The Faculty Senate Executive Council

January 24, 2008 – 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Newcomb Hall Board Room

Meeting Minutes

Present:  Ricardo Padron, Kenneth Schwartz, Daniel Willingham, Elizabeth Powell, Teresa Culver, Lawrence Phillips, Janet Herman, Gweneth West, Ann Hamric, Arthur Garson

Ricardo Padron, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order.  Mr. Padron offered welcoming remarks.

Ricardo Padron gave the Councilors an overview of the Museum issue.  He said Ed Kitch, Chair-Elect of the Faculty Senate, and Dan Willingham, a member of the Executive Council, will interview the various participants in the issue.  The Faculty Executive Council decided that the most appropriate action to take is to address policy and planning issues after the personnel issues are concluded.

Arthur Garson, Executive Vice President and Provost, has asked the Faculty Senate to look at General Faculty policies regarding faculty self-governance and make recommendations.  A committee is being appointed, with collaboration between the Office of the Provost and the Office of Human Resources. The Councilors discussed whether the Faculty Senate should go forward with heading up this group.  The Executive Council decided to move forward with this initiative.

Other issues that Ricardo Padron addressed were:

• Organizing a group to look at residential colleges, as requested by President John Casteen.
• Organizing a task force on the Environment with the Provost and others.
• Looking into the matter of the University Art Museum.
• Alfred Weaver, a member of the Faculty Senate who is heading a committee looking at the Promotion and Tenure process, sent the committee’s report to the Provost.
• Malcolm Bell and Bill Keene, members of the Faculty Senate, are writing a sustainability resolution to be presented at the March 11, 2008, Faculty Senate meeting.

Committee Reports:

Academic Affairs Committee, chaired by Ann Hamric

The Academic Affairs Committee has met twice.  Once to look at the Faculty Handbook, and the other to discuss information needed to evaluate proposals for new schools at the University.  It was agreed that the purpose of the handbook is to provide an overview of the University to new faculty, and to give information about how to access the various University resources.  The Committee concluded that the Handbook did not need to contain University policies, as these are continually updated and available on the web.  The Committee reviewed and revised a number of sections of the handbook and agreed that a biennial review is probably sufficient.

As part of the handbook review, the Committee realized that the Senate’s Policy Committee is a key committee for faculty input.  The Academic Affairs Committee recommended that the Policy Committee add more members and publicize the process that all Senators should use to ensure adequate faculty review of policies affecting faculty.

At the Committee’s second meeting they worked on developing a template focused on information needed when reviewing new school proposals. The Committee is charged with reviewing a number of materials, and will meet in mid-February to finalize its recommendations.

Planning and Development Committee, chaired by Elizabeth Powell

Elizabeth Powell reported on the Committee’s work.  The group is developing strategies for the future of the University.  The Committee is currently working on fundraising initiatives.  The Commission and Strategies document continues to improve, Ms. Powell said. 

When determining the University’s priorities, core values should guide the discussions, actions, and funding of the University’s community of teachers and learners.  These core values are:

• Honor and ethics
• Faculty excellence
• Innovation and collaboration in the pursuit of knowledge
• Diversity
• Leadership and public service

The three priorities recommended by the Commission are:

• The Student Experience
• Science and Technology
• Global Education

In conclusion, Ms. Powell reported that Kevin Lee, a member of the Planning and Development Committee, is organizing a conversation on the sciences.

Faculty Recruitment, Retention, and Welfare Committee, chaired by Jennifer Harvey

Ricardo Padron reported on the work of this committee in Dr. Harvey’s absence.  Mr. Padron said he would like the Senate to devote time at one of the upcoming Senate meetings to have an extensive discussion on the Faculty Survey.  He asked the members of the Executive Council to consider this possibility. 

The Dissertation-Year Fellowships Subcommittee, chaired by Steve Macko

Ricardo Padron and Steve Macko will meet with representatives from the Alumni Association to discuss the possibility of the Alumni Association funding one or two of the Faculty Senate Dissertation-Year Fellowships, Mr. Padron said.

Ricardo Padron and the members of the Executive Council discussed the agenda for the upcoming Faculty Senate meeting on January 30, 2008.  The agenda will include:

• A report by Craig Littlepage, Director of Athletics
• The Chair of the Faculty Senate will report – (Ricardo Padron)
• The President of the University of Virginia will report – (John Casteen)
• The Executive Vice President and Provost will report – (Arthur Garson)
• The Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness will report (Majorie Sidebotton)
• Committee chairs will write brief reports on the work of their committees. The reports will be available at the Faculty Senate meeting.
• There will be an acknowledgement of Professor Steven Nock’s passing.

The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Submitted by Pamela Norris, Secretary of the Faculty Senate