For each meeting, an agenda digest has been provided to save time since minutes are lengthy. The digest provides highlights and actions taken at each meeting. For the full minutes, please contact Frances Peyton (924-7643, ftp7e@virginia.edu). Agenda Digest

August 24, 2000

Present: Patricia H. Werhane, Robert M. Grainger, Michael J. Smith, Kathryn A. Neeley, Rebecca D. Kneedler, Houston G. Wood, III, Donald J. Innes, Jr., George M. Cohen, Michael H. Levenson, John D. Lyons, William J. Kehoe, Doris F. Glick, Peter W. Low

Patricia Werhane, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order. Ms. Werhane welcomed everyone, and introductions were made.

The first order of business was a discussion of the agenda for the Faculty Senate Retreat, which is being held on Friday, September 8. The Retreat will be held in the Commonwealth Room at Newcomb Hall, from 12:30-4:00 p.m.

President Casteen will address the Retreat at 12:30, for approximately 20 minutes. Mr. Casteen will speak on leadership and diversity at the University. Faculty members will be assigned seating at one of six or seven tables, with at least one member of the Executive Council at each of the tables.

The theme for the Senate this year will be "Acts of Leadership". Earlier Faculty Senate initiatives include Teaching Excellence, Enhancing the Intellectual Community, Technology, and Teaching/Research interfaces. In addition, President Casteen has established task forces to shape the University's future. The Women's Leadership Council Report, the Diversity Conference, and the Roundtables were established and are still operative. The Faculty Senate, with the help of the faculty, envisions their role as one that helps keep these initiatives and proposals alive. The Retreat will focus on Acts of Leadership in Diversity and Excellence at the University.

The tables will each get one of three topics for their table discussions, and they will be asked to discuss among themselves the topic and try to identify acts of leadership that faculty members may be involved in that could enhance diversity at the University. Reports on each of the three topics discussed will be made, and Ms. Werhane will give the closing summary.

The Executive Council discussed the Faculty Senate Grievance Committee, and made suggestions for a Chair of that Committee. Ms. Werhane agreed to follow-up on the suggestions.

The University Library staff and administration would like faculty to consider putting most academic journals on-line. The Executive Council discussed the intellectual and financial issues surrounding this possibility and identified Karen Wittenborg, University Librarian, and Daniel Ehnborn, the Chair of the Library Committee, as good contacts to include in the these discussions. All recognized the need to gather additional information on this subject. The Academic Affairs Committee of the Faculty Senate will take up the issue.

Rob Grainger, Chair-Elect of the Senate, and past Chair of the Committee on Research and Scholarship, reported on the status of the Garden Room initiative. The Senate would like to see the Garden Room become a successful enterprise and a place that serves to enhance the intellectual community at the University. Mr. Grainger agreed to conduct a few more inquiries, and he will report back to the Executive Council. In addition, the Executive Council would like to invite Robert Fair, a Senior Advisor at the Darden School, and Ed Gutauskas, Director of Dining Services, to a future meeting to discuss possible options.

The final item on the agenda was concerning the issue of medical insurance for graduate students. This was briefly discussed, and the Research and Scholarship Committee of the Faculty Senate will look more closely at the issue and possible solutions.

The meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.

Submitted by Michael Smith, Secretary of the Faculty Senate