University of Virginia Library

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4886

REPORT BY THE PRESIDENT

The President distributed to the Board copies of a report prepared the day before for the student group, Concerned Black Students. The report addresses the recommendations made in the 1987 Task Force Report, "Audacious Faith" (the Task Force was appointed by President O'Neil to study ways to improve the racial climate at the University). Reports of this sort, the President noted, typically have a lifespan of three to five years; the 1987 Task Force, as a planning group, was replaced in 1992, by the University's Council on Community, whose joint Chairs are Dean Guiton and Dr. Detmer. The report the President distributed summarizes what has been done to implement the recommendations of the 1987 "Audacious Faith."

The President discussed some of the highlights of the report, particularly the increases in financial aid for black students and the successes of the programs in the School of Engineering to retain and graduate black students.

As to the concerns expressed in recent weeks by Concerned Black Students, the President said the University administration is trying to begin a dialogue with them. The students, he said, are frustrated about financial aid and about the recruitment of black faculty, in spite of the University's demonstrable successes in both areas.

A copy of the report distributed to the Board is attached to these Minutes. (See Appendix B)

On motion, the meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m.