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

December 15, 1999

Present: David T. Gies, Patricia H. Werhane, Sharon W. Utz, Kathryn A. Neeley, Houston G. Wood, III, Donald J. Innes, Jr., Marva A. Barnett, John D. Lyons, Robert M. Grainger, William R. Johnson, Peter W. Low

David T. Gies, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order at 12 noon in Room 481, Newcomb Hall.

Robert M. Grainger, Chair of the Committee on Research and Scholarship, reported on the success of the Harrison Awards initiative. Mr. Gies praised the Committee and the Harrison Awards Subcommittee for their work on this project. There were 156 applications received, with 25 awards to be made in January. It is envisioned that there will be a media presentation to announce the award recipients at the beginning of the semester. The Chair of the Senate will also recommend to the President that the program be continued, based on the great response this year's program has produced.

Mr. Gies reported on a request by Student Council to extend Clemons Library hours to 24 hours a day. This request was sent to the University Library, the Provost, and Leonard W. Sandridge, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. It was pointed out that such issues as additional staffing and security need to be addressed before any decision can be made. Mr. Gies will respond to Student Council and let them know that the Executive Council will wait for additional information from the Librarian and other administrators before commenting on the issue.

Mr. Grainger reported on the work of the Committee on Research and Scholarship. In addition to the Harrison Awards selection process, the Committee continues to work on improving attendance at the Garden Room. Customer attendance is increasing, but still is not enough to make the Garden Room profitable. The Committee will continue to explore options for increasing patronage in the Garden Room so that it will become a profitable enterprise. In addition, the Executive Council asked Mr. Low to talk with Mr. Sandridge about the future of the Garden Room, underscoring the faculty's belief in the need for the facility and its strong desire that ARAMARK find a way to improve food and service for the spring semester.

The suggestion for the Faculty Speakers Bureau to include giving talks to groups from grades K-12 continues to move forward, Mr. Grainger report. The Research and Scholarship Committee also continues to work with the Forum for Contemporary Thought.

William Johnson, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, reported on the work of that Committee. A subcommittee has drafted suggestions for the enhancement of faculty and student interaction. Mr. Johnson will report on these suggestions at the Faculty Senate meeting on Friday, December 17. In addition, the 1999/2000 Faculty Senate's call for proposals to Promote Excellent Teaching has been sent to the faculty, Mr. Johnson reported.

Mr. Gies reported on an inquiry from President Casteen asking for feedback on the possibility of funding sabbaticals for two professors. This funding will come from a donor who is interested in awarding professors who have taught U-Sems in the past. The sabbaticals would be used to fuse teaching and research concepts. The Executive Council thinks this is a worthwhile initiative, and they would like the Provost's Committee on Promotion and Tenure to select the recipients of the two sabbaticals. Representatives from Medicine and Nursing, who are not on the Committee on Promotion and Tenure, will be added to the Committee to help with the selection process. Mr. Low will relay this information to President Casteen.

Peter Low, Vice President and Provost, reported on the history of the new faculty member luncheons, which have occurred in the past. The participants in the luncheons are the Chair of the Faculty Senate, the Chair-Elect, the Past Chair, and the Provost. The process involves sending letters of invitation to all entry-level tenure-track faculty members, inviting him/her to attend a new faculty luncheon and get to know other new faculty members. There are approximately 70 new faculty hires each year. There are usually four or five luncheons, with 6 to 8 faculty members and the Senate officers and Provost in attendance at each of those luncheons. The luncheons are held in the spring, with an aim to keep each event cross-disciplinary. The faculty members are asked to respond and give their preference of dates for attending a luncheon.

Mr. Gies led a discussion regarding the agenda for the upcoming Faculty Senate meeting. A working paper will be distributed to all Senators for discussion at individual tables. The working paper was created based on comments Mr. Gies has received regarding teaching and research after he sent an e-mail message to all Senators, which requested feedback. The paper will include a list of ways in which research enhances the teaching mission and a list of barriers that now exist which inhibit the pursuit of research and good teaching. A Faculty Senate white paper will be created as a result of the discussions, and it will be used externally and administratively to dismantle the problems associated with research and teaching. The Senate meeting on Friday will be used to a) identify structural inhibitions to the pursuit of research and teaching; b) to identify monetary issues that inhibit the pursuit of research and teaching and; c) to identify and use the "positive" points of the document to explain to the public how research enhances teaching.

There will be someone at each table taking notes of the conversations, and these conversations will last for 20 minutes, Mr. Gies said.

Also on the agenda is a request by the School of Engineering and Applied Science to discontinue the Nuclear Engineering Program. Mr. Johnson will brief the Senate on this request, which has already been approved by the Academic Affairs Committee. The request to discontinue the Program will then be called to a vote.

The meeting adjourned at 1:25 p.m.

Submitted by Sharon W. Utz, Secretary of the Faculty Senate