Academic Senate
Minutes from November 19, 1997

Present: J.L. Anderson, S.Allerton, M. Apostolos, M. Appleman, M. Breuer, T.C. Cheng, B. Comrie, E. Cooper, R. Curfman, R. Farley, G.A. Fleischer, S. Formenti, K. Glennan (proxy for Julia Johnson), R. Guralnick, N. Hanel, P. Heseltine, Janet Johnson, H. Kaslow, P. Knoll, W. Meezan, A. Mircheff, M. Nichol, S. Ross, J. Russell, Henry Slucki (proxy for R. Stellwagen), W. Thalmann, Y. Tang, W. Wolf

Absent: D. Bunn, K. Challoner, T. Chang, H. Cheeseman, E. Chemerinsky, A. Crigler, C. Hempel, Julia Johnson, B. Nelson, S. Nutt, J. Nyquist, G. Schierle, H. Schor, C. Silva-Corvalan, R. Sivitanidou, W. Waugaman, M. Weinstein, K. Wilber, D. Yaden

Guests: L. Macchia, M. Payton, S. Pratt, B. Solomon, C. Sullivan,

The meeting was called to order at 2:50 p.m. by Senate President, J. Lawford Anderson.

Agenda Item #1: Announcements

President Anderson announced that the first list server was launched on November 6, 1997 to 2,778 faculty with only 50 incorrect addresses. So far, only one faculty member has requested to be unsubscribed. He is very thankful to Prof. Joseph Zernik of the School of Dentistry for setting up the list server. The second list server will be launched in early December.

In response to a request from one of the senators, President Anderson informed the Senate of the actions taken on the 1996/1997 and 1997/1998 resolutions.

Agenda Item #2: Approval of the Minutes of October 15, 1997 Senate Meeting

The minutes were approved as presented.

Agenda Item #3: Discussion on Health Benefits Plans

President Anderson introduced Lisa Macchia, Director of Health Plans. Ms. Macchia briefly discussed the health benefits plans for USC employees. She answered several questions from concerned Senators about the health benefits. The book "Your Benefits For 1998" that outlines all health benefits plans has been mailed out and she encouraged faculty and staff to refer to it before signing in for 1998 health coverages. Enrollment is open until December 5, 1997.

Discussion was brought up regarding activation of the SenateÕs "Faculty Environment Committee." This committee has not been reactivated for at least four years. It was decided to first consult with the existing University Benefits Committee to see if there are some redundancies between the charges of the two committees.

Agenda Item #4: Report: Special Election Results--Academic Vice President and two Members-at-Large.

Kathy Glennan, who announced to the floor that she would like to retire soon as Chair of the Senate Rules, Membership and Elections Committee, reported the results of the Senate Special Election. The following individuals were elected with 70% of the ballots returned:

For Academic Vice President
William G. Thalmann, Professor of Classics, College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences

For Member at Large (two open seats)
Ann Crigler, Associate Professor of Political Science, College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences Carrie Hempel, Assistant Professor of Law

Agenda Item #5: Discussion and Voting: Proposed Name Change to the Athletic Tickets Committee

In accordance with the Academic Senate Constitution and Bylaws, this issue was presented at the October 15, 1997 Senate meeting and tabled for voting at this meeting. After discussion, the motion to change "Charges" and "Name" of the Athletic Tickets Committee was passed unanimously. The new name is Academic Senate University Events Committee.

Agenda Item #6: Discussion of Faculty Governance

President Anderson informed the Senate that the Executive Board had intended to present a resolution on Faculty Governance but found out that it duplicated "Principle 8" of the resolution regarding the report of the "Task Force on the Future of HSC" that was passed by the Senate at the May, 1997 Senate meeting. "Principle 8" at the meeting was read and this was followed by a lengthy discussion. There was general consensus that most units would benefit from having a written policy on faculty governance to supplement existing language in the Handbook. It was also agreed that resolutions calling for such written policies should originate with the individual faculty councils rather than with a resolution from the Senate.

Agenda Item #7: Status Report of the Task Force on Retirement

Prof. G.A. Fleischer, Chair of the Task Force on Retirement, circulated a one-page summary of the Task ForceÕs activities. Also handed out at the door was a UCLA Retirement Plan booklet that the Task Force is reviewing. He informed the Senate that the Administration had declined their first retirement proposal, apparently due to the possibility that some of its language migth be interpreted to reflect age discrimination, with consequent legal problems. At the moment, the Task Force is anxious to hear from the Administration regarding their second proposal. Prof. Fleischer then asked Vice Provost Barbara Solomon to comment on the issue.

Dr. Solomon gave her views on the issue and promised to bring it up at the next Provost Council/Council of Deans meeting. She will update the Senate at the next meeting.

Agenda Item #8: Resolution 97/98-06 re: AAUP Censure

This resolution was discussed. No vote has been taken due to a lack of quorum and therefore the resolution was tabled for the next Senate meeting. There were some changes to be introduced by Dr. Slucki, who will then forward to Connie for distribution thru e-mail to the Senate.

Agenda Item #9: MFA Report to the L.C.M.E.

Dr. Harvey Kaslow of Medicine reported to the Senate about the meeting of the Faculty-at-Large of the USC School of Medicine held on November 6, 1997. Two handouts were distributed giving more detailed information on what transpired at the meeting. Dr. Kaslow urged the Senate members to take the handouts with them to read them more thoroughly.

Agenda Item #10: New Business

No new business was brought up.

President Anderson made some closing remarks on the importance of communication. He stressed that it is an important responsibility of each council to communicate to the Senate what they are doing and what results they have achieved.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.