MEMBERS ABSENT: Drs. William Brody, John Groopman, Robert Lawrence, Laura Morlock, W. Henry Mosley, John Scocca, and Donald Steinwachs.

GUESTS: Dr. Noel Rose and Ms Diane Glover.

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

Approval of the Minutes:

Minutes of the 801st meeting on May 20, 1997 were approved.

Remarks by the Provost:

Dr. Knapp commented that there are several ongoing searches for senior positions in the University, including deans of the Schools of Engineering and of Arts and Sciences, and for the Senior Vice President for Administration. Dr. McCarty has been appointed interim dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Knapp thanked Dr. MacKenzie for participating in the orientation program for new members of the University Board of Trustees.

Remarks by the Dean:

Dr. Sommer announced that the June meeting would be the final Advisory Board meeting for Drs. Morlock and Mandell. Dr. Morlock served as president of the Faculty Senate and Dr. Mandell served for four years as chair pro-tem of the Department of Mental Hygiene. The Advisory Board joined Dr. Sommer in thanking Dr. Mandell for his leadership of the Department of Mental Hygiene.

Dr. Sommer reported on a meeting of the Dean's Alumni Council. Council members were pleased with the progress of the new DrPH program and, following a demonstration, were very excited about possibilities for the School's distance education efforts. Development of customized educational modules, highly targeted marketing and availability of distance education for SHPH alumni were suggested as directions for the School's distance education efforts.

The new MPH class will arrive in early July. It is expected that two or three new classrooms will be completed by September, 1997.

Report of the Faculty Senate:

Dr. Zirkin reported that the Faculty Senate and Committee of the Whole will hold a joint meeting on July 1, 1997. Mr. Fred DeKuyper will attend the meeting, where the topic will be ownership of electronic materials developed for educational purposes.

Other items

Department of Maternal and Child Health Self-Study

Dr. Guyer described the Department's self-study process and noted that the Department has an ongoing strategic planning process. The mission statement of the Department will be revisited as part of its 50th anniversary this year. The Department's expertise is in a variety of disciplines organized around four "areas of excellence", including perinatal health, growth and nutrition, child health, and adolescent health. Some areas are funded as centers. The Department would like to broaden its expertise to include children with special health care needs and, broadly, women's health. Both areas overlap with efforts of other departments.

Several years ago, the Department separated its DrPH and PhD programs. The PhD program is grounded in child development. Professional practice and DrPh education are integral components of the Department's activities. The Department is interested in increased involvement with the MPH program and with interdepartmental teaching activities, and in increased linkages with other departments and students.

Concerns of students expressed during the Self-Study included a desire for additional opportunities in the international health arena, increased coursework in women's health, and more general in-depth course work, particularly at the doctoral level.

The Department has experienced significant growth in research funding and in the size of the faculty and is assessing its optimal size and configuration. Major strengths in professional practice opportunities and alumni are also being identified as part of the Department's ongoing strategic planning process.

After further discussion, Dr. Knapp and the members of the Advisory Board thanked Dr. Guyer for the Self-Study. A review committee for the Department of Maternal and Child Health will be convened shortly.

Report from the Office of Research Administration, 1996-97 activities

Due to the late hour, this item will be rescheduled for a later date.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m.

© 1997 The Johns Hopkins University. Baltimore, Maryland. All rights reserved.
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