UTMB Faculty Senate

April 11, 2011

4:30 – 6:00 pm

MINUTES

Present: Drs. C. Utsey, Chair, G. Anderson, I. Boldogh, B. Bryant, C. Cooper, P. Crane, S. Croisant, Y. Davila, L. Farmer, S Gerik, C. Jansen, J. LeDuc, L. Massey, N. Mendias, M. O’Keefe, D. Powell, P. Singh, E. Smith, H. Spratt, C. St. John, A. Torres, C. Wiggs, D. Wild and C. Wisnewski

Absent: Drs. K. Beal, S. Higgs, C. Houston, H. Pine, T. Riall and D. Solanki

I. The meeting was called to order by Dr. Carolyn Utsey, Faculty Senate Chair.

II. The Approval of the March 14, 2011 minutes. The minutes of March 14, 2011 were approved by email sent 3/30/11.

III. Dean’s and VP Report

Dean, School of Nursing (SON) and Vice President for Education – reports provided by Dr. Watson.

Dean, School of Health Professions (SHP) – report provided by Dr. Protas.

Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) – report provided by Dr. Cooper.

Dr. Anderson followed up on Dr. Cooper’s report on the increased graduate school enrollment stating several things contributed to the increased enrollment: 1) GSBS made a real push in updating their website, since, all websites need to be updated every six months and 2) GSBS increased graduate students salaries to what other local medical centers are paying. Dr. Cooper stated that Dr. Coppenhaver attended a national meeting for student recruitment, and from a survey they reviewed showed that websites were the best tool for recruiting.

· Dr. Anderson spoke briefly about the concealed handgun bill and that UTMB applied for a waiver to be exempt since we operate as “health care,” i.e., a hospital. Dr. Anderson also talked about the legislative session and we are doing well, they will finish up with the budget then deal with redistricting, etc, and we probably will know at the last hour on our budget, but we are hopeful. Dr. Anderson said that there is a dollar figure now for the new support tower that has been approved at local and district levels. We are waiting on national contracts and arguing some dollar amounts. This tower is crucial for us. Ninety percent of the elevators should be finished by the end of the calendar year. Senator Wild asked about the day care center and seeing some activity, is it being repaired? Dr. Anderson said not at present, for the cost, it would be better to rebuild than to repair. Senator Smith asked about the Galveston Daily News report about UTMB being short changed with the budget. UT hospitals MD Anderson and UT Tyler cut 10% and UTMB 25% in the HB version, everyone under SB bill will be 10%. Dr. Anderson also commented on the prison hospital that the prison should make up the loss, not us. Dr. Anderson discussed the AAUP report, which indicated tenured position numbers going down and PBL going up (this could be since there are many new clinical areas for positions in the non-tenure track) and that he will send the report to Dr. Utsey. Dr. Croisant talked about the last UT Sys Fac meeting, where the Regents were charged to obtain productivity and a list of items was requested from each campus. Dr. Croisant distributed a copy of the list to Dr. Anderson and she asked whom she should contact to obtain some of the information and he said to contact Mr. Cameron Slocum.

IV. Reports by Faculty Senate Executive Committee and Committee Chairs

· Dr. Utsey stated that Dr. Raimer had to cancel his meeting with us today, he was detained in Austin and we will invite him back in a couple of months. Dr. Utsey commented on Ben’s blog http://blog1.utmb.edu/hpla/ stating that the HB4 passed the house with a few exceptions, which are, hiring freeze for vacant state positions, reducing funding in current biennium to the Soil and Water Conservation board and moving unobligated funds from the Emerging Technology Fund to the Foundation School program. The HB275, Rainy Day Fund, will be effective only if HB4 or similar legislation is enacted and becomes law, with an effective date of July 1, 2011. The HB1 had minor modifications, which were not significant to UTMB and HB354, the concealed handgun bill is out of the committee. She asked the Senate if we wanted to take a stand even with the UTMB waiver Dr. Anderson spoke of. Dr. Wisnewski stated that the Faculty Senate created a gun resolution in 2009 not supporting this bill. Dr. Croisant read a paragraph proposing a resolution to use and the Senate voted after incorporating the words “patients” to this resolution and it was unanimously approved with no abstentions against the concealed handgun bill. These bills can be found on this website http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Home.aspx. Dr. Utsey indicated that you can sign up for email alerts, but do not use your utmb email address, use your personal email. Dr. Utsey stated that Dr. Cigarroa attended the UT Sys FAC meeting and stated that he treasured this council. Dr. Utsey stated that the problem with the out of State enrollees is lifted and will be handled at the UT System level. Dr. Utsey stated that UT System brought up PTR for efficiency and effectiveness for all schools. We need to be proactive and ensure that we are complying with the plan, if a faculty member receives a review that is not favorable, then the decisions that can be made include a plan for remediation, or firing, or retirement. We need to look at our PTR process. Dr. Torres mentioned a faculty position posted for “Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Faculty Diversity and asked shouldn’t the Faculty Senate be part of the hiring for this position? Dr. Lieberman indicated that this SOM position will take over the Department Reviews, which Dr. Phillips currently handles. Additionally this position will take over some of his duties like attending the Faculty Senate meetings. Dr. Lieberman’s new “Transformation in Medical Education (TIME) Initiative” will require more of his time and Dr. Lieberman also stated that the committee has yet to be formed for reviewing of applicants and that he will ask a Senator from the Faculty Senate to serve on this committee.

· Dr. Croisant stated that Dr. McKee’s office will assist us with the Faculty Survey and will be anonymous. Background checks, the IHOP policy is still being worked on.

· Dr. Utsey mentioned that in 2015, the Regents can start up a medical school in South Texas. The next UT Sys FAC meeting is at the end of April.

· Dr. Wisnewski commented from a recent UT Sys FAC meeting, that they discussed articles in the Austin Statesman and the Houston Chronicle regarding the value of Research on university campuses. UT System had hired a consultant to review this topic and has now been downgraded and the consultant’s contract ends August 31.

· Dr. Smith reported for the Faculty Quality Committee: The Faculty Quality sub-committee had met with Dr. Saavedra and Ms. Finkelstein to go over the abandonment of academic programs and the financial exigency policy and they are progressing. The Health Science Centers have very little documentation out there regarding the exigency. Dr. Wisnewski said that a UT Dallas FAC representative created the model policy.

· Dr. Jansen reported for the Academic and Administrative Affairs Committee: The Committee met last week on the Faculty Development Plan and they divided the tasks, which are now completed and will meet this evening. Dr. Jansen reminded the senators of the issue with export controls and suggested a follow-up presentation by Francis Streeter.

· Ms. Massey reported for the Governance Committee: The Committee has reviewed the UT Dallas Security Clearance Policy, which answers a number of our questions and believes that UTMB’s IHOP and Legal Office are working on this policy.

· Ms. St. John reported for the IHOP Committee: The Committee is working with the Faculty Quality Committee on the Abandonment of Academic Programs in the absence of exigency.

5:40 pm, the meeting was adjourned. The Committees met following the general meeting.