Faculty Handbook
This handbook was developed to serve as a resource and to document the current practices and guidelines pertaining to College of Medicine faculty. This handbook communicates information about a wide range of resources and administrative matters, including many College policies, processes for faculty appointments, reappointments, promotion and tenure, and many other topics. College of Medicine policies may be revised at any time, and as such, this handbook is a living document that will be routinely updated. The faculty handbook is not, nor is it intended to be, a primary source of official FAU or College policy.
Please use this handbook as a navigation aid for your career life cycle, professional development and success. If there are additional topics you would find helpful, or if you identify information that requires updating, please contact our office at comdeansoffice@health.fau.edu. Thank you for all that you do on behalf of the students, residents and patients to improve the health of our community.
Organization Overview
Dean
The Dean provides leadership and vision for the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and serves as the chief academic and administrative officer with primary responsibility for implementing the College’s mission and strategic plan. The Dean is charged with executive leadership of the education programs and the responsibility for the fiscal soundness of the College, which includes identifying and securing sources of funding in support of its educational, research, and clinical care agendas. The Dean has responsibility and authority for all matters related to the faculty, administrators, and staff, including the recruitment and retention of top quality faculty and chairs, appointments and resource allocation, salaries, incentives, and performance evaluation. The Dean also serves as a role model for ethical conduct in leadership, research and patient care, and as the primary advocate and spokesperson for the College.
Clinical Affairs
The Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs is responsible for oversight and strategic development of the College's patient care practices, including Florida Atlantic Medical Group - Primary Care Practice, the Comprehensive Center for Brain Health, and the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health at Florida Atlantic University. This individual is also responsible for strengthening existing hospital partnerships and for strategically developing new clinical practice opportunities for College faculty members. The Associate Dean also ensures successful implementation of the College’s goal of improving access to value-based care as outlined in the College’s strategic plan.
Department of Biomedical Science
The Department of Biomedical Science is committed to the growth of research and scholarship and is the basic science research and teaching arm of the College. The Chair of the Biomedical Science Department provides leadership for faculty as they deliver academic programs and serves as the primary executive officer of the department. Faculty in the department teach both in the undergraduate medical education program and in the biomedical science graduate program. Faculty mentor medical, graduate, and undergraduate students, and postdoctoral fellows, in meaningful scholarly and discovery research pursuits that enhance the educational experience, while advancing the understanding of human health and disease. Research focus areas within the department include cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases, genetic eye diseases, age related eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts, neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, behavioral neurobiology, cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria, genetic variants, chronic pain, and opioid addiction.
Department of Clinical Neurosciences
The Department of Clinical Neurosciences is dedicated to preparing future physicians and allied health professionals through a strong emphasis on evidence-based medicine, patient safety, and quality improvement. Faculty expertise spans Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and foundational Neuroscience. The department plays a central role in both undergraduate medical education (M.D. clerkships) and graduate medical education, offering residency programs in Neurology and Psychiatry.
Department of Emergency Medicine
The Department of Emergency Medicine brings together academic and community faculty dedicated to advancing emergency care in South Florida. With fellowship-trained experts across multiple subspecialties—including EMS, pediatric emergency medicine, ultrasound, and toxicology—our team is nationally recognized for excellence in clinical research and education. At the heart of the department is our Emergency Medicine Residency Program, which trains six residents annually, many of whom choose to continue serving the local community.
Department of Medicine
The Department of Medicine is a dedicated group of internists, family physicians, and subspecialists committed to advancing education, research, and patient-centered care. Through undergraduate and graduate medical education—including an internal medicine residency and fellowships in cardiovascular disease, pulmonary and critical care, geriatric medicine, and hospice and palliative care —we train future physicians to deliver thoughtful, evidence-based care in South Florida and beyond. Our faculty are award-winning educators and researchers, united with a vision to improve health and well-being through innovation, collaboration, and compassionate clinical practice.
Department of Population Health
The Department of Population Health has a multidisciplinary faculty of individuals contributing to the scholarship and research, educational, and clinical missions of the Schmidt College of Medicine. The contributions of the Department of Population Health extend to the Schmidt College of Medicine, FAU and the community.
The Department of Population Health, through innovative education, collaborative scholarship and research, as well as strong community partnerships, is addressing the complex dimensions of health, illness, disability and care delivery to improve the well-being of individuals as well as the populations served.
Department of Surgery
The Department of Surgery is dedicated to training highly qualified surgical specialists and future leaders through a broad-based educational experience rooted in evidence-based, high-quality, and cost-effective patient care. Our residency program prioritizes education, offers exposure to all major surgical sub-specialties, and blends academic and community-based learning environments to support well-informed career development in both academic and clinical settings.
Department of Women's and Children's Health
The Department of Women's and Children's Health is dedicated to advancing the health of women, infants, children, adolescents, and their families through education, clinical care, research, and advocacy. Through community partnerships and academic programs, the department trains future clinical and academic leaders and supports professional growth, collaboration, and scholarly activity.
Development
The Senior Director of Development works closely with the College of Medicine's dean, donors, prospects, Advisory Board members, faculty, staff, and physician leadership in fulfilling the goals and objectives of the fundraising mission and plan for the College of Medicine and the University.
Faculty Affairs
The Office of Faculty Affairs provides support for the more than 1,000 full-time and community-based affiliate faculty in meeting the College’s strategic missions. The Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs oversees the development and execution of the College’s faculty affairs and faculty development strategies consistent with evolving LCME standards to promote academic success among faculty. The Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs provides alignment and synergies of programs to recruit, develop, and advance faculty through a focus on development opportunities and recruitment and retention strategies. Collectively, these elements will further support and serve our talented faculty members as they carry out the many missions of our college. The Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs also develops, operationalizes, and coordinates various faculty affairs initiatives, projects, and processes critical to the success of faculty including promotion and tenure, mentoring, sabbaticals, and activities that promote faculty vitality. This position also develops and leads faculty recruitment and retention efforts and works closely with the Dean and the Provost’s Office to assist with faculty personnel issues.
Finance and Administration
The Associate Dean for Finance and Administration is responsible for all finance, communications, marketing, human resources, and health information technology, facilities operations and activities consistent with the College's mission and strategic plan. This includes oversight of the Dean’s office staff, the information flow to and from the Dean’s Office, the formal strategic planning process, and special projects on behalf of the Dean. The Associate Dean also serves as the Chief of Staff for the College of Medicine and develops, operationalizes, and leads various staff affairs initiatives, projects, and processes critical to the success of staff including recruitment and retention activities and annual evaluations.
The Associate Dean also serves as the Chief Financial Officer for the Schmidt College of Medicine and provides oversight of financial operations, and the Clinical Skills Simulation Center to ensure that efforts are integrated and consistent with the College’s mission and strategic plan. This includes oversight of all financial operations such as accounting; financial planning, analysis, and reporting; internal controls; development of annual budgets; oversight of state, sponsored research, auxiliary, and foundation funding; and purchasing/contracting. The Associate Dean also oversees the administrative and business operations of the Clinical Practice Organization and the Self Insurance Plan and has oversight for HIPAA/HITECH compliance at the College.
Graduate Programs
The Associate Dean for Graduate Programs oversees the activities and personnel of the COM Graduate Programs Office and is responsible for overseeing the College of Medicine Biomedical Science M.S. program, the COM Integrated Biology Biomedical Science Ph.D. track, the COM M.D./M.S. program and the COM certificates in Genomics and Precision medicine and Biomedical Science. The Associate Dean for Graduate Programs also serves as a liaison for the COM M.D./Ph.D. program. The Associate Dean is responsible for the development and implementation of new COM graduate courses and programs, recruiting and monitoring progress of COM graduate students, and developing and implementing COM graduate student activities and events.
Undergraduate and Graduate Medical Education
The Vice Dean for Medical Education is the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) and, in coordination with the Associate Dean for Medical Education, is responsible for strategic planning, implementation, and oversight of all aspects of the didactic and clinical components of the four- year undergraduate medical education (UME) program leading to the M.D. degree. This includes the curriculum, student performance assessment, and program evaluation, as well as accreditation. The Vice Dean, in coordination with the Assistant Dean for Medical Education Program Evaluation and Accreditation, also develops and implements strategies leading to successful accreditation of the UME medical education program by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
The Vice Dean for Medical Education, in coordination with Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education/ Designated Institutional Official (DIO), is responsible for the oversight of all graduate medical education (GME) programs, as well as for developing new programs in alignment with the College's Strategic Plan. The DIO serves as the principal liaison between the College and hospital leadership at partner institutions offering graduate medical education. This position also directs the operations of the FAU GME Consortium, oversees the preparation of all the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) applications for successful accreditation, and works to enhance collaborations between GME and UME activities in education and scholarship.
The Assistant Dean for Medical Education Program Evaluation and Accreditation is responsible for the oversight of the Office of Program Evaluation and Accreditation (OPEA), which includes the development, review, and management of student performance assessments, program evaluations, and continuous quality improvement processes to support the accreditation of the four-year (UME) program. The Assistant Dean for Medical Education Program Evaluation and Accreditation serves as the LCME Faculty Accreditation Lead (FAL), assists the Vice Dean for Medical Education with strategic planning, and leads the development and implementation of strategies promoting continuous improvement to support the continued accreditation and reaccreditation of the (UME) program.
The Assistant Dean of Preclinical Curriculum and Assistant Dean for Clinical Curriculum are responsible for assisting the Associate Dean for Medical Education in strategic planning, implementation, and oversight of the undergraduate medical education curriculum. The Assistant Dean of Preclinical Curriculum oversees and manages the foundational science courses in the pre-clerkship phase of the curriculum. The Assistant Dean for Clinical Curriculum oversees and manages the clinical curriculum components across the four-year (UME) program.
Research
The Senior Associate Dean for Research oversees the development and implementation of strategies to promote excellence and success in research consistent with the College's mission and strategic plan. This includes development of the infrastructure needed for high quality, funded, and compliant research at the College. The Senior Associate Dean also monitors research funding and applications to external agencies, the development of proposals with a high probability for contract and grant funding, faculty research effectiveness, the monitoring of research funding and applications, the development and implementation of appropriate College internal review and metrics, and the allocation of laboratory and other research-related resources.
Student Affairs and Admissions
The Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions, in coordination with the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, is responsible for overall direction of the Office of Student Affairs and student support including orientations, personal and professional development, mentoring, career advising, academic counseling, and policies and procedures referred to in "The Policy on Academic, Professional and Behavioral Requirements and Standards Governing the Florida Atlantic University College of Medicine." The Associate and Assistant Deans provide oversight of medical student organizations and interest groups.
The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Director of Medical Student Career Advising is responsible for leading the career advising programs (including preparation for residency and oversight of the ERAS and other application processes, and NRMP processes), medical student well-being initiatives and programming, and oversight of student compliance with requirements set by the COM, FAU, and other organizations, academic events, and opportunities for medical student research. This position also oversees the Academic Societies and learning communities as the Society Dean for the Charles R. Drew Academic Society, in coordination with the Society Dean for the Elizabeth Blackwell Society.
The Director of Student Success Services provides group study skills sessions open to all students early in Year 1 and offers individual meetings focused on study, test-taking, and other skills for students in all years. The Director also provides multiple Step 1 and 2 preparation sessions for students from Years 2-4. The Director also oversees tutorial services for first- and second-year students provided by upperclassmen and serves as liaison with FAU's Student Accessibility Services.
Education and Outreach Programs
Accreditation
The Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine is accredited by the LCME and ACGME, as well as the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and the Southern Associate of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). See full version of the College Accreditation Policy.
Undergraduate Medical Education
FAU's College of Medicine employs an innovative, patient-focused curriculum based on the principle that future physicians should learn biomedical science in the context of patient care, patient case studies, and the practice of clinical skills ─ all within a community setting. As a community-based medical school, students develop their clinical skills while working with more than 1,800 community physicians in a variety of clinical practice settings in South Florida. Key features of the curriculum include problem-based learning, early and continuous exposure to patients, physicians, health care systems and the community, and longitudinal integrated clerkships. Adaptive and responsive classrooms, along with a technology-infused curriculum, encourage collaboration and interaction.
Ph.D. Programs
The Ph.D. program in Integrative Biology, with a concentration in Biomedical Science (IBBS), is a highly interdisciplinary and research-intensive doctoral track. This program is designed to train the next generation of scientific professionals for leadership roles in biomedical research and academia. Faculty in the IBBS track are active experts in a wide array of biomedical science fields and serve as vital mentors for our doctoral students. The collaborative research environment enables students to engage in meaningful scholarly work that advances the understanding of human health and disease.
Master of Science Biomedical Science Program
The Master of Science Biomedical Science program is designed to advance students' academic and career goals through innovative course offerings, advanced research opportunities, and personalized advising and mentoring programs. Building upon a solid foundation of essential biomedical core courses. Students gain the credentials, skills and advanced knowledge they need to be successful for professional and graduate admissions, scientific and educational careers and beyond. Students in the thesis-track work closely with College of Medicine faculty performing cutting-edge research in multiple areas including: Biomedical Engineering and Computational Biology, Signal Transduction and Drug development, Geriatrics and Aging, Cancer Biology and Therapy, Genomics and Epigenetics, Human Genetics, Immunity, Parasitology, Neuroscience, Drug Addiction, Population Health, Cellular Reprogramming and Development, Stem Cell Biology, Social Medicine, Neuro Pharmacology, Visual Biology and Disease, Malaria, and Cardiology. Students in both non-thesis and thesis tracks can choose from a wide variety of elective courses to individually tailor their programs of study to personalize their educational and career goals.
Graduate Certificate Programs
The Biomedical Science Certificate is offered to provide non-degree, master's, and Ph.D. students with an integrated background in the biomedical sciences. To achieve this, the 12-credit program is designed with flexibility. Although the program is centered on the Schmidt College of Medicine, faculty from other colleges and institutions contribute to the program's success, and students are welcomed from many departments, centers and colleges throughout the University.
The Genomics and Predictive Health Certificate provides non-degree, master's, and Ph.D. students with an integrated background in the field of genomics and predictive health. The program prepares students with the experience they need to take advantage of emerging advancements in the fields of personalized medicine, biotechnology, and population health.
Graduate Medical Education
Because graduate medical education is the most impactful and timely way to increase the future pipeline of physicians in Florida, the Schmidt College of Medicine has rapidly built a cadre of innovative, community-based residency and fellowship programs to help meet Florida's future physician workforce needs. Over the past 5 years, FAU has built 5 ACGME-approved residency programs and 3 fellowships, totaling approximately 160 trainees.
HPM: Hospice and Palliative Medicine, EM: Emergency Medicine, IM: Internal Medicine
Number of Residents and Fellows Chart
- 2015-2016
- Internal Medicine: 30
- 2016-2017
- Internal Medicine: 66
- Surgery: 15
- 2017-2018
- Internal Medicine: 87
- Surgery: 26
- Emergency Medicine: N/A
- 2018-2019
- Internal Medicine: 81
- Surgery: 33
- Emergency Medicine: 12
- Neurology: N/A
- Psychiatry: N/A
- 2019-2020
- Internal Medicine: 75
- Surgery: 45
- Emergency Medicine: 18
- Neurology: 6
- Psychiatry: 8
- Cardiology: N/A
- Hospice and Palliative Medicine: N/A
- Geriatrics: N/A
Internal Medicine, the College’s inaugural program, has already graduated 3 classes comprising 78 physicians. The program's outcomes to date have been excellent, as evidenced by American Board of Internal Medicine examination passage rates ranging from 96 to 100%, which exceeds the median rate for Florida Internal Medicine Programs (93%, range 77-100%) and the national average (88%). Recently, the first class of surgery residents graduated and also had a 100% board rate. Approximately 50% of graduates have remained in Florida, and recent changes to the recruitment process are expected to increase this rate to over 70% in the years ahead.
Healthcare Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP)
Partnerships between the Schmidt College of Medicine and local foundations, schools, and organizations ensure a continuous connection with the community around us. The Healthcare Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) is the college's flagship community outreach program. It is designed to provide students an opportunity to develop the skills needed to successfully compete for, enter, and graduate from health and allied health professions schools. Supported fully by a combination of foundation and private philanthropy funds, HCOP provides middle and high school students with an opportunity to learn about careers in health care, while taking part in problem-based learning activities and receiving formal and informal mentorship. HCOP engages more than 600 students in Palm Beach County public schools. Nearly all HCOP high school graduates have pursued higher education in healthcare. We anticipate long-term benefits of the program toward increasing the health care workforce in Palm Beach County.
Clinical Skills Simulation Center
The Clinical Skills Simulation Center at Florida Atlantic University uses simulation and clinical skills training to enhance the quality of healthcare education by providing immersive, hands-on simulation experiences that foster clinical excellence, critical thinking, teamwork, and patient safety. We are committed to preparing future and current healthcare professionals through realistic, interdisciplinary training that promotes competence, confidence, and compassionate care. Benefits of Simulation based training are that it promotes critical thinking and diagnostic skills through patient feedback, improves communication skills among healthcare professionals and with patients, heightens awareness of physical examination skills and patient interaction, provides personalized feedback from Standardized Patients (SPs) for self-reflection, improvement in empathetic care, and creates a safe environment for procedural practice and critical thinking development. For more information on the CSSC, please visit the Clinical Skills Simulation Center webpage.
Florida Atlantic Medical Group - Primary Care and The Marcus Institute of Integrative Health
The Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine launched its clinical practice in 2019 with the opening of FAU Medicine now known as Florida Atlantic Medical Group. This milestone fulfilled a key objective of the 2017–2022 strategic plan by establishing the first academic clinical practice in Palm Beach County.
As the College has evolved, we've identified the need for a complementary, independent clinical practice to expand outpatient opportunities for faculty, support patient-centered care, and enhance educational experiences for our learners. By initially focusing on primary care, we aim to address a regional gap in services and serve as a referral hub for the specialty care offered by our affiliate faculty and hospital partners.
Building on this foundation, the primary care practice continues to have a meaningful impact in the community, with over 8,500 patient visits recorded year-to-date. Our providers have facilitated more than 4,800 specialty referrals, ensuring patients receive coordinated, comprehensive care through strong partnerships with local health organizations. FAU clinicians also play active leadership roles in the broader healthcare community, contributing to initiatives such as the Florida Academic Healthcare Patient Safety Organization and participating in national conferences.
In addition, Florida Atlantic Medical Group offers faculty and medical students the opportunity to serve at John Knox Village Skilled Nursing Facility, one of the largest retirement communities in South Florida. This experience provides valuable, firsthand exposure to the complexities of geriatric care and related services.
With support from the Marcus Foundation, the College established the first academically focused integrative healthcare practice in Palm Beach County in January 2020. Since its launch, this initiative has introduced innovative clinical services and educational programs that continue to elevate integrative health as a center of excellence for holistic care.
In 2025, the Institute introduced one of its most promising therapeutic innovations: precision image-guided injections, including ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion blocks, which have demonstrated significant effectiveness in treating PTSD particularly among veterans.
Beyond its clinical advancements, the Institute remains committed to promoting wellness through a range of well-attended community programs focused on fitness, relaxation, mindfulness, and nutrition. Signature offerings such as Aligned Wellness: Breathe, Move & Meditate, Fit Fusion, Tai Chi & Qi Gong, and Integrative Nutrition continue to attract strong participation and have become highly regarded resources within the community.
Together, Florida Atlantic Medical Group – Primary Care and The Marcus Institute of Integrative Health at Florida Atlantic University are positioning the Schmidt College of Medicine at the forefront of a transformative healthcare model, one that prioritizes prevention, wellness, and the optimization of overall health.
To learn more, visit www.faumedicalgroup.org.
Faculty Governance and Bylaws
UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE
The Florida Atlantic University Faculty Senate is a governance body concerned with matters of general university educational policy, including curriculum, academic calendar and schedule, admissions, registration, and degree programs. It may also consider and provide advice to the President and others on university-wide issues of general faculty concern, including university budgeting and planning and any organizational changes or policies affecting more than one campus, college, or division. For more information, see www.fau.edu/ufsgov/
University Faculty Senate Constitution and Bylaws
The Florida Atlantic University Faculty Constitution and Bylaws are established by the faculty to define faculty governance in the University. In establishing them, it is recognized that authority for operation of the University is vested in the President; at the same time, it is recognized that faculty plays an essential role in the development of the policies and practices by which the University fulfills its academic mission. The goal of faculty governance, and of these bylaws, is to maintain the respect and communication between faculty and administration that make it possible for the University to function. The full text of the Constitution and the Bylaws can be found on the University Faculty Senate website. Faculty governance bodies exist at the University, campus, and college level.
Faculty Assembly Bylaws of the Schmidt College of Medicine
In recognition that the Faculty of the University has established the Florida Atlantic University Faculty Constitution and Bylaws to define shared governance for the University, the Faculty of the Schmidt College of Medicine adopts these Bylaws to define the role of shared governance within the college. The Faculty has approved these Bylaws with full acknowledgment that authority for operation of the University is vested in the President by law and by the policies enacted by the Board of Trustees. At the same time, both the Administration and the Faculty agree that the Faculty plays an essential role in the development of policies and practices by which the University fulfills its academic mission. The goals of shared governance and these Bylaws are to maintain the respect and the communication between Faculty and Administration that make it possible for the University to function. The administration, faculty, and staff will work together to foster collegiality among all members of the college. For the full text, visit the College of Medicine Bylaws page.
Standing Committees of the Schmidt College of Medicine
Standing Committees of the Schmidt College of Medicine include:
- Faculty Assembly Chair
- Faculty Assembly Vice-Chair
- Faculty Assembly Secretary
- Senators to University Faculty Senate
- Faculty Assembly Executive Committee (FAX)
- Graduate Committee (IMS)
- Graduate Committee (BMS)
- Research Committee (IMS)
- Research Committee (BMS)
- Promotion & Tenure Committee (IMS)
- Promotion & Tenure Committee (BMS)
- Sustained Performance Evaluation (IMS)
- Sustained Performance Evaluation (BMS)
- COM Curriculum Committee (COMCC)
- Medical Students Promotions & Professional Standards Committee (MSPPSC)
- Admissions Committee
For more information, visit the Standing Committees of the Schmidt College of Medicine page.
Faculty Appointments and Employment
Faculty Assignments, Evaluations
Assignments
Annual written assignments are made by the appropriate Department Chair with the approval of the Dean. Except for an assignment made at the beginning of an employee’s employment, the Department Chair shall notify the employee prior to making the final written assignment. The assignment shall be communicated to employees no later than six weeks in advance of its starting date if practicable.
Assignments may be changed from time to time at the discretion of the Department Chair or supervisor with notice to faculty members. If the faculty member believes their assignment is arbitrary or unreasonable, then the faculty member may appeal to and be heard by the Dean or Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. For information on Assignments, see College of Medicine Assignments Policy.
Evaluation of Faculty Performance
Faculty shall be evaluated based on the guidelines and professional standards as set forth by the Florida Atlantic University Academic Affairs Faculty Handbook. The University is committed to providing assistance to any faculty member who wants or needs to improve the performance of his/her assignment. Individuals responsible for the supervision and evaluation of a faculty member should endeavor to assist the faculty member in correcting any performance deficiencies reflected in the annual evaluation. If a faculty member receives an overall rating of “Needs Improvement” or “Unsatisfactory”, the faculty member and the supervisor must develop a written Performance Improvement Plan to address the faculty member’s performance. This plan will be appended to the annual evaluation.
In cases where a faculty member receives a rating of “Needs Improvement” or “Unsatisfactory” in a smaller area of effort, which may not lower their overall rating below a rating of “Good”, a formal Performance Improvement Plan is not required. Chairs are expected to address the “Needs Improvement” or “Unsatisfactory” rating in the faculty member’s evaluation, annual goals, and assignment of responsibility for the upcoming academic year. This includes documenting the reason for the rating, expectations for the following year, as well as a discussion of available resources to support the faculty member in improving their performance. The evaluation should also address progress toward tenure and/or promotion, if applicable. For more information, see College of Medicine Evaluation of Faculty Performance Policy.
Faculty Benefits and Leave
The Benefits Office in the University Department of Human Resources is responsible for the administration of all Florida Atlantic University benefit programs available to faculty. For more information, please see the summary of faculty benefits.
Promotion and Tenure
University Criteria, Memoranda, and InterFolio
The Florida Atlantic University Office of the Provost maintains University Criteria for the Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure of Faculty and Principles for Creating Criteria for Promotion and Tenure. On an annual basis, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs issue memoranda on Promotion and Tenure ePortfolio Guidelines for Tenure Track Faculty and Non-Tenure-Track Faculty. This includes information on promotion and tenure ePortfolio preparation, University timelines, and comprehensive curriculum vitae guidelines. Promotion and tenure recommendations are among the most important decisions made by faculty. The decisions that are made have a very long-term impact on both the University and the individual. Thus, careful preparation is needed for e-Portfolios and letters of recommendation, as are diligent evaluative efforts on the part of all individuals involved in the decision process. The University utilizes the Interfolio Review, Promotion and Tenure (RPT) system to assist all participants in the review process and enable faculty to devote more time to teaching, research, and service. Faculty are encouraged to use the Interfolio Dossier online platform to collect, curate, organize, and maintain their scholarly materials on an ongoing basis. Interfolio RPT and Dossier training aids for candidates, reviewers, and college administrators are available via the Provost’s Office website.
College of Medicine Promotion and Tenure
The Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Promotion and Tenure Committee conducts its deliberations in accordance with the Provost's Guidelines for Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure of Faculty. A description of the College Promotion and Tenure Committee's structure and responsibilities is outlined in the Faculty Assembly Bylaws.
Each department chair and the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs are readily available for individual consultation on general readiness for promotion, progress toward promotion, preparation of CVs, preparation of an Educator's Portfolio, and ideas for external reviewers. Each department has a full- time administrative support staff member available to assist faculty with assembling promotion and tenure materials in Interfolio. The Office of Faculty Affairs works closely with the department administrators and the Provost’s Office to monitor the progress of promotion and tenure cases.
Faculty Development
Faculty Development is available through University, College, and Department initiatives, some of which are listed below.
FAU Leadership and Professional Development Initiative
The FAU Leadership and Professional Development Initiative (LPDI) is sponsored by the Office of the Provost. The guiding question for the LPDI is “How can we best help FAU faculty, administrators, and staff meet their leadership, teaching, research, service, and other professional development needs?” For additional information, see the Provost's Office FAU Leadership and Professional Development Initiative page.
College and Department Professional Development Opportunities
Through the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Office of Faculty Affairs, as well as individual departments, funds are available for use by faculty to support faculty development activities such as attendance at professional development conferences including AAMC meetings, professional development courses, Harvard Macy Institutes, and other specialized training opportunities. All Schmidt College of Medicine departments also support faculty development growth opportunities by providing faculty with annual funds, pro-rated based on FTE, which can be used towards travel to conferences or continuing educational opportunities, memberships, or publication expenses.
Faculty Professional Development Leave
Faculty Professional Development Leave offered by the Schmidt College of Medicine is designed to provide opportunities to increase the faculty member’s contributions to the college through enhanced professional development, formal education, research, scholarly writing, or other experience of professional value, outside of their normal Assignment of Responsibilities (AOR), that aligns with the mission of the College of Medicine. For more information, visit the Faculty Professional Development Leave Program page.
Sabbatical Leave
Sabbaticals are a privilege, which may be granted to increase and enhance a faculty member’s future service to the College through intensive professional development, education, scholarly research, or other experience that aligns with the mission of the College of Medicine. As such, a sabbatical leave requires measurable objectives to increase the value of the faculty member to the College of Medicine and the University. For more information, visit the Sabbatical Leave Policy page.
Research
Designed with community needs at the forefront, research in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine is focused on 4 major areas: healthy aging and geriatrics; neuroscience (including dementia prevention); chronic pain management and opioid use disorder; and genomics and precision medicine. These focus areas are highly relevant to South Florida's local communities as well as nationally.
By employing a combination of team science, multidisciplinary methods, and the integration of research and clinical practice, the college is addressing real-world issues and is poised to translate new discoveries into patient-centered care. Updated laboratories provide scientists with the tools, resources, and core facilities they need to conduct groundbreaking research. Within this environment of discovery, medical students, residents, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of research opportunities and collaborate with leading scientists at FAU and at affiliated institutions such as Scripps Research Institute Florida and Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience.
During the past 3 years, the College has focused on building a sound research infrastructure, strategically recruiting NIH-funded researchers, enhancing the research productivity of existing faculty, and leveraging synergies with the FAU Brain Institute and affiliated institutions such as Scripps and Max Planck. Collectively, these efforts have been successful at growing the College’s research portfolio of federal, state, and private funding. This growth has resulted in a recent ranking of 86 for research funding in the 2020 US News & World Report rankings. Visit the College of Medicine Research page for additional information.
Research Policy
The College shall adhere to the Division of Research Policies and Procedures set forth by the Division of Research, as well as the COM Proposal Guidelines. All faculty submitting proposals for external funding must comply with these guidelines which require advance notice of intent to submit such proposal and specify the appropriate College approvals that must be received within a specified time period.
Faculty Conduct and Responsibility
Members of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine shall adhere to the University Values, Academic Freedom and Responsibility and Ethical Conduct of the University Community as noted in the Florida Atlantic University Academic Affairs Faculty Handbook. All University personnel regulations and policies shall apply to all employees.
Ethical Matters
Instructional
Faculty Practice & Procedural Policies
The following policies address procedural matters and institutional protections related to faculty responsibilities, grievance handling, and clinical practice.
Resources
Communications & Marketing
The Schmidt College of Medicine Communications Office is responsible for and oversees all marketing and communications initiatives for the college. This involves all aspects of brand development and management, coordination of media requests and press releases, including press contact and/or encounters initiated by the faculty member, regardless of funding source, coordination of supporting materials for philanthropic initiatives, and internal and external communications.
An integrated communications strategy is delivered through quality internal and external communications materials, press releases and media coverage, branded promotional items, social and printed media, web content, photography and videography, and the development of event-related and donor materials. COM Communications works closely with the Office of Public Affairs for press releases, media requests and events, including staffing on-campus media visits, compliance with FAU’s logo usage, brand licensing standards, video standards, and printed and electronic design materials.
For FAU's brand standards, visit Branding and Visual Standards: Florida Atlantic University (fau.edu). In addition to the university's branding standards, please visit the College of Medicine's manual on logos, graphics and standards, which provides college specific standards that must be followed.
Faculty are expected to contact the COM's Marketing and Communications Office for guidance and to ensure a consistent representation of our brands before initiating any and all media-related encounters, both self- and reporter-initiated, and for the development of any and all communications materials stated herein before project commencement. Please contact COM's Marketing and Communications department by opening a ticket through the FAU College of Medicine Support Center and clicking on the button to create a ticket.
Curriculum Vitae Guidelines
Faculty are responsible for the accuracy and clarity of their CV. For additional information, please see Provost's Office Comprehensive CV Guidelines.
Directory
Emergency Preparedness
Information on emergency preparedness resources including the COM Emergency Protocol, the COM Hurricane Emergency Plan, and FAU University Preparedness Resources are available at: www.fau.edu/medicine/emergency/
Emergency Situations
On campus: Call the FAU Police Department at 561-297-3500. Off campus: Call 911 or 561-297-3500 or go to the nearest hospital ER.
Events in Schmidt College of Medicine Space
All events run in Schmidt College of Medicine space involving an external audience must have a faculty or staff sponsor as the responsible coordinator. That faculty or staff sponsor must coordinate with Haley Barnes (barnesh@health.fau.edu), COM Events Coordinator, to request room or lobby reservations, parking arrangements, tables/chairs, etc. The faculty or staff sponsor must also attend the event/events or designate another faculty or staff member to attend. This is especially important for weekend and after hours events. We need to ensure the safety and security of all occupants of COM buildings and all attendees of these events. Please contact Haley Barnes (barnesh@health.fau.edu) for additional information on events in College of Medicine spaces.
Facilities
The Office of the Dean and other administrative leaders, offices of the Chairs of the College of Medicine's academic departments, and offices and/or research labs for some of the full-time faculty are in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine (BC-71). Offices of other full-time faculty are in one of three other buildings on the FAU campus. Faculty office locations, phone numbers, and email addresses are published in course and clerkship syllabi and can be found on the College website (www.fau.edu/medicine/directory/).
COM Facilities emphasizes quality service and sustainability to operate, renovate, clean, and maintain the college's facilities and grounds. COM Facilities maintains college-level implementation of disaster management plans, operationalizes office and lab assignments, and coordinates major and minor renovations to accommodate new faculty, staff, programs, and equipment. COM Facilities manages core and shared research resources, including operational continuity and compliance with Environmental Health and Safety/OSHA requirements.
Faculty Affairs
The Office of Faculty Affairs works collaboratively with the Schmidt College of Medicine leadership, department chairs, and University leadership to promote faculty and organizational success consistent with the College's Strategic Plan and evolving LCME standards. The Office of Faculty Affairs has a broad range of responsibilities. Visit the Faculty Affairs Responsibilities page for details.
Faculty Awards
FAU recognizes the outstanding achievements of faculty annually with various University awards. Detailed descriptions of these awards and eligibility are available on the Provost’s Office website: www.fau.edu/provost/for-faculty/for-faculty/.
Within the Schmidt College of Medicine, core teaching awards are presented annually at the Medical Education Retreat to recognize excellence in teaching, service, and contributions to the missions of the College. Award recipients come from nominations and a selection committee made up of students, recognizing contributions in various course, clerkship, or clinical teaching areas. The community-based faculty awards are celebrated at the annual recognition ceremony and reception every February. The Michael L. Friedland, MD Educational Leadership Award is presented at this ceremony to a faculty member who shares the attributes that characterized Dr. Friedland, Founding Dean for the Schmidt College of Medicine, as an education leader, namely: vision, integrity, leadership, and a dedication to teaching.
Faculty Meetings
Minutes from faculty meetings may be accessed via the Faculty Affairs section of the COM Intranet: Faculty Affairs Sharepoint site
FAU Police and Public Safety Department
The FAU Police and Public Safety Department (www.fau.edu/police/) is a full service police department with a 24/7 police and dispatch coverage. It is staffed by sworn police officers and civilian personnel and provides services including crime-prevention education, criminal investigations, lost & found, special-event police requests, building card access support, and fingerprinting. FAUPD also partners with Parking & Transportation Services to assist with certain motorist services. For non-emergencies, call (561) 297-3500; in any emergency, dial 911.
- Fingerprinting: Provided at FAUPD (Boca campus), Monday -Thursday, 9:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m., no appointment, free to FAU students, faculty, and staff.
- Theft prevention: Secure offices and valuables; record serial numbers for personal devices and confirm insurance coverage. “Code Blue” emergency phones are located across the Boca Raton campus; see the Blue Light Phone Map and locate phones near your usual parking areas.
- Night Owls campus escorts: For a safe ride on campus at night, call (561) 297-6695 or visit the Night Owls page for details.
- Community Service Officer (CSO) program : non-sworn, part-time student employees who support campus safety with high-visibility patrols and services, such as battery boosts, vehicle lockouts, residence hall patrols. For more information, email: faupd_cso@fau.edu
- Building access (OWL Card): Card access to the College of Medicine facilities is controlled. The OWL CARD is swiped at the card reader and if the cardholder is authorized, access is granted and a log maintained of the transaction. For problems or questions related to card access to the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine (BC-71), contact Associate Executive Director, Health Information Technology and Building Operations. Only these authorized staff add or remove people, clearances, or times.
Dial 911 for emergency police, fire, and medical response. For further services on the Boca Raton Campus: 24 hours a day – 7 days a week 561-297-3500.
Information Technology (IT)
Schmidt College of Medicine (COM) IT works closely with FAU's Office of Information Technology (OIT) to provide vital health information technology computing services to execute the College’s academic, clinical, and research missions. COM IT supports all faculty, staff, residents, and students in multiple facilities both on and off campus. Core areas of responsibility include systems analysis and support, educational technologies, and web services and database administration. For more information on information technology, see comsupport.fau.edu/
All College faculty and staff must adhere to the University and College information security and technologies policies described in the Information and Data Security Policies manual. This manual details the mandatory standards and policies enforced by FAU and the COM IT Office to protect information systems and assets from internal and external threats. For more information, see www.fau.edu/oit/security/ and comsupport.fau.edu/kb/com-policies. If you have any questions related to information technology, please contact: comit@health.fau.edu.
Injury or Illness Reporting - Work Related
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Supervisor and Injured Employee Responsibilities:
- In a medical emergency, transport the injured employee to the nearest medical facility or call 911. After arranging emergency care, call AmeriSys at (800) 455-2079 to report the incident.
- For non-emergency injuries, either the supervisor or the injured employee must call AmeriSys at (800) 455-2079 before obtaining medical treatment; if possible, the employee should be on the call so injuries can be triaged and appropriate care authorized. AmeriSys will assist in selecting an authorized provider from the AmeriSys Workers’ Compensation Provider Directory and will arrange the appointment. Care must be obtained from an AmeriSys participating provider; failure to do so can jeopardize benefits.
- Work status & follow-up: After every doctor visit, send the work-status note to Human Resources Employee Relations & Development Division, IS-4, and provide a copy to the immediate supervisor.
- If no medical treatment is required: the employee should complete the First Report of Injury: Non-Medical Treatment Involved Only form and send it to Department of Human Resources, Employee Relations & Development Division, Instructional Services building (IS-4).
- Questions: Contact Human Resources Employee Relations & Development Division via phone at 561-297-0319 or confidential fax at 561-297-1256; or email at emprels@fau.edu
Laboratory Volunteers
The College Student/Volunteer Access and Training Form, Volunteer Risk Waiver, and Volunteer Registration Form must be completed and submitted to the Director of Research Operations (COM room 306A, 561-297-4557) for all volunteers brought into the laboratory. Please note FAU requires that all volunteers, including high school students, undergo a background check. All fees for the background check are paid by the COM department in which the volunteer will work. The entire process, including the background check and completion of required laboratory trainings, must be completed before a new volunteer begins and card access is provided. If you have any questions, please see the Director of Research Operations and visit the College of Medicine training and regulatory compliance requirements page.
Library Services
The predominant aim of the Medical and Health Sciences Collections and User Services department is to support the curricular, instructional, and research needs of the students, faculty, residents, and staff of the College. The department is currently staffed by two medical librarians and maintains offices in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and the S.E. Wimberly Library buildings.
The medical librarians design, implement, and teach evidence-based medicine within the Foundations of Medicine courses and the Lifelong Learning & Discovery Thread. They also serve on College of Medicine standing and ad hoc committees, assist with the research needs of faculty and students, and implement programs designed to support the overall mission and vision of the College of Medicine. The department is also responsible for training and access for affiliate faculty, most of whom are located off campus in hospitals, private practices, and health departments. The collection development component of the department incorporates both clinical and basic sciences as well as medical education requirements.
For additional information, see library.fau.edu/medical or contact the medical librarians for medical library resource and service needs (e.g., article requests, OpenAthens logins, literature reviews, one-on-one and group consultations).
Maps and Directions
Medical Student Handbook
All faculty are expected to review the Medical Student Handbook each year to ensure that they are aware of the policies related to our students. If you have any questions regarding the Student Handbook, please contact the Office of Student Affairs: COMStudentAffairs@health.fau.edu
Parking and Transportation Services
All faculty/staff must purchase and register their vehicle and have a virtual permit in order to park on ALL FAU campuses. Faculty members are encouraged to review the University's Parking Rules and Regulations. Faculty will be provided a copy of the University’s Parking Rules and Regulations when they purchase their virtual parking pass. The regulations are also posted on the Parking and Transportation website at www.fau.edu/parking/. It is the responsibility of each faculty member to become familiar and comply with the University's Parking and Transportation Rules and Regulations. All questions regarding parking and transportation services may be answered by reviewing the website or calling Parking and Transportation at 561-297-277l.
Phone Systems
If you have questions about phone services or repair issues, please contact comfacilities@health.fau.edu. For general information on phone systems, phone mail, call routing, see: www.fau.edu/oit/communication/telephone-system/
Policies and Regulations
Recruitment and Hiring Guidelines
As part of Florida Atlantic University’s race to excellence, the College is committed to recruiting, engaging, and retaining the highest talent in faculty, staff, and students. To align with University recruitment procedures set by the Provost Office, Human Resources, and the Division of Research, our College has developed an internal process to assist with the recruitment and hiring process. All requests to fill new or vacated faculty, staff, or postdoc positions begin with completing and submitting a College Position Request Form via email to both the Associate Dean for Finance & Administration and Dean for approval of Faculty, Staff, and Postdoctoral position requests. College Position Requests Forms are made available on the College's Internal Recruitment Website.
To ensure a seamless process, each unit has dedicated support to assist with the recruitment/hiring process. Additionally, the Dean’s Office liaises with the Provost Office, Human Resources, and the Division of Research (when applicable) throughout the recruitment and hiring process.
For assistance with completing the above process, please work with your unit's HR Partner or Coordinator or contact comdeansoffice@health.fau.edu.
University Resources for Recruitment and Hiring:
- Office of the Provost, Faculty Search and Hiring Procedures
- Division of Research, Faculty-Level Research Appointments
- Division of Research, Faculty-Level Clinical Research Appointments
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Human Resources, Staff, Student Employment, and Temporary Recruitment and Hiring Procedures
- For questions, please email COMRecruit@fau.edu
- Hiring a College Work Study Student Employee OR contact workstudy@fau.edu
Note: Position funding may require additional approval by the Resource Allocation Committee.
Room Reservations
Reservations for conference/meeting rooms, classrooms, the PBL room, and the lobby are made via Outlook. For step-by-step instructions on how to book a room or to view room reservation policies, please visit our knowledgebase. If you need assistance with Outlook, please email comhelpdesk@health.fau.edu. For assistance with reserving a space, please contact comreservations@health.fau.edu.
Supervision of Staff
Faculty members designated as a staff member’s direct supervisor will be responsible for general supervisory responsibilities including, but not limited to, assignments, annual performance appraisals, coaching, and retention. The Human Resources Employee Relations & Development Division is committed to promoting positive environments and relationships by focusing on good management practices and workplace behaviors. Human Resources Employee Relations & Development Division offers the following services:
- Confidential consultations to discuss and resolve workplace problems
- Coaching for improved employee performance
- Guidance and training on employee performance discussions and the appraisal process
- Step by step assistance throughout the disciplinary process (please note that supervisors must keep the College's Executive Director of Employee Operations & Administration, 7-3938, informed of any staff disciplinary actions)
- Clarification, interpretation, and advice on policies, regulations, and applicable employment laws
- Understanding of the policies and processes for work hours, leave time, and extended medical absences
- Administration of the grievance process (see Regulation 5.009 Grievance Procedure)
- Administration of the unemployment compensation process
- Information on Worker’s Compensation
- Resources and tools for employee training and development
For additional information, please visit the Human Resources Employee Relations & Development Division website www.fau.edu/hr/employee-relations/ or contact emprels@fau.edu.
The College Staff Off-boarding Process and Checklist was developed to serve as a helpful guide for supervisors and HR Partners in the event a staff employee has provided a letter of resignation: Staff Offboarding Process - Sharepoint.
Travel
Travel expenses paid by FAU are closely regulated by statutory and University provisions and are closely monitored by the University. FAU is obligated to strictly adhere to state requirements when authorizing travel and when processing reimbursement requests. Please refer to the Travel Expense Reference Guide for Employees, COM Travel Policy, and the FAU Expense/Travel Policies and Procedures for detailed information on travel.