A. Program Organization

• Program faculty are drawn from all University of Wisconsin-Madison departments that have members conducting research in the broadly-defined areas of cellular and molecular biology

• Within the framework of the University of Wisconsin Graduate School regulations, CMB faculty have sole authority for determination of the rules, guidelines, and general policies of the CMB Program

• The Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) although a research entity distinct from the Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, was established, in part, to serve as the administrative home for the CMB Program

  • The Laboratory consists of five to seven faculty, each of whom holds a joint appointment in an affiliated department

  • LMB members are encouraged to participate as CMB trainers, assume leadership roles, and to actively participate in the administration of the CMB Program

  • The LMB Office serves as the coordinating point for the CMB Program, including the maintenance of all student files and the implementation of the admissions, recruiting, advising and orientation, curriculum and examination processes

• Delegation of Faculty Authority

  • The administrative body representing the CMB Program faculty and students has been designated as the Coordinating Committee

  • It is the responsibility of the Coordinating Committee to oversee and administer the CMB Program within the framework of existing guidelines and policies outlined below

 

B. Coordinating Committee

CMB Program Chair (Coordinating Committee Chair) Responsibilities:

• Develop an annual budget by coordinating with the Graduate School and various colleges

• Convene regular meetings of the Coordinating Committee

• Ensure that the Coordinating Committee carries out its responsibilities

  • This includes calling meetings and acting as an official liaison to the office of the Dean of the Graduate School

  • Appoint Chairs of the Admissions, Advising and Orientation, Curriculum, and Recruiting Committees and the Fellowship/Training Grant liaison

• Provide an annual report to the CMB faculty based on the reports of the chairs of each Focus Group and the chairs of the standing committees

• Handle problems that arise concerning student/faculty interactions

• Sign all legal documents and warrants related to the CMB Program

Coordinating Committee Responsibilities:

• Determine the requirements for faculty membership in the CMB Program

• Review CMB Program Trainer Applications: Faculty requesting affiliation with the CMB Program are asked to complete the CMB Trainer Application, which consists of:

  • A 2 page biosketch

  • A brief summary of current research interests and publications, both current and pending review

  • Availability to serve on CMB Program subcommittees

  • Availability to train graduate students

• Form administrative subcommittees

• Appoint members of subcommittees

• Oversee the functioning of subcommittees

• Delegate responsibilities to subcommittees

  • Responsibilities not expressly delegated to any subcommittee reside with the Coordinating Committee

• Determine a representative of the CMB Program to serve on the Molecular Biosciences Training Grant administrative committee

• Serve as a liaison between the CMB Program and other departments within the following general areas:

  • Advising the Graduate School Dean and interested departments on staffing and policies relating to the CMB Program in both the Laboratory of Molecular Biology and on the campus, especially in regard to facilitating joint appointments

  • Coordinating and administering the CMB Program

  • Arranging and promoting campus-wide functions that facilitate interdepartmental interactions and strengthen the cohesiveness of the Program (e.g. the annual retreats, developing mini symposia, and student orientation)

  • Identifying sources of support for the CMB Program and serving campus-wide needs in coordinating requests for funds from national agencies and from the Graduate School

• Rule on petitions to obtain exceptions to existing guidelines, requirements and policies

  • Any faculty member or student in the CMB Program has the right to petition the Coordinating Committee to consider specific exceptions to existing guidelines, requirements, or policies

  • The petitioner is expected to present arguments to the Coordinating Committee to demonstrate that the circumstances are sufficient to warrant exception

  • The Coordinating Committee has complete authority to grant or deny exceptions

• Review proposed changes in the policies or guidelines of the CMB Program

  • Suggestions for changes in existing policies or guidelines may come from any student, faculty member, or CMB Program staff member

  • Changes are decided by a majority vote of the Coordinating Committee

  • Should any 10 faculty members, by written petition within 30 days of the meeting, object to the proposed changes, they have the option to call for a meeting of the entire faculty and a re-vote

  • Following such a meeting, the Coordinating Committee would circulate the proposed changes along with statements summarizing the pro and the con arguments expressed at the meeting and a ballot to be returned to the Coordinating Committee

  • When a re-vote has been called, approval of the proposed changes must be by a majority of the CMB Program faculty

  • The Coordinating Committee also has the option to call for a binding referendum on any issue, determined by a majority vote of responding faculty

• Identify a mechanism for raising flexible funds to support the expenses of student hosts during recruiting and the fall retreat

• Decide the CMB Program’s position in relation to training grants of various sizes

Coordinating Committee Membership:

The Coordinating Committee consists of faculty trainers and graduate students, and is under the direct leadership of the CMB Program Chair:

• Four representatives, preferably the chairs, of the standing committees: Admissions, Advising and Orientation, Curriculum, and Recruiting

• The remaining members are the Focus Group Chairs (10), the Fellowship/Training Grant Liaison (1), graduate students (3), the CMB Program Administrator (1), and the CMB Student Services Coordinator (1)

• The members of the Coordinating Committee are confirmed annually by the Dean of the Graduate School based on the recommendations of the CMB Program Chair from the previous year

 

C. Admissions Committee

Admissions Chair Responsibilities:

• To be a member of the Coordinating Committee

• To oversee the Admissions Committee

• To serve as a liaison between the Admissions Committee, the CMB Office, and the Coordinating Committee

• To convene the first meeting of the Admissions Committee on or before December 15 of each year

• To be present at each recruiting weekend

• To scrutinize all first and second tier application decisions for consistency in the admissions procedure

  • The Chair reserves the right to question the selection and possibly change the applicant’s status after conferring with members of the sub-committee(s)

• To complete follow-up phone calls to applicants, inviting them to an interview weekend

• To provide an annual report to the Coordinating Committee following each admissions season

Admissions Committee Responsibilities:

• Begin meeting in December each year to consider applicants for upcoming fall semester

• Review each applicant’s credentials—GRE, TOEFL (if applicable), statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and transcripts—and make final decisions for admission

• Make recommendations for nominating applicants for Graduate School fellowships and training grant slots (This effort may be in coordination with the MBTG Liaison)

• Evaluate the credentials of students requesting a transfer into the CMB Program from other graduate programs on campus

• Analyze and enhance efforts of minority recruiting

Admissions Committee Membership:

The Admissions Committee consists of (minimum):

• Admissions Chair

• Six CMB faculty representatives

• Three CMB student representatives

 

D. Advising & Orientation Committee

Advising & Orientation Chair Responsibilities:

• To be a member of the Coordinating Committee

• To oversee the Advising & Orientation Committee

• To serve as a liaison between the Advising & Orientation Committee, the CMB Office, and Coordinating Committee

• To provide an annual report to the Coordinating Committee following each Advising & Orientation season

Advising & Orientation Committee Responsibilities:

• Serve as advisors to incoming students making recommendations for courses during the first semester

• Provide general course information and advice on choosing lab rotations

• Advise students of guidelines for the rotation period and urge them to report any problems or confusion, so it can be addressed immediately

Advising & Orientation Membership:

The Advising and Orientation Committee consists of (minimum):

• Advising & Orientation Chair

• Faculty representatives from each Focus Group to serve as first semester advisors

• Student representatives

 

E. Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Chair Responsibilities, in Coordination with the CMB Office and the Coordinating Committee:

• To be a member of the Coordinating Committee

• To serve as a liaison between the CMB students & faculty, Curriculum Committee, CMB Office, and Coordinating Committee

• Ensure that each student has completed his or her appropriate annual requirements

• Advise and recommend an appropriate course of action for students who have not met an acceptable level of performance as established by the CMB Course Requirements

• To provide an annual report at the July Coordinating Committee meeting

Curriculum Committee Membership:

• The Curriculum Committee consists of the Curriculum Chair

 

F. Recruiting Committee

Recruiting Chair Responsibilities:

• To be a member of the Coordinating Committee

• To oversee the Recruiting Committee

• Convene the first meeting of the Recruiting Committee in January of each year

• Contact students after interview weekends, notifying them of their acceptance into the CMB Program

• To serve as a liaison between the Recruiting Committee, the CMB Office, and the Coordinating Committee

• To provide an annual report to the Coordinating Committee following each recruiting season

Recruiting Committee Responsibilities, in Coordination with the CMB Office:

• Organize logistics and events for the recruiting season

• Organize and oversee the scheduling of appropriate faculty and student volunteers for the visiting students

• Make recommendations to prospective students of faculty to meet during their visit, relative to their interests

Recruiting Committee Membership:

The Recruiting Committee consists of (minimum):

• Recruiting Chair

• CMB Office staff

• CMB student weekend managers (two per recruiting weekend)

G. Focus Groups

Focus Group Chair Responsibilities:

• Represent the Focus Group at Coordinating Committee meetings

• Develop a sense of community of the group and provide an outstanding training environment through means such as: regular journal clubs, mini-symposia, etc.

• Provide up to date content regarding the respective Focus Group for the CMB website

• Review new faculty applications for membership into the Focus Group

• Appoint group representatives to the Advising, Recruiting, and Admissions Committees

• Present an annual report to the Coordinating Committee at the July meeting