MEMBERS ABSENT: Drs. William Brody, Bernard Guyer, Laura Morlock, and Barry Zirkin.

GUESTS: Drs. Sharon Krag, and Noel Rose; Mss Sandra Coleman and Diane Glover; Messrs. Herbert Hansen, John Lordan, and Gregory Winkler.

Approval of the Minutes: Minutes of the 795th meeting on November 26, 1996 were approved.

Remarks by the Provost: Dr. Knapp wished the members of the Advisory Board happy holidays and new year.

Remarks by the Dean: Dean Sommer announced that Dr. Charles Clements will be the speaker at the School's Convocation in May, 1997. Dr. Clements is presently president of Physician's for Human Rights. Dr. Lawrence provided additional background on Dr. Clements.

The Dean reminded department chairs that faculty CVs are due by Friday January 3, 1997, and that only a few CVs have been received thus far.

Dr. Sommer has been in communication with the Mayor's Office and the Baltimore City Police Commissioner regarding their request for assistance in evaluating the effect of police athletic league teams on the occurrence of violence. He noted that a major topic at the upcoming retreat in April, 1997 will include a predicted lack of growth in the School's traditional funding sources. According to the Provost's Financial Review Committee, this decline is consistent across the University, where organized research activities are expected to fall below the level projected. The implications are not yet clear for the School, and will be discussed at the retreat.

Dr. Sommer noted that the School will need to start planning for its reaccreditation cycle in 1999. The School Self-Study will include revisiting the Strategic Plan.

In response to a question, Dr. Knapp remarked that the search for the CEO of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Hospital is being refocused and that not many external candidates have been identified.

Report of the Faculty Senate: Dr. Scocca reported that Faculty General Assembly met to hear presentations and demonstrations by several faculty working in the area of distance education. The presentations were well-received and a few issues of importance to the faculty were identified.

Other items
Should Senior Scientists be primary advisors for doctoral students? Dr. Steinwachs commented that the major difference between faculty in the senior scientist track and in the tenure track is that scientists cannot serve as doctoral student advisors. He felt this limitation could be problematic for faculty in the management and policy areas, particularly in recruitment, as it prevents faculty in the scientist track from playing a more significant role in doctoral education. Because of the stringent criteria for appointment of senior scientists, Dr. Steinwachs felt they would be well-qualified to serve as doctoral student advisors. Dean Sommer reminded the Advisory Board that since senior scientists can depart with six months of advance notice, the Committee on Appointments and Promotions considered the possible longevity of scientist track faculty when the responsibilities of the track were developed. On the other hand he noted, senior scientists appointed to date were highly productive, world renowned scientists; it was therefore unlikely that their tenure would be short. Dr. Black would like associate scientists as well as senior scientists to serve as doctoral student advisors. Dr. Zeger felt that each department should determine which members of its scientist track faculty should serve as doctoral advisors. It was noted that all scientist track faculty can serve on departmental and School-wide preliminary and final examinations.Dr. Scocca questioned whether students should be admitted to specific doctoral programs if the School is unwilling to make a long-term commitment to faculty in that area. Dr. Steinwachs pointed out that faculty in the scientist track may not conform to the traditional criteria for appointment and promotion. Dr. Samet questioned whether there is an important distinction between instruction (which scientist track faculty are already engaged in) and advising. After further discussion, Drs. Steinwachs and Black will take this issue to the Committee on Academic Standards to develop a consensus and recommendations for review by the Advisory Board.

Sponsored Projects Reporting Backlog
Mr. Lordan joined the meeting. Dr. Sommer remarked that a number of faculty have learned of significant delays in the financial reporting required by agencies providing funds for sponsored activities, and that this delay appears to be located centrally. Mr. Lordan apologized for the delays, provided background and reasons for the delays, and reported that there are now adequate staff in place to keep up with the reporting needs. The reporting backlog is expected to be eliminated by the end of February. However faculty or administrators who are now experiencing significant delays in reports should contact him or the director of Research Accounting. He requested that departments be more careful in entering data correctly and that they communicate directly with Research Accounting with any questions and concerns. Mr. Hansen was asked to report on a number of specific questions at a future meeting. It was suggested that staff in central Research Accounting become more familiar with their counterparts in the divisions to achieve closer and mutually beneficial working relationships.

Mr. Hansen commented that most of the post-award activities in the School will be moved to the Business office rather than the Office of Research Administration over the next few months, and that the interface between Central Research Accounting and the School's Business Office will increase. Dean Sommer thanked Mr. Lordan for his explanation.

Discussion of Data in Annual Student Data Report and Financial Operations Review
Ms. Coleman and Mr. Winkler joined the meeting. A review of the information in the 1996 Annual Student Data Report revealed: significant growth in both masters and doctoral students: a shift from DrPH to PhD doctoral programs; an increase in the number of courses; and an increase in general funds scholarship support with a concomitant decrease in support from "other sources" which is quite likely a result of NIH "capping" tuition funded by NIH training grants at a rate below the School's assessed tuition rate. A major topic of discussion at the retreat will be the optimal size of the faculty and student bodies, along with the constant need to control costs and develop alternative sources of revenue.

Dr. Lawrence reminded the department chairs that all MPH students will be required to have an "integrating experience" by the 1998-99 academic year, and that this will impact on their faculty.

Dr. Knapp commented on the audit of the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, where inadequate documentation of Medicare charges was found, and financial changes and penalties were assessed as a result. He noted that Hopkins and others are likely to be audited in the same fashion, and that the issue is related to documentation rather than fraudulence. Faculty of the School of Medicine have been notified and the documentation of both training and billing is now being improved.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

© 1996 The Johns Hopkins University. Baltimore, Maryland. All rights reserved.
Last updated by dgips@jhu.edu