GREAT Group Rules and Regulations

I. Name

The name of the organization shall be the "Group on Graduate Research, Education, and Training of the Association of American Medical Colleges," herein after referred to as the GREAT Group.

II. Purpose

The purpose of the organization is to provide a forum for the leadership of biomedical science research training units to promote quality in the graduate programs of the accredited medical schools of the United States and Canada. The organization will address institutional, local, and national factors in an effort to improve both the educational and research missions of these programs.

III. Membership

1. The appointment authority for membership in the GREAT Group shall rest with the medical dean of medical schools that are members of the Association of American Medical Colleges, herein after referred to as the AAMC. Where appropriate, the medical dean may delegate this authority or share it with the graduate dean or equivalent. The dean or deans shall nominate an individual or individuals (as appropriate) from faculty or administrative ranks who serve(s) in an academic leadership role(s) in the graduate programs involving medical school faculty. The appointed member(s) shall serve at the pleasure of the respective dean(s). Each institution shall be entitled to one vote at the GREAT Group business meeting.
2. Deans of schools holding affiliate membership in the AAMC (such as Canadian medical schools) may also appoint members of the GREAT Group. These members shall have all privileges of the floor in all discussions. Each institution shall be entitled to one vote at the GREAT Group business meeting.
3. Deans of schools holding provisional institutional membership in the AAMC (such as newly developing medical schools) may appoint members of the GREAT Group. These members shall have all privileges of the floor. Each institution shall be entitled to one vote at the GREAT Group business meeting.
4. The appointment authority for membership in the GREAT Group M.D. Ph.D. Section, herein after referred to as the M.D. Ph.D. Section, shall rest with the medical dean of medical schools that are members of the AAMC. Where appropriate, the medical dean may delegate this authority or share it with the graduate dean or equivalent. The dean or deans shall nominate an individual, or individuals (as appropriate) from faculty or administrative ranks who serve(s) as the institutional leader(s) of M.D. Ph.D. programs. The appointed member(s) shall serve at the pleasure of the respective dean(s). Each institution shall be entitled to one vote during M.D. Ph.D. Section sessions or meetings.
5. The GREAT Group Steering Committee, herein after referred to as the Steering Committee, may appoint voting members to the GREAT Group from non-AAMC member institutions when the Steering Committee determines that those individuals represent biomedical research training programs that are important for their quality, affiliations with medical schools, contributions to a diverse workforce, or other key characteristics. The number of Steering Committee-appointed representatives shall not exceed 10 percent of all GREAT Group representatives. These members shall have all privileges of the floor and shall be entitled to one vote per member institution. Their term of appointment is one year, which may be renewed by the Steering Committee.
6. The Steering Committee may appoint other interested individuals without voting rights. In this manner, appropriate individuals from the AAMC staff or other agencies (such as the National Research Council) may become ex-officio non voting members of the GREAT Group.

IV. Officers

1. The Officers of the GREAT Group shall include a Chair, a Chair-Elect, a Past Chair, and an Executive Secretary.
2. The Chair of the GREAT Group may not serve consecutive terms as Chair.
3. The Chair-Elect shall be elected at the GREAT Group's annual meeting by a simple majority of the voting institutions present and voting. To be eligible for this position, candidates must (a) be members of the Steering Committee, or have served on it in the preceding two years, and (b) be representatives formally appointed to membership in the GREAT Group by a medical school dean. The Chair's term shall commence at the subsequent GREAT Group meeting.
4. The Executive Secretary shall be appointed by the AAMC President and shall be an AAMC staff member. The Executive Secretary shall coordinate the provision of appropriate staff support and assist in the general direction of the GREAT Group.
5. Nominations for the Chair-Elect shall be made by a Nominating Committee appointed by the Steering Committee, and such nominations shall be publicized in advanced to the membership. Additional nominations may be made from the floor by members, providing the consent of the nominee has been received.
6. If a previously elected Officer or Steering Committee member is unable to complete his/her term of office, the vacancy shall be filled by a majority vote of the Steering Committee, with the advice of the Nominating Committee.

V. Committees and Sections

1. The Steering Committee shall be composed of:
1. The Chair, the Chair-Elect, and the Past Chair.
2. Seven other elected members who shall each serve three year terms, three new members (or four when the Chair-Elect is a sitting member of the Steering Committee) to be elected each year so as to provide an appropriately staggered membership.
3. Three additional seats on the Steering Committee shall be reserved for the M.D.-Ph.D. Section officers: Chair, Chair-Elect, and the Past Chair.
4. In addition to the 13 members described above, the Steering Committee shall also include:
   1. A medical school dean, appointed by the chair of the AAMC Council of Deans, who shall serve as a liaison member of the GREAT Group Steering Committee with full voting rights;
   2. A member of the AAMC Council of Academic Societies, appointed by the chair of that council, who shall serve as a liaison member of the GREAT Group Steering Committee with full voting rights; and
   3. Non-voting ex officio members, as appointed by the Steering Committee for the purpose of either (i) creating liaison with organizations that hold a strong interest in biomedical research training (e.g., NRC, NIH), or (ii) bringing in expertise or points of view not available from the regular membership.
5. At least three-fourths of the voting Steering Committee members shall be representatives appointed to the Group by medical school deans.
6. The Steering Committee shall manage the affairs of the GREAT Group.
2. A Nominating Committee, appointed each year by the Steering Committee, shall be chaired by the GREAT Group Past Chair.
3. A Program Committee shall be appointed after the GREAT Group annual meeting, to develop the program for the subsequent annual meeting. The Program Committee shall be led by the GREAT Group Chair.
4. Other Standing or Ad Hoc GREAT Group Committees may be authorized by vote of the Steering Committee or GREAT Group membership (as appropriate) with the concurrence of the AAMC President.
5. GREAT Group Committees:
1. The Chair of the Committee shall be a member of the Steering Committee, appointed by the GREAT Group Chair with the approval of the Steering Committee. Committee Co-Chairs may be appointed from the general membership of the GREAT Group.
2. At least one member of the committee shall be a member of the Steering Committee.
3. Committees should, whenever practical, include appropriate AAMC staff members.
6. Appointment to Committees shall be made by the GREAT Group Chair in consultation with the Chair of the Committee.
7. Minutes shall be kept of all committee meetings and shall be circulated to all committee members, the GREAT Group Chair, and the Steering Committee.
8. The role of all GREAT Group committees, except for the Steering Committee, shall be advisory. Accordingly, they shall obtain approval for any major projects from the Steering Committee or the GREAT Group membership (as appropriate) at the GREAT Group meeting. Such projects must also have the approval of the AAMC President. All official communication with related external organizations shall be coordinated with the GREAT Group Executive Secretary.
9. The Standing Committees and their functions shall be reviewed periodically by the Steering Committee. Those committees no longer needed may be dissolved upon recommendation of the Steering Committee.
10. The GREAT Group M.D. Ph.D. Section recommended by the Steering Committee and established by the AAMC Executive Council shall operate under Rules and Regulations that are in conformity with these Rules and Regulations and have been approved by the Steering Committee.

VI. Meetings and Quorums

1. A business meeting of the GREAT Group membership shall be held in conjunction with the GREAT Group annual meeting.
2. The Steering Committee shall meet once in conjunction with the GREAT Group annual meeting and on two other occasions during the year. Conference calls or electronic communication may also be used to conduct business of the Steering Committee and may be used, when practical, in place of the regular meetings.
3. Fifty percent of the voting member institutions registered for the GREAT Group annual meeting shall constitute a quorum at its business meeting.
4. Formal actions may only be taken at meetings of the GREAT Group membership or the Steering Committee at which a quorum is present. At such meetings, decisions shall be made by a majority of those qualified to vote.
5. In the conduct of meetings, the order of business shall be under the direction of the GREAT Group Chair who shall make all parliamentary decisions. Such decisions may be reversed by two-thirds majority of the institutional voting members present and voting.

VII. Changes to the Rules and Regulations

1. Changes to the GREAT Group Rules and Regulations must first be approved by a majority vote of the Steering Committee, and subsequently approved by the AAMC Executive Council, before becoming effective.

VII. Parliamentary Authority

1. For matters not covered in these Rules and Regulations, parliamentary authority shall be Roberts Rules of Order.

IX. Amendments

X. Appendices

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