section 2: Governance
2.5 The Standing Committees of the Faculty
This section of the Handbook lists standing committees of the faculty of the College and describes their areas of responsibility. Standing committees implement specific areas of established policy. The recommendations of these committees shall be reported to the Faculty Senate with the agenda of the meeting of the Faculty Senate at which they are announced. No recommendation may be announced to the Faculty Senate without prior distribution, and no recommendation by a committee may be implemented until it has been announced at a Faculty Senate meeting and/or approved (if required). Recommendations of these committees stand subject to a call for review by any member of the Faculty Senate during the meeting at which they are announced.
2.5.1 Academic Affairs Committee The committee consists of six faculty members appointed by the FOC, two student members appointed by the President of the University, and the Dean as an ex officio member. The committee’s duties are to:
.1 Evaluate undergraduate academic policies, procedures, and standards on an ongoing basis, formulating recommendations as necessary to ensure the continuing reputation and record of the College as a high-quality liberal arts institution.
.2 Study and recommend actions concerning all matters of an academic nature including, but not limited to, the policies governing admissions, readmissions, student outcomes assessment, the length and scheduling of classes, the academic calendar, internships, and special major programs.
.3 Recommend changes in academic policies to the Faculty Senate
.4 Recommend to the Faculty Senate action on policy regarding international programs.
2.5.2 Campus Academic Resources Committee The committee consists of six faculty members appointed by the FOC; two students appointed by the President of the University; and as ex officio members, the Dean, the Library Director, the Assistant Vice President for Teaching and Learning Technologies, and the Director of Instructional Multimedia Resources. The committee’s duties are to:
.1 Study and recommend to the Faculty Senate action concerning policies on academic resources including Simpson Library, the Media Center, academic computing, instructional technology, visiting speakers, concerts, and exhibits.
.2 Provide information and recommendations to the above named administrators and program directors regarding matters that lie within the charge of the committee.
.3 When requested, assist the above named administrators and program directors in administering any monies designated specifically for instructional technology.
.4 Serve as a liaison between the Faculty Senate and the above named administrators regarding campus academic resources and as a source of information to the faculty regarding campus academic resources.
2.5.3 Curriculum Committee The committee consists of six faculty members appointed by the FOC; two student members appointed by the President of the University; and, as ex officio members, the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, a representative of Simpson Library, and a representative of the Registrar’s Office. The committee’s duties are to:
.1 Study and recommend to the Faculty Senate action concerning policy on procedure and criteria for approval, deletion, and change of all course offerings and numbering, prerequisites, co-requisites, departmental majors and programs, general degree requirements, proposed new majors, study abroad, and exchange programs.
.2 Review and approve or reject proposals from the various departments for course additions, course deletions, and changes in the organization (e.g. course titles, prerequisites, co-requisites, catalog descriptions, credit value, and numbering) of departmental offerings. In its deliberations the committee will consider general philosophy, departmental and general college facilities, staffing, and current course offerings.
.3 Review at its discretion the frequency of offering, numbering, and general relevance of all college courses, including the frequency of special topics and seminar courses, making
recommendations for change to departments as appropriate.
.4 Review and approve or reject applications for special majors.
2.5.4 Faculty Affairs Committee The committee consists of six faculty members holding a rank above instructor and with a minimum of three years’ affiliation with the College at the commencement of service; and the Faculty President, and the Faculty President-Elect as ex officio members. Members are nominated and elected according to the rules spelled out in §2.4.2 of this Handbook. Terms shall begin the fall semester after election. There must be at least one Full Professor and one tenured individual among the non ex officio members of this committee. The committee’s duties are to:
.1 Study and recommend to the Faculty Senate action concerning policy on faculty welfare and responsibility; and formulate and present to the Faculty Senate recommendations concerning academic leave, compensation, and employee benefits.
.2 Serve as liaison between the Faculty Senate and the President or other University authorities in areas of their common concern.
.3 Represent the Faculty Senate in interactions with the Faculty Senate of Virginia, other institutions, academic organizations and societies, and institutions of the Fredericksburg community.
.4 Study and recommend to the Faculty Senate action concerning policy on adjunct faculty welfare and responsibility, formulating and presenting to the Faculty Senate recommendations to the President concerning compensation and employee benefits.
.5 Recommend changes in policy and procedure on faculty evaluation to the Faculty Senate.
2.5.5 Faculty Development and Grants Committee The committee consists of six faculty members appointed by the FOC, and the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs as an ex officio member. The committee’s duties are to:
.1 Study and recommend to the Faculty Senate policies concerning faculty development.
.2 Recommend to the Dean which faculty development grant proposals should be funded.
.3 Advise the Dean about which Jepson Fellowship proposals should be recommended to the Board of Visitors for funding.
.4 Advise the Dean about the application procedures and evaluation criteria that should be employed for faculty development grants and Jepson Fellowships.
2.5.6 Faculty Organization Committee The committee consists of six faculty members elected by the faculty. Members are nominated and elected according to the rules spelled out in §2.4.2 of this Handbook. Terms shall begin the fall semester after the election. There must be at least one tenured individual among the members of this committee. The committee’s duties are to:
.1 Staff the appointive faculty committee system.
.2 Monitor the faculty committee system.
.3 Oversee all ballot voting by the faculty, including electing members of the Faculty Affairs Committee, the Promotion and Tenure Committee, and the Faculty Organization Committee. The committee shall encourage the electorate to cast their votes in a manner that will ensure appropriate representation of academic areas.
.4 Periodically review the rules governing faculty meetings and Faculty Senate meetings (Appendix A).
.5 Make recommendations for changes in policy governing faculty organization to the Faculty Senate.
.6 Review and recommend for Faculty Senate action proposals for new faculty committees (standing or ad hoc).
.7 Review and make recommendations to administrators and program directors regarding proposals for any new advisory committees on which faculty would sit.
2.5.7 Promotion and Tenure Committee The committee consists of seven faculty members elected by the faculty. All members must have attained the rank of associate professor or above with tenure, at least four of whom shall have attained the rank of full professor, by the date of election. Members serve staggered three-year terms, with two persons elected each year, except every third year, when three persons shall be elected. The committee elects a chair from its membership. Members are nominated and elected according to the rules spelled out in §2.4.2 of this Handbook. The committee’s duties are to:
.1 Make recommendations in the matters of promotion according to College faculty promotion policy and procedures (§§6.1 – 6.4 of this Handbook). In making its recommendations, the primary responsibility of the committee is to evaluate all candidates’ applications according to the criteria stated in the Faculty Handbook.
.2 Make recommendations to the Dean in matters of tenure according to College faculty tenure policy and procedures (§§6.5 – 6.8 of this Handbook). In making its recommendations, the primary responsibility of the committee is to evaluate all candidates’ applications according to the criteria stated in the Faculty Handbook.
.3 Recommend changes in promotion and tenure policy or procedure to the Faculty Senate.
.4 Review candidates nominated for the title of Distinguished Professor and make recommendations to the Dean and President.
2.5.8 Bachelor of Liberal Studies Committee The committee consists of six faculty members appointed by the FOC and as an ex officio member, the Director of the Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS) Program. Appointed faculty members serve three-year staggered terms, beginning with the fall semester following their appointment. The committee’s duties are to:
.1 Evaluate BLS admissions policies and performance standards on an ongoing basis, formulating recommendations to the Faculty Senate.
.2 Review and approve BLS learning contracts with recommendations to the student and BLS director.
.3 Periodically review the mentor and portfolio processes and recommend any changes in procedures to the BLS director or to the Faculty Senate if a policy change is requested.
.4 Review the academic requirements of the BLS program to insure that they meet the standards of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
.5 Periodically compare the BLS program with other continuing education programs to insure continuing high standards of performance.
2.5.9 Budget Advisory Committee The committee consists of six faculty members appointed by the FOC in accordance with guidelines in § 2.4.1. Faculty Senators may serve simultaneously as members of this committee. Appointed faculty members serve three-year staggered terms, beginning with the fall semester following their appointment. The committee’s duties are to:
.1 Work in an advisory fashion with the Vice President for Administration and Finance and the Vice President for Strategy and Policy on university budget priorities, including but not limited to, the operating budget and capital improvements. The recommendations for priorities will be communicated to the President via the Vice President for Administration and Finance and the Vice President for Strategy and Policy.
.2 Communicate budgetary policy decisions to faculty via the Senate, and faculty concerns and ideas back to the Vice President for Administration and Finance and the Vice President for Strategy and Policy. Faculty concerns and ideas will be communicated to the President via the Vice President for Administration and Finance and the Vice President for Strategy and Policy.