The Executive Council

September 28, 2005 - 12:00-1:30 p.m.

Booker House Conference Room

Meeting Minutes Present: Houston Wood, Teresa Culver, Alison Booth, Erika James, Reginald Garrett, Edmund Kitch, Rebecca Kneedler, Milton Adams

Houston Wood, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order. Mr. Wood gave on overview of the Faculty Senate meeting that was held on September 27.

• Concerns raised by President Casteen regarding poor student attendance in the University's annual retreat. Rebecca Kneedler, a member of the Executive Council that has attended several of these retreats reported on the work and goals for past events. Most Councilors said that many faculty members are not aware of the event. Houston Wood will report to President Casteen regarding the faculty's unfamiliarity of the retreat.
• Mr. Wood thanked the Executive Council members for their work on the Intolerance Statement issued on behalf of the Senate. He reported that all University students will receive a card with emergency information. President Casteen also expressed concern that he feels alcohol abuse is up, and may be related to recent racial incidents.
• President Casteen cited statistics for this year's students who will benefit from Access UVA.
• President Casteen also cited the University's goals for faculty compensation in relation to the AAU group. The Board of Visitors aims to get University faculty in the 75th percentile over the next few years.
• The McIntire School will offer a web-based MA in Management Information Technology, in conjunction with the U-21 Consortium.
• The University's restructuring document will be available online very soon.
• Houston Wood spoke about the Capital Campaign. He would like for the faculty to have input in terms of the academic mission of the University. He reported that the deans have submitted case statements. President Casteen has asked for the Senate's input as well. President Casteen cited statistics on the Campaign's fundraising successes.
• Gene Block, Vice President and Provost, reported on the racial intolerance issues. He commented that the incidents are known widely at other institutions, and work needs to be done to improve negative impressions created by these incidents.
• Gertrude Fraser, Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement, reported on a new, President-mandated diversity web-training for faculty search committees at the University.
• Houston Wood reported that the Faculty Senate voted to approve the Executive Council's statement against intolerance. It passed by majority vote, with one person voting not to approve the document.
• Mr. Wood also reported on planning for the Faculty Senate retreat, which will be held in January, at a date yet to be determined. He asked the Senators for suggestions for discussion topics at the retreat.
• Mr. Wood has approached President Casteen regarding University support for children of faculty and staff. Mr. Casteen is looking into the issue, Mr. Wood reported.

To view meeting minutes in it entirety click here: fssept2705.html

Discussion Regarding Topics to Address at the Faculty Senate Retreat

Mr. Wood said that he would like suggestions on how the Faculty Senate can identify and approach initiatives that should be in the Capital Campaign.

Edmund Kitch, an Executive Council member from the School of Law, said exploring ways that the University can enhance recruiting and retention would be beneficial, i.e. housing assistance, and improving offerings for new hires, such as tuition waivers, benefits, and diversity.

It was decided that the Retreat will focus on the following topics:

• Hiring " Retention
• Diversity
• Update on Graduate Support at the University (Roseanne Ford, Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies.)

In an effort to make Senate meetings more interesting, the Councilors brainstormed how to invigorate Faculty Senate meetings. Rebecca Kneedler, an Executive Council member from the Curry School of Education, suggested that Senators should be emailed, asking for better attendance and participation.

The meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m.

Submitted by Teresa Culver, Secretary of the Faculty Senate