The third meeting of the Twin Cities Campus Assembly for 1998-99 was convened in 25 Law Building, Minneapolis campus, on Thursday, February 18, 1999, at 2:04 p.m. Checking or signing the roll as present were 112 voting faculty/academic professional members, 11 voting student members, 1 ex officio member, and 1 nonmember. President Mark Yudof presided

The Twin Cities Campus Assembly minutes are available on the Web at the following URL:

APPROVED

MOTION:

To approve the following amendments to the Twin Cities Campus Assembly Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules (additions are underlined, deletions are struck out).

A. CONSTITUTION AMENDMENTS (Requires 118 affirmative votes for approval)

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ARTICLE II. TWIN CITIES CAMPUS ASSEMBLY

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4. Assembly Officers

The president of the University shall chair the Assembly. A vice chair shall be elected by the Assembly at its first meeting in the spring last meeting in the spring semester of the academic year from among its current members for a term of one year and shall be eligible for re-election. . .

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6. Assembly Meetings--Call--Quorum

The Assembly shall hold regular meetings, at least once in each quarter of the academic year at the call of the president or of the Assembly Steering Committee, at a time and place determined by the chair. Special meetings of the Assembly and meetings of the Faculty Assembly, Minnesota Student Association, or Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, may be held upon the call of the chair or upon request of the appropriate Steering Committee, or upon written request of ten members of the Assembly in question.

At any regular or special meeting of any Assembly, a majority of its membership shall constitute a quorum. Any member of the faculty and any student or academic professional eligible to vote for Assembly members may be admitted to Assembly meetings and shall be entitled to speak at the discretion of the Assembly. Only elected Assembly members (or designated faculty alternates), Assembly Steering Committee members, and, in the case of a tie, the presiding officer, shall be entitled to vote.

All members of the faculty who hold regular appointment as defined in the Faculty Tenure Code may be present at Faculty Assembly meetings and shall be entitled to speak and to offer motions for Faculty Assembly action. Only elected faculty members (or designated faculty alternates) shall be entitled to vote.

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ARTICLE VI. AMENDING PROCEDURE

An amendment to this Constitution shall be approved either by a two-thirds majority of all voting members of the Assembly at a regular or special meeting, or by a majority of all voting members of the Assembly at each of two meetings, the second of which shall be the next regular meeting; and provided the proposed amendment has been distributed, in writing, to the persons and in the manner provided in Article II, Section 5, for distribution of the Assembly agenda, at least ten days prior to the date of the vote on the approval of the proposed amendment. An amendment shall be effective following approval by the Assembly, the University Senate, and the regents.

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B. BYLAWS AMENDMENTS (Requires 89 affirmative votes for approval)

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ARTICLE II. RULES FOR COMMITTEES OF THE TWIN CITIES CAMPUS ASSEMBLY

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6. Committees of the Assembly shall have a policy of open meetings. Closed or executive sessions may be held only after approval by a two-thirds majority of the committee members present and voting and only when personnel matters are discussed, when quasi-judicial functions are carried out, or when closed sessions are required to protect the rights of individuals. Open meetings shall normally be listed in the Minnesota Daily.

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ARTICLE III. TWIN CITIES CAMPUS ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES

1. COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES

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Membership

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A special faculty/academic professional nominating committee, appointed by the Faculty Steering Committee and approved by the faculty/academic professional representatives of the Assembly, shall nominate twice as many faculty/academic professional candidates for the committee as are to be elected each year. These candidates shall be announced in the Assembly docket for the last regular meeting of the academic year. Additional nominations, certified as available, may be made by the petition of 12 faculty/academic professional representatives of the Assembly, provided that the petition is in the hands of the clerk of the Assembly the day before the Assembly meeting. At the last regular Assembly meeting of the year, the faculty/academic professional representatives of the Assembly shall elect by secret ballot two members of the committee for three-year terms. No faculty/academic professional member is eligible to serve more than two consecutive full terms. In the case of a tie, the chair of the Assembly shall cast the deciding vote.

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2. COUNCIL ON LIBERAL EDUCATION

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Membership

The Council on Liberal Education shall be composed of faculty and student representatives (both undergraduate and graduate/professional); members of the academic staff may also be appointed. Three-quarters of the members of the Council shall be regular faculty members. ["Regular" as defined in the Faculty Tenure Code ]...

For its inaugural period, one-third of the faculty members shall be appointed for one-year terms, one-third shall be appointed for two-year terms, and one-third shall be appointed for three-year terms. All subsequent f Faculty appointments, except for vacancies, shall be for three-year terms. Also for its inaugural period, one-half of the students shall be appointed for one-year terms and one-half shall be appointed for two-year terms. All subsequent s Student appointments, except for vacancies, shall be for two-year terms. Academic staff members appointed to the Council shall be appointed for three-year terms.

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4. INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS COMMITTEE

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Duties and Responsibilities

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Reporting

a. To make timely reports to the Twin Cities Campus Assembly and to the wider University community on items of importance with respect to its governance of intercollegiate athletics. Such reports shall consist of, but not be limited to, composite team statistics of quarterly semester grade reports for intercollegiate teams; reports on graduation rates of student-athletes by team and year; other data of relevance to the conduct of intercollegiate athletics on the Twin Cities campus, such as admissions qualifications of recruits by team, ethnic make-up of the body of student-athletes, and reports of discussions or essays which would be of interest to the Twin Cities Campus Assembly and to the wider University community.

b. To ensure that the chair of the committee or his or her designee shall be present at the regular quarterly meetings of the Twin Cities Campus Assembly and shall be afforded time to report and shall be ready to respond to questions concerning published reports of the committee or other items of interest to Assembly members.

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5. PROVOSTAL FACULTY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEES

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Duties and Responsibilities

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c. The chair of each Provostal Faculty Consultative Committee shall meet quarterly each semester with the chair of the respective Provostal Student Consultative Committee to discuss issues of concern to both faculty and students, and the two committees shall meet jointly as deemed necessary by the chairs.

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6. PROVOSTAL STUDENT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEES

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Duties and Responsibilities

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c. The chair of each PSCC shall meet quarterly each semester with the chair of the respective Provostal Faculty Consultative Committee to discuss issues of concern to both faculty and students, and the two committees shall meet jointly as deemed necessary by the chairs.

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e. To meet with the Student Senate Consultative Committee/Twin Cities Campus Student Assembly Steering Committee quarterly each semester.

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7. STEERING COMMITTEES

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Assembly Steering Committee

Membership

The Assembly Steering Committee shall be composed of 7 (or possibly 8) elected members of the faculty, 5 elected undergraduate and graduate/professional students, and the vice chair of the Assembly. The numbers of undergraduate and graduate/professional students on the Student Steering Committee shall be as follows:

1996-97 3 undergraduates, 2 graduate/professional
1997-98 4 undergraduates, 1 graduate/professional
1998-99 3 undergraduates, 2 graduate/professional
1999-00 4 undergraduates, 1 graduate/professional
2000-01 3 undergraduates, 2 graduate/professional

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Duties and Responsibilities

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Executive

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b. To act on behalf of the Assembly when a decision is required prior to the next scheduled meeting of the Assembly and when a decision is required when it would not be possible to convene a special meeting of the Assembly in a timely fashion; such actions will be reported to the Assembly at its next meeting and the Assembly may then overrule the Steering Committee.

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Faculty Steering Committee

Membership

. . . .These candidates shall be announced in the Twin Cities Campus Assembly docket for the first regular meeting of the winter spring semester. Additional nominations, certified as available, may be made by: (1) petition of 12 voting members of the faculties, provided that the petition is in the hands of the clerk of the Assembly the day before the Assembly meeting; (2) nomination on the floor of the Assembly. The faculty representatives of the Assembly shall by vote reduce the slate to twice the number to be elected, and shall forward the results to the clerk of the University Senate. Election procedures shall be in accordance with Article III, Section 4, of the University Senate Bylaws.

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9. SUPPORT SERVICES COMMITTEE

The Support Services Committee represents faculty, academic professional, student, and staff interests in the full range of support services on the Twin Cities campus.

Membership

The Support Services Committee shall be composed of 5 faculty/academic professional members, 4 students, one civil service staff member, and ex officio representation as specified by vote of the Assembly. Faculty, academic professional, and student members shall be nominated by the Committee on Committees with the approval of the Assembly. The civil service staff member shall be appointed by the president in consultation with the Civil Service Committee.

Duties and Responsibilities

a. To review the policies and administration of all support services on the Twin Cities campus. Support services include but are not limited to housing, placement services, transportation and parking, bookstores, University police, printing services, facilities management, and food services.
b. To serve in an advisory capacity to the administration of such support services where appropriate.
c. To involve interested persons and groups in its deliberations where appropriate.
d. To review support services compliance with appropriate local, state, and federal laws.
e. To recommend to the Senate Consultative Committee such actions or policies as it deems appropriate.
f. To submit an annual report to the Assembly.

C. RULES AMENDMENTS (Requires a simple majority for approval)

ARTICLE I. THE TWIN CITIES CAMPUS ASSEMBLY

1. Organization

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A vice chair shall be elected by the Assembly at its first meeting in the spring second meeting of the spring semester of the academic year from among its members for a term of one year...

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2. Meetings

Meetings of the Assembly shall be held at least quarterly the call of the president or of the Assembly Steering Committee during the academic year to consider campus-wide policies and issues. The Twin Cities Campus Assembly, Faculty Assembly, Minnesota Student Association, or Graduate and Professional Student Assembly may be convened for special session upon the call of the president or chair. Upon request of the appropriate Steering Committee, or upon written request of ten members of the Assembly in question as submitted to the president or the chair, the president or the chair shall convene the Assembly. . .

3. Agenda

The Assembly Steering Committee shall plan the agenda for any meeting of the Assembly. The agenda shall be prepared finally and distributed by the clerk of the Assembly. The agenda consists of items submitted for Twin Cities Campus Assembly consideration by any Assembly or by any committee of the Assembly. At the discretion of the Assembly Steering Committee, the clerk of the Assembly may be instructed to include additional items on the agenda for any regular meeting of that body. Items for the docket must be delivered to the clerk no later than two weeks prior to the date of each meeting. All items should be double spaced to facilitate printing.

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ARTICLE II. STANDING RULES OF THE ASSEMBLY

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4. Agenda and Procedures

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- An item of new business presented at a meeting of the Assembly by an individual member shall be referred to the Assembly Steering Committee for consideration and presentation at the next regular meeting of the Assembly; . . . .

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- At each regular Assembly meeting, Questions to the President shall be an item on the agenda.

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ARTICLE III. RULES FOR COMMITTEES OF THE ASSEMBLY

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2. Ex Officio members of Assembly Committees

Ex officio members shall be appointed from each of the offices listed below and are non-voting positions unless otherwise noted.

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- Support Services--Office of the Senior Vice President, Finance and Operations (Associate Vice President, Facilities Management and Assistant Vice President, University Services); Office of the Vice President, Student Development and Athletics

3. Terms of Membership, Chairing of Committees, and Removal of Members for

Neglect of Meetings

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Student appointments to committees of the Assembly shall be made for terms of one year. Student members of committees must be registered for at least six credits for three of the four quarters each semester in the academic year (both summer sessions considered as one quarter). University College students must be registered for at least one course for three of the four quarters in each major term in the academic year. . .

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COMMENT:

At the request of the chair and vice chair of the Faculty Consultative Committee, the Senate staff went through the Senate and Assembly constitution, bylaws, and rules and identified all the changes that would be needed in order to accommodate the change to semesters. In addition, the Business and Rules Committee identified a number of additional housekeeping amendments that would clean up processes and bring the language up to date. It is believed that all of these changes are non-controversial, and each set should be voted on as a package. A separate vote will be taken on any of the proposed changes if any Senator requests it.

SARA EVANS, Chair
ASSEMBLY STEERING COMMITTEE

DISCUSSION:

Professor Sara Evans, chair of the Senate Consultative Committee (SCC), said that these amendments are housekeeping in nature since they deal with the change from quarters to semesters.

The floor was then opened for questions.

[An amendment was made to strike the first line of the second paragraph from the Council on Liberal Education membership. Since this was a typo in the printed docket, and not the intent of the revision, no amendment was needed.]

With no questions, a vote was taken and the motion received 111 votes in favor and 0 opposed. The changes to the Constitution failed to receive the required votes necessary for approval, while the changes to the Bylaws and Rules were approved.

CONSTITUTION AMENDMENTS NOT APPROVED
BYLAWS AND RULES AMENDMENTS APPROVED

Agenda Items III through V are considered to be noncontroversial or "housekeeping" in nature and are offered as a "Consent Agenda" to be taken up as a single item with one vote. Any item will be taken up separately at the request of a senator. A simple majority is required for approval.

MOTION:

To approve the following membership of a Nominating Committee to select Twin Cities faculty/academic professional candidates to stand for election to the Senate/Assembly Committee on Committees: Carolyn Williams (chair), Avner Ben-Ner, Marty Rossman, John Dahler, Marti Hope Gonzales.

COMMENT:

The Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying Twin Cities faculty and academic professionals interested and willing to stand for election to the Senate/Assembly Committee on Committees, and will present a slate of candidates to the Assembly at its next meeting. If approved, the Faculty Assembly will elect two faculty/academic professionals to serve 3-year terms on the Committee on Committees.

SARA EVANS, Chair
FACULTY ASSEMBLY STEERING COMMITTEE

MOTION:

That the Faculty Assembly and UMD faculty senators approve the following slate: Mary Jo Kane, Joseph Massey, Paula Rabinowitz, Constance Sullivan.

FOR INFORMATION:

The Nominating Committee appointed by the Twin Cities Campus Assembly at its November 5, 1998, meeting to name candidates to fill, by the election process, two 1999-02 Twin Cities/UMD faculty positions on the Senate Consultative/Assembly Steering Committee presents the following four names, from which two are to be elected by mail ballot by the Twin Cities and non-represented UMD faculty:

MARY JO KANE: 1989*, Associate Professor of Kinesiology & Leisure Studies, College of Education and Human Development. University Senate member: 1994-97. Committee participation (past and present): Professional Studies Provostal Faculty Consultative Committee (Chair); Senate Committee on Committees; Commission on Women Executive Committee; Advisory Committee for Bush Foundation Grant; Search Committee for Dean of College of Education & Human Development; College Faculty Senate; College Faculty Consultative Committee; College Academic Strategic Planning Work Group; College Task Force on Long Range Planning for Student Services; College Student Progress Sub-council Committee; Search Committee for Fitness/Wellness Director of Recreational Sports Department; Department Grievance and Complaint Committee; Barbara Brown Student Papers Committee; North American Society for the Sociology of Sport; American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; National Association for Girls and Women in Sport; North American Society for Sport Management.

JOSEPH MASSEY: 1995*, Professor of Wood and Paper Science, College of Natural Resources. University Senate member: 1997-00. Committee participation (past and present): UM Extension Service Consolidated Competitive Grants Program (Chair); UM Year 2000 Committee; UM Extension Service Creative Grants Evaluation Committee; Delegation to the 1998 Oregon State University Conference on Faculty Rewards; COAFES Visions For Change Advisory Council; Forest Products Society Board of Directors; Forest Products National Planning Committee (Region Chair); College of Natural Resources Diversity Committee on Student Recruitment and Retention; College of Natural Resources Promotion and Tenure Review Committee; College of Natural Resources Graduate Faculty Committee; UM Extension Service Regional Partnerships Positions Evaluation Committee; UM Extension Service Campus-based Faculty Meeting Planning Committee.

PAULA RABINOWITZ: 1987*, Professor of English Language and Literature, College of Liberal Arts. University Senate member: 1996-99. Committee participation (past and present): Bush Sabbatical Leave Advisory Committee, CLA Dean Search Committee, CLA SQL and Bush Advisory Committee; CLA Research Development Committee; CLA Assembly; CLA Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Advisory Committee; English Department Executive Committee; English Department Curriculum Committee; English Department Tenure Committee; American Studies Department Executive Committee; Committee on American Studies Programs; University Faculty Alliance (Co-Coordinator).

CONSTANCE SULLIVAN: 1965*, Associate Professor of Spanish and Portuguese, College of Liberal Arts. University Senate member: 1987-90. Committee participation (past and present): Senate Committee on Faculty Affairs; Presidential Search Advisory Committee, University Commission on Women; Senate Committee on Business and Rules; Subcommittee on Senate Reorganization; Senate Facilitative Committee; Senate Judicial Committee; Grad School Dissertation Fellowship Committee; Grad School Committee for Wallace Fellowship and Grants for Research Abroad; Twin Cities Campus Fulbright Committee; CLA Assembly; CLA Council on Policy and Planning; CLA Budget Advisory Committee; CLA Committee on Second Language Education; Women's Studies Department Personnel Committee; Women's Studies Department Merit Review of Faculty Salaries; CLA Consultative Committee; CLA Constitution Revision Committee; CLA Curriculum Committee; Spanish and Portuguese Department Executive Committee; Spanish and Portuguese Department Constitution Revision Committee; Spanish and Portuguese Department Grievance Committee; Spanish and Portuguese Department Advisory Committee.

The Assembly Steering Committee serves as the executive committee of the Twin Cities Campus Assembly and forms the Twin Cities membership of the Senate Consultative Committee. Recent Senate and Assembly legislation has merged the Twin Cities faculty and non-represented UMD faculty for purposes of Senate Consultative/Assembly Steering Committee elections. Should a non-represented UMD faculty member be elected, that individual will be a member of the Senate and Faculty Senate Consultative Committees, but shall not be a member of the Assembly Steering Committee.

Additional nominations, certified as willing to stand for election, may be made by (1) petition of 12 voting members of the faculties, provided that the petition is in the hands of the Clerk of the Twin Cities Campus Assembly the day before the Twin Cities Campus Assembly meeting, and (2) nominations on the floor of the Assembly. The faculty representatives of the Twin Cities Campus Assembly shall reduce by vote the slate to twice the number to be elected.

Currently serving with terms continuing at least through next year are:

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*Date of initial appointment at the University.

Daniel Feeney, Co-Chair
Richard Purple, Co-Chair
John Beatty
Allen Burton
Laura Duckett
Amy Kaminsky
Carolyn Williams

MOTION:

That the Faculty Assembly and UMD faculty senators approve the following slate: Muriel Bebeau, James Boulger, Stanley Erlandsen, Robert Miller, Nelson Rhodus, 1 to be named.

FOR INFORMATION:

The Nominating Committee appointed by the Twin Cities Campus Assembly at its November 5, 1998, meeting, to name candidates to fill, by the election process, three 1999-01 faculty positions (one each from the School of Dentistry, Medical School-Basic Sciences, and UMD School of Medicine) on the Academic Health Center Faculty Consultative Committee presents the following six names, from which one from each college is to be elected by mail ballot by the School of Dentistry, Medical School-Basic Sciences, and UMD School of Medicine faculty.

SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY

MURIEL BEBEAU: 1979*, Professor of Preventative Sciences, School of Dentistry. University Senate member: 1993-96. Committee participation (past and present): Senate Judicial Committee; Academic Health Center Faculty Consultative Committee (Chair); Biomedical Ethics Education Committee; Ethics Advisory Board for CLA; American Educational Research Association Awards Committee (Chair); Academic Health Center Strategic Facility Plan Steering Committee; Bush Faculty Development Program recipient; School of Dentistry Educational Policy Committee (Chair); School of Dentistry Faculty Affairs Committee; School of Dentistry Review Committee (Chair); Search Committee for School of Dentistry Dean.

NELSON RHODUS: 1985*, Associate Professor of Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, School of Dentistry. University Senate member: 1993-97. Committee participation (past and present): American Academy of Oral Medicine-Board of Trustees; American Public Health Association; Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honorary Fraternity; Organization of Teachers of Oral Diagnosis; International Association for Dental Research; National Sjogren's Syndrome Association Medical Advisory Board; American Association for Dental Schools; Dental School Educational Policy Committee; Clinical Implementation Committee; Infection Control Committee (Chair); School of Public Health Alumni Board of Directors; Third-year Class Committee (Chair 90-95); Clinical Affairs Committee; Strategic Plan Implementation Committee; UMSD Hospital Dental Committee; Clinical Affairs Committee; American Dental Society of Anesthesiology; UMSD Alumni Day Program Chair and Moderator; University UROP advisor; MSROP advisor.

MEDICAL SCHOOL-BASIC SCIENCES

STANLEY ERLANDSEN: 1979*, Professor of Cell Biology and Neuroanatomy, Medical School. University Senate member: 1996-99. Committee participation (past and present): Minnesota Medical Foundation Small Grants Committee (Head); Animal Care Program Advisory Committee; Medical School Educational Policy Committee; Medical School Faculty Academic Promotions and Tenure Committee; Task Force on Medical School Class Size; Senate Research Committee; Pediatrics Internal Review Committee; Gross Anatomy Search Committee (Chair); Past President of the Histochemical Society.

ROBERT F. MILLER: 1988*, 3M Cross Professor of Physiology, Medical School. Committee participation (past and present): Interdisciplinary Research and postbaccalaureate Education Committee (IRPE); numerous search committees at University, College and Departmental levels; "Brain Awareness Week" organizational group; "Gang of 19" during tenure wars; President of AAUP Twin Cities Chapter; Association of Neuroscience Departments and Programs.

UMD SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

JAMES BOULGER: 1974*, Associate Professor of Behavioral Sciences, UMD School of Medicine. University Senate member: 1983-86. Committee participation (past and present): School of Medicine Building Advisory Committee (Chair 88-98); School of Medicine Admissions Committee; Duluth Graduate Medical Education Council Board of Directors; Executive Committee; Campus Assembly Physical Facilities Committee; Campus Annual Fund Drive Steering Committee; Rural Physician Associate Program Advisory Committee; Minnesota Medical Alumni Association Board of Directors; Pre-doctoral Training Grant Review Committee, Division of Medicine; Health Resources and Services Administration, PHS; Working Group On Health Professions Education; Research and Education Constituent Group.

THOMAS HUNTLEY: 1973*, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UMD School of Medicine. University Senate member: 1977-80 and 1995-97. Committee participation (past and present): Minnesota House of Representatives; Senate Consultative Committee; UMD Educational Policy Committee; UMD Campus Assembly; UMD Sexual Harassment Board (Chair); UMD Educational Policy Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics; UMD Executive Committee of Assembly; School of Medicine Admissions Committee (Chair); School of Medicine Educational Policy Committee (Chair); School of Medicine Faculty Advisory Committee (Chair); Women's Health Center of Duluth Board of Directors.

The Academic Health Center Provostal Faculty Consultative Committee serves as the executive committee of the Academic Health Center Faculty Assembly and reports to the Twin Cities Campus Assembly.

Additional nominations, certified as willing to stand for election, may be made by (1) petition of 12 voting members of the faculties, provided that the petition is in the hands of the Clerk of the Twin Cities Campus Assembly the day before the Twin Cities Campus Assembly meeting, and (2) nominations on the floor of the Assembly. The faculty representatives of the Twin Cities Campus Assembly and UMD Faculty Senators shall reduce by vote the slate to twice the number to be elected.

Currently serving with terms continuing at least through next year are:

The terms of Muriel Bebeau (School of Dentistry), Frederic Hafferty (UMD School of Medicine), and David Hamilton (Medical School) expire at the end of the academic year.

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*Date of initial appointment at the University.

Daniel Feeney, Co-Chair
Richard Purple, Co-Chair
John Beatty
Allen Burton
Laura Duckett
Amy Kaminsky
Carolyn Williams

DISCUSSION:

With no discussion, a vote was taken and the Consent Agenda was approved.

APPROVED

I. Introduction

In conjunction with the University's change to semesters, the Assembly Committee on Educational Policy has considered the recommendation of an academic progress policy to the Assembly. Students now commonly understand that they may enroll for as few or as many credits as they wish, at any time, and take as long as they wish to complete a degree. The proposed policy seeks to modify student behavior under the semester calendar by ensuring that students graduate in a timely fashion. The proposed policy applies only to undergraduate programs.

II. Policy

1. The University expects students to graduate in a timely manner, defined here as four to five years. The administration shall adopt policies, and further publicize existing policies, which will facilitate timely graduation for most students (within four to five years). The Office of the Provost shall engage in regular conversations with the Assembly Committee on Educational Policy about these policies and their effectiveness.

2. All departments and programs must have in place a curricular plan that allows students to graduate in four years. Such a plan would require that students enroll for at least 15 credits per semester, on average (excluding such desirable educational enhancements as study abroad and internships). This plan may not require that students enroll for more than 17 credits per semester, on average. Course offerings must be scheduled on a two-year horizon so that students can progress in a way that leads to timely completion.

3. Campuses, colleges, and departments may, after consultation with students and on a vote of the faculty and approval of the dean, require students to be full-time in a program.

COMMENT:

A university in a large metropolitan area must meet the needs of a variety of students, some of whom do not wish to attend college full time, and some of whom may come to the University precisely because it offers flexibility in its educational programs. The University recognizes that some students may wish to attend on a part-time basis, and that others, for financial or other personal reasons, are unable to complete degrees in four to five years.

For many students, however, significant educational benefits may be derived from devoting the majority of their time and attention to studies while in college. Students should also recognize the opportunity costs of delayed graduation (paying additional tuition and fees, and the income and career advancement foregone when studies are extended). The University recognizes this, and already provides incentives to students who are making timely progress (e.g., priority in registration and for on-campus housing). Tuition banding, or other incentives in the tuition schedule, if adopted by the Regents, will provide another incentive.

A number of recent actions have been directed to helping students graduate on a timely basis. These actions include the following:

-- Establishment of the Four Year Graduation Plan: As part of the Four Year Graduation Plan, eligible majors have developed curricular plans for graduating in four years. These plans are available on the web. A Four Year Plan Advisory Committee, consisting primarily of collegiate advisors, has been established to help identify areas where existing plan requirements may inadvertently hinder the ability of advisers to help students graduate in four years.

-- Registration Priority for full time students: Starting with registration this spring for Fall Semester 1999, students taking 15 credits during the spring, will have priority during the registration queue.

-- New Undergraduate Tuition Structure: The President will be recommending a new undergraduate tuition structure to the Board of Regents that involves half price tuition for all credits over 12. Under this plan there is a clear financial incentive to take 15 rather than 12 credits a semester. A student who takes 15 credits a semester and graduates in 4 years will save between $900 and $1,000 as compared to a student who takes 12 credits a semester and graduates in 5 years. This tuition savings is in addition to any savings on living expenses, 5 years of student loans as opposed to 4 years and the income and career advancement that may be foregone when a student delays the start of his or her post-baccalaureate work experience.

-- Expectation that major scholarship winners will be full time students: Major University scholarships used to recruit new high school students will carry the expectation that students will complete 30 credits a year and thus be on track to graduate in four years.

-- University Residence Halls: Housing and Residential Life has increased the minimum credit requirement for living in one of the University residence halls from 6 to 9 credits. It should be noted that this fall less than 100 out of 5,200 students living in University residence halls were enrolled for fewer than 12 credits.

-- Standard undergraduate academic policies and practices: The set of standard undergraduate academic policies and practices that was adopted by the Twin Cities Assembly in May 1998 should reduce if not eliminate red tape that students might encounter when transferring between colleges. The intent is to insure that timely graduation is not impeded by inconsistent policies across colleges. The Twin Cities Council of Undergraduate Deans has also worked to identify additional areas where uniform policies are appropriate.

-- Course availability and access: It does no good to exhort students to graduate in four or five years if the University is unable to offer the necessary courses. Effective with FY 98, then-Provost Shively distributed over $1 million to colleges to improve course access. The subsequent adoption of IMG provides further incentive for colleges to offer courses that students want to take. The Twin Cities Council of Undergraduate Deans has facilitated sharing of information and cooperation among colleges to address issues of course access. The integration of University College credit courses into the basic registration system makes the availability of all courses, whether offered in the day or evening, more transparent to students.

JUDITH MARTIN, Chair
EDUCATIONAL POLICY COMMITTEE

DISCUSSION:

Professor Judith Martin, chair of the Educational Policy Committee (SCEP), said that this policy proposes a number of opportunities for students to complete their bachelor programs in a 4 - 5 year time frame. The University is known nationally for having a low graduation rate, therefore, one of the ideas behind semester conversion was to make it possible for students to go in-depth into subjects over a longer period of time, and help students move through at a reasonable rate. This policy involves incentives for progression without penalizing any students.

The floor was then opened for questions.

Jesse Berglund, chair of the Student Senate, said that consensus on this policy is lacking. It was discussed at the Student Senate meeting and many questions arose regarding different interpretations of the policy and there was little support from the students. It is not favorable for the Senate to push this policy through today, but rather take it back to the committees to be reworked with more student input. He then made a motion to table the policy until the April Assembly meeting. The motion was seconded and opened for debate.

Q: What is controversial about this policy?

A: The main problem with the policy lies in item 3 which allows colleges and departments to deny part-time students access to their programs. Low-income and minority students felt that this option might be used to deny access to students simply because they cannot afford to attend full-time.

A vote was then taken and the motion to table the policy was approved with 48 in favor and 31 opposed.

TABLED

I. FOR INFORMATION

The Senate Committee on Finance and Planning (SCFP) solicited of all faculty their views, positive and negative, about the campus food service as provided through the University's contract with Aramark.

SCFP heard about the initial negotiations with Aramark during three meetings in 1997, and expressed concerns about service standards, the ability of the University to go from losing money to profitability by signing the contract, and about projected income and expenses, and asked that the administration consult with it on the uses to which any income was put.

Over the last several months, members of both SCFP and the Faculty Consultative Committee have heard repeated and strongly-voiced objections to the food service on the Twin Cities campus. Over 150 responded to an email request for opinions; faculty (and staff) expressed overwhelmingly negative views. They perceived an increase in price and a decrease in quality, service, and choice. (The one exception seemed to be Sostanza, in the basement of Moos Tower.)

SCFP met recently with University officers responsible for administration of the contract with Aramark. They, too, expressed disappointment with the results, but cautioned that Aramark has really only had about six months in which to operate, after an initial six-month period when no changes were made. SCFP was told that the University would make known its dismay with the delivery of food on campus.

SCFP was concerned that the vending service had been separated from the food service by contract and use of funds, and it noted that the University has not provided adequate and inviting spaces for either.

One issue with which SCFP took issue was the designation of the food services (University Dining Services) as an "auxiliary." In the University budget lexicon, it falls in the category of units that are expected to generate a modest profit which can put to other uses. SCFP was assured that the profit generated thus far was very small ($400,000) in relation to other University revenues, but it was not clear to SCFP why the food service should even be expected to produce a profit.

On the basis of the issues raised by SCFP, the Assembly Steering Committee believes that the food service on the campus perhaps should NOT be expected to make a profit, and might be provided a subsidy. The Committee urges that food service at the University be considered a common good or shared interest that is part of its foundation that is spatially and financially available to all members of the community. The development of attractive eating areas, with diverse foods that are reasonably priced, of reasonable quality, and delivered with friendly service is essential if the University is to build a strong academic community. As places for the advancement of community, where students, faculty, and staff gather for intellectual as well as social exchanges, eating areas can enhance the daily life and experience of those who come to campus.

The Assembly Steering Committee urges that University treat the establishment and operation of food service locations as shared goods essential to the well-being of all the members of its community.

On the basis of what it has learned and heard from SCFP, and what we have been told individually, the Committee recommends that the Assembly adopt the following resolution:

The Assembly urges the administration to take the following steps with respect to the provision of food on campus:

II. FOR ACTION

The Twin Cities Campus Assembly recommends to the administration that:

1. It should review the operation and management of the food service in light of the severely adverse comments that have been made by faculty, staff, and students about quality, price, and service.

2. The food service should be shifted from the budgetary category auxiliary to be considered a common good, shared interest, or part of infrastructure. Give serious consideration to dropping any requirement that food service generate a profit and use any surplus from the operations to upgrade the food service itself.

3. It should consider viewing food service and vending as a single financial operation so to improve its financial status. This may require a change in the distribution of the income from the contract with Coca-Cola.

4. It improve and create more spaces for intellectual and social commerce on the Twin Cities Campus and establish, through appropriate surveys and communication with the University membership, what kinds of eating establishments would be most attractive and most used. (Some information may already have been collected in preparation for negotiations with vendors before the contract was signed.) The information provided to SCFP suggests that whatever people would find attractive is not now being provided.

5. It should be prepared to take appropriate action to remedy the situation.

COMMENT:

Faculty, staff, and student dissatisfaction with the food service on campus has been growing significantly, and appears to have escalated with the signing of the contract with Aramark. The Finance and Planning Committee solicited comments from faculty, and received over 150 comments, virtually all negative, some quite vehemently so.

While this resolution does not call for termination of the contract with Aramark, it does call for a serious reconsideration of how the food service operation on the campus is characterized and treated. Should the changes urged by the resolution not be accomplished with the Aramark contract still in effect, then the committees will give consideration to calling for the contract to be terminated.

SARA EVANS, Chair
ASSEMBLY STEERING COMMITTEE

DISCUSSION:

Professor Sara Evans, chair of the Senate Consultative Committee (SCC), said that she was presenting this motion on behalf of Professor Stephen Gudeman, chair of the Finance and Planning Committee (SCFP). When SCFP decided to hold a hearing on the food service, they sent an e-mail to all Twin Cities faculty soliciting comments. Over 150 faculty comments were received. All comments are available on the web, while select ones were shown on an overhead at the meeting. Most comments were biting and used words such as greasy, salty, expensive, disappointing, and stingy. Many even said that they now bring bag lunches. Students said that they agree with these comments.

This motion does not try to diagnose or provide solutions to the problem. Rather, it sets forth principles and asks that some type of action be taken. It does not ask that the Aramark contract be terminated.

The floor was then opened for questions.

A senator asked that the following statement be added to the resolution as a friendly amendment: "The food service operations should adhere to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents policy titled Pollution Prevention and Waste Abatement, including reduction of wastes at the source, such as disposables, and vigorously pursue waste abatement programs such as recycling, reuse, and purchase of recycled materials to reduce the need for disposal of waste."

This was accepted as a friendly amendment.

A senator suggested that a diversified food service should be encouraged at the University. Minority business people could be incorporated into the food service system to build the University community.

Another senator commented that the St. Paul campus is like a prison since there are limited off-campus restaurants. There is also a lack of measures to ensure food safety, since the food service is not subject to inspection by outside authorities. Inspection is done internally.

A senator agreed with the previous comments and said that even if the food is hot when a person starts, by the time they get through the long check-out line, it is cold.

A vote was then taken and the motion was approved.

APPROVED

MOTION:

To affirm that the effective date of implementation of the "Statement of Standard Undergraduate Academic Policies and Practices" adopted at the May 14, 1998 meeting of the Assembly is Fall Semester, 1999.

COMMENT:

Upon recommendation of the Educational Policy Committee, the Assembly approved a large package of policies intended to make academic practices on the Twin Cities campus more consistent across colleges. Everyone involved in the deliberations intended that the effective date of the policies be Fall Semester, 1999, but that assumption was never made explicit. This motion clarifies the intent.

JUDITH MARTIN, Chair
ASSEMBLY EDUCATIONAL POLICY COMMITTEE

DISCUSSION:

Professor Judith Martin, chair of the Educational Policy Committee (SCEP), said that this minor modification will make it clear that the implementation will begin in the fall and not before.

The floor was then opened for questions.

With no questions, a vote was taken and the motion was approved.

APPROVED

Item II will be taken up concurrently with Item II of the University Senate docket.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:34 p.m.

Rebecca Hippert
Abstractor