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

September 16, 1998

Present: Louis Bloomfield, Paul Cantor, Julian Connolly, Susan Perry, Kenneth Schwartz, Martha Snell, Houston Wood, Edward Ayers

Lou Bloomfield, Chair of the Committee on Research and Scholarship, called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m., in the Board Room at Newcomb Hall.

The Committee members introduced themselves. The proposed fall meeting schedule was discussed, and it will be e-mail to the Committee members for their review.

Mr. Bloomfield discussed the opening of the new Garden Room, and the letter that went to all faculty announcing the opening. He encouraged publicity and participation to ensure the Garden Room's success. The Garden Room is opened to faculty, staff, graduate students and invited undergraduates.

The Committee discussed the new Alderman Cafe, which opened on September 1, 1998. The Alderman Cafe seems to be successful. It was noted that the cafe is closed from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m., and it was expressed that the hours probably should be extended. Mr. Bloomfield will contact Linda Lester to discuss this issue.

The Committee needs two additional members. Suggestions were made, and Ed Ayers, Chair of the Faculty Senate, will contact those suggested and ask if they are willing to serve on the Research and Scholarship Committee.

The Committee had a discussion regarding the status of the Forum for Contemporary Thought. Mr. Ayers showed the group a poster, which announces the fall schedule for the Forum. Mr. Bloomfield will request a schedule, and he will e-mail it to the Senators, asking that they forward it to their colleagues.

The next item on the agenda was a discussion of the status of the desktop computer initiative. Mr. Ayers gave a brief history of the ITC Desktop initiative. He said ITC is forming a small, short-lived, committee to review the issues. Mr. Bloomfield said Houston Wood and Julian Connally have agreed to serve on this committee. Mr. Ayers and Mr. Bloomfield will also serve on the committee.

Mr. Bloomfield distributed a draft of a working document, which outlines permanent activities and an annual theme for the Research and Scholarship Committee for the upcoming year. He asked the Committee for comments and suggestions. One initiative the document suggests is a "Life of the University Lecture Series." This initiative is not directly a part of the Forum for Contemporary Thought. It is envisioned to be a series of local speakers describing life in their parts of the University, intended to foster understanding and a sense of community across the University. Some of these speakers could be new or ongoing Chair holders. Perhaps four Chair holders could be identified over the course of a year, with maybe two Chair holders speaking at the same lecture series.

Also envisioned is a "Faculty Speakers Bureau," an outreach to people of the Commonwealth of Virginia, initially involving members of the Faculty Senate, but eventually broadening to the entire faculty. Talks should be posted on the web with background information on the faculty member that is giving the talk. It was suggested that a common form might be created for faculty members to complete, which would be posted on the web. The Faculty Speakers Bureau will be discussed at a future Executive Council meeting, and it will be announced to the Faculty Senate at the October 8 Senate meeting.

The second part of the distributed document was discussed, this is the "Annual Theme - Year One: Information Technology. Part of this annual theme would involve a series of local speakers, consisting of faculty, staff, and students, describing information technology projects underway at the University. Mr. Ayers suggested that this could be incorporated into the Forum, and sponsored by the Faculty Senate.

The Committee then discussed ways to get information from the faculty regarding their opinions on the development of information technology at the University. The Committee feels that the Senate should conduct an open-ended survey of faculty, staff, and students to get an idea of what problems, expectations, and plans people have for information technology. Mr. Ayers will develop a draft for the Committee's review, which will be sent to the Senate via e-mail, asking for comments.

The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.