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Updates on parking, technology presented The faculty senate’s February meeting minutes were approved and posted on the senate’s Web site at http://www.musc.edu/facsen. Special Presentations Update on Information Technology in the Library/Administration Building—Geoff Freeman, director of Educational Technology Services, provided an update on the new technology being installed in the Library/Administration Building as a part of the current renovations. In addition to wireless capabilities, Ethernet is being installed in classrooms. The classrooms will seat approximately 24 people, but several classrooms can be expanded for additional space. Faculty were reminded that these classrooms will be centrally scheduled.  In addition to the classrooms on the first floor, the Center for Academic Excellence and the Clinical Evaluation Center will be located on the second floor. Renovations are scheduled for completion in April/May. Update on Parking Management—Melinda Anderson, director of Parking Management, provided an update on changes in parking as a result of construction. The Ashley Avenue garage is scheduled for completion in May, and will be designated patient parking. Rutledge Tower garage will be reserved for faculty and staff and the Office of Parking Management is currently working on a plan for moving employees to this garage. A helopad will be constructed on the roof of the parking garage on the corner of President and Bee Street. Construction will take place this summer, and parking management expects to lose approximately 100 spaces temporarily and 30 to 40 permanently in this garage. Anderson indicated that since there has not been an increase in parking fees during the past two years, employees can probably expect to see an increase this year. New Business College of Medicine Mentoring Task Force  Kathy Chessman, Pharm.D., chair, announced that Daynna Wolff, Ph.D., will be the senate representative on this committee, and Rochelle Hanson, Ph.D., will be the alternate. Old Business Drug-free Workplace Policy  Marilyn King, Ph.D., chair of the Governance Committee reviewed proposed recommendations from the committee regarding this policy. The major concerns of the committee addressed the issues of confidentially, payment for drug screening, and procedure for random drug testing. There was a unanimous vote from the Senators present to approve the recommendations as the official report of the Senate. The report will be forwarded to John Raymond, M.D., and John Cormier, Pharm.D. Committee Reports New Faculty Orientation—An ad hoc committee, chaired by Peggy Schachte, is developing plans for a campuswide orientation for new faculty.  The committee is proposing a “proactive partnership” between the Office of the Provost and the senate to plan this event. Two orientations sessions per year are suggested, one held on the day of Faculty Convocation and one late winter/early spring.  Schachte outlined the proposed format for the two-hour session and provided a suggestion that a notebook be kept regarding the process in order to pass the information to future planning committees. The ad hoc committee stressed the importance of faculty attendance and the need for senators to encourage new faculty to attend. Schachte stated that evaluation of the process and the event is critical. A recommendation was made for this group to become a sub-committee of the committee on faculty and institutional relationships. The entire plan was approved by the senate and these suggestions will now be discussed with administrators in the Office of the Provost.  Institutional Advancement—An ad hoc committee formed in order to plan a Research Workshop is moving forward with its proposal.  David Bradford, Ph.D., in the Department of Health Administration and Policy in the College of Health Professions is working with the ad hoc committee to plan this workshop. Chair’s Report Senate Representative from College of Dental Medicine—Due to the departure of a senator from the College of Dental Medicine, a new senator will be appointed for the remainder of this year, a new chair will be determined for the communications committee, and a new member appointed to the senate’s executive committee. Town Hall Meeting—Raymond, vice president for academic affairs and provost, has requested two faculty Town Hall meetings. These meetings will be sponsored by the Senate and are tentatively scheduled for April, one to address research and research space issues, and the second to address university finances. The next senate meeting will be held at 7:45 a.m. April 12 in Room 435 of the Basic Science Building. The agenda will be posted on the faculty senate’s Web site prior to the meeting. Senators present Basic Science: Lucille London, Robert Ogilvie, Daynna Wolff. Excused: Robert Woolson (alternate). Clinical Sciences: Susan Ackerman, Hilary Bernstein, Dorothea Eicher, Rochelle Hanson, George Johnson, Walter Limehouse (alternate), Swapan Ray (alternate). Excused: Lucinda Halstead, Joseph John, Aljoeson Walker, Ken Vaneck (alternate). Dental Medicine: Rick Albenesius (executive committee). Health Professions: Anne Kilpatrick, Lloyd Taylor. Excused: Libby Dismuke (executive committee). Library Science & Informatics: Laura Cousineau, Jett McCann, Mary Mauldin (executive committee), Peggy Schachte, Geoff Freeman (alternate). Excused: Tom Smith (alternate). Nursing: Elaine Amella, Barbara Edlund, Teresa Kelechi, Marilyn King, Sharon Bond (alternate). Pharmacy: Kathy Chessman (executive committee), Sandra Garner, Patrick Mauldin. Excused: Kelly Ragucci (executive committee). Submitted by Mary Mauldin, Secretary to the Faculty Senate   Friday, March 25, 2005 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. 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