University Archives of Virginia Tech

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Governance Minutes Archive

October 5, 1992

                               Minutes

                     University Council Meeting

                           October 5, 1992

 

 

 

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

 

 

  Present:       J. McComas, C. Morton, E.F. Carlisle, E. Stout, T.

            Goodale, E. Blythe, T. Tillar (for G.E. Russell), H.

            Doswald, R. Sorensen), N. Dodl (for J. Buffer), G.

            Brown, S.J. Ritchey, P. Eyre, J. Eustis, C. Stott, D.

            DeWolf, M. Sporakowski, A. McNabb, P. Feret, R. Daniel,

            G. Holtzman, J. Ficenec, T. Rakes A. Snoke, R. Olin, D.

            Smith, D. Hewitt, K. Kubin, R. Heller, J. Johnson (for

            F.Thye), J. Robertson, K. Martin, X. Jackson, C.

            Pinder, C. Cox, M. Murray, T. Higgins, K. Mottley, M.

            Belsley, M. Jackson, T. Snead

 

  Guests:   Bill Burleson, Spectrum;  Michael Hurd, Residence Hall

  Federation

 

  Absent:   M. Ridenour, P. Torgersen, R. Smoot, C. Steger, G.W.

            Clough, J. Robinson, P. Miller, F. Phillips, J.

            Darnell, G. Bunce, A. Townsend, K. Kahn

 

 

 

  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 September 14, 1992.

 

  The University Council minutes of the meeting of September 14, 1992

  were approved with corrections.

 

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

  following meetings.

 

  a.  Commission on Graduate Studies, April 15, 1992.

 

  b.  Commission on Faculty Affairs, April 24, 1992.

 

  c.  Commission on Student Affairs, April 16 and July 23, 1992.

 

  d.  Commission on Undergraduate Studies, April 27, 1992.

 

  4.  Announcements

 

  Prefacing his remarks about the importance of promoting the needs

  of higher education to the executive and legislative branches of

  state government, Dr. McComas discussed several unanticipated

  expenditures that the university must deal with, including

  responding to the new storm sewer law (now a requirement in the

  Commonwealth).  This will involve the short-term improvement of

  on-campus drainage systems, and the longer-term resolution of

  surface water problems between the town and university.  He also

  stated that the passage of the American Disabilities Act (ADA) of

  1990 will eventually require that all university programs be made

  accessible to persons with all types of physical disabilities.

  The ADA mandates that all new university construction and

  renovation be designed for access by the disabled.  Dr. McComas

  also mentioned that the university controls several underground

  storage tanks that must be bought up to current environmental

  standards.  In discussing other university needs, Dr. McComas

  highlighted the importance of faculty and staff salary increases.

  He then described the university's state-wide efforts to promote

  passage of the bond referendum, such as a letter-writing campaign

  to Virginia Tech's 65,000 alumni.  He urged that the entire

  university community work together to ensure a favorable outcome

  to the bond referendum.

 

  Mr. Mottley described to Council the efforts that the Student

  Government Association has made toward increasing student voter

  registration.  He estimated that well over 1,000 new students

  were registered as a direct result of just two on-campus voter-

  registration drives.

 

  Dr. McComas reported that even though surveys indicate that

  higher education is highly valued in the Commonwealth, there have

  been some recent negative criticisms about the way universities

  are run -- particularly with regard to the perceived tension

  between research and teaching.  Dr. McComas spoke about the

  importance of recognizing and addressing these issues so that

  universities can more effectively communicate the dual importance

  of undergraduate education and graduate education/research.  In

  particular, Dr. McComas discussed the increasing importance of

  university-based research, especially as this country moves away

  from a defense-based economy.

 

  5.  Question/Answer Forum

 

  Dr. Kubin requested clarification of a recent letter concerning

  the "reappointment" of tenured faculty.  Dr. Carlisle responded

  that the letter erroneously include the word "reappointment," and

  future annual letters would merely confirm a tenured faculty

  member's status and annual salary.  Dr. McComas added that there

  has been no change in the university's philosophy about tenure.

 

  Dr. Snoke inquired about the submission of committee minutes to

  University Council.  Ms. Good reported that committee minutes

  should be sent to the principal commission to which that

  committee reports.  Commissions would then decide whether or not

  to append those minutes to the commission minutes that are sent

  to University Council for approval.  Dr. Snoke suggested that a

  chart listing those reporting relationships be developed and

  circulated to each commission and committee chair.

 

 

  The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.

 

                                Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

                                Cornel N. Morton

                                Executive Assistant to the

  President

 

 

 

 

 

  CNM:lsg

 

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