AHC FACULTY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

September 12, 2000

Minutes of the Meeting

These minutes reflect discussion and debate at a meeting of a committee of the University of Minnesota Senate or Twin Cities Campus Assembly; none of the comments, conclusions, or actions reported in these minutes represent the views of, nor are they binding on, the Senate or Assembly, the Administration, or the Board of Regents.

 PRESENT: Timothy Wiedmann (chair), Jim Boulger, Chris Mueller, Dan Feeney, Jean Forster, Ted Oegema, Muriel Bebeau, Denis Clohisy

REGRETS: Stephanie Valberg, Bob Miller

 [In these minutes: Discussion with Mary Koppel, Director of Communications, AHC; Update on the Strategic Plan; Overview of the work of the AHC F&P Committee; Preparation for September 20 meeting with SVP Cerra]

 Professor Wiedmann called the meeting to order and welcomed Mary Koppel, the new director of communications for the AHC. Ms. Koppel previously served as director for communications for Allina Health Systems. As part of Ms. Koppel's presentation, she presented the "Strategic Work Plan for the AHC Office of Communication," that outlines strategies, supporting tactics; identifies the targeted audience, timing and measurement of success in terms of the strategy. She stressed the importance of coordinated efforts throughout the AHC's schools and colleges. With respect to staffing, she is in the process of hiring a replacement for a media relations position. When asked what her take was on the State's understanding of what the AHC is, she responded that it is important for people to understand what the schools and colleges are. One member suggested that she communicate with Medical Alley. Before departing, Ms. Koppel invited members to contact her with questions, news items, concerns, etc. Members thanked her for meeting with them and wished her well in her new position.

UPDATE ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN

Professor Bebeau distributed copies of the draft "Academic Health Center Strategic Plan" goals, objectives and strategic initiatives. Members spent some time reviewing the document and raised some questions regarding implementing an AHC Office of Interdisciplinary Education. Members made a note to ask SVP Cerra if this had already been done and fell under the rubric of the new Assistant VP for Education or if it was a new office. It was questioned whether the document captured what the faculty really wants and if it had been sent back to the groups that worked on the process. Members also expressed an interest as to how the goals would be prioritized. Is there money to support the initiatives? If there's no money to support the plan, then it's like trying to take a vacation with a car that has three wheels, one member commented.

 Members expressed an interest in the status of the Fairview/University Hospital merger review and added this to their list of issues to raise with SVP Cerra.

 Next, Professor Feeney provided an overview of the work of the F&P Committee. He reported that the questionnaire about annual merit evaluation processes and the results would be posted on the Senate web site. An executive summary of the process and findings of the survey will be emailed to all AHC Faculty. Members of the F&P Committee met with SVP Cerra to discuss points to be included in the executive summary and distribution of information. The F&P Committee has also finished up its report regarding financial issues relating to Fairview/University Hospitals. Professor Feeney distributed copies of the questions the F&P Committee developed to address these issues. The plan is to distribute the report to all AHC faculty and post it on the web. Professor Feeney reported that the committee is currently involved in reviewing the "mini compacts" and will also be looking at the annual FTE analysis as well as accounts reconciliation.

 Both the F&P Committee and the FCC plan to ask Mark Paller to an upcoming meeting to discuss the RSO office.

 The Faculty Affairs Committee is in the process of reviewing post-tenure review processes. It plans to have a report within the next month or two.

Hearing no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m.

Vickie Courtney