Provost Knapp gave updates on several searches. Charlene Hayes has been appointed Vice President for Human Resources. The university is close to appointing a new General Counsel, who should join us by Jan. 1. 2004. The search for a Dean of the Whiting School of Engineering continues; an experienced consulting firm has been engaged. They hope to identify the next Dean by the middle of the spring semester.

Provost Knapp then turned to homeland security issues. The new Department of Homeland Security, and new legislation, affect Johns Hopkins in various ways. It creates new research opportunities: the Department of Homeland Security is establishing a NIH-like agency to sponsor research in universities. The university is constituting a committee to consider how to take advantage of these opportunities.

However, the new Department of Homeland Security and new legislation also present challenges. One concerns classified and sensitive research. JHU policy forbids the faculty from doing classified research on academic campuses. This policy does not cover sensitive but unclassified research. The government might want to place restrictions on such research: e.g., to restrict foreign nationals access to such research. It might also want to broaden International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to cover such research; this might mean that if a faculty member did such research in the presence of a foreign national, s/he would be deemed to have exported it in violation of ITAR. Provost Knapp expressed concern over this possibility.

Another challenge concerns immigration restrictions faced by foreign nationals trying to get into the United States. Johns Hopkins, with other universities, is trying to change policies on this issue. We are trying to ensure that foreign nationals get interviews in a timely fashion; to ensure that those who request visas are given a reasonable timeframe for approval or disapproval; and to clarify policies so that we understand them more clearly.

President Brody then addressed the faculty. He discussed various political developments that affect the university s financial situation. Cuts in the Sellinger formula mean less state aid to universities. There are also attempts to cap university tuitions, which could potentially be more damaging. While tuition has increased faster than the Consumer Price Index, most students do not pay full tuition, and over the last ten years the part of tuition not covered by financial aid has fallen when adjusted for inflation.

The faculty then approved the minutes for the last faculty assembly.

Professor Amir asked Provost Knapp about restrictions on laboratories from doing classified research, and urged the Provost to preserve the policy prohibiting such research on academic campuses. Provost Knapp replied that this is our present policy, but that the situation with sensitive but unclassified research is murkier, since the government can decide after the fact that some research is sensitive . Many institutions, but not all, refuse to accept contracts involving sensitive but unclassified research. We are trying to discover how many proposals have restrictive language related to such research, and will put together a faculty committee to study our existing policy on classified research.

Professor Bagger urged the preservation of a bright line between classified and unclassified research. Provost Knapp agreed, but noted that it was being blurred by the government, and that the university is urging a policy that preserves clarity in this matter while recognizing the legitimate government interest in protecting citizens.

Professor Cooper expressed the hope that any changes to our existing policies would be brought before the faculty. Provost Knapp said that they would.

Lawrence Kilduff, Executive Director of Facilities Management, then discussed plans for the campus makeover . He noted the steps already taken, and the plans for the coming year.

Professor Roller asked whether there were plans to restore Garland Field. Director Kilduff described plans for the South Quad , which include new buildings and an underground garage, over which the field would be replanted.

Vice Provost Burger presented an overview of the plans for Charles Village. The Commission on Undergraduate Education (CUE) recommended the creation of a comprehensive residential program for undergraduates, and strengthening the sense of campus community. To this end the university has decided to construct a freshman quad. The CUE also recommended that over the next ten years the university construct enough residential buildings that all undergraduates who want to live in university housing can do so. The Charles Village plan allows us to achieve these goals. It also has the potential to serve as the linchpin of a renaissance in Charles Village. The university feels that the project should be economically self-sufficient, and that it should have amenities, programming space, and so forth. Vice Provost Burger then described the plan, which will include nine residential floors joined by a bridge, and considerable common space. Demolition should start June 1, 2004; the projected move-in date is the summer of 2006.

David McDonough, of JH Real Estate, then presented the plan for the new developments in Charles Village. Surveys revealed needs for student housing, retail space, and a college town feel in Charles Village. The plans incorporated input from a Hopkins planning process, a community planning process with input from community residents, and a city hall planning process. The new buildings will include approximately 619 beds, mostly in suites, and a bookstore. Professor Katz asked about the planning process, and about the southbound lane of Charles Street. Dir. McDonough discussed Hopkins work with the city and community groups about plans to redevelop Charles Street, which are projected to be implemented during FY 2006-7.

Professor Bagger asked about the target market for single bedroom apartments. Dir. McDonough replied that they are aimed at two markets: high-end condominium buyers and upper-end rentals for young professors. Professor Feldman asked about the impact on prices for graduate student housing in Charles Village. Dir. McDonough replied that the development will probably lower prices somewhat at first, since many students who will be housed in the new development currently live in Charles Village. In the long run, if Charles Village becomes a more desirable location, rents might rise. Professor Westbrook asked whether Johns Hopkins plans to acquire more property in Charles Village. Dir. Kilduff replied that we are in selective buying mode , and are trying to determine what approach to take to this question.

Dean Falk then discussed changes to tenure regulations. The Tenure Policy and Review Committee produced its recommendations about a year ago. The Academic Council tentatively approved these recommendations, and thought that futher work needed to be done on the transition to the new regulations and on the procedures for generating letters. Dean Falk has been working with a group of faculty on these issues during the fall, and the Academic Council will consider the group s recommendations during the winter. He expects recommendations to go to the President and Trustees during the spring. He also noted that the Dean s Office will be putting together a faculty committee to consider possible changes to the weekly course schedule and to the academic calendar. We are currently not in compliance with DoE regulations on these topics.

Interim Dean Douglas described a task force on the relationship between the Whiting School of Engineering and the Applied Physics laboratories, and an external review of the Whiting School. Its findings include a recommendation that department chairs be more like chairs at the School of Medicine, serving long terms with heavy administrative responsibilities.

Item 6 on the agenda was deferred until the next meeting. The meeting was adjourned.

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Last updated 02Feb04 by dgips@jhu.edu