The University Senate
of Michigan Technological University
Minutes of Meeting 577
April 6, 2016
PDF version of Minutes 577
Senate minutes are time-indexed [in square brackets] to the relevant segments of the streaming video of the meeting.
Synopsis:
The Senate
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Results of 2015-16 President's Evaluation" presented by Shane Mueller, Administrative Policy Committee
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President's Response presented by University President Glenn Mroz
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Proposal 18-16: Proposal to Shelve a Certificate: Undergraduate Certificate in Global Technological Leadership passed.
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Proposal 19-16: Proposal for a Minor in Writing passed.
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Proposal 20-16: Proposal for a Minor in Media Production passed.
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Proposal 21-16: Proposal for a Minor in Global Community Development Partnership passed.
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Proposal 22-16: Proposal to Amend Senate Policy 505.1 Policy on Early Term Surveys passed.
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Proposal 23-16: Proposal to Move to a University Parental Leave Policy passed.
1. Call to order and roll call. [00:00 – 01:51]
President Brian Barkdoll called the University Senate Meeting 577 to order at 5:30
p.m. on Wednesday, April 6, 2016. The Senate Secretary Marty Thompson called roll.
Absent were senators Cai and Stancher and representatives of Army/Air Force ROTC,
Engineering Fundamentals, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Materials
Science and Engineering, Social Sciences, Technology, Graduate Faculty Council, Staff
Council and Undergraduate Student Government.
2. Recognition of visitors. Guests included Ellen Horsch (Administration), Theresa Coleman-Kaiser (Administration), Ginger Sleeman (Human Resources), Bonnie Gorman (Dean of Students Office), Glenn Mroz (President), Min Song (Computer Science), Bruce Seely (College of Sciences and Arts) and Jackie Huntoon (Provosts Office).
3. Approval of agenda. [01:52 – 03:27]
DeWinter requested the removal of Proposal 38-16 from New Business. Schmierer moved to approve the amended agenda. Guter seconded. No discussion. The amended agenda passed unanimously on a voice vote.
4. Approval of minutes from Meeting 576. [03:28 – 03:59]
Velat moved to approve. Schmierer seconded. The minutes passed unanimously on a voice vote.
5. Presentations [04:00 – 49:54]
a. "Results of 2015-16 President's Evaluation" [04:01 – 29:06]
Shane Mueller, Administrative Policy Committee, presented the results of the president’s
evaluation. [link to slides] Discussion.
b. "President's Response" [29:07 – 48:00]
Glenn Mroz, University President, noted the improved quality of the survey and responded
to results. He sought more details into specific concerns about healthcare – whether
the concerns were about Tech’s health plan or the availability and quality of healthcare
in our area in general. He noted the charges to the Benefits Liaison Group to perform
a global review of benefits and the rejuvenation of the Compensation Task Force. Discussion.
c. Report of the President’s Survey [48:00 – 49:54]
Nooshabadi presented a report on the President’s survey. Nooshabadi moved to submit a single report of the Evaluation of the [University] President to the
Senate with no verbatim comments. The same report will be sent to the University President and the
Board of Trustees with verbatim comments. Furthermore, next year’s committee will continue the practice
of sending verbatim comments only to the University President and the Board of Trustees.
Patchin seconded. The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.
6. President’s Report [49:55 – 1:03:20]
a. Administrative responses to senate approved proposals:
Proposals 18-16, 19-16, 20-16, 21-16 and 22-16 were approved by administration.
Proposal 7-16 and 8-16. Nooshabadi moved. Patchin seconded. Discussion.
Froese raised a point of order. Barkdoll ended discussion. Motion withdrawn.
Proposal 10-16: Rationalization of Senate Procedures on the Selection/Election of Membership of Various Committees was rejected by Administration on 03-28-16. Nooshabadi moved to refer the proposal to the Administrative Policy Committee. Motion withdrawn.
Proposal 8-16: Amending Senate Procedure 507.1.1, Procedure to Enhance Confidentiality and Anonymity in Department Chairs/School Deans Review Surveys and Balloting. The administration provided a Revised Response.
Nooshabadi moved to accept administrative changes to Proposal 7-16 and 8-16.
Guter moved to table. Froese seconded. No discussion. Motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.
7. Reports from Senate Standing Committees [1:03:20 – 1:09:54]
Academic and Instructional Policy Committee. None
Administrative Policy Committee. See Items 5.c. and 6.a., above. Proposal 7-16 will be discussed.
Curricular Policy Committee. None
Elections Committee. Clancy noted three open Senate Faculty-at-large positions, one Staff at-large position and the Senate Secretary. Discussion.
Finance & Institutional Planning Committee. DeWinter is working with the provost to restructure Proposal 38-16.
Fringe Benefits Committee. Waddell will provide a report based on the fringe benefits forum and activities performed by the committee this year.
General Education and Assessment Committee. None.
Information Technology Committee. None.
Professional Staff Policy Committee. None.
Research Policy Committee. None.
Ad hoc committee to examine the Senate Constitution and Bylaws. Froese reminded everyone about the survey and the committee will be evaluating survey responses at the upcoming meeting. The survey will remain open and be available to receive comments.
8. Unfinished Business [1:09:55 – 1:18:25]
a. Proposal 8-16 Motion.
Withdrawn.
b. Proposal 32-15: Establishment of a Library Liaisons and a Library Advisory Committee.
Froese moved to approve. Discussion. The proposal passed by majority vote.
c. Proposal 33-15: Academic Calendar 2016-17 and Provisional Calendar 2017-18
Plummer moved to approve. Discussion. The proposal passed by unanimous vote.
d. Proposal 17-16: Proposal for Ph.D. in Applied Physics, Proposal 24-16: Master of
Science Degree Program in Cybersecurity, Proposal 25-16: Minor in Teaching English
to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Proposal 26-16: Undergraduate Catalog Policy,
Proposal 27-16: Amendment to Senate Policy 408.1 (Board of Trustees Policy 7.2) Residency
Requirements Policy
Barkdoll moved. No discussion. The proposals passed by unanimous vote.
e. Proposal 28-16: Amending Senate Procedure 507.1.1, Procedure to Enhance Confidentiality
and Anonymity in Department Chairs/School Deans Review Surveys and Balloting
Barkdoll moved to approve. Discussion. The proposal passed by unanimous vote.
9. New Business [1:18:26 – 1:29:35]
a. Proposal 29-16: Proposal to Formally Establish Assessment Liaisons in all Units
Mandated to Participate in the Assessment Process
Hungwe, General Education and Assessment Committee, proposes that assessment liaisons
be appointed in all academic units that are obligated to participate in the Gen Ed
and Assessment process. Discussion.
b-f. Proposal 30-16: Minor in Rail Transportation, Proposal 31-16: New Concentration in Game Development within the Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Proposal 32-16: Minor in Leadership, Proposal 33-16: Proposal to Shelve Degree Program: Ph.D. in Engineering Physics and Proposal 34-16: Proposal to Shelve Certificate Program: Certificate in Hybrid Electric Drive Vehicle Engineering (CHEV)
Oliveira, Curricular Policy Committee and Finance and Institutional Planning Committee, introduced each curricular proposal.
g. Proposal 35-16: Amending Senate Policy 102.1: Policy on Class Attendance
Plummer, Academic and Instructional Policy Committee, said this proposal aligns policy with current practice. Students missing class for student organization travel work with the student activities office, which provides a verification that the student will be missing class for the stated reason. This is not a university excused absence but is a situation where the University would like to be supportive of student travel and thus helps by handling materials related to proof of travel.
h. Proposal 36-16: Academic Calendar 2017-2018 and Provisional Calendar 2018-2019
Plummer, Academic and Instructional Policy Committee, proposed two calendars.
i. Proposal 37-16: Amendments to Final Exam Policy 602.1
Plummer, Academic and Instructional Policy Committee, said this proposal aligns policy with strategic goals. To emphasize action-based learning this proposal changes the final exam policy to refer to final evaluations instead of exams or tests. The policy also changes wording that emphasized knowledge accumulation to wording that emphasizes student development and growth. Discussion.
j. Proposal 38-16: Restructuring the Senate Budget
Withdrawn.
10. Public Comments [1:29:36 – 1:36:40]
Guter commented on the recycling presentation on March 2, 2016 (Meeting 575). He provided
some additional information about cost structures.
Tewari commented on senate procedures regarding voting on proposals in the same meeting in which changes are made to the proposal.
11. Adjournment
President Barkdoll adjourned the meeting at 7:07 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
by Marty Thompson
Secretary of the University Senate