The purpose of MTSA’s Academic Governance Policy is to ensure that an open and cooperative relationship exists between MTSA faculty and administration. MTSA recognizes that a check and balance must exist between faculty and administration. This collaborative process ensures that MTSA faculty have the authority to execute the content of the educational program and have responsibility toward its quality and effectiveness. Faculty must be cognizant of MTSA’s mission when executing any curricular revision, academic policy development, and resource allocation and consumption.
Academic governance comprises the structures and processes upon which relevant academic matters and issues are discussed, considered, and resolved in a respectful and collegial manner. Through these collaborative activities, qualified academic and administrative individuals are able to review existing policies and formulate, recommend, and implement new policy. The specific role of faculty in this shared-role governance is based in the institutional committee structure. The committee names, membership and responsibilities and reporting of each of these bodies are found in the MTSA Faculty Handbook. Below are the committees in which faculty have representation.
Nurse Anesthesia Program Council (NAP Council)
The NAP Council has been given authority by the President to make programmatic decisions and have oversight of the educational programs of MTSA, both academic and clinical. This oversight includes curriculum, faculty development and evaluation, clinical affiliations, simulation, student services, information technology, and learning resources.
Interview & Admissions Committee
Interviews and selects applicant and alternate candidates from those who were extended an invitation to interview for student positions at MTSA. Recommend policies and criteria for admission of students.
Progressions Committee
Deliberates and decides on student progressions and disciplinary issues relating to School activities, which includes advancement to the next level and graduation. Ensures decisions made and actions taken are in compliance with accreditation standards as well as academic policies of MTSA.
School Life Committee
The School Life Committee is designed to give voice to the MTSA student body, staff, and faculty. The function of this committee is to allow for focused discussion on how to improve the day-to-day life at MTSA. The faculty, staff, and student members will be charged with the identification of areas for improvement as well as to propose solutions to the challenges they identify. The action of this committee is designed to give responsibility and accountability to the membership for some of the day-to-day school activity. The committee is charged to be reflective upon improvements for the building, classroom, laboratories, and offices as well as areas the students frequent and the problems or situations that may arise in the day-to-day life at MTSA or the places they practice.
Information Technology Committee (Informatics)
The purpose of the Information Technology Committee is to provide consistent oversight and direction to the continuous development, implementation, evaluation, and modification of information technologies that underpin the educational, communication, and data management systems at MTSA. The committee’s role is to advise and inform administrative decisions that significantly influence related information technology issues and policies.