UTMB Faculty Senate Minutes
Monday, July 15, 2024
Teams Virtual Meeting
4:30 PM-6:00 PM 

Open Senate Meeting:

Call to Order – Shannan Rossi, PhD, MBA, Faculty Senate Chair

Attendance “Roll Call” & Establishing Quorum

    • GSBS – Dr. Irma Cisneros
    • JSSOM – Dr. Amy Gonzalez
    • SHP – Dr. Karthik Mani
    • SPPH – Dr. Brian Downer
    • SON – Dr. Shinu Joy
  2. Agenda Adoption
    1. Consent Agenda Adoption – Approved
  3. Review & Approval of Minutes– June minutes are approved and uploaded to Faculty Senate website.
  4. Guest Speakers
    • Victor Moreno, Associate Vice President, Workforce Operations
      Robert S. Moore, Manager, Performance Services

    Topic: MyPOWER Overview

    • The MyPOWER Actual Report contains details on monthly clinical productivity and research funding.
      • Clinical Overview section contains details on monthly wRVU’s, expectations, and charges/collections.
      • Research Overview section contains details on monthly salary support from grants and endowments.
      • Teaching Report section contains details on projected and actual educational activities.
    • For any revisions or corrections to information found in MyPOWER, contact department administrator. 
  1. Updates
    • None
  2. Unfinished Business & General Orders
    • None
  3. New Business
    • None Currently.

      Dr. Sarah Samreen motioned to move into executive session. Dr. Maureen Laroche provided the second.

  4. Executive Session
    • Chair-Elect Election
      1. Dr. Sarah Samreen (Surgery) and Dr. Karren Lewis (Obstetrics & Gynecology) are the nominees for the position of Chair-Elect for FY25. Each candidate was allowed time to provide a statement on why they would be a good fit for senate leadership.
      2. Dr. Sarah Samreen elected, by majority vote, to serve as Chair-Elect of the Faculty Senate in FY25. (25 total senator votes submitted)
    • Faculty Senate Bylaws Revisions
      • Background on Bylaw Review:
        a. Senate Bylaws call for feedback on revisions: 4/24/2024
        b. Senate Bylaws revision comunication with Senators: 5/6/24, 5/10/24, 7/2/24, & 7/15/24.
        c. Senate members discussed the suggested revisions in the Senate Bylaws. Some revisions are substantive, and some are non-substantive.
    • Substantive: Senate Composition:
      • Currently, the bylaws indicate the following are the representative requirements for each school: GSBS (6), SHP (5), JSSOM (10), SON (5), SPPH (3).
      • Senate Discussion prior to voting:
        • Discusses rationale for current composition of senators.
        • No clear historical rationale other than some schools are larger than other schools. We do not have a clear percentage of senate representation tied to school composition or representation.
        • Statements acknowledging that total school composition numbers have changed over time.
        • It may be simpler for fairness, equity and transparency that we have a set number that is school based. This number should not fluctuate based on hires or fires of faculty.
        • We don’t have enough representation from some schools to serve on all our senate committees. We may not be capturing the voice of all schools in the committees.
        • If we keep as it is, we need to look at school composition every 3 years since it changes often.
        • Several schools categorize personnel differently and this causes a misrepresentation of the number of faculty within each school as well. There was a previous vote on a previous proposal that stated there should be equal representation for each school but due to the number of JSSOM representatives voting, the motion was denied.
        • Proportional representation may not be efficient. There must be equitable representation.
        • An inquiry to the group was made if there were any opposition to equal representation. None received.
        • SPPH cannot be represented on all committees. There are 6 committees and 3 SPPH senators. At a minimum, we need to have enough coverage for each committee.
        • Dr. Jacquelyn Svoboda motions : “Revise the bylaw senate composition to equal representation from each school. Six (6) senators for each school-GSBS (6), SHP (6), JSSOM (6), SON (6), SPPH (6).”
          • Motion seconded: by Dr. Sharon Petronella
          • The Senators voted to adopt the motion and approve the motion. (21 senators votes cast, majority in approval to adopt the motion.)
      • Non-Substantive: Bylaw verbiage clarity
      • Dr. Karren Lewis motions: “Senate to accept the bylaws revisions as noted in track changes of the bylaws.” (Discussed during June meeting)
        • Motion seconded: Dr. Rebeka Watson Campbell provided the second.
        • The Senators voted by majority to adopt the motion and approved the verbiage changes to the bylaws.
  5. Committee Reports:
    Will revisit in August meeting.
  6. Announcements:
    None.
  7. Adjournment at 6:00 p.m.