Present: S. Allerton, J. L. Anderson, M. Apostolos, M. Appleman, M. Breuer, K. Challoner, H. Cheeseman, T.C. Cheng, B. Comrie, E. Cooper, A. Crigler, R. Curfman, G.A. Fleischer, S. Formenti, K. Glennan, R. Guralnick, N. Hanel (proxy for Julia Johnson), C. Hempel, P. Heseltine, Janet Johnson, H. Kaslow, P. Knoll, W. Meezan, A. Mircheff, B. Nelson, J. Nyquist, J. Russell, G. Schierle, C. Silva-Corvalan, R. Sivitanidou, H. Slucki (proxy for R. Stellwagen), W. Thalmann, Y. Tang, W. Waugaman, M.Weinstein, W. Wolf

Absent: D. Bunn, R. Chase, E. Chemerinsky, R. Farley, P. Knoll, B. Nelson, M. Nichol, S. Nutt, S. Ross, H. Schor,Y. Tang, K.Wilber, D. Yaden

Guests: J. Campbell, D. Dougherty, L. Macchia, A. Marston, S. Pratt, B. Solomon, C. Sullivan

The meeting was called to order at 3:00 p.m. by President J. L. Anderson.

Agenda Item #1. Announcements. President Anderson made five announcements:

(a) The two-way list server has been in operation for more than one month and could be better utilized by the Faculty. President Anderson introduced Dr. Joe Zernick, Dentistry, who helped set the list servers up for the Academic Senate. Dr. Zernick explained briefly how to use the server and distributed materials that contain instructions. President Anderson thanked Dr. Zernick for all his work.

(b) The administration has responded to the resolution passed by the Senate regarding "Review of Faculty and Administration." Two sub-committees have been set up, one to develop procedures for review of faculty and one to develop procedures for review of administrators. Academic Vice-President William Thalmann will chair the oversight committee for the two sub-committees. President Anderson read the list of members of the two sub-committees. Dean Sarah Pratt and Dr. Sylvia Formenti will co-chair the subcommittee on administrator review. Dr. Nicos Petasis and Vice-Provost Barbara Solomon will co-chair the subcommittee on faculty review.

c) The newsletter publication is still in process and will be mailed out in early February.

d.) The plan to put up a web-site for university governance documents is in process. Each unit is encouraged to develop their own web-site to house their governance documents.

e.) The next Senate meeting will be an open meeting. Discussion will focus on university governance and tenure. Provost Armstrong will be in attendance.

Agenda Item # 2. Approval of Minutes

The minutes were approved as presented.

Agenda Item #3. Discussion on Faculty Benefits (health and retirement)

Mr. Dennis Dougherty addressed the Senate regarding health and retirement benefits. He said that the Employee Benefits Committee (the names of the committee members were read), is examining the personal compensation package to see how it is being distributed to all USC employees. He explained that the administration tries to maintain the basic employee package at the level of 32.5% of salaries. These benefits are being given without taxation. He also mentioned that Norris Hospital is running with a deficit of $400,000 per month this year. Some members of the Senate expressed the view that the Employee Benefits Committee is an advisory group and that any decisions or proposals made by it need to be approved by the Senate before implementation.

Mr. Dougherty also announced that the proposed retirement benefit plan is being reviewed by Roops and Gray (hired by USC), Robert Lane (General Counsel) and himself. The Deans were also consulted because of the impact that the plan may have on each school. The proposal would then be forwarded to the administration to have it reviewed and for final approval by the Trustees. Mr. Dougherty further explained that, unlike sabbatical leaves, the retirement packet is not a tax-free employee benefit; this is why it doesnŐt come before the Employee Benefits Committee.

President Anderson suggested that each council should press their Deans to act on the proposed plan and thanked Mr. Dougherty for speaking before the Senate.

Agenda Item #4. Resolution of 97/98-07 re: Endorsement of College Policy on procedures for changes in the structure of departments

After a lengthy discussion, the Senate decided to table the issue.

Agenda Item #5. Status of the libraries as a result of the restructuring

Dean Campbell spoke before the Senate regarding the merger of the University Library, Telecommunications, and University Computing Services into one division called Information Services Division (ISD) of which he is the Chief Information Officer (CIO). Dean Campbell explained how the merger came about into being, and what he plans to do in view of this merger in the future. Due to time constraints, Dean Campbell ended his talk by encouraging members of the Senate and faculty at large to contact him if they have any concerns/questions. President Anderson thanked Dean Campbell for addressing the Senate.

Agenda Item #6. Report from the Faculty Handbook Committee.

President Anderson said that the Faculty Handbook CommitteeŐs counter proposal on the Grievance Process that was passed by the Senate at the December meeting was not accepted by President Sample. Following a lengthy discussion, a motion was made to table the issue. The motion to table was passed with a vote of 15 in favor and 9 against with no abstention.

Agenda Item #7. New Business

No new business was discussed.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:40 p.m.