Dean Skerrett called the meeting to order at 10:32 a.m. The minutes of the
October 1, 2013 meeting were approved.
A motion was brought to the floor to discuss a proposed philosophy course. Dr. Gruner informed Academic Council of a similar course already being offered. Dr. Gruner stressed the importance of discussing new course proposals because faculty members are often unaware of similar courses that are already being offered. After discussion, the motion was approved.
•University of Richmond Threat Assessment: Steve Bisese and Pete Leviness
Dean Skerrett introduced Dr. Steve Bisese, vice president of student development, and Dr. Peter LeViness, director of CAPS. The dean welcomed them to Academic Council. Dr. Bisese gave a brief history of threat assessment at the University. The purpose of the Threat Assessment Team (TAT) is to identify and prevent, when possible, situations that pose a threat to the safety and well being of members of the community. The team meets regularly to discuss cases and identify appropriate responses. Since September of 2008, forty cases have been referred to TAT. Dr. LeViness stressed the importance of reporting concerns even when they seem small. They may be small pieces of a larger puzzle. The TAT addresses threats that concern students, faculty or staff members. Dr. LeViness offered to speak to individual small groups across the School of Arts and Sciences.
•Nominating Committee and the process of committee elections and appointments: Sydney Watts
Dr. Sydney Watts spoke on behalf of the nominating committee and informed Academic Council of its recent discussions surrounding the elections process. A major concern of the committee is the timing of elections as most elections are held in the spring prior to the submission of committee preference forms. The nominating committee will look closely at the committee preference forms when making committee appointments.
Dr. Watts presented a proposal to amend A&S representation on the University Faculty Council and asked for discussion. A faculty member asked why faculty representatives are nominated from tripartite divisions instead of quadripartite divisions. Dr. Watts explained that there is a broader pool from a tripartite division. It was suggested that all interdisciplinary studies programs should be represented as one unit. A faculty member asked if all elections could be held in the fall. Dr. Watts explained the difficulties of finding sabbatical replacements. Dean Skerrett proposed plans for creating a committee chair workshop analogous to the new department chair training. Dr. Watts will present this proposal during the A&S faculty meeting on Thursday, November 7, 2013.
•Engaging the history of the A&S Curriculum Committee:
The dean stressed her concern about Academic Council engaging course approval through the consent agenda. The dean’s office began to research the history of faculty governance around the curriculum. Associate Dean Malcolm Hill began a discussion on the curricular approval process that is currently in place at the School of Arts and Sciences. For new courses, revised courses, new majors, and revised majors, the directions on the webpage direct faculty to send the proposals to the point of contact in the dean’s office. Dr. Malcolm Hill outlined the review process and explained the steps prior to a proposal being placed on the consent agenda. Dr. Hill explained the charge of the curriculum committee and his thoughts regarding possible past practices for approving new courses. Members of Academic Council contributed to reconstruction of the history of faculty involvement in curricular change and approval. It was mentioned that the Curriculum Committee was originally designed to make changes to general education. There was discussion regarding past practices regarding the curricular approval process. It was mentioned by several Academic Council members that in the past, Academic Council approved new course proposals after a short discussion around each proposal. A faculty member suggested that any change to programs might be highlighted for review and discussion. Another faculty member suggested that courses might be posted to a blackboard site so that interested faculty members could raises questions or contribute ideas. Only then would the motion come to Academic Council. The dean would like to bring this issue before the A&S faculty during a spring faculty meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:48 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Zandria Haines
