September 12, 2003 - 1:30-3:00 p.m. Newcomb Hall, Room 187

Meeting Minutes

Present: Robert E. Davis, Marcia Childress, Daniel Hallahan, Rebecca Kneedler, Claire Cronmiller, William Kehoe, Richard Warner, Robert O'Connell

Robert E. Davis, Chair of the Faculty Senate

Robert E. Davis called the meeting to order. Introductions were made. Mr. Davis commented and expressed pleasure with the wide range of schools represented on this year's Executive Council. Mr. Davis encouraged the Council members to provide comments and advice to him this year.

Richard P. Warner, Co-Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee

Mr. Warner reported on the Committee charge, which includes a look at the University's Honor System and overseeing the Dissertation-Year Fellowship program.

A yet to be determined number of Dissertation-Year Fellowships will be awarded by the Faculty Senate this year. The Academic Affairs Committee will collect the portfolios, review, score, and award the fellowships. The selection process will evaluate equally scholarship and teaching when making their fellowship selections.

Regarding funding for the Dissertation-Year Fellowships, Bob Davis said he has commitments from the Curry School of Education and the Office of the Provost. He is also working on getting funding from the Jefferson Scholars Program, and possibly one fellowship funded by Arts and Sciences. It was suggested that Mr. Davis should contact Milton Adams, the newly appointed Associate Provost for Academic Programs, and Ariel Gomez, Vice President for Research and Public Service.

The Academic Affairs Committee will also look at ways to improve faculty participation in the Honor System. It was noted that the Honor Committee has Honor representatives at each school. The Committee will look at some of the Honor Committee recommendations put forth by Louis Bloomfield last year. Mr. Bloomfield is an ex officio member of the Academic Affairs Committee this year.

And finally, Mr. Warner reported that the Committee currently has one new degree program in Medicine to review this fall.

It was noted that Richard Warner, Co-Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee would be on leave this spring. Pamela Kulbok has agreed to serve as Co-Chair for the 2003-04 academic year.

Robert W. O'Connell, Chair of the Research and Scholarship Committee

The two main agenda items for the Research and Scholarship Committee will be the Faculty Senate David Harrison Undergraduate Research Awards, and exploring ways that the faculty might become more involved in University planning.

The administrative part of the Harrison Awards will be handled this year through the Office of Undergraduate Research, directed by Nicole Hurd. The structure for administering the program needs to be re-worked. It was suggested that a subcommittee be created to evaluate the proposals, review procedures, and evaluate the overall program. The Faculty Senate name will continue to be associated with the program.

In thinking about ways that the faculty might become more involved in University planning, the Committee will address issues such as how the Senate can restructure how they operate so that there is more involvement in University policies, planning, and operations. It was suggested that perhaps the Senate should be more involved with the Development Office in setting priorities. The Committee will contact Ariel Gomez to see if he can offer some input regarding how the Senate might become more involved in University planning.

Robert E. Davis - Retreat Planning

John Casteen, President; Gene Block, Vice President and Provost; Robert Sweeney, Vice President for Development; and Louis Bloomfield, Professor of Physics, will be the featured speakers. Faculty Senate planning and the Honor System will be the two main agenda items.

Some of the issues to be discussed are how to set the Senates priorities, how to get faculty more involved, establishing an oversight committee, finding funds for rewarding faculty excellence, and the possibility of allocating private money for faculty salaries. A discussion of the Honor System and the impediments to faculty participation in the System will also be a topic of discussion. Carey Mignerey, Honor Committee Chair, will be invited to the Retreat.

The format for the Retreat was discussed. Each speaker will talk for about 20 minutes, and then there will be a 40-50 minute group discussion, with a moderator.

Robert E. Davis - Nominating Committee Formation

Mr. Davis gave an overview of the current system for nominate Senate officers. He suggested creating a nominating committee for this purpose, and the Council members agreed that this is a good idea. It was decided that the members of the nominating committee should be the Chair-Elect of the Senate (to serve as chair of the nominating committee), the Past Chair of the Senate, and three members appointed by the Chair of the nominating committee, from the Senate at large. Mr. Davis agreed to work on the language for establishing the committee and the charge of the committee. He will forward this to the Executive Council in advance of the full Senate meeting on October 7.

Robert E. Davis - Athletics Reform

Mr. Davis met with Craig Littlepage, Director of Athletics, and Carolyn Callahan, University of Virginia Faculty Representative to the Atlantic Coast Conference, regarding the COIA draft "Framework for Comprehensive Athletics Reform." The Council members decided that they would like to hear more information from Mr. Littlepage and Ms. Callahan before deciding whether the Senate should address the issue. Mr. Littlepage and Ms. Callahan will be invited to the next Executive Council meeting, which will be held on Friday, September 26, from 12:00-1:30 p.m., in Newcomb Hall, Room 481.

In closing, Bob Davis said Lotta Lofgren, Chair of the General Faculty Council, has contacted him to request that the General Faculty Council officers meet with the Executive Council to discuss joint concerns.

The meeting adjourned at 2:55 p.m.

Submitted by Robert J. Davis, Secretary of the Faculty Senate