Appointment and re-appointment of Directors of Research Centres*
I. Policy Statement
A policy and procedures for appointing, reviewing and renewing Research Centre Directors provides clear expectations to those holding these important leadership roles. The policy will support transparency, excellence and accountability. The policy applies to leaders of Research Centres under the administrative purview of the Faculty of Medicine, with some exceptions (see below). These individuals are expected to report to the Vice Dean, Life Sciences.
II. Who Is Affected By This Policy
This policy applies to Directors of Research Centres formally recognized by the University, primarily (administratively) within the Faculty of Medicine.
III. Exclusions
Several Centres are excluded from this policy, namely: the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), the Goodman Cancer Research Centre (GCRC), and the McGill University and Genome Québec Innovation Centre. Inter-University Centres (e.g. CRIR) that currently report directly to the VPRI’s office are also excluded.
IV. Definitions
Research Centres formally recognized by the University are those that have been approved through all relevant University channels.
See https://www.mcgill.ca/research/files/research/research_centres_policy_on_3.pdf.
V. Policy
All Research Centre Directors shall be formally appointed as per the University’s Policy on Research Centres. Research Centre Directors will report to the Vice-Dean, Life Sciences. Details of terms and reappointment procedures may be found below.
VI. Procedures
1. The Research Centre’s by-laws governing appointment, review and reappointment of the Director, approved at the time of establishment of the Research Centre will apply.
2. In the absence of such by-laws:
a. The inaugural Director is approved at the time the Centre is created, for a 5-year term, subject to renewal following review. The Academic Affairs Office will be advised of these appointments and obtain the approval of the Provost for the new appointment and provide support for the issuance of the letter of offer setting out the terms and conditions of the appointment.
b. A Director is limited to an initial term of five years, renewable once. A third term is possible under exceptional circumstances, with the approval of the Vice Dean, Life Sciences.
c. Search and selection of a new Director, or review and renewal of a current Director, is the responsibility of each Centre’s Advisory Board. The Board may strike a sub-committee for this purpose, with at least 3 members, at least one of whom is a member of an under-represented equity group.
d. The Academic Affairs Office will advise the Vice-Dean, Life Sciences when a Director is in the 4th year of a first 5-year term, who will in turn arrange that the Centre’s Advisory Board reviews the Director’s performance and makes a recommendation to the Vice-Dean, Life Sciences regarding renewal. The Vice-Dean, Life Sciences will advise the Academic Affairs Office of the decision.
i. This review by the Advisory Board shall involve at a minimum the compiled annual review reports for the previous term, and a cover letter submitted by the Director, highlighting accomplishments and describing the vision for a second term.
e. The Academic Affairs Office will advise the Dean when a Director is in the 4th year of a second 5- year term, who will in turn arrange that the Centre’s Advisory Board undertake a search for a new Centre Director. The Board shall make a recommendation to that effect to the Dean.
f. Review and search processes should be transparent, competitive and compliant with the Faculty’s and the University’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policies and procedures.
VII. Related Documents and Forms
PDF copy of Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Policy for Appointment and re-appointment of Directors of Research Centres.