GOVERNANCE DOCUMENT

Table of Contents

1. Executive Authority

2. Responsibility Of The Dean Of The School Of Medicine

3. The Faculty Of Medicine

4. The Primary Bodies Of The School Of Medicine Advisory To The Dean
   1. The Faculty Executive Council (FEC)
   2. The Medical Faculty Assembly (MFA)
   3. Administration
      1. General
      2. Financial Affairs
      3. Academic Affairs
      4. Faculty Affairs
      5. Scientific Affairs

5. Ratification and Amendment

Appendix II: Administrative Structure under Dean Stephen J. Ryan, M.D.

GOVERNANCE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

1. EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY

   As a private corporation, the University of Southern California (USC) is governed by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees establishes policies, exercises powers as stated in the Bylaws of the University, controls property and conducts the affairs for the University. The Board is a self-perpetuating body that elects one-third of its members each year for a three-year term of office. The Board of Trustees delegates certain powers to the administration of the University and serves as the ultimate decision-making unit. The President of the University is the chief executive officer in charge of all University operations. He/she is responsible for carrying out policies established by the Board of Trustees and in so doing has the power to delegate any of this authority to the officers of the University.

   The President of the University of Southern California has delegated the responsibility for the operation of the School of Medicine to the Dean of the School of Medicine.

   The Student Senate, Graduate and Professional Student Senate, Staff Assembly and Academic Senate serve as consultative bodies for the President and the administration, preparing studies and reports and making recommendations directly to the President on matters pertinent to the functioning of the University. The Faculty Executive Council of the School of Medicine and the Medical Faculty Assembly serve as consultative bodies for the Dean of the School of Medicine, preparing studies and reports and making recommendations directly to the Dean on matters pertinent to the functioning of the School of Medicine.

2. RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

   The Dean shall be responsible for the operation of the School of Medicine. His/her responsibilities shall include

   • developing and maintaining outstanding educational programs for medical students, graduate students and postdoctoral trainees;
   • recruiting and retaining a faculty that excels in educational, research and clinical endeavors;
   • providing an environment that encourages scholarly activity;
   • managing and building the clinical organization so that it can compete in the current health care environment while insuring USC's mission to provide outstanding medical care to underserved Los Angeles County populations;
   • managing all fiscal matters pertaining to the operation of the school.

3. 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 elected or appointed representatives, 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,
      • For medical and graduate students: admissions, curriculum, evaluation, discipline and student affairs;
      • For faculty: appointments, promotions, quality of research and quality of medical care.

      When appropriate, the Faculty of Medicine, through its elected or appointed representatives will contribute 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 primarily located at the Health Sciences Campus.

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

      1. Department chairs 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 that shall include faculty members from within the department as well as outside the department in which the vacancy has occurred. The search committee shall conduct a search, and submit to the Dean the names of candidates, either from within the department or from the outside, whom the search committee believes are potentially qualified for the appointment. The means for conducting the search shall be the prerogative of the search committee, but the Dean shall specify the charge and the job description to the committee after appropriate consultation with the faculty of the department. As part of the selection process, the committee shall meet with the final candidates for the job of chair. 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 members of the department, may designate an individual as acting (or interim) chair until such time as the vacancy in the chairmanship is filled in accordance with the procedures stated above.

         2. Appointment as department chair will be for an indefinite period. The decision to replace a department chair shall be the prerogative of the Dean, as the department chair serves at the pleasure of the Dean and may be terminated at any time. The Dean may, at any time for any reason, initiate a review process. As part of the evaluation process, the Dean shall solicit and consider confidential communications from any department faculty who wish to provide input. Guidelines for the review of department chairs are currently being developed by a task force appointed by the Provost and will detail requirements for the periodic review of chairs.

      2. The department 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 department 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 twice annually for the purposes of the exchange of information, discussion and advice regarding matters pertaining to the School of Medicine and its programs. The President of the Medical Faculty Assembly (MFA) shall preside at such meetings (See section IV.B).
      1. The meetings shall be conducted as described in the Medical Faculty Assembly constitution and bylaws.

      2. 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.

4. THE PRIMARY BODIES OF THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ADVISORY TO THE DEAN

   1. THE FACULTY EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (FEC)
      1. Duties

         The Faculty Executive Council shall be advisory to the Dean in all substantive matters pertaining to the governance of the School of Medicine. 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 recommendations in a timely manner. If the Dean decides not to act upon the recommendations, he/she shall provide a written response citing the reasons for this decision to the Faculty Executive Council and to the Medical Faculty Assembly (as appropriate).

         Recommendations of the Medical Faculty Assembly (see section IV B.1.b. below) that have been submitted to the Dean and presented to the Faculty Executive Council at a scheduled meeting shall be considered by the Faculty Executive Council at the next available scheduled meeting following the meeting at which the recommendations were distributed. The Faculty Executive Council shall discuss and modify (if necessary) these recommendations and then shall vote upon them. The recommendations as voted upon by the Faculty Executive Council shall become the recommendations of the Council. These proceedings shall be entered into the minutes of the Faculty Executive Council.

      2. Membership
         1. Voting membership in the Faculty Executive Council shall consist of the following:
            1. Chairs of all individually budgeted academic departments;

            2. Directors of all individually budgeted institutes, such as the Cancer Institute and Institute for Genetic Medicine, who report directly to the Dean;

            3. The President of the Medical Faculty Assembly;

            4. The two Co-Presidents of the Associated Students of the School of Medicine (one vote collectively);

            5. The President of the Health Sciences Campus Graduate Students Association;

            If an individual holds more than one position, he/she shall have only one vote

            .

         2. Ex officio members serving without voting privileges shall include:
            1. The Dean;

            2. The associate and assistant deans;

            3. Key administrators such as the Director of Public Relations, Director of Development, and administrators responsible for clinical activities within the Clinical Organization with direct reporting responsibilities to the Dean (as specified in the appended organizational chart, Appendix II).

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

         2. In the Dean's absence, the Dean shall appoint an Associate Dean to preside.

         3. An administrative staff person shall be appointed by the Dean as Secretary of the Faculty Executive Council; he/she will be responsible for creating the agenda for all forthcoming meetings based on requests from the Dean, and from voting and non-voting members of the Faculty Executive Council; notifying all members of forthcoming meetings and distributing the agenda for all regularly scheduled meetings; preparing and distributing minutes of all meetings; and preserving all documents of the Faculty Executive Council meetings and task forces.

      4. Meetings
         1. The schedule for the Faculty Executive Council meetings shall be circulated prior to the first meeting of the calendar year and any subsequent changes in those dates should occur 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 , 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 purpose of the Medical Faculty Assembly shall be to represent the faculty of the School of Medicine. It shall concern itself with issues directly related to faculty status, responsibilities and welfare within the School of Medicine. In discharging its functions, the Medical Faculty Assembly serves as a fact-finding, deliberative and consultative body with the authority to make studies, reports and recommendations on all matters which have a significant bearing on the work or status of the faculty. The Medical Faculty Assembly shall discuss and debate current issues and matters of interest to the faculty and may advise the Dean and the Faculty Executive Council on academic and faculty status matters.

         2. Recommendations of the Medical Faculty Assembly shall be made to the Dean, with a copy presented to the Faculty Executive Council at its next scheduled meeting. Procedures followed by the Faculty Executive Council after receipt of such recommendations are described in section IV.A.1 (above).

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

         4. The Medical Faculty Assembly shall nominate faculty members for various assignments on four current standing committees with the intent of providing as broad as possible a participation in the affairs of the School of Medicine. These standing committees are the Educational Policy Committee, the Faculty Appointments and Promotions Committee, and the Finance Committee.

      2. Membership, Officers, and Meetings of the Medical Faculty Assembly

         The membership of the Medical Faculty Assembly, the election of its officers and their responsibilities, Executive Board membership, and the schedule of meetings shall be defined by the Medical Faculty Assembly constitution and bylaws.

      3. The Medical Faculty Assembly shall prepare and adopt its own bylaws consistent with University bylaws, policies and procedures.

   3. ADMINISTRATION
      1. General

         The Dean shall appoint those associate and assistant deans as he/she shall deem necessary for the efficient administration of the School of Medicine. The associate and assistant deans shall serve at the pleasure of the Dean. The Dean shall append an organizational chart to this Governance Document that illustrates the administrative structure in place, with brief descriptions of the duties and responsibilities of each appointee.

         The standing committees shall function in an advisory capacity to the Dean regarding matters of policy. The standing committees may report either directly to the Dean or through an associate or assistant dean. The Dean or his/her designated representative shall serve ex officio without vote on all standing committees.

         Guidelines for Standing Committees

         The standing committees will usually consider, without restrictions, any and all aspects within the scope of their specific charge (committees are listed in Appendix I) subject to the approval of, and the power of review by the Dean, and subject always to the policies and directives of the University President and Board of Trustees.

         1. Terms of membership on the standing committees shall be three years with the possibility of reappointment.

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

         3. Vacancies may be filled as they occur.

         4. The Dean shall survey the faculty annually to determine their interest in serving on standing committees or special task forces that the Dean may form during the course of the year; the Dean (or the Dean's designee) shall make the final decisions on committee and task force appointments. The Medical Faculty Assembly shall elect representatives to those standing committees where this representation is designated. These include the Educational Policy Committee, Faculty Appointments and Promotions Committee and the Finance Committee.

         5. Student members shall be nominated by the Associated Students of the School of Medicine or where more appropriate by the Health Sciences Campus Graduate Students Association.

         6. The chairs of each committee may be nominated to the Dean by members of the committee and will be appointed by the Dean.

         7. Administrative personnel serving ex officio shall not have voting privileges.

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

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

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

         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. Financial Affairs

         The Senior Associate Dean for Financial Affairs (or other responsible administrator) shall be responsible for developing the budget for the School of Medicine. He/she shall advise the Dean with regard to budgetary issues and shall prepare financial reports upon the request of the School of Medicine Finance Committee. He/she shall insure that University policy is followed with regard to financial policies and procedures and shall insure that the School operates within its budget.

         Finance Committee

         1. Duties

            The Finance Committee shall advise the Dean regarding any or all areas of the budget process and will report to the Dean regularly. Final recommendations for areas of budgetary emphasis or change will be presented by mid-Spring to be considered for 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 Associated Students of the School of Medicine, one student selected by the Health Sciences Campus Graduate Students Association, a representative of the Medical Faculty Assembly, and a chairman appointed by the Dean. The Senior Associate Dean for Financial Affairs (or appropriate administrative official) will serve ex officio.

      3. Academic Affairs

         The position of Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (or responsible administrator) shall be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the School of Medicine's mission to educate medical students. This administrator shall report directly to the Dean and shall advise the Dean on curricular matters, student affairs, the effectiveness of individual departments in educating medical students and the impact of tuition costs on medical students. He/she shall oversee curriculum revision and new academic programs, and will be responsible for leading the school in preparation for LCME accreditation site visits. He/she shall supervise other associate and assistant deans appointed by the Dean who are responsible for student affairs, curriculum, medical student admissions, graduate medical and post-graduate medical education.

         The Admissions Committee

         1. Duties
            1. Applications for admission to the entering class of the School of Medicine are reviewed by members of the Admissions Advisory Subcommittee (see section 3.a. below). The Admissions Committee shall evaluate and consider all interviewed applicants and shall make recommendations concerning the admission of such applicants

            2. The Admissions Committee shall consider and recommend procedures for the identification and consideration of applicants leading to a diverse entering class consistent with University policy on affirmative action.

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

         2. Membership

            The Admissions Committee shall consist of 21 faculty members, full- time and voluntary, drawn from both clinical and basic science departments; one alumni representative; three students elected by their peers from the second, third and fourth year classes; and ex officio, the Assistant Dean for Admissions and a representative from the Office of Minority Student Affairs. The chair shall be appointed by the Dean.

         3. Subcommittees
            1. The Admissions Advisory Subcommittee shall consist of the Chair of the Admissions Committee; the Deans for Admissions, Student Affairs and Curriculum (or appropriate administrators); a current member of the Admissions Committee; and a former Chair or member. The Admissions Advisory Subcommittee shall consider requests for exception to policy, review recommendations and recommend policy to the Admissions Committee and to the Dean. Members of this subcommittee shall review all applications and recommend applicants for interview.

            2. The Advanced Standing Subcommittee shall consist of the Deans for Admissions and Student Affairs (or appropriate administrators) and the Chair of the Admissions Committee. The Advanced Standing Subcommittee shall convene to consider and recommend acceptance of applicants for admission with advanced standing into the third year class.

         The Educational Policy Committee

         Pursuant to the provisions of the Faculty Handbook, courses of instruction 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 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 Dean 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 the curriculum representative from each department, a member of the Medical Faculty Assembly, and a chairperson appointed by the Dean. One medical student representative will be selected from each year by student election. Ex officio members include the Associate Deans for Curriculum and for Student Affairs (or other responsible administrators), as well as other faculty and staff deemed necessary by the committee chair.

         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 Director of the Division of 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. Committees on Graduate Medical Education and Continuing Medical Education;

            6. Student performance committees for each year of medical school, with faculty representatives charged with evaluating student achievement for that year. The composition of these committees is described in the Student Handbook;

            7. Committee on Teaching Evaluation.

         4. Administration

            The Associate Dean for Curriculum (or responsible administrator) receives recommendations from the appropriate committees and facilitates faculty teaching efforts and initiatives. The Associate Dean for Curriculum 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;

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

            3. Insuring, in conjunction with the Associate Dean of Student Affairs (or other responsible administrator), 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.

         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 assist the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (or responsible administrator) in the area of student affairs. The committee shall oversee counseling services for students, and hear student clerkship evaluation appeals as described in the Student Handbook. 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 medical student members, one elected from each class, an alumni representative , and ex officio, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, the Assistant Dean for Minority Student Affairs, and the Financial Aid Officer.

         3. Subcommittee on Financial Aid

            The Subcommittee on Financial Aid shall consist of a minimum of three faculty and two fourth year medical student members, and shall make recommendations to the Dean regarding policy for the distribution of financial aid. Ex officio non-voting members of the committee will include the Financial Aid Officer, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and the Assistant Deans for Minority Affairs and Admissions. The Subcommittee's policy recommendations shall guide the Financial Aid Officer's administration of financial aid. The Subcommittee may, at its discretion, appoint a group or task force to consider particular questions pertaining to financial aid such as student appeals and student recruitment.

      4. Faculty Affairs

         The Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs (or responsible administrator) shall report to the Dean on all matters that pertain to the faculty and their academic activities. He/She shall counsel faculty with regard to policies and procedures of the University and the School of Medicine. He/She shall coordinate School activities related to faculty recruitment; appointments, promotions, and tenure; programs for faculty mentoring; nomination of faculty for honors and awards; awarding of sabbaticals; retirements; and grievances (which are governed by University- wide policies and procedures). He/She shall supervise the maintenance of faculty records and work with Department Chairs to ensure that faculty are advised and counseled with regard to their academic careers.

         Faculty Appointment and Promotions Committee

         1. Duties

            The Appointments and Promotions Committee shall act in concert with the academic personnel policies and the Faculty Records Office to advise the Dean on faculty personnel actions involving rank and duration of initial appointment, number of years credited toward the tenure decision year, re-appointments, promotions and tenure. Deliberations of the Faculty Appointments and Promotions Committee will be initiated by a written recommendation from the department chair and accompanied by the faculty member's dossier as required by University policy.

         2. Membership

            The Faculty Appointments and Promotions Committee shall be comprised of one member from each department and one member appointed by 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 of the members appointed each year. No fewer than three- fifths of the members must hold tenured appointments. The Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs (or appropriate administrator) will serve as an ex officio member and advise members of the Committee, when necessary, on University policy regarding appointments and promotions.

      5. Scientific Affairs

         The Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs (or responsible administrator) shall report to the Dean on all matters pertaining to research activities at the School of Medicine as well as graduate programs and the MD/PhD program. He/She shall promote research activities and collaborations within the School of Medicine and between faculty from the School and faculty throughout the University. He/She shall be responsible for issues of scientific conduct, protection of human subjects and compliance with federal regulations related to research. In addition, he/she shall oversee all graduate (M.S., M.P.H., Ph.D., and M.D./Ph.D) programs in the School of Medicine.

         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 Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs (or responsible administrator) on all such matters. The Council shall receive reports from subcommittees and may establish such appropriate subcommittees as it deems necessary.

         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 serving at any given time. Eligible for nomination to the Council are those faculty who at the time of appointment are designated Principal Investigators on peer-reviewed, externally funded grants or contracts, or who are distinguished and productive authorities in academic medicine. The Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs (or responsible administrator) and the Vice-Provost for Research shall serve as ex officio members of the Scientific Council.

         3. Subcommittees

            The subcommittees of the Scientific Council shall report to the Scientific Council. These subcommittees shall include among their membership such individuals whose expertise and interest would benefit the mission of the subcommittee. Members of the subcommittees shall be nominated by the Scientific Council and shall elect their own chair. Each subcommittee shall include one student member and one member of the Medical Faculty Assembly. The Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs (or responsible administrator) shall serve as an ex officio member of all subcommittees . The Scientific Council may establish the following subcommittees:

            1. Committee on Protection of Human Subjects in Research which shall be constituted according to guidelines 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.

         Committee on Scientific Conduct

         1. Inappropriate scientific conduct will be understood to conform to actions and activities that are published by the Office of Integrity at the National Institutes of Health which include, but are not restricted to fraud, negligence, plagiarism, falsely withholding credit or authorship, violation of human rights, and misuse of animals.

         2. Membership

            The Committee on Scientific Conduct shall consist of

            1. Three active and productive clinical or basic scientists, well recognized nationally and locally who are full-time members of the faculty of the School of Medicine;

            2. A lawyer;

            3. The Secretary (Chair) of the Institutional Review Board;

            4. The Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs (or appropriate administrator)

         3. The mechanism and process by which instances of misconduct in science shall be adjudicated are as follows:
            1. Inappropriate medical practices or violations of human subjects in clinical research will be investigated by the IRB; IRB findings will be deliberated by the Committee on Scientific Conduct; and recommendations from the Committee reported to the Vice Provost for Research who will present them to the Provost for evaluation and adjudication.

            2. Matters dealing with other forms of misconduct will be brought to the attention of the Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs (or appropriate administrator) by submission of a written complaint. The Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs (or appropriate administrator) will then select three members of the standing Committee on Scientific Conduct or any three faculty members of good standing, to form a preliminary committee of inquiry. Results of the preliminary inquiry will be reported to the Vice Provost for Research, via the Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs (or appropriate administrator). Following transmission of the report to the Provost, a decision on the matter will be announced. The options for action from the Provost range from dismissal of all charges to the decision to proceed to a formal hearing as outlined in "University of Southern California Draft Policy on Research Ethics and Scientific Misconduct."

               In such inquiries, all proceedings are to remain confidential in order to protect the integrity and reputation of the accused or accuser until a decision is made by the Provost. Particular attention must be made to protect the rights of those raising the accusation of impropriety from harassment and retaliation by the accused or those with sympathy for the accused.

         Graduate Council
         1. Duties

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

         2. Membership

            The Graduate Council will consist of

            1. One representative from each of the basic medical science departments of the School including Cell and Neurobiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pathology, Physiology and Biophysics, and Preventive Medicine;

            2. Two representatives from the clinical science departments;

            3. A graduate student nominated by the Health Sciences Campus Graduate Students Association.

            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 Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs (or appropriate administrator) shall serve as an ex officio member of the Council.

5. RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENT

   The Board of Trustees reserves the right 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 majority vote of the Medical Faculty Assembly and a two- thirds majority vote of the Faculty Executive Council; subsequently these amendments shall be submitted 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 action. The Dean shall consider the proposed amendments and may accept or reject such recommendations; if the Dean rejects an amendment to the Governance Document that has been approved by faculty referendum, he/she shall notify the faculty in writing of the reasons for this action. Final approval or rejection of amendments to this document shall rest with the Board of Trustees of the University.

Appendix I: Standing Committees

Financial Affairs:

Finance Committee

Academic Affairs:

The Educational Policy Committee
Student Affairs Committee
Admissions Committee

Faculty Affairs:

Faculty Appointments and Promotions Committee

Scientific Affairs:

The Scientific Council
Committee on Scientific Conduct
Graduate Council

Appendix II: Administrative Structure under Dean Stephen J. Ryan, M.D.

Dean's Page • USC School of Medicine