University of Virginia General Faculty Council (GFC)

Minutes: May 9, 2000 12:30-2:00 PM, Room 389 Newcomb Hall

Members Present: Frank Butros, Patricia Foley, Joe Gieck, Brad Holland, William Keene, Aaron Laushway, Barbara Millar, Jane Penner, Jan Redick, Max Salinas, Betsy Tucker

Members Absent: Maurice Lipper, Ellie Wilson

Others Present: Anne Bromley ("Inside UVA"), Chuck Callaghan (Facilities Management), Alan Cohn (Facuty and Employee Assistance Program), Donal Day, Joyce Pastors, Victor Luftig

The meeting was chaired by Jane Penner

1. Minutes of the April 11, 2000 meeting were approved.

2. Report from the Chair: Jane Penner reported receiving the resignation of Nancy Garlick (College of Arts and Sciences) from the Genreral Faculty Council. One year of her three-year term remains.

3. Election/Appointment of Officers for 2000-01. The following positions were filled for the coming year:

    • Chair: Patricia Foley
    • Co-Chair: Brad Holland
    • Secretary: Jan Redick
    • Elections Chair: Betsy Tucker
    • Elections Co-Chair: Max Salinas
    • Communications Chair: Jan Redick
    • Policy Committee Chair: Jane Penner
    • By-Laws Chair: Joe Gieck
    • Representative to Faculty Senate Academic Affairs Committee: Aaron Laushway
    • Representative to Faculty Senate Research Committee: William Keene
    • Representative to CCUG: Barbara Millar

4. Policy on the General Faculty—Reporrt on Status of Revision Process

Former General Faculty Council member Joyce Pastors, who has kindly agreed to remain involved and contribute her years of experience with the policy issue, reviewed the history of the Policy on the General Faculty for benefit of new council members. She reported that in several email communications with Alex Johnson he has indicated the following: he and Kathy Reed do not feel the need to respond to council suggestoins for policy revisions in writing; and he is prepared to continue the revision process by attending a future council meeting to discuss issues with members.

General discuuson on the procedures and status of policy revisions followed. Several members spoke in favor of securing legal representation for the council for the duration of the revision process. One avenue of legal assistance would be via the office of the University's General Counsel. Some members expressed concern that securing legal representation would be interpreted as adversarial, and wished to avoid that possibility.

There was general consensus that council does not wish to be confrontational, but should stand firm on desired policy wording. Further, it was felt that council does, at the very least, need an "impartial observer" as the revision process unfolds.

Folowing general discussion, several decisions were reached: (1) Alex Johnson and Kathy Reed will be invited to attend the June meeting of the council; (2) Trish Foley will contact the General Counsel's office to gather information about legal representation; and (3) Trish Foley will contact the Faculty Senate Academic Affairs Committtee to explore the possiblity that someone from that body might serve as an impartial observer.

Owing to the lengthy discussion anticipated for the June meeting, it was decided to dispense with lunches for that one meeting.

5. Trish Foley, outgoing Elections Chair, reported on the status of the election process. To date the only vacant position for which there are no nominees is in Administration. Elections will be complete in about two weeks.

6. The meeting was adjourned at 2:15 PM.

NEXT MEETING: June 13, 2000, 12:30PM Room 389 Newcomb Hall

Submitted by: Jan Redick