|
University Archives of Virginia Tech |
Virginia Tech
Governance Minutes ArchiveFebruary 14, 1994
Minutes CALS Council Meeting Monday, February 14, 1993 - 1:30 p.m. 1810 Litton Reaves Hall Dean Andy Swiger called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Present: A. Swiger, E. Collins, P. Ballard (for R. Grayson), B. Cannell, B. Allen, S. Jubb, B. Manley, G. Norton, J. White, M. Frazier, B. Ravlin, S. Wolfe, and S. K. De Datta. J. Elledge, K. Burke, P. Schultz, J. Judy, and J. Gardner participated via conference call. Absent: M. Fitzwater, B. Vinson, S. Walton, B. James, G. Evanylo, W. Purcell, J. Myers, J. Riddell, J. Smith, B. Hockman, and M. Jones Guests: J. Crunkilton and M. Denbow. 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 December 13, 1993 The CALS Council minutes from the meeting of December 13, 1993 were approved as submitted. 3. New Business There was no new business. 4. For Information (a) Budget Amendments - L. A. Swiger - Gov. Wilder proposed in his Dec. 20 budget a 4.9% cut for Research/Ext. Divisions; these were the only real cuts in higher education. However, new monies had been requested in the instructional budget which were not approved, and these can be considered as cuts as well. They are also holding 1-l/2% hostage, and each state university must submit a plan on restructuring to SCHEV; if that plan is accepted, then the 1-l/2% will be returned to the University. There are more serious cuts planned in the second year of the instructional budget. Governor Allen is putting limitations on tuition raises that can be made in higher education. President Torgersen has agreed to the following: 1) a language amendment to restructure the University creating two divisions instead of three - the University Division (consisting of the old instructional division and the core research programs outside the Ag. Expt. Station, as well as public service not included in Extension) and Coop. Ext./Ag. Expt. Station Division combined (consisting of the two directors who would report to Dean Swiger). 2) an amendment to restore the cuts. 3) two additional amendments - one for each of our budget initiatives (C-FAST and Information Systems). Dean Swiger discussed how the proposed new division would work regarding budget submission and the relation to the four colleges. A lengthy discussion followed on the Coop. Ext./Ag. Expt. Station Division merger, as well as support from localities. (b) Provost's Reallocation Plan - L. A. Swiger - The reallocation plan is on hold until the budget is finished. (c) Phase II Action Plans - L. A. Swiger - Provost has requested a draft of our plans by March 15 and a final draft around June 1. Department Heads have been asked to give us their ideas, but the majority of the writing will be done centrally by the Dean and his staff. 5. Update on Enrollment - John White - The University has extended the application deadline for freshmen from the first of February until the end of February. The number of applications for the University is down by 15%, supposedly because of all the inclement weather. To date, for the CALS, we are about 3% below compared to the same time last year (601 applications last year, 582 this year). Too early to tell about offers since the deadline is April 15; should wind up with about 420 offers, right now we have 359 offers out. Also, too early to predict for transfers. Based on comparative figures to last year, we are right on target; Anticipate 150 transfer applications and about 100 new transfer students. The University is finally going to have a policy on class attendance. The policy has been through the first reading of the University Council and most likely it will be approved. The proposed class attendance policy would leave it up to the instructor as to how lenient or how severe he/she would enforce the policy; the instructor could even ignore the policy if so desired. Dr. John Crunkilton commented on the Two-Year Ag. Technology enrollment - 5 acceptances for next fall; 4-5 additional applications to be processed. There were also some applicants that have been put on hold to see how well they do the rest of their senior year. This spring, we had 13 that were accepted, and 12 showed up. 6. Report from Student Assembly - Michelle Frazier - Chair -- At December meeting, corrections were made to by-laws. Also discussed the environmental science major, new cross walks around the college, club rooms and resources, and graduate student admissions. Next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 15. 7. Report from CALS Faculty Association - Eldridge Collins - President -- The Exec. Committee met in early January; meeting was not well attended since classes were not in session. Working primarily with upcoming elections. Trying to get Dr. Liverpool to attend the next Ag. Faculty Meeting to discuss his views on how Cooperative Extension fits with the Public Service aspect of the University. 8. Reports from Committee/Commission Chairs (a) Suella Wolfe - Chair - Commission on Classified Staff Affairs -- distributed handout showing partial response to recent survey. Budget reductions, Phase II, and the loss of faculty and staff have caused the College to carefully look at how these activities are conducted. The fact that we have fewer people to do the work suggests that we need peak productivity. To that extent, both individual employees and their supervisor must identify and implement improvement and identify and correct activities that are hampering productivity. Response to one of the survey questions regarding the rating of supervisor indicated that 71% of those responding rated their supervisor as good (36.3%) or excellent (34.7%). This response does indicate that there is room for improvement. Another survey question showed that 81.5% of the staff felt that their supervisor should be evaluated by staff. A number of offices on campus already conduct upward evaluations or Supervisor Reviews. Reviews of Dean Swiger, the Associate Deans, Department Heads, and Directors have included some measure of upward evaluation. The College's Commission on Classified Staff Affairs has begun preliminary discussions on how Supervisor Reviews could be conducted. The Commission will be developing proposed procedures to conduct Supervisor Reviews, and a pilot program will be proposed within the College. (b) George Norton - Chair - Commission on International Program Policies -- The Commission on International Program Policies has met three times with the discussion focused on issues related to the reward system for faculty to participate in international activities. Policies related to overhead, salary savings, P&T, and identification of PIs and co-PIs on grants have been discussed, developed, or refined. The next meeting in April will focus on curriculum and student involvement in international programs. (c) Bill Ravlin - Chair, Commission on Research Program Policies -- Three areas which the Commission have been working on are: 1) changing of human environment in the college and a discussion of its impact on teaching and extension. While the impact on teaching and extension is pretty well-known, we really don't have a handle on how it will impact research. Mike Williams from the Computer Center attended the last Commission meeting, and he indicated they were going to have some policy on computing resources that would be out in the next couple of months. A program/workshop is being planned through the Ag. Faculty Association focusing primarily on research issues in the new computing environment. A lengthy discussion followed on the forthcoming changes in computer technology on campus. 2) Pat Phipps, Tidewater AREC, is working on a conflict of interest model; hopefully, some direction which this Commission needs to take can evolve out of that study. 3) A response to the mission goals and objectives for the College's sustainability program will be discussed at the next Commission meeting. (d) Pat Ballard (for Randy Grayson - Chair) - Advisory Committee on Strategic & Resource Planning -- Cmte. has met three times; Randy Grayson is Chair; other members include: Vernon Boggs, Sue Tolin, Frank Gwazdauskas, David Vaughn, Tom Covey, Danny Belcher, Pat Ballard, and Dean Swiger. The major purpose of this Committee is to serve as an advisory group to Dean Swiger and CALS Council on budgetary changes. Most of the discussions have centered around the 1.5 reallocation, the budget amendments, and 1ST Strategy. Dean Swiger indicated that the revised strategic plan has been published and distributed. Dean Swiger reported on the searches that are underway in the College: (a) Department Head - Animal & Poultry Sciences - Dr. Gary Minish was interviewed last week and awaiting responses from those that participated in the interview. If they are positive, that search may be wrapped up shortly. (b) Department Head - Entomology - Have interviewed two of four candidates; the other two are scheduled. (c) Department Head - Food Science & Technology - Committee has recommended that we interview two or three candidates. (d) Two Directors Searches - Both committees have meetings scheduled to review the applications received. Larry Moore is Chairman of the Search Committee for the Expt. Station Director, and Craig Thatcher is Chairman of the Search Committee for the Extension Director. The meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Martha Fitzwater Secretary
VT History | Digital Library and Archives | Special Collections | University Archives
Send questions or comments to:
Tamara Kennelly, University Archivist
University Libraries
Virginia Tech
P.O. Box 90001
Blacksburg, VA, 24062-9001URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu/minutes/cac/1994/February+14++1994.html
Last modified on: Tuesday, 25-Sep-2001 13:57:15 EDT