October 17, 2003 - 3:00-4:30 p.m.

Present: Richard Warner, Pamela Kulbok, Cedric Williams, Robert J. Davis, David Cafiso, David Maloney, Stephen Macko, Stephen Gladis, Nancy McDaniel, Louis Bloomfield, Marian Moore, Robert E. Davis

Guests: Dr. Dennis Templeton, Walter Reed Professor & Chair, Department of Pathology

Mr. Gary Owens, Associate Dean for Graduate Education

Sean Driscoll, Honor Advisor for the College of Arts & Sciences

Jim Wininger, Honor Advisor for the Darden School of Graduate Education

Richard Warner, Co-Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, called the meeting to order. Mr. Warner introduced Dr. Dennis Templeton.

Proposal for a New Degree Program -- Dr. Templeton & Mr. Owens

Dr. Templeton attended the meeting to introduce a proposal for a new degree program in the School of Medicine. Also attending the meeting to answer any questions or concerns the Committee might have was Mr. Gary Owens. The title of the proposed program is "Experimental Pathology," alternatively, "Molecular and Cellular Basis of Disease." The degree titles are "Master of Science in the Experimental Pathology" and "Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Pathology." Dr. Templeton gave a slide presentation to explain the rationale for the program and the program requirements. Dr. Templeton and Mr. Owens took questions. Several Committee members made some suggestions for adding additional information and/or otherwise enhancing the document before presenting the document to SCHEV. Richard Warner asked if there was a motion to approve the proposal. Steve Gladis made a motion to approve, Nancy McDaniel seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. The proposal will go before the Senate at the December 4, 2003, Senate meeting. Mr. Warner thanked Dr. Templeton and Mr. Owens for attending the meeting.

Presentation by Members of the Honor Committee - Mr. Sean Driscoll & Mr. Jim Wininger

Mr. Driscoll, Honor Advisor for the College of Arts and Sciences, and Mr. Wininger, Honor Advisor for the Darden School of Graduate Education, expressed their gratitude that a dialogue has started between faculty and members of the Honor Committee. Mr. Driscoll and Mr. Wininger gave the Committee members an overview of how the Honor Committee works. The Committee has regular meetings with representatives from all schools, and gives information on what the Honor Committee is doing. This information is disseminated to the students and faculty of the various schools. The group discussed how the Honor System works, including legal aspects of the System. These legal aspects include the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and the Federal Education Privacy Act.

The psychological evaluation procedures have changed to require the accused to admit to the offense in order to get a psychological evaluation, effective November 17, 2002. Additional enhancements to the Honor System include changes in the due process procedure, in an effort to balance the time of the initiator and the accused. More rigorous contacts with those accused of Honor offenses, and addressing ways to encourage more student participation in the process, are other initiatives the Honor Committee are addressing. The Single Sanction was also discussed, including the Adversarial Committee and the Non-Integrity Clause. It was noted that faculty members report the majority of Honor offenses. Students seldom report another student for an Honor offense, which seems to contradict the notion of an entirely student-run Honor System. When asked how a referendum to the Honor Code is made, Mr. Driscoll stated that 2/3 of the Honor Committee had to vote for the referendum.

Richard Warner asked how faculty might help the Honor process. Mr. Wininger responded that increased dialogue between the members of the Honor Committee and the faculty is the best source of help. Both Mr. Driscoll and Mr. Wininger encouraged ongoing talks on issues of concern to both students and faculty.

Dissertation-Year Fellowships - Steve Macko

A subcommittee has been formed to review and make the selection of Dissertation-Year Fellowship Award recipients. Steve Macko will chair the subcommittee. Mr. Macko distributed a copy of last year's Dissertation-Year Fellowships announcement. There are currently funds available for five Fellowships. Robert Davis, Chair of the Faculty Senate, is looking for additional funding for the program. The Dissertation-Year Subcommittee will have their first meeting sometime in the near future. Robert J. Davis recommended that the subcommittee review the composition of the committee membership to insure a balanced representation of the University's graduate programs that will be competing for these awards.

The meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m.