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MUSC faculty senate meeting minutes

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

Old Business
Committee Updates
Institutional Advancement—Teresa Kelechi,Ph.D., chair, reported that the committee has developed an online survey that all senators will be asked to complete. The survey is an effort to identify all committees on which senators serve and committees on which senators do not currently serve but faculty may benefit from senate representation.

Communication and Education—Peggy Schachte and Geoff Freeman, co-chairs, reported that there will be a Town Hall meeting in April announcing the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program currently in the planning stages for MUSC.  Schachte and Freeman also reported that plans are being formulated for another welcome for new faculty. The semi-annual event is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 7.

New Business
CTSA Planning Grant Proposal—Perry Halushka, Ph.D., dean of the College of Graduate Studies and co-PI, provided a brief presentation on the status of the proposal for the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Planning Grant. Kathleen Brady, M.D., Ph.D., is the PI on this proposal. The planning grant is designed to provide support for the planning of a full CTSA from the NIH. If received, the CTSA would replace the General Clinical Research Center and provide an opportunity to accelerate discoveries and implementation from bench to bedside and take methodologies that are advantageous in academics and move them into the clinical setting. Halushka emphasized that this grant would have “something in it for everyone” —both clinical and basic scientists as well as representation from all six colleges. Workgroups are being formed for the planning grant with chairs and co-chairs identified. The planning grant will be submitted by the end of March and the full grant submitted February 2007.

Tenure Workshop—Anne Kilpatrick, DPA, reported that the executive committee is planning a tenure workshop for May. The workshop will provide an opportunity for faculty to hear from the provost and deans about the tenure process. In addition, tenured faculty will provide their insights into the process.

Deans’ Council—Kilpatrick attended the February meeting of deans’ council and provided a report. The agenda for deans' council included a presentation by John Schaefer, M.D. Schaefer is one of the Endowed Professors in the SC Research Centers of Economic Excellence in Clinical Effectiveness and Patient Safety. Schaefer gave a brief overview of the program’s collaborative efforts with Greenville Hospital system, USC, MUSC and Palmetto Health.
 
Kilpatrick reported that the deans’ council also heard feedback from the Interprofessional Day held in January. During the meeting, John Raymond, M.D., suggested that it would be prudent to measure longitudinal outcomes. Other suggestions and discussion are provided in the minutes from this meeting.

Parking Management Update—Melinda Anderson, director of Parking Management, provided an update on parking. Anderson reported that construction of the new hospital will have a major impact on parking, especially since the new hospital will open before additional parking is completed. For example, the 1,500 space garage on the corner of Bee and Courtney is scheduled for completion June 2008. Until this garage is completed, Anderson said that no one will lose a space in the county garage, but it will take longer to bring new people into that garage since there will be a need to accommodate patients and employees in the new hospital. She also reported that the Ashley Avenue Garage opened in June and is open after hours for employees (both faculty and staff). In order to park in the Ashley Avenue garage after hours, employees need to request permission and have their card activated for this garage.
 
Anderson also reported that Rutledge Tower is now employee only. Students have lost the majority of A lot due to construction of the energy facility but alternative parking has been located. Parking spaces in G lot will also be lost in May/June as construction begins on the new dental building. Anderson also pointed out that as additional construction takes place across the campus, it will create new challenges for parking. As parking challenges continue to grow, Anderson reported that CARTA has incorporated two buses into the MUSC system during peak hours. In addition, CARTA is developing express routes to MUSC from West Ashley, Mount Pleasant and James Island.
 
A senator expressed concern about the maintenance of the stairwells in Rutledge Tower. Anderson said they are working on the possibility of a dedicated team to work nights in order to improve maintenance in the garages.
 
The possibility of increased parking rates was also discussed, and Anderson said that the last rate increase took place in July and the next rate increase is scheduled for July 2007.

Request for Senate Volunteers—Rick Albenesius, DDS, president, requested senators volunteer to serve on the university parking committee and the education advisory committee.

Reminders
The College of Health Professions Dedication and Ribbon Cutting is scheduled for Friday, April 7.
 
A link to the blog by Roger Poston, Ph.D., director of Academics and Research in the Office of the CIO, will be available from the faculty senate’s Web site in the near future. The blog will focus on current projects, plans, and future directions related to information technology efforts in academics and research.
 
The next senate meeting will be held at 7:45 a.m. April 11 in Gazes Auditorium. The agenda will be posted on the faculty senate’s Web site.
Submitted by Mary Mauldin, Secretary to the Faculty Senate

   

Friday, April 7, 2006
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