Committees

Faculty Senate: Committees & Members

2011 - 2012

Committee Chairs
Academic Affairs
Court of Academic Appeals
Faculty Affairs
Faculty Support
General Education
Honors
Library
Planning & Budget
Retrenchment Advisory & Appeals
Rules
Scholarship & Student Aid
Tenure & Promotion
Undergraduate Research
University Admissions Advisory Committee merged with Exceptions 10-11-2010
University Curriculum -- merged with Academic Affairs 10-11-2010
University Tuition Advisory

Committee Chairs

Academic Affairs

a. Composition: 10 members: 9 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions, 1 student
b. Selection: Standard
c. Charges:

1. Review and make recommendations on proposals for new undergraduate degrees and academic programs.
2. Review existing policies governing academic affairs and proposals for curricular change or development.
3. Serve as the curriculum committee for programs and other units which are not covered by a curriculum committee in one of the degree-granting colleges/schools.
4. Reesolve curriculum issues involving two or more college/schools or units. These matters may be referred to the committee by the college/school curriculum committees or the Office of Academic Affairs and Research. In such instances, a representative of the Office of Academic Affairs and Research shall serve as a member of the committee (ex officio, non-voting).
5. Recommend new or changed policies concerning academic affairs to the Senate. This includes, but is not limited to, developing, reviewing, and recommending changes to university-wide academic standards and practices and administrative practices and policies likely to have an impact on existing academic programs and practices.
6. The Academic Affairs Committee shall have the power to interpret existing academic policy and resolve disputes over diverse interpretations of the policy.

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Court of Academic Appeals

a. Composition: 5: 3 Faculty chosen from among the Senate divisions, 2 students
Alternates: 3 faculty, 2 students (one must be a graduate student)
(Committee may use former members if necessary)
b. Selection: Standard. Faculty justices must be tenured and must be members of the graduate faculty. They shall serve three-year staggered terms and shall represent different Senate divisions. The committee shall also have two student members plus two student alternate members (one must be a graduate student). Cases involving graduate students must be heard by graduate students.
c. Charge:
1. Operate according to the Procedures of the Court of Student Academic Appeals, a copy of which is available in the Office of the Faculty Senate.
2. Make the final decision on cases appealed to it regarding students' requests for a change of grade, or other matters regarding academic requirements which a student can challenge.
For the Court of Academic Appeals go to WSU policies and Procedures, 2.03/ Court of Student Academic Appeals -- https://www.wichita.edu/about/policy/ch_02/

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University Admissions & Exceptions Advisory Committee

a. Composition: 12: 9 Faculty: 1 chosen from each of the Senate divisions, with the understanding that six faculty members are serving at any given time throughout the year. (rev.5/04)
1 student, 1 V.P. for Student Affairs (non-voting), 1 Representative of the Admissions Office (non-voting)

(Committee may use former members if necessary)
b. Selection: Standard
c. Charges:
1. Review policies and related procedures regarding admission to the University and exceptions to existing University rules.
2. Consider applications for admission of students who do not meet University standards for admissions, and exceptions to existing rules for students requesting them.
3. Reports to the Senate, as required un the Standard Charge to all Policy Committees, shall include recommendations made to appropriate administrative persons and actions taken by those persons.
revised membership 3-27-00

Executive Committee

a. composition: 8
b. charges;

1. Sets agenda for Senate meetings. An item shall appear on the agenda for the next meeting upon written request of five or more senators representing at least three Senate divisions.
2. Reviews proposed changes to the Handbook for Faculty, other that those recommended the Senate.
3. Receives policy recommendations from appropriate Senate committees and decides which policy recommendations require full Senate review.
4. Any faculty member may request that the Executive Committee consider a matter for inclusion on the Senate agenda. The Executive Committee may decide to include matters on the Senate agenda, or refer such matters to a Senate committee for considerations or establish ad hoc committees to consider such matters, to dismiss such matters, or take other appropriate actions. In all cases, the Execurive Committee will notify petitioners of the disposition of their petitions.
   
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Faculty Affairs

a. Composition: 9: 9 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions
b. Selection: Standard
c. Charges: The Faculty Affairs Committee deals with the relationship between the WSU Faculty and the University and the State of Kansas. Specific areas of responsibility are:
1. Terms of employment, tenure policies, tenure and promotion guidelines, salary, fringe benefits, retirement, life insurance, health insurance, leave procedures, faculty benefits and responsibilities, dismissal policies and conflict of interest policies.
2. Issues of faculty statues within the University.
3. Academic freedom policies of the University and the State, including review of current policies, recommendations for changes, and review of any changes proposed by the University or the Board of Regents.
revised membership & Charge 3-27-00

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Faculty Support

a. Composition: 10: 9 Faculty who are members in full standing of the Graduate Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions (department chairs are ineligible), 1 Associate Provost for Research
b. Selection: Standard
c. Charges:
1. Review requests for institutional support of individual, departmental, and college/school research proposals, and forward recommendations to the Associate Provost of Research.
2. Assist the Associate Provost for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies in the consideration of overall institutional policy governing the award criteria and management of University research grants, including the supervision of policies relating to the right of human subjects, patents, and publications.
3. Review applications for sabbatical leave and forward recommendations on the applications to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research.
4. Periodically review the University guidelines on sabbatical leaves and make recommendations for changes as appropriate.
5. Review and act upon requests for institutional support of teaching and allocate resources available for this purpose.
6. Assist the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research in planning new faculty orientation. The structure and organization of the orientation shall be reviewed by the Committee at least once every three years.
7. Identify faculty who are willing to help other faculty who wish assistance with teaching or research.
8. Recommend to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research ways to recognize excellence in teaching and research.
revised 3-27-00

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General Education

a. Composition: 12: 9 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions, 1 Basic Skills faculty representative, 1 Student, 1 non-voting, ex officio member, General Education Coordinator --
b. Selection: Standard
Coordinator of General Education: Subsequent to the present coordinator's term, the Coordinator of General Education will be appointed by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research for a three-year term, and may serve no more that six consecutive years. The Provost & VPAAR will select the Coordinator from a list of three nominees recommended by the General Education Committee. The search process for the Coordinator of General Education will be directed by the Provost & VPAAR in consultation with the General Education Committee.
c. Charges:
1. Oversee the operation of the General Education Program as adopted by the faculty, advise the General Education Coordinator, and participate in the annual evaluation of the General Education Coordinator.
2. Enforce the provisions of the General Education Program. These include:
a. Determining the number of core courses offered by departments.
b. Developing guidelines for selection of Further Studies courses, subject to Senate approval, and approve Further Studies credit (added 3/30/99).
c. Developing the concept of Issues and Perspectives courses, according to the guidelines approved by the faculty
d. Soliciting proposals for Issues and Perspectives Courses
e. Approving proposed Issues and Perspectives Courses
3. Develop and implement, in concert with the Coordinator of General Education, the assessment process for General Education.
4. Develop, implement, and assess, in concert with the Coordinator, the across the curriculum component of the General Education Program.
5. Recommend changes to the program when necessary. Proposed changes will be considered by the Faculty Senate; major changes shall automatically be sent to the General Faculty for approval.
6. Develop and coordinate the General Education advising process.
7. Work with the Coordinator to develop the annual report on the assessment of General Education.
8. Report at least annually to the Faculty Senate regarding:
a. The current core course offerings, including lists of courses and enrollments.
b. The current Issues and Perspectives course offerings, including lists of courses and enrollments.
c. Any changes in the list of core courses and Issues and Perspectives courses.
d. Results of assessment of general education courses.
e. The extent of implementation of Issues and Perspectives courses.
f. Any problems or difficulties regarding the program, with recommendations for improvement.
revised 4/10/2000

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Honors

a. Composition: 12: 9 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions, 1 student, Director/Honors Program, Associate Director/Honors
b. Selection: Standard
c: Charges:
1. Counsel the Director and review the Director's activities.
2. Review and recommend changes as needed to the Honors Program.
3. Recommend changes in the rules and policies under which the program functions.
4. Consult with the director regarding students who want to undertake independent study leading to a degree with departmental honors
5. Annual reports to the Senate shall include recommendations made to and actions taken by the Honors Director
revised charge 3-27-00

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Library

a. Composition: 16: 8 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate academic divisions, 1 representative appointed by the Graduate Council, 2 students ( one graduate student, one undergraduate student), 5 library staff ( ex-officio, non-voting): Dean, Coordinator for Collection Development, Associate Dean for Access Services, Head of Reference, Associate Dean of Administration
b. Selection: Standard.
c. Charges:
1. Represent faculty views and interests in matters relaing to the University Libraries.
2. Represent faculty concerns to the University Libraries about the impact of library policies and procedures on faculty and student interest.
3. Assist the Faculty Senate and the University Libraries in identifying and articulating long-term institutional priorities with respect to library resources, service and facilities.
4.Advise the Faculty Senate, University Libraries and other committees and individuals charged with understanding the role and impact of of current and emerging technologies in the WSU and oather libraries and with implementing policy with respect to technological coordination and development.
5. Rejport annually to the Faculty Senate. The report should identify significant developments during the year with regard to Library policy and long-range planning. Specific accomplishments and policy initiatives and revisions should be identified, as well as the expected consequences for faculty and students.
rev. charge 11-22-10
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Planning & Budget

a. Composition: 12: Faculty Senate President (chair), Faculty Senate President- Elect, Faculty Senate Past President, 9 senators elected from each of the Faculty Senate divisions,
ex-officio: Classified Senate President, Unclassified Senate President
b. Selection: Standard for the nine members elected from the Faculty Senate, three to be elected by the Senate each year to serve a three-year term. Each At-Large senator is eligible to represent his/her division. Members must serve concurrently as Senators and vacancies shall be filled by a vote of the Senate for the unexpired term with the provision that the selected member shall be from the appropriate division.
c. Charges:
1. Provide the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate with reports as tasks are completed from their annual written charge of specific topics and projects to the Faculty Senate Planning and Budget Committee.
2. Identify and define the most appropriate avenues for faculty participation in the planning and budget processes
3. Advise the faculty representative to university budget committee (President of the Faculty Senate) and the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Research, the administrative representative of the faculty, on faculty concerns and priorities related to budget policies.
4. Review all matters relating to university planning and budgets, and expenditures, Including budget policies and assumptions.
5. Develop the faculty perspective on strategic issues and direction of the University, through direct participation with the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Research, college/school/University Libraries deans, department chairs, Faculty Senate, and appropriate university-level planning groups.
6. Participate in the development of the legislative request budget.
7. Meet and confer with representatives of the Board of Regents and state agencies as they may request.
8. Review the revision/reallocation process that occurs after the legislature determines the actual budget allocations to the University, including the allocation of salary increase funds held by the PVPAARR.
9. Provide the faculty senate with regular reports on the activities of the committee regarding developments in the planning and budget preparation process.
10. Make recommendations to the Faculty Senate and to the administration in matters related to university planning and budgets.
11. Advise and consult with the President of the Faculty Senate and the President-Elect of the Faculty Senate on budget matters before their scheduled meetings with the Provost and Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Research.
revised membership 3-27-00
revised selection 2-22-10

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Retrenchment Advisory & Appeals

a. Composition: 9 members: 7 chairs of the Advisory and Appeals Committee for Retrenchment for each of the College/School/University Libraries, 1 student, 1 Ex Officio: University Equal Employment Opportunity Officer (non-voting)
b. Selection: Chairs of Advisory and Appeals Committee for Retrenchment are chosen according to the same procedures used in selecting Tenure and Promotion committee chairs or by other procedures adopted by the faculty of the college/school/University Libraries.
If a college/school/University Libraries elects the membership of its Tenure and Promotion Committee and of its Retrenchment Committee, separate elections must be held for each committee. Overlapping membership will be permitted if it arises out of separate elections.
If some portion of the membership of the Tenure and Promotion Committee of a college/school/University Libraries is appointed, and/or if some portion of the membership of the college/school/University Libraries Retrenchment Committee is appointed, then no more than half of the members of either committee may simultaneously be members of the other. The Rules Committee has the authority to grant an exception to this regulation for a particular college/school/University Libraries, if such a request for exception can be justified.
c. Charge:
1. a) To regularly review the status of the university and its component parts in relation to those aspects relevant to possible financial exigency.
b) To participate in preventive planning for the university prior to a declared exigency.
c) To review university and college/school/University Libraries plans for retrenchment should a declaration of financial exigency be necessary
d) To serve as an appeals committee during periods of financial exigency as described in the "Policies and Procedures for the Reduction of Unclassified Staff for Reasons of Financial Exigency" document adopted by the University Faculty September 15, 1980, or as amended.
2. Planning during non-crisis periods
a) Biannual review of the current status and future projections for the University by the President and/or Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research with the University Committee and others as appropriate.
b) The chair of the University Committee shall be involved regularly in discussions with the university administration regarding university financial status, especially at time of budget hearings.
c) Review and consideration of policies such as early retirement or semi-retirement, shared positions, faculty retraining and faculty reassignment which could help avoid declaration of financial exigency.
3. During a period of financial exigency.
Function as stated in the "Policies and Procedures for the Reduction of Unclassified Staff for Reasons of financial Exigency" document adopted by the University Faculty September 15, 1980, or as amended.

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Rules

a. Composition: 11: 9 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions, Vice President of the Senate, President-Elect of the Senate (Chair)
b. Selection: Standard
c. Charges:
1. Recommend changes to the Senate rules and constitution to the Senate and update the rules and constitution to reflect changes passed by the Senate.
2. Recommend changes to the bylaws of the University Faculty and updates the bylaws to reflect any changes made.
3. Recommend to the Senate procedures and policies for the Senate elections. The Vice President of the Senate conducts the elections.
4. Recommend to the Senate changes to the Senate committee structure and changes in the procedures for appointing faculty, administrators, and staff to these committees, and nominate candidates for the committees to the Senate for its approval. In making nominations the committee is not restricted to nominations from Senate categories or committee preference forms, but should strive to create the strongest and most effective committees.
5. Review and suggest changes in the Faculty Grievance Procedure and coordinate its implementation.
6. Interpret the Rules and Constitution of the Faculty Senate.
revised membership 3-27-00

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Scholarship & Student Aid

a. Composition: 12: 9 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions, 1 student, Director of Financial Aid or designated replacement (ex-officio, non-voting), Representative from Admissions Office (ex-officio, non-voting)
b. Selection: Standard
c. Charges:
1. Review the actions of the Financial Aids Office and the Admissions Office, as they relate to scholarships and student aid.
2. Recommends and reviews procedures for the selection and termination of scholarships and financial aid administered by the Financial Aid Office and the Admissions Office.
3. Conduct a periodic review of the policies and related procedures for the awarding of scholarships and financial aid administered by the Financial Aid Office and the Admissions Office.
4. Recommend and review procedures for the Distinguished Scholarships Invitational (DSI) competition.
5. Act as the final appeals board for students with scholarship grievances.
6. Annual reports to the Senate shall include recommendations to and actions taken by appropriate administrators.
revised membership & charge 4/10/2000, 11/8/10

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Tenure & Promotion

a. Composition: 12: 7 Chairs of the Tenure and Promotion Committees of the degree-granting college/school and for University Libraries, 2 Faculty-at-large, 1 Student (non-voting), 2 Ex-officio: (non-voting) Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research, Dean of the Graduate School. Ex-officio members shall not be present at the meeting when final votes are taken.
b. Selection:
Chairs of tenure and promotion committees in the degree-granting colleges/schools and for University Libraries are chosen according to procedures established in their respective college/school/University Libraries, or unit. They are elected to two-year staggered terms. Faculty-at-large are selected according to standard procedures for naming members to faculty senate committees, except that they shall be from different Faculty Senate divisions, and shall be full-time, tenured faculty members with the rank of associate professor or higher. Faculty-at-large serve three-year terms. Ex-officio and faculty at-large members may not serve while a candidate for promotion or incentive review, or while on sabbatical leave. Replacement appointments shall be made as needed, following standard procedures.
c. Charge:
1. Implement University-wide policies and procedures for awarding tenure and promotion.
2. Coordinate the Tenure and Promotion Calendar.
3. Specify the format for documentation in support of Tenure and Promotion Review, with a view to developing comparable standards throughout the University while recognizing essential college/school/University Libraries differences.
4. Formulate transmittal, reporting, and appeals procedures for awarding tenure and promotion.
5. Ensure that there are University-wide procedures for notifying the relevant administrators and those faculty members for whom tenure decisions must be made before reappointment.6. Review tenure and promotion cases in accordance with the University Tenure, Promotion, and Appeals Procedure.
7. Review every three years the college/school/University Libraries guidelines for tenure and promotion. 8. Report to the full Faculty Senate for review issues of concern in tenure policies and tenure and promotion guidelines.
Revision Da