Minutes of the University Senate Meeting

Anderson, Ernest

Anderson, Suzanne

Baker, Mary

Berwald, Olaf

Bowman, Frank

Boyd, Robert

Brekke, Alice

Brevik, Harald

Bridewell, John

Broedel, Hans

Burbach, Nathan

Crawford, Sean

Crenshaw, Michael

DeMers, Judy

Dewar, Graeme

Doze, Van

Drechsel, Carol

El-Rewini, Hesham

Elsinga, Lillian

Erickson, Daniel

Ferraro, Richard

Fershee, Josh

Fincke, Adam

Goodwin, Janice

Gottschalk, Martin

Gourneau, Bonni

Grandstrand, Tyrone

Haskins, James

Healy, Margaret

Hoffarth, Janice

Houdek, Sherryl

Hume, Wendelin

Hunter, Susan

Jackson, Jon

Jerath, Sukhvarsh

Kelley, Robert

Kenville, Kimberly

Khavanin, Mohammad

Knight, Barbara

Lawrence, David

LeBel, Paul

Lesch, Bill

Liepold, Loren

Light, Steven

Lim, Yeo

McBride, Rosanne

McClure, Johnathan

Miller, Charles

Munski, Doug

Perkins, Dexter

Petros, Thomas

Poochigian, Donald

Potvin, Martha

Rakow, Lana

Rice, Daniel

Schlosser, Isaac

Sens, Mary Ann

Slater, Seinquis

Smart, Kathy

Smith, Bruce

Smith, Wesley

Stolt, Wilbur

Sun, Jeffrey

Ullrich, Gary

Wanner, Kyle

Weisenstein, Greg

Wirth, Nicole

The following announcements were made:

a. A poster regarding the 125^th Celebration closing was distributed. The closing celebration is December 10 from 2-4:00 p.m. with the program at 3:00 p.m.

b. Mr. Jackson announced changes in the distributed agenda: 1) the Salary Administration Policy was removed from the announcements; and 2) the proposed policy change from Academic Policies and Admissions Committee was removed from the business agenda.

c. Mr. Jackson shared a proposed change to the University Senate Bylaws which addressed problematic language that is in conflict with the Constitution regarding selection of student and staff senate members. This announcement regarding the Bylaws change served as the first notice to the Senators.

d. Mr. Munski reported on the Parking Task Force. The Task Force concluded its work on November 7 and submitted its recommendations to the University Parking Committee, which in turn submitted them to the Vice President for Finance and Operations. The Vice President has submitted a request regarding the parking fee to the Fee Committee.

The chair asked for corrections or additions to the November 6, 2008 minutes. Hearing none, the minutes were approved as distributed.

The question period was opened at 4:21 p.m.

Mr. Grandstrand asked Mr. Jackson why all the students he had appointed to University Senate were not being officially counted. There are four that are of concern because they are not student senators on Student Government. Mr. Jackson indicated that his understanding was that Senate is working out the conflict in the Constitution and Bylaws and that the four have been permitted participation. Mr. Light asked if there is a mechanism in the Constitution to resolve membership problems. Mr. Jackson indicated that, to his knowledge, there is not. He indicated the proposals to amend the Bylaws and Constitution are a way of resolving the problem. He indicated that the Senate Executive Committee had agreed to allow participation by the four students, but not make membership official until the conflict was resolved.

Mr. Jerath asked why UND does not allow parking after hours for those without permits. Mr. Munski indicated there is no simple answer. The campus is open in the A, S, and G lots, but a permit is required. There are times when lots shift from the type of permit required due to safety. The Vice President of Finance and Operations is asking that the policy regarding guests, visitors, and temporary parking be reviewed.

The question period closed at 4:33 p.m.

A motion was made by Mr. Brevik and seconded by Ms. Wirth to add a resolution regarding the graduation honors GPA requirement change to the business calendar. The motion was approved with a vote of 55 for and 2 against.

A motion was made by Mr. Perkins and seconded by Mr. Haskins to accept and file the annual report from the Senate Student Policy Committee. The motion was approved with a vote of 56 for and 1 abstention.

The candidates for degrees in December, 2008, were presented. A motion was made by Mr. Munski and seconded by Ms. DeMers to approve the list. The motion was approved with a vote of 56 for and 1 abstention.

10.

Mr. Poochigian moved to accept the University Curriculum Committee report. Ms. Smart seconded and the motion was approved unanimously.

11.

Mr. Petros presented the Essential Elements document. He reminded the Senators that the document was presented at the last Senate meeting and he is now asking for a vote of approval. A motion was made by Mr. Petros and seconded by Ms. Kenville to approve the document. Mr. Petros explained that if the document is approved, it will be posted on the Provost’s website. The Provost will send a letter to departments requesting submission of departmental guidelines for promotion and tenure. He explained that there will be varying due dates based on the need for development or revision to the departmental guidelines. He also answered a question on implementation date, indicating that the document would be effective as of the approval by Senate. The motion was approved with a vote of 55 for and 2 abstentions.

12.

Mr. Jackson presented a proposed amendment to the UND Constitution. He explained that the purpose is to clarify and standardize language across all membership groups, ensure all positions (except ex officio) are elected by constituent groups, remove confusion as to which (if any) Student Senate positions have automatic representation on the University Senate, and bring the Senate Bylaws and Constitution in line with one another. The proposed new language is:

III.1.c. The University Senate shall consist of the following members:

(3) Student Members: The number of Student Senate representatives on the University Senate shall be set at fourteen (14) voting members whose selection, length, and term shall be set by the Student Senate.

(4) Staff Members: The number of Staff Senate representatives on the University Senate shall be set at three (3) voting members whose selection, length, and term shall be set by the Staff Senate.

Mr. Jackson pointed out the procedure for making such a change. Mr. Grandstrand requested that Mr. Jackson step aside from conducting the meeting while the proposal he is making is being discussed. Ms. Hume stepped in to chair the meeting. Mr. Jackson moved approval of the change. Mr. Bridewell seconded the motion. Discussion ensued. Mr. Finke moved to strike the word “Senate” in the proposed replacement language to II.1.c.(3) of the Constitution. The motion was not accepted as a friendly motion. Mr. LeBel seconded the motion. After further discussion, the vote was taken and the motion was defeated. Mr. Haskins moved to allow the four un-elected student senators to continue until the end of the 2008-2009 academic year. The motion was accepted as a friendly amendment. After further discussion, Mr. Burbach moved to table the amendment to the University of North Dakota Constitution until the February University Senate meeting. Mr. Brevik seconded the motion. The motion was approved with a vote of 46 for 7 against and 1 abstention. Mr. Jackson resumed his role as chair of the meeting.

13.

Mr. Haskins moved to extend the meeting to 5:35 p.m. Mr. Brevik seconded and the motion was passed.

14.

Mr. Brevik presented a resolution to postpone the implementation of the GPA requirement for graduation honors until the academic year beginning with the May 2010 commencement to allow time for additional communication of the policy change to the members of the University of North Dakota community. A motion was made by Mr. Brevik and seconded by Ms. Wirth to approve the resolution. Discussion ensued. Mr. Brevik presented information to support the delay. Background information was presented including the original motion approved in 2006 and the first request that was approved to delay the implementation.

15.

Mr. Haskins moved to extend the meeting five additional minutes, Ms. Smart seconded, and the motion was approved.

16.

Discussion followed, including “catalog as a contract” and the “catalog content non-binding, subject to change" statement.

17.

Ms. Goodwin moved extension of the meeting by an additional five minutes, Ms. DeMers seconded, and the motion was approved.

18.

Mr. Munski presented a letter documenting ten action items regarding communication on the honors policy, nine of which were implemented after the approved delay of honors GPA implementation in 2007. After final discussion, the resolution was defeated with a vote of 4 for, 41 against and 1 abstention.

19.

The meeting adjourned at 5:47 p.m.

Suzanne Anderson

Secretary to the Senate