University President John T. Casteen, III and Provost Gene Block attended the first meeting of the Faculty Senate for the academic semester yesterday to discuss matters related to the upcoming Capital Campaign, the University's proposed Ten-Year Plan, as well as faculty recruitment, retention and welfare.
Faculty Senate chair Kenneth Schwartz opened the meeting, noting that the upcoming years' thematic phrase was "Faculty Moving Forward."
Casteen then presented his President's Report, focusing on the public kick-off of the Capital Campaign next Friday and the conclusion of the first phase of this fundraising endeavor.
"Faculty members have been very good in helping to shape what's happening," he said.
Block then gave his Provost's Report where he presented an outline for the University's upcoming reaccredidation process as it relates to the Board of Visitor's Ten-Year Plan as well as current endeavors to raise faculty salaries.
According to Block, after examination of CASE documents, Senate Planning Committee documents and feedback from deans, one issue has arisen as a recurring area in need of improvement.
"Enhancing student-faculty engagement at the University is a theme that seems to resonate with a large number of people," he said.
According to Block, the Board has outlined eight goals related to this issue within its Ten-Year Plan, including an increase in faculty size in order to decrease the faculty-student ratio of the University to 1:15.
The Senate's newly formed Faculty Recruitment, Retention and Welfare Committee voiced similar concerns.
Committee Chair Jennifer Harvey outlined issues that had been raised regarding faculty staffing, including the need for a faculty representative on the BOV Education Policy Committee and increased diversity, along with the revision of housing costs and family and medical leave policy.
Harvey then asked Senate members for possible additions to the list. In response, members reported the need for more intradepartmental communication.
"More encouragement of team teaching and interdisciplinary connections among schools and between departments within schools [is needed]," English Prof. Alison Booth said.
In his presentation, Block also noted the University's consideration of more interdisciplinary study in the proposed creation of two new professional schools, a School of Public Health and School of Public Service.
The Senate will meet again at the end of November to continue discussion of these issues and possible solutions, as well as other topics such as diversity, growth, libraries and athletics.
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