other)

Academic Integrity Committee: Brett Hamlin, Joel Tuoriniemi

Conflict of Interest Committee: Laurie Panian

Faculty Distinguished Service Award Committee: Roger Kieckhafer

Misconduct in Research, Scholarly, and Creative Endeavors Inquiry Committee: Asim Banskota

Athletic Council (Slate): Michael Mullins

Sabbatical Leave Committee (Slate): Robert Froese, Barry Solomon, and Martin Thompson

Ombuds Officer Appointing Committee: Tabled (I have a list of people from the write-in if need be)

Early Tenure Proposal Vote: Accept (69), Reject (30), Abstain (9), No Answer (10)

5. Reports

a. Senate President: Bulleit thanked the Senate. Provost Seel also thanked the senate.

b. Senate Standing Committees

Gierke said that he and the Senate Officers met with Seel and Walck regarding assessment and decided that the framework for assessment will come through the Senate Instructional Policy Committee.

Mullins stated that the Finance Committee worked to make available new retirement options with TIAA-CREF and Fidelity that have an expanded range, better return, quality, performance, and management team with lower fees.

Riehl reported that the Elections Committee conducted an election on the Early Tenure Proposal 14-13 sent out to faculty for which the results were: Accept (69), Reject (30), Abstain (9), No Answer (10) and that it was therefore, APPROVED.

Gierke asked if the Provost could report on the number of tenured faculty to which he replied that he will at the next meeting. Gierke for the CATPR stated that they reviewed 3 questions from the Provost regarding, the spouse of a chair getting tenure, the committee makeup, and early tenure review. He requested a clear deadline for appeals in the future.

Onder for the Research Policy Committee stated that they completed a review of research computing needs and that the report is done and will be put up on senate website after corrections from admin.

6. Old Business

a. Proposal 25-13: “Proposal to Amend Senate Policy 701.1” presented by Senate Executive Committee (Voting Units: Academic)

It was APPROVED to postpone the proposal pending discussion on the lack of a policy on all joint appointments and the possible misuse of using 0% appointments as resume builders only.

b. Proposal 26-13: “Blended Learning Policy” presented by Academic Policy Committee (Voting Units: Academic)

The proposed revisions were APPROVED. A motion to postpone the proposal was APPROVED pending discussion on including more rational, a definition of “blended learning”, a clear timetable, and having it be voluntary.

7) New Business:

No new business was introduced.

8. Adjournment.

President Bulleit adjourned the meeting at 7:24pm.

Respectfully submitted

by Brian Barkdoll

Secretary of the University Senate