A special meeting of the University Senate was called to order at 4:10 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2003 in Room 7, Gamble Hall. Jan Goodwin presided.

The following members of the Senate were present:

Bagheri, Fathollah
Baker, Adam
Benoit, Joseph
Blackburn, Royce
Boyd, Robert
Bridewell, John
DeMers, Judy
Drewes, Mary
Effertz, Kayla
Ettling, John
Fivizzani, Albert
Gallager, Robert
Gerber, Anne
Goodwin, Janice
Heitkamp, Thomasine
Hikins, James
Hoffmann, Mark
Hume, Wendelin
Jackson, Jon
Jeno, Susan
Jerath, Sukhvarsh
Jose, Matt
Kenville, Kimberly
Krogh, Nancy
Marshall, David
Nichols, Elizabeth
Norman, Katherine
Perry, David
Rakow, Lana
Rice, Daniel
Romanick, Mark
Sheridan, William
Skramstad, Allan
Smith, Bruce
Stanlake, Lowell
Stofferahn, Curtis
Stolt, Wilbur
Sukalski, Katherine
Thompson, Myra
Thureen, Faythe
Tiffany, Mark
Venhuizen, Brett
Zidon, Margaret

The following members of the Senate were absent:

Alfonso, Peter
Alleva, Patti
Anderson, Angie
Bartsch, Brent
Downie, Morgan
Elbert, Dennis
Elsinga, Lillian
Gagnon, Gregory
Goenner, Cullen
Hanhan, Sara
Hansen, Kenneth
Hildre, Nate
Jenniges, Sharleen
Knight, Barbara
Kupchella, Charles
Lee, Randy
Levang, Chris
Lovseth, Jon
McBride, Rosanne
Murphy, Eric
Petros, Thomas
Porter, James
Porter, Kimberly
Potvin, Martha
Romero, Alan
Ruff, Nick
Ryan, Steffen
Shaeffer, James
Shaeffer, Margaret
Tschacher, Walter
Watson, John
Wilson, H. David
Zierdt, Candace

The following announcements were made:

A.  Ms. Goodwin made a request to add the topic of Centers of Excellence for Research and Scholarship as item number 5 on the business calendar, since the Senate was not able to consider it at the May 1, 2003 meeting. Mr. Sheridan moved to add this item to the agenda. The motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Perry moved to approve the proposed changes to the UND Constitution. The motion carried unanimously with one abstention.

Ms. Rakow, Ms. Hume and Ms. Thureen presented information about the harassment policy as approved by the Senate at the February 6, 2003 meeting. Ms. Rakow reviewed the document distributed to the Senate with the May 1, 2003 agenda from the President's Advisory Council on Women. Ms. Hume moved the following:

To request the Senate Executive Committee, in consultation with the President, to appoint an ad hoc committee to revise the "Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Policy Statement and Procedures for Complaints of Discrimination or Harassment." The committee shall at a minimum address the concerns raised in the review of the document by the Harassment Policy Review Ad Hoc Committee. The Senate Ad Hoc Harassment Policy and Procedure Revision Committee shall bring the revised document back to the University Senate no later than the December, 2003 meeting.

The Senate discussed. The motion passed with a vote of 40 in favor, 1 opposed and 1 abstention.

Ms. Rakow presented a draft proposal for a University experiential learning requirement, and asked for comments and reactions to the draft document. Ms. DeMers asked about the programs that do not currently have experiential learning requirements. Ms. Rakow listed these majors and reviewed how she has discussed with them the options for adding a requirement or an elective, and how the departments have linked the experiential learning to the academic goals of their programs. Mr. Hoffman asked if undergraduate research that is taken one credit at a time could be considered as an experiential learning experience. Ms. Rakow responded that she thought this could be organized to be acceptable. Mr. Fivizzani expressed interest in this proposal but wanted more information about how large programs with a large number of majors would handle this requirement. Ms. Rakow suggested a few solutions and agreed more discussion should take place. Mr. Marshall asked to address the Senate and recognized Mr. Jim McKenzie to address the Senate. Mr. Marshall read a resolution passed unanimously by the English department supporting experiential learning but opposing the requirement. He presented several reasons from the English department for opposing the requirement. Mr. Smith voiced concern about being able to offer experiences that offered valid experiences for their programs. Mr. Fivizzani stated that until the details of the experiential learning were defined, it would be difficult for each program to understand how they could require a class. Ms. Jeno expressed concern that physical therapy students do not receive experiential learning credits until they become graduate students. Ms. Rakow responded that there could perhaps be other areas of experience that the department would find valuable for their students. Ms. Goodwin asked the Senate to share additional comments with Ms. Rakow.

Mr. Sheridan presented the draft of criteria for UND Centers of Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity. Mr. Hikins asked about the term "center" and its use in the document as opposed to the State Board of Higher Education's definition of "center." Ms. DeMers asked how this definition relates to the definition recently passed by the legislature. Mr. Sheridan responded that this program would be separate from the NDUS centers and the Red River Valley Research Corridor program of centers, but would allow for recognition by the State Board of Higher Education. Mr. Blackburn asked if the examples listed for emerging centers under #3 were inclusive, and Mr. Sheridan answered that these were merely examples and other examples could be used.

Mr. Stofferahn presented a resolution regarding the lack of response by the UND Student Government to the resolution adopted by University Senate in regard to Pick-A-Prof. Ms. Goodwin announced that a prototype of a web course information site using the departments of nutrition and dietetics and psychology was under development. Mr. Stofferahn moved approval of the resolution. The Senate discussed. Mr. Boyd moved to table the motion with the understanding that the group that has begun to look at an alternative continue to do so. The motion to table was defeated with a vote of 23 opposed, 18 in favor and 1 abstention. The discussion on the motion continued.

Mr. Skramstad moved to extend the meeting until 5:35 p.m. The motion carried.

The discussion continued. Mr. Blackburn moved to table the resolution if Student Government agreed to disable the comments section of Pick-A-Prof.

Ms. DeMers moved to extend the meeting until 5:40 p.m. The motion carried.

The discussion on the motion to table continued. Mr. Blackburn withdrew the motion with the chair's permission. The discussion on the motion to approve the resolution continued. Mr. Sheridan moved to call the question, which was approved. The Senate voted to approve the resolution with a vote of 28 in favor, 9 opposed and 2 abstentions.

Ms. Jeno presented information to the Senate about two options proposed from the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee to either reduce the number of alumni representatives on the committee to two from three, or to continue with three alumni representatives stipulating that one of these positions be held by a female alumnus.

Mr. Jackson moved to extend the meeting until 5:45 p.m. The motion carried.

Ms. DeMers moved to change the membership to two alumni members, but that a preference be expressed that these members be one male and one female alumni representative. The motion carried with a vote of 36 in favor, 1 opposed and 2 abstentions.

The meeting adjourned at 5:42 p.m.

Nancy Krogh
Secretary to the Senate