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Office of Educational Affairs College of Medicine
Faculty Overview

Bylaws of the UF Society of Teaching Scholars

University of Florida College of Medicine
Society of Teaching Scholars By-Laws
Name: Society of Teaching Scholars
Mission: To honor and foster teaching and educational scholarship.

Goals:

  1. To provide a forum to recognize and reward College of Medicine faculty who have demonstrated excellence in teaching and in a commitment to medical education.
  2. To serve as mentors and models to faculty, residents and students.
  3. To promote faculty members’ educational scholarship and enhancement of the educational mission of the College of Medicine.

Membership Eligibility:

  1. A faculty member must be an experienced teacher of learners across the continuum with demonstrable teaching excellence.
  2. A faculty member must have a record of educational scholarship.

Selection Process:

  1. Applicants must submit a letter of intent and CV that contain materials to verify eligibility as outlined in the application by the posted due date.
  2. Members of the Selection Committee will review each applicant’s letter of intent and CV for eligibility criteria for early screening.
  3. Upon verification of eligibility by the Selection Committee, the Society will require applicants to submit STS educator portfolio by the deadline established by the Selection Committee.
  4. Members of the Selection Committee will review submitted educator portfolios.
  5. STS Members will make final selections each year by majority vote of those physically or virtually present for the discussion of candidates and by casting a vote.

Honorary Membership:

Honorary members must be faculty at the University of Florida College of Medicine and may be nominated by any member of the Society. Membership will be determined by a majority vote of members present for the discussion. Honorary membership is based upon a documented history of support for and involvement in the education mission which should be addressed in the nominating letter.

Meetings:

Meetings will be held at a minimum biannually and will be scheduled at the discretion of the Chair.

STS Chair, Chair-elect, and Committee Chairs (Officers) Terms, and Selection Process: All officers serve a two-year term. Officer nominations, including self-nominations, can come from any member of the society.  After a majority approval vote of the entire society, new Officers begin their term July 1 of the academic year.

Committee Members – nominations, including self-nominations, can come from any member of the society and are voted on by the whole society.  Committee members serve a three-year term with an option to serve another 3-year consecutive term and terms are on a staggered schedule monitored by the STS administrative support. 

Officers:

  • STS Chair: Duties of the STS Chair include scheduling and running meetings, overseeing the implementation of annual goals, coordinating awards with the awards committee, and ensuring the existence and functioning of other officers and committees.
  • Chair-Elect: Duties include assisting the Chair in his/her duties and preparing to assume the role of Chair.
  • Committee Chairs and Committee Members:
    • Chair of the Selection Committee: Duties of the Chair and the committee members include coordinating the process for soliciting new members, setting dates for application acceptance and the review process for the selection of new scholars to be voted on by the full society.
    • Chair of the Medical Education Development Committee: Duties of the Chair and members of this committee include working with the College of Medicine medical education dean(s) and representatives to address any holistic medical education development needs that the society could assist in addressing.
    • Chair of the Awards Committee: Duties of this Chair and committee members are to solicit award nominations and coordinate the process to select winners.
    • Chair of the Scholarship Committee: Duties of the Chair and members of this committee include review of the stipend proposals to ensure they are feasible and enhance the education mission.  Prioritized proposals will be recommended to the Senior Associate Dean for Educational Affairs (Gainesville) for final funding approval.

New positions can be proposed by any member of the Society and determined by a majority vote.

Finances:

The budget for the Society of Teaching Scholars is supported by the Office of the Senior Associate Dean for Educational Affairs (Gainesville).  Each new inductee receives a one-time stipend upon election to the Society.  Each member is eligible to apply for a stipend up to $2500 each academic year to further educational scholarship and/or the educational mission of the College of Medicine. The Scholarship Committee will review applications and recommend awards.

Amendments of the Bylaws:

A proposal to amend the Bylaws can be submitted by any member of the Society in writing to the Chair.  The Chair will bring it to the entire membership of the Society and a decision will be based on 2/3 majority vote.