The University Senate of Michigan Technological University
Proposal 31-15 (revised 03-23-15)
(Voting Units: Full Senate)
“Amending Senate Policy 210.1, Board of Control Policy 4.8, and Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty Handbook Section 8.2: Office of the Ombuds”
PDF Version of Proposal 31-15
Contacts: Jonathan Riehl, Senior Lecturer
Department of Engineering Fundamentals
riehlj@mtu.edu
1. Introduction
The Michigan Tech Ombuds Office states their mission as:
The Michigan Tech Ombuds Office is a place where members of the University community can go for informal conflict mediation services. In order to afford clients the greatest freedom in using its services, the office is independent, neutral, and confidential.
During the appointment process for the current Ombuds Officer, the issue was raised that the Ombuds Officer Appointing Committee’s composition is not reflective of the composition of the office’s clientele. Specifically, undergraduates and graduate students experience different issues and thus should have separate representation on the selection committee. Professional and represented staff face a similar dilemma and should also have separate representation.
This proposal is meant to fix this error by reconfiguring the committee to be fully representative of Ombuds Office potential clientele. This will make for a fairer, more inclusive committee.
This proposal will also fix a discrepancy between Senate Policy 210.1, Board of Control Policy 4.8, and Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty Handbook Section 8.2.
2. Proposal
The paragraph in Senate Policy 210.1 that reads:
“The Ombuds Officer shall be appointed by the appointing committee which shall consist of the following members of the Michigan Tech community: one member appointed by the President; one member elected by the Senate from among its members; one member elected by the Academic Faculty; one member elected by the Staff Council; and one member elected by Michigan Tech enrolled students.”
and the paragraph in Board of Control Policy 4.8 and in Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty Handbook Section 8.2 that reads:
“The Ombuds Officer shall be appointed by the appointing committee which shall consist of the following members of the Michigan Tech community: one member appointed by the President; one member elected by the Senate from among its members; one member elected by the Academic Faculty; and one member elected by Michigan Tech enrolled students.”
shall be amended to read as follows:
“The Ombuds Officer shall be appointed by the appointing committee which shall consist of the following members of the Michigan Tech community: one member appointed by the President; one member elected by the Senate from among its members; one member elected by the Academic Faculty; one member elected by the Professional Staff; one member elected by the Represented Staff; one member appointed by the Graduate Student Government from among its constituents; and one member appointed by the Undergraduate Student Government from among its constituents.”
(Note: policy changes are in bold)
Introduced to Senate: March 18, 2015
Revised by Administrative Policy Committee (in red): March 23, 2015
Approved by Senate: April 1, 2015
Declined by Administration: April 23, 2015
Amendment offered by Administration: April 23, 2015