MUSC Trustees Set Decorum

Contact: Heather Woolwine
843-792-7669
woolwinh@musc.edu

Jan. 31, 2016

CHARLESTON, SC – The Board of Trustees for the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) has adopted a decorum policy designed to preserve the atmosphere of dignity and propriety required while the MUSC Board is in session.

The policy states: “The Board of Trustees for the Medical University of South Carolina and the Medical University Hospital Authority (hereinafter referred to as the “MUSC Board”) recognizes the importance of conducting the business of the University and Hospital Authority in an open and public manner and in an environment of personal respect and courtesy. This policy is intended to preserve the civility and decorum necessary to meet these goals. The rules of decorum contained herein are intended to apply to MUSC Board of Trustees and Committee meetings (hereafter referred to as “MUSC Board Meetings”) in Colcock Hall or the premises where the Board meets.”

In summary, the rules of decorum include:

• Requiring all individuals to conduct themselves appropriately and in keeping with the decorum of the meeting;
• Refraining from disruptive behavior, profane or abusive language, personal attacks, and irrelevant or repetitive comments;
• Refraining from conduct that disrupts or impedes the meeting, or creates and/or provokes a disturbance involving physical contact;
• Requiring members of the public to remain seated in designated areas and not approach the Board table;
• Prohibitions on signage or placards inside Colcock Hall or the premises where the Board meets.

Additionally, the policy states: “Any person who engages in conduct that disrupts, disturbs or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of an MUSC Board Meeting will be asked to refrain from the conduct and shall be warned by the Chairman of the Board or the presiding officer. Individuals who refuse to refrain from disruptive behavior after being warned will be asked to leave the meeting and may be escorted out.”

The Rules of Decorum policy is effective immediately and is posted here: Board of Trustees.

About MUSC

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state's only comprehensive academic health system, with a unique mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates more than 3,200 students in six colleges – Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy – and trains more than 900 residents and fellows in its health system. MUSC brought in more than $300 million in research funds in fiscal year 2023, leading the state overall in research funding. MUSC also leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health funding. Learn more about our academic programs.

As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Patient care is provided at 16 hospitals (includes owned or governing interest), with approximately 2,700 beds and four additional hospital locations in development, more than 350 telehealth sites and nearly 750 care locations situated in all regions of South Carolina. In 2023, for the ninth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health University Medical Center in Charleston the Number 1 hospital in South Carolina. Learn more about our patient services.

MUSC has a total enterprise annual operating budget of $5.9 billion. The nearly 26,000 MUSC family members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, students, affiliates and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research, and patient care.