January 29, 1999

Present: Richard DeMong, George Mentore, Reuben Rainey, George Cohen, Robert Davis, Patricia Werhane, Doris Glick, William Johnson, John Lyons, Edward Ayers

Guests: Richard A. Lindgren, Professor of Physics Bascom S. Deaver, Jr., Associate Chairman and Professor of Physics Vittorio Celli, Professor of Physics Marita P. McClymonds, Interim Chair and Associate Professor of Music Joan B. Fry, Special Assistant to the President

Richard DeMong, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. The December 3, 1998, minutes were amended to include George Mentore and Doris Glick as members of the Teaching Initiative Awards Subcommittee. The minutes were approved, seconded, and passed unanimously.

Mr. DeMong introduced the guests from Physics, who attended the meeting to request the reinstate of the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Physics, change the balance of requirements to emphasize physics content, and change the name of the degree program to Master of Arts in Physics Education (MAPE), to reflect a new emphasis. Mr. Lindgren distributed a handout, which details the request, and he gave an overview of the program. Mr. Lindgren, Mr. Celli and Mr. Deaver addressed questions/concerns of the Academic Affairs Committee.

Mr. DeMong asked the Committee if there was a motion to approve the Physics program request. The motion was made, seconded, and it passed unanimously. The request will go before the full Senate at the February 8, 1999 meeting.

Mr. DeMong introduced Marita McClymonds, who attended the meeting to request the Committee's approval of a new Ph.D. in Music. Ms. McClymonds gave a brief history of the Music Department and an overview of the proposed Ph.D. in Music. Edward Ayers, Chair of the Faculty Senate, discussed concerns SCHEV could raise, and he suggested that Ms. McClymonds should address those concerns more forcefully.

Mr. DeMong called for a motion to approve the Ph.D. in Music. A motion was made, it was seconded, and it passed unanimously. This action will go before the Senate at the February 8th meeting.

Mr. DeMong introduced Joan Fry, who attended the meeting to request Faculty Senate involvement in the selection of the 1998 Harrison Award recipients. Ms. Fry distributed a handout, which gave a brief history/overview of the Harrison Award. Ms. Fry said it was envisioned that this year the awards would be larger, with fewer recipients. Some criteria for receiving an award are a) faculty who go out of the way to promote intellectual community, b) junior faculty - promising scholars or just recently tenured faculty who work primarily with undergraduates. Faculty in the School of Law and the Darden School are excluded from receiving a Harrison Award. It was decided that a subcommittee of the Faculty Senate's Executive Council, Academic Affairs Committee, and Research and Scholarship Committee will be appointed to oversee this year's Harrison Awards. Mr. DeMong asked for three volunteers from the Academic Affairs Committee to serve on this committee. Patricia Werhane, Donald Innes and William Johnson will serve on the committee, and Joan Fry agreed to be an ex officio member. The committee, once it is formed, will establish criteria, screen applicants, and make recommendations for awards to the President. Mr. DeMong asked Ms. Fry if she could give the committee additional background on the award and a list of past recipients. Ms. Fry agreed to get additional information to the committee.

Awards this year will be given to undergraduate teaching faculty. The question was asked, "Will the Nursing School be eligible for this award, or is there a separate fund from which Nursing will get this award?" Ms. Fry said she would check on this and report back to the Committee.

Mr. DeMong reported on the name change for the new adult degree program in Continuing Education. It was originally proposed that this program should be called a "Bachelor of Liberal Studies," but the name has been changed to a "Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies." The due date for receiving application for a Faculty Senate Teaching Initiative grant has been changed from February 1, 1999 to February 12, 1999, Mr. DeMong reported.

Meeting times for the next two Academic Affairs Committee meetings were set. The Committee will meet at 5:00 p.m., on Monday, March 1, 1999. The meeting place will be announced at a later date. The Committee will also meet on Monday, April 12, at 5:00 p.m., with the place to be announced at a later date.

The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.