UTMB Faculty Senate

April 9, 2012

4:30 – 6:00 pm

MINUTES

 

Present:  Drs. S. Croisant, Chair, S. Al-Arabi, B. Ameredes, J. Badalamenti, L. Cain, P. Crane, S. Elsaid, L. Farmer, J. Graham, A. Jones, J. LeDuc, J. McBride, N. Mendias, H. Pine, C. Utsey, H. West, C. Wiggs, D. Wild and D. Young

 

Absent:  Drs. K. Beal, B. Bryant, J. Davis, R. Ellis, C. Houston, T. Riall, S. Sarna and C. St. John

 

I.          The meeting was called to order at 4:32 pm by Dr. Sharon Croisant, Faculty Senate Chair.

 

II.        The Approval of the March 12, 2012 minutes.  The minutes of March 12, 2012 were voted and approved by email on March 26, 2012.

 

III.       Provost, VP and Dean’s Report

 

     Interim Executive Vice President, Provost and Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences – report provided by Dr. Cooper.

     Interim Dean, School of Medicine, Dr. Donald Prough – report provided by Dr. Prough.

     Dean, School of Nursing and Vice President for Education – written report provided by Dr. Watson.

 

IV.        Reports by Faculty Senate Chair

       Dr. Croisant announced that from the twenty-four nominations for the University of Texas System, Office of Health Affairs, Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards, nine were recommended from the Committee. The Council of Deans and Dr. Callender approved and sent forward.  She asked if they should send letters thanking nominees, and it was agreed that this was appropriate.  Dr. Croisant will get with Dr. Freeman and draft the letters and send to the Committee for input and will send out.  Dr. Croisant, who serves on the Provost/EVP/Dean’s Search, stated that the six candidates are all of great caliber.  She asked that the Committee chairs and Deans to send her reports for the next UT SYSFAC meeting by next week. She announced the Chair-Elect position will need to be determined in May. This position will be a representative from the School of Medicine.  Self-nominations are accepted; send your nomination to Dr. Croisant. 

                                   

V.      Synergy and Latest Efforts for Interprofessional Education – Dr. Susan Gerik, QEP Director and Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Family Medicine

Dr. Gerik presented the Senate with a PowerPoint presentation.  UTMB is accredited to provide health care education by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). They developed a Quality Enhancement Plan as part of the reaccreditation process.  She gave heartfelt thanks to the Executives for approving, supporting and buying into the Synergy program.  Dr. Gerik also says thanks need to go out to Brandon Hernandez, Assistant Director, who is an amazing individual and who does a lot of work for this program.  http://www.utmb.edu/synergy/.

 

VI.     Reports by the Executive Committee and Committee Chairs

·      Chair-Elect Carol Wigg thanked the Senate for letting her be in this role.  The Faculty Senate has a voice and Dr. Callender is supportive of us.

·      Senator Cain reported for the Academic and Administrative Affairs Committee:  The Committee has been meticulous in communicating with individuals involved in the Faculty Development at UTMB.  She talked with Dr. Robert Rose who is leading the development of the Academy of Research Mentors.  They have also informed the Department and Program Chairs and the Deans in the School of Nursing about the concept of the Faculty Development Program.  To date, they have received positive feedback.  They are in the process of designing the program.   They will present the program design to the Faculty Senate for a vote of approval and then for the Council of Deans approval.  Dr. Caroline Jansen, who chaired the committee last year is very happy to see this go forward.

·      Senator Crane reported for the Faculty Quality Committee.  Dr. Crane mentioned that Dr. Croisant addressed the UT System, Office of Health Affairs, Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards and did not have anything to announce other than the Nomination Advisory Committee, comprised of Faculty Senators and AMT members, met after hours and completed the task given to them and sent their recommendations to the Council of Deans for their approval.

·      Senator McBride reported for the Governance Committee.  The Committee is looking into the background checks policy and he reported that the policy is being reviewed by HR.  The UT System/Board of Regents rule for evaluation of tenured faculty is being reviewed and will work with the Senate’s IHOP committee.  

·      Senator Ameredes reported for the IHOP Committee:  The Regents Rules and Regulations for Performance Evaluation of Tenured Faculty changes remain consistent with our IHOP regulations.  The IHOP and Governance Committees will compare the Regents rule and UTMB IHOP policy, and report back.

 

VII.   New Business

·      Dr. Croisant informed the Senators about a faculty member contacting her about losing FEMA funds, if not used by April.  She asked if anyone has more information on this topic since she is not aware and could not address this faculty member about the FEMA funds in labs with research.  Dr. Ameredes announced that he had some similar problems as well, and that there have been some high level meetings to resolve this issue and it has been taken care of.  The orders for purchasing lab equipment are going through.

·      Dr. Lieberman announced that the Academy for Research Mentors has been approved and they had their first meeting last week.  The inaugural members have been selected and the members are in all the schools; several of the members, who are also Senators, are: Drs. Ameredes and Mendias.  Dr. Robert Rose has done a great job and we thank the Deans and Provost for their support.          

 

             The meeting was adjourned at 5:29 pm.