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MUSC faculty senate meeting minutes  The faculty senate’s unapproved meeting minutes for August are posted on the senate’s Web site at http://www.musc.edu/facsen. Guest Speaker During the next few months, the senate is inviting faculty holding endowed chairs to speak to the senate about their research and areas of interest. This month, John J. Lemasters, M.D., Ph.D., endowed chair in Advanced Cellular Technologies,  provided a presentation on his research and the development of the Center for Cell Death, Injury and Regeneration. Lemasters encouraged faculty to contact him if they have interests in these areas. Additional information about  Lemasters and his work can be found at http://www.musc.edu/pr/lemasters.htm and http://www.musc.edu/catalyst/archive/2005/co9-23endo. Old Business Committee Updates Institutional Advancement—Teresa Kelechi, Ph.D., chair, reported that the committee is continuing to compile a list of MUSC committees. The purpose of the list is to determine which committees have senate representation and which do not. For those that do not, a determination will be made as to whether or not senate representation is important. The list should be completed in September.  Communication and Education—Rick Albenesius, DMD, president of the senate, commended Peggy Schachte (co-chair), Geoff Freeman (co-chair), and the committee for the organization of the Welcome for New Faculty held Aug. 7. Schachte reported that an online evaluation form for the event will be published this week. Schachte also reported that the next Town Hall Meeting for all faculty will be held in October. An update on the CTSA will be the focus of the meeting. Governance Committee—Walter Limehouse, M.D., chair, reported on proposed revisions to the faculty handbook. The proposed revisions relate to faculty separation and faculty responsibilities and were sent to faculty. The working copy of the handbook incorporating these proposed changes is available through the senate’s Web site.   Progress on plans for the upcoming senate election was reported by Laura Cousineau. A discussion was held about the timeline for senators rotating off the senate. The constitution and bylaws recommend staggering rotation so that all senators for a particular college do not leave the senate at the same time. Presently, there are colleges where this will happen. The decision was made that for those colleges in which all faculty representatives will rotate off the senate at the same time, faculty within the college should decide if they prefer some senators to serve a two-year term and others to serve a one-year term. The determination of which senators serve a two year versus a one-year term will be left to the individual colleges.   Nominations and the election for senators will be held prior to the September meeting. Proposed changes to the handbook will be voted on at the same time. A proposed slate of new officers for the senate will be presented by the executive committee at the October meeting. Smoking Cessation Anne Kilpatrick, DPA, reported that the first smoking hut is being constructed in the Anne Edwards’ Garden near the main entrance to the hospital. New Business Recognition of Melissa Foster—Foster has served as the administrative assistant to the senate for a number of years. Her retirement in October will leave “big shoes to fill.” In appreciation for her support of the senate, Kilpatrick read a Resolution of Appreciation. Retirement System and Health Benefits Kilpatrick reported that there appears to be confusion among faculty regarding the selection of a retirement system and its relationship to the state’s health benefits. The senate agreed that additional research needed to be completed and reported to the senate.  Albenesius will contact Stewart Mixon, Office of Chief Operations Officer, and provide a report to the senate. Faculty Convocation Faculty Convocation was  held Aug. 22. The next senate meeting will be held at 7:45 a.m. Sept. 12 in Gazes Auditorium. The agenda will be posted on the Web site prior to the meeting. Senators present Basic Science: Hiroko Hama Clinical Sciences: Susan Ackerman, George Johnson, Walter Limehouse (executive committee), John Osguthorpe, Sakamuri Reddy, Kenneth Vanek, Aljoeson Walker, Rita Young Dental Medicine: Rick Albenesius (executive committee), Ted McGill (executive committee) Health Professions: Anne Kilpatrick (executive committee) Library Science and Informatics: Laura Cousineau, Mary Mauldin (executive committee), Geoff Freeman (alternate) (executive committee), Peggy Schachte (executive committee), Tom Smith (alternate). Excused: Jett McCann Nursing: Elaine Amella, Barb Edlund, Teresa Kelechi (executive committee), Marilyn King, Sharon Bond (alternate), Nancy Duffy (alternate) Pharmacy: Andrea Wessell. Excused: Kathy Chessman (executive committee), Patrick Mauldin, Jean Nappi (executive committee), Kelly Ragucci Submitted by Mary Mauldin, Secretary to the MUSC Faculty Senate     Friday, Sept. 1, 2006 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 catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.