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Faculty senate approves proposed constitution The faculty senate’s February meeting minutes were approved and posted on the senate’s Web site at http://www.musc.edu/facsen. Committee Reports Governance Committee—Nancy McKeehan reported comments received by the governance committee following the senators’ review of the proposed constitution and by-laws.  After discussion, the senate approved the proposed constitution and by-laws unanimously. The documents will now be distributed to the full faculty for a period of review and comment.  The governance committee will review faculty comments, make changes as needed, and the senate will vote again on the proposed documents if changes are needed. Following this process, the documents will appear as a referendum on the faculty senate election ballot. As a result of this discussion and comments regarding the status of other proposed procedures, Kathy Chessman, chair of the senate, asked the governance committee to develop a process for tracking documents as they progress through the approval process.  Strategic Planning Committee—Geoff Freeman, chair, presented a proposed vision statement for the faculty senate. Following discussion and revision, the vision statement was approved and posted on the faculty senate Web site. The strategic planning committee will write a mission statement based on the vision statement. Committee on Communication and Education—Rick Albenesius, chair, reported that the committee has planned a faculty town hall meeting for March 25 at 4:30 p.m.  Chip Hood, legal counsel for the Foundation for Research Development, will present “Copyright:  Where Do You Stand?”  He will discuss national trends related to copyright as well as copyright issues in distance education. The session will be videotaped and the tapes will be made available for checkout by faculty unable to attend. Committee on Institutional Advancement—The committee is working on plans for the orientation for new senators.  Committee on Faculty and Institutional Relationships—New procedures are being implemented in the faculty contract process. At the request of the board of trustees, a faculty definitions committee has been formed and is chaired by Tom Higerd, Ph.D. This committee is charged with defining faculty status (i.e., full-time, part-time and volunteer).    Beginning this year, anyone with faculty status will sign a standardized annual contract or renewal letter. The new contract procedures for 2004 will include a mediation process, if needed, that will occur in the faculty member’s individual college.  The tenure discussion group is working closely with the administration throughout development of this process in order to incorporate procedures for tenured faculty who may seek mediation regarding issues related to tenure.  The committee on faculty and institutional relationships is charged with following this process and keeping the senate informed of progress. Chair’s Report—Kathy Chessman Deans’ Council Recouping tuition charges from training grants—As a result of current billing and administrative practices, MUSC has not been recouping as much as possible in tuition charges from NIH training grants.  There is a plan to increase the number of training grants and work is taking place to revise the current billing process in order to recoup a larger percentage of tuition from these NIH grants. Discontinuation of some AV services—Freeman, director of educational technology services, reported that MUSC will no longer use T1 lines for teleconferences; IP video and ISDN lines are still available. This change will save approximately $50,000 per year. Freeman also stated that AV services will no longer be able to support requests for off- campus services due to budget constraints. Services affected include the provision of audio visual equipment and set-up for conferences taking place in the local area, but not on campus. Announcement—Diplomas only can be handed out by the chair of the board of trustees.  Other requests cannot be honored (e.g., parents who also graduated from MUSC requesting to hand their son/daughter his/her diploma).  The next senate meeting will be held at 7:45 a.m., April 6, in Gazes Auditorium. The agenda will be posted on the faculty senate’s Web site prior to the meeting. Senators present Basic Sciences: Eberhard Voit (executive committee), Sally Self. Excused: Robert Ogilvie, Dayanna Wolff Clinical Sciences: Susan Ackerman, Christopher Frueh, Michael Frye, Lucinda Halstead, Rochelle Hanson, George M. Johnson, Dana King, Arch Mainous, Aljoeson Walker, Walter Limehouse (alternate), Swapan Ray (alternate), Kenneth Vanek (alternate). Excused: Paul Gold (executive committee), Andrew Gelasco Dental Medicine: Rick Albenesius (executive committee), Peter Kobes, Michele Ravenel, Carlos Salinas Health Professions: Libby Dismuke (executive committee),  Anne Kilpatrick, Jack Thomas, Blair Holladay (alternate). Excused: Jennifer Horner Library Science & Informatics: Geoff Freeman, Mary Mauldin (executive committee), Nancy McKeehan, Peggy Schachte Tom Smith (alternate) Nursing: Elizabeth Erkel, Tara Hulsey, Teresa Kelechi (alternate), John Welton (alternate). Excused: Elaine Amella, Julia Ball Pharmacy: Kathy Chessman (executive committee), Sandra Garner (executive committee), Marc Lapointe Kelly Ragucci (alternate). Submitted by Mary Mauldin, Secretary to the Faculty Senate Friday, March 26, 2004 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.