Terms of Appointment and Remuneration for Assistant Deans in the Stephens Family School of Medicine

1.0    BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

1.1    The purpose of this policy is to establish the following for Assistant Deans in the Stephens Family School of Medicine (“SFSoM”):

1.1.1    Appointment authority;

1.1.2    The term of appointment and renewal process;

1.1.3    Remuneration and other conditions of appointment; and

1.1.4    Performance review procedures.

2.0    GLOSSARY

SFSoM Assistant Dean means the person(s) appointed into an academic administrative appointment under Policy A13.10 (Terms of Appointment and Remuneration for Assistant Deans in the Stephens Family School of Medicine), or a successor policy or other governing document, to undertake responsibility for operational and supervisory functions within a specific unit as delegated by the SFSoM Dean.

SFSoM Dean means the person appointed as Dean of SFSoM under Policy A13.07 (Terms of Appointment of Deans of Faculties), or a successor policy or other governing document.

SFSoM Associate Dean means the person(s) appointed into an academic administrative appointment under Policy A13.11 (Associate Dean Appointments in the Stephens Family School of Medicine) to undertake responsibilities for strategic and advisory level functions within a portfolio as delegated by the SFSoM Dean.

SFSoM Vice Dean means the person(s) appointed into an academic administrative appointment under policy A13.12 (Terms of Appointment and Remuneration for Vice Deans in the Stephens Family School of Medicine), or a successor policy or other governing document, to provide strategic integration and internal oversight across assigned portfolios, while ensuring coordination and alignment across SFSoM, as delegated by the SFSoM Dean.

Provost and Vice-President, Academic means the person appointed as the university’s Provost and Vice-President, Academic under Policy GP29 (Search Committees for Vice-Presidents), or a successor policy or other governing document.

Medical Research Faculty means person(s) appointed under Policy A10.08 (Medical Research Faculty Appointments in the School of Medicine), or a successor policy or other governing document.

Clinical Faculty means person(s) appointed under Policy A10.07 (Clinical Faculty Appointments in the School of Medicine), or a successor policy or other governing document.

The SFSoM Dean may delegate supervision of SFSoM Assistant Deans to SFSoM Vice Deans or SFSoM Associate Deans.

The SFSoM Dean may delegate decision-making authority to a SFSoM Assistant Dean. The SFSoM Dean may revoke any delegated authority at any time. Any such delegation or revocation must be set out in writing by the SFSoM Dean and communicated to the SFSoM Assistant Dean in accordance with Policy GP08.

3.0    SCOPE AND JURISDICTION

3.1    This policy applies to the appointment of SFSoM Assistant Deans who report to the SFSoM Dean, or to a SFSoM Vice Dean or to a SFSoM Associate Dean, at Simon Fraser University. For clarity, this policy does not apply to faculties other than the SFSoM.

4.0    POLICY

4.1    APPOINTMENT

4.1.1    The SFSoM Dean is responsible for the appointment of SFSoM Assistant Deans following the search process set out in this policy’s associated procedure. The SFSoM Dean will have final approval of the terms and conditions of the appointment of SFSoM Assistant Deans.

4.1.2    The qualifications required of the SFSoM Assistant Dean include eligibility for appointment as a Medical Research Faculty (Policy A10.08), Clinical Faculty (Policy A10.07), or another type of comparable faculty appointment within the SFSoM with the requisite experience and skillset to accomplish the pre-defined portfolio of duties and responsibilities delegated by the SFSoM Dean.

4.1.3    The term of appointment will normally be three or five years. Normally, a SFSoM Assistant Dean will not serve more than two consecutive three-year terms.

4.1.4    The SFSoM Dean may designate an acting or pro tem SFSoM Assistant Dean for a period of one year or less. Normally, an acting or pro tem appointment will not be extended or renewed beyond one year.

4.2    DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, REMUNERATION AND OTHER CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT

4.2.1    Duties and Responsibilities

a.    The role of the SFSoM Assistant Dean normally includes monitoring and managing the academic operations of a specific unit. In addition, they support the advancement of the SFSoM’s programs and activities, make recommendations to the SFSoM Associate Deans, SFSoM Vice Deans, or SFSoM Dean on matters pertaining to the school, and other duties as may be assigned by the SFSoM Associate Dean, SFSoM Vice Dean, or SFSoM Dean.

b.    Assignment of duties and responsibilities of the SFSoM Assistant Dean is at the SFSoM Dean’s discretion, in consultation with the SFSoM Vice-Dean or Associate Dean to whom the position reports. Administrative portfolio duties and responsibilities will take precedence:

i    For Medical Research Faculty: while ensuring reasonable opportunity to maintain connection with the academic discipline (e.g., through service to the profession, research and scholarly activity or graduate supervision).

ii    For Clinical Faculty: while ensuring reasonable opportunity to maintain their active clinical practice in addition to service and scholarly activity.

c.    The SFSoM Assistant Dean will have their initial duties and responsibilities and any additional responsibilities as may be agreed or assigned from time to time set out in writing by the SFSoM Dean. The distribution of assigned duties and responsibilities must be specified by the SFSoM Dean.

4.2.2    Remuneration

a.    Medical Research Faculty: SFSoM Assistant Deans with underlying Medical Research Faculty appointments will receive their academic salary and an administrative stipend for the duration of the appointment. The amount of the stipend is set out in this policy’s accompanying procedures.

b.    Clinical Faculty: SFSoM Assistant Deans with underlying Clinical Faculty appointments will receive a salary commensurate with their rank.

4.2.3    Other Conditions of Appointment

a.    SFSoM Assistant Deans with underlying Medical Research Faculty appointments are eligible to apply for research grant support from the Dean. Grants may be made after careful review of the research program by the SFSoM Dean. Support will be at a level appropriate to the SFSoM Assistant Dean’s discipline.

b.    SFSoM Assistant Deans with underlying Clinical Faculty appointments are eligible for development grant support from the SFSoM Dean.

4.3    PERFORMANCE REVIEW

4.3.1    The SFSoM Dean will review the SFSoM Assistant Dean’s performance annually in writing, in consultation with the SFSoM Vice Dean or Associate Dean to whom the position reports.

a.    For SFSoM Assistant Deans with underlying Medical Research Faculty appointments, the Dean may assign an annual salary increase, based on performance, to the underlying faculty salary of the SFSoM Assistant Dean. The salary increase recommendations pursuant to performance review will be forwarded by the SFSoM Dean to the Provost and Vice President, Academic, for approval.

b.    SFSoM Assistant Deans with underlying Clinical Faculty appointments will undergo annual performance review but are not eligible for merit-based salary increases.

4.3.2    Where the SFSoM Dean loses confidence in a SFSoM Assistant Dean as evidenced by the performance review process, they may recommend to the Provost and Vice President, Academic that the administrative appointment as SFSoM Assistant Dean be rescinded. Where a SFSoM Assistant Dean reports to a SFSoM Vice Dean or SFSoM Associate Dean, the SFSoM Dean will consult with the supervisor prior to making a recommendation to the Provost and Vice President Academic.

4.4    RE-APPOINTMENT

4.4.1    SFSoM Assistant Deans may be reappointed by the SFSoM Dean, on the recommendation of the SFSoM Vice Dean or SFSoM Associate Dean to whom the position reports. Consideration for reappointment is at the discretion of the SFSoM Dean and subject to satisfactory performance reviews.

4.4.2    A SFSoM Assistant Dean may terminate their administrative appointment by providing four months' written notice to the SFSoM Dean.

5.0    INTERPRETATION

5.1    Questions of interpretation or application of this policy or its procedures shall be referred to the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, whose decision shall be final.

6.0    REVISION HISTORY AND MANDATED REVIEW DATE

Sep 1, 2026 - Policy Updated