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

October 20, 1997

Jahan Ramazani, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. in the Lower Level Conference Room at Madison Hall. In attendance were Jahan Ramazani, Rebecca Kneedler, Janet Horne, Michael Smith, Patricia Werhane, Michael Williams, Robert Grainger, Marva Barnett, Benjamin Ray, David Gies, Peter Low, Robert Reynolds

Mr. Ramazani welcomed everyone to the meeting. He informed the Council members of Harold Burbach's resignation from the Academic Affairs Committee. Robert McNergney, a Professor in the Curry School of Education, is being considered as the replacement on the Committee. Mr. Ramazani asked for a vote on this action, and it was unanimously approved.

There has also been a request from the Vice President for Student Affairs for a representative from the Senate to serve on the newly formed task force created to make recommendations for the restructuring of First-Year Student Orientation. Mr. Ramazani asked the Executive Council to make recommendations for a Senator to serve on the task force. Recommendations were made, and Mr. Ramazani will follow-up. It was also suggested that the Executive Council should request progress reports on the work of the task force.

The Executive Council then discussed the "Review of Complaints Alleging Serious Misconduct by Faculty Members," a document that was distributed by Peter Low, Vice President and Provost, at an earlier meeting. Mr. Low said the document had been created to offer formal guidelines to deans on how to proceed in incidents alleging misconduct of a faculty member. At the present time, there are no formal guidelines in place. Mr. Ramazani asked Michael Smith, a member of the Council, to lead the discussions with Mr. Low. After considerable discussion with the Executive Council, Mr. Low decided that the document will not be invoked at this time.

Ben Ray, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, spoke on the progress of the "Teaching Initiative." He said the Call for Proposals has been sent via e-mail to various groups, including the deans, with a request that the Call be passed along to the faculty in each School. A copy of the Call for Proposals has also been sent through messenger mail to the deans, department chairs, and unit heads. A subcommittee has been appointed to review the proposals as they arrive. Mr. Ray will also meet with Melvyn Leffler, the Arts & Sciences dean, and he will meet with the Chair of the General Faculty Council.

The Office of the Provost will create a link to the "Call for Proposals" document, which is on the Faculty Senate's Web page (http://minerva.acc.Virginia.EDU/~ facsen/ aaproposals.html). The Teaching Resource Center will also create a link to this document. Mr. Ray will speak with the Dean of Arts & Sciences to see if a link can be made on that homepage as well.

Mr. Ramazani announced that Richard Kovatch, Assistant Vice President for Business Operations, has sent meal passes for distribution to Faculty Senate members so that faculty and students may have an opportunity to dine and converse, in response to the Senate's Intellectual Community Initiative.

The Executive Council then heard progress reports on the "Intellectual Community Initiative." David Gies, Chair of the Committee on Research and Scholarship, gave the first report. He said the three appointed subcommittees are meeting with people, doing research, and coming up with great ideas. He will have a detailed report of progress at the December 3, 1997, full Faculty Senate meeting.

Marva Barnett, Chair of the Academic Affairs Subcommittee on Junior Faculty Development and Retention, gave a report on the work of her group. She said the Subcommittee is exploring common interests of junior faculty, parking problems, and how to get new faculty introduced to senior faculty, and to each other.

Mr. Low said that he, Jahan Ramazani, Chair of the Faculty Senate, Ed Ayers, Chair-Elect of the Faculty Senate, and Rebecca Kneedler, Past Chair of the Faculty Senate, will invite tenure-track faculty in their first year at UVA (in groups of 10-to-12, including the four hosts) to lunch over the year.

The meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.

Submitted by Janet Horne, Secretary of the Faculty Senate