School of Public Health Constitution

The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

Preamble

The School of Public Health is dedicated to education, search for knowledge, academic excellence, and service to the profession and to the people of the state, of Tribal Nations, of the nation, and of the world. It is the purpose of this Constitution to foster an active, informed faculty, and to promote open communication among all members of the community of the School of Public Health. To this end, the Constitution provides a democratic framework in which are defined the roles of the dean, the faculty, academic professional and administrative staff, civil service staff, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) staff, post-doctoral trainees and fellows, and students in initiating recommendations, formulating decisions, and communicating the basis for decisions to those affected. A separate Bylaws document stipulates processes and procedures required to carry out the requirements of the Constitution as well as other school business as needed.

Section 1. Purpose

Mission:

The mission of the School of Public Health is to improve the health and well-being of populations and communities around the world through excellence in research and education, and by advancing policies and practices that sustain health equity for all.

Section 2. Members and Their Rights and Privileges

The members of the School of Public Health (SPH) shall be its dean, associate and assistant deans, faculty, post-doctoral trainees and post-doctoral fellows, students, academic professional and administrative (P&A) staff, civil service staff, and AFSCME staff.

Members of the school shall participate where appropriate in the affairs of the school. Such affairs include governance, committee activities, and the development and updating of the school's Constitution and Bylaws.

The rights, privileges, and responsibilities of individual members of the School of Public Health shall be in accord with the current University Senate Policy on Academic Freedom and Responsibility.

Procedures to be followed for removal of members for cause shall be in accordance with the current university regulations and policies.

The School of Public Health will be in compliance with grievance and misconduct policies of the University.

This Constitution is not part of the employment contract between the University and its employees. It does not establish terms and conditions of employment.

Article I. General Powers

All matters relating to the educational and administrative affairs of the school are committed to the dean and the school faculty as delegated by the Board of Regents and in accordance with the Constitution of the University Senate and consistent with actions of these bodies heretofore or hereafter taken. These authorities may be modified by subsequent action of the Board of Regents. All actions of the school will be taken in compliance with all appropriate university rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Article II. Dean

Section 1. Duties & Authority of the Dean

The dean is the chief academic and executive officer of the school, responsible for overseeing the academic priorities and day-to-day administrative operations of the school, including but not limited to:

• Setting a vision and aligning school resources to support that vision.
• Supporting faculty, staff and students in the activities of teaching and learning, research, and public engagement.
• Garnering internal and external support for the school, and building relationships and support with alumni, donors, civic and business leaders, and other key partners in the community.
• Oversight of academic programs and delivery of student services.
• Development of research.
• Fiscal and budgetary management, including management of school facilities.
• Working collaboratively with governance groups within the school.
• Fostering an inclusive and respectful culture.
• Executing university and school policies.
• The dean will maintain regular communication with faculty and staff about the current status of the school and provide an annual report on the “State of the School” either orally or in writing.
• Appointment and supervision of the division heads.
• The dean may appoint one or more associate deans, assistant deans, or other officers as may be needed to fulfill responsibilities of the dean.

Section 2. Appointment of the Dean

The dean is appointed by, and serves at the discretion of, the Executive Vice President and Provost (Provost), subject to the approval of the Board of Regents. The provost has sole authority and responsibility for decisions related to the dean's employment, including but not limited to selection, performance evaluation, and termination. A search committee is appointed by the provost and its membership typically includes representatives from School constituencies, including faculty, staff, and students. Interim appointments are made by the provost, after consultation with the faculty, staff, and students. The provost will typically gather feedback on the dean’s progress and performance at established intervals and from a broad range of constituents, including the school’s faculty, staff and students.

Article III. Members of the School

Section 1. Faculty

The faculty of the school shall be all faculty personnel holding primary appointments in the school as Regents' Professor, Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor. The faculty of the School of Public Health will share in the responsibility for the development, implementation, and evaluation of the school's educational, research, and service efforts as well as shared governance of the school. Faculty may be on either contract (term) appointments or on “regular appointments” as defined by the University. A regular appointment refers to a faculty member with either indefinite tenure or a faculty member who is probationary on a tenure track. Faculty include those who also hold emeritus status, those on developmental leave or on phased retirement, and those who also hold an administrative appointment. Voting rights and floor privileges at Faculty Assembly meetings for the various types of faculty are determined by the Faculty Assembly (Article V, Section 2).

Section 2. Academic Professional and Administrative (P&A) Staff

Academic professional and administrative staff generally consist of professional personnel who are assigned to duties enhancing the research, teaching and service functions of the school and of administrative personnel who are involved in policy development or execution or in directing, coordinating, or supervising activities in the school.

Section 3. Civil Service/AFSCME Staff

Civil service/AFSCME employees generally are support staff and scientific/technical staff. This member group does not include persons who are represented by the Graduate Labor Union-United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America (GLUE-UE).

Section 4. Post-doctoral Appointees

Post-doctoral members are those holding post-doctoral appointments, such as post-doctoral fellows and post-doctoral trainees.

Section 5. Students

Student members are defined in alignment with the Student Senate Constitution: degree-seeking students enrolled in a School of Public Health degree program.

Section 6. Rights, Privileges, and Responsibilities

All member groups of the school (faculty, academic professional and administrative staff, civil service/AFSCME staff, post-doctoral appointees, and students) are expected to participate in the affairs of the school, including its governance, its committees, and in the revision of the school Constitution and Bylaws, as described in the Articles below. In addition, all member groups are encouraged to participate in the affairs of the University, for example as members of committees or task forces, or as representatives to the University Senate.

All members of the school shall be governed by the policies and procedures of the Board of Regents and the University in all matters addressed by those documents or policies which are in effect at the time of adoption or amendment of this Constitution, or as such documents or policies may be subsequently amended. This includes, but is not limited to, policies and procedures on professional and ethical conduct and reporting of misconduct, academic freedom and responsibility, and on implementation of faculty tenure regulations.

Article IV. Administrative Structure

Section 1. School Administration

The dean, associate deans, and division heads will meet regularly as the school’s senior leadership group to discuss mission and goals, administration, strategic planning, finances, resources, and other issues of import to the divisions and school. Following consultation with the senior leadership group, the dean may establish offices or administrative units in the school to serve purposes that are integral to the school’s mission. 

The dean may, following consultation with the Policy Council (Article V, Section 3.7), initiate and/or discontinue one or more associate or assistant dean positions as may be warranted by the needs of the school. The dean may appoint persons to those positions after consultation with the senior leadership group and other constituencies. Appointment terms shall be negotiated by the dean and the assistant or associate dean, and typically range from three to five years with reappointment possible. The performance evaluation of the associate or assistant deans shall be in the form and manner determined by the dean in conformance with university policies for reviewing administrators, but shall include consultation with the senior leadership group.

Section 2. Divisions and Division Heads

Designation of Divisions:

The dean shall have the authority to create and dissolve divisions within the school with the approval of the Policy Council (Article V, Section 3.7). Prior to such creation or dissolution, the dean will initiate a review to ascertain the impact of the proposed changes on the school's mission, goals, objectives, and finances. The dean will present a written summary of the findings of such review to the Policy Council. Prior to a Policy Council vote, Policy Council will ascertain the level of school support for the action through a recommendation vote taken among the faculty and staff with voting privileges (Article V), the results of which will be shared back with the faculty and staff.

Appointment of Division Heads:

Division heads shall be appointed by the dean after consultation with school leadership, in accordance with any school policies. Consultation is seeking and considering input from faculty, staff, students, and/or other constituents and may take such forms as group meetings, feedback opportunities via conversations or forms, or other activities or communications between the dean and the division. Division heads shall be faculty members of the School of Public Health and be accountable to the dean. The dean shall conduct an annual review of the performance of each division head. The review shall be in the form and manner determined by the dean in compliance with university policies and in alignment with the division head position description. Appointment terms shall be negotiated by the dean and division head and typically range from three to five years. By the end of the initial appointment or any subsequent reappointment, the dean will review and determine continuation of the appointment after consultation as described above.

Functions:

The division heads shall implement the school's mission and goals, ensure the financial stability of their division in collaboration with the dean, and work together to foster collaborative efforts among the divisions. The division head serves as the leader and chief administrator of the division and represents the division to all levels of the school and university administration and to external stakeholders. The division head will consult with division faculty, staff, and students and make recommendations to the dean on division and school issues. The division head is also responsible for development of a vision for the division and implementing plans to achieve that vision; execution of university, school, and division policies; the management of division funds/facilities/resources; oversight of division governance procedures; supervision of the faculty in accordance with university and school policies including the assignment of teaching; and other duties as assigned by the dean.

Division heads also provide the dean with recommendations in management and administrative matters of school-wide nature. These shall include school-wide strategic and operational planning, policies and procedures, resource requests and allocations, performance in relation to the school's mission and goals, and coordination of the school's programs of study. They shall serve as voting members of the Policy Council.

Article V. Governance

Section 1.  School Assembly

Purpose:

A School Assembly shall function as a forum for consideration of any matters regarding the wellbeing of the members of the School (faculty, academic professional and administrative staff, civil service/AFSCME staff, post-doctoral appointees, and students; Article III) which affect the school as a whole.

1. Any member of the school may directly suggest matters for consideration at an assembly meeting to their constituent governance group of the school (Faculty Consultative Committee; Staff Consultative Committee; Student Senate), which may bring the matter to the dean for consideration.
2. In general, matters suggested by members to the Student Senate shall include but not be limited to matters in the area of student government, student organizations, and student publications.
3. In general, matters suggested by members to the Faculty Consultative Committee shall include but not be limited to the development, implementation, and evaluation of the school's education, research and service efforts; accreditation; policies and procedures concerning faculty appointment and tenure; and faculty professional and personal wellbeing.
4. In general, matters suggested by members to the Staff Consultative Committee shall include but not be limited to staff professional and personal wellbeing.

Meetings:

The dean shall call regular meetings, at least once in each academic year, at a time and place determined by the dean, who shall chair the meetings. The dean will prepare the agenda, considering suggestions from the school’s governance groups. Member groups of the school (Article III) will be invited to an assembly meeting in accordance with the matters on the agenda. Once a year, the dean shall provide a State of the School Address.

Section 2.  Faculty Assembly

Purpose:

A Faculty Assembly shall function as a forum for consideration of any matters regarding the wellbeing of the faculty or of the school. These matters include but are not limited to the powers allocated to the faculty by the Regents or by the Regulations Concerning Faculty Tenure.

Meetings and Agendas:

The Faculty Assembly will occur not less than once in each semester of the academic year or upon the request of the Faculty Consultative Committee. The dean or a faculty designate of the dean shall serve as chairperson of the meetings of the faculty.

The agenda for faculty meetings shall be developed by the dean in consultation with the Faculty Consultative Committee and be distributed to all faculty with the notice of the meetings. The dean in consultation with the Faculty Consultative Committee may extend meeting invitations to non-faculty members of the school, such as professional academic and administrative staff who hold primary responsibility for teaching (as defined by the University Administrative Policy on Academic Appointments with Teaching Functions) or professional and administrative staff who hold Principal Investigator roles on sponsored projects; those invited are typically also given floor privileges but are not given voting rights except in conditions detailed below under “Voting Faculty.”

Operating Rules:

Typically, the opportunity for discussion at a meeting of matters to be voted on will be announced via the agenda. Confidential ballots will be distributed electronically after the meeting so that all members of the voting faculty have the opportunity to vote. A majority (50%+1) of the voting faculty shall constitute a quorum for the vote. All members of the faculty shall be entitled to speak and to offer motions for action. Only those designated as voting faculty shall be entitled to vote. Materials shared at faculty meetings shall be distributed to all faculty.

Voting Faculty:

The voting faculty of the school shall be composed of the faculty defined in Article III Section 1, who are budgeted through the school with an appointment of at least 50 percent at the time of the vote. Specific votes in the school may be restricted to the contract faculty and/or probationary tenure-track and/or tenured faculty to be in alignment with the Board of Regents' Policy on Faculty Tenure.

Adjunct, affiliate, and visiting faculty do not hold voting rights in motions of the Faculty Assembly and do not count towards any quorum requirements, except where otherwise noted or as granted to them by the voting faculty. Non-faculty who may be invited to a Faculty Assembly meeting do not hold voting rights in motions of the Faculty Assembly and do not count towards any quorum requirements, except where otherwise noted or as granted to them by the voting faculty. The voting faculty may vote to grant voting rights to specified groups for specific items being voted upon. A 50%+1 quorum of voting faculty is required to hold a vote to grant voting rights to another group, and a simple majority (50%+1) of those voting must be in favor of the specified voting rights in order to grant them.

The definition of the voting faculty of the School of Public Health for the purposes of this Constitution shall not govern the designation of voting members in the conduct of matters wholly within one of the school's divisions or degree programs, nor voting for the purposes of academic appointment, promotion, and tenure.

Section 3. Standing Committees

Section 3.1 Faculty Consultative Committee

Purpose:

The Faculty Consultative Committee (FCC) advises the dean on matters pertinent to the research, educational, and service missions of the School of Public Health, including administrative areas such as faculty affairs, finance, and planning. The responsibilities of the FCC include:

• Working with the dean to develop the agenda for Faculty Assembly meetings;
• Representing, discussing, and seeking action on behalf of the faculty;
• Through the FCC representative to the Policy Council, reviewing and making recommendations on school-wide policies that are being discussed by the Policy Council.

Faculty may bring any issue they feel needs school attention to the FCC for discussion and potential action.

Membership:

Members shall consist of:

• One tenure-track or tenured faculty member elected from each division by confidential ballot by the voting tenure-track/tenured faculty of their division;
• One contract faculty member elected from across the school by confidential ballot by the voting contract faculty of the school;
• Two additional at-large faculty members from across the school, elected by confidential ballot of all voting faculty of the school. 

The dean, associate deans, assistant deans, and division heads are ineligible to serve. 

Elections and Leadership:

Elections are held as described in the Bylaws. Terms are three years in length, staggered such that approximately one third of membership is new each year. Vacancies in a term will be filled by special elections in the relevant division or school. Each year the FCC shall select a chair to serve a one year term in accordance with the Bylaws. Each year the FCC members shall also select one member to serve as the FCC representative on the Policy Council. An FCC member may be re-selected as the chair, or as the Policy Council representative, for additional years during their FCC term(s), consecutive or not.

Meetings:

The FCC shall meet at regular intervals, as designated by the committee, such as monthly, with the dean attending at least once per semester. Special meetings may be called by the dean, by the chair of the FCC, or by one-third of the membership of the FCC. 

Section 3.2 Staff Consultative Committee

Purpose:

The Staff Consultative Committee (SCC) shall address issues of concern to the staff in the School of Public Health. It shall advise and make recommendations to division heads, the FCC, or the dean on matters of concern to staff. It shall recommend staff members to serve on standing or ad hoc committees of the school when such membership is deemed appropriate. Staff may bring any issue they feel needs school attention to the SCC for discussion and potential action. 

Membership:

The membership of the SCC shall be composed of two staff members from each division, and a total of two for all the central administrative offices in the school. Of the two staff members from the divisions and the central offices, one shall be P&A and the other Civil Service or AFSCME staff. In addition, for each of these three job classifications, each division with more than 100 staff currently employed at least 50 percent time shall elect a second member. The SCC must ensure representation across both job classifications and all areas of the school. The school’s Chief of Staff (or equivalent), is ineligible to serve.

Elections and Leadership:

Elections are held as described in the Bylaws. All P&A employees of each division shall elect one of their members who is employed at least 50 percent time as a representative to the SCC. All Civil Service and AFSCME staff of each division shall elect one of their members who is at least 50 percent time as a representative to the SCC. Elected representatives will serve terms of two years each, with the terms staggered such that approximately 50 percent of the elected representatives are new each year. The vice chair of the Staff Consultative Committee will automatically assume the role of chair for the following year to help ensure continuity of the SCC’s goals and on-going projects. A vice chair will be elected by the SCC representatives at the first meeting following representative elections or a vacancy of the vice chair position. The SCC chair (or delegate from among the SCC members) serves as the SCC representative on the Policy Council. An SCC member may be re-selected as the Policy Council representative for additional years during their SCC term(s), consecutive or not.

Meetings:

The Staff Consultative Committee shall meet at regular intervals, as designated by the committee. Special meetings may be called by the dean, by the chair of the SCC, or by one-third of the membership of the SCC. The Staff Consultative Committee members may also meet separately as P&A employees or as Civil Service and AFSCME staff, if requested by an SCC member.

Section 3.3 Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure Committee

Purpose:

The Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure Committee (APT) shall be responsible for the implementation of the provisions of the school’s Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure Policy (7.12 Statement) and the Contract Faculty Appointment and Promotion Policy.

Membership, Appointments, and Leadership:

Membership, appointments, and leadership, including eligibility of members to participate in each of the various APT activities and responsibilities, is determined by the school’s Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure Policy (7.12 Statement) and by the Contract Faculty Appointment and Promotion Policy. If there is any discrepancy or contradiction in membership, appointment, or leadership structure between these two documents, the 7.12 Statement shall be the definitive policy on these issues until discrepancies can be resolved and codified.

Meetings:

Meeting schedules are determined to align with school- and provost-determined deadlines for appointment, promotion, tenure, developmental review, developmental leave, and other processes that fall within APT’s purview.

Section 3.4 Educational Policy Committee

Purpose:

The Educational Policy Committee (EPC) is an advisory body to the dean. The EPC shall be responsible for:

• Working with the dean to envision future directions for educational programs and policies.
• Making recommendations to the dean on proposed new degree programs, and the sunsetting of existing programs, via committee review and vote.
• Through the EPC representative to the Policy Council, reviewing and making recommendations on school-wide policies that are being discussed by the Policy Council. A “policy” is interpreted here as a set of rules and does not include guidelines, procedures, or practices.
• Regular review of existing courses and degree programs.
• Approval of proposed courses via committee review and vote.
• Serving as a forum for the exchange of information about education programs, pedagogy, and enhancing and supporting quality teaching.
• Other matters with import for the education of the school’s students and for instructors of the school’s courses. 

Membership:

The voting membership shall consist of one faculty member for each MPH “major” program, each graduate program, and each undergraduate program (preferably the program’s director for each of them), two student members (nominated by the SPH Student Senate), and one Graduate Program Coordinator (selected by the Graduate Program Coordinators). Voting members who represent more than one program cast one vote per program represented. Programs not directly represented with a voting member include integrated degree programs (e.g., 4+1), minors that do not have a corresponding major, and certificate programs. The Associate Dean of Education & Student Engagement and the school’s registrar (or their equivalents) serve as ex officio, non-voting members. The registrar serves as staff support for the committee. Other significant educational activities may be represented as ex officio, non-voting members, or as invitees to appropriate EPC meetings, as the EPC shall decide. The dean is ineligible to serve.

Appointments and Leadership:

Appointments are made as described in the Bylaws. Vacancies in membership will be filled by the respective educational program or the Student Senate. The chair and vice-chair of the EPC each serve for one year. The chair appointment rotates through the four divisions in the following order: Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology & Community Health, Health Policy & Management. The vice-chair is selected from among the directors from the next division in the list; the vice chair becomes the chair in the next year. The EPC chair (or delegate from among the EPC members) serves as the EPC representative on the Policy Council. An EPC member may be re-selected as the Policy Council representative for additional years during their EPC term(s), consecutive or not.

Meetings:

The EPC shall meet at regular intervals, as designated by the Committee, such as monthly. A simple majority (50%+1) of EPC total votes is required to be present to hold a vote. Approval by a simple majority (50%+1) of the total votes present is required to pass proposals and decisions. Special meetings may be called by the dean, by the chair of the EPC, or by one-third of the membership of the EPC. 

Section 3.5 Research Committee

Purpose:

The Research Committee (RC) shall be responsible for making recommendations to the dean regarding distribution of special school research funding and advising the dean on research policy, procedures, practices, and other related topics in alignment with the school’s strategic priorities. The Research Committee shall work in consultation with division research committees. A “policy” is interpreted here as a set of rules and does not include guidelines, procedures, or practices.

Membership:

Committee membership shall consist of one faculty member from each division, one staff grant administrator from each division, one research staff member from each division, one student, one postdoctoral trainee or fellow, and one research staff member. The Associate Dean for Research (or equivalent) is an ex officio member of the committee. The dean, other associate deans, and division heads are ineligible to serve.

Appointments and Leadership:

Appointments are made as described in the Bylaws. Appointment of faculty members should consider representation across seniority levels. Vacancies will be filled through appointment by the dean upon recommendation of the associate dean, respective division head, Staff Consultative Committee, or Student Senate. Terms are for two years with reappointment possible for subsequent terms. The Associate Dean for Research shall chair the committee and shall communicate committee recommendations, concerns, and other issues to the dean. Each year the RC members shall also select one faculty or staff RC committee member to serve as the RC representative on the Policy Council. 

Meetings:

The RC shall meet at regular intervals, as designated by the chair, such as monthly. For issues or items voted on by the committee, a simple majority (50%+1) of those present at the meeting is required to pass; the chair does not vote unless a tie-breaker is needed. Special meetings may be called by the dean, by the chair of the RC, or by one-third of the membership of the RC. 

Section 3.6 Recognition, Awards, and Honors Committee

The Recognition, Awards, and Honors Committee (RAH) shall be responsible for fostering the recognition of outstanding contributions by members of the school community, including seeking and reviewing nominations and deciding on awardees. Appointments are made as described in the Bylaws. Membership shall consist of one faculty member from each division (3 year terms, staggered), one civil service/AFSCME staff and one academic professional and administrative staff (3 year terms, staggered), one student (1 year term), a representative of the School of Public Health Alumni Society, and the most recent winner of one of the school’s teaching awards (preferably the winner of the Leonard Schuman Award for Excellence in Teaching; 1 year term). Vacancies will be filled through appointment by the dean upon recommendation of the respective division head, president of the Student Senate, Staff Consultative Committee, or Alumni Society. Ex-officio non-voting members are the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and one of the school’s Human Resources staff (to advise on award criteria, eligibility of nominees, and availability of award funds). The dean, associate deans, and division heads are ineligible to serve.

Section 3.7 Student Senate

The School of Public Health Student Senate serves as a liaison between the student body and the school’s faculty and staff. The Student Senate’s purpose, authority, duties, membership, leadership, and internal structures and procedures are dictated by the School of Public Health Student Senate Constitution and Bylaws.

Section 3.8 Policy Council

Purpose:

1. To develop and oversee policies governing the School of Public Health. A “policy” is interpreted here as a set of rules and does not include guidelines, procedures, or practices. “Policy” shall include the organizational structure of the school, including the creation, dissolution, or merger of any division or degree program. The dean shall be required to present all proposed new policies and policy changes in these areas to the Policy Council, in advance of any action, for their review and vote. In addition, the dean or any three voting members of the Council may propose a new policy or policy change in any of these areas. Prior to implementation, approval of new policies and policy changes which affect the organizational structure of the school, including the creation, dissolution, or merger of any division, or degree program, requires a two-thirds vote of the members eligible to vote. Approval of new policies and policy changes in the other areas requires a simple majority of voting members eligible to vote if the dean has proposed the policy, otherwise, it requires approval by two-thirds of the voting members eligible to vote.
2. To consider and discuss all school-wide policy issues of concern to the Council’s member constituencies.
3. To function as a Committee on Committees, as described in the Bylaws.
4. To initiate whatever studies within its powers that it deems necessary or to request such studies from the dean or from standing committees of the school.
5. To advise the dean on proposed decisions involving major administrative appointments.
6. To report regularly on any matters which, in its judgment, should be brought to the attention of the school.
7. To review an annual summary on the school’s adherence to its governance as described in these Constitution & Bylaws. The dean shall direct a member of the dean’s office to compile this summary.

Membership:

The Policy Council shall consist of the following voting, ex officio members:

1. The Dean, who shall chair the Council.
2. The Head of each Division.
3. The Chair of FCC (or other delegate from FCC).
4. The Chair of the Staff Consultative Committee (or other delegate from SCC).
5. The President of the Student Senate.
6. The Chair of the Educational Policy Committee (or other delegate from EPC).
7. One faculty or staff representative from Research Committee.

The following shall sit as nonvoting, ex officio members of the Policy Council:

1. Associate Deans.
2. Chief Financial Officer.

Appointments and Leadership:

All members are appointed ex officio. The dean is the Policy Council chair.

Meetings:

The Policy Council shall meet at least annually. In addition, the dean or any three other voting members can call a meeting or place any item on the agenda of the meeting. The agenda shall be distributed in advance to all Policy Council members. Minutes of the meetings will be made available to the school.

A quorum shall consist of a simple majority (50%+1) of voting members of the Council, as long as it consists of at least the dean or the dean's designate, at least half of the division heads, and at least half of the faculty, staff, and student members. If the dean cannot attend, the dean must provide a designate to chair the meeting. If other voting members of the Council cannot attend, they may designate another person from their constituency to act on their behalf so long as they inform the chair of the Council prior to the meeting. The absent member may instruct their designee’s action and bind the designee’s vote in the Policy Council.

The agenda for one meeting per year will be to review policies that were approved 5 or more years ago, across a rotating schedule so that each policy is reviewed approximately every 5 years after approval; this includes these Constitution & Bylaws. The Policy Council will consider and discuss whether the policy is still relevant, necessary, and written appropriately. A simple majority (50%+1) vote of the attending members will determine whether a specific policy needs a detailed review including potentially a drafted revision. If it is unclear in the policy statement under whose purview the policy operates (Educational Policy Committee, Research Committee, Dean’s office, etc.), Policy Council will recommend to the dean an appropriate group for taking the lead on the detailed review and drafted revision. The Dean’s Office is responsible for maintaining the school’s policy repository including all policies, for making this repository readily available to school members (e.g., via shared drive or web page), and for setting up the schedule for this review of existing policies. 

Additional Policy Council meetings are convened as needed, as described above, to fulfill Policy Council responsibilities.

Article VI. Revisions and Amendments

Section 1.

Proposed revisions and amendments to the Constitution of the School of Public Health may be initiated by the dean or the Policy Council, or by the Faculty Consultative Committee. Such proposed revisions and amendments shall be distributed to school members at least ten days in advance of the meetings at which they are to be discussed and considered. Such proposed revisions and amendments shall be discussed at separate meetings of the Faculty, the Staff Consultative Committee, and the Student Senate Executive Board. Following the SCC meeting, a confidential ballot will be distributed on behalf of the SCC to all staff, where the vote is to recommend or not recommend the adoption of the proposed revisions. Following the Student Senate Executive Board meeting, a confidential ballot will be distributed to those members, where the vote is to recommend or not recommend the adoption of the proposed revisions. These staff and student recommendation voting results will be shared with the faculty in advance of the Faculty Assembly to discuss the proposed revisions and amendments. Following the Faculty Assembly at which the proposal is discussed, a confidential ballot shall be distributed to each voting faculty member. All ballots received within ten days following distribution shall be counted. Approval by two-thirds of the voting faculty members who vote shall be required for revision and/or amendment provided a simple majority (50%+1) of voting faculty (as defined in Article III, Section 1) cast ballots. Such voting shall be held during fall or spring semester, excluding the first ten days following the start of each of those semesters.

Section 2.

Proposed revisions and amendments to the Constitution, duly approved and ratified by the voting faculty of the School of Public Health in accord with Section 1 above, shall be submitted to the Executive Vice President and Provost for final approval. They shall be in effect as of the day following approval by the provost.

History

Original Constitution and Bylaws Approved by University of Minnesota Board of Regents, May 1980. Revised Constitution and Bylaws Reviewed by School of Public Health Faculty, September 16, 1982.

Revised Constitution and Bylaws Approved by University of Minnesota Board of Regents, January, 1983. 

Revised Constitution and Bylaws Reviewed at School of Public Health Faculty meeting, May 10, 1993.

Revised Constitution and Bylaws Approved and Ratified by School of Public Health Faculty, May 26, 1993.

Revised Constitution and Bylaws, dated June 2, 1995, Approved and Ratified by School of Public Health Faculty, June 12, 1995.

Revised Bylaws Reflecting APT Membership Approved and Ratified by School of Public Health Faculty, May 25, 1999.

Revised Constitution and Bylaws Updating Titles, Unit Designation and Academic Calendar References, August 20, 1999. 

Date Uploaded to University Policy Website: 01-14-2021

Revised Constitution and Bylaws Approved and Ratified by School of Public Health Faculty, September 29, 2025. Approved by the Provost, October 06, 2025.

Contact Information

School of Public Health Dean’s Office

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 612-625-1179

Web: sph.umn.edu