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

Present: Edward Ayers, Jahan Ramazani, Marva Barnett, Kathryn Neeley, Rebecca Kneedler, Miles Townsend, Robert Grainger, Janet Horne, Patricia Werhane, Richard DeMong, Louis Bloomfield, Peter Low

Ed Ayers, Chair of the Faculty Senate, called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m., in Newcomb Hall, the Board Room.

Mr. Ayers welcomed everyone, and he asked Richard DeMong, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, to report on the work of his Committee.

Mr. DeMong said the Honor Committee was sponsoring an Honor Summit, which is being held on October 22, 1998. Most members of the Academic Affairs Committee will attend the meeting. Cabell Vest, Chair of the Honor Committee, and Suzanne Farnsworth, Chair of the Student/Faculty Subcommittee of the Honor Committee, will attend the upcoming Academic Affairs Committee meeting on Monday, October 26th to discuss how faculty may work with the Honor Committee. The Executive Council had a discussion about the Honor System and what role, if any, the faculty should play.

Mr. DeMong said the Academic Affairs Committee will issue a call for proposals in December, for the 1999-2000 Teaching Initiative. The deadline for submitting proposals will be February 1, 1999.

The Academic Affairs Committee is also working on implementing some of the ideas that were suggested at the Faculty Senate/student retreat. Mr. DeMong reported that the Committee also has on its agenda a review of the proposed new adult degree program, to be offered through the Division of Continuing Education. The Committee will review the program in November, it will go before the full Senate at the December 10th meeting and, finally, it will go before the Board of Visitors in January.

Louis Bloomfield, Chair of the Research and Scholarship Committee, reported on the work of that committee. He said the Committee will begin planning for the Faculty Speakers Bureau, and also a series of lectures, consisting of local speakers, possibly new or recent chair-recipients. He also reported that the committee created to study the desktop computer initiative, which he will serve on as a Senate representative, has had its first meeting. The Committee on Research and Scholarship is working with Gene Block, Vice Provost for Research, to address concerns at AAUP regarding the treatment of postdoctoral students. Mr. Bloomfield will meet with Mr. Block on Friday, October 23 to discuss the issue. Finally, Mr. Bloomfield reported on the work of the Forum for Contemporary Thought, which is a Faculty Senate initiative. He said the Forum is doing well, but additional funds may be needed in the future. A subcommittee of the Research and Scholarship Committee will address such issues as funding, staffing, and programming.

Ed Ayers reported on his meeting with the Board of Visitors.

Mr. Ayers also reported that at the Faculty Senate of Virginia meeting on October 3, 1998, the following resolution was passed:

"Whereas: Faculty participation in the governance of higher education institutions is recognized as important, and

Whereas: Faculty participation in the governance of higher education institutions is recognized as a rich tradition that has contributed to the greatness of higher education in the United States, and

Whereas: Faculty participation in the governance of higher education institutions allows higher education institutions to use fully their primary talents and collective wisdom, and

Whereas: Faculty participation in the governance of higher education institutions includes those who are most familiar with the importance and the delivery of policy implications,

It is therefore resolved that: All colleges and universities in Virginia should include significant and active faculty representative on their governing boards. Faculty representative participation shall be in all meetings of governing boards including full board meetings, sub-committee meetings, standing committee meetings, and executive meetings.

It is further resolved that: The Faculty Senate of Virginia requests the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia recommend to all higher education institutions in Virginia that they adopt a policy of full, active, significant, and representative faculty participation in the governing boards of their institutions."

The Faculty Senate of Virginia recommended that Senators meet with their legislators, and Mr. Ayers, Mr. DeMong, and Mr. Bloomfield will do so in the coming weeks. The Council had a discussion on strategies to counter reports, speeches, and editorials being released regarding higher education in Virginia. Besides meetings with legislators, editorials on specific issues and discussions within the University were mentioned as ways to respond to negative information regarding the University and higher education. It was suggested that a web site might be created to post editorials/articles and promote dialogue with faculty.

Peter Low, Vice President and Provost, has invited the Faculty Senate's involvement in the upcoming visit to Qatar. David Gies, Chair-Elect of the Senate, will go to Qatar as the Senate's representative. Mr. Low said H.H. Sheikha Mouza, from Qatar, will be visiting the University of Virginia. He asked if the Executive Council would be interested in having the Sheikha address the Senate, speaking on her vision of the proposed project. Mr. Low will let the group know when the Sheikha will arrive.

The Faculty Senate will have representation on the President's planning commissions and the University Planning Council, Mr. Ayers said.

Regarding the Senate's Information Technology initiative, Mr. Ayers encouraged everyone to visit the Technology web page (http://www.virginia.edu/~facsen/techconv.html). He will send a reminder to all Senators regarding the recently e-mailed technology survey and their report to the Senate on departmental views. The Research and Scholarship Committee will review the data and compile a report on what people want and what they resist in regard to information technology. All information will be posted on the web.

The last business discussed was a letter that Mr. Ayers has received from an attorney and alum who wants the Senate to investigate the possibility of developing a core curriculum at the University. Mr. Ayers will respond to the letter , saying that the Senate is not the appropriate group to address the issue.

The meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m.

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