PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL
January 3, 2001

Present: Thad Bell, Rosalie Crouch, Joe Good, Ray Greenberg, Casey Martin (for Faulkner), Jim Fisher, Sarah King, Perry Halushka, Layton McCurdy, Adrian Reuben, Sabra Slaughter (Council Secretary), Stuart Smith, Paul Taylor, Marion Woodbury, and Walker Coleman

Guests: Susan Haskill and Susie Edwards

NOTE: Copies of all handout/visual materials used at the meeting are on file in the Office of the Council Secretary.

ITEM 1. HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE REPORTS

The latest draft of the cover letter was reviewed. Suggestions for improvement included clarification about possible tuition increases; a statement as to the exact percentage of the overall MUSC budget expended on Personnel; and numbers of FTE positions already reduced through the recent hiring moratorium.

ACTION: Ms. Haskill will incorporate the additional changes/clarifications and route the resultant draft through President Greenberg for modification and submission to the Committee by the Friday deadline. She will also share the revised MUSC draft with the other research universities and solicit their drafts for review by President Greenberg prior to finalizing the MUSC draft.

. EXTRA ITEMS/DISCUSSION

Dr. Crouch announced that the final candidates for Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of Medicine will be interviewing with the Trustees in January and early February.

Mr. Good reported on the Atlanta EPA hearing later in the week as well as the recent extension granted the employment consultant to make formal recommendations.

Dr. Reuben reminded of the FACULTY SENATE PRESENTATION OF THE WAYS AND MEANS LETTER which had been scheduled for January 10 at 8:45am.

ACTION: Dr. Crouch will make sure that appropriate members of MUSC administration are at the Faculty Senate meeting to present and discuss the Ways and Means letter.

Mr. Smith and Mr. Taylor discussed ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED TO MAKE MUSC AND AUTHORITY BY-LAWS CURRENT.

ACTIONS: Messrs. Smith and Taylor will coordinate the by-laws adjustments on the agenda for the February 9, 2001 meetings of both boards. Mr. Taylor will only publish and disseminate a limited number of revised by-laws after that meeting, as a few additional adjustments will be made at the April meeting.

In response to a status inquiry from Dr. Halushka, Dr. Greenberg informed that the INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT CONSULTANTS (originally approved by Council on 11/1/2000) were being actively solicited, and three candidates scheduled for interviews in February by a group under the coordination of Dr. Tom Higerd, Associate Provost for Information Assessment.

Mr. Woodbury updated on the CHARLESTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PURCHASE which had just completed a first reading by Council, with a public hearing scheduled for January 17th, and the original March closing date postponed until May. Council discussed the need for MUSC to fully communicate the actual purchase agreement terms with faculty, staff, and relevant state officials including the Budget and Control Board. Also needed would be an assessment of how this transaction will impact Authority financing and bonds as well as current master plans for land use including proposed off site locations.

ACTIONS: Mr. Woodbury will continue meeting with key clinical departments to explain the CMH purchase agreement as well as work with Ms. King and Mr. Peterson on an appropriate CATALYST article for the full MUSC family. Mr. Smith will communicate with the Budget and Control Board via their staff. Mr. Smith will also put together a small group to discuss master plans and financing in context of the CMH transaction.

Mr. Smith reported on an in-progress HCFA survey being conducted in the hospital by DHEC staff as a random follow up to the recent Joint Commission survey.

Mr. Smith also had followed up on the earlier assignment (12/20/00 Council) to secure the STATEWIDE TRAUMA PLAN, and a copy is on file with the Council Secretary. Dr. Norcross was recognized for his excellent leadership in making this plan possible.

ACTION: Mr. Smith will offer full MUSC cooperation and work with the South Carolina Hospital Association to facilitate a timely finalization and implementation of the Plan which has been officially titled "South Carolina Trauma System".

Dr. Slaughter suggested delaying the CHANGES IN ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR RETREAT for MUSC Leadership (approved 8/16/2000 by Council) until the new Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the College of Medicine joins the MUSC staff.

ACTION: Council approved delay of the Retreat until the new Vice President joins the MUSC staff.

Discussion then centered on the proposed small group of administrative staff needed to focus on POSSIBLE PROGRAMMATIC BUDGET CUTS as part of the final plans to meet whatever FY 02 State reductions finally manifest.

ACTION: Ms. Martin will secure and disseminate a copy of the Governor's just released FY 02 budget proposal. Dr. Slaughter will organize and implement the small group of administrative staff to consider possible programmatic cuts.

Ms. Martin reported that the MEETING WITH THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION (approved at the 12/20/00 Council) had been finalized for a January 19, 2001 breakfast at the Storm Eye Institute Auditorium.

ACTION: Dr. Slaughter, Mr. Faulkner, and Ms. Martin will prepare a draft January 19 meeting agenda for finalization by Council. Ms. Martin reported that the Legislative Liaison Office will be providing the Council with information on proposed legislation potentially pertinent to the University and the Authority (WEEKLY UPDATE OF PROPOSED SC LEGISLATION). This will be done by e-mail each week during the session, and the first already prepared spreadsheet summarizes over 40 pieces of legislation culled from the more than 200 pre-filed in the House prior to the session opening. Mr. Good emphasized the need to set up an effective internal mechanism to further disseminate this information to appropriate levels and units of MUSC and the Authority as well as insure timely feedback from them to Council. He also noted the importance of improving legislation-related communications with Clemson and USC.

ACTION: Mr. Good, Mr. Faulkner, and Ms. Martin will meet to determine proper mechanisms to communicate legislation related information internally as well as with the other State research universities.