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Tuesday, December 8, 1998
Program Room, Leavey Center
PRESENT: Andrews, Areen, Arend, Bates, D.Betz, P.Betz, Brown, Cole,
Danielson, Davis, DeGioia, Fasold, Fink, Fisher, Glazer, Goldfrank,
Iglarsh, Jacobs, Lauerman, Lieber, Martire, McGrail, Moran Cruz,
Morris, J.Murphy, A. Myers, Nishioka, Noyes, Peck, Pfeiffer, Pinkard,
Puto, Regan, Rameh, Serene, Sitterson, Soudee, Spiegel, Stent,
Subramanian, Tracy, Viksnins, Vroman, J. Walsh,S.J., T.Walsh,
Wientzen.
ABSENT: Byrne, Cohn, DaSilva, Diamond, Dover, Dretchen,
Finkel, Fort, Gallucci, Gerli, Joyner, Haft, Harter, Lepgold,
McCabe, K. Myers, Mujal-Leon, Nelson, Oakley, Pinkard, Ronkainen,
Rothstein, Terrio, Wasserstrom, Weidenbruch, Wiesel, Young.
The meeting was called to order by Prof. Bates at 4:25 p.m.
Minutes of the November 17, 1998 meeting were approved.
Prof. Moran brought forward two nominations from the Main Campus
Caucus (Dennis Todd, English Dept.) and Richard S. Ross, Library)
for the Bookstore Committee. They were appointed by acclamation.
The Georgetown Retirement Plan Pension Fiduciary Committee is
in need of a nominee; names should be forwarded to Prof. Bates.
The resolution passed by the Board of Directors was distributed.
It is an amended version of the Senate's Resolution A, which confirms
the commitment to tenure, the Faculty Handbook, academic freedom
and the role of faculty in University governance. The amendment
specifies that the resolution has no effect on Board authority
and does not qualify its October 30 resolution which suspended
the Medical Center compensation plan and the grievance process
related to the plan. Prof. Bates reviewed events at last
week's Board meetings and related news, which led to the amendment
to Resolution A and the failure of the Board to pass the other
Senate resolution. The latter would have reinstated the
grievance policy.
Prof. Bates also mentioned the first meeting of the Joint Faculty-Board
Administration committee which is studying the Medical Center
compensation, and the effects of finances on the University academics.
That meeting occurred on the eve of the Board meeting. Prof.
Bates felt that although there are significant problems regarding
faculty-Board interactions, there is some hope that new avenues
are being opened for communication.
Prof. Bates proposed a four-step plan of action: 1) efforts to
resolve the current grievance; 2) actions of the joint committee;
3) resolution of the disagreement with the Board on whether they
can legally suspend the grievance process or Faculty Handbook,
and 4) focus on Medical Center partnership opportunities and their
effects on Medical Center and University academics.
Several participants in the various meetings commented further
on hopeful signs of faculty participation in governance.
Prof. Myers, however, felt there was little substance to the interaction
through the Faculty Relations Subcommittee. Dean Serene
expressed some misgivings with the 1 month deadline for a new
compensation plan from the joint committee. Prof. Glazer
questioned the motives of the Board in its recent actions. Prof.
Murphy stated he felt the Board has not been adequately informed
on Medical Center and University finances, and on University law.
He urged the grievants to delay filing until January, while the
joint committee deliberates and faculty let their views be known
to the Board. Prof. Moran spoke to the need for oversight
of the University legal actions similar to the oversight of the
finances by faculty.
Prof. Myers brought up the recent statements of EVP Wiesel, that
all 120 tenured faculty of the Medical Center could disappear,
without negative effect on Medical Center operations. He
identified this as contributing to the current problems between
faculty and administration.
Prof. Fisher questioned the process by which the Board is informed
and educated. Prof. Bates stated his advocacy of more academicians
on the Board.
The Senate voted to support unanimously the general plan of action.
Cindy Tracy reported on the Medical Center Caucus' actions on
the Main Campus Executive Faculty's four resolutions (also discussed
at the last University Faculty Senate meeting). The Caucus
supported resolutions 1,3 and 4, but was unable to come to a consensus
on Resolution 2.
Prof. Davis reported from the Senate Budget Committee on the
final audited University results for FY98. The Main Campus
and Law Center achieved their budgets; central administration
nearly did so. The Medical Center lost $62.4 million, well
above projections. University cash reserves have fallen
drastically over the past year. The increase in the medical
Center deficit as a result of the audit is largely due to write-offs
against accounts receivables. There is present concern that
the present year's budget will also deteriorate. The President
will inform faculty in a letter later this week.
Prof. Lieber reminded the Senate of earlier statements by medical
Center leadership over the past few years and their incongruence
with actual performance. Prof. Myers stated that during
that time, leadership had focused on reducing tenured faculty
rather than focusing on the real problems.
Prof. Haramati pointed out that revenues are above budget, but
$50 million more than budget was spent, while academic budgets
were slashed 40%. He also called for planning for effects
of potential partnering between our hospital and another
institution on academics. While Prof. Cole labeled the Medical
Center administration as incompetent based on their fiscal performances,
other disagreed and attributed the financial problems to the external
environment.
Prof. Bates announced the next Main Caucus meeting.
Prof. Bates mentioned a request for discussion of fairer representation
on the Senate for Medical Center faculty. It will be on the agenda
of the next meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
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