A64: Health Sciences Center Council

Approved by: Faculty Senate
Effective: April 28, 2020
Responsible Faculty Committee: Health Sciences Center Council
Office Responsible for Administration: Office of the University Secretary

Revisions to the Policy Rationale, Policy Statement, and Applicability sections of this document must be approved by the full Faculty Senate.

Policy Rationale

The Faculty Senate Health Sciences Center (HSC) Council is charged with oversight of faculty issues that are unique to the HSC.

Policy Statement

The purpose of the HSC Council is to enhance the role and visibility of the HSC faculty in shared governance, particularly as it relates to the HSC, and to deliberate and act on behalf of the UNM Faculty Senate in all matters relating to faculty governance and shared governance of the HSC, consistent with the UNM Faculty Constitution, Faculty Handbook, Faculty Senate Bylaws, and with the policies of the Board of Regents and UNM. In matters pertaining to faculty governance and shared governance of UNM, as a whole, the HSC Council shall represent the faculty of the UNM HSC the Faculty Senate, the Executive Vice President (EVP) for Health Sciences and/or Leadership, and upon request, the HSC Committee of the Board of Regents.

The HSC Council shall have the right or duty to consider and advise the Faculty Senate, the EVP for Health Sciences and/or Leadership, and upon request the HSC Committee of the Board of Regents on behalf of HSC faculty over:

a) Institutional aims and strategic plans of the HSC.

b) Organizational structure and creation of new departments and divisions.

c) Major curricular changes and other matters that, in the opinion of the EVP for Health Sciences or of the faculty, including HSC Faculty via its Council members, affect the HSC as a whole.

d) Matters of general concern or welfare for HSC faculty.

The foregoing purposes do not supplant the rights and responsibilities of faculty within their respective academic units. Rather, the HSC Council shall serve as a forum and voice for the HSC faculty, as a whole, in representing the interests of HSC faculty to the HSC Committee of the Board of Regents and Office of the EVP for Health Sciences as well as to the UNM Faculty Senate.

Voting members of the HSC Council shall be:

a) All duly elected faculty senators representing the academic units of the HSC.

b) Two (2) at-large members elected by the faculty of each of the academic units of the HSC (School of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, College of Population Health, Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center) who need not be members of the UNM Faculty Senate.

Non-voting ex officio members of the HSC Council shall be:

a) The EVP for Health Sciences

b) The Health Sciences Vice President for Academic Affairs

c) The Provost or designee

d) The President of the UNM Faculty Senate

The terms of office for faculty members shall be for three (3) years, set up on a staggered basis so that the terms of approximately one-third (1/3) of members will expire each year.

The HSC Council structure, duties, meeting schedule, and committees are defined in the HSC Council Bylaws.

Applicability

All UNM faculty, including the Health Sciences Center and Branch Community Colleges.

Revisions to the remaining sections of this document may be amended with the approval of the Faculty Senate Policy and Operations Committee in consultation with the responsible Faculty Senate Committee listed in Policy Heading.

Definitions

There are no specific definitions required by this Policy.

Who should read this policy

All UNM faculty.
Academic administrators and staff.
Administrative staff responsible for policy development.

Contacts

Direct any questions about this policy to the UNM Office of the University Secretary.

Procedures

The Health Sciences Center Council will schedule regular meetings. The Council Chair will meet regularly with the Operations Committee, but no less than once each semester.

History

November 9, 2022 - Added Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center to list of academic units; updated title of Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, per Faculty Handbook Policy A53 procedures
April 28, 2020 – Approved by Faculty Senate