Committee elections
Along with the privilege and power of our shared governance tradition, comes the responsibility to participate, including service on SMPH committees. The rewards of committee service include the opportunity to gain important and valuable insights into the critical functions of the school and to have an important impact on our school’s missions.
Several SMPH committees include student, faculty and/or academic staff members elected by their peers. Annually, an electronic call for nominations is sent to relevant stakeholders for committees with faculty or academic staff vacancies. The call for nominations provides a brief description of each committee with one or more vacancies, the type of representative sought, length of term and meeting responsibilities. Stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience are encouraged to self-nominate or to nominate others (with their consent) for committee service.
Following the nomination period, an electronic announcement of open committee elections is sent to relevant stakeholders. Ballots are cast online during a two-week election window. New committee members are announced via email newsletter shortly thereafter.
The bylaws contain additional information about a number of committees, some of which have their charters or additional information linked below.
List of Committees and Councils
School-wide committees
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Academic Planning Council (APC)
The APC advises the SMPH dean on school programs and budgetary planning, and reviews and approves creation of or changes to academic programs and the policies and procedures related to the SMPH academic mission. The APC engages in long-range planning and evaluates any program decisions that are likely to affect promotions to tenure, or nonrenewal of probationary faculty appointments.
Committee on Academic Staff Issues (CASI)
The Committee on Academic Staff Issues (CASI) advises the dean on the formulation and review of all policies and procedures concerning the school’s academic staff members, with the exception of CHS and CT track faculty who participate in SMPH governance with tenure track faculty.
Dean’s Leadership Team (DLT)
The DLT is composed of administrative leaders, including SMPH senior associate deans, UW Health representatives, and others as determined by the SMPH dean. The SMPH dean and DLT work together to advance the SMPH mission, vision, and values. The DLT directs SMPH strategic planning and approves projects, initiatives, and policies.
Educational Leadership Team (ELT)
The Educational Leadership Team (ELT) is an appointed committee that advises the senior associate dean of academic affairs, who serves as the chair, on matters relevant to the academic mission of the school, specifically regarding the health profession degree programs at SMPH and the lifelong learning of health professionals and educators at SMPH including students, residents, and faculty. ELT membership includes representation of senior administrative and education leaders from SMPH health profession degree programs and related offices including the Academic Affairs office, Doctor of Physical Therapy program, Faculty Affairs and Development office, Graduate Medical Education office, Master of Genetic Counselor Studies program, Master of Physician Assistant Studies program, Master of Public Health program, and the Undergraduate Medical Education office. The ELT meets on a monthly basis to assist in policy development, guide strategic planning, and help steer academic initiatives for the school relevant to the above programs and offices.
Faculty Committee on Distinguished Awards
The Faculty Committee on Distinguished Awards identifies SMPH’s most outstanding faculty and makes nominations for membership in distinguished societies and prestigious national and international awards and honors.
Graduate Education Policy Council (GEPC)
The GEPC detailed on this page is responsible for Basic Science courses and courses related to the SMPH graduate programs (PhD/MS). The GEPC is also responsible for any undergraduate courses proposed by an SMPH department/program.
Interprofessional Continuing Education Partnership (ICEP) Leadership Committee
The ICEP Leadership Committee establishes a sustainable organizational structure for oversight, administration, and evaluation of the ICEP. The ICEP is comprised of the SMPH Office of Continuing Professional Development in Medicine and Public Health, the School of Nursing Continuing Education in Nursing Program and the School of Pharmacy Division of Pharmacy Professional Development. The committee prepares the joint accreditation self-study and writes a five-year strategic plan.
SMPH Policy Development and Review Committee (PDRC)
The SMPH PDRC provides oversight and guidance of school-wide policy standards, policy development, revision, routine review, and approval recommendations to the DLT or APC.
Strategic Improvement & Accreditation Steering Committee
The Strategic Improvement & Accreditation Steering Committee provides guidance and recommendations with respect to the school’s quality improvement and strategic planning efforts in accordance with its mission, vision, and values and strategic framework, and degree program accreditation processes with accreditation bodies such as The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Members include senior leaders representing student, curricular, research, human resources, fiscal, communications and faculty interests as appointed by the senior associate dean for academic affairs and endorsed by the dean.
Student Grievance Board
The Student Grievance Board provides formal review and adjudication of student grievances when informal resolution measures have been unsuccessful. A grievance is complaint made by a student alleging that the student received a grade or academic evaluation that was arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory – i.e., unfairly based on race, gender, religion, personal animus, or any other factor(s) other than objective assessment of the student’s academic performance and/or the student’s compliance with his or her Program’s Professional Behavior Code.
Student Mistreatment Triage Committee
The Student Mistreatment Triage Committee is composed of senior leaders in the dean’s office who are committed to promoting a positive learning environment. The committee objectively triages reports of student mistreatment and ensures that reports are thoroughly investigaged and resolved in a fair and timely fashion by the appropriate party. The committee also gathers resolution information and provides follow-up information to the appropriate individuals.
Faculty promotion committees
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
CHS Track Promotion to Associate Professor Committee
The CHS Track Promotion to Associate Professor Committee reviews and advises the Dean on recommendations for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor (CHS).
CHS Track Promotion to Professor or Senior Rank Appointment Committee
The CHS Track Promotion to Professor or Senior Rank Appointment Committee reviews and advises the Dean on recommendations for appointment at or promotion to the rank of Associate Professor (CHS) or Professor (CHS).
CT Track Faculty Appointments and Promotions Committee
The CT Track Faculty Appointments and Promotions Committee reviews and advises the SMPH dean or dean’s designee regarding promotion to, or appointment at, the rank of clinical associate professor or clinical professor on the CT track.
Research Professor Track Appointments and Promotion Committee
The Research Professor Track Appointments and Promotion Committee reviews and advises the Dean on recommendations for appointments and promotions on the Research Professor track.
Teaching Professor Track Appointments and Promotion Committee
The Teaching Professor Track Appointments and Promotion Committee reviews and advises the Dean on recommendations for appointments and promotions on the Teaching Professor track.
Tenure Track Faculty Promotions Committee
The Tenure Track Faculty Promotions Committee reviews and advises the SMPH dean regarding promotions to the rank of professor on the tenure track.
Doctor of Medicine program committees
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Educational Policy and Curriculum Committee (EPCC)
The EPCC is the final authority for curriculum planning and educational policy for medical education. The EPCC approves program objectives, monitors program outcomes, and evaluates the effectiveness of the SMPH’s medical education programs; oversees the approval of course proposals for the medical degree curriculum; and serves as the hearing body for student appeals for the medical degree program.
Medical Student Admissions Committee (MSAC)
The mission of the MSAC is to select a class of diverse medical students who possess outstanding academic, personal, and professional attributes and hold promise to succeed as clinicians, scientists, educators, and/or leaders. The MSAC is the sole authority by which prospective students are accepted for medical degree training at SMPH. The MSAC chooses which applicants to accept to the traditional medical degree program, the Medical Scientist Training Program (MD-PhD), and the Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine through a holistic review. The MSAC creates and charges sub-committees to assist in the initial screening of medical students for special programs or other purposes as needed.
Medical Student Honors and Awards Committee
The Medical Student Honors and Awards Committee awards the funds associated with each specifically named or endowed award to medical students post-matriculation. Committee members include faculty and staff familiar with student academic performance, leadership roles, and community services roles relevant to the awards.
Medical Student Promotion and Academic Review Committee (SPARC)
The SPARC is charged with monitoring performance of all medical students and reviewing those medical students who fail to meet academic or professionalism standards. SPARC responsibilities include reviewing academic progress of students not meeting the minimal academic requirements; reviewing allegations of student violations of the Professional Behavior Code; determining remediation and/or sanctions in cases of unsatisfactory academic progress or unprofessional behavior; reviewing, revising, and ratifying academic policies (in conjunction with the EPCC and APC); approving individualized academic programs for medical students; reviewing leave of absence requests; approving promotion to the next academic year of all students who have satisfactorily completed a given year’s curricular requirements; and approving graduation of all students who have completed the requirements for the Doctor of Medicine degree. The committee is empowered to establish individualized learning plans and levy sanctions or other disciplinary actions.
Medical Student Scholarships Committee
The Medical Student Scholarships Committee awards recruitment scholarships to students pre-matriculation. Committee membership primarily includes MSAC members who know the pre-matriculation information about students and any specific requirements of the scholarship awards.
Technical Standards Accommodation Advisory Committee
The Technical Standards Accommodation Advisory Committee develops policies and recommendations concerning disability accommodations for medical students. The committee partners with the UW McBurney Center to review, modify, and approve medical student requests for disability accommodations.
Doctor of Physical Therapy
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Doctor of Physical Therapy Scholarship Committee
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Scholarship Committee awards after review of applications by DPT students through the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WISH). Committee membership primarily includes faculty and staff.
Doctor of Physical Therapy Curricular Committee
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Curricular Committee meets twice a year (summer and spring semester) with the purpose of reviewing DPT curriculum to assure content, teaching assessments, and interventions align with the strategic plan.
Doctor of Physical Therapy Admissions Committee
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) admissions committee reviews qualified applicants and makes decisions regarding offers to join the incoming DPT cohort of students. The committee is comprised of community members and faculty from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Doctor of Physical Therapy Appeals Committee
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Appeals committee is comprised of core faculty from the DPT program. The committee reviews information to determine students return to the DPT program.
Doctor of Physical Therapy Visiting Lecturer Committee
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) visiting lecturer committee is comprised of core faculty and staff from the DPT program. The committee offers, coordinates, and guides the next visiting lecturer. The Visiting Lecturer series is supported by monies from the Dr. Mary Jane Meng Fund.
Master of Genetic Counselor Studies
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Application Review Committee
The Master of Genetic Counselor Students (MGCS) Application review committee reviews and evaluates applications to the program.
Admissions Committee
The MGCS Admissions Committee oversees the entire admissions process and conducts interviews.
Performance Review Committee
The MGCS Performance Review Committee reviews student progress toward degree completion.
Curriculum Committee
The MGCS Curriculum Committee annually reviews the program’s curriculum.
Advisory Committee
The MGCS Advisory Committee advises the program on structure and strategic goals.
Master of Physician Assistant Studies
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Accreditation Committee
Ensures continuous self-assessment and self-improvement is occurring in regard to all programmatic operations. Dedicated time to data assessment, critical analysis, strategic planning, and developing timelines in regard to accreditation requirements/activities. Provides, reviews, and records documentation as it pertains to the accreditation process.
Particularly active when preparing ARC-PA Self-Study Report and accreditation site visit. Work Groups/Teams may meet continuously on an ongoing basis, whereas ongoing programmatic self-assessment and self-improvement processes are scheduled in Faculty/Staff Committee, Curriculum Committee, Assessment Team, Survey Team, CBL Team, and Clinical and Didactic Year Teams.
Admissions Committee
Plans, oversees, implements, analyzes, and evaluates all areas of the admissions process. Regularly reviews pre-professional requirements. Responsible for policy and process updates related to admissions.
ARC-PA Compliance Committee
Ensures compliance with ARC-PA standards and leads writing of accreditation application and SSR. Determines topics to be discussed with the larger Accreditation Committee.
Assessment/Data Analysis Committee
Analyze and review curricular and programmatic assessments used within the program. Analyze student performance on all assessments including PAEA exams and PANCE and share data with appropriate committees and mentors.
Provides ongoing planning, implementation, supervision and oversight of the summative evaluation. Review and edit the various components of the summative evaluation as necessary. Employs the summative evaluation, compiles the data and utilizes the summative evaluation as a component of CPMS to assess competency-based outcomes are being met.
Oversee Survey Work Team to ensure programmatic surveys are sent out according to CPMS schedule and compile. Analyze data on programmatic evaluations: identifying trends and correlations, as well as strengths and areas for improvement. Presents important findings to appropriate Committees.
Curriculum Committee
This committee is a critical component of the program’s self-assessment process and acts as an advisory body to the PA faculty. This committee’s primary focus is to facilitate high quality education via thorough evaluation of the curriculum and implementation of continual curricular advancement.
Executive Committee
Regular meetings to discuss administrative and program considerations related to all program operations. Provides ongoing planning, decision-making, implementation, monitor and oversight of PA Program matters at all levels, including program self-assessment and accreditation.
Faculty/Staff Committee
Regular meetings of all faculty/staff for ongoing communication, operations, strategic planning related to all program initiatives, and ensuring action plans are actualized.
Promotion and Progress Committee
Monitors overall student academic and professionalism performance throughout all phases of the curriculum. Determines if students have achieved the program-level student learning outcomes and have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary for clinical practice.
Reviews the academic progress of students at the end of each semester and as deemed necessary to discuss any student not meeting minimal academic requirements. Convenes to evaluate professionalism concerns and reviews allegations of student violations of the Professional Behavior Code. Determines remediation and/or sanctions for cases involving unsatisfactory academic progress or cases of unprofessional or unethical behavior. Approves deceleration, deferral, leave of absence and changing tracks requests.
Approves the promotion to the next year of all students who have satisfactorily completed semester curricular and non-academic requirements. Approves the graduation of all students who have satisfactorily completed the requirements for the MPAS degree.
Master of Public Health
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Steering Committee
The MPH Steering Committee works closely with the MPH faculty director, who chairs the committee, to determine strategic direction and resource allocation for the program, The Steering Committee annually reviews and officially approves the members of the program’s standing committees and makes suggestions for additions or enhancements to membership. The Committee also sets the target class size each year, reviews and approves the annual report, reviews and approves the strategic plan, reviews and approves the program’s mission, vision, and values, and approves the initiation of dual degrees. The MPH program’s administrative leadership regularly shares information about actions taken by the Curriculum Committee, Admissions Committee, and SPC with the Steering Committee.
Admissions Committee
The Admissions Committee is charged with admitting a qualified cohort of students who meet the admission criteria, approved by the MPH Steering Committee, and bring diverse interests and strengths to the program. The Committee also makes decisions regarding admitted applicant requests to defer admission.
MPH Curriculum Committee
The Curriculum Committee has the final authority for the program’s curriculum. The committee meets monthly throughout the academic year, September through May. The committee plays an integral role in the oversight and the strategic direction of the program’s curriculum through the creation and approval of changes to the core courses of the MPH program, approval of elective courses, review of student requests for transfer credit, substitution, or waiver, implementation of changes to degree requirements and development of procedures and progress of the applied practice experience (APEX) and integrative learning experience (ILE). A major responsibility of the MPH Curriculum Committee is the evaluation of the program’s required courses and their instruction, each of which undergoes a comprehensive annual review.
Community Advisory Committee
The MPH Community Advisory Committee provides advice and guidance to the MPH program faculty director and deputy/associate director with a focus on the relationship with and the coordination of efforts between the MPH program and the public health community. The Community Advisory Committee is broadly representative of state and local governmental public health and private-sector public health partners as well as representatives from offices, programs, departments, and institutes on campus with an interest in public health-related issues. Committee membership also includes one to two current MPH students, program alumni, and those who have served with distinction as preceptors.
Student Promotions Committee
The Student Promotions Committee (SPC) is responsible for advising the MPH program when at risk students have challenges in making progress in the professional curriculum. This is accomplished by meeting as necessary to:
- Monitor and evaluate current academic progression guidelines that were approved through formal policy endorsement by the MPH Steering Committee and adopted by the MPH faculty through discussion and consensus at semi-annual MPH faculty meetings.
- Report results to faculty and staff with recommendations for modifications as appropriate.
- Recommend remedial action or termination of students who fail to maintain a satisfactory progress.
- Act on petitions from students regarding academic status, individual adjustments to curricular requirements, and petitions from students who were dismissed from the program and request readmission.
MPH Strategic Improvement and Accreditation Committee
The purpose of the MPH Strategic Improvement & Accreditation Committee is to provide guidance and recommendations with respect to:
- The MPH program’s quality improvement and strategic planning efforts in accordance with its mission, vision, and values.
- The MPH program’s CEPH accreditation processes and standards.
Responsibilities of the committee include to provide centralized monitoring of outcomes of the strategic plan to ensure timely compliance and progress, monitor compliance with all accreditation standards, coordinate continuous quality improvement to directly support compliance with accreditation standards, and facilitate activities associated with accreditation self-study processes, preparation for accreditation survey team site visits, and responses to accreditation reports and decisions.