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Senate discusses vision statement, workshop  The faculty senate’s October meeting minutes were approved and are posted on the senate’s Web site at http://www.mus.edu/facsen. Mindy Freedman from the Trident United Way encouraged faculty participation in the Trident United Way campaign. Introduction of Executive Committee Members of the faculty senate’s Executive committee for the 2003-04 session were introduced. Rick Albenesius, College of Dental Medicine  Libby Dismuke, College of Health Professions Geoff Freeman, Library and Informatics Sandra Garner, College of Pharmacy  Paul Gold, College of Medicine, Clinical Sciences  Debra Hazen-Martin, College of Medicine, Basic Sciences  Tara Hulsey, College of Nursing  Kathy Chessman, chair Eberhard Voit, vice chair Mary Mauldin, secretary Vision Statement The development of a vision statement was initiated at the senate retreat in September. A final draft of the vision statement was presented during the meeting: “As the representative body of the Medical University of South Carolina Faculty, the faculty senate aspires to foster a working environment that values all faculty, actively  advocates for faculty, and collaborates with university administration to ensure the continued success of the university.” Action: The vision statement was approved. Governance Committee Report—Elaine Amella Elaine Amella, chair of the governance committee (2002-03), reported that an update on revisions to the by-laws will be given during the December faculty senate meeting. Faculty Senate Tenure Workshop—Anne Kilpatrick Anne Kilpatrick, DPA, provided an update on the tenure discussion group. There have been four meetings of the group, charged by John Raymond, M.D., to look at identification of tenure issues at MUSC.  The committee is composed of representatives from the 2002-03 faculty senate executive committee and MUSC administration. The goal is to provide a report to  Raymond and the senate by the end of the calendar year. Kilpatrick presented information about the upcoming tenure mentoring workshop, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 15  at Gazes Auditorium. The workshop is for faculty aspiring to obtain tenure and the format will combine and expand upon two programs previously offered by faculty senate on the same topic.  In addition to representatives from each college explaining their tenure process, participants will have an opportunity to meet with mentors in small groups for portfolio reviews. A suggestion was made to focus on the specific requirements for tenure and to videotape the workshop and post presentations from the workshop on the faculty senate’s Web site.  Another suggestion was for the executive committee to survey faculty to extract the perception of promotion and tenure, including perceptions regarding the weight of teaching versus research and publications in the tenure decision. MUSC/USC Colleges of Pharmacy Discussion Due to financial constraints of the state, the governor has mandated MUSC and USC to explore ways that the colleges of pharmacy, nursing, and medicine can gain efficiencies. One of the suggested ways is a merger of the two colleges of pharmacy.  A committee appointed by the governor is exploring the advantages and disadvantages of such a merger. A preliminary report from the consultant working with this committee is expected Nov. 12  with the final report expected to go to the presidents of both USC and MUSC by Nov. 20.  Once the senate has access to this report, we will discuss the most appropriate response from this group. Ad hoc Committee Assignments (pending new by-laws) The committees will be considered ad hoc until the revised by-laws are approved. Senators were asked to volunteer to serve on one of the following ad hoc committees: Governance Committee, chair, Tara Hulsey  Charges: 1) Complete revision of by-laws; re-evaluate proposed committee structure; and 2) conduct faculty town hall to ratify; including presentation by  Philip Sprinkle (faculty senate attorney).  Committee on Institutional Advancement, chair, Debra Hazen-Martin  Charges: 1) Review the draft report of the discussion regarding the MUSC and USC  colleges of pharmacy and develop a senate response, if applicable; and 2) discuss universitywide issues and decide whether the senate should be proactively involved, e.g., Centers of Excellence, new hospital. Committee on Faculty and Institutional Relationships, chair, Paul Gold Charges: 1) Work with Kilpatrick to plan tenure workshop for December; 2) monitor the contract process and inform the senate of areas of concern; and 3) determine the status of the Conflict of Interest/Commitment policy.  Committee for Communication and Education, chair, Rick Albenesius Charges: 1)Plan second quarterly faculty meeting (January - March) on either the sabbaticals or grievance procedures (or topic of choice to be approved by executive committee); and 2) find creative ways to communicate the work of the senate to the general faculty on a regular basis. Strategic Planning Committee, chair, Geoff Freeman Charges: 1) Develop a mission statement for the senate; and 2) develop a strategic plan for the senate. A town hall meeting is scheduled for Dec. 1 for all faculty. The purpose of the meeting is to ratify the new constitution. Other Faculty Concerns Role of Electoral Unit Committees   The importance of senators communicating with faculty in their colleges was discussed. Increased communication between senators and faculty in their college was encouraged, not only with senators providing information to the faculty, but faculty encouraged to discuss concerns with their senators.  Senators and faculty together should decide if issues can be addressed within their own college or brought to the senate. Possible Charge to a Committee A suggestion was made that the topics of orientation for new senators and the election process be assigned to committees for discussion. Ad hoc Committees In order to address specific issues, additional ad hoc committees will be formed as needed. Announcements Alternates were encouraged to come to meetings and participate. Senators were asked to remind faculty in their colleges of the town hall meeting tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m. Dec. 1. This will be the first quarterly meeting of the faculty senate. Faculty will have an opportunity to hear the work plan of the senate and to ratify the constitution.  The next senate meeting will be held from 7:45 a.m. on Dec. 2 in room 107 of the Administration/Library Building. The agenda will be posted on the faculty senate’s Web site prior to the meeting. Senators present Basic Sciences: Debra Hazan-Martin (executive committee), Robert Ogilvie, Sally Self, Eberhard Voit (executive committee), Maurizio Del Poeta (alt.). Excused: Daynna Wolff. Clinical Sciences: Susan Ackerman, Prabhakar Baliga, Christopher Frueh, Michael Frye, Paul Gold (executive committee), George M. Johnson, Dana King, Arch Mainous, John Osguthorpe, Walter Limehouse (alt.), Kenneth Vanek (alt.). Excused: Rochelle Hanson. Dental Medicine: Rick Albenesius (executive committee), Peter Kobes, Michele Ravenel, Carlos Salinas. Health Professions: Libby Dismuke (executive committee), Jennifer Horner, Anne Kilpatrick, Jack Thomas. Library Science & Informatics: Geoff Freeman (executive committee), Mary Mauldin (executive committee), Nancy McKeehan, Peggy Schachte, Tom Smith (alt.). Nursing: Elaine Amella, Liz Erkel, Teresa Kelechi (alt.), John Welton (alt.). Excused: Julia Ball, Tara Hulsey (executive committee). Pharmacy: Excused: Kathy Chessman (executive committee), Sandra Garner (executive committee), Kelly Ragucci. Submitted by Mary Mauldin, secretary to the faculty senate       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. 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