The Academic Affairs Committee

September 29, 2004 - 8:00-9:00 a.m.

Madison Hall, Lower Level Conference Room

Meeting Minutes

Present: Kenneth Schwartz, Ricardo Padron, Cedric Williams, Daniel Bluestone, Ann Hamric, Harold Burbach, Linda Waggoner-Fountain, Marian Moore, Marcia Childress, Frances Peyton

Guests: J. Miltton Adams, Vice Provost for Academic Programs

E. Clorisa Phillips, Associate Provost for Institutional Advancement

Kathryn Thornton, Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs, School of Engineering and Applied Science

Ken Schwartz, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, called the meeting to order. Introductions were made. Mr. Schwartz referenced the Committee's charge. The Committee's agenda for this year includes continued work on issues pertaining to the University's Honor System, and reviewing degree changes, i.e., new degrees, degree eliminations, and degree name changes.

Milton Adams spoke to the group regarding faculty issues for the Academic Affairs Committee's consideration for the coming year. Mr. Adams would like to have Senate representation in the academic program review process. This is a five-year round of program reviews. The review process is owned by the deans, Mr. Adams said. Senate input is also needed when the Provost reviews the promotion and tenure process. Other issues that should include the Committee's involvement is a review of the 2020 Initiatives, and the upcoming SACS accreditation review, which is State mandated and occurs every two years.

Ken Schwartz gave a brief summary of the three program closures that the Committee needed to vote on. In all cases, the program closures have gone through the individual schools' approval process. The three programs are:

a. M.A.M in Applied Mechanics, School of Engineering and Applied Science

b. M.S. in Applied Mechanics, School of Engineering and Applied Science

c. M.S. in Surgery, School of Medicine

Kathryn Thornton attended the meeting to answer any questions the Committee might have in regard to the two Engineering degrees. There was a brief discussion. A motion was made to approve the degree terminations in M.A.M. in Applied Mechanics and the M.S. in Applied Mechanics, the motion was seconded, and it passed unanimously.

There was a brief discussion regarding the closing of the M.S. in Surgery degree. There was a motion to approve the degree termination, it was seconded, and it passed unanimously.

Honor

Mr. Schwartz distributed the position statement supporting the student-run Honor System at the University of Virginia, which was approved by the full Senate last year. The document is titled "Faculty Senate Perspectives on Honor." Mr. Schwartz gave an overview of the document, and of the Committee's process used to come to the conclusions that are expressed in the document. The Academic Affairs Committee will continue the Honor initiative this year by organizing a collaborative dialogue through the creation of a subcommittee. The subcommittee will consist of two Academic Affairs Committee members, an Honor Committee designee, a Student Council designee, a representative from the Faculty Advisory Committee, a member of the administration, a member of the Board of Visitors, and a representative of the Alumni Association. Marcia Childress, Chair of the Faculty Senate, will serve as an ex officio member. Mr. Schwartz asked for two volunteers from the Academic Affairs Committee to serve on this subcommittee.

Marian Moore, a Professor from the Darden School, and a member of the Academic Affairs Committee, said she is presently serving on a subcommittee of the Honor Committee (Sanctions Reform Committee) charged with reviewing the Honor System's sanction system, i.e., non toleration clause and the single sanction. She will keep the Academic Affairs Committee informed of the work of that committee.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.