Committees
Committee Spotlight
"UTHSC research faculty have a tremendous record in advancing medical research as seen by our high-quality publications and our consistent success in garnering highly competitive grants. The research committee actively engages with the Chancellor’s office to identify ways for the university to better support faculty to continue that record of accomplishment. This past year we focused on: 1. the impact of DASH and 2. the challenges of a rapidly changing federal funding landscape. For DASH we identified multiple faculty concerns that were relayed to our administration. This led to the Chancellor’s office and the faculty senate leadership facilitating our direct engagement with the UT system-wide DASH team in multiple meetings this year. In the next year we will continue to push for improvements to DASH which is a work in progress. We have also collaborated with the Office of Research to keep up to date plans for helping research faculty through difficult funding times and help UTHSC manage the fiscal impact of changes at NIH. This will continue to be a top priority next year. Our longer term goal is to motivate leadership to expand support for research and improve the research environment at UTHSC." - Dr. Kevin Freeman, Chair, Faculty Senate Research Committee
Standing and Special Committees
Standing and special committees receive charges from the Faculty Senate either (1) by way of the Executive Committee or (2) directly from the Faculty Senate at a meeting. The Executive Committee coordinates charges to the standing committees of the Faculty Senate. Any faculty member with an item, needing consideration by the Faculty Senate, may raise the issue with the appropriate departmental senator. The departmental senator conveys the information to the appropriate representative to the Executive Committee.
The matter will be placed on the agenda for the next scheduled Executive Committee meeting. The Executive Committee then formulates the charge and determines the appropriate committee(s) to which it should be routed. The President or Secretary-Treasurer communicates the charge to the committee chair with copies to the Executive Committee liaison. At the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Faculty Senate, the President reports on delivery of the charge.
Alternatively, at a regular meeting of the Faculty Senate, any senator may bring an item to the floor as new business. At this time a motion is made to relegate the matter to the appropriate committee for further consideration. Any motion for action, approved by the Faculty Senate, will be referred to the Executive Committee for formulating the charge and assigning to the appropriate committee.
Specific areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, policies and recommendations related to the following:
- Examine tenure policies and determination of the percentage of guaranteed salary.
- Examine tuition, specifically, the non-educational use of tuition dollars.
- Monitor space allocations and physical facilities with regards to faculty needs.
- Participate in Campus-wide long-range planning.
- Promote transparency in the campus budget and the budget process.
- Review and propose changes to Faculty Handbook sections related to faculty compensation.
- Review and propose policies related to faculty recruitment and retention.
- Review and propose updates to “Compensated Outside Activities Policy”.
- Review and propose updates to Faculty compensation package.
- Update and provide education of faculty about the budget process and related issues.
The goals of the Budget and Benefits committee include:
- Promote the dissemination of clearly stated Faculty compensation and benefits policies and encourage the equitable application of these policies across all colleges.
- Promote clear and equitable consideration regarding the criteria for faculty salary raises and bonuses (based on merit, market/gender equity and/or cost of living and salary compression).
- Monitor the campus debt service.
- Review faculty salaries to ensure equity for all.
- Review the budget to ensure that all tuition payments are dedicated to student education.
- Review and/or conduct any pertinent surveys affecting faculty budget and benefits.
- Work with administration to provide faculty support to initiatives that stand to benefit faculty in the areas of budget and benefits.
- Monitor and report how F and As are distributed throughout the campus.
Chair and Vice-Chair:
- (Chair and Vice-Chair) Thad Wilson, College of Medicine – Clinical
Members:
- Chris Knight, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Molly Erickson, College of Health Professions
- Dina Filiberto, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Rajashekhar Gangaraju, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Carrie Harvey, College of Nursing
- Jill Maples, College of Medicine – Clinical Knoxville
- Katie March, College of Pharmacy
- Blake Moore, College of Medicine – Clinical Knoxville
- Brett Wilson, College of Dentistry
- Michael L. Winstead, College of Medicine – Clinical Knoxville
Ex-Officio:
- Chandra Alston, Associate Vice-Chancellor
- Raaj Kurapati, Executive Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration,
Chief Operating Officer
Specific areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, policies and recommendations related to the following:
- Enhance awareness of excellence in clinical activities.
- Facilitate University/Clinical Relations.
- ID avenues for FS to enhance professional development and scholarship
- Promote clinical research.
- Review academic resource availability for clinical faculty
The goals of the Clinical Affairs committee include:
- Assess and address clinicians’ academic needs.
- Increase clinical faculty – Senate engagement.
- Monitor and ensure promotion of UTHSC Clinical Services.
- Monitor physical structures of Campus.
- Participate in the development and evaluation of policies and plans affecting clinical faculty and their missions.
- Promote consistent faculty practice expectations and rewards within the Colleges and Departments.
- Promote involvement of clinical faculty in all UTHSC missions by providing time to participate in teaching, research, and service.
- Support clinical faculty professional development, including publication, resource availability, and grant support.
Chair and Vice-Chair:
- (Chair) TBN
- (Vice-Chair) Chris Wood - College of Pharmacy
Members:
- Vrushali Abhyankar, College of Dentistry
- Sunbal Ashraf, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Maria Carrillo-Marquez, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Shauntá Chamberlin, College of Medicine – Knoxville
- Steve Doettl, College of Health Professions
- Laura Enomoto, College of Medicine – Knoxville
- Spencer Fogleman, College of Medicine– Clinical
- Karine Guerrier, College of Medicine– Clinical
- Tim Jancelewicz, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Sunil Jha, College of Medicine– Clinical
- Rick Kasser, College of Medicine– Clinical
- Keith May, College of Medicine – Clinical Knoxville
- Tracy McClinton, College of Nursing
- Laxmichaya Sawant, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Helmut Steinburg, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Nate Summers, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Jaqueline Venturin, College of Dentistry
- Calla Walters, College of Medicine – Knoxville
- Jesse Wesberry, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Denise Wisham, College of Dentistry
Ex-Officio:
- Paul Wesolowski, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships
Specific areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, policies and recommendations related to the following:
- Collaborate with Communications and Marketing to develop a strategic plan for the use of traditional, innovative, and emerging communication platforms to disseminate messaging for senate activities and announcements.
- Facilitate branding of the faculty senate throughout the university community across the state.
- Provide input to handbook committee for faculty computing and technology sections
- To represent the faculty advocating for the computing and technology needs and concerns of the faculty on the UTHSC campus regarding training, infrastructure and support
The goals of the Computing, Technology, and Faculty Communications committee include:
- Advocate for funding for faculty on major software innovations.
- Assess policies related to upgrade and replacement cycle for faculty computers, technology, and connectivity (a B and B and C and T issue) across the campuses. Present recommendations to CIO.
- Develop a suggestion box on the website (via UTHSC webservices).
- Encourage use of Faculty Senate email 365 (facsenate@uthsc.edu).
- Encourage use of Faculty Senate templates for minute notes and communications.
- Facilitate communication and collaboration for the Faculty with the IT Department technology resource units and Administration regarding technologies, training, and resources available.
- Promote the optimal balance between campus security and access.
- Re-evaluate Faculty Senate branding (logos, letterhead) and adherence to UTHSC standards.
- Serve as a bridge between UTHSCs IT related departments (IT, TLC, Library Sciences etc.) and the faculty’s mission with the intent on communicating needs and resources needed for successful delivery of quality and efficient medical education and research.
- Share Faculty Senate information and happenings across communication platforms.
Chair and Vice-Chair:
- (Chair and Vice-Chair) PJ Koltnow, College of Medicine – Clinical
Members:
- Dave Battycharya, , College of Medicine – Clinical Chattanooga
- Maunil Bhatt, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Jeffry Bieber, College of Medicine – Knoxville
- Jody Clemmons, College of Dentistry
- Ted Cory, College of Pharmacy
- Roger DeVersa, College of Medicine – Clinical Knoxville
- John Gleysteen, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Scott Hollis, College of Dentistry
Jeff Kalmowicz, College of Dentistry - Rick Kasser, College of Health Professions
- Ryan Pickens, College of Medicine – Clinical Knoxville
- Rebecca Reynolds, College of Health Professions
- Hitesh Sandhu, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Sarah Thompson, Library
- Rob Williams, College of Medicine – Basic
Ex-Officio:
- Karla Leeper, Vice Chancellor of Strategic Communications and Marketing
- Tom Laughner, Director of Teaching and Learning Center
- Vikki Massey, Assistant Vice Chancellor Information Technology Services, ITS Deputy CIO
Specific areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, policies and recommendations related to the following:
- Chair serves on Committee on Academic and Student Affairs (CASA).
- Propose development of interdisciplinary and interprofessional programs.
- Propose, review, and approval of new programs and elimination of existing programs.
- Review and collaborate with AVC to update Honor Code.
- Review and propose curricular and instructional goals.
- Review and propose Standards for admission, retention, graduation, and grading.
- Role of technical standards
- Definition of professionalism
The goals of the Education committee include:
- Advocate for development of interdisciplinary and interprofessional programs.
- Review and assess creation of new programs and elimination of existing programs.
- Review and collaborate with Associate Vice Chancellor to update Honor Code.
- Review curricular goals across colleges and identify opportunities for cross-college collaboration.
- Review standards for admission, retention, graduation and grading across colleges.
Chair and Vice-Chair:
- (Chair) Cheran Elangovan, College of Medicine - Clinical
- (Vice-Chair) Rebecca Reynolds, College of Health Professions
Members:
- Fatima Ahmed, College of Medicine – Knoxville
- Kristen Bettin, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Ashton Brooks, College of Medicine — Clinical Knoxville
- Ted Cory, College of Pharmacy
- Anas Eid - College of Medicine - Clinical
- Xiaowei Fu, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Rick Kasser, College of Health Professions
- Ramesh K Krishnan, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Leonard Lamsen, College of Medicine — Clinical Knoxville
- Yi Lu, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Tyler Melton, College of Pharmacy
- Kimberly Morris, College of Medicine — Clinical Knoxville
- Heather Moss, College of Medicine — Clinical Knoxville
- Laurentia Nodit, College of Medicine – Clinical Knoxville
- Stephen Pishko, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Imran Quraishi, College of Medicine – Knoxville
- Arif Showkat, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Nina Sublette, College of Nursing
- Christina Wallace Wills, College of Nursing
Ex-Officio:
- Allen Dupont, Institutional Effectiveness
- Valarie Fleming, Sr. Associate Vice Chancellor, Academic and Faculty Affairs
- Tom Laughner, Director, Teaching and Learning Center
- Tara Lemoine, CHIPS
Specific areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, policies and recommendations related to the following:
- Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee serves on Faculty Affairs Working Group.
- Evaluate administrators.
- Propose and provide workshops on promotion and tenure.
- Review and propose changes in policies for appointment, promotion, and tenure.
- Review and propose changes in policies for off-campus assignments and leaves of absence.
- Review and propose changes in “Policy for discharge for cause”.
- Review and propose changes in “Policy on Consulting”.
- Review and propose changes in procedures for faculty performance assessment.
The goals of the Faculty Affairs committee include:
- Advocate for faculty support and incentives to encourage faculty retention. (working with Non-tenure track and Clinical Affairs committees).
- Compile and examine information on the faculty evaluation processes employed across campus with an emphasis on consistency and transparency of faculty appointments, evaluations, and advancement practices across the campuses.
- Continue developing a fair, sensitive and equitable plan to share outcomes of the
upward evaluation and plans for responses.
- Advocate to chancellor to develop a plan to share the upward evaluation results (dissemination).
- Encourage the dissemination of information obtained from faculty regarding upward evaluation.
- Faculty do not perceive that we are doing anything with the information they give.
- Working to implement procedures.
- Continue examining how the Faculty Senate administers upward evaluation of campus administrators, especially in view of faculty privacy concerns.
- Continue upward evaluation of administrators on a regular basis.
- In collaboration with the Education and Non-tenure track Committees, monitor guidelines and/or procedures for teaching metrics and faculty workload evaluation (i.e. influence on percent effort during APPR); provide a committee member for a UTHSC committee reviewing these policies, if requested.
- Participate in Faculty Affairs Working Group policy development activities and report them to the FSEC.
- Promote consistent and transparent faculty appointments, evaluation, and advancement practices across all the campuses.
- Promote Team Science at UTHSC for all Faculty across all colleges (working with Research Committee and Clinical Affairs Committee).
- Promote transparent and equitable workload expectations and requirements for all Faculty across all the campuses.
- Provide feedback and input into the New Faculty Orientation as appropriate.
Chair and Vice-Chair:
- (Chair) Shelley White-Means, College of Graduate Health Sciences
- (Vice-Chair) Sharon Little, College of Nursing
Members:
- Hasan Almoazen, College of Pharmacy
- Kiesha Burnett, College of Health Professions
- Maria Carrillo-Marquez, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Steve Doettl, College of Health Professions
- Rajashekhar Gangaraju, College of Medicine – Clinical
- James Lewis, College of Medicine – Clinical Knoxville
- Jillian Heather McCarthy, College of Health Professions
- Tracy McClinton, College of Nursing
- Twisha Oza, College of Medicine – Clinical
- David Petersen, College of Medicine – Clinical Knoxville
Ex-Officio:
- Rick Fought, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences Library
- Valarie Fleming, Sr. Associate Vice Chancellor, Academic and Faculty Affairs
- Cindy Russell, Vice-Chancellor, Faculty and Student Affairs
Specific areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
- Contribute to the Preparation of UTHSC Faculty Handbook or sections thereof negotiated between the Faculty Handbook Committee and Administration for presentation to the UTHSC Faculty Senate Executive Committee and the UTHSC Faculty Senate.
- Verify the accuracy of texts within all documents as they proceed through the process of negotiation, approval and subsequent integration into the UTHSC Faculty Handbook.
- Work collaboratively with the UTHSC Faculty, The Faculty Senate, the Faculty Senate Executive and other Senate committees, the Faculty Affairs Working Group, the Office of Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs leadership as well as the UTHSC and System Administrations to propose, develop, review, and negotiate changes to the UTHSC Faculty Handbook.
The goals of the Handbook committee include:
- Collaboratively propose, develop and negotiate policies, processes, procedures, and language for the UTHSC Faculty Handbook that are in the best interest of the UTHSC faculty and for achievement of the missions of the UTHSC campus within the limits of policies approved by the UT Board of Trustees.
Chair and Vice Chair:
- (Chair) Jillian McCarthy, College Of Health Professions – Clinical
Members:
- Rachel Barenie, College of Pharmacy
- Vickie Baselski, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Ted Cory, College of Pharmacy
- Karen Derefinko, College of Medicine – Clinical
- PJ Koltnow, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Donna Lynch-Smith, College of Nursing
- Frank Park, College of Pharmacy
- Tayebeh Pourmotabbed, College of Medicine – Basic
- Rong Zeng, College of Medicine - Knoxville
- Thad Wilson, College of Medicine – Clinical
Ex-Officio:
- Valarie Fleming, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs
- Cindy Russell, Vice Chancellor, Faculty Affairs, Office of Academic, Faculty, and Student Affairs
Specific areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
- Collaborate with David Mills, Director of Government Relations, Carey Whitworth, UT Vice President, Government Relations and Advocacy, Kurt Schlieter, Associate Vice President of Federal Relations, to promote UTHSC events, resources, expertise, etc.
- Collaborate with UT Government Relations and Advocacy Department for efficient exchange
of information (David Mills, Director of Government Relations, Carey Whitworth, UT
Vice President, Government Relations and Advocacy, Kurt Schlieter, Associate Vice
President of Federal Relations).
The goals of the Legislative Resource Committee include:
- Continue efforts to effectively communicate with UT Government Relations and Advocacy department using every available channel.
- Gather information from UTHSC sources to present to UT Government Relations and Advocacy department.
- Host a legislative reception for (Federal?) State and local politicians and stakeholders to present the state-wide involvement of UTHSC in promoting the health of all Tennesseans.
- Promote UTHSC’s presence across the State as the healthcare institution serving all citizens of TN.
- Support UTHSC representatives who participate in the Day on the Hill.
Chair and Vice-Chair:
-
- (Chair) Kimberly Kelly, College of Medicine – Clinical
- (Vice-Chair) Lisa Beasley, College of Nursing
Members:
- Rachel Barenie, College of Pharmacy
- Zheng Fan, College of Medicine – Basic
- Jillian McCarthy, College of Health Professions
- Kimberly Morris, College of Medicine – Knoxville
- Heather Moss, College of Medicine – Knoxville
- Ed Reese, College of Dentistry
- Rebecca Reynolds, College of Health Professions
- Jeff Staack, College of Medicine – Knoxville
- Jason Yaun, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Nikki Zite, College of Medicine – Knoxville
Ex-Officio:
- David Mills, Director of Government Relations for UTHSC
Specific areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, policies and recommendations related to the following:
- Advocate for faculty appointments for NTT faculty to allow for the recruitment and retention of deserving faculty with the goal of recruiting and retaining the best faculty. This will increase our competitiveness with peer institutions.
- Represent non-tenure faculty at UTHSC.
- Review non-tenure track (NTT) expectations from peer and aspirational institutions.
- Work with individual colleges to organize information about NTT faculty to build a university resource for NTT faculty. This involves awareness about where those policies are located (faculty handbook or elsewhere) and contact personnel who can help answer questions.
The goals of the Non-Tenure Track committee include:
- Advocate for faculty appointments to allow recruitment and retention of the best faculty. Let the multi-year appointment go its course. This will increase our competitiveness with peer institutions.
- Committee surveys what kind of activities will serve as evidence that may be considered to support P&T in different colleges, it will be college specific. If well received, can be added to the appendix of College bylaws like what CoM did.
- Compare non-tenure track (NTT) expectations from peer and aspirational institutions. Review benchmarks, tasks and goals from other institutions.
- Compile and continually update a university resource for P and T information.
- In collaboration with the Faculty Affairs, Education, Research, and Clinical Affairs Committees, monitor guidelines and/or procedures for metrics and faculty workload evaluation (i.e., percent effort during APPR); provide a committee member for a UTHSC committee reviewing these policies.
- Select COACHE data related to FSNTT and discuss what we can do to improve faculty performance and support faculty success.
- Survey the Faculty turnover rate trends in recent 10 years.
- To determine and promote the best practices for the mentoring and advancement of faculty.
Chair and Vice-Chair:
- (Chair) David Petersen, College of Medicine – Clinical Knoxville
- (Vice-Chair) Rachel E. Barenie, College of Pharmacy
Members:
- Ayman Abdul H Aldayeah, College of Dentistry
- Charlie Busby, College of Medicine - Clinical
- Kim Carter, College of Health Professions
- Steve Doettl, College of Health Professions
- Ron Espinal, College of Medicine - Clinical
- Tosha Harris, College of Nursing
- April Hilsdon, College of Health Professions
- Tauheed Ishrat, College of Medicine – Basic
- PJ Koltnow, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Ranjit Philip, College of Medicine - Clinical
- Laura Reed, College of Nursing
- Alexandra Schaller, College of Medicine – Clinical
- W. Timothy Williams, College of Medicine UT Knoxville
- Lee Wilson, College of Dentistry
- Fu-Ming Zhou, College of Medicine – Basic
- Yanhui Zhang, College of Dentistry
Ex-Officio:
- Valarie Fleming, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs
- Cindy Russell, Vice Chancellor, Faculty Affairs, Office of Academic, Faculty, and Student Affairs
Specific areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, policies and recommendations related to the following:
- Chair attends Post-Doc Committee and Graduate Studies Council
- Develop and promote all health science research
- Develop and review policies on:
- Human and animal research
- Intellectual property, including copyrights and patents
- Research grants and funding
- Scientific misconduct and fraud
- Develop interdisciplinary and interprofessional research
- Enhance the research environment
- Identification and removal of impediments to research through collaboration with UTHSC administration.
The goals of the Research committee include:
- Act as liaison between faculty and the Office of Research.
- Advocate for research support for long standing productive faculty.
- Identify approaches to streamline grant proposal approval process in Cayuse.
- Identify approaches to streamline the IRB application approval process.
- Participate in developing and reviewing policies with the Office of Research regarding the UTHSC intermural grant review process.
- Review invention disclosure and MTA approval policies and procedures.
- Select COACHE data related to research and discuss what we can do to improve faculty performance and support faculty success.
- Support faculty on grant proposal writing, budget development, and submission.
Chair and Vice-Chair:
- (Chair) Kevin William Freeman, College of Medicine – Basic
- (Vice-Chair) Yanhui Zhang, College of Dentistry
Members:
- Ayman Abdul H Aldayeah, College of Dentistry
- Christopher Brett, College of Medicine – Clinical Knoxville
- Anna Bukiya, College of Medicine - Basic
- Shaunta' Martina Chamberlin, Knox Medicine
- Karen Derefinko, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Ioannis Dragatsis, College of Medicine – Basic
- Zheng Fan, College of Medicine – Basic
- Nikhil Gopal, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Dennis Leo, College of Pharmacy
- Liza Makowski, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Jill Maples, College of Medicine – Clinical Knoxville
- Junaith S Mohamed, College of Health Professions
- Lucien Nedzi, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Tayebeh (Fruz) Pourmotabbed, College of Medicine – Basic
- Rebecca Reynolds, College of Health Professions
- Chalet Tan, College of Pharmacy
- Maria Tirado Gonzalez, College of Medicine – Clinical
- Rob Williams, College of Medicine – Basic
- Ji Min Yochim, College of Dentistry
- Qi Zhao, College of Medicine – Clinical
Ex-Officio:
- Wesley G Byerly, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Research
- Monica Jablonski, Associate Dean, Postdoctoral Affairs, COGHS
- Leslie Phelps-Detter, Office of Research
- Jessica Snowden, Vice Chancellor of Research
- Don Thomason, Dean, College of Graduate Health Sciences
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Jamie D Whartenby: Office of Research