JOAN AND SANFORD I. WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE AND

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES OF

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

GENERAL FACULTY COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting held

October 8, 2001 in Weill Auditorium (C-200)

Present:                      Dr. Randi Silver, Dr. Marlin Mattson, Dr. William Muller, Dr Stephen Chasen, Dr. Joseph T. Cooke, Dr. Ronald A. DeLellis, Dr. Aihao Ding, Dr. Bernice Grafstein, Dr. Lonny Levin, Dr. Michael Lockshin, Dr. Teresa Milner, Dr. Kenneth Rifkind, Dr. Hugh Robertson, Dr. Ruth Rosenblatt, Dr. Richard Schwarz, Dr. Robert Snow, Dr. Suresh Tate and Dr. Michael Ushay. 

Guests:                       Dr. Mark Albano, Dr. Bruce Ballard, Ms. Joanne Blauer, Dr. Robert Braude, Dr. Frank Chervenak, Dr. Oliver Fein, Ms. Ellen Krasik, Dr. Peter Marzuk, Ms. Susan B. McCreight, Dr. Alvin Mushlin, Dr. Zev Rosenwaks, Dr. H. Dirk Sostman and Mr. Douglas Weine.

                                   

3:30pm:           Following the arrival of the invited guests, Dr. Silver convened the meeting. 

I.          ACTION ITEMS

1.         APPROVAL OF MINUTES.  The Council approved the minutes of its meeting held September 10, 2001.

2.         APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS. The GFC approved the recommendations of the Committee of Review.

3.         RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ON MEDICAL COLLEGE FACULTY APPOINTMENTS, PROMOTIONS AND TENURE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.  The Council approved the proposed revisions to the Weill Cornell Academic Staff Handbook as presented at the last meeting by Dr. Frederick Maxfield, co-Chairman of the Faculty Committee on Medical College Faculty Appointments, Promotion and Tenure Policies and Procedures, as posted online at http://www.med.cornell.edu/handbook.

            Among the changes highlighted as especially beneficial: the new Academic-Research Track, which will allow publicly unmodified titles for individuals primarily engaged in research but for whom tenure would not be available; and the new definition of the Research Track, which maintains modified titles but introduces qualifications designed to accommodate individuals making important contributions to the more technical aspects of research or to research administration.

            The Committee has recommended revised language in the sections on appointments and promotions on the Clinical and Voluntary Tracks to clarify issues related to track assignment and criteria for advancement.  The guidelines for appointments and promotions are less formulaic with regards to an individual’s contributions in the clinical, research, teaching and administrative areas.  The revised language has removed the requirement that a candidate must show substantial contributions to the College in three out of four of these areas, allowing the Committee of Review more discretion when weighing a candidate’s contributions to the College.  The Committee has also recommended modifications in the Clinical Track to enable primary appointments at the instructor and assistant professor level for individuals not salaried by the Medical College. 

The Committee has recommended that extensions of the probationary period for tenure be increased from up to one year to up to two years at the Dean’s discretion.  In order to standardize the process of obtaining impartial letters of evaluation for faculty tenure, the Office of Faculty Affairs will now solicit the letters, and then forward them to the individual departments.

II.        REPORT ITEMS

1.         CHAIRMAN’S REPORT.   Dr. Silver reported on the 2001-2002 GFC Course on Obesity and Lipid Disorder, entitled: “A New Look at Obesity and Related Disorders”.  Dr. Silver distributed the course description and schedule of lecturers.

            Dr. Silver also reported on the Council’s vacancy in the Basic Science Member-at-Large position held by Dr. Robert Duvoisin who has resigned from WMC.  Dr. Duvoisin has nominated Dr. Neil Harrison for the position.  Dr. Silver requested other nominations for the position by email.  All nominations will be placed on a ballot which will be distributed to Basic Science faculty to vote on the position.

2.         BOARD OF OVERSEERS MEETING.  Dr. Zev Rosenwaks, Full-Time Faculty Representative on the Board of Overseers, reported on the Board of Overseers meeting of October 1, 2001. He noted that the majority of the meeting was spent reporting on the response of the Hospital and the College to the events of September 11.

            Phase II of the Strategic Plan was presented to the Board and approved unanimously.  The $700 million fundraising effort for the clinical mission includes 62 new clinical faculty, 375 new supporting staff, a new ambulatory facility and the renovation of 250,000 square feet of clinical space.

            His Highness the Emir of Qatar attended the reception following the meeting and expressed his sympathy for the attack on September 11, pledging his country’s solidarity with the United States.  He complimented the Hospital on its efforts to help the victims, and donated $1 million to the Burn Center.  He also expressed enthusiasm about the ongoing plans for WCMC-Qatar and assured the Board that the recent events would not impede progress.  He elaborated on Qatar’s continuing interest not only in the WCMC-Qatar project, but in similar projects to develop programs in Qatar with other Universities in the United States.

             

3.  DEAN’S REPORT.  In the absence of Dr. Gotto, Dr. H. Dirk Sostman, Senior Associate Dean (Clinical Affairs), delivered the Dean’s report.  Dr. Sostman re-iterated the Board’s approval of Phase II of the Strategic Plan, which will be sent to the Board of Trustees of Cornell University for final approval on October 19.  Once the Plan is approved, the Strategic Plan Phase II will be presented to the entire Medical College community through a series of meetings and presentations.  Dr. Sostman reported that Phase I of the strategic plan involving research has been progressing smoothly, and that the College has already recruited 18 of the 30 staff necessary to implement Phase II.

 

4.   ADJOURNMENT.  The meeting was adjourned at 3:55pm.