Minutes of the University Senate Meeting

Anderson, Ernest

Anderson, Suzanne

Baker, Mary

Bass, Gail

Berwald, Olaf

Bowman, Frank

Boyd, Robert

Bradley, April

Brekke, Alice

Brevik, Harald

Bridewell, John

Broedel, Hans

Crenshaw, Michael

DeMers, Judy

Dewar, Graeme

Dockter, Sally

Doze, Van

Drechsel, Carol

El-Rewini, Hesham

Erickson, Daniel

Fershee, Josh

Fincke, Adam

Goodwin, Janice

Gottschalk, Martin

Gourneau, Bonni

Grandstrand, Tyrone

Haskins, James

Healy, Margaret

Hoffmann, Mark

Hume, Wendelin

Hunter, Susan

Jackson, Jon

Jerath, Sukhvarsh

Kelley, Robert

Khavanin, Mohammad

Knight, Barbara

Lawrence, David

LeBel, Paul

Lei, Saobo

Liepold, Loren

Lim, Yeo

McLennan, Kathleen

Miller, Charles

Munski, Doug

O’Keefe, Tim

Onchwari, Grace

Perkins, Dexter

Poochigian, Donald

Rakow, Lana

Rice, Daniel

Sens, Mary Ann

Smith, Wesley

Stolt, Wilbur

Stone, Chelsea

Sun, Jeffrey

Swingen, Nicholas

Ullrich, Gary

Wirth, Nicole

Wu, Min

Anderson, Katherine

Benoit, Joseph

Buhr, Jordan

Burbach, Nathan

Carlson, Christine

Crawford, Sean

Elbert, Dennis

Elsinga, Lillian

Ferraro, Richard

Hoffarth, Janice

Houdek, Sherryl

Kenville, Kimberly

Lesch, Bill

Light, Steven

McBride, Rosanne

McClure, Johnathan

Melland, Helen

Milavetz, Barry

Petros, Thomas

Potvin, Martha

Rand, Kathryn

Riedy, Joshua

Schlosser, Isaac

Slater, Seinquis

Smart, Kathy

Smith, Bruce

Tepper, Nadine

Traylor-Schaffzin, Kate

Wanner, Kyle

Weisenstein, Greg

Wilson, H. David

The following announcements were made:

a. The Founder’s Day Banquet will be held on February 26.

A Celebration of Achievements: Honoring American Indian Graduates will be held on February 27.
Jan Goodwin, chair of the Senate Committee on Committees, reported on Senate elections and the work of the Committee on Committees. She stated that there are still membership openings for committees and encouraged senators to contact committee members soon if they are interested in serving. The list of nominees needs to be to the Registrar’s Office by Friday, February 13.
Mr. Jackson announced that former UND President Tom Clifford passed away February 4. There was a moment of silence to honor him. Mr. Jackson reported that the funeral was scheduled for Wednesday, February 11 and that more information on arrangements would be forthcoming.
Mr. Jackson indicated that there was an omission on the agenda under the business calendar. An amendment to the Senate bylaws was added to the agenda.

The chair asked for corrections or additions to the December 4, 2008 minutes. Hearing none, the minutes were approved as distributed.

The question period was opened at 4:20 p.m.

Mr. Perkins asked why so few of the student senators were present. He expressed concern that the students were losing credibility.

Mr. Poochigian indicated that he was asked to raise an issue regarding the catalog and about whether a change in curriculum or another catalog matter applies to the student and the implications to the student’s catalog. Mr. Jackson replied that there is a statement in the catalog regarding this. Ms. Anderson stated that there is the disclaimer statement, and students are given a choice of catalog upon return to UND if the student stops out, and that changes to the catalog that are passed by the Senate include implementation dates, which are followed.

The question period closed at 4:23 p.m.

The annual reports of the Senate Summer Sessions Committee, Academic Policies and Admissions Committee, and the ROTC Committee were presented. Mr. Perkins moved approval, Ms. DeMers seconded, and all three reports were approved.

The Curriculum Committee report was presented. Mr. Jackson pointed out a clerical error: the Nursing 589 course is a new course and was listed in error as a course deletion. Mr. Poochigian moved approval of the corrected Curriculum report, Mr. Haskins seconded and the motion was approved unanimously.

Colleen Berry, chair of the Academic Policies and Admissions Committee, presented a proposed change regarding the GPA for a major and minor. Discussion ensued. A motion to approve the policy change was made by Mr. Munski and seconded by Mr. Bridewell. A correction to add “s” to the word “college” was suggested and accepted. The motion was approved with a vote of 55 for and 1 abstention.

10.

Mr. LeBel presented the Maternity Leave Policy. He explained that the policy passed earlier by the Senate had not been approved by former President Kupchella, who had indicated a need for clarification. A workgroup was appointed and it addressed the questions that former President Kupchella raised. The policy currently being presented to Senate clarifies those issues. Questions ensued. Mr. LeBel indicated that this is only the first part in addressing the full parental rights in this matter. Ms. DeMers moved approval, Mr. Rice seconded, and the motion was approved unanimously.

11.

Mr. Jackson presented the proposed amendment to the UND Constitution that was tabled at the last meeting. He explained that the purpose is to bring the Senate Bylaws and Constitution in line with one another. Mr. Jackson moved acceptance. Mr. Bridewell seconded. Mr. Jackson then stepped aside and Ms. Hume presided. Discussion ensued. Mr. Crenshaw moved to strike the word “Senate” from II.1.c (3). The motion was seconded by Mr. Stolt. After discussion, the motion was approved with a vote of 38 for, 9 against, and 2 abstentions. The senators then considered the original motion. A friendly amendment was presented by Mr. Poochigian to adjust the language at the end to match the original language: “length and beginning of the term for student members will be determined by the Student Senate.” The friendly amendment was accepted. Further discussion occurred. Mr. Jackson, hearing the will of the body, withdrew his motion. Mr. Boyd indicated that if the word “election” in the bylaws can be defined by the students, there is no need to change the bylaws. Mr. Jackson then resumed his role as chair of the meeting.

12.

Ms. Demers, chair of the Senate Honorary Degrees Committee, presented the honorary degree nominations. She reminded the senators that the nominations are to be kept confidential. If the nominees are approved by the Senate, the information is confidential until approved by the State Board of Higher Education. The nominees will be voted on together unless there are any objections. Mr. Haskins moved, and Mr. O’Keefe seconded, to accept the honorary degree nominations. The motion was approved unanimously.

13.

Mr. Munski moved to extend the meeting by five minutes. Mr. Crenshaw seconded and the motion was passed.

14.

Mr. Jackson presented a proposed change to the Senate Bylaws. The change entailed changing the word “elected” to “selected” under Membership, number 6, line one. Mr. Perkins moved approval, Ms. Wirth seconded, and the motion was approved unanimously.

15.

The meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.

Suzanne Anderson

Secretary to the Senate