UTMB Faculty Senate

October 8, 2012

4:30 – 6:00 pm

MINUTES

 

Present: Drs. C. Wiggs, Chair, S. Al-Arabi, P. Boor, W. Braun, L. Cain, S. Clark, S. Croisant, S. Fisher, J. Graham, A. Jones, L. Lawrence, B. Leonard, B. Luxon, N. Mendias, A. Oberhauser,  R. Rupp, T. Wen,  H. West and D. Wild

Absent: Drs. B. Ameredes, J. Badalamenti, P. Crane, J. Davis, R. Ellis, S. Elsaid, J. McBride, S. Sarna and D. Young

 

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

 

II.           The Approval of the August 13, 2012 minutes.  The minutes of August 13, 2012 were voted and approved by email on August 29, 2012.

 

III.   Provost, VP and Dean’s Report

 

      VP for Education and Dean, School of Nursing – report provided by Dr. Watson.

      VP and Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences – report provided by Dr. Cooper.

      VP and Dean, School of Health Professions – report provided by Dr. Protas.

      Executive Vice President, Provost and Dean, School of Medicine, Dr. Jacobs.  Dr. Jacobs appreciated the warm welcome that he and his wife received.

 

IV.        Reports by Faculty Senate Chair

      Dr. Wiggs announced that there was an UT SysFac meeting on September 20-21 in Austin. She discussed issues that arose including, encryption for data/equipment. She mentioned that concerns centered around the ability for older equipment to be encrypted correctly and a question came up at this meeting about personal laptops, etc.   There is a Regents Rule for ownership of intellectual property.  A UT system-wide task force has been formulated to investigate ownership of data and intellectual property across the UT System.  Dr. Wiggs asked the Senators to send her input as to what they consider as their property vs. UTMB property and added that she would send out an email to them for their input.

      Dr. Wiggs announced that Dr. Steven Mintz, UT System’s executive director, Institute for Transformational Learning, is visiting every campus, to expand access to educational programs, online learning and to improve learning and reduce costs; and to promote a culture of educational innovation throughout the System.  She asked if anyone wants to meet with him while he is here and a couple of Senators suggested that Dr. Christine Baker and Dr. Carolyn Utsey be involved.

 

V.           Legislative Session – Dr. Ben Raimer, Senior Vice President, Health Policy and Legislative Affairs

Dr. Raimer presented the Senate with a PowerPoint presentation. A few highlights from his presentation include:

      The Pundits’ Political Picture of the State

            Dissatisfaction with incumbents (both parties); Demand for no new taxes or fees, Demand for smaller government, Decreased funding for public schools, rapid growth of Texas populations, Dramatic shortage of health care providers

      Senior State Leadership

            Governor Perry, possible challenger in 2014, Attorney General Greg Abbott

            Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, possible challengers in 2014, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, Comptroller Susan Combs, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples

      A New United States Senator

            Seat vacated by Kay Bailey Hutchinson after 20 years

            Ted Cruz and former Texas Legislator Paul Sadler will face off in November

      September 2012, Dr. Kyle Janek was appointed as Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner, who was born in Galveston and graduated from UTMB SOM in 1983

      Composition of the 83rd Legislature

            State House, greater than 50% will have served one term or less

            State Senate, 20% turnover and committee chairs have been reorganized by the Lt. Governor

            Multiple new agency heads, legislative committee chairs and support staff

            Highly politicized budget issues and social agendas   

      UTMB Legislative Priorities

            Maintain base funding and obtain hospital formula funding (review UT Anderson and UT Tyler formula funding); Revisions to Correctional Health Care statute and contract and Supplemental Appropriations Request to cover shortfall in 2012-13; Tuition Revenue Bond; and Obtain                              funding for Exceptional Items that support UTMB’s outstanding programs in developing new vaccines, advancing neurological recovery through regenerative medicine research, and combating emerging infections

The Health Policy and Legislative Affairs website:  http://www.utmbhpla.org/ 

 

VI.        Faculty Compensation Package – Huron Consultants and Cameron Slocum, MBA, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Academic Enterprise

   Mr. Slocum introduced the Huron Consultants, who gave a presentation covering the Preliminary Draft of the Compensation Plan.  Here are a few highlights from their PowerPoint presentation: 

               Approach Overview:  4 phased 16-week planning process.  (Phase II-Phase IV – Work group/Faculty Compensation Committee Meetings)

                           Phase I: project set-up and kick-off

                           Phase II: Assess current state and evaluate industry standards and benchmarks

                           Phase III: Develop compensation model options and assess financial impact

                           Phase IV:  Deliver communication & implementation plan & final report

               Project Structure:   Huron Consultants work with the following groups:

                           Steering Committee:  Provide guidance and support, review model options and select final model, UTMB Project Sponsor:  Serve as primary project liaison, facilitate resolution of issues and review progress

                           Faculty Compensation Committee, SOM Research Work Group, SOM Clinical Work Group and the SHP/SON Work Group, these identify school-specific issues and objectives; provide input to model design and selection and assist with communication and implementation                                              planning

               Compensation Interview Themes:  After interviews with 45+ faculty and administrators (11 comments)

                           Faculty knowledge of the plan varies because of varying complexity and level of communication.

                           Inconsistencies between departments causing challenges

                           Desire for more formulaic approach to calculate incentive to allow faculty to predict incentive compensation

                           UTMB budget issues having impact on ability to pay incentives

               Review of UTMB Compensation Plan Objectives (9 objectives)

                           Be uncomplicated, understandable, and transparent to participants

                           Provide adequate compensation to attract and retain outstanding faculty

                           Provide incentives to encourage teaching, research, clinical practice and administrative productivity

                           Create funds for programs and faculty development

               Compensation Model Approach and Methodology

                     Developing the revised UTMB compensation model follows the following approach:  Compensation Framework; Productivity Expectations; Compensation Metrics; Effort and Expectations; Measure Performance; and Faculty Compensation

                                      

VII.   Reports by the Executive Committee and Committee Chairs

Dr. Cain welcomed the senators and stated that they represent the 951 faculty members at UTMB. 

Dr. Wiggs announced that the Senators group photo will be taken at 4:10 pm, Monday, November 12, right before the meeting.  Please meet in the SON/SHP lobby.  She announced that the committees will meet following this meeting and to select a chair and co-chair for the subcommittees and she also gave them some details on what they can start working on.   

 

The meeting was adjourned at 5:52 pm.