May 11, 2000

David T. Gies, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order. David expressed concern for Frances Peyton, who's Mother is very ill.

Call for Faculty Senate nominations for Chair-Elect and for one member to serve on the Executive Council.

Those nominated for Chair-Elect:

Robert M. Grainger (Arts & Sciences, Department of Biology)

Houston G. Wood, III (Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering)

Those nominated for membership on the Executive Council:

George M. Cohen, (School of Law)

Julian W. Connolly (Arts & Sciences, Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures)

There was one nomination for Secretary of the Faculty Senate, Michael J. Smith (Arts & Sciences, Department of Government & Foreign Affairs). Mr. Smith accepted the nomination, and no further nominations for Secretary were required.

John T. Casteen, III, President, spoke to the Senate. Mr. Casteen's remarks focused on the University of Virginia's year-end reports. Mr. Casteen addressed the Capital Campaign's effects on academic programs. The Board of Visitors has discussed where to go at the end of the Campaign. The "Gap Cost" will be calculated in comparison to other competing schools. The University has 25 programs nationally ranked, and the cost of keeping or not keeping the programs will be calculated. The University has claimed a place on the "national Stage," Mr. Casteen commented. Increasingly, the benchmark is the group of institutions just above U.Va. Most teaching positions include a combination of state funds and endowment funds. There are now 700 scholarships and fellowships, Mr. Casteen said. There is $78 million in academic program endowments (not including recent gift from Mr. Batten). The bulk of the new physical space is research, teaching and clinical use, and the Stadium. Seventy-five percent of campaign dollars is earmarked for academic purposes. Funds will also go toward historic preservation, health care, etc.

Some of the goals of the Campaign are maintaining the quality of programs and increasing the University's endowment. The University's goals will have to be prioritized, Mr. Casteen said. The Planning Commission reports will come in the next few months, with plans evolving in the fall.

Athletic programs are not subsidized, and tuition funds need to be kept separate from athletics. The University has gotten some revenue from athletics to academic programs, Mr. Casteen stated. Sometimes athletics is in deficit at various schools. The University is trying to endow athletic scholarships, and then endow the core of the program.

The 2020 Forums have urged the University to look at Princeton's ability to define itself. Mr. Casteen said, regarding popular rankings for U.Va, the University will have to work very hard to stay even.

Work on budget for 2000-2001:

State appropriations are largely earmarked. Tuition funds are capped for in state, for out-of-state, the response rate is strong, but barely at cost point, Mr. Casteen said. (African-American applicants and those accepting are slightly up, but that may change a bit by fall.)

Endowment dollars mostly flows to the schools, and the deans budget this. Addendum requests will be made to deal with the shortfall from the State for salaries and payments to classified staff, Mr. Casteen commented. In regards to the General Fund, only $95,000 is not earmarked. The base budget is not regularly sustained, which causes a problem. Private dollars will improve this year, due to a 30% increase in stock market payouts from endowment, some of which is restricted.

Funding for 2020 Commission plans are, funding the initial recommendations for research and public service and international projects and positions, and funding a Fine Arts studio arts building, and planning for renovation of Fayerweather Hall, etc.

Mr. Casteen reported on the Women's Leadership Council. The group is defining a three-year work plan, planning to meet four times a year. The issues raised in the Report on the Status of Women at U.Va. will be addressed. Salary equity studies are considered "unlawful" by the Attorney General (VCU case). The University will continue to pursue the issue of salary equity. The Women's Leadership Council will prioritize and develop a plan of action. Mr. Casteen commented that the Senate's Forum was useful and ought to be continued, as it provides a wider input/audience. Mr. Casteen took questions from the Senate floor. A full report on budget issues is available, if the Faculty Senate would like to have it, Mr. Casteen said.

Brantly Womack, Chair of the International Commission, reported on the Commission's work. A new dimension has been created that crosses schools and links to the administration. The International Commission will try to develop both short-range and long-range plans. International activities need to be nurtured at grassroots and central level. Central help is needed for schools, but not central "control." Substantive areas are: 1) better support for students and faculty abroad

2) internationalizing the curriculum, such as a fifth year of extended experience in health care in Mexico to learn Spanish, etc. (Honors Program)

3) international students and scholars improve English as second language and develop professional fluency

4) regional key points - general relationships can foster related links

5) organizational structure, e.g., Vice Provost for International Affairs and a committee

William R. Johnson, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, reported on the Committee's work. This year, the Academic Affairs Committee considered and approved a new computer engineering program, consented to the elimination of the degree program in nuclear engineering, and approved a name change for a program in the Education School. This year's Teaching Initiative program, which is in the last year of a three-year pilot program, and is chaired this year by George M. Cohen, recommended funding 25 projects at a total budget of $85,000. The Teaching Initiative Subcommittee was. An evaluation process for the entire program has been established, so that the Faculty Senate will be able to make informed recommendations to the Provost on the future of the Teaching Initiative program. Mr. Johnson also reported that the Academic Affairs Committee is continuing to work to improve the intellectual community at the University by focusing on specific recommendations to enhance student-faculty interactions that were developed by a subcommittee chaired by Robert Davis. These recommendations include making student pictures available to faculty, creating spaces around Grounds for student-faculty interactions, expanding the USEM program, and encouraging faculty to speak to student groups and to make themselves visible to students with webpages. The Committee is now exploring, in consultation with appropriate members of the administration, ways of implementing these recommendations.

Robert M. Grainger, Chair of the Research and Scholarship Committee, reported on the work of that Committee. On the status of the Garden Room, Mr. Grainger said that over the course of the year, people have become more positive regarding food and service, but finances still are not clear. The Research and Scholarship Committee is exploring options for next year. Mr. Grainger thanked Peter Low for his sponsorship of the initiative. The Faculty Speakers bureau has been broadened to three sets of lectures, and more publicity will be occurring soon. The Graduate Research Awards produced some wonderful proposals from students. Twenty-five awards were given, and the Committee expects to give forty awards next year. Mr. Grainger thanked the President and the Provost for their funding for this initiative. Mr. Grainger reported that two papers have been created to describe the interplay of scholarship and teaching. One of the papers is for outside dissemination and the other paper will be directed to faculty and administration at the University. Drafts of both documents were distributed, and input was invited. The deadline for receiving feedback is May 19.

James G. Clawson, Chair of the Faculty Grievance Committee, reported on the Committee's work. Mr. Clawson thanked the committee members. Several "Hearing Panels" have been formed over the year, and Mr. Clawson thanked them for their service. In the past two years there have been five inquiries, and have resulted in some lengthy and complex processes, with two formal grievances, one on-going case, and the other cases withdrawn. Two documents have been submitted to the Executive Council for review. The documents are related to termination of faculty and the procedures of the Grievance Committee, Mr. Clawson said.

Houston G. Wood, III, Chair of the ROTC Affairs Committee, reported on the work of that Committee. The primary role of the committee is to advise the Provost on ROTC faculty appointments. The ROTC Affairs Committee works closely with Kathrine Reed, Associate Provost for Management, when making recommendations. During the past year, appointments to the Air Force ROTC, the Army ROTC, and the Navy ROTC have been recommended to Ms. Reed, and all of those were duly appointed. The Committee meets with the ROTC units each year for updates. The ROTC Affairs Committee also examines student disenrollment decisions, helps evaluate students for ROTC Scholarships, reads applications of all first year students, and attends events with faculty and students in the ROTC program.

Mr. Gies noted that the Executive Council of the Faculty Senate is meeting with our local legislators on May 23, 2000.

Mr. Gies thanked the outgoing Senators and invited any new business.

The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

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