September 1, 2011
A meeting of the University Council was held on Thursday, September 1, 2011, at 3 p.m. on the MCV Campus in the Larrick Student Center, located at 900 Turpin Street.
The following members and alternates were present:
Officers: Dr. Michael Rao, Chair, Dr. Beverly Warren, Vice Chair, Ms. Kelly Kerr, Recording Secretary, and Mr. David Ross, Parliamentarian.
Administration: Dr. James Coleman, Dr. Nancy Langston, Dr. David Sarrett,
Mr. Mark Rubin, Ms. Cynthia Andrews, Dr. David Hanson, Dr. Laura Moriarty, Dr. Henry Rhone and Dr. Quincy Byrdsong.
Faculty: Dr. Ayn Welleford, Mr. Ryan Patton, Mr. Matt Wallin, Dr. Allen Lee,
Dr. Alfred Certosimo, Dr. Joan Pellegrini, Dr. Scott Ross, Dr. Gabriel Reich,
Dr. Krzysztof Cios, Dr. David Fauri, Dr. Robert Andrews, Dr. Marilyn Miller,
Dr. Maryanne Collinson, Dr. Steven Crossman, Dr. Shawna Perry, Dr. Linda Haddad, Ms. Fay Parpart, Dr. Annie Cheang, Dr. Mary Jane Kennedy, Dr. Jenny Jones, Dr. Pamela Kovacs, Ms. Kimberly Brady, Dr. Leslie Stratton and Ms. Lynne Turman.
Classified Staff: Mr. Jose Alcaine, Ms. Beverly Beaver, Ms. Melanie Boynton, Ms. Jacqueline Glover, Ms. Linda Johnston, Ms. Eleanor Sharp, and Ms. Pamela Mason.
Students: Ms. La Juana Chambers, Mr. Derek Mires, and Mr. Tayeeb Faruk.
Guests: Dr. Frank Baskind, Dr. Napoleon Peoples, Dr. Reuban Rodriguez, Dr. Thomas Huff, and Ms. Anne Buckley.
Dr. Rao welcomed Council members. The minutes of the May 5, 2011, University Council meeting were approved.
Dr. Warren shared with Council that Dr. June Nicholson will chair a task force charged with reviewing the University Council Bylaws, to include a Proposal for Postdoctoral Scholars, presented by Dr. Nichols-Casebolt. Dr. Nicholson will share the recommendations of this taskforce with University Council.
A Report of the President was presented. Dr. Rao discussed various items to include: 1) the financial state of the university; 2) admiration at how the university community handled the earthquake; 3) the Quest for Distinction plan; 4) the university’s commitment to ensuring student success; 5) the six-year plan which Drs. Rao and Warren presented earlier this summer to state officials.
Dr. Rao went on to discuss a commitment to increase the number of graduates without increasing enrollment, the hiring of thirty additional faculty, and the potential for student mentoring. Dr. Rao shared his excitement about the university’s building projects to include: the new home for Social Work, the Technology Showcase Facility, West Grace Street Learning Villages, and the potential for student success through service learning.
Dr. Rao welcomed new members of the university team: Dr. Charles Jennett, Interim Dean for the School of Engineering, Dr. Kevin Harris, Special Assistant to the Provost for Advancing Diversity, Dr. Bill Cole, Executive Director of Assurance Services, Dr. Kevin Allison, Academic Assistant to the President, and Dr. David Hanson, Vice President for Finance and Administration.
Dr. Warren invited Council members to attend the Faculty Convocation, at which the president would be making the State of the University Address, to be held on Thursday, Sept. 8 from 4-6 p.m. in the Hermes Kontos Medical Science Building.
The meeting adjourned at 3:39 p.m.
