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Committee wants to know more about faculty technology needs The Faculty Senate reviewed and approved the minutes of the July and August meetings. Faculty Orientation Retreat: The chair reported on the faculty orientation retreat held from 3 to 5 pm. Thursday, Sept. 5, for current, new and continuing or returning senators. MUSC President Ray Greenberg, Ph.D, M.D., spoke to the group and thanked the senators for their service and hard work in support of the mission of the university. He discussed his vision for the role of the Senate with regard to shared governance, and our participation in the leadership councils of the institution—e.g., the President’s Council and Dean’s Council and other strategic committees. He welcomed the new senators to their role.  Anne Kilpatrick presented a chair’s report describing the duties and activities of the Senate and each of the chairs of the standing committees and task forces presented an overview of the charge of the committee, and the activities undertaken during the year, as well as pending work. At the October meeting, annual reports will be presented from the standing committees.  The session adjourned at 4:45 p.m. to allow members to attend the provost’s first town hall meeting on Indirect Costs. Remarks by the Provost: John Raymond, M.D., interim provost, spoke to the Senate, and shared his vision of the role of the Senate, and also his perceptions and suggestions learned from his tenure in the new role since July. When asked, he suggested characteristics he thought would be important in a person assuming the role of provost on a permanent basis.  Standing Committee Reports Faculty Affairs Committee Tenure: Subbi Mathur, Ph.D., reported that the committee had reviewed the suggestions from faculty and from the attorney and modified the proposed tenure document. It was suggested that a faculty forum on tenure might be appropriate as a next step. The recommendation was presented with a motion, but it was not clear that there was a quorum present of senators eligible to vote. The combined executive committees will meet before the next Senate meeting, and recommend the next steps. Governance Committee  Faculty Handbook: Francine Margolius, Ed.D., reported that the Faculty Handbook was approved by the Board of Trustees members at their August meeting. Next steps will be to continue to work on areas that need further revision and clarification. Two copies of the handbook are on the web: one work in progress is password-protected for Senators to work with. The approved document is available on the Senate Web page available to all senators. Academic Affairs Committee  Compensation: Philippe Arnaud, M.D., Ph.D., reported on the activities of the committee this year, and particularly that the committee is awaiting data on compensation, which has been requested from the Office of the Provost and the Dean’s Council. The effort is being coordinated with the work of the Gender Equity Committee.  Indirect costs: The subject of indirect costs was presented at Thursday’s town hall meeting by the provost.  University Affairs Committee  Continuity and communication: Mary Mauldin reported on the activities of the committee, emphasizing their charge to improve communication and continuity. The retreat for “old” and new senators was coordinated by this committee, and had very good attendance.  Additionally, the election process has been revised to allow for selection of executive committee members prior to the first meeting of the new Senate administration, in order to improve the process of selecting officers in the October meeting.  Margolius, outgoing vice chair, will coordinate the election process, and is serving as the “point” person to make sure executive committee members are selected and that the election is implemented smoothly. Technology requirements: The committee has been learning more about the technology requirements of and support for faculty. They will be sending a survey to all faculty requesting information about their technology needs. The survey can be found at http://www2.edserv.musc.edu/it_survey/it_survey.lasso. Chair’s report: The chair also reported that concerns have been expressed regarding the policies on conflict of interest and outside activities (i.e., conflict of commitment), and that discussions are under way to resolve those concerns. All senators were presented the suggested revisions and were asked for feedback. These policies were approved at an earlier meeting of the Faculty Senate. Comments were solicited from new senators. The next Faculty Senate meeting will be Oct. 1. Agenda items will include Election and Installation of Executive Committee and Chair and Officers. And the Conflict of Commitment and Drug Free Workplace Policy. At the end of the meeting, senators caucused in their respective colleges, and selected their executive committee representatives.  They were also asked to select the standing  committees on which they would like to serve.    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. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.