Members Absent: Drs. William Brody and Jonathan Samet.

Guests: Drs. Alan Goldberg, Sharon Krag, W. Henry Mosley and Noel Rose; and Ms Diane Glover.

Meeting Convened: Provost Steven Knapp convened the meeting at 3:00 p.m.

Dean Sommer presented a silver engraved bowl to Dr. Mosley as a token of the School's appreciation for Dr. Mosley's many years of service as chair of the Department of Population Dynamics. Dr. Mosley thanked the members of the Advisory Board.

Approval of the Minutes: Minutes of the 815th meeting on July 14, 1998 were approved.

Remarks by the Provost: On behalf of the faculty of Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Knapp extended his regrets over the loss of Drs. Mary Lou Clements-Mann and Jonathan Mann. Their contributions and service to the University and to the world are widely recognized.

Dr. Knapp updated the Advisory Board on the status of several searches. Finalists for the position of JHU Chief Information Officer have been identified and a recommendation from the search committee is imminent. The search process has helped define the position, and the finalists are all highly qualified.

The search for the head of the Johns Hopkins Press was concluded quickly and the new head will be starting within a few weeks.

Searches are underway for the coordinator of University governmental relations as well as for the head of the Institute for Policy Studies.

Dr. Knapp thanked faculty from the School of Hygiene and Public Health (SHPH) for their active participation on University-wide search committees.

Dr. Knapp commented that the President's Council on Urban Health has been initiated after discussion by a Steering Committee on which Dean Sommer participated. The Council, with approximately 65 members from the University and surrounding communities, will develop a plan to establish a model for how an academic health center should operate in an urban environment. Dr. Knapp acknowledged that much of this activity is already ongoing within the SHPH, but that continuing involvement with our local communities will be important to the ultimate success of the Council. He thanked Dr. Sommer and the other SHPH members of the Council for their participation and input. The Council expects to provide recommendations to President Brody by early 1999.

Remarks by the Dean: Dr. Sommer welcomed Dr. Yager as president-elect of the Faculty Senate. He further noted that the coming week contained a number of interesting activities, including a symposium on tobacco, the 50th anniversary of the Department of Maternal and Child Health, and a celebration of Dr. Edyth Schoenrich's 50th anniversary at Johns Hopkins.

Dr. Sommer briefly reported on an administrative retreat of department chairs and deans regarding strategic planning for possible new building and review of the academic enterprise following completion of the accreditation self-study were discussed. He then updated the Advisory Board on several legislative initiatives and proposed that the Committee of the Whole discuss new research and other sponsored opportunities at each meeting.

Dr. Griffin was asked to report on School of Medicine's Medical Discovery Fund, and noted that an SHPH faculty member had successfully competed for a small amount of funds from this source, primarily to offset the costs incurred in developing a joint SOM/SHPH NIH grant proposal.

Remarks by the Faculty Senate: Dr. Anthony reported that the Senate held its first meeting of the academic year, and that the major topic of discussion was a possible change in title of the scientist track. The Senate hopes to bring recommendations to the Committee of the Whole in November or December. Dr. Anthony reported that the Senate will be looking for ways to improve the environment in the School during the coming year. He further requested information on behalf of the Senate about how to increase the School's endowment. Dean Eggleston Wehr will meet with the Senate to discuss this issue. Dr. Sommer also expressed interest in speaking with the Senate about other ways the faculty can be challenged to raise funds.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Robin Fox

© 1998 The Johns Hopkins University. Baltimore, Maryland. All rights reserved.
Last updated by dgips@jhu.edu