School of Hygiene and Public Health Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, December 5, 2000 / 3 p.m. / 842nd Meeting

Members Absent: Drs. William Brody, Robert Black, and Jonathan Samet.

Guests: Mr. Herbert Hansen and Ms Diane Glover.

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

Approval of the Minutes: Minutes of the 841st meeting on October 17, 2000 were approved.

Remarks by the Provost

Provost Knapp commented on the University-wide initiative based in the Whiting School of Engineering to establish an Information Security Institute that will be started with a $10 M gift from an anonymous donor. The Institute will be focussed broadly on assuring security of electronic systems and materials. The private sector and possibly government agencies are expected to express interest. The Institute will sponsor educational opportunities and will involve interactions across the University in many areas. It will be headed initially by Dr. Gerald Masson, founding director of the Department of Computer Science in the Whiting School of Engineering.

The second National Symposium on Civilian Biodefense was held in Washington, D.C. and was attended by close to 1000 persons. A $3.5M grant by the Sloan Foundation to support the JHU Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies, headed by Dr. Henderson, was announced. The Center's activities cover a broad range of topics of interest to the entire Hopkins community.

Dr. Knapp noted that a number of candidates for the director of the JHU Urban Health Institute will be visiting. Candidates are both internal and external. The search committee for the JHU Vice Provost for Affirmative Action and Disability is headed by Dr. Roulhac with representation from many divisions. Several candidates for the Vice Provost position have had a first visit, and a few are being invited back for a second visit.

In response to a question, Dr. Knapp commented that the University is part of a consortium of local universities that can provide information on and help identify potential positions or employers for spouses of faculty being recruited to the University. Priority for using this resource is established in each divisional dean's office. Dr. Knapp commented that recruitment of faculty couples have been successful generally due to serendipity or to thoughtful discussions among department chairs, and have not involved provision of University-wide resources, although he would be interested in broadening the conversation in this area.

Remarks by the Dean

Dean Sommer commented that a presentation earlier in the day by Carton Donofrio Interactive has challenged the School to rethink the structure and external presence of the School's internet website. A modified version of the presentation will be given at the December 19, 2000 Advisory Board meeting. The next phase will be to provide appropriate resources to implement website changes. The internet will be closely linked to a School intranet, now being developed by the SHPH Office of Information Systems.

Dr. Sommer noted that the JHU Board of Trustees meeting is on December 10-11 and, for the first time in a decade, will be held in the School. He commented that the Gates Foundation is not planning to award large grants until the Spring of 2001. He relayed several highlights of the annual meeting of the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) in November: a full-time president of ASPH is now in place; ASPH and the American Public Health Association are working jointly on developing a system for credentialing the public health workforce; the accreditation process for schools of public health is being re-examined, including the role of CEPH; and ASPH has an increased presence on Capital Hill. These changes will allow ASPH to improve and expand the visibility and responsiveness of academic public health.

Report from the Faculty Senate

Dr. Mitzner commented on two of the major issues being addressed by the Senate. The Senate is helping the Office of Information Systems design the new intranet. Secondly, a questionnaire about the Strategic Plan has been designed by Dr. Ensminger. The questionnaire will help the Faculty Senators develop priorities for implementation for the next 1- 2 years from among the many responsibilities laid out for the Senate in the Strategic Plan.

Distance Education Update

Dr. Lawrence noted a doubling of applications to the iMPH program for 2001-2002. Thus far, 40 of the expected 60 student slots have been taken. Institute courses and courses required for iMPH students while on-site are being better coordinated. A few institute courses will be available in January, 2001, and a greater number will be available in June, 2001 for the next incoming iMPH cohort. A web-based course organization template has been developed by the Distance Education (DE) division that can be used by faculty in all courses. Dr. Lawrence noted that use of the template varies considerably by department. Many courses in some departments are now using the template, while others are not. Increased usage will help students both on- and off-site, and faculty who have taken advantage of this resource report they are pleased with it, in particular to improve communication with their students. He further noted that faculty must be adequately supported as they revise DE courses, and that appropriate staff are being added to the DE division to support faculty in these efforts.

Dr. Lawrence reported that Dr. Lynn Goldman has submitted a proposal to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to increase capacity-building of the public health workforce in Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C. As part of that proposal, a part-time faculty cadre of external public health practitioners will be developed. Dr. Lawrence solicited thoughts about how external (and internal) faculty can be organized optimally to best meet commitments to the community.

Report on Searches

Dr. Sommmer reported that searches for faculty positions in Quantitative and Molecular Sciences for Research on Populations are being carried out by several individual departments. Dr. Krag's office is to assist in coordinating interviews among the departments. Personal letters to solicit applicant interest must be sent, in addition to a number of advertisements that have already been placed.

Dr. Breitner remarked that a small faculty committee has been convened to develop a "vision" for the focus of recruitment in the behavioral sciences area, but noted that no consensus has emerged yet. A number of leading external behavioral science researchers are being invited to present seminars during the third term to better inform the faculty about the spectrum of behavioral science issues, with the intent of leading to a better concept for the position.

Other Items

Proposed changes in the Committee on Affirmative Action PPM and Affirmative Action Form -- for vote

The Advisory Board voted to approve the proposed changes in the Committee on Affirmative Action PPM and Affirmative Action Form, as recommended by the Committee on Affirmative Action. The revised Affirmative Action Form requires documentation of national/international searches for all professorial faculty positions, including research and public health professorial faculty at all ranks.

The Advisory Board then discussed how to assure that the few research and public health professorial faculty who may be recommended for internal transfer from the scientist track in the future can be evaluated in a manner as close as possible to their counterparts who are recruited through national searches. After discussion, the Advisory Board determined that from now on, any requests for transfers of faculty who presently hold scientist titles to the research or public health professorial track will be treated in the formalized, prescribed manner. They must be accompanied by external letters and, at the associate and full professor level, will be evaluated by an ad hoc committee of the Committee on Appointments and Promotions, as would be done for professorial appointments to the tenure-track. This information will be conveyed to department chairs and division directors.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Robin Fox

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Last updated 12Jan01 by dgips@jhu.edu