The meeting was called to order by the Chair at 7:45 AM in Room 125 Gazes. A quorum was present.

MEMBERSHIP ROSTER:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of the February 8, 2005, meeting were approved. The approved minutes are posted on the Senate's Web site.

MEETING PROCEEDINGS

I. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

Update on Information Technology in the Library/Admin Building - Geoff Freeman
Mr. Geoff Freeman, Director of Educational Technology Services, provided an update on the new technology being installed in the Library/Admin 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 April/May.

Update on Parking Management – Melinda Anderson
Ms. Melinda Anderson, Director of Parking Management provided an update on changes in parking as a result of construction. The Ashley Ave. garage is scheduled for completion May 2005, 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. Ms. Anderson indicated that since there has not been an increase in parking fees over the past two years, employees can probably expect to see an increase this year.

II. NEW BUSINESS

College of Medicine Mentoring Task Force
Dr. Kathy Chessman, Chair, announced that Dr. Daynna Wolff will be the Senate representative on this committee, and Dr. Rochelle Hanson will be the alternate.

III. OLD BUSINESS

Drug-free Workplace Policy
Dr. Marilyn King, 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 Dr. John Raymond and Dr. John Cormier.

IV. COMMITTEE REPORTS

New Faculty Orientation – An ad hoc committee, chaired by Ms. Peggy Schachte, is developing plans for a campus-wide 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. Ms. 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. Ms. 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. Dr. David Bradford 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.

IV. CHAIR'S REPORT

Senate Representative from College of Dental Medicine - Dr. Harmeet Walia will be leaving MUSC. Due to his departure, 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 will be appointed to the Senate’s Executive Committee.

Town Hall Meeting – Dr. John 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.

Change in Benefits - Dr. Chessman provided an update on the issue surrounding a change in the faculty handbook to reflect a change in a HR policy. Previously, a person had to be employeed in at least a .75 position in order to quality for benefits. The policy was changed through the Department of Human Resources, and a person employed in a .5 position now qualifies for benefits. The faculty handbook references the .75 position as the minimum qualification for benefits. The change in this HR policy was not originally brought before the Board of Trustees for approval. Following procedure in order to make a change in the faculty handbook, Dr. Chessman made a request to the Board of Trustees that a change be made in the handbook to correspond with the change in the HR policy. At that point, the Board questioned the decision to change this HR policy without Board approval. Dr. Chessman reported that she will be talking this week with Mr. Paul Taylor, internal auditor for the university.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 AM


Next meeting: 7:45 AM, Tuesday, April 12, 2005. Basic Science Building, Room 435

Respectfully Submitted by:
Mary Mauldin, Secretary to the Faculty Senate