OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Minutes, March 15, 2011
Roll: (Absentees Underlined) President Kendall Baker, Dr. David Crago, Dr. Robert Ruble, Mr. Ken Block, Dean
Karen Condeni, Ms. Adriane Thompson-Bradshaw, Dean Catherine Albrecht, Dean Eric Baumgartner, Dean Jon
Sprague, Dean James Fenton, Rev. Vernon LaSala (dinner for ONU preseminarians), Dr. Jeffery Allison, Dr.
Khalid Al-Olimat, Dr. Nathaniel Bird, Dr. Bob Carrothers, Dr. Keith Durkin, Dr. Kevin Hill, Dr. Brian Keas, Prof.
Laurie Laird, Ms. Marsha McMunn, Dr. Michael Milks, Prof. Sue Montenery, Prof. Traci Moritz, Mr. Clyde
Pickett, Dr. Harold Putt, Dr. Lisa Robeson, Dr. Sandra Schroeder, Dr. David Smith, Dr. Amy Stockert, Dr. Bryan
Ward, Dr. Rob Waters, Dr. Dexter Woods, Dr. Kay Zekany
Dr. Lisa Robeson, Chair of Council, called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Minutes of the February 15, 2011 meeting were approved as distributed (Motion by Traci Moritz,
second by Sue Montenery, motion carried.)
Reports from Constitutional Committees:
a. Budget & Appropriations: No report.
b. Academic Affairs: has three items under Unfinished Business. Additionally, the committee is
meeting every Friday. Last week the committee heard a complaint from the College of
Business Administration regarding the use of “Staff” during course registration instead of
listing names of those teaching the courses. The committee also heard from representatives of
the departments who use this designation the most (Physics, English). They stated that it often
is used when their staffing levels are unknown at the time of advance registration. The
departments seemed willing to make accommodations for students retaking a failed course if
needed. The issue is complex and a broad policy across colleges may not be feasible.
c. Student Activities: No report.
d. Personnel: No report.
Reports from Operational Committees:
a. Athletics: No report.
b. Information Technology: No further report.
c. Cultural & Special Events: met last week and finished planning for the remainder of the
academic year. A poet and novelist from Nigeria, Chris Albani, will speak Wednesday, March
16 at 7:00 p.m. at the Freed Center.
d. International Affairs: No report.
e. Religious Affairs: No report.
f. General Education: No further report.
Student Center Task Force: Michael Milks provided an update and also expressed disappointment
with the process to date. For example, a meeting was planned to provide input to the architects
and no advance notice was given to the faculty representatives (Milks and Roecker) or others on
the committee. Bob Ruble apologized for the oversight stating that the meeting dates were sent
out as final dates rather than as suggested dates as they should have been. Catherine Albrecht
asked if the academic representatives were being incorporated in the meetings with architects.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
Bob Ruble replied. Yes, the architects will meet with all who have a stake in the new facility,
including faculty representatives, to confirm space requirements in the new building.
Planning Council: No report.
Other Reports:
a. Adriane Thompson-Bradshaw reported that a search committee was formed for the position
of university chaplain and resumes are being solicited.
b. Eric Baumgartner reported on a new major in the college of engineering for fall 2011. In
conjunction with the math and education departments, the college will offer a major in
engineering education. The annual Spotts Lecture will occur on Monday, March 21 in the Freed
Center. Dr. Paul Polak, a social entrepreneur, will speak on Design for the other 90%.
c. Catherine Albrecht stated that it is an active time in the college of arts and sciences. Over
spring break, Lloyd Butler and ONU music students performed in Central Mexico to a sold out
show of over 1400 attendees and thirteen students and faculty from the technological studies
department participated in a tour of industry in Germany. ONU will host a District Science Day
on Saturday, March 19. The annual Kritzler lecture will occur on Tuesday, March 22 and a
student research colloquium on Saturday, April 9. Additionally, fourteen ONU students from
Japan have been in contact with their families following the earthquake and would likely
appreciate a friendly word from faculty and students. The Japanese students plan to do some
fundraisers with all proceeds going to the Red Cross for aid in Japan.
d. Student Senate: No report.
e. Health Services Advisory Committee: No report.
Announcements: Lisa Robeson stated that the nominating committee for at-large positions on
council and other university committees have a March 21, 2011 deadline. The list of candidates
will need to be approved at the next council meeting. Julie Hurtig noted that with electronic
voting still going on, results so far show the change to the faculty constitution passing (to account
for the change from quarters to semesters).
Questions for the President: Dr. Baker announced that Kim Badertscher, daughter of Sharon
Badertscher, an administrative assistant in engineering, received a lung transplant on March 12.
Kim has cystic fibrosis. The ONUSA group held a fundraiser for the Badertscher family. Dr. Baker
also expressed his appreciation for the fabulous turnout for Dr. DiBiasio and his wife at the last
faculty meeting and the reception that followed. Dr. DiBiasio hopes to return to ONU prior to his
official start date if his current job allows it but either way he and Dr. Baker are staying in contact.
This is a busy travel time for the president and Toby with several alumni meetings planned in
Florida, Chicago, Texas and Ohio.
Lisa Robeson asked the president what stage the student center is in and expressed concern about
the meetings not including faculty input. The president, with assistance from Bob Ruble, replied.
The current meetings are follow-up meetings and will include faculty input. The concept of the
center is evolving. For example, recreation facilities may now be incorporated. The architect
meetings with various stakeholders will be used to eventually determine a cost estimate. Eric
Baumgartner stated the various stages that building planning goes through (program
requirements; schematic design phase; cost estimate; final design; bidding). We are currently in
the program requirements phase. Bob noted that this is an evolving process and the goal is to get
to preliminary blueprints.
IX.
Unfinished Business:
a. Agenda attachment A from the Academic Affairs Committee providing an academic calendar
proposal for 2012-13 and forward was brought to a vote. The changes were passed
unanimously and without further discussion.
b. Agenda attachment B from the Academic Affairs Committee laying out changes to the final
examination schedule for 2011-12 and forward was brought to a vote. During discussion, a
friendly amendment was made by Rob Waters to add a phrase to modify the Faculty
Handbook 3.18.8 and bullet point #6 of the proposed final examination schedule. Sandra
Schoeder seconded the motion. The new statement will read as follows: “A student with three
(3) or more final examinations scheduled on one day may seek relief through the Registrar’s
Office. The Registrar’s Office, after consultation with the affected faculty members, shall
reschedule the appropriate exams to ensure that a student has no more than two (2) exams in
one day.” (addition underlined) Brian Keas commented that he appreciates the inclusion of the
phrase. The amendment was passed unanimously.
i. Under further discussion, Nathaniel Bird stated that he is still not convinced that
changing from no more than three exams in one day to two exams in one day is a good
idea. He ran some numbers for his own majors and determined that the chance for an
exam conflict occurring under semesters would change from 1% of students (no more
than three exams in one day) to 5% (no more than two exams in one day). John Lomax
commented that 5% is still pretty low and his committee and the registrar found that
ONU is unique in requiring students to take three exams in one day. Additionally, he
feels that we should think about the students instead of ourselves in making this
decision.
ii. The changes to the final examination rules, including the above referenced friendly
amendment, passed.
c. Agenda attachment C from the Academic Affairs Committee making changes to the Faculty
Handbook, section 3.27.7 was brought to a vote. During discussion, Kay Zekany asked when
the change would become effective. John Lomax stated that it would be in effect when the
2011-12 Faculty Handbook is updated; in other words, in effect for the 2011-12 academic year.
Kay asked if it would only apply to incoming students or to students who graduate in 2011-12.
John stated it would apply to those who graduate in 2011-12. Catherine Albrecht asked if there
was a list available of the standards used by our peer and aspiration schools. John stated that
he does have a list but not with him. More than half of the peer and aspiration schools have
exactly the same standards as his committee is proposing. He stated that two schools have
lower standards and a few schools (maybe ¼?) have higher standards than proposed.
Catherine commented that Dartmouth and Brown, which had come up in John’s comments,
are very different from ONU and we may not want to compare ourselves to them. John stated
that Dartmouth and Brown are indeed different and use very different schemes to determine
their degrees with distinction and so were not included in the committee’s list. He went on to
state that schools we can reasonably compare ourselves to, Bucknell, Lehigh, Wake Forest,
Drake plus a good number of our peer schools, are the ones the committee primarily looked at
for guidance. Catherine stated that she doesn’t want to disadvantage students. Eric
X.
XI.
Baumgartner stated that normally students follow the rules and curriculum as described in the
catalog they entered ONU under. Why are we making this change for all students and not just
for new students? John stated that some rules in the past have been grandfathered and others
have not. He is not sure this language is in the catalog but his committee feels that the sooner
this change is implemented the better. Ken Baker stated that the university reviews the faculty
handbook annually and makes changes as needed with changes going into effect as the
changes are made. Julie Hurtig commented that the catalog does have language explaining
the university’s standards for degrees of distinction but it also states that the standards are
subject to change. In this situation, the university cannot abide by the catalog a student came
in under because it would be very confusing at graduation. Not only for Adriane – as she
announces each student – but for the registrar trying to maintain multiple rules. She expressed
desire to have the change take effect immediately if passed. The changes to the standards for
degrees of distinction passed.
New Business:
a. None.
Adjournment: Lisa Robeson adjourned the meeting at 6:15 p.m. Council will next meet on March
29, 2011.
Respectfully submitted,
Laurie K. Laird, Secretary
University Council
Attendance and Voting record
VotingIssue:
Agenda Att. A
Yes No Abst
Attend Council Member
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
March 15, 2011
Dr. Kendall Baker
VP David Crago
VP Robert Ruble
VP Ken Block
VP Karen Condeni
VP Adriane ThompsonBradshaw
Dean Catherine Albrecht
Dean Eric Baumgartner
Dean Jon Sprague
Dean James Fenton
Rev. Vernon LaSala
Dr. Jeffery Allison
Dr. Khalid Al-Olimat
Dr. Nathaniel Bird
Dr. Bob Carrothers
Dr. Keith Durkin
Dr. Kevin Hill
Dr. Brian Keas
Prof. Laurie Laird
Ms. Marsha McMunn
Dr. Michael Milks
Prof. Sue Montenery
Prof. Traci Moritz
Mr. Clyde Pickett
Dr. Harold Putt
Dr. Lisa Robeson
Dr. Sandra Schroeder
Dr. David Smith
Dr. Amy Stockert
Dr. Bryan Ward
Dr. Rob Waters
Dr. Dexter Woods
Dr. Kay Zekany
Totals
Shading denotes non-voting member
Voting Issue:
Amendment
Yes
No
Abst
Voting Issue:
Voting Issue:
Agenda Att. B
Agenda Att. C
Yes No Abst Yes No Abst
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
19
0
0
19
X
0
0
18
X
X
X
1
0
15
1
3