The University Senate
of Michigan Technological University
Minutes of Meeting 557
January 21, 2015
PDF version of Minutes 557
Senate minutes are time-indexed [in square brackets] to the relevant segments of the streaming video of the meeting.
Synopsis:
The Senate
-
Presentation: Comments on the proposed revision of Michigan Tech's Strategic Plan by Dave Reed, Vice President for Research
-
Establishment of an ad hoc committee on library resources passed
-
Proposal 19-15: "Amending Senate Policy 102.1: Policy on Class Attendance" passed
-
Proposal 20-15: "Policy on Michigan Technological University Information Technology Services" passed
1. Call to order and roll call. [00:00 - 01:59]
President Craig Waddell called the University Senate Meeting 557 to order at 5:30
p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2014. The Senate Secretary Marty Thompson called roll.
Absent were Senators Caneba and Cadwell and representatives of Army/Air Force ROTC,
Materials Science & Engineering, School of Technology, Visual & Performing Arts, Academic
Services A, Finance, Student Affairs & Advancement A, Student Affairs & Advancement
C and Technology.
2. Recognition of visitors. Guests included Max Seel (Provost’s Office), Dave Reed (Research Office), Bonnie Gorman (Dean of Students Office), Erin Matas (Library), Ellen Marks (Library), and Glenn Mroz (President).
3. Approval of agenda. [02:00 - 02:47]
Olson asked to remove Proposal 16-15 from unfinished as it will be discussed during
the committee reports. DeWinter moved. Wanless seconded. The revised agenda passed unanimously on a voice vote.
4. Approval of minutes from Meeting 556. [02:47 - 03:38]
Oliveira asked that Dan Furman be added to the Recognition of Visitors section. Barkdoll
moved. DeWinter seconded. The minutes passed unanimously on a voice vote.
5. Guest Presentation: Vice President for Research Dave Reed comments on the proposed
revision of Michigan Tech's Strategic Plan. [03:38 - 26:15]
Reed discussed progress in four major university metrics toward the goal termed “MTU
Portrait 2035”. The endowment goal is $740 million in 2035. The endowment is currently
around $125 million. Waddell asked to what degree the undergraduate programs subsidizing
graduate programs.
Regarding the plot presenting “Full Time Graduates versus FTE Undergraduates” at Michigan and MTU benchmark institutions, there was concern expressed regarding the variation of institutional sizes (student populations) and the consequent validity of such comparisons. Reed stated the 2035 Portrait envisions 400 faculty. Current faculty numbers are approximately 330-340.
Barkdoll asked if research revenue and expenses are similar or if research costs Tech money. Reed said it costs money for internal because it is not associated with revenue but the externally funded research does support itself. Waddell said the NSF-“HERD Study” the benchmark is for internal research funding is 15% versus MTU, which is 40%. Reed said the NSF requires changes to research expenditure reporting but this will not change how we actually spend money and provided several examples. University President Mroz commented that hospital expenditures for universities that have research hospitals, and how that biases a lot of the numbers reported from those institutions and the resulting national averages.
Reed discussed the strategic planning process and upcoming schedule.
6. Presidents Report [26:15 - 36:29]
a. The status of Senate approved proposals:
Proposal 23-14 "Proposal to Establish Michigan Technological University's Copyright Policy Regarding Scholarly, Academic, and Artistic Works." Approved by the Board of Control with some modifications. Approved by the administration and the Board of Control.
Proposal 2-15 "Amending the Senate's Constitution"
Approved by the Board of Control.
Proposal 12-15 "Degree Name Change from Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology-Earth Science Education to Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology-Earth and Space Science and Integrated Science"
Approved by the administration and the Board of Control.
Proposal 13-15 "Master of Science Degree Program in Applied Physics"
Approved by the administration and the Board of Control.
Proposal 14-15 "Concentration in Biomedical Applications within the degree Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering"
Approved by the administration.
Proposal 15-15 "Concentration in Environmental Applications within the degree Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering"
Approved by the administration.
b. Establishment of an ad hoc committee on library resources.
Waddell proposed that the university senate establish an ad hoc committee on library resources. Snyder moved to initiate an ad hoc committee on library resources. DeWinter seconded. Discussion focused on the charge to be given to the committee.
Froese moved to amend the charge of the ad hoc committee to say:
"The committee should consider, address and bring forward recommendations to the Library during this transition regarding electronic journal subscriptions." Nooshabadi seconded.
The amendment to the charge passed by unanimous vote.
Discussion continued on the general discontent with both the change in journal subscriptions and the mechanism by which the change was communicated. The vote to establish an ad hoc committee on library resources passed unanimously.
c. Reminder: The University Senate, Staff Council, Graduate Student Government and Undergraduate Student Government are hosting a forum on University finances and the budget preparation/planning process on Wednesday, Jan. 28, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Noblet Forestry and Wood Products Building Room G002. David Reed, vice president for research will provide an update of the current finances of the University and FY 2016 budget-planning process.
d. Waddell reminded the Senate of the proposal passed last year and approved by the administration stating that the Senate be included in crafting questions to be submitted to external consultants hired by the administration regarding the healthcare plans.
7. Reports from Senate Standing Committees [36:30 - 01:30:00]
Academic and Instructional Policy Committee. None.
Administrative Policy Committee. [38:40 - 01:30:00] Olson, chair, asked the full Senate for discussion and feedback for three key portions of Proposal 16-15.
Olson moved to amend draft Proposal 16-15 with text defining a university-wide committee. Vable seconded. Discussion focused on the procedure for amending the proposal that has not been introduced.
Nooshabadi moved to table the discussion. No second. Motion fails.
Discussion centered on the advantage of a university-wide committee versus a senate committee. The vote to amend Proposal 16-15 to establish a university-wide committee, which will develop and perform the presidential survey was put to a hand vote. The votes were counted as 12 in favor, 12 opposed. President Waddell cast the deciding vote opposing the amendment.
The amendment did not pass.
Olson moved to amend draft Proposal 16-15 with text defining what will be done with the comments from the survey. Vable seconded. Discussion.
Riehl moved to remove the word sample with the intent that verbatim comments would be included. Nooshabadi seconded. The amending text was accepted by a majority vote.
Wheaton moved to include verbatim comments in an appendix to be released with the report. Xxx Seconded. The amending text was accepted by a majority vote.
The text now reads:
“The committee conducting the survey of University leadership in Proposal 16-15 should include all verbatim comments in the appendix of its report of results, as long as such comments do not contain personal attacks, names of individuals or unprofessional language.”
Approval of the amended text passed by majority vote.
Olson moved to amend draft Proposal 16-15 defining the role of the survey expert. Vable seconded. Discussion.
Nooshabadi moved to change the wording ‘if the survey expert is a member of the committee, then that person will have the same rights and responsibilities as the members of the committee’. Wellstead seconded. The change in text was not accepted by majority vote.
Nooshabadi moved to drop this amendment. Wellstead seconded. Removal of the amendment defining the role of the survey expert passed by unanimous vote.
Motion withdrawn.
Curricular Policy Committee. Barkdoll said the committee is working on a proposal detailing undergraduate certificates and minors.
Elections Committee. None.
Finance & Institutional Planning Committee. None.
Fringe Benefits Committee. Nooshabadi appointed committee chair.
General Education and Assessment Committee. None.
Information Technology Committee. Velat appointed committee chair.
Professional Staff Policy Committee. None.
Research Policy Committee. None.
8. Unfinished Business [01:30:01 - 01:49:32]
a. Proposal 16-15: "University Leadership Evaluation Committee"
Withdrawn
b. Proposal 19-15: "Amending Senate Policy 102.1: Policy on Class Attendance" [01:30:01 - 01:42:20]
Sams moved. Snyder seconded. Discussion focused on an appropriate time frame in which to make up missed work.
Froese moved to amend the text to say “the instructor deems”. Oliveira seconded. The amended text was accepted by majority vote.
The amended proposal was passed by majority vote.
c. Proposal 20-15: "Policy on Michigan Technological University Information Technology
Services" [01:42:21 - 01:49:32]
Velat moved to approve Proposal 20-15. Wheaton seconded. Discussion focused on customer dissatisfaction as the motivation for Senate action.
The proposal was passed by majority vote.
9. New Business [01:49:32 - 01:53:00]
a. Proposal 21-15: "Deadlines for Dissertation, Thesis, and Report Submission" [01:49:32 - 01:52:15]
Storer, introduced the proposal, which comes from the Graduate Faculty Council, that
addresses student and faculty concerns about deadlines the graduate school has established.
The areas of concern were getting feedback in a timely fashion and the impact of the
existing deadlines on graduation dates.
b. Proposal 22-15: "Proposal to Shelve Degree Program: Information Systems Concentration
(SCS3)" [01:52:16 - 01:53:00]
Barkdoll, Curricular Policy Committee, said the committee unanimously supports the
shelving of this under-enrolled program in Computer Science.
10. Public Comments
None.
11. Adjournment.
Froese moved to adjourn. Barkdoll seconded. President Waddell adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
by Marty Thompson
Secretary of the University Senate