MINUTES OF THE ACADEMIC AND STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Academic and Student Affairs Committee met at 2:30 p.m. on January 9, 2003 in the Jefferson Room, Grawemeyer Hall with members present and absent as follows:

I. Call to Order

Having determined a quorum present, Chair Livingston called the meeting to order at 2:45 p.m.

• Approval of Minutes, October 28, 2002

Ms. Abrams made a motion, which Prof. Ensign seconded, to approve the minutes of October 28, 2002. The motion passed unanimously.

II. Information Item: Presentation by Debate Team

President Ramsey acknowledged the recent article in the Courier-Journal featuring UofL’s debate team. Dr. Ramsey introduced the debate team coach, Dr. Ede Warner. Dr. Warner expressed his appreciation to his team for its work and introduced each team member. He stated all three varsity teams qualified for the final day of elimination debates and recognized R. J. Green’s accomplishments. Dr. Warner described the various levels of complexities surrounding the debate competitions. He also acknowledged the group as the only predominantly African-American debate team. The students received a round of applause. President Ramsey read the following resolution:

UofL Debate Team
and
Head Coach, Dr. Ede Warner

WHEREAS, Debate Coach Dr. Ede Warner and the Debate Team representing the University of Louisville, have distinguished the debate program as a contender for national premier status;

WHEREAS, the Debate Team has fused distinctive and passionate values with traditional techniques to create an energetic and intense group of student-participants;

WHEREAS, under the leadership of Professor Warner, the team ranked first place among 32-teams at Pepperdine University, with Tonia Green of Shelbyville, Ky and Elizabeth Jones of Louisville achieving top team honors;

WHEREAS, the talented varsity team has garnered 27th ranking overall, with Corey Knox of Hickman, Ky. and R. J. Green of Mayfield, Ky. ranking 33rd, Tonia Green and Elizabeth Jones ranking 34th, and Lori Goodwin of Louisville and Sandra Webster of Bronx, N.Y. ranking 127th out of 459 two person teams.

WHEREAS, the innovative and instinctive direction of Coach Warner has shaped the students into exciting and provocative participants; and

WHEREAS, the ingenuity of the Debate Program has attained national attention as a catalyst for change and a challenge to the status quo;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the University of Louisville expresses its sincere admiration and deep appreciation to Dr. Ede Warner and the members of UofL’s Debate Team for their commitment to the debate program and their success in competitions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution, appropriately signed be presented to each member of the Debate Team and the Director of Debate, Professor Ede Warner.

Ms. Abrams made a motion, which Mr. Marlin seconded, to approve the above resolution. The motion passed unanimously.

President Ramsey presented each debate team member with a framed copy of the Courier-Journal article. In response to Mr. Cogan’s inquiry about the debate team’s schedule, Dr. Warner will send information to staff for dissemination to the trustees.

III. Information Item: Dr. Hannelore Rader - University Library Accomplishments

President Ramsey recognized Ann Bowling’s contribution of Irvin S. Cobb books to UofL’s library. President Ramsey praised Professor Rader’s recognition as Research Librarian of the Year. He complimented her great enthusiasm and excitement as key factors in the Library’s remarkable progress. Professor Rader distributed to the trustees the library’s brochure noting its five years of achievement. She noted the library’s recent membership in the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the most prestigious and influential library association in North America. In comparison to the other 124 libraries in the ARL, she remarked that UofL has one of the lowest numbers of staff members; the ARL recognition was a tribute to the staff’s high level of productivity. She reported the high utilization of the library. In 1997, UofL also established Kentucky’s first library endowed chair, the Evelyn J. Schneider Endowed Chair for Scholarly Communication. Professor Rader informed the Board that the first chair holder, Dwayne K. Butler, is a highly respected expert in copyright law, particularly as it applies to educational and electronic resources.

Professor Rader further noted the Library is in the process of designing an addition with plans to be completed by early next year. The addition will include a robot-operated storage tower. She touted UofL’s cooperative work with other state university libraries.

Professor Rader acknowledged the international connections for the library, with the library’s involvement in meetings and presentations. Mr. Livingston praised the library’s tremendous achievements. The committee recognized Professor Rader with a round of applause.

IV. Action Item: Approval of Ph.D. in Humanities

Acting Provost Willihnganz introduced Dr. James Brennan, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, to share details of this recommendation. Dean Brennan noted creating this program represents a major step in sustaining the liberal arts tradition. Unlike doctoral programs in specific disciplines, the Ph.D. in Humanities offers students breadth through several disciplines. By combining two interdisciplinary areas of study, Aesthetics and Creativity and Studies in Culture, the program presents a unique opportunity to students with a background in either area. The program will foster important research and scholarly activity for Ph.D. candidates who will benefit from interdisciplinary instruction and internships with the Louisville community. Dean Brennan noted a unique element of the program is the international outreach to academic professionals who are active scholars and wish to pursue a doctoral degree. Dean Brennan reported the Ph.D. would require no new faculty resources and acknowledged the support of the Commonwealth Center for Humanities. Dr. Brennan introduced Dr. Elaine Wise, Chair of Humanities and Dr. Annette Allen. Dr. Allen will become director of the program. Ms. Loving paid tribute to the long history of excellence in the humanities program. Acting Provost Willihnganz recognized the potential of this program to serve the community, foster research, and attract research funding. President Ramsey recommended the appropriateness of the proposal to enhance the University’s mission and urged its approval. Ms. Snowden made a motion, which Prof. Ensign seconded, to approve the

President’s recommendation that the Board of Trustees approve the creation of a Ph.D. in Humanities.

The motion passed unanimously. Chair Livingston acknowledged the ongoing efforts of the University to attract top students from the western Kentucky area.

V. Action Item: Approval of Name Change of the School of Public Health and
Information Sciences

Vice President Kaplan noted this change simplifies and eliminates the redundancy in the school’s name. Vice Kaplan introduced Dr. Richard Clover, Dean of the School of Public Health/Health Information Science, acknowledging Dr. Clover’s successful work in the fields of biowarfare and bioterrorism. Ms. Abrams made a motion, which Ms. Snowden seconded to approve the

President’s recommendation that the name of the School of Public Health/Health Information Sciences be changed to School of Public Health and Information Sciences, and that Section 3.1.1 of the Redbook be changed accordingly.

The motion passed unanimously.

VI. Adjournment

Prof. Ensign made a motion, which Ms. Abrams seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 3:15 p.m. The motion passed.