Consortium Policies


Consortium Member Application Process

Adopted 4.21.09

University of Minnesota Centers and Institutes interested in becoming members of the Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the Life Sciences may apply for membership. Applications must be submitted by the faculty director and will be reviewed by the Consortium membership.

Description: The Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the Life Sciences tackles issues involving the societal implications of the life sciences. Founded in 2000, the Consortium builds on the strengths of 21 University centers and programs, establishing the University of Minnesota as a leading institution working on law and values in health, the life sciences, and the environment. The Consortium links its members to accomplish together what no program can readily do alone. In October 2003, University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks named the Consortium one of 8 Presidential Interdisciplinary Initiatives. It reports to the Research & Innovation Office (RIO).

The mission of the Consortium is to support work on the legal, ethical, and policy implications of problems in health, environment, and the life sciences. Our goal is to advance knowledge, public understanding, and sound policy. We undertake a wide range of activities including sponsoring public lectures and conferences; offering intramural funding to support faculty, students, and colloquia; recommending faculty hiring and programmatic innovation; encouraging and supporting curricular innovation; securing grants to do original intellectual work; and facilitating collaborative research. The Consortium is directed by its member centers and programs and is open to all points of view.

Eligibility: Centers and Institutes at the University of Minnesota are eligible to apply if they meet the following criteria:

  • Their mission includes work on the legal, ethical, and policy implications of problems in health, environment, or the life sciences; and
  • Their mission is interdisciplinary in nature and engages faculty across departments and preferably across colleges.

Directors of member centers/institutes are expected to attend bi-annual Consortium Member meetings and participate in other Consortium activities. Consortium Members will periodically review and discuss whether other centers should be invited to apply.

To apply for membership the center/institute faculty director must submit the following materials: (1) a cover letter stating why their center/institute is a good fit with the missions of the Consortium; (2) a one-page description of their center/institute with supporting material and/or a link to electronic material; and (3) a list of participating faculty and their home departments. Applications will be reviewed as received.

Application Review Process: Applications for new membership will be discussed by the full Consortium Membership. Advanced notification of the discussion will be provided to all Consortium Members. Consortium applicants must receive a 2/3 majority vote of Consortium Members to become a member. Each Consortium Member center will identify one designee to submit their vote.

Continued Membership Criteria: Continued membership of Consortium Members who have been inactive for more than one year or who no longer meet the criteria for membership will be reviewed by the Executive Committee. The Committee may ask such members to resign or seek a 2/3 majority vote of Consortium Members (1 vote per Member center) to withdraw membership.

Affiliate Member Application Process

Revised Spring 2014

University of Minnesota tenured or tenure-track faculty or Principal Investigator-qualified P&A staff may apply to become affiliated faculty or staff with the Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the Life Sciences. The Consortium will help affiliated members develop interdisciplinary connections, put forward research proposals, and build additional ties to the law and policy community. Faculty and staff are eligible to apply for a 3-year renewable affiliate appointment if they meet the following criteria: 

  • Are University of Minnesota tenured or tenure-track faculty or PI-eligible P&A staff
  • Have scholarly research interests or engagement activities that include work on the legal, ethical, and policy implications of problems in health, environment, and the life sciences
  • Have work that is interdisciplinary in nature and engages faculty across departments and preferably across colleges, and are interested in building such interdisciplinary collaborations
  • As part of the larger Consortium community, faculty and staff affiliates are expected to be actively involved in Consortium activities including attending events, assisting with events, serving on committees, submitting grant proposals through the Consortium, and reviewing research applications.

To apply for affiliate status, applicants should submit: (1) a cover letter stating why their scholarly research is a good fit with the missions of the Consortium; (2) a one-page description of their relevant research and/or research interests with supporting material and/or a link to electronic material; and (3) a current CV. Applications will be reviewed as received. Please send all material to Prof. Susan Wolf at [email protected]. Applications for new faculty and staff affiliates will be reviewed by the Consortium chair with the Consortium Executive Committee.

Every three years, faculty and staff affiliates should report on their activity with the Consortium and summarize their continued interest in being affiliated with the Consortium.

Consortium Executive Committee Nomination and Election Procedures

Adopted Spring 2006

Nominations

  • Consortium members elected to the Executive Committee will serve three-year renewable terms.
  • Each member center/program may nominate candidates either from their own center or another. Members may self-nominate. Only 1 person may run from each center and each center has only 1 vote. Each center decides who exercises the center's vote. In some cases, that person is obvious; other centers have multiple representatives who have participated in Consortium meetings and events.
  • To serve on the Executive Committee, a Consortium representative must remain in the relevant role at his/her center (e.g., Director, Deputy Director, or faculty representative) and the center must continue as a live center and one that is part of the Consortium. When necessary, a special election will be held to fill any mid-term vacancies for the remainder of the original term. Nominations are submitted electronically.

Election

  • Only one person from each member center/program may vote. Each center/program decides who exercises that vote.
  • Each center/program shall vote for 1 candidate.
  • The candidate receiving the highest number of votes will serve on the Executive Committee.

Two-thirds of Consortium member centers (a quorum) must vote for the election to be valid.

Votes will be submitted electronically. Voters must indicate the center/program for which they are submitting the vote, since several Consortium members are affiliated with multiple Consortium member centers/programs. All votes will be kept confidential and all ballots/messages will be deleted after votes have been recorded.

Consortium Statement on Potential Conflicts of Interest

Adopted 4.15.11

The Consortium is committed to the ethical conduct of its business. Occasionally, in the course of conducting Consortium business (including awarding Consortium grants), a Consortium Member faculty member or staff representative may have a conflict of interest or what might reasonably be perceived by an independent observer as a conflict of interest. In such a case, the individual will disclose the conflict or potential conflict and recuse him- or herself from voting on the topic or issue in question. This statement does not alter University policy.