April 23, 2002

Robert Grainger, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order.

Mr. Grainger welcomed the new Senators, whose terms begin on June 1, 2002, and thanked the outgoing Senators for their past service to the Faculty Senate.

Mr. Grainger gave an overview of this year's Senate activities. He mentioned the Science and Society Lecture Series, which was jointly sponsored by the Faculty Senate and the Institute for Practical Ethics. The Senate has also administered the Faculty Senate Harrison Undergraduate Research Awards, which promotes undergraduate research, and they have addressed issues facing graduate students.

John T. Casteen, III, President

Mr. Casteen announced that he would give his State of the University address on Thursday, April 24, 2002. Mr. Casteen touched on the State's current budget situation, and how budget reductions would affect the University. The South Lawn Project will go forward, Mr. Casteen said. Mr. Casteen also spoke about the approval by the State for one-time bonus payments or additional leave time available to all classified staff. The leave time is not available to faculty members, Mr. Casteen said. The University's priority remains with retaining their faculty members.

Mr. Casteen announced the creation of a new office in Arts and Sciences, the Office of Undergraduate Research. Nicole Hurd will be the director of the office. Edward Ayers, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Graduate School, Gene Block, Vice President and Provost, and Robert Grainger, Chair of the Faculty Senate, worked together to establish the office. The office will serve as an information clearinghouse on all undergraduate research projects.

In closing, President Casteen mentioned the names and affiliations of the recently appointed members of the Board of Visitors.

Mr. Grainger thanked Mr. Casteen, Colette Sheehy and Gene Block for their support of Faculty Senate issues.

Committee Reports:

Robert E. Davis, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee

Mr. Davis thanked the Committee members for their work on behalf of the Faculty Senate. Robert O'Connell, Chair of the Academic Affairs Subcommittee on Graduate Student Funding, reported on the work of the Subcommittee. The Subcommittee's final report on graduate student funding was distributed. Mr. O'Connell gave an overview of the information contained in the report. He asked the Senators to read the Executive Summary and send comments to him. In closing, Mr. O'Connell said healthy graduate programs are essential to the University.

Richard Warner, Chair of the Academic Affairs Subcommittee on the "Feasibility Study for a Graduate and Professional Student Studies Center at the University of Virginia," reported on the Subcommittee's work. The Subcommittee's final report was distributed and discussed. Mr. Warner recognized Joe Grasso for his help with this initiative, and he announced that the Graduate Student Council has been given permanent office space at Garrett Hall.

Robert J. Davis, Chair of the Academic Affairs Subcommittee on the Dissertation-Year Fellowships, reported on the work of that Subcommittee. He announced that 11 Fellowships @$20,000 each have been awarded this year, through funding from the School of Arts and Sciences, the Provost's Office, the School of Engineering, and the Jefferson Scholars Program. There were 60 applications submitted, which were judged on research and teaching criteria. A banquet will be held on May 1, 2002, to honor the recipients of this year's Fellowships.

Mr. Grainger thanked Robert E. Davis and the members of the Academic Affairs Committee for their work on behalf of the Faculty Senate.

Susan E. Perry, Chair of the Research and Scholarship Committee

Mr. Grainger reported that Susan Perry, Chair of the Research and Scholarship Committee, was unable to attend the meeting, and he acknowledged her work behalf of the Senate. Paul Kingston, Research and Scholarship Committee, reported on this year's Faculty Senate Harrison Undergraduate Research Awards program. There were 90 applications, and 41 projects were funded. Mr. Kingston reviewed the selection process, and he said the Committee is working closely with the Development Office on creating a document to be used as a fundraising tool for permanent funding for the program.

The Committee is also working with students to create a standardized online course evaluation system. Reginald Garrett, a Committee member, has been working closely with faculty and students to address issues and concerns and to establish a centralized online course evaluation system. He reported that the Dean's Technology Council has reviewed the proposal. Goals and objectives of the online system and where such a system should reside are being addressed. The online course evaluation system will define a set of approximately five uniform questions that will be incorporated into each schools/departments present online system, and will be manually fed into the online evaluation system. Participation will be voluntary.

Abby Fifer, Student Council President, and Chris Husser, addressed the group about the student online course evaluation system. Mr. Husser said he anticipates that within two-to-five years, the system will be of the highest working model. Mr. Husser gave an overview of the process and why a student online course evaluation system is needed.

John Lyons, Chair of the Faculty Grievance Committee

Mr. Lyons reported that there has been one complaint filed this year. More detailed information is not available because of confidentiality.

William Kehoe, Chair of the ROTC Affairs Committee

Mr. Kehoe distributed a report on the Committee's work. Mr. Kehoe cited some of the significant accomplishments of the unit, which are also contained in the report.

Other Reports:

The revised document, "Procedure for Disciplinary Suspension or Termination of Academic Faculty" was distributed. It was emphasized that this is not a Faculty Senate policy, but rather a University procedure that the Senate helped write. Michael Smith, Chair-Elect of the Senate, read a formal statement.

"Recognizing a gap in current University procedures, the Faculty Senate endorses the Procedure for Disciplinary Suspension or Termination of Academic faculty dated April 2002. We commend the University Administration for taking this important step."

Mr. Smith asked the Senate to endorse the statement. A motion was made to endorse the statement, it was seconded, and it passed unanimously.

Mr. Clawson, former Chair of the Faculty Grievance Committee, recognized the current chair of the Grievance Committee, John Lyons. Mr. Clawson reported on revisions made to the Faculty Grievance Policies and Procedures document. The changes were made to streamline the procedures, Mr. Clawson said. He gave an overview of the changes and the rational for the changes. He said the changes produced a simpler, clearer document, with a direct path to the grievance process. A motion was made to accept the changes to the Faculty Grievance Policies and Procedures document, the motion was seconded, and it passed unanimously.

Nicole Hurd, Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research, spoke to the Senate about the newly established office, which is housed in Garrett Hall. She gave an overview of the planned activities for the new office. She said she envisions the office as being a clearinghouse for faculty members that need students to work on research. She is presently advising students and working on development issues. Ms. Hurd distributed the first edition of the office's undergraduate research journal, known as Oculus.

Julian Connolly reported on the progress of the Key Word Search for the online Course Offering Directory. The Key Word Search is now operable, and he gave a brief overview on how to use the system.

Nominations for New Officers and Members of the Executive Council:

Mr. Grainger called for nominations for Chair-Elect of the Faculty Senate.

Robert E. Davis, Environmental Sciences, was nominated. Mr. Davis's nomination went uncontested.

Nominations for Secretary of the Faculty Senate were taken. Ellen Contini-Morava, Anthropology, was nominated. Ms. Contini-Morava's nomination went uncontested.

Nominations for four members of the Executive Council were taken. There were eight nominations. A ballot, listing all nominees, will be sent to all current Senators. The four nominees with the highest number of votes will become members of the Executive Council.

The eight nominees were:

Daniel Hallahan, Education

William Kehoe, Commerce

Pamela Kulbok, Nursing

Anne Monius, Religious Studies

Scott Vandenberg, Medicine

J. H. Verkerke, Law

Richard Warner, Drama

Stephen Wilson, Engineering

Robert Grainger, whose term as Chair of the Faculty Senate ends on June 1, formally turned the Faculty Senate's official gavel over to Michael Smith, incoming Chair.

Michael Smith thanked Mr. Grainger for his work on behalf of the full Senate and the Senate standing committees.

The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Submitted by Kathryn A. Neeley, Secretary of the Faculty Senate