FACACLASSIC

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VA - 76699 - VA National Academic Affiliations Council - Agency Authority

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	VA National Academic Affiliations Council	Agency Name	Department of Veterans Affairs
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	76699
Original Establishment Date	10/5/2011	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.va.gov/ADVISORY/VA_National_Academi...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	22
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Designated Federal Officer
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	12/6/2023	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Nellie
Date Of Renewal Charter	12/6/2025	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	N.
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Mitchell
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(608) 358-9902
Establishment Authority*	Agency Authority	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(202) 461-9855
Specific Establishment Authority*	38 U.S.C. 7406	Designated Federal Officer Email*	nellie.mitchell@va.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	10/28/2011
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	National Policy Issue Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Council advises the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on matters affecting partnerships between VA and its academic affiliates. Its jurisdiction directly impacts the following VA Strategic Goals: Goal 1: VA consistently communicates with its customers and partners to assess and maximize performance, evaluate needs and build long-term relationships and trust; Goal 2: VA delivers timely, accessible, high-quality benefits, care and services to meet the unique needs of Veterans and all eligible beneficiaries; Goal 3: VA builds and maintains trust with Stakeholders through proven stewardship, transparency and accountability; Goal 4: VA ensures governance, systems, data and management best practices improve experiences, satisfaction, accountability and security. The Council will advise the Under Secretary for Health and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on matters affecting partnerships between VA and its academic affiliates. The Council is charged with providing advice and recommendations on: (1) a statement of values and principles to guide VA’s relationships with the academic community; (2) strategies for effective communication about academic affiliations between VA and relevant stakeholder organizations; (3) mechanisms to expand mutually advantageous affiliations between VA and the academic community; (4) opportunities to better align the missions and operations of VA and its academic affiliates; (5) guidelines for joint strategic, tactical and operational planning by VA and its academic affiliates in areas of partnership; (6) policy, regulatory and administrative impediments to effective affiliation management; (7) performance standards and measures for VA and its affiliates to optimize academic productivity and affiliation management; (8) administrative and support services needed from VA and its affiliates to advance VA’s academic mission; and (9) mechanisms to facilitate strategic alliances and/or joint ventures between VA and Academic Medical Centers. The Council has produced 96 recommendations for VA since its inception in 2011. Of these recommendations, 54% (52 recommendations) were fully implemented by VA, 42% (41 recommendations) were partially implemented, and 4% (3 recommendations) are new and pending SECVA signature. The collective expertise and judgment of the Council's membership is highly valued by the agency.
How is membership balanced?*	The Council will be comprised of not more than 14 regular members and 8 ex-officio members. Specific expertise relevant to the mission/function of the Council includes experience in health professions education, clinical workforce development, and special competence to evaluate and improve VA relationships with the national academic community. This expertise will be evident by experiences such as: direct and long standing familiarity with health professions education in a discipline or disciplines, in a leadership position; knowledge and expertise in innovation in health professions education; direct knowledge and/or participation in affiliation relationships with VA; or direct experience in health systems similar to or comparable to VA. In addition, the Chief Academic Affiliations Officer; a representative from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA); a representative from Indian Health Services (IHS); a representative from the Uniformed Services University, Department of Defense; a VA Network Director; and the VISN Chief Medical Officer/ Co-Chair of the Strategic Academic Affiliations Council (SAAC) are ex-officio members of the Council. The other Council members shall be appointed by the Under Secretary for Health and shall serve as objective advisors, and not as representatives of any organizations for whom they may otherwise be serving. Several members may be Regular Government Employees (RGE), but the majority of the Council’s membership will be Special Government Employees (SGE). Up to five additional ex-officio members from non-VA federal agencies with expertise relevant to the Council's mission will be nominated, as appropriate. These ex-officio members will not count against the Council's membership cap. VA will strive to develop a committee membership that represents members with diverse professional and personal qualifications: experience in military service, military deployments, working with Veterans; professional background and specialty; and committee subject matter expertise. The Council shall represent, to the extent possible, Veterans of diverse eras and branches of service and diversity in race/ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, and geographical background.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Council is expected to meet up to four times annually. The Council advises the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on matters affecting partnerships between VA and its academic affiliates. The Council provides a forum for joint planning and coordination that benefits both VA and the academic community. In FY 2024, the Committee met four times: December 11, 2023 (via virtual platform), March 12-13, 2024 (face-to-face), June 25, 2024 (via virtual platform), and September 25-26, 2024 (face-to-face).
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The Secretary determined that establishing the Council is both necessary and in the public interest. This Council helps realize the potential of VA's partnerships with the Nation's medical and health professions schools. The academic community is an important and essential partner for VA to care for Veterans while significantly improving health care delivery and enhancing the clinical and research workforce so necessary for our Nation's future.
Why close or partially close meetings?	The Council meetings are open to the public. However, if the Council tours a VA facility, the meetings are closed to the public to protect patient privacy.
Recommendation Remarks	VA and the academic community share the same foundational values: A commitment to providing high quality care; recognition of the inter-dependence of patient care, education and research; and a strong public service ethic. The Council is charged with developing and recommending ways to enhance this historic partnership.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	Yes	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	Yes
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	Yes
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	In response to FY-24 recommendations, VA is continuing to realign the Office of Academic Affiliation and foster synergy with other program offices and initiatives.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	N/A	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	The Committee was established in October 2011 and has submitted The Council has produced 96 recommendations for VA since its inception in 2011. Of these recommendations, 54% (52 recommendations) were fully implemented by VA, 42% (41 recommendations) were partially implemented, and 4% (3 recommendations) are new and pending SECVA signature. The collective expertise and judgment of the Council's membership is highly valued by the agency. The bulk of the Council's recommendations are innovative ways to improve VA's deep and historic partnership with its academic affiliates. These recommendations benefit both VA and its many academic affiliates. For this reason, the exact cost savings realized from the Council's recommendations cannot be accurately determined.	Grants Review Comment	N/A
Number Of Recommendations*	96	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	This is the cumulative number of Committee recommendations for FY 2011 through FY 2024	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	54.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	The Committee receives formal written responses to its recommendations as well as regular status update briefings at Committee meetings.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	42.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	The Committee receives formal written responses to its recommendations as well as regular status update briefings at Committee meetings.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	The Committee receives formal written responses to its recommendations as well as regular status update briefings at Committee meetings.	Narrative Description*	The Council provides advice to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on matters affecting partnerships between VA and its academic affiliates.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	2/19/2025 9:24 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Education Schools and Academic Institutions Health Medical Education Veterans Veterans and Veterans' Medical Care

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