| Organizational structure: |
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) was founded in 1930, with a $3M grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, to fill the need for an independent research institution on the U.S. east coast committed to the comprehensive study of the ocean. WHOI grew substantially to support defense-related research during World War II. Today, WHOI is the largest private institution in the world that is focused exclusively on ocean research.
WHOI is organized into five research departments covering primary scientific disciplines, plus a marine policy center, a marine operations departrment, and an academic programs office. The five science departments, Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering, Biology, Geology and Geophysics, Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, and Physical Oceanography, are responsible for initiating the recruiting and hiring process for research and engineering staff, and for the appointment, promotion and tenure process. The Marine Policy Center integrates WHOI’s basic research with economics, policy analysis, and law. WHOI has nearly 1,000 scientists, engineers, technicians, support staff, and students.
Governance of the Institution resides with the Board of Trustees, which consists of “not less than twenty (20) or more than fifty (50) elected Trustees, and such ex officio Trustees as are hereinafter provided” (by-law 3.2). There is an Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees (Article 4.2.4 of the by-laws), chaired by the Board Chair, and also including the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees; Chair of the Corporation; the respective chairs of the Audit, Finance, Facilities, Advancement, Board/Governance, Diversity and Inclusion, and Investments committees, and up to four additional Trustees appointed by the Board. A new charter committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion was created in 2020 to address the Board’s goals for diversity within its membership (Article 4.2.4). This committee “is entrusted with promoting the values that are consistent with the Board and the Institution’s unwavering dedication to encourage diversity, achieve equity, and foster inclusion for all Board and Institution members…. The DEI Committee shall be kept apprised of institutional DEI priorities and processes as well as the implementation of programs and initiatives.”
The by-laws of the Corporation, most recently updated October 1, 2020, assign the Trustees the fiduciary responsibility for the Institution. All Trustees are required to file an annual conflict of interest statement that includes disclosure of any familial or financial interest with any vendor doing significant business with the Institution, and in the case of such disclosure, the Audit and Risk Committee determines whether the conflict requires either surrender of such financial interest or resignation from the Board. Trustees are elected to three-year terms and generally may serve for up to 12 years. As of May 2022, there are 36 members serving on the Board of Trustees.
Management of the Institution rests with the President and Director, the strategic management of the Staff Council, and the implementation management of the Senior Administration. The WHOI Senior Administration consists of the President and Director, six Vice-Presidents, a Deputy General Counsel and Director of Regional Initiatives, a Senior Director of Information Services, a Director of Government Relations, a Senior Advisor to the President and Director, and a Chief Human Resources Officer. The WHOI Staff Council consists of the President and Director, the Deputy Director and Vice President for Research, the Vice President for Academic Programs and Dean, and the Department Chairs and the Marine Policy Center Director. |
Quadrennial report due? Read more on our updated page.
Questions on applications, reports, or other inquiries
Applying for ECOSOC Consultative Status?
Obtaining a UN Grounds Pass
Registering for a UN Conference?