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MUSC faculty senate meeting minutes The faculty senate’s unapproved meeting minutes for March are posted on the senate’s Web site at http://www.musc.edu/facsen. Old Business Committee Updates Governance Committee—Walter Limehouse,  M.D., chair, reported on five revisions being considered for the faculty handbook. (1) Review of Preamble—Joe Good, University Counsel, andPaul Taylor, Internal Audit, are reviewing the preamble in the faculty handbook. The purpose of the review is to examine the legal status of the handbook relative to the legal status of faculty contracts in each college. (2) Faculty Voting Rights—The governance committee will recommend a revision to the handbook in order to incorporate wording from the senate’s new constitution, vision, and mission statements. The committee is recommending that the wording be changed to a “full-time position with academic rank from Instructor and above based on the core campus, including local MUSC- affiliated hospitals.” rather than “full-time non-modified academic rank….”. This change would require constitutional amendment, revision of faculty handbook, and approval of the Board of Trustees. (3) Process for Modifications to Faculty Handbook—A proposal is also being made to modify the way changes are made to the faculty handbook. The recommendation is to place approved changes in Appendix A between editions of the handbook. Appendix A items will move to their proper place in the handbook with date of enactment and replace the sections they supercede. (4) Faculty APT Policies—The governance committee has also recommended a change in the handbook to reflect a suggestion from deans’ council regarding faculty APT policies. The suggested revision states, “Appointment and, Promotion, initial and post Tenure review is in addition to annual performance review.” The proposed revision adds “initial and post” in keeping with current practice but not in the faculty handbook. (5) Evaluation of Deans, Department Chairs, and/or Unit Directors—The governance committee is suggesting the addition of Section 9.10 to the handbook regarding Evaluation of Deans, Department Chairs, and/or Unit Directors. This proposed new section reflects current practice and will be forwarded to all faculty for review.   The senate reviewed the proposed changes. Faculty will receive an electronic version of proposed changes for their consideration. Faculty and Institutional Relationships—Swapan Ray, Ph.D., chair, reported that the committee on faculty and institutional relationships was continuing to review the proposed policy, “Standards of Conduct for Treatment of Trainees (Students, Residents, and Fellows).” Following discussion of several issues, it was decided that this document would be sent for review by the senate’s attorney. In addition, the document will be sent to all faculty for comment. Updates Smoking Policy—Anne Kilpatric, DPA, reported that president’s council has approved a smoking policy. This policy will only allow smoking in designated smoking huts. Public Safety will be charged with enforcing the policy which will go into effect in August. Tenure Workshop—Kilpatrick reminded senators that the tenure workshop is scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m., May 12, in Room 125Gazes Auditorium.   John Raymond, M.D., will speak, college deans will address the tenure process in their individual colleges, and a panel of tenured faculty will discuss their road to tenure. In addition, faculty are encouraged to bring their portfolios to the workshop; tenured faculty from each college will be available to review portfolios. E-mail policy—Rick Albenesius, DDS, president, reported that president’s council approved the use of Microsoft Exchange to manage e-mail. Users of GroupWise will be the first to transition to the new system, Submitted by Mary Mauldin, Secretary to the Faculty Senate Senators present Basic Science: Hiroko Hama Clinical Sciences: George Johnson, Walter Limehouse (executive committee), Swapan Ray (executive committee), Kenneth Vanek, Rita Young. Excused: Susan Ackerman, Doe Jenkins, John Osguthorpe, Aljoeson Walker Dental Medicine: Rick Albenesius (executive committee), Ted McGill (executive committee) Health Professions: Anne Kilpatrick (executive committee). Excused: Reamer Bushardt Library Science and Informatics: Laura Cousineau, Mary Mauldin (executive committee), Jett McCann, Peggy Schachte (executive committee), Geoff Freeman (alternate) (executive committee) Nursing: Elaine Amella, Teresa Kelechi (executive committee), Sharon Bond (alternate), Nancy Duffy (alternate) . Excused: Barb Edlund Pharmacy: Kelly Ragucci, Andrea Wessell. Excused: Kathy Chessman (executive committee), Jean Nappi (executive committee) Friday, May 12, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. 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