The Faculty Senate at the University of Virginia

April 28, 2006 - 3:00-5:00 pm

Houston Wood, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order.

Houston Wood gave the welcoming remarks, and he recognized newly elected Senators.

President's Report - John T. Casteen III

Capital Campaign: President Casteen reported on the $3 billion Capital Campaign and meetings he has had with alumni. Mr. Casteen reported that fund raising is ahead of schedule.

Legislative Update: President Casteen also reported on the legislative session and the fact that no budget has been passed to date. He stressed the difficulty the University will have if the legislators fail to pass a budget, including meeting employee's salaries.

Living Wage Issues: In closing, President Casteen gave the Senate an overview of the issues surrounding the living wage protest by students/faculty. President Casteen reported on the sequence of events leading up to the protest, and he said this information is also available on the web. The President distributed handouts regarding the living wage issues. Those handouts included a letter from the Attorney General's Office, living wage information salary statistics of those making exactly $9.37 an hour, and an information sheet on the effect on pay bands of a $10.72 hourly pay rate.

The President took questions from the audience.

Committee Reports

1. Academic Affairs Committee, Reginald Garrett, Chair Mr. Garrett gave the Senators a report on the work of the Academic Affairs Committee. The Committee reviewed and approved two new degree proposals - A Five-Year Degree Program in Public Policy and a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree. In addition, the Academic Affairs Committee reviewed a request by the McIntire School of Commerce to add a section in Singapore to their MS-MIT Program.

• Five-Year Degree Program in Public Policy, approved April 28, 2006
• Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree, approved April 28, 2006

At the Provost's request the Committee also revisited the current five-year Master's in Public Health Program.

Other Committee work included oversight for this year's Dissertation-Year Fellowship proposals. The Dissertation-Year Fellowships Committee was chaired by Elizabeth Meyer, Associate Professor of History. Four Fellowships in the amount of $25,000 were awarded. Funding for those Fellowships came from the Provost (2 Fellowships), Arts and Sciences (1 Fellowship), and the Athletics Department (1 Fellowship).

In closing, Mr. Garrett recognized the members of the Academic Affairs Committee and thanked them for their work.

2. Faculty Grievance Committee, Mildred Robinson, Chair

Mildred Robinson reported on the work of the Grievance Committee, which included reviewing two faculty grievances. In addition, the Faculty Grievance Committee recommended that the policy and procedures of the Committee be amended. Ms. Robinson read the parts of the Policy and Procedures document where suggestions for changes were recommended. It was noted that the Faculty Senate Constitution and By Laws require a 14-day Senate review before policy or procedure changes can be voted on. It was decided that the Faculty Senate will address the motion for a policy and procedure change at the next full Senate meeting. In closing, Ms. Robinson recognized and thanked the members of the Faculty Grievance Committee.

3. Planning and Development Committee, Marcia Day Childress, Chair

Marcia Childress reported that the work of the Faculty Senate Planning and Development Committee is well underway. Ms. Childress reported on the Committee charge and proposed revisions to the charge, to better reflect the Committee's mission.. Some of the activities that the Committee has been engaged in include faculty dinner/discussions and case statement review. Ms. Childress presented the Senators with a Vision Statement for the University. Ms. Childress took questions from the audience. Ms. Childress agreed to make minor changes to the document, based on Senators' recommendations. After a discussion and comments from Houston Wood in support of the document, it was decided that the Senate would take a vote on recommending the Vision Statement as a working document. A motion was made to endorse the "spirit" of the document, subject to further review and revisions. The motion was seconded, and it passed with one "no" vote. In closing, Ms. Childress recognized and thanked the members of the Planning and Development Committee.

4. Research and Scholarship Committee, Susan Kirk, Chair

Susan Kirk reported on the David Harrison Awards for Undergraduate Excellence. There were a total of 182 applications this year, with, 45 awards given. The timing for announcing the Harrison Awards and the deadline for receipt of proposals was moved forward to the end of the fall semester. This change helps to ensure adequate time on the part of the recipients to plan their research. Also, there is a new scoring system for the applications, Dr. Kirk said. Additionally, some of the Committee members attended a dinner honoring the 2005 Fellowship recipients. In other Committee business, Dr. Kirk said the group remains available for discussions with David Hudson, in the Office of the Vice President of Research, regarding research-related issues. Dr. Kirk recognized and thanked the members of the Research and Scholarship Committee.

5. ROTC Affairs Committee, William Kehoe, Chair

William Kehoe gave an overview of the Committee's work and there accomplishments over the past year. Fifty-six recruits will receive their commission this year. Mr. Kehoe read the Committee's charge, and he said that ROTC at the University is very strong. Mr. Kehoe noted that the ROTC Affairs Committee's report will not be posted on the web because of security concerns, but a copy of the report may be obtained by contacting Frances Peyton, in the Faculty Senate Office. In closing, Mr. Kehoe read the names of his Committee members and thanked them for their work.

6. Mt. Graham Telescope Project Committee, Janet Herman, Chair

Janet Herman reported on the activities of UVA since joining the Arizona Telescope Committee, and the charge of the Telescope Committee. Ms. Herman recognized the members of the Committee.

Kenneth Schwartz, Chair-Elect of the Faculty Senate, proposed an amendment to the Faculty Senate Constitution and By Laws. This change would add the Chair of the Planning and Development Committee to be an ex officio member of the Executive Council. A motion was made to amend the Constitution and By Laws to include the Chair of the Planning and Development Committee as an ex officio member of the Executive Council, the motion was seconded, and it passed unanimously. April 28, 2006

Teresa Culver, Secretary of the Faculty Senate, presented a policy statement, and it was slightly revised based on recommendations and discussion among the Senators. The statement reads "The Faculty Senate recommends public notification and a 30-day comment period for all changes in University policy." A motion was made for the Senate to adopt the statement, it was seconded, and it passed unanimously. Details of notification and the comment period would be worked out with the appropriate administrators (including the University Policy Review Committee, and the President's and Provost's offices). Furthermore, it was indicated that the Senate will be establishing a Policy committee, as recommended by the ad hoc restructuring committee. The Policy committee will be able to facilitate more open policy development.

Faculty Senate Chair's Report, Houston Wood, Chair

Houston Wood reported on the work of the Faculty Senate during his 2005/2006 Senate term. That work includes:

• The drafting (with the help of the Executive Council) of a response on behalf of the Senate, regarding the racial incidents that have taken place.
• Working with the Provost on "Semester at Sea" issues.
• Working with Senators and their willingness to get involved in Senate activities.
• The Faculty Senate retreat, and the initiatives addressed this year in response to issues and concerns raised by Senators at the Retreat.
• A meeting of elected Senators to discuss initiatives that the Senate is involved in.
• The creation of three new Faculty Senate standing committees - Faculty Recruitment, Retention and Welfare Committee, Policy Committee, and Communications Committee. Kenneth Schwartz will appoint chairs of these committees and draft charges. Other interest groups not represented by these new committees are encouraged to continue their work on these important initiatives.
• Meeting with the Rector and members of the BOV to discuss Senate initiatives and to offer Senate support for University initiatives, such as the Capital Campaign. Working to have a member of the faculty as a non-voting member of the Board of Visitors.

Mr. Wood recognized the strong support he has had this year. Those recognized are:

• Marcia Childress, Past Chair of the Senate
• Kenneth Schwartz, Chair-Elect of the Senate
• Teresa Culver, Secretary of the Faculty Senate
• The chairs of the Faculty Senate standing committees - Reginald Garrett, Academic Affairs, Susan Kirk, Research and Scholarship, William Kehoe, ROTC Affairs, Mildred Robinson, Faculty Grievance, Marcia Childress, Planning and Development.
• All Senators for their work this year.
• Frances Peyton, Administrative Assistant to the Faculty Senate
• Houston Wood concluded with a ceremonial passing of the official Faculty Senate gavel to Kenneth Schwartz.

Faculty Senate Nominations for new Senate officers and Executive Council Members (2006/2007), Marcia Day Childress

Ricardo Padron, a professor in the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, was nominated as Chair-Elect of the Faculty Senate. There were no further nominations for Chair-Elected. There was a motion made to approve Mr. Padron as Chair-Elect, it was seconded, and it passed unanimously.

There are two open seats on the Executive Council. The nominations for membership on the Executive Council are:

• Teresa Culver, School of Engineering and Applied Science
• Janet Herman, Arts & Sciences
• M. Beatriz Lopes, MD, School of Medicine
• Lawrence Phillips, MD, School of Medicine

Frances Peyton will distribute ballots electronically, and they can be returned to Ms. Peyton either by email, or through Messenger Mail.

Kenneth Schwartz reported on where he sees the Senate heading next year. The issues Mr. Schwartz will address next year include faculty recruitment and welfare, Senate contributions to the Capital Campaign discussions, the Senate being a better and more effective voice as a faculty as a whole, and encouraging conversation with all Senators via "chat" room capabilities that he is setting up with the help of the Office of Information Technology and Communications.

Mr. Schwartz also acknowledged the current Faculty Senate officers, and called for applause for Houston Wood and his great work on behalf of the Senate this year.

The meeting adjourned at 5:00 pm

Submitted by Teresa Culver, Secretary of the Faculty Senate