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

Rebecca Kneedler called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. in Room 200 at Ruffner Hall. Present were Jahan Ramazani, Daniel Larson, Susan McKinnon, Sharon Utz, Patricia Werhane, Marguerite Lippert. Also present were Peter Low, Vice President and Provost; Muriel Poston, American Council on Education Fellow; and Robert Reynolds, Senior Associate Vice President for Health Sciences.

Ms. Kneedler welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The first order of business was a discussion of the proposal to change the Master of Science Program in Epidemiology into a Master of Science Program in Health Evaluation Sciences. Ms. Kneedler explained that there have been several different groups that have approved the proposal before coming to the Faculty Senate. These groups include faculty councils within the School of Medicine and the College of Arts & Sciences. Ms. Kneedler called for a vote from the Executive Council to approve the program. Susan McKinnon made a motion to approve the program, Pat Werhane seconded the motion, and it unanimously passed. The Table of Contents and Summary Points for the proposal will be sent electronically to the full Senate for review.

Ms. Kneedler mentioned the election of new officers and of new Executive Council members. Nominations for each will take place at the April 16 Faculty Senate meeting.

The next order of business was a discussion of three proposed changes in the Faculty Senate's Faculty Grievance Committee by-laws. Ms. Kneedler went over the proposed changes, and there was a brief discussion about the work of the Grievance Committee. The following sentences reflect the present wording of the by-laws and the proposed changes in the wording: OLD: "All members should be members of the Faculty Senate"-- NEW: "The majority of members should be members of the Faculty Senate;" OLD: "The members are selected by the Chair of the Faculty Senate"-- NEW: "The members are appointed by the Executive Council of the Faculty Senate;" OLD: "The Committee shall elect its own chair"-- NEW: "The Chair will be appointed by the Executive Council of the Faculty Senate." She called for a vote on adopting the changes in the by-laws. She noted that these changes would bring conformity to all of the Faculty Senate's standing committees. Pat Werhane made a motion to adopt these changes, Dan Larson seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. This action will be taken to the full Senate for a vote at the April 16 meeting.

Ms. Kneedler then gave updates on ongoing business of the Executive Council:

She noted that the "teaching conversations" are on the web, and she will have this University-wide initiative publicized.

The Posthmous Degree Policy will go before the General Faculty as a resolution at that group's May meeting.

The last order of business was a conversation about mentoring, and what the Senate's role in this initiative should be. The Executive Council members all agreed that the Senate's role should be to endorse the "mentoring concept," leaving the responsibility of developing a mentoring system that fits the individual needs of each school to the deans and chairs of the departments.

The possibility of having "mentoring conversations" among the University faculty, much like the "teaching conversations" that have taken place this year, was discussed. "Intellectual Climate" discussions, which would also include diversity issues, was another suggestion.

The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.

Submitted by Susan McKinnon, Secretary to the Faculty Senate