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 12, 1997

David Gies, Chair of the Committee on Research and Scholarship called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. In attendance were Jahan Ramazani, Paul Cantor, Julian Connolly, Dan Larson, Paul Mahoney, Susan McKinnon, Ryan Nelson, Craig Sarazin, Marty Snell

Introductions were made. Mr. Gies recognized Jahan Ramazani, Chair of the Faculty Senate. Mr. Ramazani thanked the Committee members for agreeing to serve.

Mr. Gies gave a brief overview of the Committee, noting that it was a new committee. The Committee was created to address research and scholarship issues, as part of the reorganization of the Faculty Senate committees.

To address issues to enhance intellectual community at the University, which were defined at the Faculty Senate Retreat on September 5, 1997, the Executive Council gave the Committee on Research and Scholarship its charge, which is: 1) To investigate the feasibility of establishing a faculty center as a mechanism to foster intellectual community at the University. (What are the advantages and disadvantages of creating a faculty center or of developing an existing facility?); 2) To investigate the feasibility of establishing common spaces as a mechanism to foster intellectual community. (How can common spaces around Grounds be created or enhanced for the formal and informal exchange of ideas among faculty, among students, and between faculty and students?); and 3) To investigate the creation of opportunities for building intellectual community. (How can reading groups, workshops, work-in-progress groups, research colloquia, seminars, lecture series, and other interdisciplinary vehicles be fostered and encouraged? How can time be set aside for them and information disseminated?)

The Committee discussed the elements of the charge, and ideas to explore in trying to find solutions. Mr. Gies appointed three subcommittees to address the three charges. The subcommittees will develop their schedules and report back to the entire Committee at its next meeting.

At the next meeting, the group will assess what has been done and how to move forward, and prepare a brief statment to be shared with the full Senate at the October 7 Senate meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m.