• The uncertainties and controversy surrounding the status of the 1988 Governance Document of the School of Medicine (see Chronology), led the MFA to recognize a need for clarification of the procedures to be followed in obtaining formal approval of governance documents of the Schools within the University.

• At its April 8, 1997 meeting the MFA voted to propose an amendment (Governance, Principle 8) to the Report of the Task Force on the Future of the Health Sciences. This task force report was to be presented in May for approvoal by the Academic Senate.

• At the May meeting of the Academic Senate, the MFA recommendation was accepted with minor changes and the report of the task force was approved.. (See the report on this Senate meeting in the minutes of the June 3, 1997 MFA meeting.) As a result of these actions, the final report of the Task Force on the Future of the Health Sciences includes the following language:

• "Principle 8: Governance is best accomplished with a clear statement of rules and procedures. Each school shall develop and propose a document clearly stating the rules and procedures that govern the school. In addition, the Academic Senate shall develop and propose a document that clearly states the rules and procedures by which the University approves and enforces governance documents of schools, and by which the University allows the schools to amend their governance documents."

• No action has yet been taken to implement this recommendation.

Prepared and posted by Robert Stellwagen on August 27, 1997.

Return to MFA Home Page.