THE ORGANIZATION & BY-LAWS OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES

I. Name and Purpose

The Graduate School is a component of New York Medical College and is subject to its Charter, by-laws and regulations. The purpose of the Graduate School is to provide advanced training in the basic medical sciences, and in such other areas as may be recommended by the Dean and the faculty of the school, and to award the degrees of Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in accordance with and as required by the laws of the State of New York.

II. Organization of the Graduate School

A. The Dean

The Dean of the Graduate School shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees upon the recommendation of the President. The President shall appoint a Search Committee having appropriate representation from the Graduate Faculty Council to recommend candidates for the position of Dean.

Duties of the Dean:

(a) The Dean will be responsible for the administration of the Graduate School and will report to the President.

(b) He/she will represent the interests of the faculty and present their views and recommendations to the President, to the Board of Trustees and to the appropriate bodies deliberating on matters of concern to the Graduate School.

(c) He/she shall represent the Graduate School for all professional matters of the Graduate School with other institutional units, students and the public.

(d) He/she shall prepare annual reports on the work and progress of the Graduate School.

(e) He/she shall prepare the annual school budget in consultation with the Graduate Faculty Council and submit the budget to the President.

(f) He/she shall ascertain adherence to the requirements of the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs as set froth in the Graduate School catalog.

(g) With the cooperation of the Graduate Faculty, he/she shall prepare and maintain the Graduate School catalog as an instrument of information and direction for students and faculty. Prior to publication, each edition of the catalog must be approved by the Faculty Council.

(h) He/she shall preside as Chairperson at meetings of the Faculty Council and Graduate School Faculty.

(i) He/she shall have the power to cast the deciding vote in case of tie on any question under consideration by the Faculty.

(j) He/she shall align, together with the President and Chairman of the Board, diplomas for the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees after the credentials of candidates have been duly approved.
 

B. The Graduate School Faculty

The regular Graduate School Faculty, hereafter referred to as the Faculty, through its elected Graduate Faculty Council, shall have the responsibility of establishing the academic policies of the Graduate School. The Faculty shall consist of full-time faculty members who have been recommended for membership by their department chairpersons and have been approved by a majority vote of the Graduate Faculty Council. In the event that the Graduate Faculty Council fails to approve a nomination to the Faculty, each negative vote by a Graduate Faculty Council Member must be supported by a statement to the Dean of the Graduate School.

The Faculty shall meet three times a year, in October, February and May, on the days to be designated by the Graduate Faculty Council. Additional meetings of the Faculty shall be called within two weeks after petition to the Dean by 20 members of the Faculty. A quorum shall consist of one-third of the Faculty membership.

C. The Graduate Faculty Council

The Graduate Faculty Council, hereafter referred to as the Council, shall consist of the Dean and three representatives from each department of the Gradate School. The department members shall be elected annually by the members of the respective departments.

The Council shall act as the executive board of the faculty and shall be responsible for the establishment of academic policies of the Graduate School. These policies, insofar as they relate to students e.g., admission requirements, academic standards, degree requirements, term of student residence, etc., are to be incorporated into the Graduate School catalog.

The authority to recommend candidates to the Board of Trustees for the degrees Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy shall rest solely with the Faculty Council of the Graduate School.

The Council shall meet once each month except during July and August. A quorum of the Council shall be composed of at least one member from each department and a majority of members of the Council. Additional meetings may be held at the request of the Dean, or a quorum of the Council.

At its first meeting of the academic year, the Council shall elect one of its members to serve for that academic year as Executive Secretary. The Executive Secretary shall prepare the agenda for the meetings, record the minutes, and distribute these to each member of the faculty. In the absence of the Dean, the Executive Secretary will assume the duties of the Dean.

D. Graduate Program Directors

Each independent chairperson shall appoint a director of the departmental graduate program. The directors shall be responsible for the execution and coordination of the departmental programs and the maintenance of departmental records.

Each department shall work out its own graduate program, under the direction of the department chairperson. These programs must conform to guidelines established by the Faculty Council and approved by the Board of Trustees. Changes in approve programs must be sanctioned by the council. The departmental directors shall submit to the Dean annual reports dealing with each department's graduate program.

E. Graduate Students

Prospective students shall apply to the Office of the Dean for admission to the Graduate School. The Dean shall forward applications to the appropriate departments. Students who meet the requirements of the Graduate School and the individual department may be admitted to the School by the Dean upon recommendation of the department.

F. Amendments of Graduate Faculty Organization and By-Laws

Changes in the Faculty Organization and By-Laws

Changes in the Faculty organization and By-Laws may be proposed by the Council. A report of the proposals shall be made in writing by the Council to the Faculty before the next meeting of the Faculty. Adoption of the proposed change or changes shall require approval by two-thirds of the faculty.

G. Enabling Clause for the By-Laws of the Graduate School

In order to permit the expeditious and efficient application of the preceding By-Laws of the Graduate School to the activities of the Graduate School, the Board of Trustees of the New York Medical College hereby accepts the present members of the graduate faulty and delegates of the existing Graduate Faculty Council the powers and duties of the Council as described by the By-Laws. The Graduate School now consists of the Departments of Anatomy, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology and Physiology, but nothing herein precludes expansion into other areas.

Approved Board of Trustees 2/18/69