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 23, 1998

Joint meeting of the Executive Council and the Academic Affairs Committee

Present:

Executive Council Members: Edward Ayers, Kathryn Neeley, Rebecca Kneedler, Miles Townsend, Louis Bloomfield, Patricia Werhane, Marva Barnett, Michael Williams, David Gies, Peter Low, Robert Reynolds

Academic Affairs Committee: Richard DeMong, George Mentore, Robert Davis, George Cohen, Joanne Dugan, Daniel Hallahan, William Johnson, Barbara Nolan

Guests: J. Milton Adams, Member of the BLS Advisory Committee

William J. Kehoe, Member of the BLS Advisory Committee

Thomas F. Noble, Committee Chair, BLS Advisory Committee

Stephen T. Thornton, Member of the BLS Advisory Committee

Toni G. Wegner, Member of the BLS Advisory Committee

Edward Ayers called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. in the Board Room at Newcomb Hall. Mr. Ayers gave welcoming remarks.

Richard DeMong, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, led a discussion of the proposed new adult degree program, which will be offered through the Division of Continuing Education. The Academic Affairs Committee is charged with approving the program, and then approval will advance to the Executive Council and then to the full Senate. The group discussed the proposal and addressed issues raised by the Academic Affairs Committee during an earlier meeting. Each of the issues were addressed by the BLS Advisory Committee and given to the Academic Affairs Committee as an addendum to the proposal. It was noted that the deans of the schools (Arts & Sciences, Commerce, and Engineering) that will be involved in the program, along with Peter Low, Richard DeMong, and Ed Ayers, need to be involved in a meeting, which will include members of the BLS Advisory Committee. The purpose of this meeting will be to address any concerns the deans may have and to ensure that the schools are comfortable with the program before the Academic Affairs Committee endorses it. Mr. DeMong called for a motion for the Committee to endorse the program, contingent upon approval of the deans and contingent upon funding issues going through Leonard Sandridge's and Peter Low's offices. A motion was made and seconded. Mr. DeMong then called for a written vote, which was received and counted, resulting in a vote of 9 in favor and 1 against.

After the meeting with the deans, Richard DeMong will prepare an Executive Summary, which will be reviewed by the Executive Council. After the Executive Council's approval, the proposal and the Executive Summary will be distributed to the full Senate in advance of the December 10th Faculty Senate meeting, asking for their endorsement of the proposal.

Davis Gies, Chair-Elect of the Senate, gave the Executive Council a briefing on the Forum for Contemporary Thought. Rita Felski, who is currently in charge of the Forum, will be on leave next year, and recommendations for her replacement were requested. Recommendations were made, and those recommended will be contacted.

The status of the arranged meetings between Executive Council members and members of residence halls was discussed. Those who have not made initial contact will do so in the coming weeks.

The meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.

Submitted by Marva A. Barnett, Secretary of the Faculty Senate