The University Senate
of Michigan Technological University
Minutes of Meeting 569
November 4, 2015
PDF version of Minutes 569
Senate minutes are time-indexed [in square brackets] to the relevant segments of the streaming video of the meeting.
Synopsis:
The Senate
-
Proposal 5-16: ‘Scheduling of Examinations, Projects, Presentations and Papers During Career Day” passed
1. Call to order and roll call. [00:00 – 02:11]
President Brian Barkdoll called the University Senate Meeting 569 to order at 5:30
p.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2015. The Senate Secretary Marty Thompson called roll.
Absent were Senators Oliveira and Cadwell and representatives of Army/Air Force ROTC,
Biological Sciences, Materials Science and Engineering, School of Forestry, Visual
and Performing Arts, Academic Services B, Student Affairs & Advancement B, Student
Affairs & Advancement C, Technology, Graduate Faculty Council, Staff Council and Undergraduate
Student Government.
2. Recognition of visitors. Guests included Theresa Coleman-Kaiser (Administration), Pushpa Murthy (Graduate School), Bonnie Gorman (Dean of Students Office) and Sam Richards (Undergraduate Student Government).
3. Approval of agenda. [02:12 – 03:34]
Clancy moved to approve. Hamlin seconded.
Nooshabadi said the Administrative Policy Committee would like to withdraw Item 8.a.,
Proposal 4-16. No discussion.
The amended agenda passed unanimously on a voice vote.
4. Approval of minutes from Meeting 568. [03:35 – 04:09]
Wood moved to approve. Guter seconded. The minutes passed unanimously on a voice vote.
5. President’s Report [04:10 – 12:34]
President Brian Barkdoll commented on the rationale for removing Proposal 4-16 from
the agenda. In its place he will attempt to communicate the achievements of the senate
to constituents.
Discussion of moving senate meeting times to earlier in the day. Discussion.
Forum on university finances expected in January or February.
Senate attendance to be recorded on the senate website.
The Board of Trustees is thinking ahead to selecting the next university president and has asked the senate to think about the process.
6. Reports from Senate Standing Committees [12:35 – 19:19]
Academic and Instructional Policy Committee. None.
Administrative Policy Committee. Examining the process for evaluating the university president. The survey is being designed in a course by students, who are learning how to design surveys as an assignment. The Board of Trustees was informed of this and President Mroz attended the class where students are working on this project. Discussion.
Curricular Policy Committee. None.
Elections Committee. None.
Finance & Institutional Planning Committee. Various proposals are being reviewed for financial impact.
Fringe Benefits Committee. Working on a proposal relating to healthcare. Meeting with staff from the benefits office next week to discuss the proposals.
General Education and Assessment Committee. Working on a proposal that impacts how assessment is communicated. The goal is to establish liaisons to enhance communications within different circles. Current approach is not working. Additional presentations to senate regarding general education and assessment are being prepared. The goal is to open up discussion to engage faculty.
Information Technology Committee. None.
Professional Staff Policy Committee. None.
Research Policy Committee. None.
7. Unfinished Business [19:20 – 28:09]
a. Proposal 4-16: Amending the Senate Bylaws to Improve Units Participation
b. Proposal 5-16: Scheduling of Examinations, Projects, Presentations and Papers During
Career Day
This proposal comes from the Academic and Instructional Policy Committee. Hamlin reiterated
some of the concerns that led to this issue being reviewed including the enforcement
of the policy, which will come from the Dean of Students office.
Hamlin moved to approve the proposal. Discussion.
The proposal passed by majority vote.
8. New Business [28:10 – 1:00:37]
a. Proposal 3-16 (revised): Proposal on Automatic Enrollment in Michigan Tech's Defined
Contribution Retirement Plan
This proposal comes from the Fringe Benefits and Finance & Institutional Planning
Committees and is a revision of Proposal 41-15 passed last year. Waddell introduced
the revised proposal. This proposal attempts to improve Michigan Tech’s defined contribution
retirement plan by taking advantage of Public Act 242 of 2014, according to which,
A public employer may provide for automatic enrollment of an employee in a plan described
in this subsection. Discussion.
b. Proposal 6-16: Proposal to Shelve Degree Program: Undergraduate Certificate in
International Sustainable Development Engineering
This proposal comes from the Curricular Policy Committee. The certificate is not going
to be switched to a graduate certificate. It will be replaced by a Peace Corps Prep
minor to be proposed to start in Fall 2016. The Finance & Institutional Planning Committee
has reviewed the accompanying financial data and supports this proposal.
c. Proposal 7-16: Amending the Senate Procedure 506.1.1, Evaluation Procedures for
Department Chairs and School Deans
This proposal comes from the Administrative Policy Committee. Nooshabadi discussed
the areas of concern which include; expediency, confidentiality, survey design and
several editorial changes to clarify the language of the procedure.
d. Proposal 8-16: Amending Senate Procedure 507.1.1, Procedure to Enhance Confidentiality
and Anonymity in Department Chairs/School Deans Review Surveys and Balloting
This proposal comes from the Administrative Policy Committee. Nooshabadi cited several
editorial changes in the proposal to enhance the confidentiality of survey respondents.
Discussion.
9. Public Comments
10. Adjournment
President Barkdoll adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
by Marty Thompson
Secretary of the University Senate