Faculty Handbook
Chapter III: Organization and Governance

COMMITTEES OF THE DEAN

1. Curriculum Committee

   The Curriculum Committee will consist of an Executive Curriculum Committee and five permanent subcommittees.

   1. Executive Curriculum Committee:

      1.1. Composition:

      The Executive Curriculum Committee will consist of eleven faculty members, one of whom shall serve as chairperson and five who will be subcommittee chairpersons, plus four medical students. The Deans for Student Affairs and other Deans will be ex officio, non-voting members.

      1.2. Appointments:

      The chairperson of the Executive Curriculum Committee will be appointed by the Dean for a term of five years. Five of these faculty members will be appointed by the Dean, each for a term of five years: one appointment will be made annually such that twenty percent of the faculty members will change each year. A slate of four faculty member candidates will be recommended by the Steering Committee of the Faculty Council for appointment to these positions. The other five faculty members will be subcommittee chairpersons. Two students will be elected from the second-year School of Medicine class and two will be elected from the third-year School of Medicine class: each student will serve a term of two years.

      1.3. Charge to Executive Curriculum Committee:

      1. To define the educational objectives of the School of Medicine and to develop a curriculum consistent with these objectives.
      2. To plan the academic calendar and class schedules for the School of Medicine.
      3. To examine and evaluate all segments of the curriculum.
      4. To allocate curriculum time for all subjects throughout the four years.
      5. To conduct a continuing review of curriculum design, course organization, and teaching performance and to formulate specific recommendations for improvement.
      6. To receive reports and review all recommendations of the permanent sub-committees on an ongoing basis.
      7. To submit recommendations for substantive changes in the curriculum to the Faculty Council for advice and comment before submitting them to the Executive Faculty and the Dean for approval.
   2. Permanent Subcommittees:

      2.1. Composition:

      The five permanent subcommittees will be structured on educationally related lines. Each subcommittee will consist of a chairperson, course directors from the basic and clinical sciences, and others representing related disciplines.

      2.2. Appointments:

      The chairperson of the subcommittees will be appointed by the Dean, each for a term of five years. The members of the subcommittees will also be appointed by the Dean, with terms unspecified in duration.

      2.3. Charge to each permanent subcommittee:

      1. To review the content and assess the effectiveness of each component course within its purview.
      2. To report on an ongoing basis and recommend curriculum changes to the Executive Curriculum Committee.
2. Student Admissions Committee

   The Student Admissions Committee will consist of an Executive Admissions Committee and a Selection Committee.

   1. Executive Admissions Committee:

      1.1. Composition:

      This committee will consist of a chairperson, the chairperson of the Executive Curriculum Committee, the chairperson of the Student Promotions Committee, the Dean of Student Affairs, the President of the Faculty Council or one other elected officer of the Faculty Council designated by the President, one basic science course director, one clinical science course director, and one third year medical student.

      1.2. Appointments

      The chairperson, the basic science course director, and the clinical science course director will be appointed by the Dean. The student will be elected by the third-year School of Medicine class to serve a term of one year. The other members will serve as ex officio members of the committee.

      1.3. Charge to the Executive Admissions Committee:

      1. To review the admissions policies on an annual basis.
      2. To recommend changes in admissions policies to the Dean.
      3. To establish criteria for selecting candidates for interview.
   2. Selection Committee:

      2.1. Composition:

      This committee will consist of a chairperson, 60 faculty members, and four fourth-year medical students. The chairperson of the Executive Admissions Committee will also serve as chairperson of the Selection Committee.

      2.2. Appointments:

      The 60 committee members will be nominated by the Steering Committee of the Faculty Council and appointed by the Dean, each for a term of five years. The membership will be equally divided amongst the basic science faculty, full-time clinical science faculty, and part-time/voluntary clinical science faculty. Fifteen appointments will be made annually such that 20 percent of the faculty members will be appointed each year. The four medical students will be appointed by the Dean.

      2.3. Charge to the Selection Committee:

      1. To assume responsibility for evaluating applicants for admission to the School of Medicine.
      2. To structure interview procedures and interview applicants prior to their admission.
      3. To admit students to the School of Medicine within the policies recommended by the Executive Admissions Committee and approved by the Dean and the Executive Faculty.
3. Student Promotions Committee
   1. Composition:

      This committee will consist of a chairperson, one course director representative from each major course/major, ten additional faculty members, and one fourth-year student and a recent alumnus (a resident who graduated from Mount Sinai School of Medicine). The Deans of Student Affairs will serve as ex officio, non-voting members of this committee. This committee shall develop its own policies and procedures, subject to the approval of the Dean, the Faculty Council and the Executive Faculty, for carrying out its charges.

   2. Appointments:

      The chairperson will be appointed by the Dean for a term of five years. The course directors will serve as ex officio members of the committee. The ten faculty members will be nominated by the Steering Committee of the Faculty Council and appointed by the Dean, each for a term of five years. Two appointments will be made annually such that 20 percent of the faculty members will change each year. The fourth-year student will be elected by the fourth-year School of Medicine class; each will serve a term of one year. The resident, who is a recent Mount Sinai graduate, will be selected by the Chair and Deans, and will also serve a term of one year.

   3. Charge to the Student Promotions Committee:
   1. To meet periodically during the academic year to review the records of each medical student as manifested by grades and other information reported by the Dean's Office and by course/clerkship representatives on the committee.
   2. To make annual recommendations to the Dean and Executive Faculty on each student in the School of Medicine with regard to promotion, non-promotion, requirement to repeat a year, leave of absence or dismissal from school for academic or other reasons.
   3. To recommend to the Dean that the degree of Doctor of Medicine be awarded to those students who have satisfactorily completed the four years of medical school education in accordance with the requirements of the Board of Regents of the State of New York, New York University, and the faculty of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and satisfactorily fulfilled the ethical and moral responsibilities inherent in the practice of medicine.
4. Student Disciplinary Tribunal
   1. Composition:
      This committee will consist of a chairperson, four Associate Professors or Professors and four medical students. Two faculty members and two students will serve on the Tribunal; the remaining two faculty and two students will be appointed as alternates. A member of the Legal Department will serve as counsel.
   2. Appointments:
      The chairperson and faculty members will be appointed by the Dean, each for a term of three years. The students will be elected by the School of Medicine student body: each will serve a term of one year.
   3. Charge to Student Disciplinary Tribunal:
      1. This tribunal will convene at the request of the Dean of Student Affairs to examine a charge of student misconduct.
      2. The tribunal will hold a hearing, review the evidence, and as expeditiously as possible deliver its findings, conclusions and recommendations in writing to the Dean.
      3. If the tribunal concludes that the student is guilty of the charge, the tribunal may recommend to the Dean that penalties be imposed. Penalties that may be recommended include admonition, warning, censure, disciplinary probation, restitution for damages, suspension, or expulsion from the medical school.
      4. In the event that a student appeals the findings, conclusions or recommendations of the Tribunal, the chairperson of the Tribunal or his designee shall testify before the Appeals Board, an Ad Hoc committee to be appointed by the Dean.
      5. The procedures to be followed by the Student Disciplinary Tribunal are more fully set forth in the guidelines for the management of student misconduct in the Student Handbook.
5. Harassment Grievance Board
   1. Composition:

      The Board will consist of 20 members. Among these will be two individuals with counseling experience, two medical students, two graduate students, two house staff, two faculty with administrative appointments, and two research postdoctoral fellows. Faculty members of the Board will be representative of both basic science and clinical, junior, and senior faculty. Every effort will be made to have the Board reflect the full diversity of the School of Medicine population. The Chairperson shall be a faculty member with experience in counseling who does not have an administrative appointment.

      In the event that a complaint to the Board warrants further investigation, the Chairperson will chair a five-member Investigative Board. The other four members of the Investigative Board will be chosen by the Chairperson from among the appropriate members of the Harassment Grievance Board. Student, postdoctoral fellow, and house staff members are to be excluded from the Investigative Board in cases involving a faculty member alleging harassment by another faculty member. In cases involving a student, postdoctoral fellow, or house staff member at least one of the members of the Investigative Board will be from the same group as the complainant. Each Investigative Board will have at least one member with experience in counseling, and at least three faculty.

   2. Appointments:

      All members of the Board, including the Chairperson, will be appointed by the Dean after consultation with relevant groups in the School of Medicine. Faculty will serve staggered three-year renewable terms. Students, postdoctoral fellows, and house staff will serve renewable one-year terms.

   3. Charge to Harassment Grievance Board:
   1. Mount Sinai School of Medicine regards any behavior that is harassing, discriminatory or abusive as a violation of the standards of conduct required of all persons associated with the academic missionof the institution. Complaints of such conduct by a faculty member, medical or graduate student, house staff, or postdoctoral fellow against any other such member of the School community may be brought to the School’s Harassment Grievance Board or the Department of Human Resources. (Other members of the School of Medicine staff may bring complaints to the Department of Human Resources.)
   2. To provide a resource for education in the recognition and correction of behaviors that constitute harassment or abuse.
   3. To provide an informal mechanism for the airing of alleged instances of discrimination, harassment or abuse.
   4. To hold hearings and investigations of all formal written complaints by faculty, postdoctoral fellows, house staff, and medical or graduate students alleging discrimination, harassment or abuse, and convey its findings to the Dean. The complete Mount Sinai School of Medicine policy on harassment is on file and available for review in the Reserve Section of the Levy Library, the Dean's Office, the Office of Student Affairs, House Staff Affairs Office, Postdoctoral Affairs Office, and Office of the Graduate School.

Policy on Harassment (Student Handbook)

Harassment Grievance Board Members (Student Handbook)

6. Institutional Review Board (IRB)
   1. Composition:
      This committee is mandated by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Public Health Service to review biomedical and behavioral research involving human subjects in order to protect the subjects' rights and welfare. This committee is also mandated by the Food and Drug Administration to review research proposals that involve investigational drugs and devices in human subjects. As mandated, this committee will consist of physician/scientists of diverse backgrounds who have the professional competence necessary to review specific research activities, at least one member (lay member) whose primary concerns are in nonscientific areas, and at least one member who is not otherwise affiliated with Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
   2. Appointments:
      The chairperson, vice-chairperson and the eighteen physician/scientist members of this committee will be appointed by the Dean. The chairperson and vice-chairperson will be the Associate Deans for Research. The physician/scientist members will be appointed for a term of five years. The lay members will be appointed by the chairperson, each for a term of unspecified duration.
   3. Charge to Institutional Review Board:
      1. To hold regularly scheduled meetings in order to review all research proposals that involve human subjects.
      2. To approve, require modification in (to secure approval), or disapprove research activities that involve human subjects.
      3. To ensure that information given to subjects as part of informed consent is in accord with the guidelines of the U.S. Public Health Service.
      4. To ensure that risks to research subjects are minimized, that any risks are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits, that selection of subjects is equitable, and that informed consent will be obtained and documented (where applicable).
      5. To notify investigators and the institution, in writing, of its decision to approve or disapprove proposed research, and if disapproved, to suggest modifications which are required to secure approval.
      6. To conduct continuing review, at least annually, of research involving human subjects.
      7. To certify within sixty days of submission of an application to the Department of Health and Human Services that the application has been reviewed and approved by the IRB.
      8. To report to the appropriate institutional officials and the Secretary of the Office for Protection from Research Risks, Department of Health and Human Services any serious or continuing noncompliance by investigators with the requirements and determinations of the IRB.
      9. To periodically report on the activities of this committee through the Dean to the Board of Trustees.
7. Institutional Animal Care And Use Committee (IACUC)
   1. Mandate and Composition:

      All institutions conducting research, teaching or testing involving live animals are required by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), Animal Welfare Act Regulations (AWAR)(§ 1.1) and the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) policy (IV.A.3) to have an IACUC. The mandate of the IACUC is to oversee the institution's animal care and use program and to ensure compliance with the AWA, AWAR, PHS policies and the NRC Guide for the Care and Use of Animals (Guide). As required by federal regulations and the Guide, the MSSM IACUC, in collaboration with the Employee Health Service, also oversees the Institutional Occupational Health and Safety Program for personnel working with animals.

      The composition of the IACUC is mandated by federal regulations. Accordingly, the IACUC of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (MSSM) includes: a) a chairperson, b) the chief Veterinarian and director of the animal facilities, c) practicing scientists experienced in research involving animals and d) one person not affiliated with the Institution. At the discretion of the dean, the MSSM IACUC may also include other members, e.g., an ethicist or the Institutional Biosafety Officer.

   2. Appointments:

      Members of the IACUC are appointed by the Dean of the School of medicine or by the Institutional Official (IO) designated by the Dean. The chair is appointed for a renewable term of five years. The scientists are appointed for a renewable term of two years. The lay member is appointed for a term of unspecified duration. The Veterinarian and Director of the Center for Comparative Medicine and Surgery must serve as a member of this committee.

   3. Functions of the IACUC:
      The mandate of the IACUC is:

   1. To review at least semiannually the institution's program for humane care and use of animals.
   2. To inspect at least semi-annually all of the institution's animal facilities, including satellite facilities and study areas where live animals are used.
   3. To submit semi-annually to the Dean or the IO reports of the IACUC evaluation of the program for the use and care of animals, results of inspections and recommendations for plans to correct deficiencies.
   4. To review concerns involving the care and use of animals at the institution.
   5. To make written recommendations to the dean or the IO regarding any aspects of the institution's animal program, facilities, or personnel training.
   6. To review and approve, require modifications in (to secure approval) or withhold approval of those components of teaching, clinical or research proposals, new and ongoing, that are related to the care and use of animals.
   7. To review and approve, require modifications in (to secure approval) or withhold approval of proposed significant changes regarding the use of animals in ongoing activities.
   8. To suspend an activity involving animals that does not conform to federal regulations and to the institution's Animal Welfare Assurance filed with the U.S. Public Health Service.
   9. To certify to the appropriate local and federal authorities that all aspects of the use of animals described in a teaching, clinical or research proposal have been reviewed and approved by the IACUC.
8. Financial Conflict of Interest in Reseach Committee
   1. Composition:

      The Committee will consist of up to 13 members: up to 10 faculty, one of whom will serve as Chair; Chief Compliance Officer; Director of the Office for Industrial Liaison; Vice Chair of Institutional Review Board. Faculty members will have experience as investigators in human subjects research, and will represent both basic science and clinical departments. The Financial Conflict of Interest in Research Officer and in-house counsel will serve as ex-officio members.

   2. Appointments:
      The Chairperson and other faculty members will be appointed by the Dean to serve three- to five-year that shall be overlapping to provide continuity of membership. Terms of appointment are renewable at the discretion of the Dean.
   3. Charge to Conflict of Interest in Research Committee:
   1. To review all disclosure statements of Covered Persons, and to identify significant financial conflicts of interest of any Covered Persons engaged in the proposed research.
   2. To review any rebuttal by a financially conflicted Covered Person of the presumption that he/she may not conduct the proposed research, and to recommend and/or review any proposed plan to manage the conflict. The Committee may require modifications of the proposed management and oversight plan.
   3. To make decisions to permit or not to permit a financially conflicted individual to participate in conducting the research. These decisions will be documented and communicated to the principal investigator, the relevant Department Chair, the Institutional Review Board, the GCO, and the Dean.
   4. To maintain records on financial conflict of interest decisions for a minimum of three years after completion of the research.
9. Committee on Ethical Practices in Research
   1. Composition:

      The Committee shall be comprised of twelve faculty selected by the Dean, at least five of whom have their primary appointment in a basic science department or center, and at least five of whom have their primary appointment in a clinical department. The Committee shall have at least five full professors, one of whom shall be appointed Chairperson by the Dean, at least two associate professors, and no more than two assistant professors.

   2. Appointments:

      The Chairperson and eleven additional committee members shall be appointed by the Dean to staggered 5-year renewable terms.

   3. Charge:

      If the Dean concludes that an allegation of misconduct in research is sufficiently credible and specific that potential evidence of research misconduct may be identified, the Dean shall refer the matter immediately to the Chairperson of the Committee on Ethical Practices in Research.

      The Chairperson shall select a panel from the Committee to conduct an inquiry into the alleged wrongdoing for the purpose of determining whether a full-scale investigation should be initiated. The panel investigation will be conducted in accordance with the Policies and Procedures on Ethical Practices in Research

10. Committee on Special Awards and Grants
    1. Composition and Charge:

       The Committee on Special Awards and Grants was formed with two purposes. First, to identify extramural opportunities available, and second, to match these award and grant opportunities with our young faculty. The Committee is composed of Chairs and senior faculty who will critically evaluate research applications, as well as identify and mentor young faculty. The Chair(s) of the Committee is/are appointed by the Dean.