Governance Document of The University Of Massachusetts Worcester

Introduction

The University of Massachusetts Worcester (UMW) [also known as the UMass Chan Medical School] was created by an Act of the Massachusetts legislature in 1962.  For purposes of clarity, UMW / UMass Chan will herein be referred to as UMW.  UMW’s main campus is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, and UMW is one of five campuses that comprise the University of Massachusetts (University) educational system.

UMW consists of the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, and such other schools as may be developed.  Currently, the three Schools identified are the sole degree-awarding entities.

UMW’s primary clinical partner is the UMass Memorial Health Care, Inc. (UMMHC), a relationship created through an Act of the Massachusetts legislature (Chapter 163 of the Acts of 1997) and certain contractual agreements entered into in 1998, including but not limited to the Amended and Restated Definitive Agreement dated March 31, 1998.  UMW & UMMHC participate in a dual-employment arrangement under which clinical faculty may receive a portion of their salary from the UMMHC for the provision of clinical services.  In addition to UMMHC, UMW engages in contractual and affiliate arrangements with other entities for mission related activities.

UMW is the health science campus of the University and is subject to the jurisdiction of the University’s Board of Trustees and President.  This Governance Document applies to UMW’s faculty, students and administration insofar as it is consistent with the University’s Board of Trustees Statement of University Governance (Doc. T73-098, as amended). 

The purpose of this Governance Document is four-fold.  First, it describes the administrative organization of the UMW campus.  Second, it defines the roles and duties of the governance structure.  Third, it establishes the governing bodies, their areas of governance, and the processes by which faculty and student affairs policies and program decisions are reviewed within UMW.  Fourth, and consistent with the principal of joint effort described in the above referenced Trustee Document T73-098, it provides a mechanism by which UMW’s faculty as a whole and representatives of the faculty and students participate through committees in the policy and decision-making processes that affect the UMW campus, and by which the UMW campus is informed of critical deliberations and decisions. 

The University’s Board of Trustees, while retaining ultimate legal authority in governing the University, recognizes the governance roles exercised by UMW’s Chancellor, Provost, Deans, faculty and students.  The University further recognizes the rights, responsibilities and privileges of the faculty and students to advise on policies affecting their campus and ultimately the University (Doc. T73-098 as amended).  Each School of UMW promulgates its own bylaws under the general principles set forth in this document.

This Governance Document supersedes any earlier version of UMW’s governance (the subject Doc. T03-035).  UMW recognizes that other campus, School, and University policies or procedures as well as Federal and State laws and regulations exist relating to certain subject matters described herein.  In case of conflict between this Governance Document and other campus or School policies or procedures, this Governance Document shall take precedence.  In case of conflict between this Governance Document and University policy or Federal/State law or regulation, the University policy and Federal/State law or regulation shall take precedence.

The UMass Chan Medical School consists of the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing and other schools, programs, and relationships that may exist at a given time. Its mission is as follows: "The mission of UMass Chan Medical School is to serve the people of the Commonwealth through programs of national distinction in health sciences education, research, public service and clinical care." 

The faculty, the students and the administration, are the components of the university to which this governance policy relates. The purpose of this UMass Chan Medical School Governance document is three-fold. First, the Governance Document describes the administrative organization of the campus. Second, the Governance Document establishes a governing body and oversight advisory committee framework in which academic faculty and student affairs policy and program decisions are processed within UMass Chan Medical School. Third, the Governance Document provides a committee structure by which the faculty as a whole and representatives of the faculty participate in the policy- and decision-making processes of the campus, and by which faculty are informed of critical deliberations and decisions. 

Each school on this campus promulgates its own bylaws and governance documents, under the general principles set forth in this document and by the Board of Trustees Statement on University Governance (DOC. T73-098). Changes to school bylaws require approval by the faculty of that respective school, the Chancellor or his/her designee for Academic Affairs and the Board of Trustees.