Descriptions for Senate and University Committees

 

Click on the name of a committee to view current membership

 

SENATE COMMITTEES

 

Academic Computing                                   Senate

 

The committee shall review on an annual basis the status and needs of academic computing and shall recommend action and policies, or policy changes, with regard to academic computing.

 

Faculty                                    Nine faculty

Continuing/Ex-officio             Executive Director, Division of University Computing or designee

Undergraduates                      Two undergraduate students nominated by the President of the Student Government Association

Graduate                                One graduate student nominated by the President of the Graduate Student Organization

 

 

Academic Program Review                              Senate

 

The committee shall periodically review each academic program of the University in terms of its quality, productivity, and centrality of the University's role and purposes and, on the basis of this shall develop appropriate recommendations for review and implementation by the President

 

Faculty                                    One faculty member from each college or school

Continuing/Ex-officio             Vice President for Outreach

                                                Dean of the Graduate School

                                                Vice President for Research

Restrictions                             No faculty member shall serve more than two consecutive three-year terms.

The chairperson of the committee shall be a faculty member.

 

 

Academic Standards                                   Senate

 

The committee shall study policies governing scholastic standards for all students regarding admission to the University, continuation in residence, and graduation, and make recommendations to the Senate.  In addition, the committee shall recommend approval or disapproval of all college, school, and department requests to establish additional standards for admission in individual programs or curricula.

 

Faculty                                    Nine faculty

Continuing/Ex-officio             Provost or designee

                                                Registrar (non-voting)

 

 

Administrator Evaluation                             Senate

 

The committee shall oversee and/or conduct a periodic evaluation of University administrators involved in the University’s teaching, research, and extension programs and provide a report of aggregate data to the Senate.

 

 

 

Faculty                                                Five faculty

Staff                                                    One staff member nominated by the Staff Council

 

Calendar and Schedules                               Senate

 

The committee shall submit a proposed University Calendar for approval by the Senate.  It shall recommend policies concerning scheduling to promote effective use of the University's facilities

 

Faculty                                    Six faculty

Continuing/Ex-officio             Registrar as secretary

Staff                                        One staff member nominated by the Staff Council

AP                                          One administrative and professional member nominated by the Administrative and Professional Assembly

Undergraduates                      One student nominated by the Student Government Association

 

 

 

Core Curriculum Oversight                            Senate

 

The committee shall have the responsibility of recommending educational goals for the Core Curriculum and monitoring the effectiveness of the Core in fostering student achievement of those goals.  Toward this end, the committee shall oversee the assessment of student learning in the Core, including the evaluation of courses, and may recommend to the University Senate changes in the Core Curriculum, including the admission or deletion of courses and other changes to the Core.

 

Faculty                                    Seven representatives from the core areas:

1) composition or literature

2) fine arts

3) history

4) mathematics

5) natural sciences

6) philosophy

7) social sciences

One representative from the faculty of the University Libraries

Three representatives selected from colleges or schools that are not represented by the seven core areas

 

Continuing/Ex-officio             Provost or designee as chair

                                                Director of Assessment (non-voting, ex-officio

 

 

Curriculum                                           Senate

 

The committee shall recommend approval or disapproval of requests for undergraduate and graduate curriculum changes.  Graduate curriculum matters, including requests involving 6000-level courses, shall come to the Curriculum Committee following approval by the Graduate Council. In addition, the committee shall review overall curriculum patterns and course content of the instructional program other than the University Core Curriculum and shall recommend to the Senate curriculum changes needed by the University.

 

Faculty                                    One faculty member from each college or school

Continuing/Ex-officio             Provost or designee as chair

                                                Dean of the Graduate School or designee

                                                Registrar or designee as secretary

 

 

Faculty Grievance                                    Senate

 

The committee shall evaluate grievances filed by faculty members and make recommendations to the President. The committee shall follow theFaculty Grievance procedure outlined in Article 6 of the Senate Constitution.

 

Faculty                                    One elected member from each of the academic schools or colleges

                                                One elected member from the Library

One elected member from the non-tenure track faculty members of the Cooperative Extension Service who are not included in academic departments

One elected member from the non-tenure track faculty in University Extension who are not included in academic departments

Restrictions                             The chair shall be elected from within the Grievance Committee and shall serve one year as chair-elect before assuming duties of the chair as provided in Article 6, Section 3.

                                                No member shall serve more than two consecutive three-year terms

 

 

Faculty Handbook Review                               Senate

 

The committee shall receive and solicit suggestions for changes and updating of the Faculty Handbook and recommend to the University Senate such changes as it deems appropriate.

 

Faculty                                    Six faculty

Continuing/Ex-officio             Provost or designee

 

 

Faculty Salaries                                     Senate

 

The committee shall examine the salaries of all University Faculty within the institution and in comparison to those at other universities and shall make recommendations to the University Budget Advisory Committee as to the most effective means of remedying existing salary inequities and ensuring the maintenance of equity in the salary structure.

 

Faculty                                    Five faculty

Continuing/Ex-officio             Provost or designee

                                                Executive Vice President or designee

Non-voting                              Executive Director of Planning and Analysis or designee as a non-voting member

Restrictions                             Faculty members shall serve three-year staggered terms.

 

 

Faculty Welfare                                      Senate

 

The committee shall look into and make recommendations concerning faculty benefits and welfare programs of the University.

 

Faculty                                    Eight faculty

Continuing/Ex-officio             Executive Vice President

                                                Director of Payroll and Benefits

Staff                                        One staff member nominated by the Staff Council

AP                                          One administrative and professional member nominated by the Administrative and Professional Assembly

 

 

Graduate Council                                     Senate

 

The council shall review requests for curriculum changes in courses that may be taken for graduate credit, review and recommend approval of all proposals for new graduate programs and modifications to existing programs, review existing programs, recommend regulations and policies for the Graduate School, and assist the dean of the Graduate School in carrying out those regulations and policies.

 

Faculty                                   Twelve to fifteen faculty members, with at least one from each school or college with a graduate program

Continuing/Ex-officio             Dean of the Graduate School as chair

Assistant to the Dean of the Graduate School as non-voting secretary

                                                Associate Dean of the Graduate School as non-voting vice chair

Graduate                                One graduate student nominated by the Graduate Student Organization

Restrictions                             Faculty members shall be appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School from a list of nominees provided by the Senate Rules Committee.  The list of nominees shall, at a minimum, exceed the number of openings by two and shall contain at least two nominees from any college or school without a continuing representative.  Faculty members must be full members of the Graduate Faculty.

 

 

Lectures                                             Senate

 

The committee is a companion to the student-run University Program Council and shall augment the instructional programs of the University by supporting speakers of distinctive scholarship and accomplishment who would be of interest to students, faculty, and staff.

 

Faculty                                    Three faculty

Continuing/Ex-officio             Associate Provost or designee as chair

Undergraduates                      Two undergraduate students nominated by the Student Government Association

Graduate                                One graduate student nominated by the Graduate Student Organization

 

 

Library                                              Senate

 

The committee shall recommend policies governing the distribution of funds for acquiring library materials, policies for the selection and location of such materials, and library services to be offered.

 

Faculty                                    One library faculty member

                                                One faculty member from each school or college

Continuing/Ex-officio             Dean of Libraries

Undergraduates                      One undergraduate student nominated by the Student Government Association

Graduate                                One graduate student nominated by the Graduate Student Organization

 

 

Non-Tenure Track Instructors                         Senate

 

The committee will consider the special concerns of non-tenure track instructors and may propose policies relating to the status, function, and rights of non-tenure track instructors within the University.  Each fall the committee chair will inform all non-tenure track instructors of the committee's existence and purpose.

 

Faculty                                    Six tenured faculty members

Two department heads/chairs

                                                One representative of the central administration

                                                Three non-tenure track instructors

Restrictions                             All with staggered three-year terms

 

 

Research Grant-in-Aid                                Senate

 

The committee shall establish policy for the Grant-in-Aid programs and review and recommend proposals

 

Faculty                                   Thirteen faculty members.  Each school or college shall be represented by at least one faculty member.

Continuing/Ex-officio             Associate Provost and Vice President for Research as chair

                                                Associate Vice Presidents for Research as non-voting members

 

 

Retention                                            Senate

 

The committee shall be responsible for continuous monitoring of the retention of undergraduate students and for recommending retention initiatives and working with the appropriate deans and student affairs to establish them.

 

Faculty                                    Five faculty

Continuing/Ex-officio             Director of Financial Aid

                                                Director of the Student Success Center

Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Studies

 

Undergraduates                      Two students

Restrictions                             The faculty members will serve 3-year rotating terms

 

 

Rules                                                Senate

The Senate Rules Committee shall have the responsibility for providing the President with a list of faculty nominations for University committees.  The committee shall serve as the Committee on Committees.

 

Faculty                                    Six members elected by the Senate

Continuing/Ex-officio             Chair of the Senate as chair

                                                Chair-elect

                                                Secretary

                                                Secretary-elect

                                                Immediate past-chair

Restrictions                             Elected members shall serve two-year staggered terms.  Election of members to two-year terms shall be held by secret ballot at each March meeting of the Senate.  Candidates who receive a majority vote shall be elected and their appointment shall become effective immediately.  Nominations shall be made from the floor at the Senate's February meeting. Information about candidates shall be distributed to all Senators with the agenda for the March meeting.

 

 

Steering                                             Senate

 

The committee shall act for the Senate on those matters requiring attention between meetings of that body and shall assist the chair of the Senate in setting the agenda for Senate meetings.  In addition, it shall be concerned with the academic affairs of the University, with particular attention given to the need for developing and recommending policies under which these affairs are conducted.  It shall work closely with other Senate committees to aid them in their assignments and shall receive an annual written report from each committee chair describing the committee's activities for the past year.

Minutes reporting formal action taken by the Steering Committee shall be given to each member of the Senate following their distribution

 

Faculty                                    Two faculty members appointed by the Rules Committee and approved by the Senate

                                                Two faculty members appointed by the President

Continuing/Ex-officio             Provost

                                                Chair of the Senate as chair

                                                Chair-elect

                                                Secretary

                                                Secretary-elect

 

 

Teaching Effectiveness                               Senate

 

The committee shall review what is currently in place in the University with respect to appropriate and reasonable teaching assignments. The committee shall establish policy for the Teaching Grant-in-Aid program and review and recommend proposals for funding. It shall also evaluate existing resources for teaching, provide systematic approaches to faculty evaluation, offer formal faculty development programs, and recognize excellence in teaching.

 

Faculty                                    Thirteen faculty.  Each school or college shall be represented by at least one faculty member

Continuing/Ex-officio             Provost or designee

Undergraduates                      One undergraduate student nominated by the Student Government Association

Graduate                                One graduate student nominated by the Graduate Student Organization

 

 

UNIVERSITY COMMITTEES

 

Academic Honesty                                     University

 

The committee shall administer the provisions of the Student Academic Honesty Code contained in the Constitution of the Student Government Association, published each year in the Tiger Cub.

 

Faculty                                    Four faculty

                                                Three additional faculty alternates

Undergraduates                      Two undergraduate students nominated by the Student Government Association

Graduate                                One graduate student nominated by the Graduate Student Organization

Restrictions                             Chair shall be designated by the President of the University from among the faculty members of the committee

 

 

Budget Advisory                           University

 

The committee shall develop recommendations for the President of Auburn University regarding the preparation of the annual budget for the University.

 

Faculty                                   Thirteen members, including one representative from each school or college and the Library, who shall serve two year terms

Continuing/Ex-officio             Executive Vice President as chair

                                                Provost

                                                President of the SGA

                                                President of the GSO

                                                Chair of the Administrative and Professional Assembly

Chair of the Staff Council or designee who shall serve a two-year term

Restrictions                             Each school or college and the Library shall be represented alternately by a faculty member and an administrator, and the administrator position shall alternate between a dean and a department head/chair.

There shall be at least six faculty members, three deans and three department head/chairs every year.

Faculty                                    Four faculty

Continuing/Ex-officio             Chair-elect of the Senate as committee chair

Staff                                        One staff member nominated by the Staff Council

Restrictions                             Appointees shall serve two-year staggered terms.

 

 

Admissions Appeals                                   University

 

The committee shall recommend admission and readmission procedures for undergraduate students and shall act upon all appeals for admission and readmission.  Appeals of committee decisions shall be made to the Provost.

 

Faculty                                    Six faculty

Continuing/Ex-officio             Provost or designee

                                                VP for Student Affairs or designee, who shall serve as chair

 

 

Alumni Professorships                                University

 

The committee shall review nominations for Alumni Professorships, and shall make recommendations to the President about appointments to these positions, based on the nominees' contributions to University missions.

 

Faculty                                    Six faculty who are current or former Alumni Professors

Continuing/Ex-officio             Provost or designee as chair

 

 

Campus Planning                                      University

 

The committee shall assist with the development and implementation of the Campus Master Plan and adherence to the Physical Development Policy; shall review and make recommendations regarding guidelines established for project programs, building design, campus landscape, and graphics and signage; and shall participate in the preparation of the annual Facilities Development Plan and recommend priorities and schedules for new buildings and major improvements, regulatory requirements, and functional improvement.

 

 

Faculty                                    Six faculty

Continuing/Ex-officio             VP for Administrative Services as chair

                                                Executive Vice President

                                                Associate Director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station

                                                Director of Telecommunications/ETV

                                                University Architect

                                                Executive Director of Planning and Analysis

                                                Director of Facilities

 

 

Concessions Board                                    University

 

The committee shall review proposals for the use of monies from the Concessions Fund.

 

Faculty                                    Three faculty, one of whom shall serve as chair

Continuing/Ex-officio             University Bookstore Manager

Staff                                        One staff member

AP                                           One administrative and professional member

Undergraduates                      Three undergraduate students

Graduate                                 Two graduate students

 

 

Distinguished University Professors                             University

 

The committee shall review University Professorship nominations annually and make recommendations to the president about appointments to the position.

 

Faculty                                    Six faculty currently holding chaired professorships

Continuing/Ex-officio             Provost or designee as chair

 

 

Drug-Free Campus/Workplace                           University

 

The committee shall promote the development of the University's drug prevention program; establish procedures to ensure the annual distribution to each student and employee of descriptions of the legal and medical risks associated with drug and alcohol abuse and of any drug or alcohol counseling, treatment, rehabilitation or re-entry programs available to employees and students; and evaluate the University's drug prevention program biennially to

 

Faculty                                    Three faculty

                                                Two faculty from AUM

Continuing/Ex-officio             One representative from the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service

                                                One representative from the Office of the Vice President for Research

                                                One representative from Personnel Services

                                                One representative from Housing and Resident Life

                                                One representative from the University Police Department

                                                One representative from the AUM Police Department

One representative from from the Office of the VP for Student Affairs

One representative from the University Health Center

Staff                                        One member of the staff

                                                One staff member from AUM

Undergraduates                      One undergraduate student with a one year term

                                                One AUM student serving a one-year term

Graduate                                 One graduate student with a one year term

Restrictions                             The three AUM (non-student) members serve three-year staggered terms

 

 

Faculty Dismissal Hearing                            University

 

The committee shall hear appeals of dismissal and make recommendations to the Preisdent following the procedure outlined in Chapter 3 of the Faculty Handbook.

 

Faculty                                    Nine faculty

Restrictions                             Faculty members must be tenured and should hold the rank of professor; faculty members cannot also be members of the Faculty Dismissal Inquiry Committee.

 

 

Faculty Dismissal Inquiry                            University

 

The committee shall review charges brought against a faculty member that might lead to dismissal, consider the strength & validity of such charges & suggest any appropriate modifications, & recommend to the President whether or not to initiate formal proceedings

 

Faculty                                    Six faculty members

Restrictions                             The chair of the committee shall be elected by the committee

 

 

Foy Union Board                                      University

 

The committee shall make recommendations to the President of Auburn University for all programs, services, space allocations and long-range planning related to Foy Union

 

 

Faculty                                    One faculty member

Continuing/Ex-officio