GOVERNANCE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

  1. EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY

    The powers of the University shall be exercised, its property controlled, and its affairs conducted by the Board of Trustees. The President of the University shall be the chief executive officer in charge of all University operations. He shall be responsible for carrying out policies established by the Board of Trustees but may delegate any of his functions. Responsibility for the operation of the School of Medicine has been delegated by the President to the Dean of the School of Medicine.

  2. THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE

    1. By virtue of its competence and concern with education, research, patient care, university and community service, the Faculty of Medicine, through its governing bodies, shall exercise primary responsibility for making recommendations to the Dean relative to all matters pertaining to academic policy and faculty status within the School of Medicine. Such policy matters shall include, but not be limited to, medical and graduate student admissions, evaluation and discipline, curriculum courses of study, student affairs, faculty appointments and promotions, and quality of medical care. When appropriate, the Faculty of Medicine, through its governing bodies and their committees, will enjoy the privilege of contributing to long-range planning, achievement of stated goals and objectives, preparation of budget requests and the allocation of available resources.

    2. For the purposes of this governance document, the Faculty of Medicine shall include all persons with full-time academic appointments (tenure and non-tenure tracks) at the School of Medicine whether or not receiving remuneration from the School of Medicine, and whether or not primarily located at the Health Sciences Campus.

    3. The primary organization of the faculty will be by departments established according to academic disciplines. Clinical departments may be divided into divisions. The Faculty of Medicine may make recommendations about the creation of new academic departments or consolidation of or realignment of existing departments to the Dean.

      1. The department chair shall be appointed by the Dean in accordance with the following procedures:

        1. When a vacancy in the chairmanship of a department occurs, the Dean shall appoint an ad hoc search committee. The search committee shall conduct a search, interview candidates and submit to the Dean the names of candidates, either from within the department or from the outside, who the search committee believes are qualified for the appointment. The modus operandi in conducting the search shall be the prerogative of the search committee, but the Dean may specify the charge and the job description to the committee after appropriate consultation with the faculty of the department. After consultation with the Faculty Executive Council and with the faculty of the department, the Dean shall make the appointment. The Dean after consultation with the Faculty Executive Council (FEC), the Medical Faculty Assembly (MFA) and the members of the department, may designate an individual as acting chair until such time as the vacancy is filled in accordance with the procedures stated above.

        2. Appointment as departmental chair will be for an indefinite period. The Dean may, at any time for any reason, initiate a review process. Such review by the Dean should occur at least once every five years. As part of the evaluation process, the Dean shall solicit and consider confidential communications from any departmental faculty who might desire to provide input. The decision to replace a departmental chair shall be the prerogative of the Dean, as the departmental chair serves at the pleasure of the Dean and may be terminated at any time without cause or explanation.

      2. The departmental chair, upon authority delegated by the Dean, shall be responsible for the operation of the department both with regard to its internal organization and its relationship with the school as a whole, and for maintaining standards of excellence in teaching, scholarship, patient care and university and community service. He/she shall further have the responsibility to inform, seek advice from, and represent the interests of the departmental faculty.

      3. It shall remain the prerogative of the departments under the leadership of the chair to establish their own procedures of governance consistent with the provisions of this document and university policies. These procedures shall ensure that each department has a mechanism for input from the faculty to the chair to maintain a dialog needed to make academic personnel decisions (appointments, promotions, merit evaluations) and other matters of concern to the faculty.

    4. The faculty-at-large shall meet at least annually for the purposes of the exchange of information, discussion and advice regarding any and all matters pertaining to the School of Medicine and its programs. The President of the Medical Faculty Assembly shall preside at such meetings. A quorum for items published on the agenda for any meeting of the faculty-at-large shall consist of those present. The quorum for non-agenda items at any regularly scheduled meeting and for all items at any special meeting shall consist of at least ten percent of the full-time faculty membership. A resolution by a three-fifths majority of those present and voting at any regularly scheduled meeting shall be adequate cause to require reconsideration of any recommendation made by the Medial Faculty Assembly or the Faculty Executive Council to the Dean.

      1. Special meetings of the faculty may be called at any time by the Dean, the President of the Medical Faculty Assembly, or upon petition by any twenty members of the faculty. Resolutions for reconsideration arising out of special faculty meetings shall require a three-fifths majority of those present and voting.

      2. The Secretary of the Medical Faculty Assembly shall prepare the agenda, under the direction of the Medical Faculty Assembly Executive Committee, which shall include all items submitted by the Dean and by any member of the faculty, student body, or graduate student body.

      3. All faculty members shall receive notification of the time, place, and agenda of all regular faculty meetings from the Secretary of the Medical Faculty Assembly at least five working days in advance. At least one working-day's notice shall be required for all special meetings.

      4. The Secretary of the Medical Faculty Assembly shall also serve as secretary for general faculty meetings and shall prepare minutes of all meetings and distribute them to all members of the faculty and to the Dean.

  3. THE PRIMARY GOVERNING BODIES OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOL

    1. The Faculty Executive Council (FEC)

      1. Duties

        The Faculty Executive Council shall advise the Dean of substantive matters pertaining to the governance of the School of Medicine and shall normally be consulted before decisions are reached. The Faculty Executive Council will notify the Dean of its recommendations pertaining to such matters as soon as possible after their adoption. The Dean shall acknowledge receipt of the recommendation in a timely manner.

      2. Membership

        1. Voting membership in the FEC shall consist of the following:

          1. Chairs of all individually budgeted academic departments who report directly to the Dean;

          2. The President of the Medical Faculty Assembly;

          3. The President of the ASSM.

        2. Ex officio members serving without voting privileges shall include:

          1. The Dean;

          2. The Executive Associate Dean;

          3. The Associate Deans.

      3. Officers

        1. The chair of the Faculty Executive Council shall be the Dean;

        2. The Faculty Executive Council shall elect annually from among its faculty members the following officers, one of whom shall be from a basic science department, and the other from a clinical department:

          1. A vice chair who shall preside at any meetings at which the chair is absent, and who shall chair the Rules Committee;

          2. A Secretary who shall:

            • Notify all members of forthcoming meetings and distribute and publish the agenda at least three working days in advance of all regularly scheduled meetings;

            • Prepare and distribute minutes of all meetings;

            • Preserve all documents of the Executive Council committees.

      4. Rules Committee

        The Rules Committee of the FEC shall be chaired by the vice chair of the FEC, and comprised of the immediate past vice chair, the Secretary of the Faculty Executive Council, the President of the Medical Faculty Assembly (ex officio), the Dean (ex officio), the President of the ASSM (ex officio). Duties shall include:

        Preparation of the agenda of the Faculty Executive Council. The agenda shall be drawn up by the Rules Committee and shall contain all items submitted to it by the Dean, the President of the Medical Faculty Assembly, the President of the ASSM, or any other members of the FEC.

      5. Meetings

        1. The schedule for the Faculty Executive Council meetings shall be published at the first meeting of the calendar year and any subsequent changes in those dates will require notification at least seven days in advance of the meeting.

        2. Special meetings may be called at the behest of:

          1. The Dean;

          2. Any four members of the Faculty Executive Council;

          3. The President of the Medical Faculty Assembly;

          4. Any twenty members of the faculty.

        3. Quorum

          One-half of the voting members shall constitute a quorum.

        4. Recommendations of the Faculty Executive Council shall require a simple majority vote of those present provided that;

          1. A quorum is present;

          2. The agenda and notice of the meeting was distributed to the members at least three days in advance of the meeting and only topics listed on the agenda are acted upon, except under special circumstances. This provision may be waived by a unanimous vote of those present.

          3. If a quorum cannot be obtained for a special meeting at which the Rules Committee recommends that emergency action be take, the requirement for a quorum may be waived providing that the secretary made a reasonable effort to contact a sufficient number of committee members so that an expression of opinion could be obtained from two-thirds of the membership.

        5. Meetings shall be open. However, meetings or portions thereof may be held in executive session when so voted by a majority of the membership present.

    2. The Medical Faculty Assembly

      1. Duties

        1. The Medical Faculty Assembly shall discuss and debate current issues and matters of interest to the faculty and may advise the Dean and the FEC on academic and faculty status matters.

        2. Recommendations of the Medical Faculty Assembly concerning academic and faculty status matters shall be made to the Dean, with a copy to the FEC, and shall become the recommendations of the FEC for purposes of Article III unless disapproved by the FEC or sent back for reconsideration within thirty days of receipt of the Recommendation by the secretary of the FEC.

        3. The Medical Faculty Assembly shall receive the reports of all standing committees and, where appropriate, sufficient background information on all items to be discussed at the next meeting of the FEC.

        4. The Medical Faculty Assembly shall nominate faculty members for various assignments as indicated below with the intent of providing as broad as possible a participation in the affairs of the School of Medicine.

      2. Membership

        Each academic department and each major hospital affiliate with ten or more full-time faculty shall elect one representative to the Medical Faculty Assembly. Membership shall be for two academic years. Terms of office shall be staggered so that one-half of the representatives will take office each May. The Dean will serve ex officio.

      3. Officers

        The Medical Faculty Assembly shall choose from among its members the following officers: a president, a president elect, a secretary and whatever other officers are deemed appropriate and necessary by the MFA.

        1. The president or his/her designate shall be the MFA's representative to the FEC.

        2. The officers' duties shall be defined by the MFA constitution and bylaws.

      4. The Executive Board shall consist of the current MFA officers and the immediate past president.

        Executive Board functions shall be defined by MFA constitution and bylaws.

      5. Meetings

        Meetings of the Medical Faculty Assembly shall be held prior to all regularly scheduled meetings and, where possible, all special meetings of the FEC. Special meetings as deemed necessary may be called by any MFA officer or on request of any three members of the Medical Faculty Assembly or the Dean.

      6. The Medical Faculty Assembly shall prepare and adopt its own bylaws consistent with this Governance Document, University Bylaws, and general University policies and procedures.

  4. STANDING COMMITTEES

    1. General Guidelines

      The standing committees of the faculty will normally consider, without restrictions, any and all aspects within the scope of their specific charge (committees are outlined in Appendix I) subject to the approval of, and a power of review in, the Dean and subject always to the policies and directives of the President and Board of Trustees in effect from time to time. The faculty committees shall function in an advisory capacity to the FEC, the Medical Faculty Assembly, and the Dean regarding matters of policy. The Dean or his/her designated representative shall serve ex officio without vote on all standing committees. Except where otherwise indicated:

      1. Terms of membership on the standing committees shall be three years;

      2. Appointments shall be staggered so that one-third of the faculty members are reappointed annually;

      3. Vacancies may be filled as they occur;

      4. To insure the role of the faculty in all of the above functions, every standing committee shall include non-administrative faculty representation;

      5. The Dean's office will provide appropriate staffing for all standing committees;

      6. Student members shall be nominated by the ASSM;

      7. The chairs of each committee will be appointed by the Dean, with consultation from the Membership Committee;

      8. Administrative personnel serving ex officio shall not have voting privileges;

      9. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the committee membership;

      10. Recommendations favored by less than two-thirds of the quorum present at any meeting may be accompanied by a minority report;

      11. The chair of each committee will prepare a brief annual report, summarizing the committee activities over the past year. Attendance records will be summarized and included.

    2. The Membership Committee

      1. Duties

        There shall be established a Membership Committee, reporting to the Dean, whose purpose it is to recommend nominees, generated from lists provided by the FEC, MFA, and ASSM, for membership to all standing committees, special and/or task force committees.

      2. Membership

        The Membership Committee shall consist of eleven members including the Dean, who shall serve as chair. Three members shall be selected by the FEC, three by the MFA, two by the Dean and two by the ASSM.

      3. Meetings

        The Membership Committee shall meet at least once each year during the spring semester to prepare membership rosters for the standing committees for the coming academic year. Additional meetings may be scheduled by the Dean as warranted to nominate replacements for vacancies that may occur or to nominate rosters for task force committees.

      4. The Dean shall solicit from each departmental chair nominations and recommendations for committee assignments and shall canvass the faculty-at-large and the student body for their areas of special interest and expertise.

      5. The meetings of the membership committee will be closed.

    3. The Educational Policy Committee

      Pursuant to the provisions of the Faculty Handbook, courses of instruction in the several areas are prescribed by their several faculties, on recommendation of the appropriate committees and subject to the approval of the Dean of the School and the President of the University.

      1. Duties

        1. The Educational Policy Committee shall consider and evaluate all matters relating to medical education within the School of Medicine.

        2. It shall review the medical curriculum in terms of general scope, schedule and philosophy. Faculty of the various disciplines shall be charged with determining basic curricular content in these specific disciplines, and further, to recommend to the Educational Policy Committee the arrangement and forms of presentation.

        3. It shall review current standards for accreditation and licensure, insuring that the curriculum meets or exceeds such standards.

        4. The Educational Policy Committee may formulate such educational policies or procedures as it deems necessary. Such recommendations shall be reviewed by the Medical Faculty Assembly and FEC and appropriate comments, if any, made to the Dean who shall have final approval authority.

        5. It shall further be concerned with evaluation of student progress in relationship to the academic goals of the departments.

        6. It shall establish standards and procedures for the evaluation of faculty teaching.

        7. It may approve special or experimental programs for a time certain, and shall inform the Faculty Executive Council and the Medical Faculty Assembly of any such action.

        8. The Educational Policy Committee may establish such subcommittees as it deems necessary.

      2. Membership

        The Educational Policy Committee shall consist of twelve faculty members, the chairman of the Department of Medical Education or his/her designee, and a chairperson appointed by the Dean. One student representative will be selected from the second year, and a second from the third or fourth year class by the ASSM. Representation of faculty on the committee shall be as follows:

        1. Two faculty (one basic scientist and one clinical scientist) each nominated for a two-year term by the Medical Faculty Assembly, one-half to be replaced each year.

        2. Four faculty members selected in rotation from the basic science departments (Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pathology, Physiology and Biophysics, Pharmacology and Nutrition) who shall each serve a two-year term, one-half to be replaced each year.

        3. Four faculty members selected in rotation from the primary care clinical departments (Family Medicine, Medicine, OB/Gyn, Surgery, Pediatrics, and Psychiatry) who shall each serve a two year term, one-half to be replaced each year.

        4. Two faculty members selected in rotation from the clinical departments of Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Otolaryngology, Preventive Medicine, Radiology, and Urology, who shall each serve a two-year term, on-half to be replaced each year.

      3. The Educational Policy Committee shall receive reports from subcommittees of its own choosing. The subcommittees may include:

        1. Curriculum committees with faculty members representing departments and student representatives. The Dean for Medical Education or his designee shall serve ex officio;

        2. Committee on Clerkships;

        3. Committee on Electives;

        4. Committee on M.D.-Ph.D. programs in coordination with the graduate school.

        5. Committee on Graduate Medical Education, Continuing Medical Education, etc.

        6. Academic evaluation boards for each year of medical school, with faculty representatives from each department charged with evaluating student achievement for that year.

        7. Committee on Teaching Evaluation.

      4. Administration

        The Dean for Medical Education receives recommendations from the appropriate committees and facilitates faculty teaching efforts and initiatives. The Dean for Medical Education or his/her representative serves ex officio on and is responsible for staffing all teaching committees. Other responsibilities of the office include:

        1. Providing and managing teaching resources such as audio and visual aids, student laboratory facilities, reproduction and distribution of class handouts or other materials, etc.

        2. Coordinating between the Medical Librarian and Faculty Teaching Committees to insure availability to the students of appropriate learning resources.

        3. Insuring, in conjunction with the Dean of Student Affairs that appropriate student performance and progress records are collected and maintained.

        4. Implementing procedures for confidential evaluation of individual faculty teaching efforts. Insuring that the confidential results of such evaluations are transmitted to the faculty member being evaluated and to his/her department chairperson for inclusion in the faculty member's personnel file.

        5. Coordinating curriculum.

        6. Coordinating special or experimental teaching programs established by the Educational Policy Committee, maintaining appropriate records and coordinating evaluation procedures.

        7. Providing appropriate opportunities for enhancement of faculty skills in instruction.

    4. Graduate Council

      1. Duties

        The Graduate Council will be responsible for recommending policies and reviewing procedures for the graduate program leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees and will advise the Dean for Scientific Affairs on all matters pertaining to graduate education in the School of Medicine. This would include all matters dealing with graduate student affairs, including financial aid, student counselling, student housing, and student recreation. It may establish appropriate subcommittees as it deems necessary.

      2. Membership

        The Graduate Council will consist of one representative from each of the basic medical science departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology and Nutrition, Physiology and Biophysics, and Preventive Medicine; two representatives of the clinical science departments; and a representative of the graduate student body. Faculty members will serve three-year terms, with one-third being replaced annually. The graduate student member will be appointed annually. The Dean will appoint the chair. The Dean for Scientific Affairs shall serve e officio.

    5. The Admissions Committee

      1. Duties

        1. It shall be the prerogative of the Admissions Committee to recommend to the Dean standards and qualifications for admitting students to the first year class or as transfer students with advanced standing. Such recommendations shall be reviewed by the Medical Faculty Assembly and FEC and appropriate comments, if any, made to the Dean.

        2. The Admissions Committee shall establish procedures for identification and recruitment of qualified women and minority applicants consistent with university policy on affirmative action.

        3. The Admissions Committee shall establish and conduct such review procedures as it deems appropriate for expeditious processing of applicants. The Office of the Dean for Admissions shall handle all administrative procedures.

        4. The Admissions Committee may pursue appropriate activities related to the recruitment of students and the dissemination of admissions information throughout undergraduate or secondary school campuses.

      2. Membership

        The Admissions Committee shall consist of the Dean for Admissions, a representative from the Office of Minority Student Affairs, twelve (12) faculty members drawn from both clinical and basic science departments, and an alumni representative to be chosen by the Membership Committee from a list of at least two candidates submitted to the Membership Committee by the Alumni Council, if such candidates are available. The chair shall be appointed by the Dean. In addition, there shall be three student members, one each elected from the second, third and fourth year classes.

    6. Student Affairs Committee

      1. Duties

        The Student Affairs Committee shall consider and evaluate all matters dealing with student affairs, including financial aid, student housing, student recreation, and shall serve as the principal focus for faculty and student coordination in the area of student affairs. The committee shall insure that adequate counselling services are in place for students and that procedures exist for identifying and directing students in need to the appropriate services. It may establish such appropriate subcommittees as it deems necessary, which shall include a subcommittee on financial aid.

      2. Membership

        The Student Affairs Committee shall consist of five faculty members from basic science and clinical departments, four student members, one elected from each class, an alumni representative to be chosen by the Membership Committee from a list of at least two candidates submitted to the Membership Committee by the Alumni Council, if such candidates are available, and ex officio the Dean of Students, the Dean for Minority Student Affairs, the Dean for Financial Affairs, and the Financial Aid Officer.

      3. Subcommittees on Financial Aid

        The Subcommittee on Financial Aid shall consist of a minimum of three faculty and two student members, and shall review student requests for financial aid and make recommendations to the Dean for the awarding of such aid in the form of scholarships or loans. The Committee shall also review students' estimates of expenses and, where appropriate, provide such certification as might be required by banks or other private lending institutions. The Committee may also recommend individual students for scholarship aid provided directly to the student by an outside agency.

    7. The Scientific Council

      1. Duties

        The Scientific Council shall consider and evaluate all activities relating to research conducted in or administered through the School of Medicine or its affiliated hospitals and shall advise the Dean through the Dean for Scientific Affairs on all such matters. Said Council shall receive reports form subcommittees and may establish such appropriate subcommittees as it deems necessary and shall inform the Membership Committee of such action.

      2. Membership

        The Scientific Council shall be comprised of twelve faculty members drawn from both the clinical and the basic science departments, with not more than one member from any single department, who are at the time of appointment designated Principal Investigators on a peer-reviewed, externally funded grant or contract, or currently productive and well recognized academic authorities. The Dean for Scientific Affairs and the Director of Contracts and Grants shall serve ex officio.

      3. Subcommittees

        The subcommittees of the Scientific Council shall report to the Scientific Council. Said subcommittees shall include among their membership such individuals whose expertise and interest would benefit the mission of the said subcommittee. Members of said subcommittees shall be nominated by the Scientific Council in accordance with established regulations and shall elect their own chair. Each subcommittee should include one student member and one member of MFA. The Dean for Scientific Affairs shall serve on all subcommittees ex officio. In the absence of an appropriately constituted university mandated subcommittee, the scientific council shall establish the following subcommittees:

        1. Committee on Protection of Human Subjects in Research which shall be constituted according to guideline established by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and which shall certify the propriety of proposed research involving human subjects in accordance with national standards.

        2. Animal Care Advisory Committee which will make recommendations to the Dean as to the care and use of animals in research and teaching in accordance with federal and state guidelines.

        3. Laboratory Safety Committee which shall make recommendations to the Dean as to the establishment and implementation of codes and practices governing all aspects of safety within the research laboratories of the School of Medicine in accordance with federal and state regulations.

        4. Committee on Scientific Conduct.

          Matters pertaining to scientific conduct are governed by University-wide policy and procedures which also address compliance with federal and state laws and regulations to which the University is subject.

    8. Library and Learning Resources Committee

      1. Duties

        The Library and Learning Resources Committee shall advise on requisition of materials by the library, policies involving the library acquisition of audiovisual, reproducing, photographic and other teaching resources and shall advise on policies involving the use of such resources. The committee shall be advisory to the library and the Center for Educational Resources.

      2. Membership

        The Library and Learning Resources Committee shall be comprised of seven members of the faculty, one of whom shall be appointed by the Medical Faculty Assembly, including one member from both basic and clinical sciences. Additionally four students will be appointed by the ASSM. The Directory of Libraries and Dean for Medical Education shall serve ex officio.

      3. Subcommittees

        Such subcommittees as are appropriate to the conduct of the business of the committee may be formed.

    9. Appointment and Promotions Committee

      1. Duties

        The Appointments and Promotions Committee shall act in concert with the academic personnel policies and advise the FEC and the Dean on faculty personnel actions involving rank and duration of initial appointment, number of years credited toward the tenure decision year, reappointments, promotions and tenure. Deliberations of the Appointments and Promotions Committee will be initiated by a written recommendation from the departmental chair.

      2. Membership

        The Appointments and Promotions Committee shall be comprise of one member from each department, one member selected from the Medical Faculty Assembly. The chair shall be appointed by the Dean from among the committee membership. Faculty members of the committee shall be appointed to two-year terms with one-half the members appointed each year. No fewer than two-thirds of the members must hold tenured appointments. The Executive Associate Dean will serve ex officio.

    10. Budget Advisory Committee

      1. Duties

        The Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) shall advise the Dean regarding any or all areas of the budget process and will report to the Dean annually by mid-Fall with recommendations for areas of emphasis or change in order to impact upon the next annual budget of the School of Medicine.

      2. Membership

        The membership will consist of not less than ten faculty members, selected from the clinical and basic science departments, one student selected by the ASSM, and a chairman selected by the Dean. The Dean for Financial Affairs will serve ex officio.

    11. Grievance Committee

      Matters pertaining to grievances are governed by University-wide policy and procedures.

  5. ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE WITHIN THE OFFICE OF THE DEAN

    The Dean shall appoint those Assistant and Associate Deans as he or she shall deem necessary for the efficient administration of the School of Medicine. The Assistant and Associate Deans shall serve at the pleasure of the Dean.

  6. RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENT

    The Board of Trustees or its appropriately designated representative reserve the right individually or collectively to alter, amend, or revoke this Governance Document in part or in whole at any time. The Medical Faculty Assembly and the Faculty Executive Council will evaluate the Governance Document every five years. Amendments to this document proposed by the faculty shall require a two-thirds vote of the Medical Faculty Assembly and the Faculty Executive Council and subsequent submission for general faculty referendum. A simple majority vote of the faculty shall be required for approval of proposed amendments which shall then be transmitted for administrative approval according to the procedures followed for other faculty recommendations.

Appendix I: Standing Committees

The Membership Committee
The Educational Policy Committee
Graduate Council
The Admissions Committee
Student Affairs Committee
The Scientific Council
Library and Learning Resources Committee
Appointments and Promotions Committee
Budget Advisory Committee
Grievance Committee

Dean's Page • USC School of Medicine