The Academic Affairs Committee

November 1, 2004 - 8:00-9:30 a.m.

Board Room, Newcomb Hall

Meeting Minutes (revised November 4, 2004)

Present: Kenneth Schwartz, Ricardo Padron, Cedric Williams, Daniel Bluestone, Ann Hamric, Harold Burbach, Stephen Gladis, Linda Waggoner-Fountain, Larry Walker, Marian Moore, Frances Peyton

Ken Schwartz called the meeting to order. Mr. Schwartz welcomed everyone, and introductions were made.

Discussion of Charter Initiative

Mr. Schwartz gave an overview of the Charter Initiative. Mr. Schwartz said that Tico Braun, from the History Department, has formed an ad hoc committee to explore the Charter Initiative from the faculty's point of view. Mr. Braun has asked Mr. Schwartz to serve on that committee, and Mr. Schwartz accepted the invitation, and he brought Marcia Childress into the loop. Faculty Senate input should be coordinated with or integrated with this group. Mr. Schwartz asked the Committee for thoughts or concerns regarding the Charter Initiative that they might have.

Daniel Bluestone said someone needs to go through the Charter Initiative thoroughly to explore what it means for the faculty and the staff.

Ann Hamric commented that a study of the actual Charter Initiative document and better understanding of the "substance" of the Initiative is needed. She said the Faculty Senate could propose some central expectations regarding the faculty that should be incorporated into the Charter Initiative. Ms. Hamric stated that this work should probably be done at the Executive Council level.

Steve Gladis commented that there is a sense of distrust for the Charter Initiative among the staff and general faculty. He said a "devil's advocate" is needed to study the Initiative, and he said leadership from the faculty is important. He suggested that a subcommittee be appointed to report on the downsides of the Initiative. Ken Schwartz will discuss these concerns with Marcia Childress and the Executive Council.

Faculty Honor Perspectives

Ken Schwartz reported on the work being done by the Academic Affairs Subcommittee on Faculty Honor Perspectives. Mr. Schwartz distributed the revised charge of the Subcommittee:

The Subcommittee of Faculty Honor Perspectives will assist the Academic Affairs Committee through a collaborative dialogue with interested parties and diverse perspectives involved in Honor at the University of Virginia. The Subcommittee will explore the following issues and goals in response to the Faculty Senate's unanimous vote in support of the "Faculty Perspectives on Honor" report of April, 2004:

• To advance dialogue of philosophical principles underlying the "Community of Trust" at the University of Virginia
• To explore and interpret available date on the Honor System over the past five years. Particular attention should be paid to indicators of success and shortcomings of the current system.
• With the preponderance of cases currently initiated by faculty, special attention should be paid to rates of initiation among some sub groups of students.
• To advance the case for restoration of the Non-Toleration Clause
• To support students in addressing new approaches to sanctions

Mr. Schwartz reported that the Subcommittee's composition includes three members of the Academic Affairs Committee, the Honor Committee chair, a Student Council designee, a student representative, a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee, the vice president for student affairs, a member of the Board of Visitors, and Marcia Childress, Chair of the Faculty Senate, and ex officio member.

Harold Burbach, a member of the Subcommittee, gave the group a report/overview of the first Subcommittee meeting, which was held on October 21, 2004.

Ricardo Padron reported that student members of the Subcommittee expressed concern that they would be put in a position of having to defend themselves/the Honor System.

Marian Moore reported on the work of the Sanctions Reform Committee (a committee of the Honor Committee). This group is primarily students, with a few faculty members, including Ms.Moore as a representative of the Academic Affairs Committee. The Committee has established four subcommittees to address issues:

• Public Debate group
• Website group
• Community Relations group
• Policy Drafting group - with several options under consideration

Daniel Bluestone suggested a set of recommendations should be drafted on how faculty should be connected to the Honor System.

Ken Schwartz has drafted a position paper on the Senate's perspectives on the Honor System. He asked for two or three volunteers to rewrite the draft. Ricardo Padron and Ann Hamric volunteered to review and edit the document.

Mr. Schwartz also recommended that the Academic Affairs Committee/Faculty Senate conduct a new survey of faculty perspectives on honor at the University. The AA Committee agreed that this would be useful. Mr. Schwartz will discuss this further with Tom Guterbock of the Center for Survey Research at the Weldon Cooper Center, Marcia Childress, and the Honor Committee leadership.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m.