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Faculty senate meeting minutes for April The faculty senate’s unapproved meeting minutes for April are posted on the senate’s Web site at http://www.musc.edu/facsen.   The senate voted to support a resolution by the MUSC Student Government Association that will revise and change the admissions equal opportunity policy at MUSC to read as follows: The Medical University of South Carolina does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or marital status in the administration of admission policies, education policies, financial aid, employment, or any other university activity. Committee reports Governance Committee—Walter Limehouse, M.D., chair, reported that the working copy of the faculty handbook’s appendix has been presented to the deans’ council, president’s council and the MUSC auditor for approval prior to presentation to the Board of Trustees. The recommended changes will be presented to the Board of Trustees during their May meeting. Limehouse also reported that the committee is beginning to plan for the upcoming senate elections that will be held online during September. Communication and Education Committee—Nancy Duffy reported that a Town Hall meeting is scheduled for May 2. The topic of the meeting is the TEACH Act, and the speaker is Chip Hood, executive director of the MUSC Foundation for Research Development. Committee on Institutional Advancement—Swapan Ray, Ph.D., chair, reported that there are 14 university standing committees. Ray said the senate needs to determine if senate representation is necessary on all of these committees. Guest speakers Tom Higerd, Ph.D., and Amy Blue, Ph.D.—Higerd, associate provost for institutional effectiveness, and Blue, assistant provost for education, provided a report on the SACS accreditation. Higerd reported that the on-site visit was completed in March and went well.  Higerd explained that in addition to the on-site review team’s visit in March, an off-site team reviewed the  80 compliance standards. These standards are available on the MUSC Sacs Web site (http://www.musc.edu/sacs). The off-site committee found five standards out of compliance and MUSC responded to these during February. The on-site team reviewed the responses to the standards that were considered out of compliance and found the responses brought them into compliance. In addition, the on-site team reviewed our Quality Enhancement Plan and a written summary of the visit should be received in the near future.   Higerd encouraged senators to review the SACS Web site and thanked all faculty and staff involved in this effort. He also reported that the faculty credentials section of the SACS Web site will be expanded to include all faculty, instead of the current listing of only teaching faculty.   Blue provided an overview of MUSC’s Quality Enhancement Plan. The title of this plan is “Creating Collaborative Care” and will focus on interprofessional education, with an emphasis on student learning. The process for determining the topic of the plan and the goals for the plan were reviewed. Several committees will work to support this effort and its four areas of emphasis: curricular, extracurricular, faculty development, and clinical effectiveness and patient safety. Students as well as faculty will be involved in all committees. A formal report is due in five years and the SACS review team encouraged MUSC to begin work immediately on this plan. Blue encouraged senators to participate in this effort. Updates President’s Council—Rick Albensius, DMD, president, reported that during the March meeting of the council, it was announced that the new e-mail system will be in place by fall. An update on the new Drug Discovery building was also provided. Standard of Conduct for Trainees, Students, Residents and Fellows—Albenesius reported that there is a final meeting to review this proposed policy with Valerie West, Ph.D., associate provost for education and student life. The meeting is scheduled for April 24, and Albenesius will provide a report at the May meeting of the faculty senate. Parking Committee—Albenesius reported that renovations will take place on parking for Colcock Hall in June. He also reported that CARTA Express has sold 700 passes to MUSC employees. If an employee is interested in riding CARTA Express and would like to relinquish their parking space, the space will be given back if the employee decides to no longer take advantage of the CARTA Express service. Albenesius also said that a ruling regarding the length of time a vehicle can remain in a handicapped parking space is currently being debated in the State legislature. The next senate meeting will be held at 7:45 a.m. May 8 in Gazes Auditorium. The agenda will be posted on the senate’s Web site prior to the meeting. Submitted by Mary Mauldin, Secretary to the Faculty Senate Senators present Basic Science: Mostafa Fraig, Denise Quigley, Cynthia Welsh Clinical Sciences: William Conway, Brad Keith, Walter Limehouse (executive committee), Bonnie Martin-Harris, Swapan Ray (executive committee), Sakamuri Reddy, Arthur Smith, Kenneth Vanek, Rita Young . Excused: Boyd Gillespie College of Dental Medicine: Rick Albenesius (executive committee), Joe Krayer, Ted McGill (executive committee) College of Health Professions: David Morrisette. Excused: Kathy Cegles, Jennifer Horner (executive committee) Library Science and Informatics: Laura Cousineau (executive committee), Mary Mauldin (executive committee), Peggy Schachte. Excused: Tom Smith (alternate) College of Nursing: Sharon Bond, Nancy Duffy, Barb Edlund (executive committee), Shelia Smith College of Pharmacy: Kathy Chessman (executive committee), Elinor Chumney, Patrick Mauldin (executive committee), Andrea Wessell     Friday, May 4, 2007 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.