Minutes of the University Senate Meeting

Anderson, Collin

Anderson, Suzanne

Axtman, Benjamin

Baker, Mary

Bass, Gail

Beneda, Nancy

Benoit, Joseph

Berne, Jane

Berwald, Olaf

Bradley, April

Broedel, Hans

Buhr, Jordan

Campbell, Katherine

DeMers, Judy

Doze, Van

Drewes, Mary

Faruque, Saleh

Ferraro, Richard

Fisher, Jay

Ghribi, Othman

Gordon, Gregory

Gourneau, Bonni

Grandstrand, Tyrone

Grant, Emanuel

Graves, Corey

Hoffarth, Janice

Hume, Wendelin

Hunter, Susan

Iiams, Michele

Iverson, Joneen

Jackson, Jon

Jeno, Sue

Jerath, Sukhvarsh

Johnson, Gary

Kaler, Amanda

Kitzes, Adam

Lawrence, David

Light, Steven

Little, Michael

Liu, Rugao

Lothspeich, Jason

Mamaghani, Iraj

Marshall, David

Mayzer, Roni

Mertz, Tara

Moen, Jan

Mortinson, Matthew

Murphy, Eric

Myrick, Matthew

Nelson, Susan

Perkins, Dexter

Petros, Thomas

Poochigian, Donald

Rendahl, Stephen

Richards, Thomas

Rieke, Judy

Rosenberger, Thad

Schnellert, Gary

Stolt, Wilbur

Wettersten, Kara

Widmer, Donovan

Wittgraf, Michael

Wu, Min

The following announcements were made:

Mr. Petros announced that the UND Tobacco-Free Policy general intention was to focus on wellness and tobacco cessation. He encouraged approaching the policy positively and considering wellness.
Ms. Anderson reported that there has been work on common drop/add dates for NDUS institutions. She shared a chart which showed current deadlines for the NDUS schools, the proposed dates, and the approved dates. The dates have been reviewed by institutions, the Council of College Faculties, the North Dakota Student Association, and others. The dates will now be forwarded to the Chancellor’s Cabinet for final approval.
Tom Steen reported from the Essential Studies (formerly General Education) Steering Committee (ESSC). He reminded Senate members of the Essential Studies program approval last year at Senate. He introduced Lori Robison as the co-chair of the Essential Studies Steering Committee and Ryan Zerr, chair of the Senate General Education Requirements Committee (GERC) and also a member of the Steering Committee. He explained that this year is a transition year. The Steering Committee is working with the General Education Requirements Committee on implementation of the Essential Studies program. Some transition tasks are being done by the Steering Committee with review and approval by the GERC. Other tasks are delegated to one of the two groups. Next year will be the first year for the new requirements for incoming freshmen only. The following year, the Essential Studies program will be required for all new students, both freshmen and transfers. Mr. Steen shared a document which described the Essential Studies program and specific requirements. He also indicated that there is a request for a General Education/Essential Studies office at the University. Mr. Zerr talked about work with the GERC and ESSC. He invited departments to let him know if they want a visit by Committee members to discuss the new program. He explained that communication will be sent out to departments for them to select where their general education courses should fit into the essential studies categories. There will be a second communication regarding the overlays after the goals and objectives for those areas are completed.
Mr. Grandstrand shared that a committee is looking into developing a “Dead Week.” The committee is requesting members of schools to participate in discussions. Specifically, they are looking for five more members. Please contact Valerie Johnson if you are interested.
Ms. Hoffarth, on behalf of Staff Senate, shared information on a Staff Senate project in conjunction with the Music department. Each year, Staff Senate selects a project for Christmas donations or gifts. They contacted Northwood’s school to determine if they have needs. It was shared that insurance is not covering replacement cost for musical instruments, etc. that were damaged as a result of the tornado. Staff Senate will have four trees around campus with tags listing the needs for Northwood’s school. She encouraged the senators to support Northwood school’s needs by taking a tag and sending it with a monetary gift to the Credit Union. The plan is to partner with Poppler’s Music to replace the music and instruments at a discount. A group will go with the Pride of the North band on December 7 to Northwood and to present them with new music and instruments. Mr. Little moved to put a motion of support on the business calendar. Mr. Buhr seconded, and the motion passed.

The question period was opened at 4:25 p.m.

Mr. Murphy raised a question regarding the Senate Scholarly Activity Committee and what the funds can be used for and what are allowable costs. Because there was no one available to answer the question, Mr. Petros asked Mr. Murphy to email the question and he will obtain an answer.

Mr. Buhr shared that Student Senate passed a resolution asking faculty to submit book orders early to support students’ ability to sell back used books. He asked how to encourage faculty to do so. Mr. Petros suggested frequent emails. Mr. Benoit suggested sending emails originating through the deans. Mr. Grandstrand asked senators to encourage their colleagues to submit their book orders early. Discussion occurred.

Mr. Murphy asked about parking. There was no one available to answer parking questions regarding relocating spaces in one lot to free up spaces in another. Mr. Petros asked Mr. Murphy to email the question and offered to forward it to the appropriate person for an answer.

The question period closed at 4:35 p.m.

The chair asked for corrections or additions to the October 4, 2007 minutes. Hearing none, the minutes were approved as distributed.

A motion was made by Mr. Marshall and seconded by Mr. Poochigian to accept the Senate Student Policy Committee and Senate Honorary Degrees Committee annual reports. The motion was approved.

A motion was made by Mr. Little and seconded by Mr. Jackson to support the Staff Senate initiative for the Northwood School’s music department. The motion was approved unanimously.

A motion was made by Mr. Marshall and seconded by Mr. Little to accept the Curriculum report. The motion was approved with a vote of 48 for and 1 abstention.

10.

Mr. Jackson presented a revised committee description for the Senate Conflict of Interest/Scientific Misconduct Committee. The Committee currently has six faculty members and the Committee proposes it change that to ten faculty that represent all the colleges. In addition, they propose adding the UND General Counsel. There was discussion regarding the committee title and other matters. Mr. Benoit stated that if students are under the rules of this committee, there should be a student on the committee, preferably a graduate student. Mr. Jackson agreed to have the Committee look into the matter and bring a response back to Senate. There was a motion by Mr. Perkins and a second by Mr. Myrick to approve increasing the Committee membership to ten and adding the General Counsel. The motion was approved unanimously.

11.

A resolution was distributed electronically before the meeting by Mr. Perkins regarding athletic funding and academic funding. Mr. Perkins explained his resolution. There was a motion by Mr. Perkins and a second by Mr. Marshall to approve the resolution. Discussion occurred regarding the proposal and the decision to move to Division I. There was a friendly amendment proposed by Mr. Axtman to strike the therefore clause and replace it with:

“Therefore be it resolved that UND athletics always be recognized as co-curricular to academics, and

Be it further resolved that UND continually focuses on strengthening academic programs, especially during the transition to Division I”.

Mr. Perkins did not accept the amendment. It was moved by Mr. Axtman and seconded by Mr. Little to amend the resolution. Discussion of the amendment occurred. There was a friendly second amendment by Mr. Anderson to strike out the last paragraph of the amendment and replace it with: “be it further resolved that UND increases funding for academics and athletics proportionately after an initial period of spending increases for the D-I transition period of time.”

The friendly second amendment was not accepted. Mr. Anderson made a motion and Mr. Grandstrand seconded to approve the second amendment. There was discussion of the second amendment. The vote on the second amendment occurred and the second amendment failed with a vote of 2 in favor, 39 against and 2 abstentions.

There was a vote on the first amendment, and the first amendment failed with a vote of 12 in favor, 28 against and 1 abstention. There was further discussion on the resolution. It was moved by Mr. Grandstrand and seconded by Mr. Myrick to postpone the vote on the resolution until the next Senate meeting. The purpose of the postponement is to gather additional information for the Senators regarding the resolution. The motion to postpone to next month was approved with a vote of 39 for, 2 against and 1 abstention.

12.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:23 p.m.

Suzanne Anderson

Secretary to the Senate