Minutes of the University Senate Meeting

November 6, 2008

1.

The November meeting of the University Senate was held at 4:05 p.m. on Thursday, November 6, 2008 in Room 7, Gamble Hall. Jon Jackson presided.

2.

The following members of the Senate were present:

Anderson, Ernest

Anderson, Suzanne

Bass, Gail

Benoit, Joseph

Bowman, Frank

Boyd, Robert

Bradley, April

Brekke, Alice

Brevik, Harald

Bridewell, John

Broedel, Hans

Burbach, Nathan

Crawford, Sean

Crenshaw, Michael

DeMers, Judy

Dewar, Graeme

Doze, Van

Elbert, Dennis

Elsinga, Lillian

Erickson, Daniel

Ferraro, Richard

Fershee, Josh

Fincke, Adam

Goodwin, Janice

Gottschalk, Martin

Grandstrand, Tyrone

Haskins, James

Hoffarth, Janice

Hoffmann, Mark

Houdek, Sherryl

Hume, Wendelin

Hunter, Susan

Jackson, Jon

Jerath, Sukhvarsh

Kelley, Robert

Kenville, Kimberly

Khavanin, Mohammad

Lawrence, David

Lei, Saobo

Liepold, Loren

Light, Steven

Lim, Yeo

McLennan, Kathleen

Miller, Charles

Munski, Doug

O’Keefe, Tim

Onchwari, Grace

Perkins, Dexter

Petros, Thomas

Poochigian, Donald

Rakow, Lana

Schlosser, Isaac

Sens, Mary Ann

Smith, Wesley

Stolt, Wilbur

Sun, Jeffrey

Ullrich, Gary

Wanner, Kyle

Wirth, Nicole

3.

The following members of the Senate were absent:

Anderson, Katherine

Baker, Mary

Berwald, Olaf

Carlson, Christine

Covington, Chandice

Dockter, Sally

Drechsel, Carol

El-Rewini, Hesham

Gourneau, Bonni

Healy, Margaret

Knight, Barbara

LeBel, Paul

Lesch, Bill

McBride, Rosanne

Milavetz, Barry

Potvin, Martha

Rice, Daniel

Riedy, Joshua

Slater, Seinquis

Smart, Kathy

Smith, Bruce

Tepper, Nadine

Traylor-Schaffzin, Kate

Weisenstein, Greg

Wilson, H. David

Wu, Min

4.

The following announcements were made:

a. Senators were encouraged to attend the production of South Pacific at the Burtness Theatre.

b. Senators were encouraged to read the new student paper, The Student Journal.

5.

The chair asked for corrections or additions to the October 2, 2008 minutes. Hearing none, the minutes were approved as distributed.

6.

The question period was opened at 4:10 p.m. There were no questions.

7.

A motion was made by Mr. Perkins, and seconded by Ms. DeMers, to accept and file the annual report from the Senate Essential Studies Committee. The motion was approved.

8.

Ms. Kenville moved to accept the University Curriculum Committee report. Mr. Poochigian seconded and the motion was approved with a vote of 52 for and 1 abstention.

9.

A request by the Academic Policies and Admissions Committee to change wording for the special examination for credit was presented. Approval was moved by Mr. Perkins and seconded by Mr. Fershee. The motion was approved unanimously.

10.

Mr. Petros presented the Essential Elements document regarding department guidelines for evaluation, promotion and tenure from the UND Promotion and Tenure Committee. Mr. Petros requested discussion and input. He will request a vote of approval at the December Senate meeting. Discussion ensued.

11.

Ms. DeMers presented a nomination for an honorary degree for December, 2008 commencement. She explained that this nomination did not follow the usual process but the nomination of William Marcil was made to the committee and approved by the committee. A motion was made by Ms. DeMers and seconded by Mr. Haskins to approve the nomination. The motion was approved unanimously.

12.

A change to the Essential Studies program was presented by Mr. Kitzes, chair of the Essential Studies Committee. The request was to change eligibility for the capstone course from senior year to second semester of the junior year. A motion was made by Mr. Perkins and seconded by Mr. Fershee to approve the change. The motion was approved with a vote of 48 for, 2 against and 2 abstentions.

13.

Mr. Grandstrand and Mr. Crenshaw presented a PowerPoint presentation describing concerns regarding the Higher One card and financial aid disbursements. They proposed support from Senate to recommend that President Kelley form a committee to evaluate and provide accountability.

14.

It was moved and seconded to extend the meeting by ten minutes to continue discussion. The motion was approved.

15.

There was discussion regarding Higher One and financial aid disbursement. Mr. McClure moved that the Senate recommend to President Kelley, the formation of a committee to evaluate Higher One, as proposed by Student President Grandstrand. The motion was seconded by Ms. Kenville.

16.

There was a motion to extend the meeting by five minutes. The motion was approved.

17.

There was clarification that the motion is to recommend to the President to set up the committee. Further discussion ensued. There was a motion by Mr. Haskins to table the discussion and address the motion at the December meeting to allow time for the administration perspective. The motion was seconded by Ms. Goodwin. The motion was defeated.

18.

There was a motion to extend the meeting an additional ten minutes. The motion was approved.

19.

There were further comments and discussion. The motion to send a letter to the President to recommend formation of a committee to look into Higher One was approved with a vote of 46 for and 3 against.

20.

The meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.

Suzanne Anderson

Secretary to the Senate