Section 2: Governance
2.9 Ad Hoc Committees
Ad hoc committees of faculty are formed for specific purposes to deal with matters that do not fall under the purview of any standing committee or curriculum advisory committee. The authority and responsibilities of ad hoc committees are defined by the action or ruling that established them. Such committees expire upon the fulfillment of their charge and in no case will continue beyond the second full academic year unless, by vote of the faculty, their charges are extended.
2.9.1 Formation of Ad Hoc Committees Ad hoc committees may be formed in one of two ways: (1) the Dean rules that a duly-made and seconded motion in a general faculty meeting must be referred to an ad hoc committee, because the subject matter of the motion does not come under the purview of any standing committee or curriculum advisory committee, or (2) the Faculty Senate passes a motion that includes the formation of an ad hoc committee because that motion addresses a matter that does not fall under the purview of any standing committee or curriculum advisory committee. In the latter case, the motion shall come from or be referred to the FOC for a recommendation prior to a vote on the motion by the Faculty Senate. In any case, a charge describing the membership, duties, and duration of an ad hoc committee must be communicated to the Faculty Senate in writing before any new ad hoc committee conducts its first meeting. All faculty ad hoc committees report to the Faculty Senate, and the motion or ruling establishing a given ad hoc committee may also call for reporting to the President, the Dean, or another administrative officer of the College. The establishing motion or ruling may also specify the type of membership for the committee and the method of choosing its members. If it does not so specify, the Faculty Senate will appoint committee members. The chair and secretary of an ad hoc committee must be faculty members and will be elected by the committee’s members. All current ad hoc committees’ charges, membership, officers, and terms must be related to the FOC by using the Ad Hoc and Subcommittee form (see Appendix H) for posting on the University’s website and inclusion in the Summer Memo published by the Dean’s office.
2.9.2 Ad Hoc Committee Meetings Meetings of ad hoc committees are held according to the schedule published at the beginning of each academic year by the Dean. Ad hoc committees are neither required to convene at their reserved times nor prohibited from convening at other times; the schedule merely serves to prevent conflicts among standing committee, department, and other College meetings. Meeting dates may be changed if a committee unanimously agrees to the proposed change. Attendance at ad hoc committee meetings is a professional responsibility.
2.9.3 Ad Hoc Academic Freedom Committee See Appendix D, University of Mary Washington Policy on Academic Freedom; to be constituted as needed.