School of Hygiene and Public Health Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, June 27, 2000 / 3 p.m. / 837th Meeting

Members Absent: Drs. Robert Black, Edward Miller, Wayne Mitzner, Alfred Sommer, and Donald Steinwachs.

Guests: Drs. David Celentano, Sharon Krag, Judith Kasper, and Noel Rose; Mss Diane Glover and Donna Helm.

Meeting Convened: President Brody convened the meeting at 3:00 p.m.

Approval of the Minutes: Minutes of the 836th meeting on May 16, 2000 and 837th meeting on May 23, 2000 were approved.

Remarks by the President

President Brody commented that the fiscal year will end on June 30, 2000, and that the University's fund-raising campaign is expected to reach a goal of $1.5 billion by that date. This success has lead to the identification of more opportunities and needs than ever before, and competition among Hopkins' peer institutions will become more acute. Competitive faculty recruitment and continued development of global expertise are expected to be the cornerstones of future success.

Dr. Brody reported that the University will complete the fiscal year as planned, with few unanticipated shortfalls and buildup of some reserves. The next 5 years will be a period of capital investment and fiscal conservatism for the University.

Dr. Brody is chairing an NIH committee to examine the financing of facilities performing NIH-supported research as the renewal of such facilities requires careful consideration. He noted that every division of the University has plans for facility renovation or construction. He further noted that increase in research funds, which provides wonderful opportunities for new discovery, can lead to fiscal imbalance. Increased endowment thus becomes even more crucial to offset the imbalance.

Dr. Brody reported he will visit the Gates Foundation, which is now undergoing a transition in its structure. He hopes to engage the Foundation in further discussions that will include areas of mutual interest in particular public health. Dr. Brody then thanked the members of the Advisory Board for their excellent accomplishments in teaching and research.

In response to a question, Dr. Brody commented that divisions provide their own resources for faculty recruitment and retention, and that uses of divisional funds for such purposes are judgements between the dean, chairs and faculty. Providing a supportive environment for faculty is fundamental for successful faculty recruitment and retention.

The financial status of major medical centers is suffering as costs increase and recovery rates decline, even when such centers are run efficiently. Dr. Brody expressed hope for relief from the government and 3rd party payers.

Dr. Brody announced that the new interim director of the JHU Urban Health Initiative is Dr. Thomas O'Toole.

He commented that the internet is a tool that will enable many of the University's core functions to be handled efficiently, allowing better advantage to be taken of academic and research opportunities.

Remarks by the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Dr. Yager reported he met with Dr. Steven McClain, who represents the University in Europe at a Berlin-based office. Dr. McClain is establishing many contacts in Europe and requests that faculty traveling in Europe alert him to facilitate making connections with other academic institutions and with European alumni.

Dr. Yager updated the Advisory Board on plans for faculty recruitment funded by the Maryland tobacco settlement. A coordinating committee is being formed that will assemble several search committees in the area of molecular epidemiology, and behavioral sciences are thinking through the optimal faculty recruitment.

The strategic planning process will be the focus of a retreat at the end of July, where faculty will review drafts of part 1 of the strategic plan as well reports from strategic planning subcommittees.

Report of the Faculty Senate

Dr. Ensminger reported on the Faculty General Assembly meeting where the faculty was informed about the financial status of the School, Dean Sommer discussed the University-wide Business Practices Improvement Committee, and the changes to the Faculty Parental Leave Policy were reviewed.

Distance Education Update

Dr. Lawrence reported that 53 iMPH students from a total of 11 countries and 17 states have begun their program on site. Dr. Lawrence described their backgrounds, noting that 70% are physicians. Now that many courses have been made available on the internet, the educational enterprise appealing to internet and part-time students should be addressed strategically, in particular that teaching in summer institutes may interfere with faculty interest in developing courses for the internet. Dr. Zeger commented that internet teaching should take advantage of the most current technologies, and that the School should move ahead aggressively to upgrade technologies in some sample courses. Dr. Lawrence invited everyone to visit the Distance Education Division's new web site, [ http://distance.jhsph.edu], and then noted that admitting another cohort of about 60 iMPH students who would begin during the January 2001 winter institute is under consideration, pending ability of new course development to stay on schedule.

Other items

Faculty Reappointments for 2000-01 - for vote
The Advisory Board voted to approve the list of faculty reappointments for 2000-01 as submitted.

PPM on the Committee on Technology Transfer - for vote
The Advisory Board voted to approve the proposed PPM creating the Committee on Technology Transfer as a standing School-wide committee.

Revised Recommendations in response to "Report on Recruitment, Retention and Professional Development of Women Faculty" and PPM on Faculty Parental Leave Policy - for vote
Dr. Celentano and Kasper joined the group, which then discussed the recommendations from the Committee on Affirmative Action regarding recruitment, retention and professional development of women faculty. The major recommendations included development of a minimum standard of faculty mentoring across the departments with expanded faculty participation, development of exit interviews, and a new stop-the-clock provision in the existing Faculty Parental Leave Policy for faculty who experience major life events without having to take a leave of absence. Several suggestions made at the Faculty General Assembly meeting were included in the recommendations. A number of the recommendations can be acted on or will be considered as part of the strategic planning process. Dr. Zeger expressed concern that the proposed changes to the Faculty Parental Leave policy will only lengthen the time to promotion for some faculty. After discussion, revisions to the PPM on Faculty Parental Leave were approved by the Advisory Board.

Report of the 1999-2000 Academic Ethics Board
Due to the late hour, this item will be rescheduled to the July 2000 Advisory Board meeting.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Robin Fox

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