Bylaws

      1.0 Preamble

      1.1 Philosophical tenets

      1.2 Governance statement

      2.0 Faculty

      2.1 Definition

      2.2 Voting rights

      2.3 Responsibilities

      3.0 Units

      3.1 College

      3.2 Schools

      3.3 Departments

      3.4 Programs

      4.0 College Standing Committees

      4.1 College Faculty Council

      4.2 Bylaws

      4.3 Faculty Appointment, Tenure, and Promotion

      4.4 Faculty Research and Development

      4.5 Undergraduate Affairs

      4.5.1 Undergraduate Academic Affairs

      4.5.2 Undergraduate Curriculum

      4.6 Graduate Affairs

      4.6.1 Graduate Academic Standing

      4.6.2 Graduate Curriculum

      4.7 Diversity

      4.8 Sabbatical and Merit Review

      4.9 Interdisciplinary

      5.0 Other ad hoc committees as needed

      6.0 General Procedural Policies

      6.1 Policies regarding College faculty meetings

      6.2 Policies regarding bylaws amendments

      6.3 Policies regarding standing committees

      Article 1.0 Preamble

1.1  Philosophical Tenets        

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 tenured 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.

    

     

      4.9 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

      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

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