Biological Chemistry Program Administration:
The Biological Chemistry Program is governed by a director, a steering committee, and an executive committee.
The director serves a three-year term. The director chairs steering committee
meetings and makes executive decisions as required.
The steering committee meets every other month during the academic year. Its members
are:
• The director
• One department representative from each of the participating departments
• Chairs of the curriculum, advising, admissions, and the recruitment committees
• One student
There are six participating departments (Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Oncological Sciences, and Pharmaceutics and Pharamacueutical Chemistry).
Department representatives to the steering committee are elected by each
of the participating departments.
Chairs of the admissions, curriculum, advising, and recruitment committees
are chosen by the Program director for a tenure of three years to coincide
with the director’s tenure. The director also selects the chair of
the academic standards committee, although that person does not serve
on the steering committee.
The new Program director is chosen by the current Program director with
the following stipulations: (1) The new director cannot be from the same
department as the current director, (2) The director chosen must meet
with the approval of the executive committee by a 2/3 vote. If the nominee
is not approved, the director must submit the name of another candidate
until approval from the executive committee is achieved. (3) The director
must be a full professor in one of the participating departments.
The following three recommendations are intended to enhance stability
for the Program. (1) The steering committee composition should have overlap
each year such that there will always be some experienced members on the
committee. (2) The future Program director should be identified a year
in advance and attend steering committee meetings for at least six months.
(3) The future director should choose committee chairs about six months
before taking office, and these chairs should sit in on their respective
committees to gain experience.
Director: Wes Sundquist
Admissions Committee Chair: Jared Rutter
Advising Committee Chair: Eric Schmidt
Curriculum Committee Chair: Scott Summers
Recruiting Committee Chair: Brad Cairns
Academic Standards Committee Chair: Don Blumenthal
Biology Department Representative: David Blair
Biochemistry Department Representative: Chris Hill
Chemistry Department Representative: Dale Poulter
Medicinal Chemistry Department Representative:
Kuby Balagurunathan
Oncological Sciences Department Representative: Dave Jones
Pharm Pharm Chemistry Department Representative: Jindrich Kopecek
Student Representative: Michael Landesman
Steering Committee Meeting Minutes
Minutes are compiled by the Program office, approved by the director,
and sent out via e-mail to all Program faculty members.
Policy Changes
How a policy is enacted:
(1) A policy change is suggested
(2) It is discussed at a steering committee meeting
(3) It is reviewed by the participating departments via the department
representatives
who are expected to bring issues to their
department for discussion. (an e-mail summary
is also copied to the department chairs)
(4) Final approval is by the Steering Committee
(5) It is posted on the webpage