From
the University
Regional Biodefense
Facility
University Officials have
been meeting with representatives from the Office of Homeland Security and
Department of Health and Human Services concerning the potential designation of
UTMB as a regional center for biodefense. If this designation is announced, it
would be one of several nationwide, and would likely result in the construction
of a large research facility on campus, site to be determined. Substantial
federal grant support for such a center would significantly boost the
university’s level of federal funding.
Designated Tuition
Although deans of each school
have met with student representatives, and one student group from the Graduate
School of Biomedical Sciences has presented to the Academic Executive Council,
no decision has yet been made by the President’s Council on the proposed
implementation of designated tuition in the Summer of 2003.
President’s Council
Works on Annual Goals
During a retreat on Friday,
September 6, members of the President’s Council met to consider shared goals
for the 2002-2003 academic year. Although these goals have not been finalized,
it is expected that they will pertain to issues surrounding personnel
satisfaction, access to UTMB hospitals and clinics, diversity profiles among
faculty of the four schools, and the attainment of budgetary targets that permit
building reserves for new construction and infrastructure support.
University Facilities Plan
UTMB
Town Meetings have outlined the long range plan for the university to establish
a quadrangle moving east from the Waverly Smith Pavilion toward the area
previously occupied by the Sealy & Smith Professional Building.
This plan would straighten University Boulevard and provide centralized
parking for new construction around the quadrangle. The first phase of roadwork for this infrastructure may begin
as early as next year. The next
major project of significance is the demolition of administration annex (old
SAHS building) and construction of new access to John Sealy Towers and the
parking garage. This modification will greatly improve access and significantly
change the aesthetic appearance of the “front door” to UTMB’s patient care
area.
Student
Government Association Satisfaction Survey – at a recent University
Academic Executive Council Dr. Stobo announced that the following were
consistent issues throughout the SGA survey:
Parking, Internet Connections, and Health Insurance. The deans have been
asked to review the school specific issues and address them appropriately with
the students. Student government has also approved an honor code to apply to all
UTMB students.
Faculty/Staff Campaign
Planning Committee – the campaign will be pushed back a couple of months,
and the feasibility study will be postponed until after the first of the year. White papers are still being encouraged.
From The School of Allied Health Sciences
New
Physical Therapy Chair – Dr. Elizabeth Protas, currently campus Associate
Dean for Physical Therapy at Texas Woman’s University Houston Center, will be
assuming leadership of the Physical Therapy Program on December 1st. Dr. Protas will be making frequent trips to campus over the
next few months to meet with faculty and SAHS leadership.
Rehabilitation Sciences
Distinguished Chair
Dr. Kenneth Ottenbacher is
chairing a search committee to recruit the Robert Moody Distinguished Chair in
Cognitive Rehabilitation. A university-wide committee is considering several
candidates over the next few months and is hoping to name the inaugural
chairholder by the end of the calendar year.
Chairs Council to Set Goals for FY2003
Members of the chair’s
council will be meeting in October to formulate shared schoolwide goals for the
2002-2003 academic year. A review
of progress of last year’s goals will be completed within the next few days.
Goals pertained to student recruitment, benchmarking, faculty
development/mentoring, faculty merit evaluation, and the IDEAL curriculum.
Faculty Orientation Plan
The draft faculty
orientation plan will be piloted during the current academic year. The office of
the dean will monitor specific oversight of the elements of the plan.
Update on Trial
Implementation of Course Evaluation System
Jay Tanet is working with
Henry Cavazos and representatives from the IOTA online course evaluation group
to identify, with faculty input, potential course evaluation items to include in
the trial evaluation process.
Architectural Space Study
UTMB’s
facilities office and the architectural firm of Ambrose, McEnany and House have
been considering input gathered from chairs and the two deans in determining
short, medium and long range space issues for nursing and allied health
sciences. The planners have concluded that construction of additional new space
is not justified. However, significant opportunity exists for improving current
space use in the building, particularly involving classrooms, the lobby, the
Greenhouse area, and teaching labs on the second floor. Given the obsolete
design of areas on that floor and the president’s expectation that more
interdisciplinary instruction will take place on campus, opportunities for
designing and building shared large group and small group teaching spaces are
being contemplated. Because of entity specific costs associated with the
assignment of space, and the implementation of a new space database, the
designation of assigned spaces which are not being used to justifiable levels of
efficiently is a luxury that can no longer be supported by the university.
Assigned research space in the absence of funding will also be phased out over
the next two years.
School of Allied Health Sciences
