The Executive Council

March 4, 2005 - 3:00-4:30 p.m.

Board Room, Newcomb Hall

Present: Marcia Childress, Robert Davis, Deborah Johnson, Arlene Keeling, Rebecca Kneedler, Claire Cronmiller, William Kehoe, Larry Bouchard

Guests:

Milton Adams, Vice Provost for Academic Programs

Gene Block, Vice President and Provost

Patricia Lampkin, Vice President for Student Affairs

Marian Moore, Director, E-MBA Program at the Darden School

Marcia Childress, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order.

Research and Scholarship Committee Report - Larry Bouchard, Chair

Mr. Bouchard reported that 42 students - of 100 applicants -- have been selected to receive Harrison Undergraduate Research Awards for 2005-2006. He said the proposals were well distributed across schools and departments, and the overall quality of proposals was excellent.

The Council discussed the Faculty Senate's continuing involvement in the Harrison Awards, especially in the time-consuming selection process. Mr. Bouchard pointed out that the Research and Scholarship Committee's workload has been increasing, especially with requests from the Provost's office for research-related policy review/revision. However, there are compelling reasons to continue the Senate's association with the Harrison Awards, which were instigated by the Senate. It was suggested that an ad hoc subcommittee of the Research and Scholarship Committee - with subcommittee membership extending beyond the Research and Scholarship Committee - be appointed each year to work with the Center for Undergraduate Excellence in promoting the Harrison Awards, reviewing proposals, and selecting the award winners.

Academic Affairs Committee - Marian Moore and Marcia Childress, for Ken Schwartz, Chair

Ms. Moore, director of the proposed Executive MBA Program at the Darden School, gave the Executive Council an overview of the Executive MBA, and she distributed a handout with supporting information. Because this is simply an expansion of an already approved degree program, the EMBA does not require SCHEV approval. The program has been approved by the Darden School and the Faculty Senate Academic Affairs Committee. Ms. Childress asked for a vote in support of the program. A motion was made and seconded, and the Executive MBA proposal passed unanimously on March 4, 2005. This proposal will be brought forward to the full Senate for a vote on March 22, 2005.

Ms. Childress reported that 71 applications have been submitted for the Senate's six Dissertation-Year Fellowships for 2005-2006 - three funded by the Office of the Provost, one funded by Arts and Sciences, one funded by the Curry School of Education (restricted to a Curry student), and one funded by the Athletics Department. The Dissertation-Year Fellowships Committee is in the early stages of reviewing the proposals. There will be a banquet on April 12, 2005 to honor the fellowship recipients.

Recommendations of the Diversity and Equity Commission - Milton Adams and Patricia Lampkin

Ms. Lampkin and Mr. Adams discussed recommendations of the Diversity and Equity Commission that directly involve faculty. Ms. Lampkin spoke of the recommendation that Sustained Dialogue sessions be developed for all first-year students. Because Sustained Dialogue is actually a trademarked program, UVA will instead be developing a program of its own, with the goal being enhanced student awareness of diversity and equity issues and opportunities to apply what they have learned in their own residential life. Ms. Lampkin is seeking faculty involvement both in developing a curriculum and in implementing the course. She intends to appoint a faculty steering committee before the end of this semester and to have a pilot program in place for fall 2005.

Mr. Adams spoke about the commission recommendation that faculty be given time and funds to design or revise courses dealing with diversity and equity issues. He will develop a request for proposals to announce these opportunities to all faculty and may develop a faculty advisory committee to help evaluate proposals. There was some discussion of how best to recruit and reward faculty to participate in these initiatives, with some disagreement over whether faculty should have to be paid to make these sorts of changes in their courses. There was also discussion about how to build the first-year residential course based on what other groups and institutions have done along these same lines. Ms. Childress said the Senate can recommend persons to serve on advisory committees for both these initiatives.

General Faculty Council Resolutions - Gene Block

Preliminary discussion of the General Faculty Resolutions sent earlier in the year by Bill Keene (on behalf of the General Faculty Council) made clear Executive Council members' need for background information about the university's general faculty and about existing and proposed policies that apply to general faculty. At its next meeting, the Executive Council will discuss the general faculty with Provost Gene Block and with Anda Webb, Associate Provost for Management, and Gertrude Fraser, Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement. Consideration of the General Faculty Resolutions was tabled until this next meeting.

A Resolution Celebrating Academics and Athletics - Marcia Childress

Ms. Childress distributed a draft "Resolution Celebrating Academics and Athletics" intended for presentation to President John Casteen by the Faculty Senate and the Athletics Advisory Council. Drafted by Mr. Kehoe and Senate Chair-Elect Houston Wood, the resolution celebrates President Casteen's decision last December to turn down a post-season bowl game bid that would have required the football team to play during exam week. The full text of the resolution is appended to these minutes. Mr. Kehoe reported that the Athletics Advisory Council, which he chairs, had already adopted the resolution. Ms. Childress called for a vote on the resolution. A motion was made and seconded, and it passed unanimously on March 4, 2005. The resolution will be brought to the full Senate for a vote on March 22, 2005.

Development Committee - Marcia Childress

Ms. Childress reported that the Faculty Senate Development Committee has received a warm welcome Robert Sweeney, Vice President for Development. Committee co-chairs Michael Levenson and Rob Grainger and Ms. Childress met with Mr. Sweeney to discuss faculty involvement in the capital campaign. Ms. Childress also reported that she and Mr. Levenson met with Megan Raymond, University Outreach Officer, to begin discussions about faculty involvement in university programming for alumni.

University of Virginia Academic Calendar - Marcia Childress

Ms. Childress reported that the academic calendar for 2005/2006 has been set. Ms. Childress gave the group an overview of academic calendar issues, and the need for reconvening the Academic Calendar Committee. The administration has requested a representative from the Senate to serve on this committee, for a three-year term. Mr. Kehoe has agreed to accept this appointment.

Faculty Senate Nominating Committee - Marcia Childress

Ms. Childress announced that Faculty Senate elections will be held at the May 3, 2005 Faculty Senate meeting. The Nominating Committee has been appointed, and should meet in the near future. Members of the Nominating Committee are:

Robert E. Davis, Environmental Sciences and Immediate Past Chair (Committee chair)

Houston G. Wood, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Chair-Elect

Michael Fowler, Physics

Ann Hamric, Nursing

Stephen Railton, English

The meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.

Submitted by Deborah Johnson, Secretary of the Faculty Senate