I. Dr. Williams opened the meeting at 5:05 p.m. in Ross 117. Present: Vice President Williams, Drs. Abrams, Berg, Berrigan, Chiaramello, Cleary, Cohen, Guidotti, Guritzky, Hales, Knoll, Latham, Lipson, Little, Markus, Mr. McGraw, Drs. Mendelowitz, Pearl, Phillips, Richardson, Simmens, Mr. Teitelbaum, Drs. Turley, Vyas; Dean Katz, Dr. Scott, Ms. Chelluri, Parliamentarian Lossing. Absent: Drs. Abell, Akman, Aly, Arce, Barnett, Bosch, Brindle, Professor Cawley, Drs. Collins, D’Angelo, Etzel, Gaba, Geist, Golder, Goldstein, Goodrich, Haider, Hawdon, Hill, Hotez, Jones, Katz, Kennedy, Lucas, Manner, McCaffrey, Miller, Noben-Trauth, Ottolini, Polin, Rosenberg, Sadeghi, Siegel, Venbrux, Verme, Walia.

II. The minutes of the meeting of September 7, 2005, were approved as distributed.

III. Executive Committee Report: Dr. Richardson briefly reviewed a list of activity provided with the agenda. A motion was made, seconded, and passed, to accept the report.

IV. Action Items

A. Standing Committees: A motion was made, seconded, and passed to approve the following nominations en bloc: For the SMHS APT Committee, Dr. K. Kennedy (Pharm-Phys) to replace Dr. L. Werling (resigned to accept decanal position), and to serve as Chair; Dr. A. Kumar (Biochem) to replace Dr. M. Sidawy (Path) (resigned). For the Health Sciences Curriculum Committee: Dr. B. Sherwin (VF-Med) to replace Dr. B. Soniat (HCS) (left institution).

B. Approval of Granting of Degrees: Lists of candidates for degrees in the Health Sciences, and in the School of Public Health and Health Services [SPHHS], were provided at the meeting. Dean Katz and Dr. Williams asked the Senate’s approval for the candidates in their respective schools, noting that graduation is contingent upon their completing all requirements. A motion was made, seconded, and passed, to approve the candidates as listed.

V. Information Items

A. Search Reports: For Dr. Scott who was delayed, Dr. Williams reported on searches in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences [SMHS]. He stated that negotiations are under way with a candidate in Dermatology, and that a Urology candidate has accepted an offer and final details are being negotiated. In the SPHHS, Dean Katz reported that two candidates in Exercise Science returned for second-round visits, of whom one withdrew; discussions are proceeding with the second, and additional candidates are being identified. She stated that Global Health is bringing back two candidates for second-round visits. Dr. Cleary reported that the Search Committee for Prevention and Community Health met in September, and will meet again tomorrow to finalize the job description, advertisement, and recruitment plan.

B. Anatomy Departmental Review, and Review of Departmental Review Process: Dr. Scott reported that Anatomy has completed its internal review, but that the process as a whole will also undergo review. He explained that the original departmental review process was approved by the Senate in 1994; in 1999-2000, a subcommittee of the Executive Committee reviewed it, and recommended an external review that included a minimum of two external consultants but allowed persons from within the University, but outside the department, to be a part of the process. He stated that on discussing this report, the Executive Committee had then recommended that the external review be entirely external to the University, and this recommendation was approved by the Senate on 2/2/00. He stated that he had found the documentation of these different requirements confusing and had recommended to the Executive Committee that it be clarified, and that consideration be given to including people within the University who have expertise in the department being reviewed. Additionally, he stated that he suggested a review of the entire process in light of the fact that times have changed; two new deans are on board; the Medical Center structure has changed; the MFA is separate; and an assessment is in order to determine whether the process is what we want now. He stated that in response, the Executive Committee voted to establish a subcommittee to review the process.

Dr. Richardson agreed that the purpose is both to clarify the documentation and to study the process to see whether it should be revised to accommodate institutional changes. Dr. Williams added that the present policy may not be appropriate to the entities now in place, and reaffirmed the Executive Committee’s decision that a subcommittee should review it.

Dr. Hales asked how this review would affect departmental reviews under way. Dr. Williams replied that it would stop the one under way, Anatomy, while the process was being verified, which Dr. Scott estimated could take only a month or two.

Dr. Berg asked how other Universities conduct departmental reviews. Dr. Williams explained that our present policy corresponded to what other universities were doing when the institution was one unit.

Dr. Scott replied to Dr. Pearl that only the department is on the internal review committee. Dr. Pearl favored an external review that is internal to the university but external to the department.

Dr. Williams stated that the task force will consider these issues and report back to the Senate.

VI. University Senate Activity: Dr. Simon reported that the Senate did not meet last month and that most work is being done at the committee level, on topics that include the 4x4 curriculum, and an issue concerning online evaluation of courses.

VII. Administrative Announcements

A. Provost and Vice President’s Report: Dr. Williams reported that on November 14 or 15 the University will submit an amendment to the campus plan that includes the Old Hospital Site. He added that it will include a new proposal to tear down Himmelfarb Library and replace it with a seven-story structure, and to build a second area in the back of Ross Hall to five stories. He stated that he asked Dean Katz to consider whether the new structure would be appropriate to and large enough for the SPHHS; if not, he will return to the Senate with other suggested uses. He estimated that the BZA will take up to a year to consider the plan.

In other areas, Dr. Williams announced that, thanks to the efforts of the Office of International Medicine, the University of Vienna will grant three scholarships a year to medical students to study there. He further reported that the Africa Center for Health and Security held an African Health Policy Roundtable which included representatives from 21 nations, and four ambassadors; additionally, a memorandum of understanding has been signed with two universities in South Africa. He reported on a meeting he attended at NIH to help President Bush prepare for his recent announcement on Avian Flu, and encouraged the assembled to read the “Pandemic Influenza National Report” on the web. He has also set up a task force headed by Dr. Catlett, and including Drs. Silva, Simon, and Parenti, to prepare a comprehensive plan for the University.

Dr. Williams noted that the City Council has postponed discussion of the National Capital Medical Center proposed by the District and Howard until January because no financial plans have been submitted. He added that because of the threat posed by the project to the survival of hospitals in that area, the health care community is against it.

B. SPHHS: Dean Katz reported a busy semester. She stated that of the 29 students welcomed at the SPHHS after the hurricanes, two will remain here after Tulane reopens on January 17. In other areas, she noted that she is working with Dr. Scott to explore opportunities with the Woodrow Wilson Center, and announced that Dr. Julia Lear, of Prevention and Community Health, has been awarded a $7 million grant from Robert Wood Johnson on matters related to children’s and mental health services.

C. SMHS: Dr. Scott thanked clerkship coordinators for their help in accommodating this year’s large class. He reported continuing work with Fairfax on residency collaboration for many departments. He described a successful Alumni Weekend with over 100 alumni present, and generous contributions, and thanked everyone for their help, especially the Development Office. Lastly, he reported the hiring of an eminent biochemist for the McCormick Genomics Center.

D. Health Sciences: For Dr. Johnson, Dr. Alexander reported that the Pharmacogenomics program is going well. She stated that the Office of Community-Based Partnerships [which she heads] is in the seventh year of AHEC, and successfully garnered funding to open a second AHEC Center. She noted that during National Primary Care Week, faculty and students provided stroke screening and other preventive measures. She reported work with Council Member Catania to sponsor a bill for a loan repayment program for primary care providers, which offers $60,000/year for non-physicians, and pays back physician loans for service for four years in underserved areas. She described it as a measure which was much needed and is long overdue. Dr. Williams clarified that Dr. Alexander sponsored this legislation, and testified before the City Council, achieving according to one member the “fastest passage” on record.

Dr. Alexander introduced Dr. Ellen Dawson, Chair of Nursing Education, and announced that the accreditation visit last week indicated that the new department successfully met requirements.

E. Institute for Biomedical Sciences [IBS]: Dr. Werling reported that IBS is doing well, with 85 Ph.D. students, the new three-program model in place, and core courses to begin in spring. She announced the three program directors: Dr. Gallo, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics; Dr. Sarvazyan, Molecular Medicine; and Dr. Constant, Microbiology and Immunology. She noted that she and Dr. Scott have discussed admissions procedures and will be asking faculty to interview.

VIII. Brief Statements

A. Research Day: Dr. Williams announced Research Day on March 31, with the theme of Personalized Health. He noted that University faculty have been invited for the first time.

B. Appreciation to Faculty, Full-Time and Voluntary: Dr. Williams thanked all faculty for the excellent job they did last year, which he described as a “banner year,” with indications that this year will be equally spectacular. He cited several major grant proposals in process, and noted a goal to have as many endowed professors and chairs as possible to provide bridge funding. He extended special thanks to the voluntary faculty for their contributions to education and to students.

C. Neuroscience Symposium: Dr. Hales announced that GW will host the 2005 Society for Neuroscience Satellite Symposium on the 5-HT3 receptor and its treatment applications, on Friday, November 11, 8:30-5:30, keynote address by Dr. Henry Lester of Cal Tech.

DI. The meeting adjourned at 5:40.