You are here

Home

Committees

The permanent committees of the Senate are: the Committee on Committees, the Ways and Means Committee, the Academic Planning and Development Committee, the Governmental Concerns Committee, the Faculty Senate-Faculty Advisory Council Committee, and the Faculty Senate Executive Committee.

Special committees are temporary committees to serve the Senate in matters of a special nature or in any other way desired by the Senate for information or action. Such committees and their chairpersons shall be appointed by the President of the Faculty Senate to ensure representation from each faculty unit where appropriate. These special committees shall be dissolved immediately upon completion of their charge.

Senate committees

Committee on Committees

  1. In the event of a vacancy on a permanent Senate committee, the Committee on Committees shall present to the Senators of the unrepresented faculty unit at least two candidates from the respective unit for election to the committee. The Committee on Committees shall prepare slates of nominees for membership on certain University committees as specified in Article V of this constitution and for membership on other University committees as requested by the President of the University.
  2. The Committee on Committees shall consist of one permanent member of the Senate from each faculty unit and three additional members from the elective members of the Senate. Permanent members shall be elected by the permanent members of the respective faculty units and shall serve three-year staggered terms. Elective members shall be elected by the elective members of the Senate and shall serve one-year terms. No member of the Committee on Committees may serve on another permanent committee of the Senate.
  3. The chairperson shall be elected by the Committee from among those permanent members who have served on the committee at least one year.

Ways and Means Committee

  1. The Ways and Means Committee of the Senate shall serve the Senate as liaison committee to University committees. Its function is that of mediator in differences of opinion in policy between the Senate and the University committees. It shall present to the Senate recommendations for solutions of policy differences. Twice each year (at the January and April meetings) the committee shall report to the Senate on the status of University actions in response to resolutions passed by the Senate during the previous half year or, when appropriate, during the previous year. The committee shall also be assigned those tasks which the President of the Faculty Senate deems advisable.
  2. The committee shall consist of one Senate member from each faculty unit. Members shall be elected by the Senators from the respective unit. Members shall serve staggered three-year terms.
  3. The chairperson shall be elected by committee members from among those members who have served on the committee for at least one year.

Academic Planning and Development Committee

  1. The Academic Planning and Development Committee shall present to the Senate for recommendation to the President of the University plans for the development of the academic stature, the areas of emphasis, and the direction of the University. These plans should include immediate goals as well as long-range goals.
  2. The committee shall consist of one member from each faculty unit. Members shall be elected by the Senators from the respective unit.
  3. The chairperson shall be elected by the committee from among those members who have served on the committee for at least one year.

Governmental Concerns Committee

  1. The Governmental Concerns Committee shall call to the attention of the Senate issues pending before governmental bodies which affect higher education and shall furnish the Senate with information necessary to understanding such issues.
  2. The committee shall consist of one member from each faculty unit. Members shall be elected by the Senators from the respective unit and shall serve staggered three- year terms.
  3. The chairperson shall be elected by the committee from among its members.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee

  1. The Faculty Senate-Executive Committee shall meet to plan upcoming meetings. Such meetings will not determine University policy nor shall they undermine the regular processes through which the faculty has input into University affairs. The meetings shall be designed to complement the input through existing channels and to provide an exchange of ideas on broad areas of concern.
  2. The committee shall consist of the President of the Faculty Senate, who serves as chair, the Secretary, the Senate Webmaster, and the immediate past President of the Faculty Senate. Should the immediate past President of the Faculty Senate not be available, the final committee member shall be chosen by a majority vote of the Senate.

Faculty Senate Faculty Advisory Council Committee

  1. The Faculty Senate-Faculty Advisory Council Committee shall represent the Senate at the Faculty Advisory Council of the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors and shall report to the Senate on the activities of the Council.
  2. The committee shall consist of two members. One of the members shall be the Senate's official representative to the Council; the other, the alternative representative. The representative shall serve a two-year term in that capacity, at the end of which period the alternate shall become the representative. Thus membership on the committee is for a total term of four years. The alternate representative shall be elected by the Senate at the April meeting of each odd-numbered year from a slate of nominees prepared by the Committee on Committees and take office at the beginning of September.

University committees of particular interest to the Faculty Senate

The Faculty Senate has a special interest in the University committees listed below. Curriculum, Faculty Grievance, Faculty Benefits and Welfare, Library, Committee on Academic Affairs and Standards, Parking Planning, Student Evaluation of Instruction, Campus Planning, General Education, Distance Learning Leadership Council, Strategic Program Review.

The chairperson of Curriculum, Faculty Grievance, Faculty Benefits and Welfare, Library, Committee on Academic Affairs and Standards, Parking Planning, Student Evaluation of Instruction shall be appointed by the President of the University from the committee membership for the coming year.

Curriculum, Faculty Grievance, Faculty Benefits and Welfare, Library, Committee on Academic Affairs and Standards, Parking Planning, Student Evaluation of Instruction shall meet regularly as required in the performance of its duties. At its first meeting each academic year, each committee shall, in concert with the administration, review its duties and responsibilities and record them with the Secretary of the Senate, who shall then distribute the statement to the members of the Senate. Each of these committees shall, at the April meeting of the Senate, present a comprehensive report of its activities during the previous calendar year.

Curriculum Committee

  1. The Curriculum Committee shall coordinate the efforts of the several departments and faculty units in implementing the philosophy and objectives of the University with respect to the curriculum.
  2. The membership shall consist of one faculty member from each faculty unit appointed by the President of the University for staggered three-year terms and three upperclass undergraduates (junior or senior classification) with a grade point average of at least 3.2 selected by the Student Government Association. Annually the Committee on Committees shall prepare a slate of nominees for this committee and shall submit it to the Senate for approval. The slate for this committee shall contain twice as many names as there are vacancies on the committee. Following Senate approval, the slate of nominees shall be forwarded to the President of the University, by the end of April. The President of the University shall make the appointments from the slate of nominees provided.
  3. The Curriculum Committee shall normally meet once a month during the academic year and at such other times as required in the performance of its duties.

Faculty Grievance Committee

  1. The Faculty Grievance Committee has as its primary purpose the provision of a fair investigation of a faculty grievance for the purpose of ascertaining the facts of the complaint and making a recommendation to the President of the University. Also, the committee shall hold a preliminary hearing when charges have been brought by a University Administrator against a faculty member which might result in dismissal or any other major sanction. The committee shall attempt to effect a mutual settlement and, failing that, shall recommend to the Academic Vice President whether or not sufficient reasons exist for a formal hearing.
  2. The membership shall consist of one tenured faculty member from each faculty unit appointed by the President of the University for staggered three-year terms.
  3. Annually the Committee on Committees shall prepare a slate of nominees for this committee and shall submit it to the Senate for approval. The slate for this committee shall contain twice as many names as there are vacancies on the committee. Following Senate approval, the slate of nominees shall be forwarded to the President of the University, by the end of April. The President of the University shall make the appointments from the slate of nominees provided.
  4. In any given academic year if cases have not reached resolution the chairperson shall continue to serve as chairperson with regard to such cases until resolution has been achieved, even if that person has not been reappointed for the coming academic year.

Faculty Benefits and Welfare Committee

  1. The Faculty Benefits and Welfare Committee shall study and make recommendations with regard to faculty retirement, insurance, other fringe benefits, safety, health, and other matters relating to faculty welfare.
  2. The membership shall consist of one faculty member from each faculty unit appointed by the President of the University for staggered, three-year terms, plus the chair of the University Insurance Committee (who shall be an ex officio member). Annually the Committee on Committees shall prepare a slate of nominees for this committee and shall submit it to the Senate for approval. The slate for this committee shall contain twice as many names as there are vacancies on the committee. Following Senate approval, the slate of nominees shall be forwarded to the President of the University, by the end of April. The President of the University shall make the appointments from the slate of nominees provided.

Library Committee

  1. The Library Committee shall serve as an advisory body to the Director of Libraries especially in regard to the establishment of policy in all matters affecting the usefulness and overall operation of the library.
  2. The membership shall consist of one faculty member from each faculty unit appointed by the President of the University for staggered three-year terms, two undergraduates selected by the Student Government Association, and one graduate student selected by the Graduate Student Organization. Annually the Committee on Committees shall prepare a slate of nominees for this committee and shall submit it to the Senate for approval. The slate for this committee shall contain twice as many names as there are vacancies on the committee. Following Senate approval, the slate of nominees shall be forwarded to the President of the University, by the end of April. The President of the University shall make the appointments from the slate of nominees provided.

Committee on Academic Affairs and Standards

  1. The Committee on Academic Affairs and Standards shall initiate and consider recommendations to the administration concerning the academic standards of the University, study regulations adopted by the various agencies which affect the academic policies of the University and bring them into conformity with such regulations, hear routine appeals for waiver of academic regulations in cases of individual students, and act as a final court of appeal in cases concerning accusations of unfair and capricious grading.
  2. The membership shall consist of:
    1. One faculty member from each faculty unit, appointed by the President of the University for staggered three-year terms;
    2. One student member from each faculty unit, appointed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs on the recommendation of the Student Government Association;
    3. Three faculty or staff members appointed by the President of the University;
    4. The undergraduate deans and directors, ex officio;
    5. The Registrar, ex officio, and serving as the secretary to the committee;
    6. The Director of Academic Planning and Faculty Development, ex officio; and
    7. The Vice President for Academic Affairs, ex officio. Annually the Committee on Committees shall prepare a slate of nominees for this committee and shall submit it to the Senate for approval. The slate for this committee shall contain twice as many names as there are vacancies on the committee. Following Senate approval, the slate of nominees shall be forwarded to the President of the University, by the end of April. The President of the University shall make the appointments from the slate of nominees provided.

Parking Planning

  1. The purpose of the Parking Planning Committee is to review and make recommendations to change regulations in the "Traffic Code," to serve as an advisory board for any changes in the University Parking Plan, and to review any request for changes to the "Traffic Code."
  2. The membership shall consist of eleven members: four regular faculty or staff members appointed by the President of the University, two students appointed by the President of the University, and two faculty or staff and three students recommended by the SGA President to the President of the University. Faculty will be appointed to staggered four-year terms. The President of the University will select the committee chair. Annually the Committee on Committees shall prepare a slate of nominees for this committee and shall submit it to the Senate for approval. The slate for this committee shall contain twice as many names as there are vacancies on the committee. Following Senate approval, the slate of nominees shall be forwarded to the President of the University, by the end of April. The President of the University shall make the appointments from the slate of nominees provided.
  3. The Director of Parking and Transit and Identification Systems will serve as an ex officio chair of the committee.

Student Evaluation of Instruction

  1. The purpose of the Student Evaluation of Instruction Committee is to provide effective and efficient means for periodic evaluation of instruction by students of the University. Primarily, the committee is concerned with the review and revision, when necessary, of the evaluation form, but can make recommendations for changes in the mechanism of the student evaluation such as who should review the evaluation, when they should be done, etc.
  2. The membership shall consist of one faculty member from each faculty unit appointed by the President of the University for staggered, three-year terms and one student selected by the Student Government Association. Annually the Committee on Committees shall prepare a slate of nominees for this committee and shall submit it to the Senate for approval. The slate for this committee shall contain twice as many names as there are vacancies on the committee. Following Senate approval, the slate of nominees shall be forwarded to the President of the University, by the end of April. The President of the University shall make the appointments from the slate of nominees provided.

Committees that Report to Senate

  • Campus Planning
    1. The purpose of the Campus Planning Committee is to develop a plan for the orderly development of the University campus and all university properties with regard to the physical facilities’ needs, vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow and land use.
    2. The membership shall consist of one faculty member from each faculty unit appointed by the President of the University for staggered three-year terms and as Ex Officio, the President of the University or designee, Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President Administration and Finance, and the Director Facility Management.
  • General Education Committee
    1. In broad terms, the General Education Committee exists to review, develop, and recommend policy regarding general education to the CAAS, to recommend inclusion or exclusion of courses in the list of acceptable general education courses, and to participate constructively in assessment of the general education goals.
    2. The membership shall consist of one faculty member from each faculty unit appointed by the President of the University for staggered three-year terms and as Ex Officio Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs, Assistant Vice President Institutionally Planning and Effectiveness, and the Director of Academic Planning and Faculty Development.
  • Distance Learning Leadership Council
    1. The Distance Learning Leadership Council exists to advise and provide counsel to the Director of the Office of Distance Learning throughout the development and implementation of an action agenda for expanding the institution's distance learning capacity and production.
    2. The membership shall consist of one faculty member from each faculty unit appointed by the President of the University for staggered three-year terms and as Ex Officio Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs. Chaired by Director of the Office of Distance Learning and members serve on one of four action teams – Planning and Leadership, Infrastructure, Targeted Professional Development, and Program Development, Deployment, and Evaluation.
  • Strategic Program Review Committee
    1. The Strategic Program Review Committee makes decisions concerning academic programs while taking quality and effectiveness into account and participates in the decision to recommend program discontinuance.
    2. The membership shall consist of one faculty member from each faculty unit appointed by the President of the University for staggered three-year terms and as Ex Officio, Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs, Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the Assistant Vice President Institutionally Planning and Effectiveness.

Modified version of articles IV and V of the constitution 10 June 2020, JCB