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April 4, 1994

  University Council Minutes, April 4, 1994

 

 

  Dr. Paul E. Torgersen called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.

 

  Present:   P. Torgersen, C. Nickerson, F. Carlisle, M. Ridenour, L.

  Peters, C. Steger, R. Smoot, T. Goodale, J. Lilly (for E.

  Blythe), G. Russell, L. Swiger, P. Knox (for P. Edwards),

  B. Paterson (for B. Bates), R. Johnson (for R. Sorensen),

  W. Worner, E. Henneke, P. Meszaros, J. Eustis, P. Eyre,

  E. Holford, M. O'Neill, C. Stott, B. Williams (for L.

  Shumsky), R. Mitchiner, J. Robinson, R. Olin, J.

  McKenna, E. Brown, G. Holtzman, J. Ficenec, D. De

  Wolf, G. Brown, W. Greenberg, E. Kornegay, N.

  Castagnoli, P. Miller, K. Kubin, E. Holford (for N. Dodl),

  W. Knocke, D. Smith, M. Sporakowski (for V. Fu), L.

  Richardson, K. Martin, C. Pinder, B. Misra, S. Wheeler,

  C. Mitchell, T. Schell, B. Rowland, F. Homan, R.

  Stephenson, and J. Perkins.

 

  Guests:     P. Hyer, Provost Office; L. Moore, Governance

  Committee; L. McMahon; Spectrum; T. Settle, Division of

  Continuing Education; K. Leclaire, SGA; L. Aleutz,

  Student Budget Board; S. Ginther, SGA, J. Perrelli, SGA,

  B. Sayre, and S. Tubbs, Tech Independent..

 

  1.     Adoption of Agenda

 

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

  motion passed.

 

  2.     Approval of Council Minutes of March 21, 1994

 

  A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes from

  the meeting of March 21, 1994 with corrections.  The motion

  passed.

 

  3.     First Reading, Commission on Faculty Affairs Resolution

  CFA 93-94E, Revision of the Process for University-Level

  Review of Proposals for Reduction in Force Associated

  with Discontinuance or Reorganization of Programs.

 

  Dr. Bill Williams presented Commission on Faculty Affairs

  Resolution CFA 93-94E, Revision of the Process for University-

  Level Review of Proposals for Reduction in Force Associated

  with Discontinuance or Reorganization of Programs.  Dr.

  Williams explained that this resolution will replace a portion of

  the existing policy on "Reduction in Force" which was written

  and adopted before the Advisory Council on Strategic

  Budgeting and Planning came into existence.  The new

  resolution clearly defines a method whereby the President

  consults with the unit in question, requests a mutually

  acceptable proposal, and presents it to the Advisory Council on

  Strategic Budgeting and Planning.  Finally, the Advisory

  Council will forward the proposal with its own recommendations

  to the University Council for action.  Once University Council

  has acted upon the Advisory Council's recommendations, the

  President will form an ad hoc committee for the purposes of

  ensuring the rights, privileges, and interests of affected faculty.

 

  Concern was expressed among Council members regarding a

  change in the prescribed membership of the Advisory Council

  on Strategic Budgeting and Planning.  Dr. Williams assured

  Council that this augmentation would exist only for the

  expressed purpose of dealing with a reduction in force situation.

  The augmented membership would not be in effect for matters

  that this Council normally deals with.  Dr. Williams responded to

  questions regarding commission representation on the

  augmented council by pointing out that the commissions would

  be chosen according to their involvement in the reduction in

  force; relevancy might vary from time to time depending on the

  situation.  In most cases, the Commission on Faculty Affairs,

  Commission on Staff Affairs, Commission on Graduate Studies

  and Policies, and the Commission on Undergraduate Studies

  and Policies would be included.

 

  Further discussion will continue on April 18 when Dr. Larry

  Shumsky presents the resolution for second reading and vote.

 

  4.     First Reading, Commission on Public Service and

  Extension Resolution 1993-941, University Policy on

  Continuing Education.

 

  Dr. Jerald Robinson presented Commission on Public Service

  and Extension Resolution 1993-941, University Policy on

  Continuing Education.  Dr. Robinson explained that the new

  resolution would replace the university's continuing education

  policy which was implemented in 1984.  Dr. Robinson pointed

  out that a new director of Continuing Education arrived in 1992

  and at that time an initiative was begun to update the policy and

  make it administratively and governmentally correct.  Dr.

  Robinson explained that the new resolution was a result of

  collaborative efforts from college representatives, the

  Commission on Faculty Affairs, the university attorney, the

  Provost's Office, and the Virginia Cooperative Extension

  Service.

 

  Further discussion will occur at the upcoming meeting when Dr.

  Robinson presents the resolution for second reading and vote.

 

  5.     First Reading, Commission on Student Affairs Resolution

  93-94A, Location of Registered Student Organization (RSO)

  Accounts.

 

  Dr. Jim McKenna presented Commission on Student Affairs

  Resolution 93-94A, Location of Registered Student

  Organization (RSO) Accounts.  Dr. McKenna explained that this

  resolution, initiated from graduate and undergraduate

  associations, asked that not all of the money generated by the

  students themselves in their own money-raising activities be

  kept in their own account but that money that comes to them

  from student activity monies be maintained within the university

  account.

 

  A question was raised on how students were polled (or

  surveyed) regarding this issue.  A representative of the SGA

  Finance Committee explained the polling process and the

  subsequent majority vote.

 

  At this point, Dr. McKenna asked for a deferral of first reading

  since the academic year is about to end and the students would

  like to see this issue resolved before they depart.

 

  Dr. Ray Smoot suggested that we not defer first reading so that

  further discussion could occur regarding procurement and

  liability implications as well as observance of the Virginia

  Procurement Act.  Therefore, further discussion will be held at

  the upcoming meeting when Dr. McKenna presents second

  reading and vote.

 

  6.     Second Reading, University Council Resolution 1,

  Proposing that Membership Lists be Moved from the Body

  of the Constitution to the By-Laws.

 

  Dr. Pat Hyer presented University Council Resolution 1,

  Proposing that Membership Lists be Moved from the Body of

  the Constitution to the By-Laws for second reading and vote.

  Dr. Hyer gave a brief overview of the resolution.

 

  The Student Government Association brought forward an

  amendment stating that proportions of administration, faculty,

  staff, graduate and undergraduate students be secured in the

  constitution so that even if the commission/committee structures

  change, the proportions of representation could not change

  without an amendment to the constitution.  Dr. Hyer explained

  that there are existing passages in the constitution which

  guarantee student representation but that proportions of

  representation might change as colleges reorganize.  The SGA

  amendment failed.

 

  After further discussion, a majority affirmative vote of actual

  Council membership was achieved and the resolution passed.

 

  7.     Second Reading, University Council Resolution 2,

  Proposing a Change to Article VII of the University Council

  Constitution.  Amendment to the resolution:  The

  Commissions on Faculty and Staff Affairs may elect a vice

  chair if desired; however, the chair positions will be held by

  the vice presidents of the respective Senates.

 

  Dr. Pat Hyer presented University Council Resolution 2,

  Proposing a Change to Article VII of the University Council

  Constitution for second reading.  Dr. Hyer explained that this

  resolution provides early election of a commission vice chair so

  that continuity of leadership can be assured.  The vice chair will

  serve as needed during the year, assuming the role of chair in

  the following year.  A majority affirmative vote of actual Council

  membership was achieved and the resolution passed.

 

  8.     Second Reading, University Council Resolution 3,

  Proposed Changes to Article IX, Section 2, of the

  University Council Constitution.  Amendment to the

  resolution:  The standing committee chair shall be from

  among the committee members.  The chair shall be

  appointed by the President, recommended by the host

  commission with appointment by the President, or elected

  by the committee, as specified in the By-Laws.

 

  Dr. Pat Hyer presented University Council Resolution 3,

  Proposed Changes to Article IX, Section 2, of the University

  Council Constitution for second reading.  Dr. Hyer explained

  that this resolution provides a more flexible method of

  appointing committee membership for standing university

  committees.  Commissions will identify who the members will

  be, how they will be selected, and how their chairpersons will

  be elected.  The commissions will present their committee

  structures to University Council in the fall of 1994-95 for a vote,

  and at that time they will become part of the University Council

  By-Laws.

 

  The Student Graduate Assembly strongly suggests that

  undergraduate representation continue to be an election

  process of the SGA and not open to the commissions'

  determination as to student representation.  After further

  discussion, a majority affirmative vote of actual Council

  membership was achieved and the resolution passed.

 

  9.     Second Reading, Commission on Graduate Studies and

  Policies Resolution 93-94A, 4000 and 5000 Level Courses.

  After a brief discussion, the motion passed.

 

  Dr. Reginald Mitchiner presented Commission on Graduate

  Studies and Policies Resolution 93-94A, 4000 and 5000 Level

  Courses for second reading.  Dr. Mitchiner explained that this

  resolution replaces the current method for undergraduate

  enrollment in 5000-level courses.  The new process allows

  undergraduate students to enroll as dual enrollees and also

  permits them to enroll in 5000-level courses within their

  department, with permission from the course instructor, and

  with the approval of their department head.  They will no longer

  need permission from the dean of the Graduate School.

 

  After two failed amendments and extensive debate, a majority

  vote was obtained and the resolution passed.

 

  10.    In successive motions, and after brief discussions, Council

  approved the minutes of the following meetings.

 

  a.     Approval of the minutes of the Commission on Public

  Service and Extension, September 14, 1993, November 9,

  1993, December 14, 1993, and February 8, 1994.

 

  b.     Approval of the minutes of the Commission on University

  Support, February 1, 1994.

 

  11.    For Information

 

  a.     Minutes of the Advisory Council on Strategic Budgeting and

  Planning, February 16, 1994.

 

  12.    Announcements

 

  Mr. Jake Perkins, Student Government Senator, introduced the

  newly elected officers:  President-elect, Mr. Seth Ginther; and

  Vice-president elect, Mr. Jon Perrelli.  Mr. Carl Mitchell, vice

  president of the Graduate Student Assembly, introduced Mr.

  Brian Sayre, Vice-president elect.  Council welcomed these

  new members.

 

  13.    Question/Answer Forum

 

  A suggestion was made to Dr. Torgersen regarding the

  university adopting a policy on alcohol abuse.  It seems there is

  a perception that Virginia Tech has compromised on this issue

  in the past, and that a statement regarding alcohol abuse might

  be timely.  Dr. Torgersen thanked Council for this suggestion

  and said he would take it under advisement.

 

  Dr. Torgersen thanked everyone for the extraordinarily large

  turnout.

 

  The meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.

 

  Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

  Carole Nickerson

  Executive Assistant to the President

 

  /bjl

 

 

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