Faculty Senate “Work Session”
A Discussion on the Commission on the Future of the University
October 3, 2007 – 12:00-3:15
Harrison Institute/Small Special Collections Library – Auditorium

Meeting Minutes

Ricardo Padron, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order.  Mr. Padron welcomed everyone. 

Mr. Padron reported that the Board of Visitors will meet on Thursday, October 4th and Friday, October 5th.  The Board has invited three leaders in higher education to address the University community on October 5th in the Rotunda Dome Room, from 4:30-6:00.  The participants are Hunter Rawlings III, president emeritus of Cornell University, and former president of the University of Iowa; James Moeser, chancellor of UNC-Chapel Hill; and John C. Vaughn, executive vice president of the Association of American Universities.  Mr. Padron invited Faculty Senate members to attend.  

The primary agenda for the work session is to get the Senate’s response to the Commission report and to get their input, criticism, expertise, and vision for the University.  Mr. Padron welcomed Elizabeth Powell, Chair of the Faculty Senate Planning and Development Committee, to the podium.  Ms. Powell gave a special thanks to Ricardo Padron, Senate Chair, Marcia Childress, past chair of the Planning and Development Committee, Arthur Garson, Vice President and Provost, and Justin Thompson, Assistant to the Vice President and Provost.  Ms. Powell led the meeting with a slide presentation – “Response to Commission Draft Reports.”  Here are some of the highlights from that presentation:

• Work of the Planning and Development Committee has been a model of cross-disciplinary, cross-school collaboration.
• Review of Commission Draft Reports, 3 + 5 document, Faculty Senate Vision of U.Va., Graduate Student Funding, Washington Advisory Group (WAG), Pappas Consulting Group, Virginia 2020 (identified themes), Ten-Year Academic Plan (offered needs assessment), Commission (declares priorities and values).
• Themes and Recommendations.
• Motto “In the Public Spirit, for the Public Good.”
• Eight topics as guiding ideas for the P&D Committee: Science and Technology, Internationalization, The Student Experience, Faculty Excellence, Honor and Ethics, Collaboration and Innovation, Diversity, and Leadership.

Planning and Development Committee Discussion Groups:

• Now and in the Future, and 3+ 5.
• Cross-School Themes
• Big Ideas
• Subcommittee on Students
• Subcommittee on Faculty
• Committee on Funding and Other Resources

Overall Themes and Recommendations – Balance core & periphery, collaborate across the University, raise basic standard for infrastructure of all kinds, attend to diversity, improve graduate education, vest faculty as full partners in planning, development & implementation, establish permanent planning function.

Comments on the Process – P&D committee thanks the Provost for opening dialogue between the Commission and our committee.  Under the circumstances, we responded to the urgency of this review.  Our comments should not, however, be misconstrued as broad-based support.  Indeed the faculty will be largely responsible for implementing the grand plans we may lay, so their early involvement and support is essential.  The P&D Committee will look forward to building on the relationship between faculty and the administration.

Thanks to the Planning and Development Committee, the Faculty Senate, and the Commission on the Future of the University.

Mr. Padron thanked the Planning and Development Committee and Elizabeth Powell.  The Faculty Senate is looking forward to continued dialogue with Arthur Garson, Mr. Padron said.

Breakout Groups:

1. Science and Technology
2. Global/International
3. Graduate Students
4. Faculty
5. Infrastructure
6. Interdisciplinary
7. Diversity
8. “Public”

Click here for the full text of the PowerPoint presentation   

Breakout Discussions and Lunch:
Each table was asked to appoint someone to take notes and return them to Elizabeth Powell.  Ms. Powell will type and distribute the notes.

Click here for the full text of the table discussions

The meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m.

Submitted by Pamela Norris, Secretary of the Faculty Senate