Office of Medical Education

Curriculum Committee Requirements

from Bylaws of the College Council

Composition 

The standing committee on curriculum of the School of Medicine shall consist of a medical school Curriculum Steering Committee to oversee and coordinate all four years of the curriculum and individual coordinating committees for years one, two, three, and four.

Membership on the medical school Curriculum Steering Committee and the individual coordinating committees shall be as follows:

Curriculum Steering Committee (15)

  • Dean of Curriculum
  • Dean of Student Affairs and Education
  • Four chairmen of the individual coordinating committees
  • Four medical students (MSI representative from the First Year                 
  • Curriculum; MSII representative from the Second Year
  • Curriculum; MSIII representative from the Third Year
  • Curriculum; and MSIV representative from the Fourth Year Curriculum)
  • Two ad hoc members appointed by the Dean
  • One clinical department chairman
  • One basic science department chairman
  • Resident

First Year Curriculum Coordinating Committee (14)

  • Chairman (selected from a clinical department)
  •  Dean of Curriculum
  •  Seven first year course masters (to serve on a rotating basis)
  •  Block I leader
  • Block II leader
  •  Block III leader
  • One first year medical student
  • One second year medical student

Second Year Curriculum Coordinating Committee (14)

  • Chairman (selected from a clinical department)
  • Dean of Curriculum
  • Eight second year course masters (to serve on a rotating basis)
  • Block IV leader
  • Block V/VI leader
  • One second year medical student
  • One third year medical student

Third Year Curriculum Coordinating Committee (13)

  • Chairman (selected from a basic science department)
  • Dean of Curriculum
  • Family Practice clerkship director
  • Internal Medicine clerkship director
  • OB/Gyn clerkship director
  • Pediatrics clerkship director
  • Psychiatry clerkship director
  • Surgery clerkship director
  • Topics in Medicine course master
  • OSCE director
  • One third year medical student
  • One fourth year medical student
  • Resident

Fourth Year Curriculum Coordinating Committee (14)

  • Chairman (selected from a basic science department)
  • Dean of Curriculum
  • Medical Ethics course master
  • Public Health/Community Project course master
  • Eight faculty members from departments offering senior electives
  • One fourth year medical student
  • Resident

When the individual coordinating committees function as promotions committees for the corresponding years, the dean of student affairs and education shall serve as chairman of these committees.  Other individuals may be invited for liaison purposes without voting privileges.

The Dean of the School of Medicine shall appoint all members of the Curriculum Steering Committee.

The chairman of the Curriculum Steering Committee will be appointed by the Dean and will be one of the members specified above.

Term of office of members and chairman will be unspecified and at the discretion of the Dean and faculty member.

Other individuals may be invited by the chairman for liaison purposes without voting privileges.

Organization and Meetings

The Curriculum Steering Committee shall function under parliamentary procedures as outlined in Robert’s Rules of Order.

Authority and Responsibility

The Curriculum Steering Committee shall be the principal policy-making body for undergraduate medical education.

The purposes of the medical school Curriculum Steering Committee are to determine the content of the four year curriculum; to coordinate material taught across all four years of the curriculum; to assume responsibility for the quality of the curriculum; to evaluate the educational effectiveness of the curriculum as a whole; to authorize changes in the curriculum and in individual courses when determined to be necessary; to oversee faculty development activities related to education; to administer the educational budget of the medical school.

The purposes for each individual coordinating committee are to determine the content to be taught in each individual year; to review and evaluate courses taught in the individual year; to establish examination and academic schedules for each individual year; to implement policies established by the Curriculum Steering Committee, including mandating changes in individual courses; to act as a promotions committee for the corresponding year.

The chairman of the Curriculum Steering Committee shall be responsible for maintenance of appropriate communication and rapport with the standing committees of the College Council and with other committees of the School of Medicine, such as the Admissions Committee.  The chairman of the Curriculum Steering Committee shall provide an annual report to the College Council in which is summarized all substantive actions and policy decisions of the committee and its subcommittees.

Appeals

The decisions of the Curriculum Steering Committee are to be considered final; however, upon the request of the Dean or of any three members of the Executive Committee, any item decided upon by the Curriculum Steering Committee shall be brought to the Executive Committee for discussion.  A decision of the Curriculum Steering Committee may be overridden by a three-quarters vote of the Executive Committee members in attendance, provided a quorum is present.