The Executive Council of the Faculty Senate

October 30, 2006 - 8:00-9:00 a.m.

Newcomb Hall Board Room

Present: Kenneth Schwartz, Milton Adams, Harold Burbach, Alison Booth, Marcia Childress, Edmund Kitch, Teresa Culver, Lawrence Phillips, Janet Herman, Gweneth West, Reginald Garrett, Amy Bouton

Kenneth Schwartz, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order.

DISCUSSION TOPICS:

A. Parking Concerns - With the new construction going on around Grounds, and the loss of some of the University's current parking space, Kenneth Schwartz said he has heard from several faculty members regarding parking concerns, especially in the B-1 Lot on JPA near New Cabell Hall. Leonard Sandridge, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, David Neuman, University Architect, and Wynne Stuart, Associate Provost for Academic support & Classroom Management, were suggested as good sources of information. Mr. Schwartz will write to them and ask for an update on how parking issues at the University are evolving. Mr. Schwartz will invite one or more of them to an upcoming Executive Council meeting. It was noted that parking issues not only impact the faculty, but classified staff as well. Mr. Schwartz asked for a volunteer to assist him in drafting a letter. Gweneth West volunteered to help.

B. University Retreat & the Provost's Quality Enhancement Proposal - Kenneth Schwartz and Milton Adams, Vice Provost for Academic Programs, provided an update on the Quality Enhancement Proposal. Mr. Adams reported that a focus group discussion led by Patricia Lampkin, Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer, will be the first step, and President Casteen envisions an all University Retreat in late January, Mr. Adams said. Mr. Schwartz assured Mr. Casteen and the Cabinet that the Senate is eager to be involved in the retreat. We will know more in the coming weeks about the scheduling and composition of the all University Retreat.

C. Interdisciplinary Work - Kenneth Schwartz said Ricardo Padron, Chair-Elect of the Faculty Senate, will continue the discussion on interdisciplinary work at the next Executive Council meeting. Note that the previously scheduled Executive Council meeting of November 15 has been cancelled. Mr. Padron will report on December 18 instead.

D. AAUP Resolution on Amendment #1 - Mr. Schwartz distributed a copy of the AAUP's resolution regarding ballot Question #1 and asked the members of the Executive Council how they felt the document should be addressed. It was decided that Mr. Schwartz will send the document to the full Senate and ask that they distribute it to their constituents. The message accompanying the Resolution will read "We would like to call your attention to the following Resolution, with no specific commentary or recommendations attached."

E. Draft Agenda for November 29th Senate Meeting -- The members of the Executive Council reviewed the draft agenda for the full Senate meeting, to be held on November 29, 2006. Two additional items will be added to the agenda - 1) a discussion about the recently amended Code of Virginia pertaining to textbook sales and bookstores, and the recommendations made by the Academic Affairs Committee in response to the amended Code, and 2) an update on the University's Calendar Committee's work. Kenneth Schwartz will ask Gene Block to address the calendar during his comments, and he may also add on to Reginald Garrett's presentation on the textbook recommendations coming out of his committee.

Reginald Garrett, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, drafted the recommendations in response to the Code of Virginia and the amended and reenacted "Policies addressing textbook sales and bookstores," at the request of the Provost. Mr. Garrett asked Ed Kitch, an Executive Council member from the School of Law, if he would review and offer input on the draft. Mr. Kitch agreed to do so. The document will be presented to the Senators at the November 29th Senate meeting. Gweneth West, a member of the Executive Council and a professor of Drama, suggested the document be posted on the MyUVa web page before the November 29th meeting, and invite conversation regarding the textbook issue. Mr. Schwartz will ask the Provost to update the Senate on the issue at the November meeting. He will also ask Lucy Russell, Executive Assistant to the Vice President and Provost, for a one-page report on what prompted the creation of the legislation.

Kenneth Schwartz will bring this to the attention of all Senators when the Faculty Senate Meeting Agenda is distributed, encouraging Senators to use the MyUVA site for electronic bulletin board discussion about any concerns they may have.

Milton Adams reported that the University's Academic Plan has been rewritten, and it will be sent to the deans in the near future. Mr. Schwartz asked Mr. Adams to check with Mr. Block about the distribution of this draft to the full Executive Council and Senate Planning and Development Committee as we have discussed over the past several months.

In closing, Mr. Schwartz reported that the Executive Council meeting previously scheduled for November 15th will not be needed. Mr. Schwartz proposed having the final Executive Council meeting for the fall on December 18, at 3:30-5:00 pm in the afternoon.

There will not be a retreat in January. Instead, that Faculty Senate meeting will be a traditional 3:00-5:00 pm session. The date for this meeting should be established very soon by the President's Office.

Upcoming Senate Meetings:

January -- Faculty Senate meeting (date TBA - after spring break)

March - Working meeting with Senators (date TBA)

April - Faculty Senate meeting (date TBA)

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.

Submitted by Harold J. Burbach, Secretary of the Faculty Senate