Minutes of 2 April 2007

Circulated 3 April 2007

Approved 9 April 2007

THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs

6048 Fleming Administration Building

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1340

Phone: (734) 764-0303

Fax: (734) 764-6564

Internet Address:  http://www.umich.edu/~sacua/

Approved minutes:  http://www.umich.edu/~sacua/sacmin/sacuaminutes.html

MINUTES OF THE SACUA MEETING OF 2 APRIL 2007

Present: Frier, Giordani, MacAdam, Meerkov, Potter, Riles, Seabury, Smith (chair); Lehman; Carr, Schneider

Absent:  Combi

Guests:  K. Brown, R. Fraser, D. Fontenot, A. Farrehi, T. Morales, K. McCartney, V. Hayes, J. Myers, G. Nelson

MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED:

  1.  Draft agenda

  2.  Draft minutes of the 12 March meeting of SACUA with the provost, annotated by the provost

  3.  Draft minutes of 26 March 2007

  4.  Faculty Response to the 2006 DoE report "A Test of Leadership: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education", aka the Spellings Report. 

        AAAC Report dated 19 March  2007.

  5.  Faculty Ombuds Position Selection Procedure, revised March 2007

  6.  Letter to Derek Bok from M. S. Coleman and C. B. Smith, dated 29 March 2007, regarding invitation to deliver the 2007 Davis, Markert, Nickerson Lecture

  7.  Dear Colleague Letter from C. B. Smith, dated 29 March 2007, regarding faculty sponsored undergraduate scholarship fund

  8.  Memorandum to SACUA from the Mental Health Network, dated 2 April 2007, regarding Student mental health at the U-M campus.

  9.  National Summit on Higher Education Concludes With a 25-Point Plan, by Kelly Field, The Chronicle of Higher Education,

10.  SACUA Retreat, dated 26 June 2006

11.  College Student Mental Health Survey

12.  Mental Health Issues Facing a Diverse Sample of College Students: Results from the College Student Mental Health Survey, by J. Soet and T. Seving (2006). 

         NASPA Journal 43(3): 410-431.

Chair Smith convened the meeting at 2:30 P.M.  The proposed agenda was approved.

CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES

The minutes of 26 March 2007 were approved as submitted.

The minutes of 12 March 2007 were approved in final form with some editorial changes made by the provost to the account of her visit.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/UPDATES

1. Distributed item 7 is a letter to all faculty requesting donations to the faculty-sponsored undergraduate scholarship fund.
2. Distributed item 5 is the selection procedure for faculty ombuds.
3. AAAC will report its activities at the 16 April meeting of Senate Assembly.  Distributed item 4 is one recent report from the committee.
4. Professor Potter and the chair met with the president last week.  At that meeting the president signed distributed item 6, inviting Derek Bok to deliver the 2007 Academic Freedom Lecture.  Professor Potter raised the issue of building a new Student Center aimed at the needs of undergraduates, and the president seemed receptive.  Professor MacAdam noted that the University Library was in the early stages of planning for potential renovations to the Shapiro Library to create new learning/study spaces that would better support the needs of students.  SACUA endorsed her suggestion that she share the SACUA discussion with University Librarian, Paul Courant.
5. Professor Lehman and the chair met with the provost earlier in the day.  Agenda topics included (1) the university budget, with the prospect of rescissions looming, (2) domestic partner benefits and the prospect of action by the Michigan Supreme Court, (3) reform of grievance procedures to create review boards outside of the unit of the grievant and respondent, and (4) co-sponsorship by the provost’s office of the upcoming SACUA/AAUP forum on faculty grievance policy.

ELECTION OF SACUA CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR

At 3:00 P.M., blank slips of paper were distributed to all voting members present.  Secretary Lehman explained the rules of the election process as well as the list of eligible candidates.  He pointed out that if Chair Smith were re-elected, the Senate Assembly would need to be asked once again to suspend the rule stating that a chair cannot serve consecutive terms.  SACUA voting members were asked to write the name of their preferred candidate for chair on the ballot.  Secretary Lehman and Mr. Schneider served as tellers.  The tellers collected and counted the ballots. 

The tellers announced that Professor Smith had been elected chair by unanimous vote. 

Ballots were then distributed for the vice chair election.  Secretary Lehman again reviewed the rules of the voting process and the list of eligible candidates.  The tellers collected and counted the ballots.

The tellers announced that Professor Potter had been elected vice chair by unanimous vote.

SACUA members congratulated the elected officers.  Their terms commence on 1 May 2007.

UNDERGRADUATE MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE

            The guests arrived at 3:08 P.M.  After a round of introductions, Ms. Morales explained the history and ontogeny of the task force.  She called attention to distributed item 8, and circulated additional items 11 and 12.  Her presentation closely paralleled the distributed materials.  Other members of the task force described their observations and experiences in dealing with undergraduate mental health issues.  The principal problems described were depression and anxiety, but other problems are encountered with lesser frequency, including eating disorders and high functioning autism. 

            Professor Giordani asked whether mandatory substance abuse training for undergraduates is used at the U-M.  He said that a variety of internet access programs are fairly good and are used at other institutions.  Ms. Hays replied that training is mandatory only for student athletes, but that it is available on a voluntary basis to all students.  Professor Giordani wondered whether this should be considered for all students and also asked if there were any reasonable internet programs available for helping students recognize or respond to mental health issues in appropriate ways.  Ms. Hays replied such issues could be considered.  Professor Frier asked how the task force members articulate with the disabilities office.  Ms. Morales replied that they refer students to the disabilities office.  Ms. Myers added that sometimes the students are referred to Student Mental Health Services, and sometimes they are hospitalized.  She explained that in many cases the students must withdraw from their courses and take smaller steps with smaller course loads.

            Ms. Morales urged vigilance by faculty as first line of ability to detect signs of mental health problems.  Professor Giordani pointed out that a first line of detection might also be dorm monitors and other key personnel in the dorms.  Professor MacAdam asked whether the same types of problems are manifested among graduate students.  Ms. Hays said yes, and the problems may manifest themselves with higher frequency among graduate students.  Professor MacAdam asked if there is an inadequate level of service for students who need intervention.  Ms. Morales replied that she believed there was a need to widen the safety net.  Professor Giordani suggested that the group should look at the type of mental health insurance available to undergraduates.  Ms. Hays replied that she thought the U-M is doing well compared to peer institutions.  But, she said, all institutions are suffering, with long wait times for some appointments. She noted that the U-M provides free services at CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services).

            Following discussion of examples of how students get assistance in mental health services and classroom support in the different units and schools, Professor Giordani pointed out that the burden seems to be distributed across the schools, which could lead to some schools not providing needed support that other schools or units are able to do, depending on available local resources.  He said this might be particularly true when students with emotional or other difficulties or disabilities needed assistance with class work, organization or study skills, or other support services.  He noted that unlike the other Big Ten schools and many other Universities, the University of Michigan no longer supported a learning resource center open to all students.  He pointed out the strength of the Academic Center in Athletics, but noted that their academic counselors are not able to provide services to nonathletes and that the Sweetland Writing Center cannot provide all the types of assistance that are necessary.  The visitors replied that he was correct; students usually must go outside the university to try to find such services.  Professor Giordani also expressed concern about the level of substance abuse on campus and what steps the University takes in response.  The visitors noted that the University is aware of the issues and provides resources.  Mr. Fontenot suggested that the underlying problem is depression, but that substance abuse arises as a form of self medication.   

            Chair Smith asked whether students with psychosis are discovered and treated.  Ms. Hays said that there are several initiatives, but some students do fall through the cracks.  Professor Seabury asked about the wait time at CAPS.  Ms. Hays replied that students identified as being in crisis are seen that same day; however students who simply want to make an appointment may wait several days to two or three weeks.  Professor Potter asked whether the U-M advertises to parents what services will be available to their children.  Ms. Hays replied that her group makes presentations and has a website with information for parents.

            Professor Meerkov inquired about tangible evidence that mental health programs are underfunded, and by what percentage the budget should be increased.  Ms. Morales replied that CAPS is overburdened.  She said she did not know what percent increase is needed.  Ms. Hays added that as of 2 years ago, the wait time for appointments has increased to 3 weeks.

            Professor Riles asked what the group had in mind for training faculty to recognize problems.  Ms. Morales said that they ask just that faculty recognize a possible sign and send the students to someone who can discern the nuances between mental health problems and lack of study skill, for example.  Professor Giordani commented that faculty need more direct guidelines because they are not expert in this area and should have clear information about  how to appropriately make referrals or who they could talk to for assistance when cases arise.  He asked if there was any thought of referring students with available insurance out to the community to reduce the wait time at CAPS.  Ms. Hays replied that there are financial issues involved, and that CAPS tries to be equitable, because CAPS services are free to students and they don’t need to pay a co-pay as they would often have to do for community resources.  Chair Smith suggested that a presentation by the task force to the Senate Assembly in the fall might be informative.

The guests left the meeting at 4:12 P.M.

LIAISON REPORTS

Financial Affairs

Professor MacAdam reported that the committee heard a presentation about a new energy savings initiative.  The initiative aims to increase use of green products, and to reduce energy consumption.  She said that suggestions are welcome.

AAAC

Professor Riles reported that the AAAC met on March 28 with the Provost to discuss the following issues, among others:

·        Preliminary AAAC response to the revised McDonald-Weiss report on flexible tenure

·        Final AAAC response to the Spellings Report, which has been forwarded to SACUA for its and the Senate Assembly's endorsement.

·        Notification of instructors when grade changes are made retroactively. The Provost agreed that such notification should take place and said that current barriers to it are merely technical, not a matter of policy. She mentioned that retroactive withdrawals are not merely an academic concern, but can have unexpected and undesired effects on a student's financial aid.

·        Changes to final exam dates. The AAAC provided a preliminary set of recommendations to ensure fairness when exam dates are changed and to mitigate problems with comprehensive exams given in the last week of classes. The Provost remarked that the Registrar would welcome more faculty input on his

·        advisory committees.

The AAAC will meet at least twice more before summer to discuss some remaining issues.

Grievance Monitor

Professor Giordani reported that, in accordance with an agreement reached with SACUA last year, he attended the first meeting of a new grievance review board as the Faculty Grievance Monitor.  He said that the meeting was limited primarily to discussion of process and schedule in the absence of the grievant and Respondent.

Unit Shared Governance

Professor Meerkov reported that the majority of executive committee members in the College of Engineering oppose a proposal to involve them in merit reviews, but that the other proposals of the Unit Shared Governance Task Force are supported.

OLD/NEW BUSINESS

Professor Meerkov noted that the newest U.S. News & World Report ranking show the U-M College of Engineering falling from #4 in 2004-2005 to #9 today.  He expressed embarrassment that his college had fallen so low, and pointed out that the fact has significant consequences for student recruitment.  He reminded SACUA that many Engineering faculty expressed objections to the provost about the direction that College leadership from the dean’s office was leading the unit, but to no avail.

            Professor Frier suggested that a brief presentation to the Senate Assembly regarding the preferred name change for the university would be a good idea.

The meeting adjourned at 4:30 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

John Lehman

Senate Secretary

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University of Michigan Bylaws of the Board of Regents, Sec. 5.02: 

Governing Bodies in Schools and Colleges