THE JOHNS HOPKINS
BLOOMBERG SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICE OF THE DEAN
Date Effective: March 27, 1990
Date Revised: September 14, 1993
Date Revised: January 30, 1996
Date Revised: April 23, 1996
Date Revised: June 27, 2000
Date Revised: December 5, 2000
Date Revised: January 30, 2001
Date Revised: April 25, 2002
Date Revised: June 27, 2002
Date Revised: October 23, 2003
Date Revised: April 29, 2004
POLICY AND PROCEDURE MEMORANDUM ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNANCE
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SUBJECT: Structure and Function of Standing Committees of the Faculty
1.0. Background
2.0. Committee on Appointments and Promotions
3.0. Committee on Academic Standards
4.0. Graduate Medical Education Committee
5.0. Committee on Information Technology
6.0. Committee on Human Research
7.0. Committee on Affirmative Action
8.0. Committee on Honors and Awards
9.0. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
10.0. Committee on Conflict of Interest
11.0. Committee on Technology Transfer
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1.0. Background
In the summer and autumn
of 1978 an ad hoc
Committee on Committees studied in detail the necessity, effectiveness,
structure, and function of each of the standing committees of
the School of Public Health.
The Advisory Board and Policy Committee were not reviewed.
As a result of this intensive
study, a recommendation was made by the ad hoc Committee on Committees to establish nine standing committees
of the faculty. The patterns
of responsibility and membership of each were delineated.
The Policy Committee and
the Advisory Board considered these recommendations and both bodies
adopted them in principle. This
Policy and Procedure Memorandum serves to prescribe the implementation
of these recommendations effective 13 June 1978.
In the autumn and winter
of academic year 1983-84, this PPM was circulated to all chairs
of standing committees for review and updating.
The chair and membership of each committee revised their
respective PPM where appropriate.
The individual standing
committees serve to carry out various administrative and academic
functions. The different
committees may have policy setting, advisory, or operational responsibilities. Two committees serve to implement administrative
responsibilities prescribed by federal statutes.
The Dean appoints members
and chairmen of all committees, but these appointments are made
in consultation with appropriate individuals and components of
the School. The membership of the committees shall consist
of an appropriate and effective balance of faculty, students,
administrative representatives, and community members in accord
with the function of each committee.
Appointments are made on an annual basis and membership
of the committees shall be rotated so that only with rare exceptions
will members serve more than three years.
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2.0. Committee on Appointments and Promotions
Committee
Charge
The Committee on Appointments
and Promotions is responsible for reviewing all recommended appointments
at the level of professor, associate professor and assistant professor
and for recommending to the Advisory Board regarding their disposition. The Committee is charged with the responsibility
of assuring that in regard to each appointment the highest standards
of selection are maintained in regard to research, teaching and
service; that the appointments are consonant with the immediate
and longer-term needs of the School; and that all necessary requirements
in regard to affirmative action and equal employment opportunity
have been fulfilled.
Committee
Accountability
The Committee is directly
responsible to the Advisory Board.
Committee
Channels of Communication
The Chairman of the Committee
will report its recommendations to the Advisory Board with copies
of the letters of recommendation from department chairmen and
curriculum vitae for appointments at the professor and associate
professor level. Appropriate documentation will be provided
as necessary or requested for appointments at the assistant professor
level.
Committee
Membership
Members of the Committee
shall be appointed by the Dean with the advice of the members
of the Advisory Board All members shall be at the rank of professor
and will include the Dean. Ad
hoc committees of the Appointments and Promotions Committee
shall be constituted according to the procedures set forth in
Policy and Procedure Memorandum Faculty
1.
Committee
Chairmanship
A member of the Committee
other than the Dean will serve as chairman.
Committee
Staff
Assistance to the Committee
shall be provided by the Dean's Office.
Committee
Meetings
The Committee shall meet
as frequently as necessary to carry out its responsibilities. Insofar as possible, meetings are to be scheduled
so as to precede meetings of the Advisory Board.
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3.0. Committee on Academic Standards
Committee Charge
The Committee on Academic
Standards governs the content, scheduling, evaluation, and credentialing
of academic programs in the School and implements School and University
policies related to these matters.
The Committee oversees and promotes the quality and integrity
of all academic programs.
The major functions of
the Committee are as follows:
a. Periodically review the scope, objectives,
content and quality of each academic and degree program within
or associated with the School of Public Health.
(The extent or focus of the review is determined in conjunction
with members' annual reports.)
b. Develop consistent standards and performance
requirements among programs and departments.
c. Coordinate and plan for changes in the
internal academic and administrative environment of the School.
d. Develop procedures for implementing policies
regarding credentialing and certifying students for award of degree.
e. Set and monitor minimum admissions and
academic standards for each academic and degree program in the
School.
f. Participate in the development of academic
standards for new programs as they are being considered.
g. Establish standing subcommittees to:
1. Integrate rational sequences of courses
for the total set of academic and degree programs into a time/space
schedule. (Catalog Subcommittee)
2. Consider and rule on students' petitions
for exceptions from academic regulations. (Student Matters Subcommittee)
3. Oversee progress in implementing academic
and policy recommendations of the full Committee and the Advisory
Board, when so directed. (Implementation
Subcommittee)
h. Establish
ad hoc or additional standing subcommittees that are deemed necessary
to efficiently carry out the full committee's agenda.
i. Develop Policy and Procedure Memoranda
regarding all of the above for consideration by the Faculty Senate
and Advisory Board.
Committee
Accountability
The Committee on Academic
Standards reports directly to the Advisory Board of the School.
Committee
Channels of Communication
Members of the Committee
have the responsibility to inform the Committee at least annually
of the status of their departments' academic programs.
Full and complete minutes
of the Committee on Academic Standards are forwarded to the Advisory
Board, the Faculty Senate, and the MPH Committees. The Committee also works cooperatively with the University Graduate
Board concerning the credentialing of Ph.D. candidates.
Committee
Membership
The Committee shall be
appointed by the Dean and shall consist of a maximum of twenty
members with at least one faculty member from each department.
At least one member must also be a departmental chairperson;
two additional members must be appointed by the Student Assembly. A director from one of the Student Academic Support Services offices
must also serve as a member.
One member of the Committee should also be a member of
the MPH Program Academic Committee, and another member should
serve as the School's representative to the University Graduate
Board. The Associate Dean responsible for academic affairs shall serve
as a voting member. Committee
members shall serve for three years, with one third of the membership
rotating off each year. If
desired, members may continue serving on the Committee for at
most one additional three-year term.
Subcommittee
Membership
The chair and at least
one other Subcommittee member must also be members of the full
Committee.
Committee
Chair
The Chair shall be appointed
by the Dean. Wherever
possible the Chair should be a tenured Professor with at least
one year experience on the Committee.
Committee
Staff
The Director of Admissions
and Registrar shall serve as staff to the Committee with assistance
from appropriate support staff as needed.
Committee
Meetings
The Committee and appointed
Subcommittees shall meet as frequently as necessary to carry out
their responsibilities. As
a minimum the full committee should convene for a 2 hour meeting
each month.
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4.0. Graduate Medical Education
Committee
Committee Charge
The Graduate Medical Education
Committee (GMEC) is responsible for meeting all sponsoring institution
responsibilities for preventive medicine residency education in the School of
Public Health, including adopting and monitoring policies set forth by the
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The Committee provides oversight for both
the General Preventive Medicine (GPM) and Occupational Medicine (OM)
residencies.
Committee Accountability
The GMEC is directly responsible to
the Dean and Advisory Board of the School of Public Health.
Committee Channels of Communications
Minutes of the GMEC shall be
forwarded to the Dean and Advisory Board of the School of Public Health. The Committee forwards to the Registrar's
Office recommendations concerning successful completion of residency requirements
on the part of individual residents.
Committee Membership
GMEC members shall be appointed by
the Dean and will include the directors of the General Preventive Medicine and
Occupational Medicine Residency Programs.
In addition, the Dean shall appoint at a minimum representatives of the
departments in the School of Public Health participating in the residency
programs, the Chief Residents of both residency programs, and appropriate
representation from among the residents of both programs.
Committee Chairperson
The Chairperson shall be a
physician appointed by the Dean.
Committee Representative from
the Dean's Office
The Associate Dean for Professional
Practice and Programs shall serve ex officio with vote.
Committee Staff
The Dean shall appoint the
Committee staff.
Committee Meetings
The Committee shall meet at least
quarterly.
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5.0. Committee on Information Technology
Committee
Charge
The Committee on Information
Technology is charged with providing strategic oversight and direction
for information technologies across the School, reviewing the
School’s major information technology systems and initiatives,
and assuring that these initiatives are consistent with and support
the School's academic mission.
Committee
Accountability
The Committee is directly
responsible to the Dean.
Committee
Channels of Communication
The Committee will report
its recommendations to the Advisory Board or its designees.
Committee
Membership
Membership of the Committee
shall be appointed by the Dean.
Periodically, the Committee will solicit input from the
student body.
Committee
Chair
The Dean shall appoint
the Committee chair.
Committee
Representation from the Dean's Office
At least one representative
from the Dean's office responsible for academic issues shall serve
on the Committee.
Committee
Staff
The Director of the Office
of Information Systems shall serve as staff to the Committee.
Committee
Meetings
The Committee shall meet
as often as necessary to carry out its responsibilities
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6.0. Committee on Human Research
Committee
Charge
The Committee on Human
Research, formerly the Committee on Human Volunteers, is an administrative
committee having as its primary purpose the responsibility of
obtaining assurance that the rights and welfare of human subjects
participating in research activities are protected.
The major functions of
the Committee are as follow:
- Identify, discuss, and resolve ethical
issues which relate to safeguarding the rights and welfare of
human subjects participating in research activities.
- Review all research and other related
activities carried on by faculty, students and employees of the
School which involve human subjects regardless of the source of
support or geographical location of the project.
This includes: personal or written communication with human
subjects; the review of medical records; and the collection of
specimens and/or tissues. The
Committee has the responsibility for reviewing research projects
in which the Hopkins faculty or students are principal or co-investigators,
or when the Hopkins faculty member is designated as consultant
or advisor but has a major influence on the direction of the research.
- Develop policies and procedures to carry
out the above responsibility.
- Inform faculty, students, and staff
of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health concerning
the policies and procedures relating to their responsibility for
safeguarding the rights of individuals serving as research subjects.
Committee
Accountability
The Committee is authorized
by the Dean to perform functions in accordance with the policy
and procedures set forth by this Institution including those mandated
by the Federal Government and vested in the Department of Health
and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration and the Office
for the Protection from Research Risk (OPRR).
Committee
Channels of Communication
The Committee's actions
regarding individual proposals are reported directly to the principal
investigator and the department chairman.
The Report of the Committee's action is submitted directly
to the Dean and the Advisory Board.
The Committee has no relationship to other standing committees
in the School. Informational copies of the Committee's actions
are forwarded to the Office of Research Administration.
The Committee relies on
the Dean's Office to implement procedures for withholding funds
for any research activity which has not been approved by the Committee
on Human Research.
The Committee communicates
with the Joint Committee on Clinical Investigation and Francis
Scott Key Hospital regarding all research activities undertaken
by faculty and/or students of the School of Public Health which
involve Johns Hopkins Hospital patients, patient records, staff
or medical students as research subjects.
At the discretion of the
Associate Provost, the Chairman and the principal staff member
of the Committee meet at appropriate intervals with counterparts
of similar committees from the School of Medicine and the Division
of Arts and Sciences to consider uniform University policy and
procedures where applicable in carrying out the mandate of the
Federal Government.
Committee
Membership
The Committee members shall
be appointed by the Dean for such terms as are consistent with
prevailing policies. Membership
shall include faculty representing different disciplines; students
who are candidates for degrees requiring research projects and
who have been in residence at the School for at least one full
year prior to appointment; and at least two community representatives.
Committee
Chairman
The Committee chairman
shall be appointed by the Dean.
Committee
Representation from Dean's Office
The Associate Dean for
Research shall serve ex officio
without vote.
Committee
Staff
The Director of the Office
for Research Subjects shall serve as staff to the Committee.
Committee
Meetings
The Committee shall meet
monthly or more often as required to carry out its responsibilities.
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7.0. Committee on Affirmative Action
Committee
Charge
The Committee on Affirmative
Action is responsible for recommending policies and procedures
regarding affirmative action and equal opportunity relating to
faculty, staff, and students and which include recruitment, promotion,
tenure, salary equity and termination of faculty and staff, as
well as equal program accessibility and opportunity of academic
advancement to students. The Committee is also responsible for monitoring those policies
and procedures that have been approved by the Advisory Board to
make certain that the actions taken are in compliance with the
policies and procedures.
The major functions of
the committee are as follows:
- Assure that the School's affirmative
action and equal opportunity policies and procedures are current
and in compliance with University policy.
Identification of constraints and barriers to affirmative
action and equal opportunity shall be included in the charge of
the Committee.
- Assure that the School's affirmative
action and equal opportunity policies and procedures are being
used appropriately and judiciously.
This would include periodic review of the Affirmative Action
Form to determine its appropriateness and periodic review of completed
forms to ensure correct usage of the form.
- Receive or create regular reports on
the status of minority groups and women faculty, staff, and students.
- Form subcommittees to address specific
short or long-term issues that have been identified as relevant
to the charge of the Committee.
Committee
Accountability
The Committee on Affirmative
Action is advisory to the Dean.
The Committee may, as it deems necessary, seek counsel
from the Advisory Board of the School of Public Health.
Conversely, the Advisory Board may advise the Affirmative
Action Committee as appropriate.
The Committee is responsible to the University in assuring
that the School's affirmative action and equal opportunity policies
and procedures are consonant with the University's policies and
procedures.
Committee
Channels of Communication
Full and complete minutes
of the meetings of the committee on Affirmative Action will be
sent to the Advisory Board. At
the end of each academic year or when relevant issues arise, the
Chair of the Committee shall report to interested faculty, student,
and staff groups within the School and University.
Committee
Membership
Members of the Committee
shall be appointed by the Dean.
Membership will reflect the gender and minority interests
of the larger School population.
At least six of these individuals will be faculty members
of various academic ranks. The remainder of the Committee members will
include: three students,
two staff members, a representative from the University whose
responsibilities include affirmative action, and a representative
of the Dean’s Office of the School of Public Health.
The latter two members serve in an ex
officio capacity.
Committee
Chair
The Committee Chair will
be at the Professorial level, appointed by the Dean.
Committee
Representation from Dean's Office
The Dean's Office shall
be represented ex officio
without vote.
The Committee staff is
appointed by the Dean’s Office.
Committee
Meetings
Meetings will be scheduled
on a monthly basis, with additional meetings scheduled when necessary.
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8.0. Committee on Honors and Awards
Committee
Charge
The Committee on Honors
and Awards is responsible for making recommendations to the Dean
concerning all Honors and Awards within its awareness for which
faculty, students, alumni/alumnae and outstanding public health
professionals are eligible.
The major functions of
the Committee are as follows:
- Develop a roster of outstanding individuals,
including their biographical data, for whom Honors and Awards
of various types might be suitable.
- Maintain an ongoing system of surveillance
of various types of Honors and Awards for which the various categories
of individuals associated with the School might be eligible.
- Develop the appropriate documentation
needed for nominations or selections for various Honors and Awards.
- Initiate new opportunities for honoring
deserving individuals associated with the School.
The Committee shall seek
to insure that high standards of selection are maintained to reflect
favorably upon the quality of the research, teaching and service
activities of our faculty; the academic achievements of our students;
and the accomplishments of our alumni/alumnae and professional
colleagues in the field of public health.
Committee
Accountability
The Committee is directly
responsible to the Dean.
Committee
Channels of Communication
The Chairman of the Committee
will report the outcome of its deliberations directly to the Dean,
who will be responsible for bringing appropriate matters to the
Advisory Board for information or necessary action.
Committee
Membership
The Committee members shall
be appointed by the Dean, for such terms as are consistent with
prevailing policies. Membership
shall include at least one student who has been in residence at
the School for at least one full year prior to appointment.
Committee
Chairman
The chairman shall be appointed
by the Dean.
Committee
Representation from Dean's Office
The Dean and Associate
Dean responsible for Student Affairs shall serve ex officio without vote.
Committee
Staff
The Special Assistant to
the Dean shall serve as staff to the Committee.
Committee
Meetings
The Committee shall meet
at least once each academic quarter, with additional meeting dates
scheduled by the Chairman as needed.
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9.0. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Committee
Charge
There
is a University-wide Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
(IACUC). The Vice Provost for Research is the Institutional
Official for the Johns Hopkins University who assures
that the University meets the requirements of the Animal Welfare
Act and the Public Health Service Policies.
The IACUC charge states, “The IACUC is qualified by the
experience and expertise of its membership to provide guidance
and to oversee in the Johns Hopkins University Animal Care and
Use Program and to maintain compliance with applicable laws, regulations
and policies”.
“The major functions of
the Committee are as follows:
1. Semi
annual evaluation of animal care program
2. Semi
annual inspection of the facilities
3. Report to Institutional Official (Vice
Provost of Research) and the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
4.
Advise on the animal care program facilities and personnel
training
5. Review animal use protocols (Animal activities)
6.
Review animal welfare concerns
7.
Suspend
animal activity in the event of a noncompliance.”
[http://www.jhu.edu/animalcare/]
Committee Accountability
The IACUC reports directly to the Institutional Official, the Vice Provost for Research.
Committee
Channels of Communication
The Vice-Provost for Research is the institutional official with responsibility for the JHU animal care and use program. The Animal Services unit includes the Associate Provost for Animal Research and Resources, who has responsibility for the animal care program for all schools and campuses of the University; Director of Animal Services; and the Operations Manager. Veterinary care, directed by the Director of Animal Services, is provided by clinical veterinarians. Veterinary staff members hold appointments in the School of Medicine's Department of Comparative Medicine. Occupational health, as it pertains to animal care and use, is under the Department of Health, Safety, and Environment. The University's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) provides oversight of animal care and use and of occupational health issues for those who work with animals. There is also an individual to direct the training and compliance unit of the IACUC.
The
IACUC, Animal Services, and Comparative Medicine provide seminars,
lectures, references, and training materials to the community.
The information concerning the IACUC and other aspects
of animal care and use can be found at http://www.jhu.edu/animalcare/.
Committee
Membership
Voting membership on the IACUC is a function of the number of protocols from each School. The Institutional Official, the Vice Provost for Research appoints three faculty members from the School of Public Health, each of whom serves for three-year terms to the IACUC. In addition, each faculty member has one alternate who is expected to provide protocol reviews and attend meetings in the absence of the regular member. In general, the IACUC has a Chair, at least one veterinarian with training and experience in laboratory animal science and medicine, experienced scientists, a nonscientist, and an unaffiliated individual representing the public.
Committee
Representation from Dean's Office
The
Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Research
is the Dean’s Office representative from the Bloomberg School
of Public Health
and serves without a vote.
Committee Staff
The IACUC has an administrative staff.
In addition, it has a training and compliance administrator.
Committee
Meetings
The
IACUC meets at least monthly to carry out its responsibilities.
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10.0. Committee on Conflict of Interest
Most conflicts of interest
can be prevented by disclosure and discussion. Faculty are expected to discuss outside activities
with their chair and disclose all outside activities related to
their teaching and research.
Faculty reports are to be reviewed by chairs and forwarded
to the Dean or the Dean’s designee.
Disclosures of concern should be reviewed by the Committee
on Conflict of Interest, if requested by the chair, Dean or faculty
member.
Committee
Charge
Situations of potential
or actual conflict of commitment or interest on the part of full-time
faculty and administrative officers of the School may be complex. Accordingly, the Committee on Conflict of Interest
shall have the responsibility:
- to resolve differences in interpretation
of conflict of interest;
- to receive inquiries from faculty members
concerning the appropriateness of actions on the part of other
faculty or administrative officers, recognizing that special circumstances
may surround specific instances;
- to review all activities regarding the
transfer of intellectual property;
- to review faculty disclosure reports
submitted to the committee by a chair, dean or individual faculty
member;
- to prepare and submit each year to the
Advisory Board a report on its activities.
Committee
Accountability
The Committee on Conflict
of Interest is directly responsible to the Advisory Board of the
School.
Committee
Channels of Communication
The Annual Report referred
to under Committee Charge will be forwarded to the Advisory Board
on an annual basis at the end of each academic year.
Committee
Membership
The Standing Committee
shall be composed of three faculty members, all of whom will be
full professors with tenure, and the Dean or the Dean's designee.
Committee
Chairmanship
The Committee shall be
chaired by a faculty member.
Committee
Staff
The Dean's Office shall
supply whatever staff support is necessary.
Committee
Meetings
The Committee shall meet
as frequently as necessary to carry out its responsibilities.
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11.0. Committee on Technology
Transfer
Committee Charge
Technology
Transfer is the process by which inventions, software, and other
non-academic copyrighted materials created by our faculty, staff
and students, are commercially disseminated via partnership with
industry. The goal of the School’s Technology Transfer Committee
is to foster such dissemination and to ensure that the faculty’s
ideas have the greatest possible societal impact, while providing
infrastructure necessary for the faculty to engage in technology
transfer activities.
The Committee, in cooperation
with the University’s Office of Technology Transfer (OTT), is
responsible for helping to educate faculty in the School of Public
Health regarding technology transfer matters by presenting educational
sessions and by identifying and assessing intellectual property
and opportunities for technology transfer in the School of Public
Health.
The Committee reviews policies
governing technology transfer activities within the School of
Public Health and recommends, when appropriate, new policies or
changes to existing policies both within the School and University. In conjunction with the University’s Director of the OTT, the Committee
may review invention disclosures and make recommendations regarding
possible commercialization.
Additional roles of the
Committee may also include the following:
§
Implementing
approaches for faculty outreach regarding potentially marketable
creations;
§
Periodically evaluating
the overall successes and failures of the School’s Technology
Transfer process to recommend potential improvements;
§
Liaise with Homewood, the
School of Medicine, and the Applied Physics Laboratory on collaborative
technology transfer issues.
Committee Accountability
The Committee is directly
responsible to the Dean and to the Advisory Board.
Committee Channels of Communication
The
Committee will report at least annually to the Advisory Board.
Committee Chair
The Committee will be chaired
by a faculty member appointed by the Dean.
Committee Staff
The Office of Research
Administration will provide staff support to the Committee.
Committee Membership
Members of the Committee
shall be appointed by the Dean.
Committee Meetings
The Committee shall meet
at least quarterly.
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