Meeting Minutes

---

PRESENT: Andrews, Arend, Bates, D.Betz, P.Betz, Bloch, Cole, Danielson, Davis, DeGioia, Dover, Dretchen, Fink, Finkel, Fisher, Fort, Gerli, Glazer, Goldfrank, Harter, Iglarsh, Jacobs, Joyner, Keller, Kopac, Lauerman, Lieber, Martire, McGrail, Moran Cruz, Morris, J.Murphy, A. Myers, Noyes, Pfeiffer, Pinkard, Regan, Rameh, Scribanu, Serene, Soudee, Stent, Subramanian, Terrio, Tracy, Viksnins, Vroman, J. Walsh,S.J., T.Walsh, Wientzen, Witek, Young, Zuccarelli.

ABSENT: Areen, Breall, Brown, Byrne, DaSilva, Diamond, Galluci, Haft, Kromer, Lepgold, K. Myers, Oakley, Peck, Puto, Richardson, Ronkainen, Spiegel, Rothstein, Wasserstrom, Weidenbruch, Wiesel.  

 The meeting was called to order by Prof. Bates at 4:30 p.m.

 Minutes of the October 14, 1998 meeting were approved after amendment.  Added to paragraph 6, sentence 2 was "and without sufficient documentation and information."

 Prof. Bates reported that the advice of the Senate viz. fringe benefit changes was accepted by the President and the Board at its last meeting.  The Committee requested by the Senate has been formed.

 Prof. Bates reported on Board actions regarding the Medical Center Compensation Plan and the history of a grievance related to that plan.  The faculty grievance was upheld by a panel and the full Grievance Code Committee.  The President was to then appoint an EVP to hear a final appeal. However, meanwhile, the Board suspended the further implementation of the Plan, as well as ongoing grievances related to it.

 Senate officers objected to the suspension of the grievance process at a meeting with two Board members.  Based on the meeting, the Senate officers drafted Resolutions A through E (attached); these have been forwarded to the Board for their consideration at their December meeting.

 Resolution A was moved and seconded.  Prof. Bates explained its intent, to state established principles which are fundamental to the University community. Prof. Lauerman asked for a broader picture of how the Senate and its series of resolutions, actions, etc. would work toward fiscal stabilization of the Medical Center.  Prof. Bates responded that a committee is to be formed to make a comprehensive review and make recommendations regarding the effects of Medical Center finances on academics, and to study possible solutions as the Medical Center moves toward restructuring.  Sr. Vice President DeGioia mentioned that 3 things have changed since the Mullen Committee: finances have deteriorated, the grievance raised new issues, and a strategy of "partnering" the hospital was adopted.  The Board, in making its recent resolutions, was attempting to address these changes.  Prof. Glazer stated that the real issue is the illegal action of the President in seeking nullification of the grievance process.
Resolution A passed 43 for - 0 against - 2 abstentions.

 Resolution B was presented by Prof. Murphy.  He described the Board action as unspeakable, but felt that it was important to reach an understanding with the President and the Board without negatively affecting, through publicity, the Medical Center's chances of "partnering."  He explained the basis for the Senate officers' rejection of the Board's suspension of the grievance policy and its claim that the Board policies are not subject to the grievance process.  Prof. Lauerman expressed support of the Board's actions.  Others expressed strong opposition to the Board's action.
Resolution B passed 39 for - 4 against - 1 abstention.

 Resolution C was introduced by Prof. Bates, who described it as a request for reinforcing the process of faculty involvement in governance.  Prof. Regan voiced his opinion that he would have liked more time to consider the resolutions.  Some other clinical faculty supported that view.  Other Senators expressed support of Resolution C.  Prof. Lauerman stated that the problem with the Compensation Plan might have been avoided with greater faculty involvement.
Resolution C passed 44 for - 0 against - 0 abstention.

 Resolution D was introduced by Prof. JoAnn Moran Cruz.  It supports a Board-Administration-Faculty Committee to study financial and budgetary impact on academics in the Medical Center.  The word "process" in line two of the resolution was changed to "committee."  The term "pursuant to the Board's Oct. 30 resolution" was inserted after the word "creation."  It passed 45 - for - 2 against - 0 abstention.

 Prof. Bates described the tentative composition of such a committee as described in Resolution D.  It would include approximately 4 Board members, 4 administrators and 8 faculty, including one basic and one clinical scientist.  Prof. Myers objected that two Medical Center faculty were not enough.

 Resolution E was forwarded to the Medical Center Caucus by unanimous consent.

 The meeting was adjourned at 6:05 p.m.

Back to the top