Minutes of the University Committee
for September 29, 1999

The Committee met at 8:35 in 262 CART. Members present were Laura Gellott, Fran Kavenik, James Kinchen, and Lee Van Dyke. Also present were Larry Duetsch and Joanne Yantis.

The Director of the Union described her efforts to stimulate subscription sales of the Arts: Alive! performance series. She told the Committee that in recent years attendance at some performances in the series has been good, but that overall attendance has been low. Because of persistently low student attendance, the Parkside Activities Board has terminated its subsidy (of approximately $24,000) for the series and, although temporary funding has been arranged for the current season, the continuation of the series is now in jeopardy. Ms. Yantis asked for the assistance of the Committee in appealing to the faculty for direct support of the series through subscriptions and for indirect support through encouragement of student subscriptions. She pointed out that the current series offers substantial discounts to faculty, staff, and students.

Members of the Committee said that a viable arts series is needed to supplement the performances presented by campus arts organizations and to enable us to fulfill our liberal arts mission. The Committee agreed to strongly encourage faculty support to keep our arts series alive and also agreed to provide faculty nominees for the series' planning committee.

After responding to questions, Ms. Yantis left the meeting

The Committee reviewed and approved the agenda for the October 5 meeting of the Faculty Senate. They also discussed appointments to Task Forces on the Assessment of Prior Learning and on Alternative Delivery Systems and approved nominations for a special election to fill a vacant seat on the Full Professor Subcommittee of the Personnel Review Committee. Finally, they took under advisement comments provided by the Personnel Review Committee regarding Chancellor Keating's proposal that the exceptionally high productivity of some full professors be recognized and honored, perhaps by conferral of a special title.

The meeting adjourned at 9:40.