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Governance Minutes ArchiveApril 14, 1993
Minutes approved without correction at the September 15, 1993 ULC meeting. UNIVERSITY LIBRARY COMMITTEE MINUTES April 14, 1993 PRESENT: Norm Dodl, ULC Chair, Education Gerald Luttrell, Engineering Joanne Eustis, Library Ken McCleary, Human Resources Edward Fox, Arts & Sciences Martha Rose, Staff Senate GUESTS: Earving Blythe Patrick Liverpool ABSENT: Carol Burch-Brown, Provost's Off. Scott Poole, Architecture Darrell Clowes, Faculty Senate Mark Smith, Veterinary Medicine Jeff Fithian, GSA James Yardley, Business Dawn Greenleaf, SGA Roderick Young, Ag. & Life Science MEETING SUMMARY: The meeting was called to order at 3:05 p.m. The February minutes were approved as submitted. No meeting was held in March due to lack of a quorum. There were too few for a quorum at this meeting as well; however, since there were invited guests present, the meeting was held. It was decided not to have a May meeting. N. Dodl will meet with J. Eustis to discuss items needing closure, and will communicate with members online for their approval. OLD BUSINESS DISTANCE LEARNING (E. Blythe, P. Liverpool): Earving Blythe, Interim Vice President for Information Systems and Patrick Liverpool, the Vice Provost for University Outreach and International Programs, have been charged by the provost to produce a strategic plan for the development of a distance learning program at the university. The plan is to be programmatically driven, with emphasis on the opportunities the program will present for university outreach, and is to propose technology solutions to meet the objectives of the program. Out of this will come a long-term plan that outlines the university's distance education role over the next 5 to 10 years. Ideally there would be several months available to prepare the plan and a budget for the 94-96 initiative, but there are very near-term deadlines imposed for certain aspects of the work. There is already a plan being circulated by Old Dominion University, in an alliance with the community colleges, which proposes to deliver undergraduate programs by distance learning technology. New state financial initiatives will be focused on problems associated with increased demands being placed on higher education. Virginia Tech needs to develop their plan as expeditiously as possible. An immediate task is to create an office of Distance Education and to develop this plan, supported by a budget. The plan will need to redefine what is meant by distance education; where should this university's focus be and who are the clients we will serve. Addressing some of the issues will be politically sensitive, and the reality of distance education will have ramifications for all aspects of the university. The committee working with P. Liverpool and E. Blythe is composed of B. Chaloux, R. Sorensen, T. Head, D. Hanna, T. Pratt, and J. Eaton. A two or three page draft vision statement will be developed, accompanied by a budget. This will be presented to Dr. Carlisle, the deans, and the Budget and Planning Committee. They then will decide whether to move ahead with a much more detailed and concrete document to send to Richmond. A question was raised as to whether placing the development and leadership for the program in the Provost's office suggests that the effort is seen not as part of the mainline academic mission of the university, but rather as an outreach effort similar to Continuing Education or the new European Study Center. P. Liverpool answered that this effort will be an integral part of the academic mission, and that the provost's office is responsible for addressing those issues. At this point the planning is focusing more on the academic programs than on the potential for outreach. A department that develops an idea for a program could then work through the Distance Education Office for assistance in making the case for the program, getting the required resources, and developing the needed technology. The point was stressed that the Distance Education Office could serve as a catalyst by suggesting opportunities, but would also provide assistance to departments developing their own initiatives. The role of the library was discussed. Library material for distance learners would need to include access to the electronic databases available to students on campus. In answer to a comment, E. Blythe stated that whatever develops in statewide distance education it will probably be a consortia, but Virginia Tech can define a unique niche. Community colleges should play a significant role in whatever initiatives we develop. CLARIFICATION OF MOTION PERTAINING TO LIST FOR INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION (N. Dodl): Only three responses have been received listing names of those designated to receive electronically distributed minutes and attachments. The process of sending to this list will begin next academic year and they will be transmitted after being approved at a subsequent meeting. Due to time constraints the New Business agenda items were not discussed. The May meeting would be after graduation, presenting a problem with obtaining a quorum. A motion was passed that N. Dodl coordinate the response to the Commission on Graduate Studies and Policies regarding our committee charge and membership and distribute electronically to members for approval. He will meet with J. Eustis on this and any other remaining business and communicate online with the membership. There will be no meeting in May. The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.
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Last modified on: Tuesday, 25-Sep-2001 13:57:54 EDT