PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL
May 2, 2001

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

Guests: Larry Rainey, Melinda Anderson, John Runyon, Tiffany Chellis, and Lynn Shull

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

ITEM 1. Emergency Room Construction Update

Mr. Smith and Dr. Rainey briefed on plans to finish the Operating Room renovations/expansion with restricting access to a stairwell previously open to the public as it now descends into actual workspace.

ACTION: Council received this as information.

ITEM 2. Adjustment to Parking Rates

Mr. Runyon and Ms. Anderson presented two proposed minor changes to the four-year schedule of parking system fees as adopted by the Council (4/27/00) and the University Board of Trustees (5/18/00). Proposal 1 would be to hold the FY 02 rate for off-campus reserved parking spaces at $ 35/month (instead of the $ 45 approved), and maintain a $ 10 monthly differential with the on-campus rates thereafter each year. This was a business strategy to fill the 250 off-campus spaces so far not rented. Proposal 2 would hold the current $ 1/hour rate for patient visitor parking for an additional year (as opposed to the $ 1.25/hour rate approved for FY 02), and then increase it all the way to $ 1.50/hour in FY 03. This was a business strategy to eliminate the operating inefficiencies inherent in dealing with coinage in denominations below a quarter.

ACTION: Council approved Proposal 1 as presented with the additional notation that any unused spaces not filled by employees in a timely manner should be considered as possible student parking. It approved Proposal 2 with the amendment that the $ 1.50 an hour rate be made immediately effective in FY 02. Both of these changes will be presented to the Board of Trustees at the May 2001 meeting.

ITEM 3. Employee Health Services - Overview

Ms. Chellis presented a first year summary, four-year renewal costs, and the benefits to MUSC and MUHA of continuing this highly successful joint service of the College of Nursing, MUSC, and MUHA. Mr. Good noted the many awards and recognitions received by this program.

ACTION: Council received this as information.

EXTRA ITEMS/DISCUSSION

Mr. Fisher presented 31 DRAFT PROPOSALS FOR DUKE ENDOWMENT which had been developed in response to the President's Council call at its 3/17/01 meeting.

ACTION: Council appointed a sub-group to review these and narrow the number down to a top priority 8 to 9 proposals for subsequent review by Duke. This group is Dr. Crouch or designee, Dr. McCurdy or designee, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Fisher. All members of Council will review the 31 proposals and submit their comments to the group.

Dr. Halushka noted several VA policies/resources that resulted in cost savings and more effective operations. These were motion sensors on light switches and a uniform computerized medical records system. Mr. Good suggested that, given the rapidly rising rates, MUSC consider DIRECT UTILITY RATE NEGOTIATIONS as state law permits negotiating rates with more than one utility and all utilities have more than one rate schedule possible.

ACTION: Mr. Sutusky and colleagues will look into the possibility of negotiating electric rates.

Mr. Good also informed of recent, but misguided and temporary, MUSC involvement in the lawsuit that bar owners have brought against City of Charleston regulations for 2 to 6am closings.

Dr. Reuben reported on several Faculty Senate interests and matters including urging more direct input to the University Parking Committee; need for improved information as to reasoning behind new University policies and procedures; commending Dr. Roozen and Dr. West for their recent excellent and informative Senate presentation; and continuing plans for the major cooperative Senate/MUSC administration update of the FACULTY HANDBOOK.

Mr. Smith reminded of the upcoming National Hospital Week celebration, and showed the 1/2 page paid newspaper advertisement to be included in the Sunday POST & COURIER. This led to discussion of the celebration of STATE EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION DAY (see also Council minutes 4/18/01 and 4/25/01) and the fact that the newspaper would not accept an op-ed piece from Dr. Greenberg as desired.

ACTION: Council approved a 1/4 page paid statement of appreciation, signed by President Greenberg, to appear in the Wednesday April 11 POST & COURIER. This will be funded by the Health Sciences Foundation.

Dr. McCurdy commented on the excellent and long involvement MUSC has had at a national leadership level in the treatment of substance abuse as illness. This was evident in the current cover article of U.S. News & World Report, and may be reinforced in a CNN special scheduled for August.