Committee Structure
GRACELAND UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE STRUCTURE
Approved by faculty, May 21, 2001
Involvement in committee work is one of the ways in which faculty members participate in the governance of Graceland. The general stewardship of each committee member is to scrutinize carefully and thoroughly the activity for which the committee bears oversight responsibility in order to identify ways in which the committee can better make its individual contribution to the health of the University. All committee members will have voice and vote except for issues relating to Faculty Personnel Policy, in which case only faculty serving under that policy will have voice and vote. Unless specified below, membership will be in accordance with applicable policy. Members should take very seriously the responsibility of rendering decisions, making recommendations to the administration, and discovering better ways of doing business. Committee members will ascertain how well the committee objective and tasks achieve the values, mission and vision of the University.
Committees and administration bear joint responsibility for using the resource of time wisely. Thus, on-going analysis of the institutional universe of committees should be quick to identify when a committee is no longer needed or when the changing environment requires the creation of a new committee. The annual report of each committee should contain its recommendation as to the on-going existence of the committee.
Executive Council
Objective: To offer university-wide strategic administrative leadership.
Tasks: Supports the President in his or her accountabilities to the Board of Trustees, collaborates in strategic decision making regarding budget, policy, new program proposals, etc., and strengthens collegiality.
Members: To be appointed by the President.
Faculty:
University Faculty
Objective: To shape university policy through meaningful participation in university governance.
Tasks: Recommends Academic Calendar, recommends faculty personnel policy changes, conducts university committee and council elections, approves campus specific curriculum changes that affect other university programs, approves changes to graduation requirements including general education program, serves as an appeal body for campus faculty actions, endorses honorary degrees, engages in university faculty development activities, participates in university-wide dialogues including consideration of educational philosophy, academic policies, and other university-wide issues. Gives advice and counsel to the administration.
Members: Membership will include all full-time faculty members and administrators with faculty status from the respective campuses as well as GSG officers (Lamoni) and two student representatives (Independence) selected by student vote. All members should have voice and vote except for issues relating to endorsement of candidates for honorary degrees or to the Faculty Personnel Policy in which case only faculty serving under that policy will have voice or vote. The Chair will remind such persons prior to any vote dealing with the policy. To be chaired by faculty-elected Chairperson.
Campus Faculty
Objective: To shape campus policy through meaningful participation in campus governance.
Tasks: Conducts campus committee and council elections, elects ombudsperson, approves curriculum changes for campus programs, approves addition and deletion of majors, engages in campus faculty development activities, participates in campus-wide dialogues including consideration of campus-wide policies, considers issues and makes recommendations to university faculty, and gives advice and counsel to the administration.
Members: Membership will include all full-time faculty members and administrators with faculty status as well as two undergraduate and two graduate student representatives selected by the students. All members should have voice and vote except for issues relating to the Faculty Personnel Policy in which case only faculty serving under that policy will have voice or vote. The Chair will remind such persons prior to any vote dealing with the policy. To be chaired by faculty-elected Chairperson.
Elected University Committees and Councils:
Faculty Advisory Council
Objective: To assess and provide advice regarding the status of faculty-administrative relationships and take oversight responsibility for the Faculty Personnel Policy.
Tasks: Gives advice and counsel to and responds to special requests from the faculty, administration and Board of Trustees, conducts annual evaluation of administration, hears appeals from faculty regarding tenure dismissal, and responds to special requests from the administration. Takes oversight responsibility for Faculty Personnel Policy.
Eligibility and Election Procedure: The faculty will elect from those of its membership six persons to serve on the FAC, with the chairman of this council to be selected by and from its membership. Terms will be for three-year terms. Membership on the council is open to all faculty members. However, retiring members of the council will be ineligible for re-election for a period of one year. In the event that a member of the faculty is elected to complete an unexpired term of office on the FAC, the person so elected will be eligible for immediate reelection at the conclusion of the initial term. Members elected to the FAC are restricted to faculty members who do not have administrative duties. Someone who becomes a division chair subsequent to his/her election to the FAC will resign from membership on the Council. Four members constitute a quorum.
Faculty Compensation Committee
Objective: To attract and maintain a faculty capable of transforming students.
Tasks: Collect faculty concerns about salary and fringe benefits and make recommendations to the administration.
Eligibility and Election Procedure: The committee shall be comprised of four members elected at large for two-year terms from the faculty serving under the Faculty Personnel Policy. Terms shall be staggered with two committee members elected each spring.
Standing Committee on Evaluation, Promotion and Tenure
Objective: To maintain and recognize faculty who are capable of transforming students.
Tasks: Evaluates faculty and recommends candidates for promotion and tenure within framework of policy described in Faculty Personnel Policy.
Eligibility and Election Procedure:(SCOEPAT) will consist of six members who are elected at large by the faculty. No more than one from a division/school may serve on SCOEPAT. The members of SCOEPAT will be tenured associate professors or professors. Terms will be for three years, two members to be elected each year. The committee will be chaired by the VPAA/dean of faculty, who will not have voting privileges.
Appointed University Committees and Councils:
University Academic Council
Objective: To enhance the academic integrity of the university.
Tasks: Recommends academic calendar, changes to graduation requirements including general education program, and SCOEPAT schedule for promotion, tenure, pre-tenure, and post-tenure. Serves as committee on university committees, hears copyright appeals, and allocates professional development stipends. Vice President for Academic Affairs and Vice President of the Independence Campus, or mutually agreed upon designees, rotate as chair.
Members: Membership will consist of combined membership of Campus Academic Councils.
Academic Technology AdvisoryCommittee
Objective: To provide advice and direction to university leaders regarding academic technology support and strategy.
Tasks: Plans the purchase of hardware and software to improve the teaching/learning process and related faculty development activities.
Members: To be appointed by the President
Ackerley Scholars Program Committee (ASPC)
Objective: To enhance the level of academic scholarship in computer science and technology at Graceland and establish a center for computer science excellence
Tasks: Give advice and counsel to the director of the Ackerley Computer Science and Technology Scholars Program and take oversight responsibility for the allocation of funds between program and scholarship purposes, the selection of the Ackerley Scholars, and the general direction of the program
Members: The committee consists of the Dean of Faculty, a faculty member assigned by the Science Division Chair, a faculty member assigned by the Business Division Chair (typically an IT representative), and the director who administers the program and serves on the committee as chair. The faculty assignments should insure that the formal mathematical/computer science roots and the ever-changing information technology interests are both represented on the committee.
Committee on University Welfare
Objective: To help maintain a community consistent with the vision, mission, and values of the university.
Tasks: Gives advice and counsel to and responds to special requests from the employees and the administration in matters relating to the well being of Graceland employees.
Members: Membership will include persons from the faculty, professional, professional/technical, staff, and administrator employee groups, and the student body. To be appointed by the President.
Community of Christ Leadership Program Committee (IC Ad hoc rep)
Objective: To help students develop church leadership skills.
Tasks: Advises on the development of philosophy and activities to conduct the program.
Members: To be appointed by the President. .
Diversity Committee (7-14-08)
Objective: To foster awareness of, and sensitivity to, Graceland's diverse population to improve the Graceland experience for all students, faculty and staff.
Tasks: Reviews needs of diverse population and makes recommendations to appropriate administrators and bodies.
Members: To be appointed by the President. .
General Education Committee
Objective: To enhance the liberal arts integrity of the university and to provide students with alternatives for meeting general education goals.
Tasks: Oversees implementation of general education program. Sets standards and evaluates applications for demonstration of competence of general education goals.
Eligibility and Election Procedure: One member will be appointed from each division with the committee chair named by the President. The Registrar will be an ex officio member on the committee with voice and vote. Note: The committee will solicit additional resources when the need arises as they consider requests for meeting requirements through demonstrated competence.
Graduate Council
Objective: To enhance the academic integrity of graduate programs.
Tasks: Approves graduate curriculum proposals, academic standards for graduate programs and develops and recommends policies and procedures for the effective administration of graduate programs and degrees. Hears petition appeals regarding graduate programs.
Members: Dean of Faculty, Vice President for the Independence Campus, Deans of Graduate programs, Registrar and one faculty member from each of the graduate programs, appointed by their respective dean, and one faculty member at large, appointed by the Dean of Faculty. Student representatives may be appointed by their respective deans on an as needed basis to serve on the Graduate Council.
Honors Council (IC Ad hoc rep)
Objective: To provide a program for academically gifted students.
Tasks: Admits students to the Honors program, monitors their progress and advises the Honors director regarding management and organization of the program.
Members: To be appointed by the President.
Human Subjects Institutional Review Board
Objective: To ensure professional and ethical research activity involving human subjects that is consistent with the vision, mission and values of the university.
Tasks: Reviews any research projects using human beings as subjects and approves all instruments and projects to insure civil rights are protected.
Members: To be appointed by the President.
Management Information Systems
Objective: To provide seamless information services to students and employees through integrated policy, procedure, and data.
Tasks: Serves as an administrative information system problem-solving and policy-making body of representative system users. Provides a forum for communication for those responsible for managing administrative information systems.
Members: To be appointed by the President.
Peace Studies Committee (IC Ad hoc rep)
Objective: To foster understanding and promote the academic study of peace at the university.
Tasks: Coordinates curriculum and staff for the Peace Studies Program.
Members: To be appointed by the President.
Program Review Committee
Objective: To organize, preside over and support all departments through the process of reviewing programs.
Tasks: Communicate with all stakeholders, develop criteria for program review, manage and oversee the program review process, challenge the faculty in shaping new pedagogies, receive and analyze program review reports, and make recommendations to the president and Executive Council.
Members: To be appointed by the President
Program Support Council
Objective: To provide seamless programmatic services to students through well-coordinated university services.
Tasks: Develops administrative policies and procedures for the implementation of new non-traditional programs and the adaptation of existing programs.
Members: To be appointed by the President.
Student Learning Improvement (Assessment) Committee
Objective: To enhance the quality of all university programs by encouraging and supporting ongoing assessment of student learning outcomes.
Tasks: To understand current best practices in assessment; educate, encourage and support faculty and professional staff in using best practices; ensure regular assessment activities take place (data is collected, summarized, disseminated & analyzed) in accordance with the University Assessment Plan; encourage use of assessment results to improve student learning.
Members: To be appointed by the President
University Budget Committee
Objective: Make recommendations to the President and Executive Council on a university budget that supports the vision, mission, values and the strategic plan for the university.
Tasks: In this role, the University Budget Committee:
reviews the proposed annual budget and makes recommendations to the President and Executive Council,
reviews requests and new programmatic endeavors,
communicates to appropriate constituencies,
facilitates cross functional activities,
promotes understanding of the budget issues in programmatic operations and decisions,
works jointly on University wide issues,
provides leadership in integrating budgetary decisions into unit and university strategic plan,
works to understand how all units fit into the university vision, mission, values and strategic plan and annual goals and objectives, and
monitors and reviews quarterly, the budget variances and makes recommendations on corrective actions.
Membership: Staff, faculty, and administrators appointed by the president. Co-chaired by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Vice President for Business and Administrative Services.
Wellness Committee
Objective: To educate Graceland University employees about the benefits of wellness and to provide education, resources, and activities to improve their overall health and wellness habits.
Tasks: Included in mission statement - they will be coordinating different opportunities for employees to get involved in wellness, and exercise
Members: The committee will consists of the Human Resources Assistant, chairperson; a B.S.N. faculty and a certified Athletic Trainer/Faculty member
Winter Term Committee
Objective: To enhance the academic integrity of winter terms.
Tasks: Establishes policy, oversees winter term programs, and advises on safety issues of off-campus winter term programs.
Members: To be appointed by the President.
Appointed Campus Committees and Councils Independence and Lamoni:
Campus Academic Councils
Objective: To preserve the academic integrity of the campus
Tasks: Serves as committee on campus committees, approves new courses in the major, topics courses, deletion of courses in the major, initiation and deletion of campus majors or other campus programs, reviews and approves continuing education programs, and hears curricular adjustment appeals. In Independence, acts on student petitions involving curriculum and academic policy, monitors and evaluates academic performance of designated students. Curriculum proposals will be approved by appropriate academic unit, the Campus Academic Council, and the Campus Faculty prior to submission to the President and Board of Trustees. In cases where a course or program is offered on or affects more than one campus, the chair of the Campus Academic Council will insure that appropriate members of affected campus are informed/invited to meeting at which action will be considered; in case of dispute, issue will be appealed to University Academic Council. Title changes, changes in courses, pre-requisites, and changes in majors, minors, and other academic programs, articulation agreements, convocations, will be submitted to the Campus Academic Council for approval and to the Campus Faculty for information. Recommendations for academic policies will be forwarded to campus faculty for information or action as appropriate. Minutes will be made available to all faculty. To be chaired by Vice President for Academic Affairs in Lamoni and Vice President for Independence Campus.
Members: To be appointed by respective Vice President.
Campus Pride Committees
Objective: To provide a satisfactory learning environment.
Tasks: Prioritizes and plans for replacement and upgrade of furniture and equipment and general appearance and comfort of each campus.
Members: To be appointed by respective Vice president.
Financial Aid Committees
Objective: To exercise good stewardship over financial aid budget.
Tasks: Establishes and strategizes the awarding of institutional aid and monitors the administration of those policies and strategies, and hears appeals.
Members: To be appointed by respective Vice President.
Safety Committees
Objective: To ensure a safe environment on campus.
Tasks: Promotes safety consciousness, identifies and monitors use of potentially dangerous chemicals in the work place and any other unsafe situations in university operations, and reviews incident reports.
Members: To be appointed by respective Vice President
Independence only:
Campus Administrative Council
Objective:To offer campus-wide strategic administrative leadership.
Tasks: Supports the designated Vice President in his or her accountabilities to the President, collaborates in strategic decision making regarding budget, policy, new program proposals, etc., strengthens collegiality, and gives advice and counsel to administration.
Members: Appointed by the respective Vice President.
Lamoni Only:
Council on Student Welfare
Objective: To help maintain social standards consistent with the vision, mission, and values of the university.
Tasks: Serves in advisory and judicial capacity in matters relating to student welfare.
Members: To be appointed by the President
Curricular Adjustment Committee
Objective: To ensure fair and open adjudication of academic policies.
Tasks: Acts on student petitions involving curriculum and academic policy, monitors and evaluates academic performance of designated students.
Members: To be appointed by the President.
Enrollment Management Task Force
Objective: To manage enrollment at the optimum level supportable with available resources and consistent with Graceland's vision, mission, and values.
Tasks: Advises on selection and retention of students.
Members: To be appointed by the President.
Liberal Studies Committee
Objective: To enhance the academic integrity of the Liberal Studies program.
Tasks: Establishes policy and oversees Liberal Studies program. Approves student's programs of study on behalf of the faculty.
Members: To be appointed by the President.
Performing Arts Series Committee
Objective: To provide cultural experiences for the campus and community.
Tasks: Plans the Performing Arts Series.
Members: To be appointed by the President.
Student Life Committee
Objective: To honor student contributions on the Lamoni campus and to provide guidance for student activities.
Tasks: Administers process for selection of student. award recipients, oversees official University student publications, and approves charters and fund raising activities and paraphernalia designs for campus clubs/organizations, and discusses campus issues and develops action plans when appropriate.
Members: To be appointed by the President.
Elected Campus Positions:
Ombudsperson
The ombudsperson is the conduit through which faculty members can anonymously communicate with the dean, the provost, the president, and the campus council.
Eligibility and Election Procedure: Full-time faculty and administrators with faculty status are eligible. Elected at the campus faculty meeting for a one-year term.
Campus Faculty Chairperson
The Campus Faculty Chairperson will, in conjunction with the academic councils and the dean of faculty, set the agenda for campus meetings/conferences and preside over these meetings.
Eligibility and Election Procedure: Full-time faculty and administrators with faculty status are eligible. Elected at the campus faculty meeting for a one-year term.
Elected University Positions:
University Faculty Chairperson
The University Faculty Chairperson will, in conjunction with the academic councils and the dean of faculty, set the agenda for university meetings/conferences and preside over these meetings.
Eligibility and Election Procedure: Full-time faculty and administrators with faculty status are eligible. Elected at the university faculty meeting for a one-year term.
