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MUSC Faculty Senate to welcome new members Aug. 8

The faculty senate’s meeting minutes for May and June are posted on the senate’s Web site at http://www.musc.edu/facsen.

New Business
Committee Reports
  • New Faculty Welcome—Peggy Schachte, chair of new faculty orientation task force, reported that plans are continuing for the New Faculty Welcome. The welcome is scheduled for Aug. 8, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Storm Eye Institute. Senators were asked to accompany new faculty members to the event. The committee is currently contacting various offices and groups on campus to provide information about their services through kiosks that will be set up during the welcome.

  • Governance Committee—The governance committee is developing the timeline for election of new senators. The entire election process will be completed in time for new senators to be installed at the October meeting. The executive committee will present a proposal for the slate of officers that will also be presented during the October meeting. 
   
  • Faculty Handbook Review/Revision—Members of the governance committee have reviewed the current faculty handbook to determine possible conflicts with proposed policies/practices. A process to notify the senate of proposed changes in HR policies is being determined in order to alert the senate to possible conflicts with current information in the faculty handbook.

  • PACE Report—Bob Ogilvie, Ph.D., chair of the PACE Task Force, reported progress of the committee. Ogilvie stated that the purpose of this task force is to review the PACE process in the spirit of improving instruction at MUSC. Following a study of the process, a review of the literature, and recommended action steps, the task force asked for comments from the senate. The senate voted to accept the recommendations outlined in the report with revisions.Prior to development of a faculty and possible student survey as the next step in the action plan, the chair of the governance committee will draft a cover letter. This cover letter, along with the amended report, will be sent to senators for review prior to submission to the administration. 

Chair’s Report and Discussion of Issues
Senate Representative on Academic/Research Space Backfill Subcommittee—Kathy Chessman, Pharm.D., chair of faculty senate, reported that Patrick Mauldin will represent the senate on the academic/research space backfill subcommittee.

SACS Committee Representation—Chessman requested volunteers to serve as senate representatives on four different SACS committees. Sharon Bond will serve on the governance committee, and Marilyn King will serve on the core requirements committee.

Issues Requiring Senate Response
Proposed Changes in Pay Cycles—In a cost-reduction effort, the Office of the CFO is exploring ways to streamline pay cycles, including the option of only offering bi-monthly pay cycles. The Office of the CFO is requesting comment from the senate on this proposal. The proposed process would require automatic check deposit.  Check statements would no longer be printed and would instead be accessed online. One senator expressed concern that although you can currently access this information, it is available on campus. It was recommended that if this process is put into place, check statements need to be available online from off-campus locations, as well.

Mandatory Pre-employment Drug Testing—Chessman reported that HR is requesting a response from the senate regarding the requirement that drug testing is mandated for anyone offered a position at MUSC.

Sabbatical Leave—The faculty handbook indicates that faculty do not accrue sick leave while on sabbatical leave.  This is inconsistent with current HR policies.  HR has requested a response from the senate regarding this issue.
 
Chessman will request comment from senators on each of these issues via e-mail.  If needed, these issues will be brought back to the senate for further discussion during the next meeting of the senate.
 
The next senate meeting will be held at 7:45 a.m. on Aug. 9 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

Senators present
Basic Science: Kathy Laber-Laird, Bob Ogilvie, Daynna Wolff. Excused: Lucille London (executive committee), Robert Woolson (alternate)

Clinical Sciences: Hilary Bernstein, Rochelle Hanson, Joseph John, George Johnson, John Osguthorpe, Dan Smith, Walter Limehouse (alternate), Swapan Ray (alternate). Excused: Michael Frye, Paul Gold (executive committee), Aljoeson Walker, Ken Vaneck (alternate)

Dental Medicine: Rick Albenesius (executive committee).
Health Professions: Anne Kilpatrick, Lloyd Taylor. Excused: Libby Dismuke (executive committee), Blair Holladay (alternate)

Library Science and Informatics: Laura Cousineau, Mary Mauldin (executive committee),  Peggy Schachte (executive committee), Geoff Freeman (alternate). Excused:  Jett McCann

Nursing: Elaine Amella, Barbara Edlund, Teresa Kelechi, Marilyn King (executive committee)

Pharmacy: Kathy Chessman (executive committee), Sandra Garner, Patrick Mauldin, Kelly Ragucci (executive committee)
   

Friday, July 29, 2005
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