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

November 15, 1999

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

Guest: Jane E. Penner, Chair of the General Faculty Council

David T. Gies, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order at 12 noon in Newcomb Hall, Room 389.

Robert Grainger, Chair of the Committee on Research and Scholarship, reported on the Faculty Senate Faculty Speakers Bureau. The Speakers Bureau website will have a gateway website leading to two separate sites - one for speaking to the general public and one for speaking to the K-12 audience. This will enable faculty members to decide whether they wish to address the younger audience.

Mr. Gies introduced Jane Penner, Chair of the General Faculty Council. Ms. Penner gave the group an overview of the work being done by the General Faculty Council. The General Faculty Council is pleased that their group and the Faculty Senate are working more closely together, Ms. Penner said. The Faculty Senate Academic Affairs Committee and the Faculty Senate Committee on Research and Scholarship both have a General Faculty Council representative. Good channels of communication are being established between the Senate and the General Faculty Council, Ms. Penner said.

Some issues the General Faculty Council is currently working on are:

· a letter to Gene Block on behalf of research faculty regarding the loss of health care benefits

· revising the policy document on employment for general faculty

· addressing the question of salary and raises for general faculty

The Executive Council members asked some questions, and they thanked Ms. Penner for attending the meeting and updating the Senate on work being done by the General Faculty Council.

Mr. Gies reported that a statement has been sent from the Office of the Dean of Students to the Inter-Fraternity Council concerning their request to move rush back to the fall semester. The group discussed ways that the Senate might be able to work with the students to address perceived problems and find creative solutions. One suggestion made was to focus on the quality of students' experience as it relates to housing/residence life. Mr. Gies will send a letter of support to Dean Rue and let her know of the Senate's continued interest in the issue.

Mr. Gies reported on the President's Priority document. There is nothing to act on at the present time. The document will be discussed more broadly in January, and it will be back to the Senate for review at that time. The Council members discussed ways in which they might get better faculty involvement in important University issues. It was suggested that more publicity is needed so that faculty will be better informed of the various University initiatives.

In planning for the upcoming Faculty Senate meeting on December 17, Mr. Gies said he has gotten some responses to his email message to Senators, which requests that each Senator contact their colleagues and get their feedback on two questions. The questions are:

1) How does research/scholarship enhance teaching in your discipline?

2) What are the barriers you experience at UVa which inhibit the integration of scholarship into the classroom?

Mr. Gies asked that the Senators respond by December 1, with a one-page summary of those conversations. This information will be the main focus of the Senate meeting, Mr. Gies said.

The new Faculty Senate website is in place, Mr. Gies said. The site may be viewed at the following address: http://www.virginia.edu/facultysenate

Robert Grainger reported on the status of lunch service at the Garden Room, which is in danger of being discontinued due to lack of profitability. Suggestions were made regarding possible ways to turn the venture into a profitable one. Mr. Grainger and Mr. Gies will meet with representatives from Dining Services on Thursday, November 18, to try to work out a solution that will keep the Garden Room open for lunch.

The meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m.

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