Policies & Bylaws

Medical School Policies & Bylaws

U-M Medical School Faculty Handbook

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U-M Medical School Bylaws

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Outside Interests & Conflicts of Interest

Michigan Medicine recognizes the value of an active faculty participating in intellectual activities and relationships outside of the obligations of research, teaching and scholarly activities at the University.

However, each faculty member also is obliged to ensure that outside interests meet all of the standards set by the University, Michigan Medicine, and applicable state and federal laws.

Go to Office of Regulatory Affairs Conflict of Interest →

Outside Clinical Practice - "Moonlighting"

Since adoption of the first Medical Service Plan in 1973, it has been both University and Medical School policy that UMMS faculty are not permitted to perform clinical activities outside the University of Michigan Hospital and Health Centers unless under contract through the University of Michigan to an external site.

The External Clinical Activity Policy provides clarification of this longstanding policy. 

Professional Standards for Faculty

Policy (SPG 201.96)

Duty Off-Campus

Policy (SPG 201.90)

When a University Instructional, or Primary staff member’s duties require activities at a site away from one of the three campus locations for a period of one month or more, this shall be noted by placing the individual in a Duty Off-Campus (DOC) status for the appropriate period.

Duty Off-Campus requests should be requested at least 90 days in advance of the anticipated leave. 

Please include:

  • Letter from their department chair(s) and/or division chief requesting and approving the leave addressed to Dean Marschall Runge.
  • Current CV
  • Form:  HR36609

Submit to OFA utilizing the Customer Service Portal.  

  • Once the materials are submitted and approved by OFA, the request will be sent to the Executive Committee (EC) for approval.  Once EC approves, OFA will send a copy of the approval to HR and notify the department of approval.

Upon approval, the department will:

  • Process the title change in MPathways through a PAR

Scholarly Activity Leave

Policy (SPG 201.30-4)

Scholarly Activity Leaves not in excess of one year may be granted by the President or a designated representative on recommendation of the dean (Ann Arbor Campus) or Chancellor (Flint or Dearborn campus). Such leaves may be granted to:

  1. Allow faculty members to accept “prestigious fellowships”, or
  2. To allow faculty members to accept a temporary appointment at another institution when the appointment would, in the interest of the University, permit the faculty member to engage in scholarly activities that would not be otherwise practicably available, and that would significantly enhance the professional effectiveness of the faculty member.

Scholarly Activity Leave requests should be requested at least 90 days in advance of the anticipated leave. 

Please include:

  • Letter from their department chair(s) and/or division chief requesting and approving the leave addressed to Dean Marschall Runge.
  • Current CV
  • Complete form HR36609 which can be found on the HR website under Department Forms.

Submit to OFA utilizing the Customer Service Portal.  

  • Once the materials are approved by OFA, OFA will notify the department of approval.  Upon approval, the Department will process the PMOD/leave in MPathways through a PAR.

Faculty Vacation 

Faculty Vacation Time

The University of Michigan Standard Practice Guide policy which applies to LEO, Tenure and Clinical Track faculty vacation can be found here: https://spg.umich.edu/policy/201.64-1. The key excerpt is as follows:  “Vacation must be taken during the annual appointment period (i.e., during twelve-month appointment period).”  

Research Track Reduction-In-Force

Research faculty may experience a reduction-in-force (RIF) as governed by Standard Practice Guide (SPG) 201.72 and requires approval by UMOR (see #17) https://research.umich.edu/research-resources/research-faculty-affairs/ 

How to request a reduction-in-force (RIF)

  • Please provide the explanation for the request in a formal letter from the chair to the Assistant Dean of Research, Aruna Sarma, Ph.D.  The letter should also include the following information that will eventually be needed by the UM Office of Research (UMOR), these can be sent as separate attachments:
    • Funding History
    • Status of all current sources of funds
    • Role (PI or Co-PI) on active grants, term of award and funding commitment
    • Role (PI or Co-PI), funding level and probability of success on all pending grants
    • Other known pending grants with support for the research faculty member
    • Along with the letter, also send the original offer letter and hiring Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
  • Submit to OFA utilizing the Customer Service Portal

Once the Assistant Dean approves the request, you will receive an email from him/her with instructions of what to send to UMOR for their review and required approval. When UMOR approves the request, you will receive an email from their office indicating that the RIF is approved and then you can then give the faculty member the notice; with a minimum 90-day lead time.

Supervisor-Employee Relationships

  • For policy information pertaining to Supervisor-Employee Relationships, please refer to SPG 201.97.

Non-Academic Related Leaves

Maternity (Childbirth) and Parental Leaves 

Modified Duties for New Parents

  • For policy information pertaining to Modified Duties for New Parents, please refer to SPG 201.93.

Sick Leave Plan (Academic Appointments)

Unpaid Leaves of Absence

Policy (SPG 201.30-1)

The President or his or her designated representative may grant unpaid leaves of absence on recommendation by the dean or director to members of the instructional staff for periods of up to one year, to primary archivists, curators, librarians, and researchers not covered by a collective barganing agreement.

Only the Board of Regents may grant unpaid leaves exceeding one year in duration and extensions of unpaid leaves beyond one year for instructional staff when an appropriate request is made on recommendation by the department head, the dean or director, and the president.

Unpaid leaves of absence for instructional staff will be reported monthly to the Board of Regents.

Applies to: Regular Instructional Faculty, Clinical Instructional Faculty, Research Scientists, Research Professors, and Archivists, Curators, and Librarians not covered by a collective bargaining agreement

Unpaid Leaves of Absence requests should be requested at least 90 days in advance of the anticipated leave. 

Please include:

  • Complete form HR36609 which can be found on the HR website under Department Forms.

Submit to OFA utilizing the Customer Service Portal.  

  • Once the materials are approved by OFA, OFA will notify the department of approval.  Upon approval, the Department will process the PMOD/leave in MPathways through a PAR.