Meeting
Minutes of
September 11, 2007
Minutes taken by Jim Collier
32 Pamplin Hall
Senators
in Attendance: Akers Mike; Alwang Jeff; Anong Sophia;
Arthur Sean; Bell Martha Ann; Billingsley Randy; Burger Carol;
Centeno Virgilio; Clayton Edward; Clements Terry;
Cothren Richard; Craig Steve; Duke Jack (John C.); Easterling Sam; Ehrich Roger;
Eriksson Ken; Evans Jack; Floyd John; Freeman Larry; Fox Thomas; Glasson George;
Grange Rob; Grisso Bobby; Grossman Larry; Harris Roger; Hicks Jim; Hughes Owen;
Jarrott Shannon; Jelesko John; Jones Jeryl; Klein Brad; Larson Timothy; Littlefield
Jim; Long Gary; Mann Jeff; Marand Herve; Martin Steve; Martin Tom; McMillan Gail;
McQuain Margaret; Moyo Leslie; Nachlas Joel; Nelson Doug; Nieto Antonio; Odendaal
Hardus; O'Keefe Sean; Paretti Marie; Parker Daniel; Pfeiffer Doug; Pleasant Robert;
Redican Kerry; Riley Sam; Rinehart Susanna; Russell David; Schreiber Maddy; Shadle
Brett; Shingles Rick; Shoemaker Don; Smith Deborah; Smith Wanda; Sotelino Elisa;
Standley Eric; Surjan Terry; Teulon Fabrice; Vandsburger Uri; Viehland Dwight;
Welch Dennis; Welfare Laura; Wood Cynthia.
Guests: John
Dooley (Vice Provost for Outreach and International Affairs); Karen DePauw
(Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean); Dean Eileen Hitchingham (Dean,
University Libraries); Paul Metz (Past President Faculty Senate and Director
of Collection Management)
President Kerry Redican convened the meeting at 7pm.
1. Approval of Agenda (Kerry Redican):
Approved.
2. Approval of August 21, 2007 Minutes:
Approved.
3. John Dooley (Vice Provost for Outreach and International Affairs) and
Karen DePauw (Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean): "VT-Engage"
-
John
gave a brief introduction. One of the victims’ parents suggested
this initiative. Student engagement is part of Strategic Plan. This concept
to honor
the lives of those lost on April 16, by challenging every faculty,
staff and student to commit at least 10 hours of service. This translates
into 375000 community
service hours. On October 16 (6 month anniversary). this will be
launched on the Drillfield. The program will run from Oct 16 2007 to
Apr 16 2008. This is
a way for the institution to move forward and a positive way to
honor the lives of those we lost. Participants include extended campuses,
students overseas for
instance Riva San Vitale, alumni. The intent is for it to continue
and be sustained beyond April 2007.
-
Karen
is chairing one of the work teams on faculty and staff
involvement. Margaret McQuaine is the FS representative.
Representatives will be contacting their constituents to get
them involved.
- Consider how you will share it with graduate students as
a group and getting them involved;
- Consider how you and faculty as a group can get involved;
- Go beyond Blacksburg;
- Invite staff to be a part of this; Unique logistics such
as staff working hours; staff can devote 16 paid hours;
- A web based pledging system will be activated on Oct 16th;
- For more information: www.engage.vt.edu.
4. Dean Eileen Hitchingham (Dean, University Libraries) and
Paul Metz (Past President Faculty Senate and Director of Collection Management):-Update
on issues affecting University Libraries
-
Eileen
gave a brief ‘positive’ report of the library. In the university
strategic plan the target for library expenditures has been
the 30th percentile. VT library is near the 10th percentile compared
to it’s SCHEV peers. UVA
is at the 60thpercentile. Online or printed journals typically
go up by 5-8% per year. The library also has to adjust not only with
inflation, but also with
exchange rates when buying journals from foreign sources.
She also presented survey results of student satisfaction with library
services. Lastly, the ranking
of the library compared to all research libraries in the
US and Canada – VT
library ranks 100th. The university budget is broken into
two parts: the operating budget and salaries. The library buying power
has reduced significantly over
the last decade.
-
Paul
Metz: “Competing cost Centre”. The problem is the inability
of the budget to keep up with inflation and operating
needs. Paul circulated a letter he had sent to the Deans outlining severe
cutbacks in library services
due to the budget situation. He shared use statistics,
samples of database usage and cancellations, and wish lists. Some journals
have been “front-loaded” (i.o.w.
paid in full for perpetuity).
-
Many
faculty are unhappy with the constant moving and reorganizing in the
library and especially the expense
of the intended coffee
shop.
5. President’s Report (Kerry Redican): BOV meeting; Faculty Senate of
Virginia
-
Budget
was major item. Earlier they spoke of a $240million shortfall and another
$400million shortfall. The trend is not encouraging.
State is calling
it housing
market related and tax refunds. We have not met our
base budget adequacy and Charter does not protect us. Tuition will probably
be used to offset
the shortfall.
2.5% this year and probably 5% permanent reductions
next
year. Deans were given tremendous flexibility. There is a lot of
push back in Richmond,
for instance
given April 16th. The situation is currently still
in a very fluid state and we won’t know much until December.
-
Dwight
Shelton will be asked to come in and talk about it. Salary increases
are not on
the line.
-
Faculty
Senate of Virginia:
Kerry went to the FS of VA the previous Saturday. They gave
us a resolution, acknowledging April 16th. It would’ve
been nice to hang it if we had a place to hang it. Bills
being supported: Tuition waivers for children of faculty;
Optional Retirement, retirement contributions. Increasing
the multiplier for
VRS.
6. Vice President’s Report (Hardus Odendaal):
BOV Academic Affairs Committee
-
University
Accountability: Voluntary system of accountability program (NASULGC)
-
The
Provost serves on a national committee that was formed in response to
Secretary Spelling’s taskforce report on accountability in higher
education. He presented a brief report on the role and expected outcomes
of this initiative by the National
Association of State Universities and Land-Grant
Colleges.
-
The ‘value-added’
Scorecard of University Strategic plan: Dixon Hanna presented this
quantitative measurement tool for outcomes associated
with the 2006-2012 University
Strategic
Plan,
and explained
the metrics being
used.
-
John
Dooley gave a presentation of VT Engage.
-
New
Appointments: Kevin McDonald and Sue Ott Rowlands were introduced
and given
opportunity to give a brief
presentation each.
7. Past President's Report (Susanna Rinehart):
None.
8. Commission/Committee Reports: None.
9. New Business
-
An
open position is to be filled on Commission on University Support.
-
Ann
Kilkelly has been nominated to serve on University P&T committee
and need another nomination.
(Doesn’t need to be on
FS.)
-
Volunteers
are requested to write resolutions for slain colleagues:
1. Christopher James Bishop
2. Jocelyne Couture-Novak
3. Kevin P. Granata
4. Liviu Librescu
5. G.V. Loganathan
6. Austin Cloyd
-
Suggestions
for Faculty Senate White Papers:
Kerry asked for volunteers
to write Faculty Sentate
white papers. (Examples:
Faculty Salaries, University
Libraries,
Diversity.)
The white paper is
fact finding and educational
to the reader
about the issue, but
is not partisan.
10. Executive Session:
A motion was passed to enter into Executive
session for the remainder of the meeting.
11. Adjourn:
Kerry adjourned the meeting at 9pm.
Faculty
Senate,
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061
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