Minutes of Regular MeetingSept. 12th, 2011
Executive Meeting
The executive meeting of the Senate convened at 3:00 PM. One item was addressed on the agenda: Election of Faculty Senators at Large. The following senators were elected for at-large positions for the 2011-12 academic year: Vijay John, Laura Levy, Marc Kahn, Jeff Tasker, Leann Myers, Amy Gajda, Joel Friedman, Larry Byers.
Full Meeting
The full meeting of the full senate convened at 3:19 PM, Kendall-Cram Room, LBC. 43 members were present.
Presiding: The chair, President Cowen.
Attendance:
Ex Officio:S. Cowen, M. Davies, T. Lorino,Y. Jones,C. Adams, J. Wiese
Deans:I. Solomon, L. Query, K. Swartz, R. Marksbury, C. Haber, P. Buekens, N. Altiero,
A. B. Freeman School of Business:H Sujan, J. McFarland
Newcomb-Tulane College:OPEN
Architecture:W. Redfield
Continuing Studies:L. Green
Law:R. Scalise, C. Hancock, J. Carriere
Liberal Arts:F. Smith, H. Sullivan, H. Howard,
Medicine:D. Mushatt, Z. Pursell, A. Betancourt proxy forL. Morici, R. Reitan, H. Zhang, A. Betancourt
Public Health and Tropical Medicine: H. Long, N. Mock, S. Hassig, J. Lefante
Science and Engineering:C. Walker, D. Mullin, P. Colombo, J. Ruscher,
Social Work: L. Pearlmutter, M. Lewis
Student Senators:E. Nicoll, B Hambley, M. Lewis, N. Maples
Staff Senators:M. Miller
Senators at Large:NA (just elected)
Absent Voting Senators:
M. Bernstein, B. Sachs, C. Lane, J. MacLaren, D. Meyer, R. Marks, M. Sujan, G. Owen, M. Yun, V. Mayer, M. Thompson, H Andersson, K. Johannesson, G. Chavez
Minutes:
The minutes of the May 2nd, 2011meeting were approved withoutamendments. The final amended minutes are posted on the Senate Wiki under both the May and September meeting agendas.
Introduction of New Members
The following new Senators were introduced and welcomed to the University Senate:
Zach Pursell, Haito Zhang (School of Medicine), Felipe Smith, Henry Sullivan, (School of Liberal Arts),Janet Ruscher (School of Science and Engineering), and Wendy Redfield (Architecture).
ELECTIONS
The following senators were elected to the Presidents Faculty Advisory Committee: Susan Hassig (SPHTM), and MitaSujan (A. B. Freeman).
Ron Scalise (Law) was elected as the Senate representative to the Board of Administrators.
The following senators were elected as Senators at Large: Vijay John, Laura Levy, Marc Kahn, Jeff Tasker, Leann Myers, Amy Gajda, Joel Friedman, Larry Byers.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Cowen provided the following report, including highlights from Academic Year 2010-11.
Tulane went through the SACS accreditation process last year; there were no citations, with the University receiving full SACS accreditation.
Tulane also went through LCME accreditation (the accreditation for the School of Medicine), resulting in full accreditation with minimal recommendations.
President Cowen asked D. Culbertson to present the NCAA reaccreditation report. Tulane received formal notification from the NCAA that it was in full compliance with NCAA accreditation. The letter of accreditation/compliance is available on the Senate wiki site as well as the Senate website.
Tulane had a modest surplus ($300,00) from operations for the 2011 fiscal year, despite having budgeted for a loss. We are on solid ground financially.
We have the highest enrollment in the history of Tulane, with around 13,300 students in all schools. More impressive however, is the higher student quality (as assessed by standardized test scores and community involvement).
Tulane continues to get recognition for our community engagement commitment.
Tulane successful completed a search for a new dean for the A.B. Freeman school. President Cowen welcomed Ira Solomon to the Senate.
Tulane had a new member of the National Academy of Science: John Purdue.
Tulane received another $50 million gift from the WeatherheadFoundation which will be used to fund 10 university chairs, and an undergraduate scholarship program.
Tulane is continuing to look for a new SACS chair in social innovation.
There were security breaches last year, and the University is committed to augmenting security around campus. Tulaneis continuing to look for a new chief of Tulane Public Safety.
President Cowen addressed the plans for fiscal year 2012.
The state of the economy and governmental support continues to be disappointing. We are anticipating another three to five years of tough going, which may have implications for philanthropy, government of funding, etc.
There are about 20 objectives. The full list of objectives can be found in the president’s report available on the wiki. Five in particular were addressed.
1. This year is phase 1 for strategic academic planning. The renewal plan has been completed; it is time to begin thinking about what Tulane wants to be in ten years. This year will be a year of assessment, benchmarking, and establishing where higher education is going, and how Tulane will fit into that vision. Next year will focus on drilling down into each academic unit, and development of strategic plans for each academic unit. This will replicate what was done in 1998-1999.
This will foreshadow a new capital campaign for the University, representing a billion dollar plus campaign.
2. Undergraduate retention and graduation rates. Historically, Tulane’s rates have not been what they should be given the quality of the student body, and what our peers are doing. The good news is that the rates have increased since Katrina (currently 91%); from 1990-2004, it was 85%. Based on this higher retention rate we anticipate higher graduation rates. Our historic graduation rate was 75%; currently we are at 84%.
3. School of Medicine. We need to develop a pathway to secure the future of the school of medicine. To do this, we are going to have to do something transformative. Strategic discussions are underway to ensure a bright and sustainable future for the school of medicine.
4. Development and university relations. We are beginning to plan on a billion dollar plus campaign, under the leadership of Y. Jones. Two years ago, we made a commitment to expanding the development office. Y. Jones, spoke to this issue. We are currently at a staff of 116; we have doubled our front-line officers. We have set a goal for $65 million for this coming year.
5. Capital renovations for the campuses. President Cowen noted that we have spent just shy of a half a billion dollars on capital campaign since 2005. Tulane spent $70 million on capital improvements. This year we have finalized plans for a third residential college. Weatherhead Hall has been completed this year. Tulane is in the final stages of finishing the basketball/volleyball practice facility. We just broke ground on Flower Hall (Science and Engineering). We are in phase II of renovating the JBJ Building downtown. We are going to upgrade our IT network and business processes. A full list of projects planned for this year is outlined in the President’s report available on the wiki.
- A question was asked whether continuing studies figure into the graduation/retention rates: the answer is no.
- A question was asked bout the timeframe for figuring graduation/retention rates. The answer is a 5-year time-frame.
- A question was asked about initiatives that have contributed to the graduation/retention rates. Having students live on campus for the first two years has been helpful; the commitment to community engagement; and earlier and more intense focus on struggling students has improved the retention rates. President Cowen noted that having more on-campus events (i.e., during weekends), and improving the ratio of advisors to students will also help. There is a group that is focused on strategies to improve this metric.
- A question was asked about the demographics of teen-agers in the US, and how this will affect our plan going forward. President Cowen noted that the diversity is much higher in this pool, and it will likely be reflected in our strategic plans going forward.
- Going forward, with the sluggish economy, will be able to take advantage of coming out of the head-count stabilization period? President Cowen noted that we have to continue to be selective and conservative (to ensure that those who are currently on faculty are protected via on-going salaries/raises/etc.), but that there will be great opportunities in growing the quality and numbers of faculty.
- A question was asked about demographics and retention rate…. For those who leave, what are the reasons? President Cowen noted that the two biggest reasons for students leaving are 1) finances, and 2) the desire to be closer to home. Very few students have left in recent years to attend better schools, reflecting the notion that most students matriculating into Tulane have chosen Tulane as their number one choice.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
J. Carrier provided an updated report from the Social Issues Committee. The committee responded to the Senate’s recommendation that the committee sponsor a forum on social issues and employment practices. The committee noted that it did not have the expertise or resources to carry out such a charge; the committee requested that the Senate and/or the President’s office developa task force to develop this forum to take place in the fall or early spring of this academic year. The committee requested that those selected to make presentationsand participate on panels at this forumshould represent a broad spectrum of perspectives, views and opinions.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. Athletics
D. Culbertson provided a report from the athletics committee (details are noted above in the president’s report). The senate was reminded of the full compliance/accreditation status with the NCAA. The Senate was also reminded of the diversity resolution passed by the Senate in the 2010-11. The NCAA report is on the Senate wiki, as well as the Senate website.
2. Faculty and Staff Benefits
The University will be moving from United Healthcare to Cigna, effective January 1, 2012. This was approved by the F&SB committee, the PFAC, and the Presidents cabinet. The reasons to make the move were addressed. On a do-nothing basis, medical premiums are going up 12% per year. The 12-month rolling loss ratio was reviewed: Tulane has been at 91 to 97%, well above the goal state of 86% utilization. This is the reason for the cost increase.The goal was not to put the cost of this increase on the backs of the employee.
United was asked to put in a bid; their bid was a 9.5% increase. Cigna’s bid was 3.2% increase. This is the reason for switching providers. 98% of the plan remains the same; co-pays, coinsurance, etc are the same.
It was emphasized that employees who participate in a biometric screening program will receive a 20% discount on their health insurance.
This report is available on the Senate wiki and the University Senate website.
3. Research Committee
L. Levy provided a report from the research committee. The committee received no requests for exemptions; around $95,000 was awarded (12 awards) to faculty grants for research last year; $32,000 (32 awards) was awarded for travel grants. This report is available on the wiki and the University Senate website.
NEW BUSINESS
J. Wiese introduced two items of new business; both are first readings as they apply to modifications to the Senate by-laws and constitution. Both proposed amendments are posted on the Senate wiki.
1. An amendment to codify in the by-laws what has been the Senate’s standing rule regarding modifications to the Faculty Handbook. The amendment would insert language in the by-laws noting that modifications to part III of the faculty handbook requires a 2/3 majority vote of approval of the University Senate; modifications to part IV of the faculty handbook requires a simple majority approval of the University Senate.
2. An amendment to the constitution, changing the procedure for modification of the constitution. “A 2/3 majority vote of all Senators” would be replaced with “A 2/3 majority vote of all Senators present and voting.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
President Cowen noted that Jim Macklin, past secretary of the University Senate, passed away onemonth ago. Thoughts and prayers were extended to his friends and family.
ADJOURNMENT
Having no additional new business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:41 PM.
Respectively Submitted,
Jeff Wiese, MD
Secretary, Tulane University Senate
Secretary’s Note: All written reports mentioned in the minutes, together with the full text of approved Handbook revisions and other policy changes, are available on the Tulane University Senate Wiki located at: tulanesenate.pbworks.com