While authority and governance on major issues remains with the Program faculty at large (see Program-Wide Meetings), the Steering Committee oversees most of the routine business of Neuroscience Training Program. The Steering Committee consists of ten faculty members and two student representatives. Five faculty members are elected, and five are appointed by the Chair. Traditionally, students in the Program have played an important role in helping to define Program policies. Each year, students in the Program elect two student representatives to the Steering Committee. The student representatives attend all Steering Committee meetings and bring student views and concerns to the Committee and vice-versa. The student representatives are excused from those parts of Steering Committee meetings that involve discussion of individual students and faculty in the Program. While University statutes preclude students from voting on most policy and procedural issues, the faculty in the Program take student opinion very seriously. For example, the student representatives have the right to delay a Steering Committee vote on an issue until they believe that students in the Program have been fully informed about the issue and have had an opportunity to comment.
Program-Wide Meetings
Program-Wide Meetings are held twice yearly. All faculty and students in the Program are encouraged to attend. The purpose of these meetings is to keep members apprised of ongoing activities and business, receive standing committee reports, solicit new ideas or comments/suggestions, and vote on major issues, if necessary. Larger issues such as major changes in curriculum, seminar structure, or leadership issues will be discussed and voted upon in Program Meetings.