For a full breadth of information regarding committees at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, take a look at the SOMC Committees Document.
Committees Related to the University of South Carolina
Description: Formulates specific criteria for tenure and promotion of faculty members in SOM basic science departments, assesses candidates for tenure and/or promotion, and makes recommendations to the SOM Dean.
Chair: Elected by Members
Term of Office: Continuous
Meeting Frequency: As Required
Members: All tenured faculty members in SOM basic science departments.
Description: Formulates specific criteria for tenure and promotion of faculty members in SOM clinical departments, assesses candidates for tenure and/or promotion, and makes recommendations to the SOM Dean.
Chair: Elected by Members
Term of Office: Continuous
Meeting Frequency: As Required
Members: All tenured faculty members in SOM clinical departments.
Description: Formulates specific criteria for tenure and promotion of SOM medical librarians, assesses candidates for tenure and/or promotion, and makes recommendations to the SOM Dean.
Chair: Elected by Members
Term of Office: Continuous
Meeting Frequency: As Required
Members: All tenured medical librarians in the SOM medical library.
Committees Related Directly to the Office of the Dean
Description: Coordinates the process of nomination and election of faculty members to SOM committees; advises the Dean on the appointment of faculty members to SOM and University committees; advises the Dean on the number and purpose of SOM committees and subcommittees; and clarifies, with elected and appointed committee chairs, the charges for each SOM committee and subcommittee; addresses with the Dean all matters referred to it by faculty members; and assists the Dean in obtaining faculty members’ input into decision making.
Chair: Elected by members
Term of Office: 3-year staggered terms; other members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: At least once annually in June and additional meetings as required
Description: Advises the Dean about administration of the SOM.
Chair: Dean
Term of Office: All positions are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: Monthly
Subcommittee:
Description: Assesses and monitors the overall culture and climate within the SOM and recommends organizational strategies, policies, and practices that will enable a diverse, welcoming, and supportive working/learning environment that embodies the SOM values and builds a culture of civility, professionalism, inclusion and wellbeing. Reports through the SOMC Executive Committee. The Staff Council Subcommittee reports through the Culture and Climate Committee.
Chair: Faculty member appointed by the Dean
Co-Chair: Staff member appointed by the Dean
Term of Office: 3-year, staggered terms
Meeting Frequency: As Needed
Subcommittee:
Learn more about the Staff Council.
Description: Reporting through the Culture and Climate Committee, the purpose of the Staff Council is to provide SOM staff with a formal representative body to ensure that their voice and interests are engaged and inform decisions and actions affecting the SOM workplace environment. The Staff Council provides a forum which facilitates inclusive communication and discussion of issues critical to the SOM staff experience.
Chair: Appointed by the Culture and Climate Committee with Approval from the Dean
Term of Office: Open
Meeting Frequency: Monthly
Description: Advises the Dean about issues related to the basic sciences in the SOM.
Chair: Elected by members
Term of Office: All positions are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: Quarterly
Description: Advises the Dean on issues related to biomedical engineering in the SOM.
Chair: Elected by members every two years
Term of Office: No term limit
Meeting Frequency: As required
Description: Advises the Dean about the academic standing of medical students enrolled in the SOM.
Chair: Elected by members annually in June
Term of Office: All positions are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: Twice a year in May and December and additional meetings as required
Subcommittees:
Description: Makes recommendations for consideration by the Student Promotions Committee regarding the academic standing of medical students enrolled in the SOM.
Chair: Chair of Student Promotions Committee
Term of Office: 3-year, staggered terms for faculty members; Chair is ex officio
Meeting Frequency: Twice a year in May and December and additional meetings as required
Description: Encourages the students of the USC SOM to uphold the highest standards of integrity; informs the students of the USC SOM of the expectations set forth by the written Honor Code; informs the students of the USC SOM of the process of the Honor Council; and serves as a pool of hearing panel members for the Honor Council.
Chair: Nicholas Harris
Term of Office: 3-year, staggered terms for faculty advisors; 1 year for Chair (Always an M-II)
Meeting Frequency: As needed
Description: Responsible for the maintenance of academic excellence in the SOM, establishes criteria for determination of satisfactory academic performance for promotion and graduation of medical students; establishes consistent standards for methods of assessing quality, assigning grades, and correcting academic deficiencies of medical students.
Chair: Dean
Term of Office: 3-year staggered terms for faculty members and 1-yar terms for medical students; other members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: Twice a year and additional meetings as required
Subcommittee
Description: Hears, assesses, and decides upon requests from faculty members for grade changes for medical students in courses, clerkships, and electives.
Chair: Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education
Term of Office: 3 -year terms for faculty members; other members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: As required
Learn more about the Women in Science and Medicine Committee.
Description: Advises the Dean on issues related to women students, faculty, and staff of the SOM.
Chair: Elected by members
Term of Office: 3-year, staggered terms for faculty and staff members and 1-year terms for graduate and medical students; other members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: Monthly
Description: Evaluates the curriculum vitae and application materials for candidates requesting appointment at the Associate Professor or Professor level or promotion to the Associate Professor of Professor level and recommends to the Dean the appropriate faculty rank for the candidate.
Chair: Elected by members
Term of Office: 3-year, staggered terms
Meeting Frequency: As Required
Description: evaluates the curriculum vitae and application materials for candidates requesting appointment at the Associate Professor or Professor level or promotion to the Associate Professor of Professor level and recommends to the Dean the appropriate faculty rank for the candidate.
Chair: Elected by members
Term of Office: 3-year staggered terms for departments with more than one full professor
Meeting Frequency: As required
Description: Addresses situations when outside financial interests may overlap or conflict with their activities at the USC SOM and manage compliance with University, SOM, and national policies regarding intellectual or financial conflicts of interest. The committee will provide oversight for recognizing the importance of the research and educational missions to the University and acknowledge that it is enhanced when members of the University community interact with other groups and organizations, including businesses, government entities, not-for-profit groups, professional societies, and other academic institutions, and reasonably address potential conflicts of interest.
Chair: Elected by members
Term of Office: 3-year, staggered terms for appointed faculty members; all other members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: As needed. Since the group meets via email and most issues are clinical, most of the COI questions get sent to the Medical Group, which has some overlap with the SOM. If there is COI question that is strictly SOM, then it will be sent to the SOM Conflict of Interest Committee.
Committees Related to the Office of the Dean through the Office of Undergraduate Medical Education
Description: Establishes application/admissions policies and procedures for the SOM; evaluates and recommends applicants for admission.
Chair: Director of Admissions and Enrollment Services
Term of Office: From one to three years at the pleasure of the Dean and Chair of the Admissions Committee and 1-year terms for medical students; other members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: Each Wednesday from 1:30-5:00 p.m. from mid-September until the end of March. Committee members are expected to attend at least 75% of the meetings. For the 2023-2024 academic year, committee meetings and interviews will be virtual.
Description: Is responsible for the development of and oversight over the content, structure, and pedagogy of the curriculum leading to the M.D. degree and for ensuring that students learn the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary for the successful practice of medicine.
Chair: Elected by members – 1-year basic science chair – Holly LaVoie (Chair)
Chair Elect: 2-year clinical science chair-elect – Andy Sides (Chair Elect)
Term of Office: 3-year (see above for new terms) staggered terms for faculty members and 1-year terms for medical students; other members and consultants are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: Monthly
Subcommittees
Description: Responsible for the periodic review and update of all required M-I and M-II courses.
Chair: Elected by members
Term of Office: 1-year terms for faculty members and 1-year terms for medicl students; other members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: Called at the discretion of the chair or at the direction of the chair of the Curriculum Committee
Description: Responsible for the periodic reviwe and update of all required M-III and M-IV courses.
Chair: Elected by members
Term of Office: 1-year, terms for faculty members and 1-year terms for medical students; other members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: Called at the discretion of the chair or at the direction of the chair of the Curriculum Committee
Description: Perform, under the supervision of the Curriculum Committee, periodic reviews and assessments of distributed curricula for medical students. Make reports and recommendations, based upon the findings of the periodic reviews and assessments of distributed curricula, to the Curriculum Committee. Review elements of the curriculum that span both pre-clinical and clinical learning environments and identify them as distributed curricula.
Chair: Elected by members
Term of Office: 1-year terms for faculty members; other members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: Called at the discretion of the chair or at the direction of the chair of the Curriculum Committee
Description: Responsible for serving as consultants for assessment projects and otherwise serving as leaders to support a culture of assessment throughout the SOM; regularly reviewing SOM assessment policies and procedures and recommending improvements to the SOM Curriculum Committee supporting SOM assessors with information and resources, including technology recommendations, to maintain and carry out assessment plans--this includes recommending or providing assistance in the development of specific assessments of student learning outcomes.
Chair: Elected by members
Term of Office: The other 3 standing subcommittees of the Curriculum Committee have Chairs elected at the beginning of the academic year who serve 1-year terms and whose terms will be extended if they are the subcommittee chair for multiple years. The medical student will serve a 1-year term. The assistant deans and director of program assessment are ex officio.
Meeting Frequency: Called at the discretion of the chair or at the direction of the chair of the Curriculum Committee.
Description: Oversees all of the Graduate Programs in the SOM. Establishes policies and procedures for the graduate programs consistent with USC and SOM guidelines.
Chair: Elected by members
Term of Office: All members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: As required
Description: Develops and oversees the content, structure, and pedagogy of the curriculum leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences degrees and for ensuring that students have solid knowledge and skills in biomedical sciences. Ensures that program requirements are met by departments, research focus groups, and students.
Chair: Director for Biomedical Science Granduate Programs
Term of Office: All faculty members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: As required
Description: Reviews applications for admissions to the Integrated Biomedical Sciences first-year program.
Chair: Biomedical Science Graduate Program Director
Term of Office: All faculty members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: As required
Description: Establishes policies and procedures for the Graduate Nurse Anesthesia Program consistent with USC and SOM guidelines. Ensures that program requirements are met.
Chair: Graduate Nurse Anesthesia Program Director
Term of Office: All faculty members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: Twice per year and additional meetings as required
Description: Evaluates applications, interviews potential candidates, and makes recommendations for admission to the Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesia in accordance with University policy.
Chair: Nurse Anesthesia faculty member appointed by the program director
Term of Office: 2 years
Meeting Frequency: During admissions cycle, typically 6 interview days in early November
Description: Evaluates, discusses, and makes recommendations regarding the didactic and clinical curriculum. It is a major component of the Continuous Self-Assessment Plan to determine purposeful change and needed improvement.
Chair: Nurse Anesthesia faculty member appointed by the program director
Term of Office: 2 years
Meeting Frequency: 3 times per year; meeting typically occurs at the end of each semester
Description: Establishes policies and procedures for the Graduate Rehabilitation Counseling Program consistent with USC and SOM guidelines. Ensures that program requirements are met.
Chair: Rehabilitation Counseling graduate program coordinator
Term of Office: All faculty members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: As required
Description: Establishes policies and procedures for the Biomedical Science Graduate Genetic Counseling Program consistent with USC and SOM guidelines. Ensures that program requirements are met.
Chair: Genetic Counseling graduate program director
Term of Office: All faculty members are ex xofficio
Meeting Frequency: As required
Description: Establishes policies and procedures for the Physician Assistant Program consistent with USC and SOM guidelines. Ensures that program requirements are met.
Chair: Physician Assistant program director
Term of Office: All faculty are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: As required
Description: Interviews and selects Physician Assistant program applicants.
Chair: Physician Assistant graduate programs admissions director
Term of Office: 2 years
Meeting Frequency: Interviews are held over one week, typically in September
Description: Evaluates student academic and professional progress and makes recommendations for action to the program director.
Chair: Physician Assistant program medical director
Term of Office: 2 years
Meeting Frequency: As needed, typically meet more often during the Spring semester
Description: Makes recommendations to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education regarding leaves of absence from the SOM for medical students.
Chair: Elected by members
Term of Office: 3-year, staggered terms for faculty members
Meeting Frequency: As required
Description: Awards all SOM scholarships and awards all long-term loans administered by the SOM.
Chair: Elected by members
Term of Office: 3-year, staggered terms for faculty members and 1-year terms for medical students; other members and consultants are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: Twice a year in the Spring and Fall semesters
Description: Works with the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs to advocate for, promote, and implement opportunities in order to improve the culture and collaboration among all USC SOMC students and enhance the student experience. The Student Services Committee strives to preserve and promote students’ physical, social, emotional, and cognitive wellness. Tasks of the committee include, but are not limited to, awarding travel grants; choosing recipients of select annual SOMC M.D. student awards; and hearing appeals regarding student assignment to the Florence program.
Chair: Associate Dean for Student Affairs Columbia
Term of Office: 3-year, staggered terms for faculty members and 1-year terms for medical students; other members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: As needed or twice a year in the Spring and Fall semesters
Committees Related to te Office of the Dean through the Office of Administration and Finance
Description: Serves in an advisory capacity to the school’s financial and academic leaders regarding financial and budgetary issues. This committee will serve as a liaison between the unit administration and the faculty on matters pertaining to the SOMC budget, advocating for faculty priorities on matters of budget and budgetary policy, and providing a venue for discussing faculty questions and concerns about the SOMC budget and budgeting process. This committee will support the key role that chairs and directors play in the school’s budget decision making.
Chair: Elected by members
Term of Office: The faculty member receiving the highest number of votes in each of the three categories will serve a three-year term. For tenured/tenure track and professional track faculty categories, the faculty members who receive the second most votes will serve an initial two-year term. Following the initial terms, all terms will be for three years.
Meeting Frequency: At least quarterly
Committees Related to the Health and Safety of SOM Faculty, Students and Staff
Description: Coordinates and promotes wellness activities for SOM faculty, staff, and students.
Chair: Elected by members
Term of Office: 3-year, staggered terms for faculty and staff members, 1-year terms for medical and graduate students
Meeting Frequency: 6 times per year
Committees Related to the Office of the Dean through the Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Description: Plans and implement means of increasing the number of students from groups underrepresented in the medical profession who are prepared for, recruited to, matriculate at, and graduate from the SOM and who continue their training in residency programs available throughout the state of South Carolina and plans and implements means of increasing the number of under-represented minority faculty in the SOM.
Chair: Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion
Term of Office: 3-year, staggered terms for faculty members, alumni, and HBCU, community, and AHEC representatives; 1-year terms for medical students; other members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: As needed
Committees Related to the Office of the Dean through the Medical Library
Description: Advises Director of Library Services on policy matters, especially relating to the collection and staffing of the Medical Library.
Chair: Elected by members
Term of Office: 3-year, staggered terms for faculty members and 1-year terms for graduate and medical students; other members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: Twice per year and as needed
Committee Related to the Office of the Dean through the Office of Information Technology
Description: Advises the Assistant Dean for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer on policy matters, especially relating to computer needs of students and faculty as they relate to educational programs and research activities and to the structure and function of the SOM computer network and communication systems.
Chair: Elected by members
Term of Office: 3-year, staggered terms for faculty members and 1-year terms for medical students; other members are ex officio
Meeting Frequency: Twice per year and as needed
Faculty Senate
Description: 5 SOM tenure-track faculty members and 3 clinical professional-track faculty members are elected to the USC Faculty Senate.
Chair: None
Term of Office: 3-year staggered terms
Meeting Frequency: Monthly