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Senate receives constitution, by-law revisions The faculty senate’s January meeting minutes were approved and posted on the senate’s Web site at http://www.musc.edu/facsen. The faculty senate meetings will be held in the  Gazes Auditorium beginning in March. Committee Reports Governance Committee—Elaine Amella, Ph.D., R.N., former chair of the governance committee, provided senators with a copy of the latest revisions to the proposed constitution and by-laws. Amella asked senators to review the documents and provide feedback to the committee in preparation for a vote by the senate during the March faculty senate meeting. If the senate votes to approve the constitution and by-laws in March, copies will be distributed to all faculty for review and comment. The committee will review faculty comments and present the proposed documents for a vote of approval by the senate during the April meeting. If approved by the senate in April, the proposed constitution and by-laws will be placed on the faculty senate election ballot as a referendum for vote by the full faculty. Tara Hulsey, Ph.D., R.N., chair of the governance committee, reported that the committee is working to improve the election process and plans to hold elections in late spring/summer. The committee has also reviewed the working and approved versions of the faculty handbook to determine needed changes to the approved version. In addition, the committee is reviewing the policy for accessing the senate’s legal fund in order to determine whether or not changes need to be made to this policy to reflect the current needs of the senate. Committee on Communication and Education—Rick Albenesius, DDS, committee chair, reported that the committee has planned a Faculty Town Hall Meeting, scheduled for 4:30 p.m., March 25. Chip Hood, legal counsel for the foundation for research development, will speak on copyright issues relate to national trends and distance education.  Albenesius encouraged all senators to submit articles on faculty activities for publication in John Raymond’s, M.D., newsletter and stated that the committee is working on a process for routinely submitting articles on faculty senate activities to this newsletter. Strategic Planning Committee—Geoff Freeman, committee chair, reported that the committee revised the proposed vision statement into a mission statement and that a new vision statement is being drafted.  Once the statement is approved by the senate, the committee will write action plans designed to achieve the vision. Committee on Institutional Advancement—Debra Hazen-Martin, Ph.D., committee chair, reported that the committee will be responsible for planning the orientation for new senators.  The committee will work on ways to ensure information for new senators is easily accessible. A charge to this committee is to support the senate in being proactive on issues important to faculty. Hazen-Martin asked faculty to forward ideas to her or to the faculty senate  executive committee regarding ways in which this committee can monitor and/or obtain  information on critical issues. Committee on Faculty and Institutional Relationships—Paul Gold, Ph.D., committee chair, reported that he compiled a list of publications on current issues important to faculty. Kathy Chessman, Pharm.D.,  chair, asked that Gold send the list to all senators and suggested that the list might be helpful to the committee on institutional advancement.  Chair’s Report—Kathy Chessman Deans’ Council—Classroom policy exception. Approved a no food allowed policy for 628CSB. Pharm.D./Ph.D. in Outcomes Research and Pharm.D./Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences—These proposed programs were approved in theory, but the College of Pharmacy was asked to discuss the proposal with counterparts at USC to ensure creation of these programs will not be seen as a conflict of interests in light of the proposed merger of the two colleges. President’s Council MUSC/USC Colleges of Pharmacy merger—The search for a dean of the merged colleges is currently underway. An interim dean may be appointed until the position is filled. Members for an advisory council are being selected, and five deans from similar programs throughout the United States have been asked to participate.  The committee will also include two faculty members from each College of Pharmacy and the dean of the College of Education at USC will chair the committee.  PeopleAdmin—PeopleAdmin is software designed to collect and track applications for employees.  Human Resources plans to use this program for all faculty applications. The program will automatically distribute applications to required departments for review, and a representative from Human Resources will be asked to give a presentation at the March faculty senate meeting. Internet Budgeting Solution—MUSC is a beta site for this software program, and a presentation on the use of this software will be given at the March faculty senate meeting. Board of Trustees Meeting—A representative from faculty senate will attend the board’s education committee meeting and the research committee meeting. The next senate meeting will be held at 7:45 a.m., March 2, in Gazes Auditorium. The agenda will be posted on the faculty senate’s Web site prior to the meeting. 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. 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.