Minutes
University Council Meeting
December 7, 1992



Dr. McComas called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.


Present: J. McComas, T. Goodale, R. Smoot, G.E. Russell, A.
Swiger, R. Sorensen, S. Crumwell (for J. Buffer), G.W.
Clough, G. Brown, S.J. Ritchey, J. Eustis, C. Stott, D.
DeWolf, M. Sporakowski, R. Olin (for A. McNabb), H.B.
Miller ( for P. Feret), R. Daniel, J. Falkinham, G.
Holtzman, J. Ficenec, T. Rakes, M. Murray (for A.
Snoke), D. Smith, D. Hewitt, K. Kubin, P. Miller, F.
Thye, J. Robertson, L. Richardson, K. Martin, X.
Jackson, C. Pinder, F. Phillips, C. Cox, M. Murray, T.
Higgins, K. Kahn, J. Darnell, T. Snead, M. Mottley, C.
Daniels

Guests: Bill Burleson, Spectrum; Marilyn Norstedt, Faculty
Senate; Pat Hyer, Office of
the Provost; Susan MacDonald, Office of the Provost

Absent: E.F. Carlisle, C. Morton, P. Torgersen, L. Blythe, E.
Stout, P. Eyre, J. Robinson, J.S. Tlou, J. Rothschild,
G. Bunce, N. Dodl, R. Heller, A. Townsend, M. Jackson,
M. Belsley

1. Adoption of Agenda

A motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda as
submitted. The motion passed.

2. Approval of Council Minutes of November 2, 1992

The University Council minutes from the meeting of November 2,
1992 were approved with corrections.

3. In successive motions, Council approved the minutes of the
following meetings.

a. Commission on Classified Staff Affairs, September 24 and
October 7, 1992.

b. Commission on Faculty Affairs, September 25, October 23, and
November 6, 1992.

c. Commission on Graduate Studies and Policies, October 7, 1992.

Dr. Sporakowski noted the ongoing and controversial discussion
of proposed parking privileges for graduate teaching
assistants, i.e. whether or not paid graduate students should
have legitimate access to faculty/staff parking. He did not
anticipate a resolution to this issue any time soon.

d. Commission on Research, September 23, October 14, and October
28, 1992.

e. Commission on Student Affairs, October 15 and November 5,
1992.

f. University Advisory Council on Human Rights and Social
Responsibility, September 29, 1992.

4. For Information Only

a. Revisions to the Faculty Handbook

Ms. Susan MacDonald, Research Associate in the Office of the
Provost, spoke about the current inconsistencies in the July 1,
1992, edition of the Faculty Handbook, which principally result
from the various changes to the university's governance system.
She noted examples of some of the necessary revisions, including
title changes, changes in nomenclature from the use of
"extracollegiate" to "non-college based" faculty, the minor
revisions necessitated by the creation of the College of
Forestry, as well as other more substantive changes. When Dr.
DeWolf inquired whether all further corrections would require
Council's approval, Dr. McComas responded that while all
substantive changes, such as changes to the faculty grievance
procedures, should certainly come before Council for approval,
the more routine changes in terminology could be made by common
consensus. Ms. MacDonald asked Council members to notify her
directly, preferably in writing, about additional changes that
should be made to the Faculty Handbook.

5. Announcements

Dr. McComas spoke at length about SCHEV's proposed restructuring
of higher education. He noted that while the Commonwealth of
Virginia faces the same challenges as other states in terms of
funding entitlement programs, this state will also have to
effectively educate an inordinately large influx of college
students. Dr. McComas expressed concern about some of the
preliminary proposals made by the State Council of Higher
Education to absorb the expected increase of approximately 65,000
students, while providing little additional resources to
Virginia's colleges and universities. He also questioned SCHEV's
proposal to decrease research funding for higher education, and
stressed the importance of research -- not only for the three
principal research universities in Virginia, but also for the
state's entire economy. Dr. McComas added that Virginia Tech has
not done a good job in communicating the importance of research,
especially to undergraduates who could become more involved in
research well before graduate school.

Dr. McComas then described several other components of the SCHEV
plan, including the proposed discontinuance of remedial programs
at public universities and the extremely negative effects this
will have for the urban universities and the predominantly black
institutions. On a more positive note, he stated that the SCHEV
plan would allow universities to recover more of the overhead
that is currently returned to the state, and would also provide
universities more internal control over managing fees. He added,
however, that any potential increase in revenue as a result of
these changes would be more than offset by the increase in
support for the influx of new students. In closing, Dr. McComas
stressed the importance of compiling a cooperative statement to
present to the State Council on Higher Education before their
vote in January, advocating more internal control over the
management of increasing numbers of students and decreasing
resources.

Dr. McComas updated Council on the various searches in progress,
including the newly opened search for the Dean of the College of
Arts and Sciences, to be chaired by Dr. Carlisle. He added that
Dr. Carlisle is now negotiating the final candidate for the
position of Vice Provost for Outreach and International Programs.

On the subject of the Hotel Roanoke, Dr. Smoot informed Council
that fundraising efforts are on schedule, with a final assessment
due in January as to whether sufficient funding will be available
to more forward with the proposed renovations. He noted that
even though fundraising activities have produced substantial
support, the property will be sold if insufficient funds are
raised to support the projected restoration.

Dr. McComas addressed the importance of the university's global
outreach efforts in order to remain nationally and
internationally competitive. He highlighted the need to
"internationalize" the curriculum, and to develop liaisons with
businesses and organizations worldwide.

The meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,




Cornel N. Morton
Executive Assistant to the President



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