UTMB Faculty Senate
July 9, 2007
Caduceus Room
4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

MINUTES

Members Present: T. Albrecht, G. Anderson, W. Au, S. Ayachi, C. Baker, T. Cuellar, D. Freeman, P. Gallagher, J. Gonzalez, L. Grumbles, R. Johnson, R. Konig, A. Koutrouvelis, S. Lewis, H. Li, K. Mossberg, G. Olson, E. Protas, R. Rahr, K. Sandor, J. Stobo, P. Watson, M. Winter, and C. Wisnewski.

I. Approval of Agenda of 7/9/07 – The July 9, 2007 agenda was approved.

II. Approval of Minutes of 6/11/07 was done electronically.

President’s Comments – Dr. Stobo informed the Senate that he wanted to dispel the rumors that he’d heard that UTMB was treated unfairly in the legislative session for biennium 2008/2009. UTMB actually received $460,000,000 in general revenue, which is 5% more than 2006/2007. Our schools fared well with increases in formula funding but our hospitals and clinics did not. General appropriations has not kept up with medical inflation. The state is no longer willing to fund indigent healthcare. The state believes the counties should step up to provide funding. UTMB provides unsponsored care to 160 counties, of which 76% comes from the following six counties: Galveston, Harris, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Montgomery and Jefferson. Dr. Stobo informed the Senate that the counties don’t have any more money. In response to a question from Dr. Baker regarding any plans for a hospital district, Dr. Stobo responded that a hospital district plan had not been addressed yet. He also informed the Senate that hospital districts are very public boards appointed by county commissioners.

Dr. Stobo informed the Senate that UTMB received $13M for Hurricane Rita losses. Dr. Stobo also informed the Senate that The Department of Health and Human Services has rebased Medicaid services and UTMB will be paid at a higher rate in FY08-09, an additional $22-23M. Correctional managed care received $65M. Dr. Stobo informed the Senate that he ranks this legislative session a “B”, better than 2003/2005.

Dr. Stobo informed the Senate that in May, UTMB’s adjusted operating margin was in the black. Our debt capacity was more than doubled from $100M to $250M. Dr. Stobo informed the Senate that the Timeless Values campaign reached the $250M goal two months ahead of schedule. The most successful fundraising area was education.

III. Deans’ Corner (written reports provided by Drs. Protas and Watson)

• Dr. Protas informed the Senate that Dr. Ken Ottenbacher received an award from a K-12 application for supporting 12 occupational and physical therapy faculty scholars in research training. He is partnering with the Departments of OT and PT at the University of Florida. This is a $5M award over five years.
• Dr. Protas informed the Senate that Dr. Carolyn Utsey completed a medical mission trip to Mexico with a group of seven students and Dr. Vicki Freeman completed another trip to Tanzania for the ASCP CLS curriculum project.
• Dr. Protas announced that President Stobo has awarded $20,800 from President’s Cabinet funds to support the provision of Occupational Therapy by Dr. Suzanne Peloquin at the ADA Women’s Center.
• Dr. Anderson informed the Senate that the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) voted to continue accreditation of the educational program leading to the M.D. degree for an eight-year term.
• Dr. Anderson informed the Senate that the LCME review determined that narrative descriptions are not included as part of the evaluation of student performance in the Emergency Medicine clerkship and that UTMB lacked adequate relaxation space for students who do clinical rotations at John Sealy Hospital.
• Dr. Anderson informed the Senate that the School of Medicine is ahead of its budget and should break even (with no hurricanes).
• Dr. Watson informed the Senate that the School of Nursing did not do well this legislative session and the SON will work to annually increase enrollment by 25% without financial support to increase the number of faculty.

IV. Chief Academic Officer Report – Dr. Watson (written report provided)

• Dr. Watson informed the Senate that the Office of the Chief Academic Officer is working to establish the CAO office as a strong UTMB entity. This office exists apart from the schools and is its own entity that reports directly to the President. The Office of the Chief Academic Officer is in the process of obtaining office space and establishing a central location.
• Dr. Watson informed the Senate that the CAO office affirmed the mission statement as part of the SACS reaffirmation process. Dr. Watson informed the Senate that the official mission statement is on the iUTMB site at http://www.utmb.edu/mission/.

V. The Faculty Compensation Plan Relative to Certain Faculty Benefits (Dr. Kathy Shingleton and Amanda Porter)

Dr. Shingleton and Amanda Porter provided copies of the SOM version of the Impact of the Faculty Compensation Plan on Employee Benefits document prepared by the Human Resources Department in response to questions and concerns raised by faculty. A few questions were asked by senators to clarify points in the document. Dr. Shingleton stated that the SOM version is available on the SOM website; the SAHS version has been distributed by email to all SAHS faculty.

VI. Chair’s Comments—Dr. Baker

• Dr. Baker informed the Senate that she has a copy of the institution’s financial statements as of 5/31/07 if any Senator or faculty is interested in reviewing them. She receives these each month.
• Dr. Baker informed the Senate that the annual Faculty Senate luncheon meeting is scheduled for September 10, 2007, from 11:45-1:00 p.m. in the Levin Hall Dining Room.
• Dr. Baker reminded the Senate that benefits enrollment is due by 7/31/07 and that annual online training is due by 8/31/07.
• Dr. Baker informed the Senate that Michael Olson had notified her that he was leaving UTMB. The School of Medicine will need to replace Dr. Olson at their next election; his term was due to expire on 8/31/07.

VII. Past Chair’ Comments – Dr. Winter had no report.

VIII. Chair-Elect Comments

Dr. Albrecht presented a brief report from the May Faculty meeting in Austin:
• Dr. Reinhardt reported on interactions with administration at UT System. • Dr. Albrecht informed the Senate that UTIMCO (UT Investment Management Company) is doing better.
• Dr. Albrecht informed the Senate that Barry McBee reported on funding issues, including improving funding UTMB’s components.
• Dr. Albrecht reported that graduation rates are a serious issue at UT System and are not as well defined as they should be.

IX. Senate Business

Senate Elections
o Dr. Baker announced that nominations had been received for Robert Johnson, and David Hudnall for Chair-Elect. William Au withdrew his nomination to support his fellow Senator. Dr. Johnson read his prepared statement and Dr. Baker read a prepared statement for Dr. Hudnall who was on vacation with his family.
o Paper was distributed for voting among the Senators and Dr. Hudnall was announced as the winner of the Chair-Elect position.

Committee Reports
o Faculty Quality – Dr. Rahr and Dr. Li presented a PowerPoint presentation on Faculty Senate recommendations to the Faculty Compensation Plan. Discussion followed among Senate members. A motion was made, seconded and approved to defer discussion to the August meeting, pending several points of revision. Senators were encouraged to email additional suggested edits to Drs. Li and Rahr.
o Administrative and Academic Affairs – see report under Faculty Quality. o Governance – The Governance Committee deferred its report to the next meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m.

Committee meetings followed.

Next Faculty Senate Meeting: August 13, 2007 at 4:30 p.m. in the Caduceus Room.