School of Medicine Constitution

Guided by Georgetown University’s Jesuit tradition of cura personalis—care for the whole person—the School of Medicine (SOM) is dedicated to excellence in medical and biomedical education, research, and innovation. Supported by the University’s mission and principles, the School fosters a culture of lifelong learning, ethical reflection, and a commitment to addressing the evolving needs of the populations it serves.

Committed to advancing the health and well-being of individuals and communities, the School values community engagement and its partnership with MedStar Health and other partners, which are essential to its mission.

This constitution establishes the School’s approach to shared governance within the Medical Center and University governance structure. The President and Board of Directors of the University authorize the creation of the system of governance for the SOM as specified in this Constitution and with the concurrence of the SOM faculty. Nothing in this Constitution shall supersede the Framework For Medical Center Governance or Georgetown University Faculty Handbook (Faculty Handbook).

ARTICLE I: Administration of the School 

A.  The Dean of the School of Medicine

The Dean is responsible to the President for the proper conduct and administration, and the constant development and improvement, of the School in all phases of its work and activity. The Dean of the School is the Chair of its Executive Faculty and an ex officio member of all School committees.

In addition, the Dean:

1. Appoints faculty members to committees of the School, and to other administrative duties.
2. Gathers from the Chairs of the Departments assigned to the School all necessary data for the tentative budget.
3. Sees that significant data concerning the work and activities of the School, faculty, and student body are collected, evaluated, and recorded in permanent form.
4. Makes annual reports to the President through the Executive Vice President on the functioning of the School, and to other University officers such reports as may, from time to time, be requested.
5. Determines the assignment of faculty and schedule of courses in the School, through the Registrar.
6. Supervises the educational activity of the School, overseeing the curricula, courses, and methods of instruction, and supporting research.
7. Gives special attention and cooperation to the Departments assigned specifically to the School, conferring with their respective Chairs, and refers their needs and problems to the President through the Executive Vice President with comment and recommendation.
8. Endorses the appointment of faculty members on the recommendation of the Chairs of the Departments, with the formal letter of appointment being issued by the Executive Vice President.
9. Studies the problems of the School’s educational and professional fields, keeps informed on trends and developments in them, and discusses, with the Executive Faculty, adjustments of curriculum, courses, and methods to keep abreast with general progress in such fields.
10. Recommends, in conjunction with the faculty, candidates for degrees to the President and Board of Directors of the University.
11. Instructs new faculty in the School on details of University policy and practice.

B.  Appointment of the Dean

The Dean shall be appointed in a manner consistent with University policies and procedures, including the Faculty Handbook, and reports to the Executive Vice President for Health Sciences.

C.  Administrative Appointments

1.    Appointment, Evaluation, and Reappointment of Vice Deans,
Associate Deans, Assistant Deans, and Administrative Officers

The Dean shall have the authority to appoint vice deans, associate deans, assistant deans,
and administrative officers, as well as to establish administrative ad hoc committees, as
deemed necessary for the successful administration of the School.

2.    Appointment, Evaluation, and Reappointment of Academic Unit Heads
(e.g. Divisions, Centers, Programs, Departments)

The SOM is organized into departments and other academic units which may be
established, dissolved, or moved in conformance with University procedures and as set forth
in Article VI, below.

Department chairs are appointed in accordance with the Faculty Handbook and are
responsible for duties of department chairs as described in the Faculty Handbook.

For other academic units that serve as appointment homes for faculty, academic unit heads
may be appointed by the Executive Vice President for Health Sciences, on the
recommendation of the Dean of the SOM and after consultation with the faculty in the
academic unit (or a search committee that includes academic unit faculty, among others)
and the relevant academic officers. The terms and conditions of appointment and
reappointment are set forth in the appointment letter.

ARTICLE II.  School of Medicine Executive Faculty

A.  Responsibilities and Functions

In accordance with University policy, the School of Medicine Executive Faculty (“Executive Faculty”), in collaboration with the Dean, is the primary academic policy-making body for the SOM. The Executive Faculty partners with the Dean on the development and adoption of academic policy and serves as an advisory body to the Dean on academic aspects of significant fiscal and administrative matters that affect the academic mission of the SOM. The Executive Faculty and the Dean, shall coordinate in fulfillment of their respective responsibilities, as granted under the Faculty Handbook and this Constitution. The Executive Faculty may, consistent with Article V, below, delegate its authority to SOM standing committees.

Major changes to SOM academic policy shall normally be submitted to the Executive Faculty for  consideration before implementation. For purposes of this Constitution, “academic policy” may include, by way of example and not limitation, curriculum and program policies, academic standards, student academic conduct, school specific research and scholarship policies (excluding aspects of administration and finance).

The Dean is ordinarily responsible for implementing the academic policies approved by the Executive Faculty, unless the Dean determines that there are financial, legal, or other non-academic reasons for deciding not to implement a given policy. The Dean may also implement academic policies not submitted to and approved by the Executive Faculty.  In such cases, as soon as feasible, the Dean will make reasonable efforts to provide an explanation to the Executive Faculty. 

The Executive Faculty, by a two-thirds majority vote, can appeal the Dean’s decision to the Executive Vice President for Health Sciences. The Executive Vice President for Health Sciences’ decision is final.

B.  Composition of the Executive Faculty

1.    Voting Members
All faculty elected or appointed to the Executive Faculty as specified in this section (1)
are voting members. The members of the Executive Faculty shall be apportioned as follows:

i.    One faculty representative from each ‘Standing Department’ totaling 15 department
representative members.

ii. Seven faculty elected as at-large members from ‘At-Large Departments’:
(4) Four from Basic Science Departments
(3) Three from Clinical Departments

Table 1: School of Medicine Departments with Standing Representation

Table 2: School of Medicine Departments Eligible for At-Large Representation

2.    Ex-Officio Members

i.   The Executive Vice President of Health Sciences is a non-voting, ex-officio member.

ii.   The Dean of the School of Medicine is a voting, ex-officio member.

iii.  Up to four other administrators appointed by the Dean of the School of Medicine whose
SOM-wide responsibilities should include biomedical graduate education or medical
education are non-voting, ex-officio members.    

C.  Eligibility

All faculty members with full-time non-visiting appointments shall be eligible to vote in elections for the Executive Faculty, and to serve as members of the Executive Faculty, provided they are appointed to the following tracks: (1) Biomedical Educator, (2) Clinical Educator, (3) Clinical Scholar, (4) Biomedical Scholar, (5) Medical Educator (6) Research, or (7) Tenure-eligible and Tenured.

D.  Membership Election Procedures

1.    Departments with Standing Representation
One faculty member should be appointed to represent each standing department. Each
department should determine its appointee by departmental election, unless  another method
has been set forth in the department’s bylaws. 

2.    Departments with At-Large Representation
The seven elected members from at-large departments shall include:
i.    Four representatives from basic science departments.
ii.   Three representatives from clinical departments.

3.    Election Process
i.    The Vice Chairs will serve as the election officer. It shall be the duty of the election officer
to receive nominations, ensure that there are sufficient eligible candidates in each group
of departments (basic science and clinical), ensure qualified voters participate in the
election, and certify winning candidates for at-large representation positions

ii.   Nominations for election shall be in writing and include a statement of interest.

iii. Eligible members of at-large departments may vote in these elections.  The candidates
receiving the highest number of votes in each group shall be considered elected, up to the
number of vacant and expiring seats for that group. A tie shall be decided by lot.

iv. Membership elections will generally take place no later than the last business day of April
prior to the start of the new term.

E.  Terms and Term Limits

1.    Voting Members

Standing and At-Large representatives of the SOM Executive faculty shall serve
two-year terms.

i.    Standing Department Representatives. A representative from a standing department may
serve no more than three consecutive two-year terms. Following the completion of three
consecutive terms, that individual shall be ineligible to stand for appointment for a period
of two years.

ii.   At-Large Department Representatives. Elected representatives serving at-large are
limited to two consecutive two year terms, after which faculty within the same department
may not stand for election for two years.

2.    Non-Voting, Ex-Officio Members

Non-Voting, Ex-Officio members of the Executive Faculty serve on an annual basis with no term limits.

3.    Replacement of Members Mid-Term

If any Standing or at-Large representative is unable to complete their term for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled by the runner-up from the same representative group in the most recent election. When there is no runner-up or when the runner-up is unable or unwilling to serve, the Vice Chairs will identify a representative to fill the vacancy for the remainder of that term

ARTICLE III.  Officers of the Executive Faculty

A.  Chair of the Executive Faculty

The Chair of the Executive Faculty is the Dean of the School of Medicine.

B.  Vice Chairs

There shall be two Vice Chairs: one from the Basic Science Faculty and one from the
Clinical Faculty. (See Table 1 for a list of departments.)

1.    Election of Vice Chairs
i.   Vice Chairs are elected by members of the Executive Faculty for two-year terms.
ii.   Each Vice Chair’s two-year term begins on July 1.
iii.  Officer elections will generally take place following membership elections and
prior to the start of the new term. 
iv.  If either Vice Chair position is vacated during a term, elections will be conducted
as soon as possible to elect an eligible individual to complete the term.

2.    Terms and Term Limits
A Vice Chair may serve no more than two consecutive two-year terms. Following the
completion of two consecutive terms, the individual shall be ineligible to stand for
election as Vice Chair for a period of two years.

Article IV. Meetings and Voting

A.  Meetings

1.    Regular Meetings

The Executive Faculty normally meets monthly during the academic year and shall have at least one meeting each quarter. The Dean will present a Dean’s Report, including a budget update, a minimum of two times per academic year or more often as needed. Committees and task forces will regularly report to the Executive Faculty.

2.    Special Meetings

At the request of the Executive Vice President for Health Sciences, or the President of the University, the Chair will call special meetings of the Executive Faculty. The Chair or Vice Chairs also have independent authority to call special meetings as needed. Additionally, if twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting members of the Executive Faculty would like a special meeting they can call a meeting and set the agenda for that meeting.

3.    Notice of Meetings

Written notice of all meetings of the Executive Faculty, specifying time and venue, will be given by the Chair with as much notice as possible.

4.    Meeting Agenda

Generally, proposed agenda items should be submitted ten (10) business days in advance for inclusion on the agenda of regular meetings. The Chair, after consultation with the Vice Chairs, will set the final agenda for all regular meetings.

5.    Quorum

Greater than fifty percent of the total number of the voting members of the Executive Faculty, present in person or virtually, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings.

6.    Attendance at and Participation in Meetings

As set forth in the Faculty Handbook, Executive Faculty members have a responsibility to attend meetings and participate. Faculty with appointments in the SOM may attend open meetings. Closed meetings will be restricted to members and officers of the Executive Faculty. Invited guests are determined by the Chair or Vice Chairs for both open and closed meetings.

B.  Voting

Unless otherwise specified in this Constitution, a motion passes with a majority of the votes cast. The Vice Chairs, after consultation with the Chair, are responsible for determining the method and timing of voting, and may use electronic voting mechanisms to facilitate participation. The vote will be conducted by secret ballot upon the request of any member of the Executive Faculty. The record of the vote will indicate whether the vote included only the voting faculty present at a meeting, or occurred over a longer period and included faculty not in attendance. Proxy voting is not permitted.

C.  Conduct of Business

In matters not regulated by this Constitution or by the Executive Faculty’s rules of procedure, Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised will serve as the parliamentary authority.  The Executive Faculty may establish and amend its rules of procedure by majority vote, including bylaws that substitute for Robert’s Rules.

Article V. School Committees

Committees and task forces can be established to advise the Executive Faculty and/or the Dean on academic functions and/or carry out work as authority is delegated by the Executive Faculty.

The Executive Faculty ensures that adequate opportunities exist for faculty participation in, including self-nomination for, committee membership and institutional governance. As appropriate, committee membership may also include students and professional staff.

A.  Standing Committees

1.    Role and Authority

Standing committees normally consider and recommend actions and propose policies in the functional areas under their jurisdictions, subject to approval by the Executive Faculty and the Dean of the School of Medicine, and consistent with GUMC and University policy.

As required by accreditation standards or as necessary to reflect the vesting of responsibility for academic policy, as approved by the university Board of Directors, in another university body, the Executive Faculty may delegate its authority to a standing committee, including the standing committees responsible for medical education and biomedical graduate education. Such delegation shall be formalized in the charge to the standing committee and shall be reviewed annually. The delegated authority may not be altered or diminished, except as required by: changes to accreditation standards, where accreditation standards are the basis for the delegation; under assignment of responsibility for academic policy by the university, where such as institutional allocation of responsibility is the basis for the delegation, or as necessary to ensure alignment with the School’s strategic mission. For purposes of clarity, the Dean may decide not to implement an academic policy approved by a standing committee acting on its delegated authority, if the Dean determines financial, legal, or, where satisfaction of accreditations requirements is not the purpose of the policy, other non-academic reasons preclude adoption.

2.    Purpose

Standing committees will be established to ensure alignment with applicable accreditation standards and requirements. Committees support the execution and oversight of academic programs and policy within the School in areas such as education, admissions, appointment, tenure and promotion, and student conduct and academic standing.

3.    Establishment and Dissolution

Standing committees may be created by the Dean and/or the Executive Faculty, and dissolved by the same authority under which they were created.

4.    Standing Committee Charge and Procedures

All standing committees will have a written charge, provided by the authority responsible for the creation of the standing committee. The charge will indicate the committee composition, how its members are appointed, length and limits on terms, and the scope of the committee’s responsibilities.

Each standing committee shall have internal procedures, which must include timelines for policy review in order to ensure administrative responsiveness. Such internal procedures must be approved by the Executive Faculty and Dean and in accordance with the GUMC Framework, Faculty Handbook and University policies.

B.  Ad Hoc Committees

Ad hoc committees, task forces and/or working groups are temporary and may be created by the Dean or Executive Faculty to advise on issues as needed.

Article VI. Academic Units

A.  Operations

Academic units (e.g.,. Departments, Centers and Institutes) may establish and operate under their bylaws, as approved by both the faculty of the academic unit and the Dean of the SOM.

B.  Establishment and Dissolution

Academic units may be established, dissolved, or moved in accordance with University  procedures.

C.  Proposal and Faculty Review

In connection with the creation, dissolution, or move of an academic unit, the Dean will  make reasonable efforts to consult with the Executive Faculty regarding, and seek its endorsement of, any such action, prior to any required approval by the Georgetown University Board of Directors.

Article VII. Amendments

A.  Notification

Proposed amendments to the School of Medicine Constitution may be introduced by the Dean or SOM Executive Faculty. Written notification of any proposed amendments shall be provided to the SOM Executive Faculty at least ten (10) business days before a meeting for which it will be placed on the agenda.

B.  Review and Approval Process

1.    Voting

All members of the Executive Faculty are eligible to vote on amendments to this Constitution. Amendments must be approved by two-thirds of the GUMC Executive Faculty.

2.    Review and Feedback

After a positive vote of the SOM Executive Faculty, the proposed amendments will be sent to SOM faculty with full-time non-visiting appointments for a period of review of at least ten (10) business days.

If the faculty suggest changes to the proposed amendments, the suggested changes will be placed on the SOM Executive Faculty agenda for further discussion and consideration, followed by a new vote of the SOM Executive Faculty, which shall be final.

3.    University Approval and Implementation

Amendments approved by the SOM Executive Faculty shall be submitted through the EVP following standard University procedures for final approval by the President and Board of Directors. Amendments shall be effective when approved by the Board.

4.    Exceptions for Alignment

Notwithstanding the foregoing, changes to the SOM Constitution made merely to incorporate Board-approved changes to other university governance documents (e.g. the Faculty Handbook) shall not require separate EVP, SOM Executive Faculty, or Board approval.

Approved June 11, 2026