Bouvé College of Health Sciences > Administrative info >

The Bouvé College of Health Sciences (the College) strongly supports the

mission of Northeastern University. The College educates students to become

highly skilled and caring professionals and creates new knowledge through

excellence in basic, clinical, and translational research. The successful

integration of experiential and classroom learning provides Bouvé students

with a strong foundation for lifelong learning and critical inquiry and insures

that they are prepared to meet the rapidly changing needs of our local,

national, and international communities. Embracing a University-wide

commitment to basic and clinical scholarship, the College also strives to

become a national leader in interdisciplinary and translational health

sciences research.

1.2 Governance statement

The Faculty of the College of Health Sciences shares with the Dean of the

College, Deans of the Schools, Chairs of the Departments and Directors of

the Programs the responsibility for the formulation of policies for the

academic governance of the College, within the framework of the University

Bylaws and under such directives and resolutions as the Board of Trustees

may adopt or issue.

In addition, the following statements are vital to the shared governance

of the College:

The faculty has primary responsibility for such fundamental areas as

curriculum, subject matter and methods of instruction, research, faculty

status, and those aspects of student life which relate to the educational

process.

Faculty status and related matters are primarily a faculty responsibility;

this area includes recommendations concerning appointments,

re-appointments, decisions not to re-appoint, promotions, and the granting

of tenure.

The chief academic officer of each unit (college dean, school dean,

department chairperson, program director) should be selected by

appointment following consultation with members of the specific and

related units; appointments should normally be in conformity with the

judgment of the members of the unit.

Article 2.0 Faculty

2.1 Definition

The Faculty of the College of Health Sciences shall be comprised of:

2.1.1 Full-time teaching faculty holding one of the following academic

ranks within the units of the College:

Professor

Associate Professor

Assistant Professor

2.1.2 Other voting faculty

2.1.2.1 Research Faculty holding the following ranks:

Research Professor

Research Associate Professor

Research Assistant Professor

2.1.2.2 Clinical Faculty holding the following ranks:

Clinical Professor

Associate Clinical Professor

Assistant Clinical Professor

Clinical Instructor

2.1.2.3 Co-operative education faculty coordinators who have responsibility for

students within the College

2.1.2.4 Assistant and Associate Deans not included above

2.1.2.5 Full-time lecturers

2.1.3 Professors Emeritus

2.1.4 Adjunct, visiting, affiliate, adjunct clinical (as distinguished

from clinical professor/instructor) and part-time faculty

2.2 Voting rights

2.2.1 Teaching faculty

Faculty holding voting rights within the College and appropriate Schools

and Departments are identified in 2.1.1-2.1.2 above, consistent with

Section V-B of the Faculty Handbook.

2.2.2. Clinical Faculty

Clinical faculty will be part of the "general university faculty,"

specifically included within the category "other voting faculty." As

"other voting faculty," Clinical faculty will be eligible to vote and

participate in departmental, school, college and university committees or

bodies as approved by each unit and within the guidelines of the Faculty

Handbook.

Within the College, because this category of faculty are not members of

the "teaching faculty" as defined by Northeastern University's Faculty

Handbook, at this time Clinical faculty will not be eligible to vote

for faculty representatives or serve as members of the University

Faculty Senate; University Graduate Council; and the College's

Appointment, Tenure, and Promotion Committee.

2.3 Responsibilities

Subject to the limitations set forth in Article 1.2, the Faculty of the

College of Health Sciences shall share with the Dean of the College, Deans

of the Schools, and Department Chairs specific responsibility for the

following matters, subject to review and approval by the Provost and

President, and in some cases, the Board of Trustees:

2.3.1 Educational policy and curricular developments

2.3.2 Criteria for admission, progression, retention, and graduation of

students

2.3.3 Criteria and recommendations for faculty appointments, promotions,

and tenure

2.3.4 Recommendations for faculty development

2.3.5 Recommendations concerning the College budget

2.3.6 Recommendations for candidates for undergraduate and graduate

degrees in the College

2.3.7 Approval of all educational programs offered in the College

2.3.8 Other matters as may be brought to its attention

Specific responsibilities are detailed in the Article 4: College Standing

Committees.

Article 3.0 Units

3.1 College

The College of Health Sciences consists of three Schools

School of Health Professions

School of Nursing

School of Pharmacy

Within the College, the primary responsibility for curriculum,

accreditation of the professional program, budget responsibilities,

faculty appointment, and faculty development to affect that curriculum

exists at the structural unit of the profession (e.g. School of Pharmacy

for pharmacy.) Each academic unit is responsible for ensuring that the

policies and goals of its unit are aligned with the policies and goals of

the College.

The Dean of the College is the chief academic and executive officer of the

College and is the chief internal and external spokesperson for the

College.

3.2 Schools

3.2.1 The School of Health Professions consists of five departments and

two programs:

Health Sciences Department

Counseling and Applied Educational Psychology

Physical Therapy Department

Medical Laboratory Science Department

Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Department

Athletic Training Program

Physician Assistant Program

3.2.2 The School of Nursing consists of two programs:

Baccalaureate Program

Graduate Program

The Dean of the School of Nursing is the chief internal and external

spokesperson for, and representative of, the School and the profession of

nursing

3.2.3 The School of Pharmacy consists of two departments and one program:

Pharmacy Practice Department

Pharmaceutical Sciences Department

Toxicology Program

The Dean of the School of Pharmacy is the chief internal and external

spokesperson for, and representative of, the School and the profession of

pharmacy.

3.3 Departments

3.3.1. The departments within the College are:

Health Sciences Department

Counseling and Applied Educational Psychology

Medical Laboratory Science

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Pharmacy Practice

Physical Therapy

Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

3.3.2 The chair of a department serves as the chief representative of the

department.

3.4 Programs

3.4.1 The programs within the College are:

Athletic Training

Baccalaureate Nursing

Graduate Nursing

Physician Assistant

Toxicology

3.4.2 The program director serves as the chief representative of the

program.

Article 4.0 College Standing Committees

College standing committees are faculty working groups that are directed

by and report to the faculty. Except as otherwise specified in these

Bylaws, standing committee reports will develop recommendations for

consideration and/or action by the faculty.

College standing committees serve two principal functions. First, the

College standing committees recommend general overarching guidelines that

can be used to establish standards in the College. The standards will

assure consistent and equitable consideration of issues related to

faculty, curriculum, students, and resources throughout the College.

Second, concerning issues specific to the schools/departments/programs,

the College standing committees review recommendations that originate at

the professional unit to i) assure compliance with College policies and

procedures, and ii) to make independent judgments related to decisions

affecting individual faculty and students. The committees transmit their

recommendations to the College dean (e.g., tenure and promotion) or

faculty (e.g., curriculum). Particularly with regard to curricular issues,

the purpose of the college committee is to assure compliance with college

standards and interdisciplinary guidelines and not to evaluate the

professional value of the recommendation.

Unless otherwise noted, committee members will be elected and will reflect propor-

tional representation within the College (ratio of 2 representatives from the School of

Health Professions, 1 representative each from the Schools of Nursing and Pharmacy,

an at-large member, and an administrative representative). School representatives will

be elected by the faculty of the School, while at-large members will be elected by

college faculty of the whole.

Full-time teaching and other voting faculty are eligible for membership on

all committees except the Appointment, Tenure, and Promotion Committee,

where full-time tenured teaching status is required. Co-operative education

faculty coordinators are eligible for committee election within their School and other

committees as specified under committee composition.

4.1 College Faculty Council

4.1.1 Charge/Responsibilities

4.1.1.1 Policies

In collaboration with the College Dean, to develop and coordinate the

charges and reporting mechanisms of standing, ad hoc, and task group

committees within the College

To recommend for faculty approval issues related to faculty governance

To participate in the development and implementation of the strategic plan

for the College

To monitor and forecast external and internal economic, political,

cultural, and community influences affecting the educational, research,

and service activities of the College

To develop a vision to align the College to the forecasted future

To propose strategies to implement the necessary changes

4.1.1.2 Budget

To assess, review, and make recommendations to the faculty and the Dean

with regard to the financial affairs of the College, including processes

for establishing financial priorities, resource utilization and faculty

compensation

To develop strategies to enhance the budget base of the College

To monitor the utilization of resources within the College as they impact

the implementation of the strategic plan of the College

4.1.1.3 Liaison/coordinating activities

To serve as the liaison between the faculty and College administration on

College-wide issues

To collaborate with the College Dean in setting the agenda for College

faculty meetings

In the absence of the Dean, the Chair of the College Faculty Council will

conduct the College faculty meetings.

4.1.2 Eligibility

Full-time teaching (i.e., tenure track) faculty are eligible for election

to this committee. An at-large, voting clinical faculty member,

will serve on the College Faculty Council.

4.1.3 Composition: Members of the College Faculty Council.

The committee will consist of 7 voting members: the Dean of the College and

six faculty (proportional representation: 2 health professions, 1 nursing,

1 pharmacy and 2 at-large members one of which should be a clinical faculty member)

Representatives from the Schools are internally elected. The two at-large

members are elected by the combined vote of the faculty of the College.

Members will be elected for two-year staggered terms. The Faculty Council can

request additional faculty to assist with projects/activities and

establish task forces as needed.

4.2 Bylaws Committee

4.2.1 Charge/Responsibilities

To review and ensure the bylaws of the College are consistent with University

policies as stated in the Faculty Handbook and the stated mission of the

College

To evaluate, monitor, and assure compliance with current bylaws

Suggest and review proposed amendments to the bylaws as needed

4.2.2 Composition: The committee consists of 6 members: 2 elected

from the School of Health Professions; 1 elected each from the Schools of

Nursing and Pharmacy; 1 elected at-large member; and an administrative

representative.

4.3 Faculty Appointment, Tenure, and Promotion Committee

4.3.1 Charge/Responsibilities

4.3.1.1 Tenure Responsibilities

To recommend to the faculty procedures and College-specific criteria,

consistent with the University's, for evaluation of faculty candidates for

tenure

To evaluate candidates for tenure and make recommendations to the Dean of

the College

To develop strategies to increase the diversity of the College faculty

across appointment categories

4.3.1.2 Promotion Responsibilities

To recommend to the faculty procedures and College-specific criteria,

consistent with the University's, for evaluation of faculty and clinical

faculty candidates for promotion

To evaluate candidates for promotion and make recommendations to the Dean

of the College

A subcommittee, consisting of full professors, will be appointed when

considering an individual faculty member's promotion to full professor. If

the committee does not include a sufficient number of full professors,

additional full professors may be appointed following College procedures

4.3.1.3 Appointment Responsibilities

To establish criteria and procedures for initial appointment and renewal

of tenure and clinical faculty appointments within the College

To develop criteria and procedures for joint appointments across units of

the College

To establish internal screening criteria to be used when clinical

faculty are considering application for a tenure track position

To review the distribution of faculty appointments across appointment

categories in the schools and departments, evaluate their distribution,

and make recommendations for appointment types

To analyze the impact of appointments and tenure decisions on the

interdisciplinary and strategic plan initiatives of the College

To develop strategies to increase the diversity of the College faculty

across appointment categories

4.3.2 Composition: The committee consists of 5 full-time tenured, teaching faculty

members at the Associate Professor level or higher elected by their Schools with a

proportional School membership (2:1:1) and 1 at-large member elected by

the combined full-time, tenured teaching faculty of the College. Additional members

will be added if an insufficient number of eligible faculty exist within a School or in

the College.

4.4 Faculty Research and Development

4.4.1 Charge/Responsibilities

To promote independent and interdisciplinary faculty research within the

College

To facilitate faculty development through assessment of needs of

educational programs geared to enhance teaching and research productivity

and quality

To identify faculty needs with regard to research and instructional

development and propose strategies to promote faculty development across

appointment categories

To develop and promote a mentoring program for both teaching and other

voting faculty

4.4.2 Composition: The committee consists of six members, 4 of which are

elected by their Schools with a proportional representation of 2 from the

School of Health Professions, 1 each from the Schools of Nursing and

Pharmacy; an at-large member elected by the College faculty as a whole,

and an administrative representative.

4.5 Undergraduate Affairs

4.5.1 Undergraduate Academic Affairs

4.5.1.1 Charge/Responsibilities

To review and recommend to the faculty college-wide academic standards

To assure the fair implementation of standards and the mechanisms for

appeals processes

To rule on any student appeal of a decision made at the unit level

To develop policies and procedures concerning the functioning of this

committee

To review unit academic standards brought forth for changes and make

recommendations

4.5.1.2 Composition: The committee consists of eight members, 4 of which

are elected by their Schools with proportional representation of 2 from

the School of Health Professions, 1 each from the Schools of Nursing and

Pharmacy; an at-large member elected by the College faculty as a whole; an

ex officio co-op faculty coordinator elected by their unit and an administrative

representative.

4.5.2 Undergraduate Curriculum

4.5.2.1 Charge/Responsibilities

To recommend College-wide policies regarding undergraduate curricular

development, revision, and deletion

To promote and encourage interdisciplinary undergraduate curricular

initiatives among programs, departments, and schools

To review and evaluate interdisciplinary, undergraduate health and

health-related programs originating within and across Schools and Colleges

To evaluate and recommend to the College faculty undergraduate curricular

changes proposed by department, programs, and/or schools

4.5.2.2 Composition: The committee is constituted annually and is derived from and

by elected members (1 each) from each College unit's respective curriculum

committee; an ex officio co-op faculty coordinator elected by their unit; and an

administrative representative.

section 4.5.2 revised March 31, 2005

4.6 Graduate Affairs

4.6.1 Graduate Academic Standing

4.6.1.1 Charge/Responsibilities

To recommend College-wide policies for academic graduate standards

To review and develop College-wide policies and procedures for admission,

Progression, and completion of graduate studies including procedures

To rule on any student appeal of a decision made at the unit level

4.6.1.2 Composition: The committee consists of 7 members, 4 of which are

elected by their Schools with a proportional representation of 2 from the

School of Health Professions, 1 each from the Schools of Nursing and

Pharmacy; 1 at-large member elected by the College faculty as a whole; 1

graduate student member of the College; and an administrative representative.

4.6.2 Graduate Curriculum

4.6.2.1 Charge/Responsibilities

To establish College-wide policies regarding graduate curricular

development, revision, and deletion

To evaluate and recommend to the College faculty graduate curricular

changes proposed by the Schools

To review and evaluate new and revised interdisciplinary, graduate health and

health-related programs originating within and across Colleges

4.6.2.2 Composition: The committee consists of one elected representative

from each unit with a graduate program within the College; 1 graduate

student member of the College; and an administrative representative.

4.7 Diversity Committee

4.7.1 Charge/Responsibilities

To recommend strategies to encourage faculty, administrators, and

undergraduate/graduate students of the College to be aware of, sensitive

to, and respect the diversity of race, color, religion, religious creed, genetics, sex,

sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran or disability status. affecting

university life and health care delivery

To encourage examination and discussion of these issues within the context

of undergraduate/graduate curricula with particular emphasis on their

impact on patient-centered care

To work with the undergraduate and graduate admissions office and other

appropriate entities to increase the diversity of the undergraduate and

graduate health professions and health sciences student body

4.7.2 Composition: The committee consists of eight members, 4 of which are

elected by their Schools with a proportional representation of 2 from the

School of Health Professions, 1 each from the Schools of Nursing and

Pharmacy; 1 at-large member elected by the College faculty as a whole; 2

student members of the college, 1 undergraduate and 1 graduate; and an administra-

tive representative.

4.8 Sabbatical and Merit Review

4.8.1 Charge/Responsibilities

To review faculty applications for sabbatical and make recommendations

to the Dean of the College

To review faculty appeals of unit decisions regarding merit and sabbatical

concerns and make recommendations to the Dean of the College

To recommend additional College-specific criteria, consistent with the

University's, for sabbatical leave applications.

To recommend additional College-specific criteria, consistent with the

University's, for merit review

4.8.2 Composition: The committee consists of six members, 4 full-time tenured

members which are elected by their Schools with a proportional representation of 2

from the School of Health Professions, 1 each from the Schools of Nursing

and Pharmacy; and 1 full-time nontenured at large member elected by the College

faculty as a whole and an administrative representative. The Dean of the college shall

serve ex officio.

4.9 Interdisciplinary

4.9.1 Charge/Responsibilities

To propose, to the Dean of the College, policies and procedures to ensure

faculty/unit equity for interdisciplinary efforts and activities

To review and evaluate proposals for interdisciplinary courses

and programs and forward recommendations to the appropriate Curriculum

Committee if accepted

4.9.2 Composition: The committee consists of eight members, 4 of which are

full-time tenured members elected by their Schools with a proportional representation of 2 from the

School of Health Professions, 1 each from the Schools of Nursing and

Pharmacy; 1 at-large member elected by the College faculty as a whole; 2

student members of the college, one graduate and one undergraduate;

and an administrative representative.

Article 5.0 Other Ad Hoc Committees as needed

The Faculty Council and other faculty committees may appoint Ad Hoc

Committees as needed to complete a defined and limited task. At the

completion of the task, the ad hoc committee is disbanded.

Article 6.0 General Procedural Policies

6.1 Policies regarding College faculty meetings

6.1.1 There shall be at least one meeting of the College faculty of the

whole per semester.

6.1.2 The Dean of the College or, in the Dean's absence, the Chair of the

Faculty Council will preside at the meeting of the College faculty.

6.1.3 Meetings will be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order.

6.1.4 A quorum is constituted by a majority of voting members.

6.1.5 The agenda for each College faculty meeting shall evolve from

collaboration between the Dean of the College and the Chair of the Faculty

Council. It shall be distributed to the faculty one week in advance of the

meeting. Items for the agenda must be presented to the Faculty Council or

Dean of the College prior to preparation and distribution of the agenda.

Matters not included in an agenda may not be acted upon by the faculty

without the agreement of at least two-thirds of the voting faculty

present.

6.1.6 Action items, votes, and decisions thereof, shall be recorded in the

minutes.

6.1.7 Through petition to the Faculty Council, special meetings will be

held if requested by 30 voting members of the faculty.

6.2 Policies regarding bylaw amendments

Amendments to the bylaws may originate in the Faculty Council or by

written petition of one-third of the members of the College faculty.

Proposed amendments shall be referred to the Bylaws Committee which will

distribute proposals in writing to the College of Health Sciences faculty

at least two weeks prior to the regularly scheduled meetings at which

these proposals will be discussed. Voting on proposed amendments to the

bylaws will be by inter-office mail or electronic ballot within 2 weeks of the faculty

meeting at which the issue was discussed. A majority vote of all eligible

faculty of the College is necessary to ratify. Amendments to the bylaws

will become effective immediately upon their approval unless the motion to

adopt specifies a different time for adoption.

6.3 Policies regarding standing committees

6.3.1 Faculty members of standing committees shall serve for two years,

with one half of the members elected each year. Faculty members shall not

serve for more than two consecutive terms.

6.3.2 Elections shall be held during the College’s spring faculty meeting.

6.3.3 Unless otherwise specified, the Chair of each committee shall be

elected by the committee membership.

6.3..4 All meetings of standing committees of the College, except

Sabbatical and Merit and Faculty Appointment, Tenure, and Promotion, shall

be open to all voting and non-voting members of the faculty of the

College. Faculty who are not committee members shall have voice, but not

vote, at standing committee meetings.

6.3.5 A quorum for regular and special meetings of a committee shall

consist of a majority of voting members.

6.3.6 If a member does not participate, or is not available to

participate, in the activities of the committee, the member or the Chair

may petition the Faculty Council to call an election to fill that

position.

6.3.7 Each committee is responsible for posting meeting times and meeting

place at the beginning of each semester, with the agenda posted a minimum

of three working days prior to the meeting.

6.3.8 By the week after finals of the Spring semester, all standing committees shall

submit a written report to the Faculty Council which will include goals attained

during the academic year and recommendations for the upcoming year.

6.3.9 The Chair of any standing committee, upon recommendations of a

majority of the committee's members, may appoint subcommittees to deal

specifically with defined portions of the business of the standing

committee. Subcommittees may be augmented by additional faculty or

administrators, when additional expertise is necessary.

The following documents were reviewed in preparation of this document:

College of Health Sciences Mission Statement. Transition Team Report,

September 18, 1997.

American Association of University Professors. Statement on Government of

Colleges and Universities, 1990.

Northeastern University Faculty handbook

Revised March 2007

� 2007 Northeastern University � 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02115 � 617.373.2000