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 7, 1998

Present: Louis Bloomfield, Paul Cantor, Julian Connolly, Lester Andrews, Susan Perry, Kenneth Schwartz, William Pearson, Houston Wood, Barbara Parker

Louis Bloomfield, Chair of the Research and Scholarship Committee, called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m., in Peabody Hall, Room 107.

The first item on the agenda was a report by Mr. Bloomfield on the status of the Common Spaces initiative. The Garden Room is doing well. Gordon Stewart, Associate Dean of the College, is generously providing funding for College undergraduates to take College faculty to lunch, and it is hopeful that other schools will adopt similar programs, Mr. Bloomfield stated. Kenneth Schwartz, a professor in the School of Architecture, reported that the dean is supporting the same type program in the School of Architecture.

Alderman Library Café also is doing well, and café hours have been extended to accommodate faculty and students.

Mr. Bloomfield reported on the status of the Forum for Contemporary Thought. It is possible that the administrative side may need additional funds in the future. A subcommittee of the Research and Scholarship Committee will be appointed to address funding, staffing, programming, and other issues regarding the future of the Forum. Mr. Bloomfield will see if the Forum has an advisory committee and, if so, who serves on the committee.

In regard to the University's desktop computer initiative, the Office of Information Technology and Communications is forming a committee to study the issue. The Faculty Senate will have representation on that committee when it convenes.

Mr. Bloomfield said Gene Block, Vice Provost for Research, has reported that there are some concerns at AAUP regarding the treatment of Postdoctoral students. The Faculty Forum for Scientific Research is going to address the issue, and the Research and Scholarship Committee will look at that report before making any recommendations.

The Committee had a discussion on the Intellectual Community initiative. During the Committee's discussion, it became apparent that there are intellectual exchanges occurring around Grounds. Mr. Bloomfield will contact the Office of the Dean of Students to see if a list of student/faculty events exists, so that the Committee may get a better idea of what is already happening at the University.

The Faculty Speakers Bureau initiative was addressed. This program is envisioned to be a pro bono outreach to the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia, initially involving members of the Faculty Senate, but eventually broadening to the entire faculty. A lot of this type of activity already exists, but has not been identified, i.e., who, when and where?

Mr. Bloomfield said he also would like to create a lecture series, which would consist of local speakers, possibly new or recent chair-recipients (with the Chair donor invited), describing life in their parts of the University, addressing such questions as why they got into their particular intellectual pursuits. A subcommittee should be created to look at issues, such as the benefits and problems that could exist with such a lecture series, Mr. Bloomfield said. Mr. Bloomfield, Barbara Parker and Houston Wood will serve on the subcommittee.

The Committee's theme this year, Year One: Information Technology, was discussed. Mr. Bloomfield said there will be an information technology conversation this fall, and there will be information technology lectures in the spring. There will be a subcommittee appointed to coordinate the activities of the information technology lectures. Louis Bloomfield, Paul Cantor and William Pearson will serve on the subcommittee.

The meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.