Faculty Bylaws
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Bylaws of the TTUHSC El Paso GSBS
The mission of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso) is to improve the lives of people in our State and our community by focusing on the unique health care needs of socially and culturally diverse border populations through excellence in integrated education, research, and patient care. In order to support the institutional mission, the GSBS provides a superior graduate education as well as leadership by increasing knowledge and understanding through scholarship and research.
The mission of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) is to educate the next generation of scientists and health-related professionals by providing a dynamic research environment oriented to satisfy the learning needs of a multicultural group of students by fostering creativity and discovery.
The faculty and staff of the GSBS are committed to follow the TTUHSC El Paso goals and objectives that will enable the GSBS to fulfill its mission, including:
- Foster the development of competent health care professionals.
- Recruit, develop, and retain outstanding employees.
- Advance knowledge through innovative, peer-review research.
- Improve community health through the provision of patient care services and health-related education.
- Operate effectively and efficiently through maximization of available resources.
Student learning outcomes supported by the GSBS faculty are described below:
Biomedical Concepts and Theories
Students will be able to comprehend basic concepts and theories in the fields of biochemistry, cell biology, laboratory methodologies, genes and function, and biomedical research in relation to human physiology and diseases.
Written and Verbal Communication
Students will be able to express and discuss effectively with peers and professors through oral presentations and written discourse.
Independent Research
Students will be able to plan, organize, conduct, and analyze biomedical research with direction from principal investigator.
Critical Thinking
Students will be able to recall, explain, integrate, and apply key concepts related to the fields of cancer research, infectious diseases, neurosciences, and diabetes & metabolism.
Ethical Behavior
Students will be able to identify, analyze, relate, and address the regulatory environment as well as the normative ethics of conducting biomedical research.
Analytical Thinking
Students will be able to display their understanding of analyzing and presenting data in order to design experiments and present genetic data analysis and basic biostatistics.
Subject to the policies and procedures of the TTUHSC El Paso and the Texas Tech University Board of Regents, the GSBS faculty shall support the mission and goals of the GSBS by having the following responsibilities:
- Definition and delivery of the curriculum content.
- Effectively assess student learning outcomes for each GSBS academic program.
- Develop and enhance opportunities for professional development in order to assess student learning and understanding of the Biomedical Sciences.
- Promote student participation on biomedical research projects to gain first-hand experience in a laboratory setting.
- Award passing grades only to those students who have demonstrated mastery of the course material.
- Evaluate and determine whether students' behavior and/or conduct is suitable to represent the scientific community.
- Consider matters referred by the dean, and/or the GSBS Graduate Council as needed.
3.1 Faculty Credentials
For each educational program, the GSBS justifies and documents the qualifications of its faculty members by reviewing their credentials. Faculty teaching graduate and post-baccalaureate courses shall provide evidence of having earned doctoral/terminal degree in the teaching discipline or related field. It is the policy of the GSBS and TTUHSC El Paso that an official academic transcript for each faculty member be kept on file. The GSBS is responsible for justifying and documenting the qualifications of its faculty members, as required for accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Furthermore, faculty with international degrees are required to provide course-by-course transcript evaluations to the GSBS. The dean reviews transcripts and supporting documentation submitted for the purpose of granting GSBS membership status to new faculty. The GSBS makes every effort to obtain transcripts from the hiring department, but it is faculty’s responsibility to provide evidence of academic credentials.
3.2 Membership
To be eligible for membership, faculty must be employed by TTUHSC El Paso. GSBS faculty
members are faculty who have primary appointments through the Paul L. Foster School
of Medicine (PLFSOM).
Prospective members must:
- Request an appointment to the GSBS.
- Submit academic credentials and a copy of most recent CV.
- Be elected by the majority of the GSBS faculty.
- Be recommended by the GSBS Graduate Council to the dean for final approval or rejection.
Paperwork related to GSBS membership nominations is managed by the GSBS main office.
3.3 Membership Categories
GSBS classifies faculty memberships into three categories:
Full Member – This membership status is determined by the faculty’s primary qualifications and
career interests. Full membership has the privileges (a-g) listed in Section 3.4.
Associate Member – This membership status is granted for the purpose of teaching and officially chairing and/or serving on student hearing committees. GSBS emeritus faculty members may request to the GSBS main office to switch to become associate member. Membership privileges under this category are limited to items (b), (c), and (g) listed in Section 3.4.
Emeritus Member – This membership status is granted mainly for teaching, item (b) from Section 3.4. TTUHSC El Paso GSBS faculty may only be granted emeritus membership at the discretion of the dean.
3.4 Membership Privileges
Privileges may vary based on the membership category described in Section 3.3. GSBS membership privileges include:
- Serving as the instructor of record in a graduate-level course.
- Teaching in a graduate-level course.
- Serving on a student hearing committee as a chair and/or a voting member during a procedure.
- Voting on issues pertaining to curriculum requirements, graduate course content, and changes to specific graduate program guidelines.
- Recommending new faculty members for GSBS membership status.
- Serving as a representative on the GSBS Graduate Council.
- Serving on committees appointed by the dean.
- Voting in the election of officers of the GSBS Graduate Council.
- Voting on general GSBS issues as needed.
3.5 Membership Criteria
Criteria for GSBS faculty membership include:
- Possession of a doctoral/terminal academic degree and recognition of substantive and distinctive contributions to the area of expertise.
- Tangible evidence of ongoing productivity in research and/or other scholarly activities.
- Successful experience in (or potential for) teaching, counseling, and/or directing students at the graduate level.
- Demonstration of professional behavior in interactions with colleagues, students, and staff.
3.6 Review of Membership
Each GSBS faculty member shall be recommended for renewal in five-year intervals.
- The renewal shall be supported with recommendations from the GSBS Graduate Council and ratified/rejected by the dean.
- Any GSBS faculty member who no longer demonstrates evidence of meeting the criteria described in section 3.5 shall be notified of the deficiencies and placed on probation for a period up to two years.
- If deficiencies persist through the end of the probationary period, the GSBS membership shall be terminated.
- The dean reserves the right to revoke membership status based on unprofessional behavior and/or not meeting TTUHSC El Paso guidelines.
4.1 Frequency and Purpose of Meetings
The GSBS faculty shall meet at least once a year. Additional meetings may be called by the dean as needed. The purpose of these meetings is to conduct business brought forward by the Graduate Council, faculty, and the GSBS main office.
4.2 Notification of Meetings
Members of the GSBS faculty shall be notified of the time and place of the regular or special meetings at least a week in advance.
4.3 Authority
The GSBS faculty may override by majority vote any specific action taken by the GSBS Graduate Council.
4.4 Agenda and Conduct of GSBS Faculty Meetings
The agenda of the GSBS faculty meetings shall be established with contributions from faculty, the GSBS main office, and the dean. Only agenda items may be considered for formal action at meetings. Matters not on the agenda may be discussed, but formal action shall require the entire GSBS faculty support or the scheduling of another meeting.
4.5 Majority Vote
Decisions of the GSBS faculty shall be made by a majority vote of members present at a meeting (more than half of the votes cast). The number of GSBS faculty in attendance at a meeting or responding to voting requests is referred to as a quorum.
5.1 The GSBS Graduate Council
The GSBS Graduate Council is a governing body of elected representatives that shall act on behalf of the GSBS faculty and shall serve as an advisory body to the dean on matters relating to the GSBS programs. The GSBS Graduate Council makes final recommendations to the dean. The dean reserves the right to approve or reject Graduate Council recommendations. Reasons for disapproval shall be communicated to the GSBS Graduate Council before further actions are taken.
5.2 Membership
The GSBS Graduate Council shall consist of GSBS faculty members who have served as GSBS faculty for a minimum of one year. The GSBS faculty shall nominate colleagues and/or themselves for these positions. Once nominees are identified, the GSBS faculty shall vote on them. Graduate Council members are elected by GSBS faculty majority vote and ratified by the dean.
5.3 Graduate Council Members
The GSBS Graduate Council consist of six GSBS faculty members.
5.4 Terms of Membership
Elected GSBS Graduate Council members shall serve two-year terms with unrestricted eligibility for re-election. They shall be nominated and elected by July and take office September 1.
5.4 Vacancies
GSBS Graduate Council vacancies shall be filled following the process established in section 5.2.
5.5 Attendance
All GSBS Graduate Council members are expected to attend the meetings of the GSBS Graduate Council. No alternatives or representatives will be allowed in the GSBS Graduate Council meetings. Three unexcused absences shall result in replacement of the GSBS Graduate Council member. In order to select replacements, the GSBS shall follow the process stablished in section 5.2.
5.6 Officers of the GSBS Graduate Council
The dean shall serve as chair of the GSBS Graduate Council and shall have the deciding vote in the event of a tie.
5.7 Frequency and Conduct of Meetings
The GSBS Graduate Council shall generally meet monthly, although additional meetings may be called by the dean or as voted by the GSBS Graduate Council. All members are required to attend the GSBS Graduate Council meetings. Decisions by the GSBS Graduate Council shall be made by a majority vote.
5.8 Agenda Items and Announcement of Meetings
Any member of the GSBS Graduate Council may place items on the agenda of a GSBS Graduate Council meeting. Announcements of time and place for any meeting shall be sent at least a week prior to the meeting to be scheduled. Matters not on the agenda may be discussed, but only agenda items may be considered for formal action at the meeting unless all members are present and vote unanimously to suspend this rule.
The Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences shall be appointed by the President of the TTUHSC El Paso.
7.1 Authority and Affiliation Agreements
The administrative responsibility for the GSBS graduate programs shall fall under the GSBS through the authority vested on the dean by the chancellor, the TTUHSC El Paso president, and the TTU System Board of Regents. Affiliation agreements may be developed between the GSBS and other institutions for purposes such as developing interdisciplinary graduate programs, sharing administrative services, establishing common standards and common admissions procedures, facilitating cross-campus student enrollment in graduate courses, etc. The dean may delegate certain aspects of graduate student program management to the associate/assistant dean to facilitate intercampus program collaboration within these affiliation agreements. All existing and proposed affiliation agreements should be reported at least once per year to the GSBS Graduate Council.
7.2 Course Director’s (Faculty of Record) Responsibilities
Course directors shall be responsible for the content of the course syllabus, review of exams, exam grading, and any other activity related to class delivery, taking into consideration the recommendation of the dean as well as student feedback provided through course evaluations.
7.3 Associate Course Director’s Responsibilities
Associate course directors shall assist the course director in activities related to the development and delivery of the course content as needed.Amendments to the faculty bylaws shall be reviewed by the GSBS Graduate Council and ratified or rejected by the dean. The GSBS main office shall make available to the GSBS Graduate Council a draft of the proposed amendments prior to a call for a meeting. The GSBS Graduate Council shall submit revisions and comments to the GSBS main office. The amended faculty bylaws are discussed and voted upon at a GBSB Graduate Council meeting. The dean reserves the right to approve or reject Graduate Council recommendations.
GSBS main office reserve the right to make administrative changes to the bylaws for minor corrections/additions with notice to the dean and GSBS Graduate Council. Minor changes include, but are not limited to, changes to titles and/or administrative structure.
Information regarding the curriculum, program information and operating policies can be found in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences catalog and handbook.
