October 6, 2011
A meeting of the University Council was held on Thursday, October 6, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. on the Monroe Park Campus in the University Student Commons, Commonwealth Ballroom B, located at 907 Floyd Avenue.
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. F. Douglas Boudinot, Dr. James Hinterlong, Mr. Mark Smith, Ms. Cynthia Andrews, Dr. David Hanson, Dr. Laura Moriarty, Dr. Francis L. Macrina, Dr. Henry Rhone, Dr. Quincy Byrdsong, and Mr. John Ulmschneider.
Faculty: Dr. Ayn Welleford, Mr. Ryan Patton, Mr. Kenneth Wood, Dr. Allen Lee, Dr. D. Robley Wood, Dr. Joan Pellegrini, Dr. Scott Ross, Dr. Krzysztof Cios, Dr. Frank Gupton, Dr. David Fauri, Dr. June Nicholson, Dr. Robert Andrews, Dr. Holly Price Alford, Dr. Maryanne Collinson, Dr. Blue Wooldridge, Dr. Tai L. Guo, Dr. Linda Haddad, Dr. Annie Cheang, Dr. Pamela Kovacs, Ms. Kimberly Brady, Ms. Kimberly R. Separ, and Dr. Leslie Stratton.
Classified staff: Ms. Beverly Beaver, Ms. Melanie Boynton, Ms. Jacqueline Glover, Ms. Linda Johnston, Ms. Eleanor Sharp, and Ms. Kimberly Lewis.
Students: Ms. La Juana Chambers, Ms. Patricia Brock, Mr. Kyle Gigliotti, Mr. Asif Bhavnagri, Mr. Jae Lee, and Mr. Trevor Stauffer.
Guests: Dr. John Nestler, Dr. Gary Tepper, Dr. Charles Jennett, Dr. Napoleon Peoples, Dr. Reuban Rodriguez, Ms. Kim Isringhausen, Mr. Kevin Harris, Dr. Thomas Huff, and Ms. Pam Lepley.
Dr. Rao welcomed Council members. A correction was made to the minutes of the September 1, 2011 University Council meeting. After noting this correction, the September 1, 2011 University Council meeting minutes were approved.
A Proposal to Create the Department of Oral Health Promotion and Community Outreach, School of Dentistry was presented. Ms. Isringhausen discussed highlights of the proposal and responded to questions.
A Proposal to Establish a Division of Geriatric Medicine within the Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine was presented. Dr. Nestler presented history, discussed highlights and responded to questions.
A Proposal to Create a Spin-off Degree Program: Ph.D. in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering was presented. Dr. Tepper discussed highlights and responded to questions.
A Request to Revise and Rename the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Foreign Language to the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in World Cultures and Languages was presented. Dr. Mays discussed highlights and responded to questions.
A Report of the President was presented. Dr. Rao’s topic of conversation was VCU’s Quest for Distinction plan. Discussion items included: 1) the President thanking individuals who participated in the creation of Quest; 2) how each individual at VCU plays an important role in VCU’s Quest for Distinction; and 3) encouraging individuals to have talking points that can be utilized when communicating Quest. A long discussion followed. Dr. Warren added that Quest is designed to provide the metrics for identifying challenges, allowing for the flexibility to find one’s own fit in. Dr. Rhone added that Quest will have an effect on the culture at VCU and how the university is perceived beyond the local environment. Dr. Rhone went on to further add that Quest can positively create change internally, by challenging individuals to see their own importance. He suggested that Quest has the potential to also create external change, VCU being seen as an institution driven by a commitment to something.
The meeting adjourned at 4:16 p.m.
