MINUTES

UTMB Faculty Senate

October 13, 2003

4:30 p.m. - 6:20 p.m.

Caduceus Room

Members present: C. Baker; M. Best; V. Braciale; B. Budelmann; B. Camune; C. Christiansen; S. Gerik; A. Hudson-Jones; C. Jansen; H. Jordan; M. Kanz; R. Lederman; H. Li; M. McGinnis; A. Perachio; A. Pou; L. Primeau; R. Rahr; G. Taglialatela; C. Thomas; D. Trevino; P. Watson; C. Wigg; M. Winter; C. Wisnewski.

I. Introduction and welcome of New Senators

II. Motion made and seconded to approve agenda & 8/11/03 minutes.

III. Comments from the President – J. Stobo

a. UTMB was recently awarded a Regional Center of Excellence and one of two National Biocontainment Laboratory (NBL) grant awards. UTMB will receive $110 million from NIH and will invest 40 million in bond funds. UTMB agrees to operate the NBL for at least 25 years.

b. UTMB has established a program for the elimination of health disparities. Dr. Barbara Breier is the director of the program. She comes to us from the UT System where she has been the director of development for the past ten years and holds a PhD in education. Dr. Watson noted she also will have a faculty appointment in the school of nursing.

IV. Chair Report – R. Lederman

a. Senators should choose which Senate committees to serve on and let her know the decisions.

b. She was recently invited to serve on the Institutional Diversity Council representing the Faculty Senate.

c. Mark Winters volunteered to attend the School of Medicine meeting to represent the Senate.

d. The Deans of the schools will be invited to November and December meetings to give an overview of 360° reviews by faculty.

V. Chair-Elect Report – U. Budelmann

a. Will be attending the UT-System Faculty Advisory Council this week with Dr. Lederman – will give a brief report at the next Senate meeting.

VI. Past-Chair report – G. Taglialatela

a. The final approval of the Faculty Development document has come from legal. The Senate approved a change on point # 2 (service on committees) from “one” to “two” to be consistent with APT guidelines.

b. A laptop computer has been installed at the Medical Research Building at the desk of the security officer for security checks at the request of the Faculty Senate.

c. Researching the possibility of extending child care at the UTMB day care center to include an option of dropping off a sick child for one day only.

VII. PeopleSoft – Ralph Farr and Jeffrey Bonnardel (Representing Richard Moore) addressed issues as follows:

a. In response to a list of concerns (handout) the Senate sent to R. Moore, Mr.’s Farr and Bonnardel addressed the Senate issues of system access, training, reports, culture, and software failures.

· System support – two new persons have been added

· More hands-on training is being offered

· There have been difficulties with animal ordering – solicited Senate’s ideas for resolution

· PO’s not being dispatched in a timely manner, or duplicated -- the software has been corrected

· Emergency orders – if necessary, call them in

· PeopleSoft does not produce a manifest – working on this

b. The system is in laymen’s terms “the way you spend and account for money”. The old platform could not support new technology. NIH will soon require the use of e-submissions software for grants, which is part of PeopleSoft.

c. It was agreed that better communication with faculty is necessary. Messages to the senators (who can forward to their constituents) can be relayed via the Senate secretary (Stephan Cichacki scichack@utmb.edu )

d. The Academic and Administrative Affairs Senate Committee will appoint a task force to further successful communications of PeopleSoft implementation.

VIII. Motion made and seconded to adjourn.