University Senate

Meeting 579 Minutes

The University Senate
of Michigan Technological University

Minutes of Meeting 579
April 20, 2016

PDF version of Minutes 579

Senate minutes are time-indexed [in square brackets] to the relevant segments of the streaming video of the meeting.

Synopsis:

The Senate

  • "Annual Report from the Sabbatical Leave Committee" presented by Ralph Hodek

  • "Annual Report from the Committee on Academic Tenure, Promotion, and Reappointment (CATPR)" presented by Audrey Mayer

  • Proposal 7-16: Amending the Senate Procedure 506.1.1, Evaluation Procedures for Department Chairs and School Deans passed.

  • Proposal 8-16: Amending Senate Procedure 507.1.1, Procedure to Enhance Confidentiality and Anonymity in Department Chairs/School Deans Review Surveys and Balloting passed.

  • Proposal 29-16: Proposal to Formally Establish Assessment Liaisons in all Units Mandated to Participate in the Assessment Process passed.

  • Proposal 30-16: Minor in Rail Transportation, Proposal 31-16: New Concentration in Game Development within the Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science passed.

  • Proposal 31-16: New Concentration in Game Development within the Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science passed.

  • Proposal 32-16: Minor in Leadership passed.

  • Proposal 33-16: Proposal to Shelve Degree Program: Ph.D. in Engineering Physics passed.

  • Proposal 34-16: Proposal to Shelve Certificate Program: Certificate in Hybrid Electric Drive Vehicle Engineering (CHEV) passed.

  • Proposal 35-16: Amending Senate Policy 102.1: Policy on Class Attendance and Proposal 37-16: Amendments to Final Exam Policy 602.1 passed.

  • Proposal 36-16: Academic Calendar 2017-2018 and Provisional Calendar 2018-2019 passed.

  • Proposal 37-16: Amendments to Final Exam Policy 602.1 passed.

1. Call to order and roll call. [44:44 – 46:44]

President Brian Barkdoll called the University Senate Meeting 579 to order at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, 2016. The Senate Secretary Marty Thompson called roll. Absent were senators Cai and Mensch and representatives of Army/Air Force ROTC, Engineering Fundamentals, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Materials Science and Engineering, Visual and Performing Arts, Graduate Faculty Council, Staff Council and Undergraduate Student Government. 

2. Recognition of visitors. Guests included Theresa Coleman-Kaiser (Administration), Ginger Sleeman (Human Resources), Bonnie Gorman (Dean of Students Office), Ralph Hodek (Sabbatical Leave Committee) and Jackie Huntoon (Provosts Office).

3. Approval of agenda. [46:45 – 49:40]

Froese moved to approve the agenda. Guter seconded. Discussion. The agenda passed unanimously on a voice vote.

4. Approval of minutes from Meeting 577. [49:41 – 50:12]

Guter moved to approve. DeWinter seconded. The minutes passed unanimously on a voice vote. 

5. Presentations [50:13 – 1:17:32]

a. "Annual Report from the Sabbatical Leave Committee" [50:13 – 1:13:10]

Ralph Hodek, Committee Chair, Sabbatical Leave Committee presented the past four years of sabbatical leave data and made several recommendations to improve collection of post-sabbatical reports. [link to report].

b. "Annual Report from the Committee on Academic Tenure, Promotion, and Reappointment (CATPR)" [1:13:11 – 1:17:32]

Audrey Mayer, Committee Chair, CATPR, presented the work accomplished over the past year and provided recommendations for improved communication and transparency [link to report]

6. President’s Report [1:17:33 – 1:18:18]

Barkdoll presented an achievement award to Senator Craig Waddell. 

7. Reports from Senate Standing Committees   [1:18:19 – 1:32:54]

Academic and Instructional Policy Committee. None 

Administrative Policy Committee. None 

Curricular Policy Committee. None 

Elections Committee. Clancy read the election results for various Senate positions:

Faculty-at-Large: Yu Cai, Ann Bethel and Xiaohu Xia

Academic Integrity Committee: Brett Hamlin, Joel Tuoriniemi

Athletic Council Slate to President: Larry Sutter

Conflict of Interest: Yu Cai

Faculty Distinguished Service Award Committee: Xiaohu Xia, Manish Srivastava

Faculty Review: Rudy Luck (Senator). Howard (Hao) Qi (Alternate)

Misconduct in Research, Scholarly, and Creative Endeavors Inquiry: Mahesh Gupta, Manish Srivastava

Public Safety Oversight: Blair Orr

Sabbatical Leave Slate to President: Shari Stockero 

Finance & Institutional Planning Committee. DeWinter will meet with the provost next week to discuss the senate budget. 

Fringe Benefits Committee. Waddell provided a report of committee activities for the past year [link to report] and gave a response to the fringe benefits forum presented by the Benefits Liaison Group.

General Education and Assessment Committee. None 

Information Technology Committee. None 

Professional Staff Policy Committee. None 

Research Policy Committee. None 

8. Unfinished Business [1:32:55 – 1:45:12]

a. Proposal 7-16: Amending the Senate Procedure 506.1.1, Evaluation Procedures for Department Chairs and School Deans

Wanless moved to approve. DeWinter seconded. Discussion. The proposal passed unanimously by voice vote. 

b. Proposal 8-16: Amending Senate Procedure 507.1.1, Procedure to Enhance Confidentiality and Anonymity in Department Chairs/School Deans Review Surveys and Balloting

Wanless moved to approve. DeWinter seconded. Discussion. The proposal passed unanimously by voice vote.

c. Proposal 10-16: Rationalization of Senate Procedures on the Selection/Election of Membership of Various Committees

Barkdoll moved to approve. Froese raised a point of order. Proposal withdrawn.

d. Proposal 29-16: Proposal to Formally Establish Assessment Liaisons in all Units Mandated to Participate in the Assessment Process

Wanless moved to approve. DeWinter seconded. Discussion. The proposal passed unanimously by voice vote.

e. 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)

Barkdoll asked to vote on the proposals as a block. Froese moved to approve all. Wanless seconded. No discussion. The proposals passed by unanimous vote. 

f. Proposal 35-16: Amending Senate Policy 102.1: Policy on Class Attendance and,

Proposal 37-16: Amendments to Final Exam Policy 602.1

Barkdoll moved to approve Proposals 35-16, 36-16 and 37-16 as a block.

Guter raised a point of order. Proposal 36-16 removed. 

Wellstead moved to approve Proposals 35-16 and 37-16. DeWinter seconded. Froese requested an editorial change to Proposal 37-16. Discussion. The proposals passed by unanimous vote. 

g. Proposal 36-16: Academic Calendar 2017-2018 and Provisional Calendar 2018-2019

DeWinter moved. Guter seconded. No discussion. The proposal passed by unanimous vote. 

9. New Business

None 

10. Public Comments [1:45:13 – 1:46:57]

Oliveira thanked Senator Waddell for his service to the Senate. 

Asilioglu informed the Senate about a model U.N. group being formed on campus. 

11. Adjournment

Wanless moved. Clancy seconded President Barkdoll adjourned the meeting at 7:07 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted
by Marty Thompson
Secretary of the University Senate