Representation at the Meeting:
 

Anesthesiology	Jim Daniel
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	Frank Markland
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Cell and Neurobiology
Children's Hospital	Gary Lerner
Emergency Medicine	Michael Orlinsky
Family Medicine
Medicine	Loren Laine
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology	Stan Tahara
Neurological Surgery
Neurology
Norris Medical Library
Obstetrics and Gynecology	Rebecca Sokol
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Otolaryngology	Dennis O'Leary
Pathology	Leslie Khawli
Pediatrics	Laura Wachsman
Physiology and Biophysics	Herb Meiselman
Preventive Medicine	Daniel Stram
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences	Henry Slucki
Radiation Oncology
Radiology
Rancho Los Amigos Hospital
Surgery	Jeffrey Peters
Urology

Also attending: Leslie Bernstein, Joseph Van Der Meulen, Ronald Smith, Victor Henderson, Austin Mircheff

1. Consideration of minutes

 

 

The meeting was called to order at approximately 12:10 PM by President Harvey Kaslow. Consideration of the minutes of the MFA meeting of January 5, 1999 was deferred until later in the meeting when a quorum was present. At that time the January minutes were approved as submitted.
 
 

2. USC-LACHS Affairs

 

 

President Kaslow announced that the new listserver USC-MFA-LACHS-L is now in operation.

Dr. Van Der Meulen reported on the current status of negotiations with the County regarding the CPSA. He indicated that he expects to meet with County officials on Friday to continue discussion of several issues, including funding level and accountability. He indicated that most work on the boilerplate language is done. Discussions are continuing about justification of the level of support, and indemnification of USC by the County if the County reduces funding. Dr. Van Der Meulen indicated that he expected progress to be swift, and if the expected progress occurred, he would call a meeting of the faculty committee, perhaps next week, to provide information to faculty and seek their input. He indicated that if agreement on a new CPSA did not occur soon, then letters would likely issue by March 31 to faculty warning them of possible cuts in positions or salaries.
 
 

3. Report: MFA Recommendation 1998-99-002: A Consolidated Budget Document

 

 

President Kaslow reported that he and MFA Treasurer Jerry Gates had met with Dr. Van Der Meulen and Mr. Vigil to discuss a proposed consolidated budget document to be shared with the Finance Committee and the Treasurer of the MFA. Dr. Kaslow indicated that progress was being made, and he anticipated a proposed document would be considered at the next meeting of the Finance Committee.
 
 

4. School Self Study

 

 

As a follow-up to his presentation at the December 1, 1998 MFA meeting, Dr. Ronald Smith, Chair of the Strategic Planning Task Force, reported on the strategic plan being developed for the School of Medicine. He distributed and discussed the current working version of the document and requested suggestions. The MFA will distribute the document to all representatives for their review. Dr. Smith indicated that the next version of the document would probably be made available to all faculty via the WWW. He also stated that open faculty meetings would be held within the next few months to seek additional suggestions about the plan from the faculty.

Henry Slucki expressed approval of language in the document calling for efforts to increase financial aid available to students and asked why there was no analogous commitment mentioned regarding increasing faculty salaries. It was suggested that Dr. Slucki generate language that he considered suitable about this issue and submit it for consideration.
 
 

5. Educational Affairs: Representation to the EPC.

 

 

President Kaslow presented a proposal from the MFA Executive Board for a method to determine faculty recommendations regarding selection of faculty to serve on the EPC. The proposal involved soliciting nominations and holding elections by mail for EPC representatives at the same time that elections of MFA representatives were held. Concerns were expressed by some that this procedure might be seen by some department chairs as interfering with their responsibilities. It was pointed out that the election results regarding EPC representatives would be advisory only and that the chairs would still make the appointments. The representative from Childrens Hospital explained that modifications of the plan would be needed in their case since they had faculty members in various departments. Another difficulty pointed out was that the terms of MFA representatives are 2 years, while those of EPC representatives are 3 years. It was decided to refer the proposal back to the Executive Board for additional work.
 
 

6. Brief Reports and Updates Regarding Ongoing Issues

• MFA Calendar. The meeting of the Faculty-at-Large has been scheduled for 4 PM, Tuesday, April 13, 1999 when Dean Ryan should be able to attend.
• Academic Senate. President Kaslow announced that he had copies of the new version of the Faculty Handbook and that it should be online at the Senate web site soon. There was also discussion of a motion regarding access to personnel files being considered by the Academic Senate.
• Other Reports. None were given.

    7. New Business: None.
 

    8. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at approximately 1:30 PM.