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Faculty Senate meeting minutes, Aug. 3  The meeting was called to order by Dr. Adrian Reuben at 7:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 3.  The July minutes were not approved since a quorum was never established. Senators present: Basic Sciences: Daniel Knapp, Harry Margolius, Kathryn Meier, Eleanor Spicer, Michael Schmidt (for Jerry Webb) Clinical Sciences: Patrick Flume, Leslye Pennypacker, Adrian Reuben Dental Medicine: Luis Leite, Jon Rampton Health Professions: Deborah Keil Library & Informatics: Elizabeth Connor, Margaret Mauldin, Joann Sullivan, Benjamin Breitkruez (alt. for Donald Tyner) Nursing: none Pharmacy: Deborah Carson, Sandra Garner, Jean Nappi Staff: Kim Vo Chair's Report 1)Faculty Handbook: the electronic version of the Handbook is being reviewed by members of the Executive Committee and should be posted on the web site by the end of August. 2) Senate Budget: Senate retreats in the future will need to be more cost effective. The provost has agreed to find funds to cover the cost of the Faculty Senate retreats in the future as long as he can review the proposed cost before the retreat occurs. The electronic balloting and a new computer for the Senate office, both large expenses originally budgeted for the 1998-99 fiscal year, will not be payable until after the close of the fiscal year. The provost has been informed of this delay. The provost has assured us that the budget will remain stable for the 1999-2000 year.  University Affairs Committee: Carson reported on the response to the draft revision of a Terms of Appointment document that had been submitted to the Dean's Retreat earlier this summer. The opinion of the Committee and the Senators present differs from that of the deans. Further discussion will be held and counsel will be sought before formally responding back to the provost and deans. Governance Committee: Reuben gave a report about the electronic balloting process for the Senate Elections. The Educational Services division has almost completed the process that will allow faculty to vote for their senators on-line in the September election. Senators were instructed to notify faculty in their colleges about the process and encourage everyone to make sure they have a MUSC Network Account (formerly known as an ARCS UNIX account). No paper ballots will be used. Faculty members with MUSC Network accounts can vote electronically. The library can set up an account for those few faculty who do not already have one. The Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate will test the electronic ballot system later this month. The results of the final ballot will be available for viewing on the ballot web site. Academic Affairs Committee: no report Faculty Affairs Committee: Reuben explained (1) the process for the evaluation of chairs that has been approved by the Faculty Affairs Subcommittee and (2) the minor revision that Greenberg suggested after reviewing the process with the deans. The revised process was suitable to the members present, but was not voted upon, as there was not a quorum. The revised process is as described in the figure shown on the faculty website at <http://www.musc.edu/facsen/Aug99min.html. The process will be brought to a vote at the  next meeting.  Other Business Reuben reported that the ASSIST program will be made available to faculty on Sept. 8 at 4 p.m. and again in October. This program will enhance the faculty's understanding of  how to use information systems and technology in their educational efforts.   The Executive Committee will be meeting with Greenberg on Aug. 10 to discuss faculty concerns about fiscal, professional and academic security in the university.  A suggestion was made to revive Faculty Forums within each college to help facilitate faculty involvement in the Senate.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 a.m.  The next meeting will be Sept. 7, beginning at 7:45 a.m.