FACULTY SENATE
MINUTES - APPROVED
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
The meeting
was called to order by the President at 7:45 AM in Gazes Auditorium.
MEMBERSHIP
ROSTER:
College
of Medicine,
Basic
Sciences: |
Present: |
Debra Callahan, Hiroko
Hama |
| |
Absent: |
Kimberly Colins, Kathy Laber-Laird,
Janice Lage |
College
of Medicine,
Clinical
Sciences: |
Present: |
George Johnson, Walter Limehouse
(Executive Committee), Swapan Ray (Executive Committee), Sakamuri
Reddy, Kenneth Vanek, Aljoeson Walker |
| |
Absent: |
Prabhakar Baliga, Hilary Bernstein,
Courtney Brady, Christine Carr,
Boyd Gillespie, Dorothea Jenkins, Joseph John, John Osguthorpe, Al
Santos, Arthur Smith, Dan Smith, Mitchell Weinstein, Rita Young |
| |
Excused: |
Susan Ackerman |
| College
of Dental Medicine: |
Present: |
Rick Albenesius (Exec. Committee),
Ted McGill (Exec. Committee) |
| |
Absent: |
MIchele Ravenel |
| College
of Health Professions: |
Present: |
Anne Kilpatrick (Executive
Committee), Dave Morrisette |
| |
Absent: |
Libby Dismuke
(Alt.) |
| |
Excused: |
Reamer Bushardt |
| Library
Science and Informatics: |
Present: |
Laura Cousineau, Geoff Freeman
(Alt) (Executive Committee), Jett McCann, Mary Mauldin (Executive
Committee), Peggy Schachte (Executive
Committee) |
| |
Absent: |
Tom Smith (Alt.) |
| College
of Nursing: |
Present: |
Elaine Amella, Teresa Kelechi (Executive
Committee), Marilyn King, Sharon Bond (Alt.), Nancy Duffy (Alt.) |
| |
Excused: |
Barbara Edlund |
| College
of Pharmacy: |
Present: |
Jean
Nappi (Executive Committee), Andrea Wessell |
| |
Absent: |
Kathy Chessman (Executive Committee),
Patrick Mauldin |
| |
Excused: |
, Kelly Ragucci |
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES
Minutes of the August 8, 2006, meeting were postponed
for approval due to lack of a quorum at the beginning of the meeting.
The unapproved minutes are posted on the Senate's Web site.
MEETING PROCEEDINGS
I. GUEST SPEAKERS
Dr. Tom Higerd, Associate Provost for Institutional Research and Assessment
Dr. Tom Higerd gave a brief overview of the re-accreditation process
that MUSC is going through for the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools (SACS). Dr. Higerd explained that this is a critical process
that takes place every ten years. Significant consequences occur without
accreditation including withdrawal of Federal funding. A Web site has
been created for the SACS’ reviewers so that they can easily
obtain required information about MUSC (www.musc.edu/sacs). One component
of this Web site is a listing of teaching faculty, along with their
qualifications. Dr. Higerd asked if faculty would have concerns about
this information being available online. Senators said that faculty
would like the opportunity to review credentials for accuracy. Dr.
Higerd indicated that a process would be put into place for faculty
to review the information and notify the SACS steering committee of
needed changes.
Mr. Stewart Mixon, COO
During the Senate’s meeting in August 2006, a question was posed
regarding faculty’s access to health insurance coverage once
retired, if they belonged to an optional retirement plan. Mr. Stewart
Mixon was invited to the September session to address this question.
Mr. Mixon provided a handout comparing optional retirement plans to
the State’s. Post-retiree insurance is available in both plans
and the same rule applies to both: In order to be eligible, an employee
must be 60 years of age and worked at least 10 years (accruing service
time). The last five must be worked consecutively, in a permanent (FTE)
benefits eligible position.
A question was raised about the amount the
State charges for management fees of the optional plan. Mr. Mixon
is checking on this and will report
to the Senate in October.
Mr. Mixon encouraged all faculty and staff
to investigate the 403B plan that is offered. This plan requires
a minimum contribution of
$50.00 per paycheck.
II. NEW BUSINESS
Senate Elections – Dr. Rick Albenesius, President,
thanked all Senators rotating off at the end of September for their
service over the past two years. Election results will be posted.
II. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting
was adjourned at 9:07 AM
Next
meeting: 7:45 AM, Tuesday, October 10, 2006. Room 125, Gazes Auditorium.
Respectfully
Submitted by:
Mary Mauldin,
Secretary to the Faculty Senate |
