David T. Gies, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order and gave welcoming remarks at 3:00 p.m.

Mr. Gies said the Senate is healthy, energized, and off to a great start, with a full plate of activities for the year. Some of those activities include the Faculty Senate Teaching Initiative, the Forum for Contemporary Thought, increasing attendance at the Garden Room, the Faculty Senate Faculty Speakers Bureau, and approving a new degree proposal in the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Mr. Gies mentioned an upcoming event at the University, National Make A Difference Day, which is being coordinated by Frank Griffiths, a University student. Mr. Gies will forward information on the event, and he encouraged Senate participation.

Mr. Gies introduced and recognized the members of the Faculty Senate Executive Council, and he thanked the Council members for their hard work.

President Casteen addressed the Senate. Mr. Casteen thanked the group for being included in the Faculty Senate Retreat, which was held on September 10, 1999. The University is becoming increasingly active in planning retreats and/or planning sessions, Mr. Casteen said. In addition to the Faculty Senate Retreat, Mr. Casteen mentioned the All University Planning Retreat, the Board of Visitors Retreat, deans' planning sessions, and vice presidential planning sessions.

Mr. Casteen reported on the successful accomplishments of the Capital Campaign, which has raised $957 million, as of the end-of-August. David A. Harrison has given a gift of $10 million to the University library, Mr. Casteen reported. In addition, the Faculty Senate will distribute $100,000 in David Harrison award money again this year, Mr. Casteen reported.

In closing, Mr. Casteen spoke briefly about the controversy concerning the University's admission policies, and questions and answers followed.

Mr. Gies distributed and called for a vote on a Senate-supported statement regarding the University's current admissions policies. The statement was discussed, with some minor wording changes suggested. The statement will be amended accordingly, and a motion was made to enter the amended resolution, it was seconded, and it passed unanimously.

Here is the statement as amended:

"The Faculty Senate recognizes the value of diversity in the classroom and throughout the University and underscores the importance of maintaining that diversity. We also recognize U.Va.'s successful history of minority recruitment, retention, and graduation. Equal opportunity must be one of the stated goals of higher education. The consideration of race, as one of many factors for admission to the University, is both appropriate and justified. The University's policies which have led to these achievements have created a rich and diverse educational environment absent from the one-gender, one-race classrooms of the past. Consequently, we endorse the educational goals of equal opportunity and diversity."

William R. Johnson, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, reported on the work of his Committee. Mr. Johnson introduced the members of the Committee, and he had them stand and be recognized. The three tasks that the Committee are currently working on are: 1) The Faculty Senate Teaching Initiative grants, which will focus this year on funding projects that bring faculty research and undergraduate teaching together; 2) evaluating and reporting to the Provost on the success of the Teaching Initiative; and 3) follow-up work on faculty/student interaction, based on suggestions made by the Committee in a report issued last year. In addition, the Committee will address other issues as the come before the Committee, Mr. Johnson said.

Robert M. Grainger, Chair of the Committee on Research and Scholarship, reported on the work of his Committee. Mr. Grainger introduced the members of the Committee. The Committee will continue to encouraging stronger faculty use of the Garden Room, and will promote some advertisement, Mr. Grainger reported. The Committee will also continue work with the Forum for Contemporary Thought, and Mr. Grainger mentioned some of this year's speakers. Long-term leadership and funding for the Forum will be addressed by the Committee this year, Mr. Grainger reported. The Faculty Senate Faculty Speakers Bureau now has approximately 60 speakers on the list, and the program will start in November. The program is being supported by the Alumni Association and the Vice President for Research and Public Service, Mr. Grainger said. The Committee will participate in the discussions and offer feedback regarding the Senate's theme for the year, "Teaching, Research and the Creation of Knowledge." Additionally, the Research and Scholarship Committee will address other issues as given to them.

Mr. Johnson presented a new degree proposal from the School of Engineering and Applied Science, which is titled Computer Engineering. He gave the group an overview of the program, which has already been approved by the School of Engineering, the Department of Electrical Engineering, the Computer Science Department, the Academic Affairs Committee, and the National Accreditation Board. A motion was made to approve the new degree program, it was seconded, and it passed unanimously.

Mr. Gies announced that the Senate will distribute the Harrison Award funds of $100,000 again this year. This year's awards will be used for undergraduate research.

"This proposal, submitted by the Faculty Senate, would create awards to fund undergraduate research projects. Working in collaboration with a faculty advisor, each awardee would plan and implement a research project designed to create new knowledge. The project would be developed over the academic year with the close supervision of the advisor, and would be carried out either during the academic year itself or in the summer of 2000. Twenty-five awards of $4,000 each ($3,000 for expenses and support of the undergraduate student, and $1,000 stipend for the faculty advisor) will be granted on a competitive basis. Each awardee will be expected to create a bibliography of relevant materials, read and research the topic in anticipation of carrying out the project, establish contacts (faculty advisor will be helpful here), create a detailed work plan, and finally carry out the research. Proposals should include a budget of anticipated expenditures (travel, food and housing, research supplies and materials)."

Mr. Gies cited some examples of possible research projects. The Committee on Research and Scholarship will coordinate this initiative, Mr. Gies said.

Mr. Gies opened the floor for further discussion of "Teaching, Research and the Creation of Knowledge," which was first introduced at the Faculty Senate Retreat on September 10, and is the theme for the Faculty Senate this year. The group discussed their desired outcome of such discussions, and they made suggestions of possible ways to address the issue and create an open dialogue between faculty, students and administrators. Some Senators suggested that using the term "scholarship" instead of "research" better represents the diverse kinds of knowledge development that faculty do across the University.

Mr. Gies announced the upcoming "October Camp," a series of activities on the Lawn on Wednesday, October 6, and Thursday, October 7. This event is being organized by Advocates for Diversity in Education, and will include both students and faculty.

In closing, Mr. Gies recognized a delegation of Norwegian professors that are visiting the Curry School of Education, and were in attendance for part of the Faculty Senate meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.

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