Ownership & Administration

Return to: Faculty and Adjunct Handbook Home  

Statement of Ownership

AdventHealth University, Inc. (University) - a wholly owned subsidiary of Adventist Health System/Sunbelt, Inc. (doing business as AdventHealth Orlando) - is operated by the University’s Board of Trustees (“Board”). The University’s Board elects Trustees for appointment to the Board subject to ratification by the membership.

The University’s Board is authorized to oversee the educational programs of the University

Accrediting Bodies:

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC)

AdventHealth University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.  AdventHealth University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels.  Questions about the accreditation of AdventHealth University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Inquiries about AdventHealth University accreditation should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

• Accrediting Association of Seventh-day Adventists Schools, Colleges, and Universities

12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, Maryland 20904
Phone: (301).680.6000

The Association is commonly known as the Adventist Accrediting Association and operates under the acronym of AAA.

• Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

ACOTE
c/o Accreditation Department
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: (301).652.6611
www.aota.org
www.acoteonline.org

• Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA)

3325 Paddocks Parkway, Suite 345
Suwanee, GA 30024
Phone:  (770).476.1224
www.arc-pa.org

ARC-PA Accreditation Status

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARCPA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the AdventHealth University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by AdventHealth University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be June 2029. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-adventhealth-university/.

• Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)

3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22305-3085
Phone:  (703).706.3245
Email:  accreditation@apta.org

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at AdventHealth University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/ institution directly, please call (407) 303-9904 or email dptinfo@ahu.edu.

• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)

CAAHEP
9355 113th Street N., #7709
Seminole, FL 33775-7709
Phone: (727) 210-2350
www.caahep.org

• Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)

The Master of Healthcare Administration degree program at AdventHealth University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). CAHME is the only organization recognized to grant accreditation to individual academic programs offering a professional master’s degree in healthcare management education by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CAHME is located at PO Box 911, Spring House, PA 19477; telephone: (301) 298-1820; email: info@cahme.org; web address: www.cahme.org. If you are needing to contact the program directly, please call (407) 303-5711.

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

655 K Street, NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 887-6791
Fax: (202) 887-8476
http://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE

• Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Program (COA)

The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia program’s next review by the COA is scheduled for Spring 2030.

10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906
Rosemont, IL  60018-5603
Phone: (224) 275-9130
http://coacrna.org

• Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

20 N Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182
Phone: (312).704.5300
Email: mail@jrcert.org
https://www.jrcert.org

• Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT)

820 W Danforth Road, #B1
Edmond, OK 73003
Phone: (405).285.0546
Fax:  (405).285.0579
Email: mail@jrcnmt.or
www.jrcnmt.org

Membership of the University Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees of the University¹ is composed of the following:

Officers (with voting rights)

Trustees of the Board

Administration

A copy of the AHU Organizational Chart can be found on the University’s Share Point Page: AHU Organizational Chart .

• Chairman of the University Board of Trustees

The Chairman of the University Board of Trustees is elected by the members of the University Board.

• President of the University

The President is the Chief Executive Officer of the University and is responsible to the University Board of Trustees for all phases of the University’s operation.  The President chairs all business sessions of the President’s Council and is an ex-officio member of all standing and ad hoc committees.  In consultation with other University administrators the President is responsible for recommending an annual budget to the University Board of Trustees and for the approval of all expenditures provided for in that budget.  As CEO, the President leads in the planning and execution of the institution’s strategic vision.

• Provost

The Provost is responsible to the University President for the supervision and direction of all academic activities at the University, in collaboration with other academic administrators.. The Provost chairs the Academic Policies Committee and serves on several administrative committees. 

• Associate Provost for Undergraduate and Graduate Education

The Associate Provost for Undergraduate and Graduate Education is responsible for overseeing a strategic portfolio of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs, as well as managing academic departments and directing a variety of academic initiatives that include faculty and staff development, program development and review, accreditation, faculty evaluation, rank and promotion, financial/department budgets, research initiatives, oversight of academic grants, and academic policy analysis and development. The Associate Provost closely attends to program outcomes, including student retention and persistence to degree or certificate completion, and sustainable enrollments. This individual is responsible for the establishment of a strong relationship between graduate and undergraduate education programs, as well as with faculty and staff research and scholarship.

• Associate Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management 

The Associate Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management leads coordinated and comprehensive enrollment management efforts to help the University best fulfill its mission. This individual helps position the University to successfully manage the changing patterns of student recruitment, enrollment, and degree progression, including collaborating and coordinating with the Associate Provost for Undergraduate and Graduate Education, as well as the Dean of Students, as it relates to the retention and persistence of students. This individual also collaborates with senior leadership within and outside of the Academic Administration Division to assure alignment with Divisional programs, e.g., enrollment strategy, orientation, student transitions and professional preparation.

• Senior Vice President for Finance

The Senior Vice President is responsible to the University President for the financial operations of the University including, but not limited to, student accounts, and University financial records. This individual is responsible to the President for the day-to-day operational needs of the institution. The responsibilities of this position include the physical plant, maintenance, and environmental services. This individual is also responsible for the information technology department, the University bookstore, and the N.E.S.S. café.

• Senior Vice President for System Integration

The Senior Vice President of System Integration reports to the President. This individual supports the nursing, clinical and academic strategies across AdventHealth. This individual is responsible for contributing to leadership and vision with a focus on growing the academic-clinical partnership mindset across AdventHealth.

• Vice President for Marketing & Business Development

The Vice President for Marketing & Business Development is responsible for branding and marketing strategies that attract qualified students to attend the university. This individual also engages in business development with AdventHealth and within the larger communities served by the university. Public relations, communications, exploring new academic programs, and advancing the university’s reputation is also included in their scope of responsibilities.

• Assistant to the President for Mission

The Assistant to the President for Mission is responsible to the University President to oversee and implement the strategic initiatives to strengthen the mission and spiritual life on campus. 

• Human Resources Business Partner

The Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) is responsible to the President to align business objectives with employees and management in order to develop integrated solutions.  The HRBP serves as a consultant to management on human resource-related issues while also acting as an employee champion and change agent.

Governance

Faculty involvement in the governance of the University occurs in several ways. The most basic way is through the academic departmental committee. Each academic program, and therefore each faculty member, has regular departmental meetings to consider the business of that educational unit. It is from those committees that the various admission, progress, and completion policies for those programs are initiated. In addition, those committees establish learning outcomes, oversee curricular development and propose new degree programs within a given department. 

Policies, curricular matters, and program development recommendations move from these committees to the Academic Policies Committee (APC). The Academic Policies Committee is chaired by the Provost, and its membership, is representative of each academic program and department of the University. The APC studies course content changes, changes in course descriptions, and curriculum changes and then makes recommendations to the President’s Council for approval. Final approval for curriculum changes rests with the Board of Trustees. Approved changes are then communicated to departmental faculty via their department directors/chairs by the Office of Academic Administration. 

Other faculty involvement in governance occurs through their membership on other committees. For example, the Faculty Handbook Committee is led by and comprised of faculty members. This committee oversees the annual revisions of the Faculty Handbook. These changes may range from editing and formatting to proposing and vetting policy changes. Another important policy and governance committee is the Curriculum Committee. This committee is responsible for leading the institution through the process of developing the seven institutional learning outcomes which have shaped the direction of the institution for the past several years. 

Faculty form the core of the membership on a number of other policy and governance related committees. The Faculty Rank and Promotion Committee, in addition to making recommendations to the President for initial rank and rank promotion assignments, the Committee has been commissioned by the President to work on the development of the rank criteria, the promotion procedures, and improvements in the hiring process for faculty. Faculty membership on the Technology Committee has also engaged them in the development of policies in the respective areas of responsibility. 

A list of committees, their primary duty, and their reporting structure follows:

• AdventHealth University

(Committee assignments are made annually and current assignments can be found at AHU Committee List 2025-2026   ).

1. Colloquium meetings

​​(1^st week prior to Fall Trimester)

Josef Ghosn, Chair

Required attendance:

All full-time faculty and staff

2. Townhall Meetings / AHU Forum / Chats with the President

(2^nd Monday Monthly)

Josef Ghosn, Chair

Required attendance:

All full-time faculty and staff

3. Academic Leadership Committee (Monthly)

Reviews and discusses academic and operational issues and their potential impact on the academic programs of the University.

Reports to: Academic Policies Committee

4. Academic Policies Committee (APC) (Monthly - 2^nd Wed.)

Reviews and recommends all academic policies and processes, including the academic catalog and handbooks.

Reports to: AHU Cabinet

5. Academic Review Committee (Once a Trimester)

Reviews academic progression for all undergraduate students who are not in a program, including those on probation.

Reports to: Academic Policies Committee

6. AHU Cabinet Committee (Twice / Month)

AHU Cabinet functions as the ultimate decision-making group deciding what policies and procedures need Board approval as well as directing and implementing daily operations of the University.  

Reports to: 

7. Citizenship Committee (As called)

Upholds standards of conduct by assessing serious or repeated violations, assigning and recommending appropriate penalties.

Reports to: AHU Cabinet

8. Colloquium Committee (As called)

Planning and implementation of annual and monthly Colloquium check meetings working closely with the President.

Reports to: President

9. Community Engagement Committee (Monthly or As called)

Oversight for Carnegie Classifications for Community Engagement and policy and procedure setter for Community Engagement efforts.

Reports to: AHU Cabinet

10. Convocation Committee (As called)

Planning and implementation the annual Convocation program.

Reports to: President

11. Curriculum Committee (As called)

Reviews, evaluates and recommends to the Academic Policies Committee all program development as well as all academic changes of programs, tracks, certificates and courses.

Reports to: Academic Policies Committee

12. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee  (Monthly)

Provides educational resources on diversity issues for faculty, staff and students and facilitates spaces for students to address identity concerns as they arise.

Reports to:  AHU Cabinet

13. Educational Technology Committee (Monthly)

Identifies challenges with current educational technology providing recommendations for improvement and new technology. Connects educational technology, faculty development, and IT infrastructure to enhance the delivery of education.

Reports to: Academic Policies Committee

14. External Funding Steering Committee  (As called)

Provides strategic direction and advice on funding opportunities for AHU and nominates research grant awardees.

Reports to: AHU Cabinet

15. Faculty Development Committee (Monthly)

To strengthen and expand the professional development training offers for faculty at AHU.

Reports to:  Academic Policies Committee

16. Faculty Handbook Committee (As called)

Reviews, edits, and produces the Full-Time and the Adjunct Faculty Handbooks.

Reports to: Academic Policies Committee

17. Faculty Rank & Promotion Committee (Weekly)

Recommends academic rank to the President after examining the credentials of incoming faculty and regular faculty seeking academic promotion and includes the study of policies for academic faculty sabbaticals, annual portfolios, and merit awards. Membership is by administrative appointment. 

Reports to: Provost & President

18. Graduation Committee  (As called)

Works with the President & Provost in the organization and implementation of the graduation programs of AHU, including responsibilities for planning the various components of the program, staffing the event, and preparing the printed program. 

Reports to: Provost & President

19. Health & Wellness Committee  (Monthly)

Makes policy and procedural recommendations to administration relative to the health, safety, and security of the University community.

Reports to: AHU Cabinet

20. Hope Clinic Committee  (Monthly)

To ensure optimal clinic planning, functioning, sustainability, and growth.

Reports to:  Academic Policies Committee

21. Institutional Biosafety Committee  (As called)

Responsible for evaluating the biosafety containment level for research involving recombinant DNA and synthetic nucleic acid molecules. It carries out these functions pursuant to requirements set forth by federal, state, and local agencies, as well as AHU. It also oversees research with other potentially hazardous biologics.

Reports to: Academic Policies Committee

22. Institutional Effectiveness Leadership Council Committee  (As called )

Develops overarching approaches for institutional effectiveness.

Reports to:  AHU Cabinet

23. Institutional Review Board (IRB) Committee  (As called)

Ensures that research conducted under the auspices of AHU meets ethical standards for research that are congruent with the Mission of the University, the principles presented in the Belmont Report, and the federal requirements presented in 45-CFR-46 (Code of Federal Regulation, 1983).

Reports to: Academic Policies Committee

24. Interprofessional Practice and Education Committee   (2-3/term, As needed)

To foster the development, implementation, and ongoing assessment of evidence-based IPE experiences, practices, and resources internal and external to AHU.

Report to:  Academic Policies Committee

25. Library Committee   (As Called)

Provides guidance and oversight by serving in an advisory capacity to the Library Director regarding library policies and planning.

Reports to: Academic Policies Committee

26. Mission integration (Monthly)

Assist in preparing students to meet the diverse spiritual needs within the healthcare environment.

Reports to: AHU Cabinet 

27. Policies and Procedures Committee    (2^nd & 4^th Friday)

Reviews approved policies and procedures to ensure consistency in all posting on appropriate media, i.e. employee manuals, AHU website etc.  Approves final content for the Policies and Procedures Section of the AHU website.  Conducts an annual review and update of all documents containing policies and procedures to maintain accuracy.

Reports to: AHU Cabinet

28. Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Committee  (Monthly)

Develops and coordinates the Quality Enhancement Plan by providing oversight to the faculty and staff employed in the day-to-day running of the plan.

Reports to: Academic Policies Committee

29. Recognition Committee    (As called)

Oversees the process and nomination for merit/recognitions awards and recommends the names of awardees to the President.

Reports to:  President

30. Retention Committee (Monthly)

Enhance the effectiveness and alignment of the institution’s retention efforts through rigorous annual reviews, ensuring all initiatives and strategies are in accordance with the strategic plan, mission, vision, and values. 

Reports to: Academic Policies Committee

31. Research Steering Committee (Bi-Monthly)

Provides oversight and support for research processes, infrastructure, and productivity to assure that high standards for both scientific and ethical merits are upheld.

Report to: Academic Policies Committee

32. Research Institutional Clearance (RIC) Committee (As Called) 

Responsibile for ensuring the scholarly activities.  (IRB review and non-IRB review track projects) are conducted in compliance with AHU and federal policies, guidelines and regulations that govern research and Quality Improvement (QI) and Quality assessment (QA). Institutional Review Board (IRB) review track projects include the Human Subject Research and Non-Human Subject Research. The non-IRB review track projects include the Quality Improvement (QI), and Quality Assessment (QA) studies.

Reports to: Academic Policies Committee

33. Scholarship Awards Committee (As called)

Determines processes for selection of scholarship awards and the amount they will receive for the next school year.

Reports to: AHU Cabinet

34. Scientific Review Committee (As called)

Ensures proposed studies at AHU meet acceptable standards of scientific rigor and merit PRIOR to submission for IRB review.

Reports to: Academic Policies Committee

35. Simulation Committee  (Quarterly)

Monitors the development and implementation of the simulation initiatives at AHU as well as collaboration with AdventHealth.

Reports to:  Academic Policies Committee 

36. Social Committee (As called)

Promotes social interaction and communication among the faculty and staff of AHU.

Reports to: President

37. Strategic Enrollment Management Committee (As called)

Provides a comprehensive framework for optimizing student recruitment, retention, and graduation rates.

Reports to: Academic Policies Committee

38. Student Advancement Committee (As called)

Provides a venue to listen to and foster the student voice at AdventHealth University. 

Reports to: AHU Cabinet

39. Writing Across the Curriculum Committee (Monthly)

Support and sustain faculty in incorporating writing across the curriculum that will increase student writing proficiency, create a campus culture that supports writing, and foster a community of faculty around teaching writing.

Reports to: Academic Policies Committee 

40. AD HOC Committees (As called)

• Campus of the Future Task Force

NOTE:

• The President is an Ex-Officio member of all Committees
• The Provost in an Ex-Officio member of all Academic Committees
• All committees report to one of the 2 committees listed below – with the exception of the Faculty Rank & Promotion Committee and the events committees (Colloquium/Forum, Convocation, Graduation, Recognition, and Social) that report directly to the President, the Provost or both:
  • Academic Policies (APC): academic committees.
  • AHU Cabinet: strategic, operational & student affairs committees.

• These 2 committees have final approval authority over the committees that report to them – unless the committee chair deems a particular action should be elevated to Cabinet.
• AHU Cabinet will approve minutes for APC and those committees reporting directly to the Cabinet.