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Faculty Senate Retreat 1998

Faculty Senate Retreat - September 4, 1998

12:00 - 4:00 p.m. -- Alumni Hall - The Ballroom

The second annual Faculty Senate Retreat began with lunch at 12:00 noon.

After lunch, Edward Ayers, Chair of the Faculty Senate, introduced himself and gave the welcoming remarks. Mr. Ayers reported on past, present, and future activities of the Senate. Mr. Ayers made note of the Blue Ribbon Commission of Higher Education in Virginia, and he also noted that Virginia has a new Director of the State Council on Higher Education in Virginia. He said this is an important year for University faculty. The Senate is strong, in part due to the efforts to create the new organization of the Senate. These efforts can be directly attributed to Thomas Hutchinson, the 1994/95 Chair of the Faculty Senate; Daniel Larson, the 1995/96 Chair of the Faculty Senate; Rebecca Kneedler, the 1996/97 Chair of the Faculty Senate; and Jahan Ramazani, the 1997/98 Chair of the Faculty Senate.

Mr. Ayers recognized the five standing committees of the Faculty Senate, and the chairs of those committees. They are the Executive Council, which Mr. Ayers chairs; the Academic Affairs Committee, chaired by Richard DeMong; the Committee on Research and Scholarship, chaired by Louis Bloomfield; the Faculty Grievance Committee, chaired by James Clawson this year, and for the previous three years, chaired by Thomas Hutchinson; and the ROTC Affairs Committee, which has been chaired by Houston Wood for the past two years. He also noted two University committees which have Senate representation, they are the Committee on Information Technology, which Jeffrey Hadden serves on as the Senate representative, and the Athletics Advisory Council, which Robert Emery serves on.

Mr. Ayers introduced David Gies, Past Chair of the Committee on Research and Scholarship, and Chair-Elect of the Faculty Senate.

Louis Bloomfield, Chair of the Committee on Research and Scholarship, was unable to attend the Retreat, and Mr. Gies reported on the initiatives being carried forward by that Committee. He spoke about the newly created forum for contemporary thought, which is being directed by Rita Felski, the new Alderman Cafe, the renovated Garden Room, and the new web calendar of events at the University. Mr. Gies encouraged everyone to support the Garden Room so that it will be a successful venture.

Mr. Ayers introduced Richard DeMong, Chair of the Committee on Research and Scholarship, who reported on the ongoing work of his Committee. Mr. DeMong gave an update on the Teaching Initiative program. He told the group that the Teaching Resource Center will conduct a teaching seminar on November 4. The seminar will be in Newcomb Hall from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., and some of this year's teaching grant recipients will report on their specific projects. The Academic Affairs Committee will issue a new call for proposals in late December or early January, with a deadline of February 1, 1999, for submitting proposals. His Committee is also working on a proposal from the Division of Continuing Education for a new adult degree program, which the Academic Affairs Committee will be involved in approving. Mr. DeMong noted that other projects will be undertaken as they arise.

Ed Ayers thanked all of the standing committees for their hard work and dedication. He reported that he has met with students who want to be involved with faculty/student relations and interactions. He also met with Jack Syer, Executive Director of Alumni Hall, to encourage a closer relationship with Alumni. In addition Mr. Ayers, along with David Gies and Richard DeMong, attended the Faculty Senate of Virginia meeting on October 31, 1998. The Senate is strong and able to face various challenges, and the Senate as a whole has collective power, Mr. Ayers emphasized. Individual Senators will be asked to participate more this year. Mr. Ayers said the Retreat brings the opportunity for the Senate to start a dialogue with students, and student's concerns are also faculty's concerns. In addition, the Senate will enrich the sense of connection to one another and to the Commonwealth. Later this year, the Senate will try to understand how information technology is changing the culture at the University, and will develop a comprehensive plan with information technology, working closely with the Office of Information Technology and Communication.

Mr. Ayers expressed thanks to the Senators. He then introduced John Casteen, President of the University of Virginia.

Mr. Casteen spoke on the activities for the year and issues connected with them, including the University's long-range academic plan and a set of objectives. Mr. Casteen said the University needs to strengthen the arts and sciences. He also said fundraising efforts will continue. Mr. Casteen said he has worked with Alumni who are willing to support faculty endeavors at the University . Other areas of focus that he mentioned were studio arts, international programs, and public service. Mr. Casteen noted that the sciences and fine arts need more money in order to be more competitive with other institutions. Mr. Casteen also said the University's faculty members need to strengthen social programming for incoming students. Finally, Mr. Casteen spoke briefly about the Qatar initiative, saying there are lots of opportunities and lots of issues involved. This initiative will be carefully reviewed, with a consulting firm involved, before any decisions are made. A question and answer session followed.

Mr. Ayers thanked Mr. Casteen for attending the Retreat.

Mr. Ayers welcomed students to the Retreat. He noted that an intellectual community involves both students and faculty. He asked, "What stands in the way of intellectual community?" Mr. Ayers said the Retreat will define initiatives for the Academic Affairs Committee to pursue this year.

The meeting then went to "individual table discussions," which were made up of both faculty and students, regarding the questions raised by Mr. Ayers regarding intellectual community. Each table appointed a designated speaker to report on the perceived obstacles discussed at their table. Below are some of the obstacles identified in these discussions.

  • The emphasis for faculty is not on spending time with students, but more on the reward system, i.e. promotion and tenure
  • The size of the University works against mentorship
  • Who initiates the contact
  • Finding convenient places to meet
  • Bad advising pairings
  • Hearing and considering input from both parties in decisions, i.e. Rush/Honor System
  • Inappropriate/poor advising
  • Large class size
  • Newer students intimidated or not aware of faculty availability
  • Under-use of office hours
  • Unenthusiastic offer of office hours
  • Lack of academic direction
  • Poor communication on both sides
  • Differing priorities/time schedules for faculty and students
  • Faculty timid about "imposing"
  • Physical barriers, locations far apart and hard to get to
  • Poor communication between departments and schools
  • Lack of knowledge regarding what is happening around Grounds
  • Everyone has time constraints
  • Perception by students that professors seem too busy to meet

It was noted that students would like to have a "mentorship" role with faculty.

Mr. Ayers announced that Gordon Stewart, Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, has generously offered the use of a Cavalier Card (upon request) for faculty to take students, and students to take faculty, to the Garden Room.

The group took a break and rejoined their table groups to define goals, solutions, and strategies to address the obstacles identified. Below is a list of these goals.

  • In regard to advising, faculty need more training and a rotation system to avoid burnout
  • Advising is too business-like and needs to be more in-depth
  • Interaction should be provided based on social and shared interests
  • In order to better match students and advisors, the First Year information form should be revised to include a questionnaire regarding interests, i.e., science, social sciences, humanities, and the arts
  • Smaller classes for First Years
  • More USEMS
  • More team teaching
  • Having faculty fellows programs -- faculty with fraternities and sororities, and other student groups, with meals and a relaxed setting
  • Departmental, student-run interest groups, colloquia's, sub-groups according to interests
  • Student/faculty lunches at Newcomb Hall with guest speakers
  • Garden Room lunches
  • Strengthen residential colleges
  • Lecture series
  • E-mail communication
  • Include families at student/faculty gatherings
  • Establish "sacred time," before or after classes for students and faculty to have conversation and coffee
  • Establish a web site for faculty to post openings for RAs with specific skills (a clearing house type page)
  • Have faculty proactive in establishing office hours -- initiating and inviting students
  • Formal and informal advising, the University should encourage intellectual shared experiences, with widely appealing speakers/topics
  • Look for or establish central meeting spaces
  • Departmental workshops
  • Establish a space for a faculty column in the Cavalier Daily for daily or weekly publication
  • Faculty should develop the habit of reading the C.D.
  • Develop departmental group e-mail lists with voluntary subscription

It was suggested that students should be invited to participate in some of the Academic Affairs Committee meetings. Mr. DeMong gave everyone his e-mail address, and he said suggestions and/or ideas are welcome. His e-mail address is rfd@virginia.edu.

The meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m.