Student Representation on Faculty Committees

Student representation on School of Public Health standing committees is an integral part of the School’s governance. Students enrolled in any of the School's degree programs are eligible to serve on School of Public Health standing committees. Non-degree students, and students from other colleges and campuses of the University of Illinois at Chicago, are not eligible to serve.

The list of School of Public Health committees to which students are elected follows.

Students are elected to the committees by the student body during the Fall Semester of each year. Students are elected to serve for one academic year.

Committee Functions

Ad hoc committees with specific missions are appointed by the Dean, Executive Committee or Faculty. Recent examples include: DrPH Oversight Committee (2 DrPH students); Strategic Planning; and MPH Core Course Integration.

Executive Committee - This committee advises the dean on matters of educational policy, faculty appointments, promotions, tenure and dismissals, and represents the faculty on matters of policy and budget. This committee receives the recommendations of all other standing committees and initiates actions on behalf of the faculty. It determines the effectiveness of standing committees and recommends the establishment or dissolution of other standing committees. The committee is empowered to establish a mechanism to hear and evaluate grievances by faculty, staff members and students with regard to policies, programs and operations within the school.

Committee on Academic Progress - This committee is charged with developing and implementing overall guidance for student academic progress and formulating policy and developing procedures for monitoring academic progress; academic advising; matters pertaining to enrollment; registration and time-to-degree requirements for MPH and DrPH students; the DrPH preliminary examination; academic retention; student dismissals; and academic grievances. It recommends to the Executive Committee the granting of degrees to all students who have fulfilled the degree requirements.

Committee on Admissions and Recruitment Policies - This committee is charged with establishing overall policy for school admissions for the five degree programs to assure quality and diversity of the student body and minimum admissions criteria. The committee also is charged with developing an appropriate protocol to ensure schoolwide adherence to the admissions policy. With regard to recruitment, the committee is charged with developing and overseeing recruitment policies and providing guidance on recruiting.

Committee on Educational Programs - This committee is charged with making recommendations to the Executive Committee of the school on behalf of the faculty with respect to the quality and appropriateness of the school curricula in all degree programs. It reviews the structure and content of curricula within the school. This includes new curricula, new programs (e.g., the Master of Healthcare Administration degree program), and new modalities (e.g., distance learning), as well as periodic review of already-established curricula. It makes recommendations regarding the evaluation of faculty teaching performance and periodically reviews the methods used to evaluate teaching performance.

Honor Committee - This committee is charged with hearing all complaints of alleged Student Honor Code violations referred to it for consideration. The committee shall render an opinion on the allegation including a proposed disciplinary response where warranted. The committee's decision is binding unless the student chooses to appeal it to the Senior Associate Dean.

DrPH Oversight Committee - This committee is charged with formulating policy and developing procedures in regard to DrPH admissions, academic advising, monitoring academic progress of DrPH students; and establishing the DrPH curriculum.