Minutes of Regular Meeting
Sept. 12th, 2011
Executive Meeting
The executive meeting of the Senate
convened at 3:00 PM. One item was
addressed on the agenda: Election of
Faculty Senators at Large. The
following senators were elected for atlarge positions for the 2011-12
academic year: Vijay John, Laura
Levy, Marc Kahn, Jeff Tasker, Leann
Myers, Amy Gajda, Joel Friedman,
Larry Byers.
Medicine: D. Mushatt, Z. Pursell, A.
Betancourt proxy for L. Morici, R.
Reitan, H. Zhang, A. Betancourt
Public Health and Tropical
Medicine: H. Long, N. Mock, S. Hassig,
J. Lefante
Science and Engineering: C. Walker,
D. Mullin, P. Colombo, J. Ruscher,
Social Work: L. Pearlmutter, M. Lewis
Student Senators: E. Nicoll, B
Hambley, M. Lewis, N. Maples
Full Meeting
Staff Senators: M. Miller
The full meeting of the full senate
convened at 3:19 PM, Kendall-Cram
Room, LBC. 43 members were
present.
Senators at Large: NA (just elected)
Presiding: The chair, President
Cowen.
Absent Voting Senators:
M. Bernstein, B. Sachs, C. Lane, J.
MacLaren, D. Meyer, R. Marks, M.
Sujan, G. Owen, M. Yun, V. Mayer, M.
Thompson, H Andersson, K.
Johannesson, G. Chavez
Attendance:
Ex Officio: S. Cowen, M. Davies, T.
Lorino, Y. Jones, C. Adams, J. Wiese
Deans: I. Solomon, L. Query, K. Swartz,
R. Marksbury, C. Haber, P. Buekens, N.
Altiero,
A. B. Freeman School of Business: H
Sujan, J. McFarland
Newcomb-Tulane College: OPEN
Architecture: W. Redfield
Continuing Studies: L. Green
Law: R. Scalise, C. Hancock, J. Carriere
Liberal Arts: F. Smith, H. Sullivan, H.
Howard,
Minutes:
The minutes of the May 2nd, 2011
meeting were approved without
amendments. The final amended
minutes are posted on the Senate Wiki
under both the May and September
meeting agendas.
Introduction of New
Members
The following new Senators were
introduced and welcomed to the
University Senate:
Zach Pursell, Haito Zhang (School of
Medicine), Felipe Smith, Henry
Sullivan, (School of Liberal Arts), Janet
Ruscher (School of Science and
Engineering), and Wendy Redfield
(Architecture).
notification from the NCAA that it was
in full compliance with NCAA
accreditation. The letter of
accreditation/compliance is available
on the Senate wiki site as well as the
Senate website.
ELECTIONS
Tulane had a modest surplus
($300,00) from operations for the
2011 fiscal year, despite having
budgeted for a loss. We are on solid
ground financially.
The following senators were elected
to the Presidents Faculty Advisory
Committee: Susan Hassig (SPHTM),
and Mita Sujan (A. B. Freeman).
Ron Scalise (Law) was elected as the
Senate representative to the Board of
Administrators.
The following senators were elected
as Senators at Large: Vijay John, Laura
Levy, Marc Kahn, Jeff Tasker, Leann
Myers, Amy Gajda, Joel Friedman,
Larry Byers.
We have the highest enrollment in the
history of Tulane, with around 13,300
students in all schools. More
impressive however, is the higher
student quality (as assessed by
standardized test scores and
community involvement).
Tulane continues to get recognition
for our community engagement
commitment.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Tulane successful completed a search
for a new dean for the A.B. Freeman
school. President Cowen welcomed Ira
Solomon to the Senate.
President Cowen provided the
following report, including highlights
from Academic Year 2010-11.
Tulane had a new member of the
National Academy of Science: John
Purdue.
Tulane went through the SACS
accreditation process last year; there
were no citations, with the University
receiving full SACS accreditation.
Tulane received another $50 million
gift from the Weatherhead Foundation
which will be used to fund 10
university chairs, and an
undergraduate scholarship program.
Tulane also went through LCME
accreditation (the accreditation for
the School of Medicine), resulting in
full accreditation with minimal
recommendations.
President Cowen asked D. Culbertson
to present the NCAA reaccreditation
report. Tulane received formal
Tulane is continuing to look for a new
SACS chair in social innovation.
There were security breaches last
year, and the University is committed
to augmenting security around
campus. Tulane is continuing to look
for a new chief of Tulane Public Safety.
President Cowen addressed the plans
for fiscal year 2012.
Our historic graduation rate was 75%;
currently we are at 84%.
The state of the economy and
governmental support continues to be
disappointing. We are anticipating
another three to five years of tough
going, which may have implications
for philanthropy, government of
funding, etc.
3. School of Medicine. We need to
develop a pathway to secure the
future of the school of medicine. To do
this, we are going to have to do
something transformative. Strategic
discussions are underway to ensure a
bright and sustainable future for the
school of medicine.
There are about 20 objectives. The full
list of objectives can be found in the
president’s report available on the
wiki. Five in particular were
addressed.
1. This year is phase 1 for strategic
academic planning. The renewal plan
has been completed; it is time to begin
thinking about what Tulane wants to
be in ten years. This year will be a
year of assessment, benchmarking,
and establishing where higher
education is going, and how Tulane
will fit into that vision. Next year will
focus on drilling down into each
academic unit, and development of
strategic plans for each academic unit.
This will replicate what was done in
1998-1999.
This will foreshadow a new capital
campaign for the University,
representing a billion dollar plus
campaign.
2. Undergraduate retention and
graduation rates. Historically, Tulane’s
rates have not been what they should
be given the quality of the student
body, and what our peers are doing.
The good news is that the rates have
increased since Katrina (currently
91%); from 1990-2004, it was 85%.
Based on this higher retention rate we
anticipate higher graduation rates.
4. Development and university
relations. We are beginning to plan on
a billion dollar plus campaign, under
the leadership of Y. Jones. Two years
ago, we made a commitment to
expanding the development office. Y.
Jones, spoke to this issue. We are
currently at a staff of 116; we have
doubled our front-line officers. We
have set a goal for $65 million for this
coming year.
5. Capital renovations for the
campuses. President Cowen noted
that we have spent just shy of a half a
billion dollars on capital campaign
since 2005. Tulane spent $70 million
on capital improvements. This year
we have finalized plans for a third
residential college. Weatherhead Hall
has been completed this year. Tulane
is in the final stages of finishing the
basketball/volleyball practice facility.
We just broke ground on Flower Hall
(Science and Engineering). We are in
phase II of renovating the JBJ Building
downtown. We are going to upgrade
our IT network and business
processes. A full list of projects
planned for this year is outlined in the
President’s report available on the
wiki.
- A question was asked whether
continuing studies figure into the
graduation/retention rates: the
answer is no.
- A question was asked bout the
timeframe for figuring
graduation/retention rates. The
answer is a 5-year time-frame.
- A question was asked about
initiatives that have contributed to the
graduation/retention rates. Having
students live on campus for the first
two years has been helpful; the
commitment to community
engagement; and earlier and more
intense focus on struggling students
has improved the retention rates.
President Cowen noted that having
more on-campus events (i.e., during
weekends), and improving the ratio of
advisors to students will also help.
There is a group that is focused on
strategies to improve this metric.
- A question was asked about the
demographics of teen-agers in the US,
and how this will affect our plan going
forward. President Cowen noted that
the diversity is much higher in this
pool, and it will likely be reflected in
our strategic plans going forward.
- Going forward, with the sluggish
economy, will be able to take
advantage of coming out of the headcount stabilization period? President
Cowen noted that we have to continue
to be selective and conservative (to
ensure that those who are currently
on faculty are protected via on-going
salaries/raises/etc.), but that there
will be great opportunities in growing
the quality and numbers of faculty.
- A question was asked about
demographics and retention rate….
For those who leave, what are the
reasons? President Cowen noted that
the two biggest reasons for students
leaving are 1) finances, and 2) the
desire to be closer to home. Very few
students have left in recent years to
attend better schools, reflecting the
notion that most students
matriculating into Tulane have chosen
Tulane as their number one choice.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
J. Carrier provided an updated report
from the Social Issues Committee. The
committee responded to the Senate’s
recommendation that the committee
sponsor a forum on social issues and
employment practices. The committee
noted that it did not have the
expertise or resources to carry out
such a charge; the committee
requested that the Senate and/or the
President’s office develop a task force
to develop this forum to take place in
the fall or early spring of this
academic year. The committee
requested that those selected to make
presentations and participate on
panels at this forum should represent
a broad spectrum of perspectives,
views and opinions.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. Athletics
D. Culbertson provided a report from
the athletics committee (details are
noted above in the president’s report).
The senate was reminded of the full
compliance/accreditation status with
the NCAA. The Senate was also
reminded of the diversity resolution
passed by the Senate in the 2010-11.
The NCAA report is on the Senate wiki,
as well as the Senate website.
awards) to faculty grants for research
last year; $32,000 (32 awards) was
awarded for travel grants. This report
is available on the wiki and the
University Senate website.
2. Faculty and Staff Benefits
The University will be moving from
United Healthcare to Cigna, effective
January 1, 2012. This was approved by
the F&SB committee, the PFAC, and
the Presidents cabinet. The reasons to
make the move were addressed. On a
do-nothing basis, medical premiums
are going up 12% per year. The 12month rolling loss ratio was reviewed:
Tulane has been at 91 to 97%, well
above the goal state of 86%
utilization. This is the reason for the
cost increase. The goal was not to put
the cost of this increase on the backs
of the employee.
United was asked to put in a bid; their
bid was a 9.5% increase. Cigna’s bid
was 3.2% increase. This is the reason
for switching providers. 98% of the
plan remains the same; co-pays,
coinsurance, etc are the same.
It was emphasized that employees
who participate in a biometric
screening program will receive a 20%
discount on their health insurance.
This report is available on the Senate
wiki and the University Senate
website.
NEW BUSINESS
J. Wiese introduced two items of new
business; both are first readings as
they apply to modifications to the
Senate by-laws and constitution. Both
proposed amendments are posted on
the Senate wiki.
1. An amendment to codify in the bylaws what has been the Senate’s
standing rule regarding modifications
to the Faculty Handbook. The
amendment would insert language in
the by-laws noting that modifications
to part III of the faculty handbook
requires a 2/3 majority vote of
approval of the University Senate;
modifications to part IV of the faculty
handbook requires a simple majority
approval of the University Senate.
2. An amendment to the constitution,
changing the procedure for
modification of the constitution. “A
2/3 majority vote of all Senators”
would be replaced with “A 2/3
majority vote of all Senators present
and voting.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
3. Research Committee
L. Levy provided a report from the
research committee. The committee
received no requests for exemptions;
around $95,000 was awarded (12
President Cowen noted that Jim
Macklin, past secretary of the
University Senate, passed away one
month ago. Thoughts and prayers
were extended to his friends and
family.
ADJOURNMENT
Having no additional new business,
the meeting was adjourned at 4:41
PM.
Respectively Submitted,
Jeff Wiese, MD
Secretary, Tulane University Senate
Secretary’s Note: All written reports
mentioned in the minutes, together
with the full text of approved
Handbook revisions and other policy
changes, are available on the Tulane
University Senate Wiki located at:
tulanesenate.pbworks.com