Ohio University Board of Trustees approves establishment of Health and Medicine Faculty Council

The Ohio University Board of Trustees has approved the establishment of the Health and Medicine Faculty Council, creating a formal shared governance body for non-bargaining unit faculty in the College of Health Sciences and Professions (CHSP) and the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (HCOM). The council will provide faculty with a dedicated avenue for interconnected representation, consultation and communication on matters affecting their professional responsibilities and terms and conditions of employment.

"The Health and Medicine Faculty Council creates a meaningful opportunity to strengthen collaboration between faculty and University leadership while supporting informed decision-making across our health and medicine disciplines," said Interim Executive Vice President and Provost John McCarthy. "As Ohio University continues to evolve, it is essential that our governance structures evolve as well, ensuring the broad knowledge and expertise across the University is helping to shape the future of our academic community.”

Serving in an advisory capacity, the council will work collaboratively with University and college leadership and coordinate with Faculty Senate to strengthen communication and alignment across the University's broader shared governance framework. Members will be selected through established governance processes, enabling the council to strengthen collaboration between the two colleges while maintaining continuity with current practices.

The University's recommendation to create the Health and Medicine Faculty Council was informed by months of faculty engagement led by the HCOM-CHSP Shared Governance Workgroup, including listening sessions, a faculty survey, Faculty Handbook review and benchmarking of peer institutions. Such broad outreach consistently highlighted the need for all faculty to have access to a unified representative body, stronger communication with University leadership, transparent consultation and equitable representation across OHIO.