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Faculty Senate retreat slated for Sept. 23 Submitted by Kathy Chessman, secretary, Faculty Senate The Faculty Senate’s August meeting minutes were approved with one amendment and are posted on the senate’s Web site at http://www.musc.edu/facsen/. The senate is actively following the contract process. Faculty in some departments report that they have not signed their contracts. A straw poll of the senators revealed that in some areas the contract process ran very smoothly while in others it did not.  One issue was the lack of adequate time for contract review prior to the deadline for signing.  Patrick Wamsley provided the senate with an update on the MUSC budget. For FY2003, MUSC finished the year with a $4.8M bottom line. Wamsley pointed out that while this number looks good for the university, many of the excess funds are restricted or tied to certain activities, e.g., construction projects.  The FY2004 budget reveals a continued decrease in state appropriations. State appropriations have decreased 27.6 percent (~$28M) in the last three years with another 1 percent cut ($825,000) announced this month.  Federal grants and contracts have increased 47 percent (~$33M) during the same time frame. While the FY2004 budget suggests a decrease in federal grants and contracts, the senate was informed that this was a conservative estimate because this line item is more a prediction that an actual figure. It is anticipated that we will continue to see increases in this area. The senate was reminded that any increase in federal and grant research funding bears with it an increase in research expenditures a number which has increased 26 percent in the last three years.  Other information presented included an increase in expenditures for education of 8 percent and an increase in tuition and fees of 18 percent since 2001.  Tuition and fees increases net MUSC very little due to the small number of students (2,300) compared to MUSC's sister institutions like Clemson and USC. Of note, the Citadel has raised tuition by 22.9 percent, the highest percentage increase among South Carolina schools.  Public service expenditures have increased by 11 percent and debt service expenditures by 73 percent. We have had to borrow $12M for repairs to the Thurmond building, and anticipate borrowing more as needed to improve the power supply with the two new research buildings coming online.  On the revenue side, UMA transfers increased 280 percent.  Since FY00 through May 2003, grant funded FTEs have increased 32 percent from 18 percent to 26 percent of the total workforce. State and other funded FTEs have decreased by 21 percent from 82 percent of the workforce to 74 percent. Wamsley reminded the Faculty Senate that much of the university’s money is in “silos,” i.e., restricted funds that have to be spent as directed. Overall, unrestricted funds are decreasing. A copy of  Wamsley’s slide presentation can be obtained by viewing these minutes on the Senate’s Web site. New members representing the Faculty Senate on the University Tenure Committee are Anne Kilpatrick, Florence Hutchinson, and Susan Benedict.  The Tenure Discussion Group formed by John Raymond, M.D., to address issues surrounding tenure at MUSC includes Tom Higerd, Ph.D.; Danielle Ripich,Ph.D.; Gail Stuart, Ph.D., R.N.; Jack Feussner, M.D.; Kathy Chessman, Pharm.D.; Anne Kilpatrick, DPA; Tara Hulsey, Ph.D., R.N.; Eberhard Voit,  Ph.D.; Mike Zile, M.D.; Mary Mauldin, Ed.D.; and Carlos Salinas, DMD. The group has met once to receive a charge from Raymond. A preliminary report is expected by the end of the calendar year.  Senate elections were delayed due to the computer virus that hit MUSC recently. The slate is expected to be available for vote by Sept. 8. Voting will occur from Sept. 9 through Sept. 16.  After reviewing documents from other institutions and 13 drafts, the Governance  Committee presented its revision of the senate’s constitution to the senate today.  A copy of the proposed constitution can be obtained by viewing the meeting minutes on the senate Web  site.  Suggested changes will be discussed at the senate retreat and include:  1) Changing the terminology from chair/vice chair to president/vice president.  2) Changing duration of terms from two years to three years or alternatively allowing someone to run for three consecutive terms and keeping the terms at two years.  3) Increase the number of senators from each electoral unit to six (from four).  4) The role and succession of alternates is clearly outlined.  5) Changing the procedure for election of senate officers.  Instead of the Executive  Committee drawing up a slate for Senate approval, the Governance Committee would develop a slate of officers. Officers would not need to come from the existing  Executive Committee; therefore, the Executive Committee would have between seven and 10 members.  Some discussion occurred regarding the above proposed changes, especially  regarding the increase in the number of senators.  Some of the smaller units felt that  it might be difficult to find six individuals to serve. A suggestion was made that we modify the current make-up of the senate as follows:  for units with less than 50 members, four senators would be elected; units with 50 to 100 members would elect six senators; and, units with more than 100 members would elect six senators and one additional senator for each specified number of faculty.  The date of the Faculty Senate retreat has been changed to Sept. 23 due to the delay in the election process.  All new members (and old members who wish to attend) will be invited at 3 p.m. to discuss the Constitution and By-laws (Elaine Amella) as well as review issues facing the senate (Kilpatrick).  From 4 - 6 p.m., Jacque Jones will lead the group through a process to develop a mission,  vision, and strategic plan for the senate. Dinner will be served from 6 -  7 p.m. and Raymond will be invited to speak to the senate at that time. From 7 - 8  p.m., we will review committees and plans for the coming year. One particular issue to be discussed will be timing of the monthly senate meetings to allow more senators to attend.  The next senate meeting will be held at 7:45 a.m., Oct. 7, in room 100 of the Library/AdministrationBuilding. The agenda will be posted on the Web site prior to the meeting. Senators present Basic Sciences: PPhilippe Arnaud, Lucille London, Sally Self, Eberhard Voit Clinical Sciences: Connie Best, Gary Gilkeson, Paul Gold, Barry Hainer, George Johnson, Thomas Steele, Aljoeson Walker Dental Medicine: Richard Albenesius, Stephen Malley Health Professions: Anne Kilpatrick, Jennifer Horner, Jack Thomas,  Library Science and Informatics: Mary Mauldin, Starr Hazard, Nancy McKeehan Nursing: Elaine Amella, Julia Ball Pharmacy: Katherine Chessman, Joli Fermo     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.