Responsibilities of the Faculty

Specific academic duties and responsibilities are assigned to faculty members by their department chairs. The nature of these assignments will be commensurate with the nature of the faculty appointment (for example, full time or contributed service). The medical school has certain general expectations regarding faculty responsibility in the areas of education, research, patient care, and University service.

Education

The education of medical students is the primary academic responsibility of medical school faculty members. A faculty member also is expected to make contributions when appropriate to the graduate and continuing medical education programs of the school and McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, and when appropriate to PhD and allied health professions education. The quality of medical education at Northwestern is a function of the dedication and skills of faculty members, whose participation in educational programs is an integral part of their academic appointments.

Research

Full-time faculty members are expected to engage in life sciences and medical research and/or support the school’s research programs. Faculty members are expected to endorse and follow appropriate ethical standards in the pursuit of their research and other scholarly activities. Those engaged in research are expected to adhere to University research policy and procedures regarding grants and contracts, the protection of human and animal research subjects, and research safety issues. Faculty members are responsible for the conduct of research by the students, trainees, and staff members in their laboratories or clinical programs.

Part-time or contributed service faculty members who use their faculty titles and the University’s name to obtain grants or contracts to support research and training or in reporting and publishing their research must conform to University policies and procedures.

Patient Care

Northwestern University desires to provide all members of the community with high-quality health care through its clinical faculty and the affiliated hospitals of the McGaw Medical Center. Full- and part-time faculty members are expected to accept department patient care assignments within the scope of their clinical competence and experience. Faculty members who engage in patient care must do so in keeping with the medical profession’s highest ethical standards. Faculty clinicians should be committed to lifelong learning and University and community service.

University Service

In addition to scholarly pursuits, the medical faculty is expected to serve the school and University through committee and administrative work. Committee membership is an important component of a faculty member’s service function and one of the criteria by which faculty members are evaluated for promotion. Faculty members are encouraged to participate in the activities of external professional and scholarly organizations. In so doing, the faculty represents the University and medical school in the broader communities of science, medicine, and government.

Outside Activities

Outside activities must not interfere with a full-time faculty member’s responsibilities to the University and in no case may such activities be carried on either directly or by implication in the name of the University without consent of the president. Consent should be requested through the Office of the Dean. Faculty members shall not use the name "Northwestern University" in connection with outside activities in a manner that implies the University’s sanction or support, unless the required consent has been obtained.

When responding to inquiries in their fields of professional competence or acting as private citizens on issues of general public interest, faculty members may use their academic titles for purposes of identification. However, they should make it clear that they speak, write, and act for themselves and not for the institution.

To engage in outside activities, faculty members must comply with the University’s Policy on Faculty Conflict of Commitment and Conflict of Interest.