COM Governing Statute 3B College Governance and Roles of the Faculty

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Purpose

This policy defines the organizational structure, roles, and responsibilities of faculty. The policy is intended to promote transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in decision-making as part of the College of Osteopathic Medicine's (COM) shared governance. By fostering a collegial and collaborative environment, this framework supports the COM's mission to prepare exceptional osteopathic physicians while maintaining accreditation standards and advancing healthcare education.

Policy Statement

The CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) is committed to the active participation of the faculty in shared governance and supports collaboration between faculty and administration and faculty excellence in teaching, research, service, and patient care.

Role of Faculty in Shared Governance 

Shared governance is a system of academic decision-making under which faculty and staff have the authority to actively participate in significant decisions concerning COM operations. Shared governance is intended to foster the following principles: 

  1. Where possible, academic decision-making should be independent of short-term managerial and political considerations. 
  2. Faculty and professional staff are in the best position to shape and implement curriculum and research policy, to select academic colleagues and judge their work; and meaningful participation in decision-making increases the level of faculty and staff investment in the institution's success. 
  3. The perspectives of faculty and staff are valuable for sound decisions about allocation of limited resources, setting plans and goals, and the appropriate guidance and regulation of students' educational experience.

Rights and Responsibilities of Faculty

  1. Faculty & Voting Faculty Defined

    Faculty: The Faculty of the COM includes all full-time faculty, part-time and adjunct faculty, and clinical preceptor faculty holding the rank of Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, or Instructor.

    Voting Faculty: The Voting Faculty of the COM includes all full-time faculty holding appointments at the rank of Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, or Instructor. The Voting Faculty also includes part-time and adjunct faculty, clinical preceptor faculty who hold an administrative or curricular leadership position, e.g., course director or co-director, clerkship director, etc. Other part-time faculty, adjunct faculty, and clinical preceptor faculty members are not considered part of the Voting Faculty. Additionally, faculty members who hold an administrative appointment at the level of Assistant Dean or higher are not part of the Voting Faculty. Each Voting Faculty member is entitled to one (1) vote.

  2. Faculty Role in Governance

    The faculty advise the Dean and the College of Osteopathic Medicine College Administrative Committee (COM-CAC) on matters directly related to the educational program, including, without limitation: admission requirements, curriculum, graduation requirements, other educational matters within the purview of faculty committees, and matters requested by the Dean. The COM-CAC is responsible for reviewing all faculty committee recommendations regarding curriculum and graduation requirements. The faculty may make recommendations to the COMCAC by submitting proposals through the appropriate faculty committee. The appropriate faculty committee shall then determine whether to present the proposal to the COM-CAC, as described above.

    The Voting Faculty review, and vote to approve the granting of the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, to students who have fulfilled the requirements for that degree set by CHSU and the COM.

  3. Faculty Committees

    Faculty Committees include the COM Admissions Committee, COM Assessment and Outcomes Committee, COM Curriculum Committee, COM Students at Academic Risk Committee, Faculty Council, COM Accommodation Task Force, COM Award Task Force, COM Continuing Medical Education Committee, COM Faculty Advisor Handbook Task Force, COM Faculty Development Committee, COM Faculty Rank and Promotion Committee. These committees are described in detail in COM Governance Statute 3c. Faculty can submit suggestions through their representatives that serve on committees.

  • Faculty Assembly

    The Faculty Assembly is composed of all faculty, including voting and non-voting members. 

    The Faculty Assembly meets in open session at least once in the fall and once in the spring. Deans and Department Chairs are welcome to attend and may request the opportunity to address the Faculty Assembly. As this is a "town-hall" type forum, a summary will be prepared and made available to those not in attendance.

  • Faculty Council

    The Faculty Council is an elected body composed of: two (2) faculty members elected from the Biomedical Education Department; two (2) faculty members elected from the combined Clinical Departments; and one (1) faculty Council Chair elected by the entire Voting Faculty. Only members of the Voting Faculty who are not serving as department chairs are eligible to serve on the Faculty Council. Adjunct Faculty are eligible for election to serve on the Faculty Council. The Faculty Council is intended to function as a forum for faculty participation for the free exchange of ideas and concerns, including: i. advising the COM-CAC on faculty priorities and goals; ii. reviewing and providing feedback on revisions to governing documents and policies; iii. acting as a liaison between faculty and COM leadership; (iv) sharing faculty concerns and recommendations; iv. facilitating communication about and compliance with university policies; and v. forming working groups for specific issues identified at the Dean's direction.

    Faculty Council members serve two-year terms, which coincide with the academic year (July 1 – June 30). The Faculty Council Chair is elected annually. Elections are to be conducted anonymously and are overseen by the COM Manager of Business Affairs and Administration (or designee). Elections are to be completed by May 30. In the event of a vacancy on the Faculty Council, the vacant position may be filled through a special election. Faculty Council Members may be removed from office by a two-thirds majority vote of the Voting Faculty. Special elections and removal processes for Faculty Council members are governed by faculty voting procedures.