Commission on Public Service and Extension
Minutes of Meeting on November 15, 1995
Room 400-D Burruss

Members Present:  Ralph Badinelli, Kevin Fenton, Kermit Kwan, Deb
Williams, Norman Marriott, Pat Edwards, Ted Settle, Terry Swecker, Ann
Hertzler, Lee Skabelund, Bill Mashburn, Doug McAlister, and Dawn Barnes
and Fred Krimgold via conference call.

Alternates: Gerry Cross for James Parkhurst, Dave Barrett for Clark
Jones, Eldridge Collins for James Jones

Members not Represented:  Sharon Diggs, Jim Littlefield, Betsy Campbell,
College of Education, SGA

1)  The meeting was convened and chaired by Ralph Badinelli.  The
agenda was adopted with one addition by Pat Edwards regarding a proposal
to establish COTA fellows.

2)  The chair announced that minutes of the last meeting had been
approved.

3)  The following changes have been made to the Commission:  the
undergraduate student representative has resigned due to a conflict in
his schedule and he is working on securing a replacement; Steve Parson
from the College of Education has resigned,  - as long as the College of
Education exists, we expect a representative from this college will be
appointed; and Fred Lamb from the College of Forestry and Wildlife has
been replaced by James Parkhurst.

4)  COTA information - Pat Edwards relayed information from the last
Dean's Meeting regarding the COTA program.  The General Assembly
provided funding to support 5.0 FTE named professorships associated with
COTA.  Harold Kurstedt and Minnis Ridenour have proposed to use these
funds to develop a COTA Fellows Program.  Fellows would be expected to
design and implement continuing education programs and would receive
supplements to their salary for summer pay or hire behind costs.

A proposal is being developed by a committee from the Dean's Meeting to
suggest a process for selecting COTA Fellows.  The committee has
proposed a Selection Committee composed of four members from the
Commission on Public Service and Extension and four members from the
Continuing Education Academic Council.  The proposal is currently under
review by the Provost's office.

Ted Settle indicated that there is $225,000 endowment for COTA operation
costs.  Approximately $400,000 has been used for incentive funds over
the past two years.  These funds have been awarded by the Academic
Council to faculty who responded to a call for proposals to develop
continuing education programs.  Ralph Badinelli requested a list of
these recipients be distributed to the Commission.  The question came up
as to the location of the continuing education programs.  Ted stressed
that Hotel Roanoke and/or Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center
were not mandatory but were encouraged.

Ralph Badinelli expressed a concern as to how involvement in COTA will
effect promotion and tenure process.  Pat Edwards said it is handled
individually by each college but suggests it should be weighed as
strongly as on-campus teaching.

Ralph Badinelli committed the Commission to work fully with this program
and encourage its use on campus.

5)  Public Service Awards - Deb Williams reported she is awaiting
funding approval from Dixon Hanna for the mailing.  She has determined
it will cost $4200 for honorarium, plaques and letters.  The Commission
advised her to send them out because of the late date.

6)  Distance learning and continuing education - Fred Krimgold feels
the Commission for Outreach should focus its attention on the effective
exploitation of distributed education technologies to accomplish the
goals of University Outreach.  Our current satellite system was cutting
edge 15 years ago.  We have many assets on campus and the Commission
should be concerned that they are directed appropriately toward the
outreach mission.  We need to define outreach audiences and services in
light of dramatically enhanced communications capability.  This has
implications for the organization of faculty time and activities.  The
Commissions could provide some constructive leadership in this area.  It
could collaborate with Erv Blythe and Tom Head.

Terry Swecker disagreed with the statement that "faculty don't want to
change and take advantage of telecommunication available today". 
Faculty are interested but the hardware is not available at many sites.

Pat Edwards requested that Virginia Cooperative Extension inform the
Commission on what they are doing with telecommunication.

7)  Ted Settle explained Commonwealth College which has now been
approved by University Council.  They offer graduate courses in NVa so
people who live in the area can take courses without applying for a
specific degree program.  They submit an application with $25 and pay
normal tuition.  The tuition is administered by the Graduate School and
split several ways (to dept., for marketing, etc.).  The only
pre-requisite is a bachelors degree.  This is separate from taking
continuing education courses for CEU credits.  Due to the late hour,
discussion on this topic will be continued at the next meeting.

Doug McAlister just returned from checking with Provost Office regarding
Public Service Awards.  Dixon advised to move forward with mailing of
letters promising the commitment is there.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:40 pm.  The next meeting will be Monday,
December 11 @ 2:00 in 400-D Burruss.