Institutional Policy Committee

Baylor College of Medicine established the Institutional Policy Committee in March 2015 to create a clear, coherent, and well-communicated governance process for developing new policies and amending existing policies. This process enhances institutional effectiveness and streamlines institutional change, thereby reducing timelines for policy delivery, implementation and management. The IPC has the following responsibilities:

• Oversee and coordinate a process and governance framework through which institutional policies are formulated, vetted, approved, reviewed and maintained, communicated and enforced
• Review and provide input on all new and existing institutional policies
• Assess existing policies for coverage, including consistency or conflict with other policies
• Distinguish institutional policies from procedures concerning internal departmental, school, or functional-unit operations
• Facilitate creation of a policy repository to serve as an authoritative source for policies
• Assist in communicating policies to the College community and facilitate compliance

The IPC, with its membership of faculty, staff, trainees and students, created a standardized policy development and approval process that consistently values and incorporates diverse perspectives while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulatory and/or grant requirements, and achieving maximum institutional effectiveness. Since its creation, the IPC has reviewed more than 50 institutional policies. We welcome your input into the policy process. If you have questions, comments, or concerns about current policy or if you find that a new policy is needed, please contact us.

The Baylor College of Medicine Board of Trustees has approved several new and revised policies since January 1, 2019, including: 31.4.40 – BCM Workforce Members: Standards for Access to PHI; 13.1.0 – Expense Reimbursement Policy; 21.1.08 – Government Investigation Response Policy; 31.4.15 – Uses & Disclosures of PHI: Genetic PHI; 28.1.07 – Residents & Fellows as Teachers and Educators Policy; 27.4.03 – [GME] Duty Hours Policy; 27.3.6 – [GME] Moonlighting Policy; 12.2.23 – Digital Governance: Policy Standards for Use and Management of Digital Content; 02.8.56 – Jury Duty and Other Summons to Court; 23.1.12 - Student Leave of Absence Policy; 23.2.04 – Educator Conflicts of Interest; 28.1.08 – Clinical Supervision of Medical Students Policy; 28.1.09 – Academic Workload in the Foundational Sciences Curriculum; 28.1.10 – Alternative Educational Site Request Procedure; 28.1.11 – Narrative Assessment Policy; 26.1.35 – Physician Departure and Patient Notification Policy; 23.1.04 – Institutional Tuition and Fees Policy; 12.2.01 – Acceptable Use Policy; 12.2.04 – Laptop and Mobile Device Security; 12.2.07 – Email Use Policy; and 12.2.16 – Encryption Policy. Other policies have been modified to remain consistent with these updates.