Academic Senate Meeting of November 1, 2005
Northern MichiganUniversity
Ontario Room of the UniversityCenter
Chair Tawni Ferrarini called the meeting or order at 3:05 p.m. in the Ontario Room of the UniversityCenter.
Present: Tawni Ferrarini (Chair), Larry Pagel (Vice Chair), Andrew Poe (Secretary), Fred Joyal (Provost), Krista Clumpner (Senate/AAUP Liaison), David Boe (Member at Large), Julie Rochester (Member at Large), Cheryl Turton (Member at Large), Ruth Watry (Member at Large), Michael Andary, John Andrews, Randy Appleton, Dwight Brady, Michael Burgmeier, Leslie Cory, Amanda Davis, Chet DeFonso, Donald Dreisbach, Rob Engelhart, Tom Froiland, Tom Getman, Ira Hutchison, Michelle Johnson, Helen Kahn, Daryl Kobie, Nell Kupper, Charles Leith, Steve Leuthold, Jeanne Lorentzen, Carolyn Lowe, Amy Pascoe, Cynthia Prosen, Rajib Sanyal, Terry Seethoff, Marge Sklar, Stanley Thompson, Darlene Walch, Robert Whalen, Vaida Zizminskaite, Michael Davis
Absent: John Anderton, Cameron Howes, Mark Jacobs, Charles Rayhorn, Don Rybacki
Guests: President Wong, Lesley Putman, William Rigby
I.Additions to/Adoption of Agenda
The presentation to be given by President Wong was moved to the front of the meeting. The presentation to be given by Jim Gadzinski was canceled.
President Wong gave an informational presentation entitled “Universities in Today’s Economic Evolution” which was also presented to the Marquette Econ Club on September 19, 2005. It included statistical information on enrollment, tuition, and budget issues. The presentation also included information regarding State of Michigan Higher Education Factoids, NMU’s economic impact, the functional challenges ahead and how it is that NMU is well positioned.
President Wong’s presentation was followed by a brief question and answer period. He then thanked everyone for engaging in the hard and uncomfortable questions some have had to endure regarding the budget issues.
II.Approval of Draft Minutes of October 18, 2005
Minutes were approved as presented.
III.Reports
a. Chair
Chair Ferrarini announced approvals from Dr. Joyal’s office of the most recent Senate actions which included 3 reports from CEC. Tawni then confirmed that all of the committee vacancies are now filled and she thanked the Senators who volunteered.
Chair Ferrarini then encouraged involvement in the Volunteer and Community Involvement Expo scheduled for Wednesday, November 9, 2005 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. in the Great Lakes Room of the University Center. There are currently 26 organizations that will be represented. She stressed the importance of student participation as well. The Secretary wondered to himself why people feel the need to stress student participation.
Chair Ferrarini also announced the newly released promotional video from AISAC (Academic Information Services Advisory Committee). The video is sponsored by AISAC & AIS and describes the collections and services offered by the various Academic Information Services units. Tawni asked the Senators to inform their departments of the video and what it serves to do. There are links to the video on the AISAC web site as well as on the home page of the Senate web site.
b. Secretary – No Report
c. Vice Chair
Vice Chair Larry Pagel commented on advising. He stated that 1/3 of advising is for students who are on probation.
d. Provost
Dr. Joyal announced that a meeting was held recently and was attended by President Wong and Bill Nemacheck from MarquetteGeneralHospital. Both parties agreed that people from MGH and NMU should continue to meet. It was indicated that there is a great potential for leveraging what has already been done. It is MGH’s mission to provide quality health care and NMU’s mission to provide quality education. Both parties are very excited to work together, you know, in some capacity not involving faculty health insurance.
Dr. Joyal also announced that NMU is currently in the process of hiring a new grant writer and their first contact will be MGH.
e. ASNMU
ASNMU representative Amy Pascoe gave a brief update. She announced that President Wong will be speaking at their “Let’s Chat” meeting on November 8, 2005. Senator Pascoe also announced that the Library hours will be extended during exam week.
f. CEC Report of November 1, 2005
This report recommended faculty member, Bradley Olson to fill a vacancy on Senate committee AISAC which was left by Steven Nelson who resigned from the committee.
Senator Randy Appleton moved with Senator Dwight Brady seconding to accept the report. Secretary Andy Poe moved with Vice Chair Larry Pagel seconding to suspend the rules to allow the second reading of the CEC report of November 1, 2005 to proceed immediately. The suspension was approved. There was no discussion on the report. The Senate then unanimously voted to approve the CEC report of November 1, 2005.
g. CUP Report of November 1, 2005
This report recommended program changes in the following departments: (1) Sociology and Social work (2) Communication Disorders (3) Economics (4) Engineering Technology
Senator Ruth Watry moved with Department Head Representative Marge Sklar seconding to accept the report. The report was then divided into four sections:
1. Department of Sociology and Social Work – There was a brief discussion on and this portion of the CUP report of November 1, 2005 was then moved through to the second reading at the November 15, 2005 meeting.
2. Department of Communication Disorders – There was a brief discussion and this portion of the CUP report of November 1, 2005 was then moved through to the second reading at the November 15, 2005 meeting.
3. Department of Economics – There was no discussion and this portion of the CUP report of November 1, 2005 was then moved through to the second reading at the November 15, 2005 meeting.
4. Department of Engineering Technology – There was a brief discussion and this portion of the CUP report of November 1, 2005 was then moved through to the second reading at the November 15, 2005 meeting.
IV.Old Business – None
V. New Business – None
VI.Informal Considerations
a. President Wong – Moved to the beginning of the meeting
b. Academic Advising – Jim Gadzinski – Canceled
VII.Good of the Order
Chair Tawni Ferrarini shared information on advising and pointed out helpful advising forms she currently uses. Tawni informed everyone that they can get the forms from the Academic & CareerAdvisementCenter web site:
Tawni indicated that when the forms are used properly, advising time is significantly less and degree audit mistakes are caught.
Tawni recommended contacting Jim Gadzinski with any questions regarding the forms.
Dean Cynthia Prosen announced that nationally known grants writer, Deborah Ward, will visit NMU on Tuesday, November 8, 2005. Sessions will be held in the Ontario room of the UniversityCenter beginning at 12:00 p.m.
Chair, Tawni Ferrarini adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sally K. Roo
Secretary
Mildly edited by,
Andrew A. Poe, Secretary
The Academic Senate
Northern MichiganUniversity