Minutes of the University Committeee
for January 19, 1999

The Committee met at 8:10 in 262 CART. Members present were Tim Fossum, Laura Gellott, Fran Kavenik, James Kinchen, and Lee Van Dyke. Also present were Larry Duetsch, Jerry Greenfield, Esther Letven, and Anne Statham.

The Committee agreed to change its weekly meeting time for the Spring semester from 8:00 on Tuesday (the time previously announced) to 11:00. The Committee also agreed to ask the Chancellor to reschedule the Spring Faculty Meeting to February 18 for the purpose of discussing the draft report of the Plan 2008 Task Force.

The Committee heard Ms. Letven and Professors Greenfield and Statham describe their proposal to establish an Engaged University Council that would coordinate and support community involvement now sponsored by the Provost's Office, the Office of University Relations, the Career Center, the Center for Community Partnerships, and the Teaching Center (which they would like to see expanded to become a Faculty/Staff Development Center). The Council would facilitate community-based learning by assisting in work that is already underway in many departments/units across campus. As a possible example, it was suggested that the Council might create a Local Government Institute to provide problem-focused, multi-disciplinary, experiential learning opportunities for students and training for local government employees.

Members of the Committee asked how this Council would relate to the University Planning Council and suggested that it be established as a subcommittee of the Planning Council. Members of the Committee also expressed concern that significantly greater emphasis on community-based learning, if that results, would discourage other valuable activity, without clear benefit to the University or the community. It was suggested that the proposal be brought up for discussion at the Spring Faculty Meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 9:20.