Faculty Consultative Committee

Academic Health Center

Annual Report, 2006-07

Members

Kathleen Krichbaum (Chair, School of Nursing), Susan Berry (Medical School), Steve Ekker (Medical School), Dan Feeney (Ex Officio and Chair of Finance and Planning Sub-committee), Peter Davies (College of Veterinary Medicine), Lois Heller (Medical School, Duluth), Brian Isetts (College of Pharmacy), George Moldonado replaced in Spring, 2007, by Russ Loepker (School of Public Health), and Paul Olin (Dental School)

Please list these and their terms of office

Activities per duties and responsibilities

Steering:

1. To meet at least monthly to discuss matters of concern to the faculty.

The AHC FCC met eleven times this year for discussion of matters of concern to the faculty.

2. To initiate whatever studies it deems necessary and appropriate or to request such studies from the Senior Vice President (SVP) for Health Sciences or Administrative officers or from the subcommittees.

a. Conducted several sessions with Assistant Vice President Barbara Brandt, Assistant VP for Education, to develop the Academy for Excellence in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (final document attached). This Academy has been approved and will solicit nominations in February, 2008. Dr. Brandt’s office will administer the award nomination process and the AHCFCC will review nominations and make recommendations to the SVP

b. Worked with Assistant Vice President for Research, Mark Paller, to review nominations for the Academy for Excellence in Research. Reviewed applications of six nominees and recommended the appointment of all to the Academy in 2006. Four nominees were elected to the Academy for Excellence in Research: Karen Hsiao Ashe, Bruce Blazier, Eric A. Newman and Mary T. Story

c. Developed a process and sponsored a faculty forum for discussion of issues related to faculty culture in the AHC. National keynote speaker was William Tierney, University Professor and Wilbur-Kieffer Professor of Higher Education and Director of the Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis at the University of Southern California. Faculty attending numbered 70. There was a panel of faculty respondents comprising the AHCFCC representatives and other selected presenters. The evaluations are attached.

3. To advise the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences on procedures for making administrative appointments and to participate in the selection process.

No activity in this area.

4. To create and terminate all subcommittees of the AHC FCC.

Have invited collaboration with chairs of AHC individual school Faculty Advisory Committees on issues of importance to AHC faculty. Chairs are now regularly informed of all meetings of the AHCFCC and are invited to attend.

Consultative:

1. To meet with the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences monthly, or at least six times per year, to discuss issues or policies of the AHC and to represent the viewpoints of faculty.
• The AHC FCC met ten times this year in consultation with Senior Vice President Cerra to discuss issues and views of the faculty and policies of the AHC. Among the issues discussed were:
• The Strategic Plan of the AHC, including acquisition of land for the new Medical Alley
• Improving communication among units within the AHC schools and colleges
• The revised budget model and its implications for units
• Intellectual property issues within the AHC
• The new policy on mentoring; this resulted in planning for the second annual forum on mentoring to be held in Fall, 2007.
• Improving faculty culture in the AHC; this resulted in the development and sponsoring of a forum in January, 2007.
• Design of the AHC Academy for Excellence in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning to parallel the Academy for Excellence in Health Research; project received approval and funding and will be implemented in 2007-08 academic year (final recommendation attached)
• Discussed composition of the Academic Advisory committee in the AHC. Requested appointment of a member of the AHCFCC to the group. Susan Berry was appointed.
• Discussed revision of the tenure code in the university and implications for AHC faculty. Each AHC school is revising its 7.12 statement or internal tenure procedures for review by the SVP.

2. To consult with the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences or Administrative officers on planning and on the annual budget and the biennial request.

· Reviewed the proposed annual budget and biennial request.

3. To receive notification of concerns that may require consultation with the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences or Administrative officers from any faculty member, academic professional, or student.

· No activity in this area

4. To receive recommendations of any faculty member, academic professional, or student who wishes to present a proposal to the AHC FCC and to refer or act upon such recommendations as it deems appropriate.

a. Chair serves as ex-officio member of the university FCC. Attended 25 of 26 meetings in 2006-07 (or had a representative in my place). Major agenda for the year was revision of the tenure code by the Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee of the FCC.

b. The FCC consulted with the AFT committee and held forums for faculty to discuss. The FCC also consults regularly with President Bruininks and SVPs Sullivan, Cerra and Jones on the strategic repositioning of the university in light of the goal to become one of the top three public research universities in the world, on the budget request to the legislature, and on recommendations from various strategic positioning task forces.

Executive

1. To serve as a deliberative body of the AHC Faculty Assembly on all major items it deems necessary and appropriate and to call meetings of the AHC Faculty Assembly as needed.

· Major action in this regard is the annual review of faculty nominated to the AHC Academy of Excellence in Research. Reviewed six nominations in 2006-07 and recommended all for membership in the academy. Four of the six were appointed in Fall of 2007. These four new members are: Karen Hsiao Ashe, Bruce Blazier, Eric A. Newman and Mary T. Story

2. To act on behalf of the AHC Faculty Assembly when a decision is required and when it would not be possible to convene a special meeting of the AHC Faculty Assembly in a timely fashion.

· No specific action in this area.

3. To report regularly on any matters which, in its judgment, should be brought to the attention of the AHC or specifically to the attention and consideration of the AHC Faculty Assembly.

a. Requested a report from the Co-chair of the Strategic Positioning Task Force on faculty culture; used this as a basis for creating a faculty forum on the culture within the AHC.

b. Developed a collaborative group with the AHCFCC comprising chairs of school Faculty Advisory Committees within the AHC.

c. Consulted with Carol Chomsky, Chair of the university’s FCC, about faculty governance issues across the university.

4. To examine any action taken respecting the AHC by the Board of Regents, the central administration, or by another individual or body having any relationship with the University.

· No activity in this area.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathie Krichbaum, PhD, RN

Chair, 2006-07