February 23, 1999

Present: Edward Ayers, David Gies, Jahan Ramazani, Marva Barnett, Kathryn Neeley, Rebecca Kneedler, Miles Townsend, Michael Williams, Robert Grainger Janet Horne, Patricia Werhane, Richard DeMong, Louis Bloomfield

Ed Ayers, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order at 12:00 noon in Room 389, Newcomb Hall. Lou Bloomfield, Chair of the Committee on Research and Scholarship, reported on the work of his Committee. The Speakers Bureau already has 19 speakers signed up for the program. The website is now being created, and a brochure will be produced. The Speakers Bureau will be acknowledged at the April 6 Faculty Senate meeting, and a handout, listing the speakers and their topics, will be distributed at that meeting.

A director for the Forum on Contemporary Thought needs to be appointed, Mr. Bloomfield reported. The future direction of the Forum and the appointment of a new director were discussed.

Rich DeMong, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, reported on the work of his Committee. The 1999/2000 Call for Proposals for the Teaching Initiative has resulted in 42 proposals from 40 departments, Mr. DeMong said. The Student/Faculty Interaction subcommittee of the Academic Affairs Committee is actively meeting, Mr. DeMong reported. Finally, Mr. DeMong reported on degree program proposals that the Academic Affairs Committee has received.

Ed Ayers reported on the February 20th meeting with the Faculty Senate of Virginia. He said the Faculty Senate of Virginia has impressive leadership. The main topic of the Faculty Senate of Virginia meeting was higher education funding and accountability, which is being addressed by SCHEV and the Blue Ribbon Commission. The Technology and Change discussion on February 17 was well attended, although student attendance was not as strong as originally anticipated, Mr. Ayers said. Mr. Ayers asked how the remaining sessions might be improved. The Council members who attended the February 17 session said it was very well presented. It was suggested that more student input might enhance the sessions and that reminders to Senators should encourage them to invite their students.

The deadline for submitting nominations for the Harrison Awards has been moved to April 5, 1999. Details of these awards are on the web at the following URL: http://www.virginia.edu/facultysenate/harrison99.html. In addition, posters will be printed and distributed to students and departments, and advertisements will be placed in the Cavalier Daily and Inside UVA. The subcommittee that will review the nominations and make recommendations consists of members of the Faculty Senate Executive Council, the Academic Affairs Committee, and the Committee on Research and Scholarship.

Here is the membership list: Janet Horne, Executive Council Kathryn Neeley, Executive Council Pat Werhane, Executive Council Barbara Nolan, Academic Affairs Committee Donald Innes, Academic Affairs Committee William Johnson, Academic Affairs Committee Martha Snell, Committee on Research and Scholarship Susan Perry, Committee on Research and Scholarship Barbara Parker, Committee on Research and Scholarship

Rich DeMong reported on the newly created Alcohol Policy. He also distributed a letter from the President and a copy the Policy, along with a list of the members of the University Advisory Committee on Alcohol and Substance Abuse. There are some points of concern regarding the membership list, and the Policy itself. Ed Ayers agreed to follow-up on issued raised.

Mr. Ayers discussed the agenda for the Faculty Senate meeting on April 6. Some of the agenda items for the meeting are the Music degree proposal, reports from Delegate Paul Harris and Delegate Mitchell Van Yahres, who will both attend the meeting, and election of new Senate officers.

Mr. Ayers had recently asked for volunteers to serve on an advisory committee to the Board of Visitors, which is addressing diversity in admissions. Because of limited space, only two faculty members, along with John Blackburn, Director of UVA Admissions, will serve on this advisory committee. Those faculty members are Thomas Noble, from the History Department, and Lawrence Thomas, from the Mathematics Department.

The meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m.

Submitted by Marva A. Barnett, Secretary of the Faculty Senate