Version Dec. 24, 2024

ARTICLE I. Administration
  1. Relation to the university

The School of Public Health is a school at Washington University and, as is, is subject to the policies and procedures of Washington University.

  1. Mission of the School

The mission of the School is to advance public health, in sustained partnership with local to global communities, centered in equity and justice.

  1. The Dean

The Dean will have direct oversight over all educational, research, and service programs and over the administrative and budgetary aspects of the School.

The Dean shall:

  1. Be responsible for the review and analysis of existing educational, research, service, and administrative programs, identification of program problems, and development of recommendations for improvement.
  2. Develop annually, with members of the leadership team, a budget for the School for submission to the Provost and relevant university leaders.
  3. Negotiate contracts with faculty and staff subject to university policies and approvals.
  4. Approve in advance of submission all applications for grant monies for the support of teaching, training, or research.
  5. Coordinate the activities of the School with the other university schools.
  6. Preside at meetings of the School Assembly.
  7. Chair the Governing Council.
  8. Be an ex officio member of all standing committees.
  9. Appoint the chairs of all committees except the Governing Council.
  10. Approve the members of all committees except the Governing Council.
  11. Have such other duties, responsibilities, and authority as may be delegated to the Dean from time to time by the Provost or Chancellor of the university.
  1. Organizational Units
  1. Requests for creation, modification, and elimination of departments, centers, or administrative units may be initiated by the School’s faculty, associate deans, or Dean, and must be approved by the Governing Council.
  2. Faculty appointments are made to the School, although faculty may work within centers and other administrative units in the School as agreed upon by the Dean.
  1. The Associate Deans

Associate deans will be appointed by the Dean and shall serve at will. They will perform such duties as are assigned to them by these bylaws and by the Dean.

  1. Associate Dean for Administration

The Associate Dean for Administration is responsible for the School’s administrative and financial portfolio, including long-term strategic financial planning, human resources administration, sponsored research administration, building operations, infrastructure, and space planning, and works closely with the Dean and the other associate deans on all matters related to School operations.

  1. Associate Dean for Education

The Associate Dean for Education is responsible for overseeing all of the School’s academic programs. Responsibilities include curriculum planning and review, academic policy creation and implementation, faculty educational development activities, and student academic discipline.

  1. Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs

The Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs is responsible for the coordination of three aspects of faculty functioning: development and service opportunities for faculty, review for tenure and promotion, and recruitment and appointment of faculty. These responsibilities include overseeing the School’s Faculty Handbook.

  1. Associate Dean for Research

The Associate Dean for Research is responsible for promoting and coordinating the School’s research programs. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the review and evaluation of research programs, recommending measures to enhance the quantity and quality of research at the School and ensuring adequate resources to support these programs.

  1. Associate Dean for Practice

The Associate Dean for Practice is responsible for the School’s practice programs and for its linkages with external organizations. Responsibilities include promoting the School’s engagement with the global public health practice community, strengthening connections with public health agencies, and promoting public health practice activities throughout the School.

  1. Other Administrative Appointments
  1. The Dean may appoint other associate or assistant deans who shall serve at will.
  2. The Dean may appoint center directors or leaders of other academic, research or administrative units who shall serve at will.
  1. Process for Appointing Associate Deans, Assistant Deans, and unit leaders
  1. Prior to appointing an associate dean or unit leader, the Dean shall seek the advice of other unit leaders, associate deans, assistant deans, faculty, staff, and students and shall convene an advisory committee.
  2. The Dean may appoint Acting Chairs or Acting Associate Deans at the Dean’s sole discretion.
  3. Associate Deans may appoint assistant deans in consultation with the Dean.
ARTICLE II. School Assemblies
  1. School Assemblies, with the Dean or their alternate acting as chair, will be convened at least twice during the academic year.
  2. Two-thirds of the primary faculty will constitute a quorum to transact faculty-related business during School Assemblies.
ARTICLE III. Committees
  1. Governing Council
  1. The Governing Council will be the senior governance body for the School.
  2. The Governing Council will be comprised of all associate deans, all academic unit leaders, the elected chair of the SPH Faculty Senate, the elected chair of the SPH Staff Senate, the elected chair or a designated representative on behalf of the SPH Student Senate, and other members of the SPH community at the Dean’s discretion.
  3. The Dean will chair the Governing Council.
  4. The Governing Council will have approval authority for planning, budgeting, space, schoolwide policy setting, and other strategic activities. It will advise the Dean on senior administrative appointments.
  5. The Governing Council will consider matters referred to it by the Dean, the Faculty Senate, the Staff Senate, the Student Senate, or other members of the School community.
  6. The Governing Council will establish and follow formal procedures for gathering written input from the Faculty Senate, the Staff Senate, and the Student Senate whenever it is considering a major strategic or policy decision. Such procedures will be reviewed as indicated in the SPH policy on procedures for reviewing and approving major policy and planning initiatives, available in the SPH Faculty Handbook.
  7. The Governing Council will meet at least four times per year at the call of the Dean.
  1. Dean’s Cabinet
  1. The Dean’s Cabinet shall be comprised of Associate Deans and other senior leaders as designated by the Dean.
  2. The Dean’s Cabinet shall serve as the operational administrative body in the School, implementing policies and procedures as approved by the Governing Council.
  1. Administrative Council
  1. The Administrative Council will be comprised of the Associate Dean for Administration, who shall serve as chair, and at least one administrative member from each administrative unit.
  2. The Administrative Council shall implement university policies and practices pertaining to the School’s finance, sponsored research, human resources, operations, and compliance-related issues. It shall also serve as the main communication channel for these policies and practices to the unit leaders, faculty, and staff, and, as appropriate, to students.
  1. Faculty Affairs Committee
  1. The Faculty Affairs Committee will be comprised of the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, who shall serve as chair, and at least one faculty member representing each academic unit.
  2. The Faculty Affairs Committee shall be responsible for oversight of the School’s Faculty development, tenure and promotion, and recruitment and appointments.
  3. The committee will keep a current roster of all SPH faculty members.

D1. Appointments and Promotions Subcommittee

  1. The Appointments and Promotions subcommittee will be comprised of the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, who shall serve as chair, and at least one faculty member from each academic unit.
  2. The committee will develop and periodically update a formal set of policies and procedures on faculty appointments and promotions. Updates to the guidelines must be compatible with the applicable sections of the university’s Faculty Handbook and approved by the Governing Council.
  3. The committee shall consider all faculty promotions and appointments in accordance with established policies and procedures. Once approved by the committee, recommendations for appointment or promotion will be made to the Dean for their consideration.

D2. Faculty Development Subcommittee

  1. The Faculty Development subcommittee will be comprised of the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, who shall serve as chair, and at least one faculty member from each academic unit.
  2. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the creation and oversight of programs to support faculty development — in research, teaching, and service — and recommending to the Governing Council ways to ensure that faculty development is enhanced.

D3. Faculty Recruitment Subcommittee

  1. The Faculty Recruitment subcommittee will be comprised of the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, who shall serve as chair, and at least one faculty member from each academic unit.
  2. Responsibilities include the oversight of all faculty recruitment and appointment efforts at the School.
  1. Education Committee
  1. The Education Committee will be comprised of the Associate Dean for Education, who shall serve as chair, the Directors of Master’s and Doctoral education, at least one faculty member from each academic unit, who shall be appointed by the respective unit leader and approved by the Dean, and at least one student.
  2. The committee shall:
  1. Consider all matters related to the School’s curriculum and academic policies.
  2. Evaluate periodically the School’s curriculum and curricular outcomes, including but not limited to, course evaluations, student satisfaction with instructional quality and educational experience, and alumni and employer perceptions of graduate workforce readiness.
  3. Review periodically academic policies and procedures.
  4. Make recommendations for changes in policies as necessary or desirable. Recommendations for significantly policy changes will follow the approval procedure outlined in the SPH policy on procedures for reviewing and approving major policy and planning initiatives, available in the SPH Faculty Handbook.
  5. Review and approve proposed competencies, degree programs and courses.
  6. Oversee the School’s education prizes and awards.

E.1. Master’s subcommittee

  1. The Master’s subcommittee will be comprised of the Director of Master’s education, who shall serve as chair, at least one faculty member from each academic unit, who shall be appointed by the respective unit leader and approved by the Dean, and at least one student.

2. The subcommittee shall:

  1. Oversee and monitor master’s level curriculum.
  2. Approve new master’s level public health courses, degrees, dual MPH degrees, and new MPH concentrations or certificates.
  3. Propose academic policies for master’s level programs.
  4. Monitor and revise, as appropriate, course domain statements, educational objectives and competencies for all master’s level courses.
  5. Review and make modifications, as appropriate, on all feedback on the curriculum (course evaluations, practicum evaluations, feedback from alumni and class surveys).
  6. Monitor, review and recommend admissions requirements for the master’s program.
  7. Propose changes in curriculum direction and graduation and concentration requirements.

E.2. Doctoral subcommittee

  1. The Doctoral subcommittee will be comprised of the Director of doctoral education, who shall serve as chair, at least one faculty member from each academic unit, who shall be appointed by the respective unit leader and approved by the Dean, and at least one student.
  2. The subcommittee shall:
  1. Oversee and monitor the doctoral curriculum and degree requirements.
  2. Approve new doctoral degree concentrations.
  3. Monitor course domain statements and educational objectives for doctoral courses and make revisions as appropriate.
  4. Review and approve requests for deadline extensions for milestones (area statement, qualifying exam, etc.) and enrollment and candidacy.
  5. Review and approve appeals to doctoral program policies and procedures (e.g., academic probation).
  6. Review and approve requests for and returns from leaves of absence.
  7. Review feedback on doctoral curriculum (course evaluations, exit and alumni surveys), and make necessary alterations based on this feedback.
  8. Monitor, review, and approve admissions requirements, policies, and procedures for the doctoral programs.
  9. Make recommendations to the faculty for changes in curriculum direction and graduation and concentration requirements.
  10. Oversee the curricular accreditation requirements for doctoral degrees.
  1. Practice Committee
  1. The Practice Committee will be comprised of the Associate Dean for Practice, who shall serve as chair, at least one faculty member from each academic unit, who shall be appointed and approved by the Dean, and at least one student.
  1. The committee shall:
  1. Consider all matters related to the School’s practice programs and policies.
  2. Review periodically practice policies and procedures.
  3. Make recommendations for changes in policy as necessary or desirable. Recommendations for significant policy changes will follow the approval procedure outlined in the SPH policy on procedures for reviewing and approving major policy and planning initiatives, available in the SPH Faculty Handbook.
  4. Oversee the School’s practice prizes and awards.
  1. Research Committee
  1. The Research Committee will be comprised of the Associate Dean for Research, who shall serve as chair, at least one faculty member from each department, who shall be appointed by the respective department chair and approved by the Dean, and at least one student.
  2. The committee shall:
  1. Consider all matters related to the School’s research programs and policies.
  2. Review periodically research policies and procedures.
  3. Make recommendations for changes in policy as necessary or desirable. Recommendations for significant policy changes will follow the approval procedure outlined in the SPH policy on procedures for reviewing and approving major policy and planning initiatives, available in the SPH Faculty Handbook.
  4. Coordinate efforts to develop research clusters and centers.
  5. Review and approve proposed external funding partners.
  6. Oversee the School’s research prizes and awards.
  1. The Faculty Senate
  1. The Faculty Senate will be an elected body that represents the faculty of the School.
  2. The purpose of the Faculty Senate is to consider and act, or recommend action, as appropriate, on all matters affecting the academic and professional concerns of the faculty of the School, including any matters as may be referred to it by the Dean or the Governing Council.
  3. The Faculty Senate will be governed by its own bylaws, which it alone will have the power to amend. Those bylaws are available in the SPH Faculty Handbook.
  1. Staff Senate
  1. The Staff Senate will be an elected body that represents the staff of the School.
  2. The purpose of the Staff Senate is to consider and act, or recommend action, as appropriate, on all matters affecting the academic and professional concerns of the staff of the School, including any matters as may be referred to it by the Dean or the Governing Council.
  3. The Staff Senate will be governed by its own bylaws, which it alone will have the power to amend. Those bylaws are available in the SPH Staff Handbook.
  1. Student Senate
  1. The Student Senate will be an elected body that represents the students of the School.
  2. The purpose of the Student Senate is to consider and act, or recommend action, as appropriate, on all matters affecting the academic and professional concerns of the students of the School, including any matters as may be referred to it by the Dean or the Governing Council.
  3. The Student Senate will be governed by its own bylaws, which it alone will have the power to amend. Those bylaws are available in the SPH Student Handbook.
  1. Other Committees

The Dean may establish other standing and ad hoc committees and task forces as indicated.

ARTICLE IV. Process for Appointing Chairs and Members of Committees
  1. The chairs of the standing and ad hoc committees, except for those otherwise specified in these bylaws, shall be appointed by the Dean.
  2. Additional members of committees may be appointed by the committee chairs subject to approval by the Dean.
  3. Committee membership may consist of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and individuals from outside the School.
  4. Where specific committee members are serving as ex officio members, they will have full voting privileges unless otherwise noted.
ARTICLE V. Conduct of meetings for all committees
  1. Voting. All members are voting members on all decisions, except on matters when the committee chooses to move into executive session, which may exclude parties with a conflict of interest (e.g., students in the context of particular student or faculty personnel issues).
  2. Executive Session. The committee can decide, by vote of the committee faculty, or determination of the chair, to move into executive session at any time.  If this happens, the members in conflict shall be excused.
  3. Quorum. A quorum of a committee shall be a simple majority of the members. A quorum must be present for a formal vote to be taken on any matter. 
  4. Relationship between Faculty and Committees. The chairs of all standing committees report at each School Assembly. The faculty is required to vote on any significant policy changes.  The faculty is informed of all other actions and has the right to overturn any committee action and send it back to the committee. 
  5. Minutes. Committees shall retain copies of agendas and make a record of their actions.
  6. Minutes are recorded at each committee meeting and approved at the next meeting.
ARTICLE VI. Faculty
  1. Faculty Membership and Voting Privileges
  1. The faculty will be comprised of all persons, at all ranks and tracks, who hold primary, secondary, adjunct, or emeritus appointments at SPH, as indicated in the Appointment and Promotions Guidelines in the Faculty Handbook.
  2. All members of the faculty and staff may participate in discussions at School Assemblies, but only those with primary faculty appointments may vote.
  1. Powers and duties of the faculty:
  1. All faculty participate in School Assemblies and can contribute to discussions about major School initiatives; primary faculty vote on such.
  2. The faculty will have the authority to recommend candidates for degrees.
  3. Faculty members will carry out teaching, research, service, administration, citizenship, and other duties for such periods as agreed upon with the Dean.
  4. Faculty will remain in service throughout the year except for appropriate vacation periods.
  5. Faculty members are expected to attend regular and special School Assemblies.
  6. All members of the faculty will complete an annual review and will have the opportunity to discuss the evaluation and the performance expectations for the coming year.
  7. Members of the faculty will also submit other reports as the Dean may require.
ARTICLE VII. Amendments

The School bylaws may be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the primary faculty. Prior to voting, the proposed amendment shall be discussed at a School Assembly. The vote may be taken electronically or at a meeting of the faculty. At least a two-week advance notice to the faculty is required prior to a vote on a proposed bylaw amendment.