Faculty Committees & Councils

The business of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, apart from that conducted by its administrative offices, is conducted by the Dean's Advisory Council (DAC), the Faculty Affairs Council, and the following committees and councils. Members of these councils and committees, who represent the faculty of the College, are selected from tenure-track or tenured faculty and appointed by the Faculty Affairs Council.

In the event that special circumstances require the formation of Ad Hoc Committees, the Dean will appoint members, consulting the Faculty Affairs Council as appropriate.

Computer Advisory Committee

The Computer Advisory Committee advises the Dean’s office on matters related to technology and computer support and usage within the College and recommends changes in policy or procedures to the Faculty Affairs Council. The committee is composed of six members, two from each of the disciplinary areas, plus the College’s Associate Dean and the Director of Networking and Computing Services. The term of service for the faculty representatives is two years, with half of the members appointed annually.

The committee selects one first-year member to serve a two-year term on the University’s Academic Technology Committee.

Curriculum Council

The Curriculum Council has jurisdiction over the undergraduate curriculum of the College and reviews and acts on all changes to the graduate curriculum. The Curriculum Council is responsible for the approval of all academic courses and programs in the College, for reviewing matters related to the quality of the curriculum, including size of majors, prerequisites, and access, and for approving student/faculty designed majors.

The council is composed of eight members:  six tenure-track or tenured faculty, three from each of the disciplinary areas, appointed by the Faculty Affairs Council; and two department chairs appointed by the Dean’s Advisory Council. The Associate Dean of the College, as designated by the Dean, presides over the Curriculum Council as Chair.

The Curriculum Council reports to the university Academic Coordinating Commission (ACC) and recommends changes in policy or procedures to the Faculty Affairs Council. Minutes of all meetings are forwarded to ACC for review of all actions of the Council.

Post-Tenure Review Committee

The Post-Tenure Review Committee considers the materials submitted for faculty post-tenure review forwarded to it by the Dean and makes recommend­ations to the Dean. The committee is composed of five tenured faculty members, two from each of the dis­ciplinary areas and one at large representative. 

There may be only one representative from any single department. No department chairs are eligible to serve on this committee, nor are faculty who are scheduled for post tenure review during the term of service. Committee members in the same department as an applicant may not be present during discussion of, voting on, and drafting of the letter of recommendation for that applicant.

Professional Leave Committee

The Professional Leave Committee considers the applications for professional leave forwarded to it by the Dean and makes recommendations to the Dean. The committee is composed of five tenured faculty members, two from each of the disciplinary areas and one at large representative.

There may be only one representative from any single department on the committee. No department chairs are eligible to serve on this committee, nor are faculty who plan to apply for a professional leave during the term of service. Committee members in the same department as an applicant may not be present during discussion of, voting on, and drafting of the letter of recommendation for that applicant.

Scholarship Committee

The Scholarship Committee considers student application materials for designated scholarships and makes recommendations to the Dean. The committee is composed of five tenured or tenure track faculty, two from each of the disciplinary areas and one at large representative.  There may be only one representative from any single department. 

Tenure and Promotion Committee

The Tenure and Promotion Committee considers the departmental nominations for faculty tenure and promotion forwarded to it by the Dean and makes recommendations to the Dean. The committee is composed of five tenured faculty members (at least three of whom hold the rank of professor), two from each of the disciplinary areas and one at large representative.

There may be only one representative from any single department. No department chairs are eligible to serve on this committee, nor are faculty who plan to apply for promotion during the term of service. Committee members in the same department as an applicant may not be present during discussion of, voting on, and drafting of the letter of recommendation for that applicant.