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

March 16, 1998

The Executive Council of the Faculty Senate/The Academic Affairs Committee of the Faculty Senate

(Joint Meeting)

Present: Jahan Ramazani, Chair of the Faculty Senate; Edward Ayers, Chair-Elect of the Faculty Senate; Rebecca Kneedler, Past Chair of the Faculty Senate, Janet Horne, Secretary of the Faculty Senate; Michael Smith, Executive Council; Miles Townsend, Executive Council; Michael Williams, Executive Council; Robert Grainger, Executive Council; Marva Barnett, Executive Council and Academic Affairs Committee; Benjamin Ray, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee; David Gies, Chair of the Committee on Research and Scholarship (ex officio); George Mentore, Academic Affairs; George Cohen, Academic Affairs; Milton Adams, Academic Affairs; Richard DeMong, Academic Affairs; William Johnson, Academic Affairs; Peter Low, Vice President and Provost

Jahan Ramazani called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. in room 389 Newcomb Hall.

Mr. Ramazani welcomed everyone to the meeting. Mr. Ramazani asked Peter Low to give the group background information on a proposed new adult degree program in the Division of Continuing Education.

Mr. Low said the program originated through a suggestion by President Casteen. He also noted other peer institutions which offer part-time adult-oriented undergraduate degree programs through Continuing Education. The administration asked Sondra Stallard, Dean of Continuing Education, to develop the concept of an adult degree program. The program is being designed to maintain academic integrity, and it will be controlled by an advisory committee appointed by Peter Low, and made up of three faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences, and one each from the McIntire School of Commerce, and the School of Engineering and Applied Science. The president of PVCC will also serve on this Board. Appointments to the Board will be based on recommendations from the Dean of Arts and Sciences, the Dean of the School of Commerce, and the Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Faculty teaching the program will consist of members of the current faculty, retired faculty and doctoral students at the University. There were some thoughts expressed about the proposed name for the program, which might be "Bachelor of Liberal Studies." Committee members suggested it could be called a "Bachelor of General Studies." The suggestion was seconded, and the general consensus of the group is to recommend that the degree be called a "General Studies Degree." Mr. Low asked the group to report to the full Faculty Senate on this program at the April 29,1998, meeting. Mr. Low will send, via e-mail, a summary of the proposed program to the Senate before the April meeting. The group ended the review of the new degree program with questions and a discussion of the program.

Mr. Ramazani distributed the recommendations from the Faculty Senate Academic Affairs Sub-Committee on Junior Faculty Development and Retention. The document was reviewed and discussed, and Mr. Ramazani said the Academic Affairs Committee would like to present it to the Senate at the April meeting. Michael Smith suggested that the Senate develop a questionnaire that would be distributed to entering junior faculty each year, so that profiles could be developed in a form such as a "directory."

There was a brief discussion, led by Mr. Ramazani, about the issue of postponing rush to a student's second year. Mr. Ramazani asked the Council members if they could support the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and his recommendation that rush be deferred to the second year. Michael Smith made the following statement: "The Executive Council notes and respects the decision made by its colleagues in Arts and Sciences to recommend that fraternity and sorority rush occur no earlier than the second year. The Executive Council has full confidence in the Chair of the Faculty Senate to express the faculty's views on this issue." Marva Barnett seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.

Submitted by Janet Horne, Secretary of the Faculty Senate