MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 11, 1992 MEETING OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE

ROLL: Present...Bennett, Bolton, Clark, Ferguson, Forell, Gilland, Gwartney-Gibbs, Hall, Hibbard, Hubin, Kahle, Lee, Lesage, Pope, Rothbart, Sheridan, Soper, Sprague, Squires, Steeves, Stuhr, Tepfer, Thomas, Trombley, Wixman. Excused...Brandon, Brick, Frank, Gilkey, Harvey, Hasek, Kelley, Laskaya, Mitha. Absent....Albrich (1), Calof (1), Collins (2), Goldstein (1), Hoop (2), Klos (1), Meyer (1), O'Brien (1), O'Connell (1), Osternig (1), Pickett (1).

CALL TO ORDER/APPROVAL OF MINUTES The meeting was called to order by President Michael Hibbard at 3:38 p.m., in room 133 Gilbert Hall. The minutes of the October 21, 1992 meeting had one error that the Secretary has noted and has corrected. Senator Forell was present and not absent. The minutes were then approved as corrected.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS Senator Kahle, Chair of the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee, made a brief report on the activities of that committee. He stated that the committee was now organized and has prepared an agenda for the year.

The Multicultural Requirement Committee submitted a report to the President Hibbard and this report follows:

"Early in the fall quarter President Brand appointed a committee following Senate action in response to a student resolution to strengthen and change the Race/Gender/non-European requirement. This committee is charged with considering and formulating proposals to change the current Race/Gender/non- European requirement so that it better fulfills the goal of enhancing multiculturalism on campus. The committee was initially convened by Rob Proudfoot, International Studies and Sandra Morgen, CSWS/Sociology. The committee has begun to meet and is discussing several issues: 1. How a strengthened diversity requirement is related to and contextualized by issues such as the relatively small number of faculty of color on this campus and the need for faculty development in order for meaningful curriculum change to occur; 2. ways to develop a proposal for a new requirement that will bring the campus together in a meaningful pursuit of multicultural goals for this community; and 3. issues of process, including committee leadership, building on the work of the students last Spring, etc.

"In addition, President Brand has organized a study group of administrators, selected faculty leaders, and the Multicultural Requirement committee members to explore the intellectual, historical and institutional questions that are related to the task of supporting the enrichment of multiculturalism on this campus. That group will meet three times during this quarter.

"The work of this committee is just beginning. We anticipate bringing a proposal to the Senate during this academic year, and hope that the committee's work will anticipate and encompass the most pressing concerns of faculty, students, and staff in regard to this crucial curricular matter."

OLD BUSINESS

The Secretary was recognized to read the following motion:

This motion is introduced as an amendment to University Assembly legislation of June 3, 1992. The purpose of the amendment is purely to clarify a part of the June 3, legislation.

  1. "Access to the two mandated questions on the course evaluation questionnaire shall be available in the Knight Library and the Office of Academic Advising and Student Services.
  2. "Departments shall have summaries of the tabulated forms, of the individual courses taught within the departments, available for student use in the department offices."
Without discussion the motion to amend was passed by voice vote.

Mr. Frank Anderson, Chair of the Undergraduate Committee, was recognized to introduce the following motion.

"PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH AN UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION AND POLICY COORDINATING COUNCIL"

"There shall be established a council, to be known as the undergraduate Education and Policy Coordinating Council, charged with reviewing and evaluating the quality of the University's undergraduate program. This Council shall make recommendations to the Senate, Assembly and other duly authorized governing bodies as necessary to guard and improve the quality of that program.

"This Council shall work in conjunction with standing committees that have responsibilities relating to undergraduate education.

"The charges to this Council shall include:

  • "1. Establishing criteria to determine the success of the overall undergraduate program and reviewing the program and its various components in light of these criteria.
  • "2. Reviewing the quality of the undergraduate components of departments and schools including playing an appropriate advisory role in program reviews.
  • "3. Identifying opportunities to create new programs and recommending appropriate curricular changes.
  • "4. Monitoring and responding to general academic policies, such as entry requirements for majors that may unfairly restrict academic opportunity.
  • "5. Reviewing proposals that may have substantial impact on the undergraduate program.
  • "6. Developing and advocating new and revised policies as appropriate.
  • "Any member of the university community can propose agenda items and issues for consideration by the Council.

    "A majority of the Council is needed to send proposed legislation and policy recommendations to standing committees, the University Senate, and the Office of the Provost for consideration and action.

    "Membership of the Undergraduate Education and Policy Coordinating Council shall be recommended by the Committee on Committees and shall consist of:

    "A. A minimum of seven appointed (voting) faculty members with representation from:
    Mr. Anderson stated that the undergraduate did not have an advocacy group on campus, that is no one group was concerned with the total undergraduate program and the problems that it presents. This Council idea is a product of the Task Force for Undergraduate Education's work over the past two years. It is possible that getting the Council going would result in a considerable amount of work, but work that would be rewarded with positive results.

    A few of the values of the Council would be: a group to monitor all aspects of the undergraduate program--from registration, the calendar, counseling, to class offerings. The Council would provide a sounding board for the Provost, new programs could be discussed with the Council, and the Council could coordinate undergraduate programs and work out disputes/conflicts. If the Council does its work well the undergraduate program will flourish, Mr. Anderson concluded.

    Mr. Arnold Ismach, Journalism, rose to oppose #4. in the list of charges. He did not think that the Council should be allowed to interfere with the professional schools/colleges requirements for admission. These standards are established to be in line with accreditation rules and that to change or weaken the rules could jeopardize accreditation for the professional schools/colleges. Mr. Ismach suggested that the proposal was dangerous because of this charge.

    Ms. Alison Baker, Executive Dean, spoke on the subject of the appointment process and the difficulty that would be faced by the Committee on Committees in filling the various positions. Ms. Becky Sisley, Student Services, supported the motion because it was in line with the "Oregon Model" that will guide the University for the next several years. At present undergraduates cannot find majors as we shut students out through entrance requirements or restrictions within majors.

    Senator Soper stated that charge #4. would lead to debate and discussion on requirements, and that charge does not give the Council the authority to interfere with the requirements, but that it instead would bring forth debate on the subject.

    Ms. Anne Leavitt, Academic Support and Student Services, stated that the motion allows for discussion of undergraduate issues, the impact of decisions on undergraduates, such as, class access issues. Senator Bennett stated that a good issue would be Mathematics for Elementary Education which we do not offer, but would be an extremely useful course offering. Mr. Anderson stated that this was a good example as the Math Department would like to offer the class, but the funds are not available to support the program. The Council could look at the problem, discuss the solution and suggest that funding be found and justify the funding process.

    Senator Rothbart spoke in favor of the motion by pointing out that the discussion between President Brand and the Department of Psychology went beyond the Department and the College of Arts and Sciences. Cuts in the budget were discussed and the impact on the curriculum and this Council could be involved in such discussions in the future.

    Ms. Lorraine Davis, Vice Provost, stated that the structure parallels that of the Graduate Council and thus a possible result of the creation of this Undergraduate Council would be a work load reduction for other committees that now do a limited number of things involving undergraduates. Number 4 is not a hidden agenda item, but one that sees the Council making recommendations after discussion/debate, investigation, etc. The Council as proposed in this motion does not have any legislative power to change anything. Senator Gilland thought the Council would be a worthwhile body, but he did see problems with #4. He thought #4 could be amended to get the specific out and reword the charge to be more general. He moved to amend number 4 to read: "Monitoring and responding to general academic policies, especially those which have an interacting impact on access across the university." This motion to amend was passed by a vote of 24 yes, 0 opposed and 2 abstaining. Senator Soper moved to eliminate from the membership listing "1. The Faculty Advisory Council (one member);" This passed with a vote of 12 yes, 5 no, and 6 abstaining.

    Ms. Baker presented the following amendment:

    "The membership of the Undergraduate Education and Policy Coordinating Council shall be composed as follows:

    "A.
    1. One member of the University Senate designated by the body's president.
    2. The ASUO President or student designee. "
    3. The Student Senate president or student designee. "
    4. One teaching faculty member from each of the professional schools and colleges that has an undergraduate degree program appointed by the Dean with the advice of the Committee on Committees. "
    5. One teaching faculty member from each of the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences, appointed by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences with the advice of the Committee on Committees.
    6. Three ex officio non-voting members as follows: "Registrar or designee "Vice Provost for academic support and student services or designee "Director of academic advising and student services or designee.
    7. Up to three other faculty members nominated by the Committee on Committees and appointed by the President."
    This amendment was passed by a vote of 15 yes, 0 no, and 8 abstaining. Senator Thomas moved to amend the student membership to read: "Student Senate President or an at-large designee and 1 student appointed by the Student Senate Committee on Committees." This was approved by a vote of 8 yes, 4 no, and 8 abstaining.

    Senator Gwartney-Gibbs asked if the Senate had a quorum present. The Secretary called the roll and it was found that the Senate had lost its quorum. At this time President Hibbard stated that the motion would be sent back to the Rules Committee for a re-working in cooperation with the maker of the motion and with the amendments attached as a part of the main motion.

    NEW BUSINESS

    On October 30, 1992 the Secretary received the following two motions from the Academic Standards Committee:
     

    1. "College credit earned on a high school campus prior to graduation from high school may be validated for transfer credit only by demonstrating proficiency as determined by a the respective university department."

    2. "Whereas, the `1985 Guidelines for College Courses Taught for Credit in High School' do not adequately define the recording procedures in sponsoring colleges' transcripts,

    "Be it resolved, that all Oregon colleges and universities identify course work taught in high schools by high school instructors, and that this work be recorded as such on the sponsoring college's or university's transcripts, including the term(s) the course(s) were taken, the name of the high school, and the amount of credit earned."
    The Secretary was handed the following motion and it will be before the Senate Rules Committee prior to the next meeting:

    Senator Bennett moves: "

    That the University of Oregon no longer accepts transfer credits from other institutions which were passed with a grade of `D'."
    ADJOURNMENT

    The Senate adjourned at 5:03 p.m. Keith Richard Secretary 


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