March 24, 2-3 - 4:00-5:30 p.m.-- Newcomb Hall, Board Room

Present: Michael Smith, Robert Davis, Robert Grainger, Ellen Contini-Morava, Pamela Kulbok, Daniel Hallahan, Stephen Wilson, Julian Connolly, David Brautigan, Robert O'Connell, Marcia Childress, Gene Block

Guest: Louis A. Bloomfield, Professor of Physics

Michael Smith, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order.

Louis Bloomfield spoke to the Councilors regarding his views of the Honor System. Some of his thoughts/comments were:

Regarding the environment of trust - This should be a contractual arrangement between the faculty and students. Contractual relationship lacking by the students.

· There are few incentives for faculty to participate in the Honor System. Some of the disincentives are time commitment, time and effort not acknowledged, and the possibility of legal problems.

· There is a lack of a support structure for faculty going through the Honor System.

· The Single Sanction needs to go - the burden of proof is too great.

· Cheating issues depend entirely on the faculty instituting an honor offense.

· Many of the Honor Advisors are inexperienced, which makes it difficult for the faculty to work with them.

· Scarce resources for a faculty member wishing to institute a case.

· There is a disconnect between faculty and the Honor System. The members of the Executive Council agreed that an ad hoc committee should be appointed to address the many issues and concerns raised. This will be put on the agenda for next year's Faculty Senate to address. The Committee thanked Mr. Bloomfield for attending the meeting, and for his thoughtful comments.

Gene Block, Vice President and Provost, spoke to the group regarding diversity at the University.

Some comments and suggestions were:

· Students have suggested that the University establish a diversity requirement.

· The faculty and staff should get involved in a "common reading experience," involving diversity, and the group should get together for a discussion of the reading.

· The University should have a summit on diversity.

· There will be a more vigorous approach to women and minority recruitment and retention.

· Faculty should get more involved in the process of keeping minority colleagues.

· There should be more "lines for hires" of women and minority faculty, and the departments and schools should make more use of these "lines." At the upcoming Faculty Senate meeting on April 7, the Executive Council will introduce a resolution reaffirming the University's policy on non-discrimination. Michael Smith will draft the resolution and circulate it to the members of the Executive Council in advance of the April 7th meeting.

Marcia Childress, Chair of the Research and Scholarship Committee, gave the Councilors an update on the Harrison Awards for 2003-04. The Arts and Sciences Office of Undergraduate Research is sponsoring an undergraduate research symposium on April 11, 2003. Some of last year's Harrison Award recipients will showcase their work.

The Executive Council briefly discussed the agenda for the April 7th Faculty Senate meeting. They also discussed the upcoming elections for Senate officers and new members of the Executive Council.

The meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

Submitted by Ellen Contini-Morava, Secretary of the Faculty Senate