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Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes - December 3, 2021

Date/Time/Location: Friday, December 3, 2021, 1:00 PM, Zoom Webinar

Members Present: Hanadi Al-Samman, Alan Beckenstein, Aaron Bloomfield, James Fitz-Gerald, Joe Fore, Bob Hirosky, Joel Hockensmith (Past Chair), Tish Jennings (Chair Elect), Susan Kirk (Chair), Venkataraman Lakshmi, Kathryn Laughon, Carol Manning, Susan Modesitt, Rob Patterson, Andy Pennock, Jim Savage

Guests/Others Present: Maite Brandt-Pearce (Vice Provost Faculty Affairs), Mike Citro (Provost COS), J.J. Davis (EVP-COO), Brie Gertler (Vice Provost Academic Affairs), Maria Lane (Admin Support), Liz Magill (Provost), Brian Pusser (Parliamentarian)
Meeting called to order
1:00 PM

November 2021 EXCO Minutes
Susan Kirk shared minutes from November EXCO to review.

Motion to approve minutes:
Second:
For: 6 Against:0 Abstain: 0
Motion Passes

Nominating Committee Report
Joel Hockensmith, Committee Chair shared information via email to the full senate:

  1. The UVA Faculty Senate Bylaws explicitly state in section VII.E.v. that nominations for the “Faculty Representative to the Board of Visitors” are to be made in December. In the absence of a December Faculty Senate meeting “nominations from the floor” are invited by submission to any member of the Nominating Committee:

    1. Joel W. Hockensmith, jwh6f@virginia.edu (Emeritus)

    2. Tish Jennings, paj9m@virginia.edu (Education)

    3. Rob Patterson, rep2z@virginia.edu (Commerce)

    4. Adria Laviolette, ajl4h@virginia.edu (Arts & Sciences)

    5. JT Stranix, jts3v@virginia.edu (Medicine)

    The nominating committee will confirm that the nominees are willing to be considered and solicit written statements which will be posted prior to the January meeting of the Faculty Senate. The role of the nominating committee as specified in the Bylaws is to accept nomination and develop the slate. Nominees will be invited to make comments at the January meeting. Elections will be held via an electronic poll during the week following the January FS mtg.

  2. At-Large Nominations to serve on the FS Executive Council.

    1. We have two positions opening.

    2. The Nominating Committee is required to have TWO NOMINATIONS for each At-Large position. Therefore, we need four nominees.

    3. Deadline:  February Meeting to allow sufficient time to garner written statements, give oral statements at the March FS mtg and hold elections.

  3. Nominations for “delegates” to other organizations and committees:

    1. Athletic Advisory Council

    2. Colonnades Club Board of Directors

    3. Financial Strategic Transformation Committee

    4. Faculty Senate of Virginia (state organization with representatives from all state higher education institutions)

Self-nominations are welcome.

Early Look: Spring 2022 Meeting Dates/Times
Susan Kirk and Maria Lane shared overview of current results from the When2Meet poll for Spring 2022 Faculty Senate and EXCO meeting scheduling. Based on the results, we will work to vary dates and times throughout the week.

Final selections will be shared via email.

Academic Affairs Committee Report
Rob Patterson shared updates from the Committee:

  • Full Senate approved streamlining procedure at last meeting. Faculty senate delegates authority to AAC to approve proposals for concentrations, tracks, minors, certificates (except post-professional certificates). Any senator may request discussion within one week of posting.

  • Degree, new programs, post-certificate process remains the same (AAC to EXCO to Full Senate). Outliers also included in this process.

  • Currently looking at graduate certificate, undergraduate certificate, proposed new concentration, proposed graduate track addition.

    • Have approved 2 actions for the College, 1 pending for Engineering, 1 pending for McIntire. Hope to vote on these before end of semester.

Conversation with President Ryan & Provost Magill
President Ryan shared brief updates:

  • VA Gubernatorial Transition

    • Have met with Governor Elect twice

      • Brief but productive conversations

      • Discussed research funding, lab schools

      • Unsure of priorities for Higher Ed at this point

    • New leadership in the House

      • Speaker and Majority Leader are both well-known to UVA

    • Planning to again make joint request of the Legislature from the Council of Presidents on issues we have in common

      • Will also look for support for Capital Projects (Arts Center, Research Building in Biosciences)

  • BOV Meeting

    • Area updates and proposal on tuition/fees

    • Will structure presentation as follows:

      • One item that is going well

        • Engagement efforts for faculty, students, staff

      • One new challenge

        • Rising demand for mental health services

      • One area where I would like feedback

        • How we can foster conversation among alums/students about benefits of living in a community of trust, values that underly the Honor Code.

Provost Magill shared brief updates:

  • Covid Update

    • Returned to much greater sense of normalcy across Grounds this semester

    • Grateful for Faculty Senate leadership

    • Public Health team has been closely monitoring new variant

    • Announcement Monday: recommendations, guidance

      • Expect Spring term will look like the Fall term

      • Will give date by which we will decide on indoor masking

  • BOV Meeting

    • Academic Student Life: provide interim update on undergraduate advising work

    • Malo Hutson, Dean of Architecture, will give early impressions/thoughts

    • Melody Barnes will discuss Karsh Institute of Democracy

    • Tuition subcommittee working on the process by which we set tuition

      • Set tuition in December, coincides with admission cycle

      • Set tuition for two years (rather than one year)

      • Recommending 3.5-4.9% tuition/fees increase

      • Board policy is HEPI +1% (currently behind that, 2 years of 0 increase)

Discussion
Q: Did the Governor Elect mention any increase in support for the University?
A: No, have not discussed at this point.

Q: Can you talk about how you decide to make statements via email to the University community?
A: Don’t send a community-wide email unless it is something that is very important to the UVA community. May update things of less significance on social media. Commented on the close of the trial because it was significant to the community as a whole.

Q: What research dollars was the Governor Elect referring to, state or federal?
A: Not sure, will clarify with him.

Q: Any sense that the Governor Elect may go against current mask/vaccine mandates? What happens in this scenario?
A: UVA’s policies based on Executive Order. Many different ways in which there could be tension. There would be a wide range of options for the University. Council of Presidents may be something we can utilize to come together on issues like this.

Q: Gotten reminder about export regulations. Has anything changed there?
A: Not new, obligated to send reminder annually.

Q: Foreign travel guidance policy. Having issues with registration on TravelUVA.
A:  Liz will speak with Steve Mull, VP Global affairs. Will also look into issues with TravelUVA.

Q: Can you talk a little about Coach Mendenhall’s departure?
A: Sad to see him go, but he is ready for a break after decades of coaching. Sure that we will find someone who shares those values that Bronco advanced.

Q: Not just students but everyone (faculty, employees, medical staff) need mental health support. Access is an issue. Much more global problem.
A: Will make sure to acknowledge it as a broader issue. May not be able to get into it at this BOV meeting but will acknowledge that.

Mid-Year Update from Committee Chairs
Hanadi Al-Samman, Chair Grievance Committee

  • Committee has been dealing with ongoing case, started in August

  • Have had consultations with some faculty, deciding whether or not to launch formal grievance

Alan Beckenstein, Chair FRRRW Committee

  • No updates at this point

Bob Hirosky and Kevin Lehmann, Co-Chairs Research, Teaching & Scholarship Committee

  • Ongoing discussions

    • What teaching might look like long-term, post-Covid

    • Visas

    • Peer-review plans, increasing focus on DEI, unclear how this is managed in each school

From Brie Gertler: Peer-review guidelines are school by school, lots of attention about academic freedom specifically in College, question of whether focus on DEI concerns content of research-ongoing conversations. Provost is aware and in conversations with the Deans as well.

Venkataraman Lakshmi, Finance Committee

  • Big push is the new financial software

  • Susan Kirk, for future discussion: Have always allowed senators to choose committees based on their interested. Is there a better way to populate committees? Is there a need for every senator to be on a committee?

New Business
Susan will provide brief update to BOV.

  • It seems like the Board wants to make sure that what they’re hearing from the administration is representative of faculty experiences.

  • Last year, focus was on getting through Covid.

  • If there are items I should raise, please let me know.

    • Planning to share what occupied time in the fall: PROV-004.

Meeting adjourned

Motion to Adjourn: Alan Beckenstein
Second: Bob Hirosky
Meeting adjourned: 2:38pm