Governance

The Medical School's shared governance model is outlined and defined in the constitution and bylaws (See University's College Constitutions & Bylaws site).  

This constitution establishes a framework for communication and collaboration among Medical School faculty members, students, professionals-in-training, administrators, and staff members by defining the roles, responsibilities, and organization of these various parties. It gives all members of the Medical School a voice in the affairs of the School, and defines the mechanisms for shared governance.

Faculty Assembly

The Faculty Assembly is an integral part of the Medical School. It opens doors for faculty to be engaged in its diverse affairs. Through the Faculty Assembly, faculty work collectively to pursue excellence and achieve the Medical School’s mission: to enhance the health of people by educating skilled, compassionate and socially responsible physicians.

The Faculty Assembly is responsible for all academic affairs and internal policies of the Medical School, including entrance requirements, curricula, instruction, examinations, grading, degrees and disciplinary matters not within the jurisdiction of the All-University Disciplinary Committee.

Meeting at least once a year, the Faculty Assembly also receives reports and recommendations from the various councils and committees established in the Medical School’s constitution and bylaws (See University's College Constitutions & Bylaws site).

Upcoming Faculty Assembly Dates:

  • 2023 Faculty Assembly - Thursday, September 7, 12-1pm 

Faculty Advisory Council

A subset of faculty serves on the Faculty Advisory Council. It advises the dean—frequently and often on short notice—on strategic planning, short and long-term goals, Medical School programs and more.

Members of the council are Medical School faculty members from the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses who were elected by their peers to the All-University Senate. Currently, more than 40 faculty from across the Medical School and its affiliates serve on the council.

Responsibilities

Through the dean, the Faculty Advisory Council makes recommendations to the Medical School’s Department Heads Council, the Executive Faculty, and/or the Faculty Assembly. The council is responsible for joint consideration and implementation of educational, research and clinical programs. However, the council has no budgetary or fiscal authority, except when granted by the dean.   

Council members serve as liaisons between research and clinical faculty and the Medical School leadership. They provide guidance, support and advocacy for the Medical School’s research and clinical missions. In addition, the council guides and advises the dean in these areas:

  • Strategic planning

  • Developing and implementing short- and long-term goals

  • Developing methods of advocating for the Medical School in external communities

  • Providing the vision and support needed to improve the Medical School for its faculty, staff, students and alumni

  • Monitoring evolving state, national and international healthcare needs and identifying emerging directions for research, educational and clinical programs at the Medical School

  • Serving as a conduit between the dean and Faculty Advisory Council to each Medical School department

Faculty Advisory Council Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Members

For questions related to Medical School governance, please reach out to your departmental representative or the chair or vice chair of the Faculty Advisory Council for more information. Members of the Faculty Advisory Council for 2022-23 include:

Meetings
All upcoming FAC meetings for the 2022-2023 academic year can be found on the Events and Deadlines page.
Notes
Reports

2021-2022 Reports

2022 Recommendations for "What the Medical School Should Look Like Post-COVID" Abridged Version

Clinical Enterprise Subcommittee
Research Subcommittee

DEI Subcommittee

Education Subcommittee

2020-2021 Reports

2020-2021 Brief Report on Holiday Clinic Operations Policy

2020-2021 Recommendations: What the Medical School Should Look Like Post-COVID

Tenure Subcommittee
 
FAC Diversity/Inclusion Working Group