1. Approval of A&S
Faculty Meeting minutes from November 5, 2015
Dr. Bill Ross moved approval of the minutes of November 5,
2015. Dr. Tze Loo seconded. With no further discussion, the minutes were
approved by voice vote.
2. Report from
Undergraduate Research Committee — Dr. Kelly Shaw
Dr. Kelly Shaw,
Chair of the Undergraduate Research Committee, gave a report on the committee’s
work, including timelines and new provisions for group proposals.
3. Update from
Ad Hoc Committee for the BS Degree Requirements — Dr. Kristine Nolin
Dr. Kristine
Nolin, Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee for the B.S. Degree Requirements, updated
the faculty on the ad hoc committee’s charge and progress. The Ad Hoc Committee
has met with department chairs and departments to determine how to characterize
the distinction between the B.S. degree and the B.A. degree. In particular, the
Ad Hoc Committee has discussed with the departments the levels of mathematical
and analytical capabilities that are required by future scientists. Given a
diversity of response, the Ad Hoc Committee has prepared draft recommendations
for consideration. The draft recommendation provides for departments to
identify the mathematics or other quantitative courses required to complete
their Majors.
Dr. Nolin
answered questions and led discussion of the draft recommendations. The Ad Hoc
Committee will continue its work and deliberations. The Ad Hoc Committee will
present its final recommendations to the Academic Council at the beginning of
the next semester.
4. Motion for Ad
Hoc Committee to Study Faculty Governance in A&S — Dr. Jennifer Erkulwater
Dr. Jennifer Erkulwater
proposed a motion for an Ad Hoc Committee to Study Faculty Governance in
A&S. Dr. Erkulwater introduced the proposed motion, which is attached to
the agenda, and described the purposes of the proposed ad hoc committee.
Dr. Marcia
Whitehead proposed a friendly amendment: “We propose that the Nominating Committee appoint five six faculty
members to the ad hoc committee: one member from each of the tripartite
divisions, one director, and one program coordinator and one librarian. One
of the five six members should be the current chair of a department and
an additional one of the five six members should be a current or past
member of the DAC.”
Dr. Dan Palazzolo suggested the words “at least” in the following clause:
“The ad hoc committee should consider at least the following questions…”
With no further discussion, the proposed charge for the Ad Hoc Committee
was approved by voice vote.
5. Strategic
Planning Priorities—Dean Skerrett
Dean Skerrett
noted that President Crutcher is developing a Strategic Planning process that
will be launched next semester. He is currently undertaking a listening tour
across campus and among various constituencies. Dean Skerrett opened discussion
of the Inauguration Symposium on America’s Unmet Promise. She introduced the
LEAP Initiative, America’s Unmet Promise, which was shared again with the
agenda.
Faculty members
noted that the ideas about equity and inclusive excellence were new many people
on campus. Dr. Wu noted that the Inaugural Symposium panelists were forthright
about racial inequality and enjoined the faculty to specifically redress racial
inequities. Faculty members discussed noted that economic and racial
inequalities are overlapping but distinct problems.
Dean Skerrett
said that the AAC&U LEAP (Liberal Education and America’s Promise)
initiative combines research on high impact pedagogies with the goal of
fostering equitable outcomes for all students. Associate Dean Gruner noted that
many faculty are engaging in high impact pedagogies, such as inquiry-based
classes, faculty-mentored research, first year seminars, or co-curricular
travel (SSIR, Undergraduate Humanities Seminar); however, we do not always
identify them as high impact practices. There is research to demonstrate their
relative effectiveness on student retention and achievement.
Dean Skerrett
said that, as a community, we have not yet combined our work on high impact
pedagogies with our initiatives on access and inclusion. We have well-formed
and successful innovations, such as the SMART (Science, Math and Research
Training) course, and Patricia Herrera and Laura Browder’s community-based
courses. However, the strategic planning process creates an opportunity to study
these innovative examples and conceptualize their methods in the context of the
national challenge of inclusion and equity in higher education.
This
conversation builds on themes in the Richmond Promise that have been crucial to
the UR community and A & S faculty.
Dr. Elena
Calvillo suggested that it would be helpful to have an A & S faculty
discussion of America’s Unmet Promise on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day next
semester.
Dean Skerrett
invited Associate Dean Vincent Wang to talk about the teach-in sessions on the
recent terrorist attacks in Ankara, Beirut and Paris. This type of event allows
faculty, staff, and students to share expertise and experience in response to
crises.
