{"id":514,"date":"2014-05-13T15:03:59","date_gmt":"2014-05-13T20:03:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nicholls.edu\/policy-procedure-manual\/?page_id=514"},"modified":"2026-03-31T19:25:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T19:25:03","slug":"1-16-bylaws-of-the-faculty-association","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.nicholls.edu\/policy-procedure-manual\/general-administration\/1-16-bylaws-of-the-faculty-association\/","title":{"rendered":"1.16. Committee System"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
1.16 \u00a0Committee System<\/p>
The following governance document\u00a0was adopted by ÐÓ°É´«Ã½ Administration and Faculty on May 1990. (Official operational date: October 1990. Amended or emended: May, 1992, May 1993, May 1996, <\/em>February 2005, October 2005, October 2007, November 2009, January 2012, September 2013, November 2014, December 2014, April 2015, October 2015, March 2016, August 2017, September 2018, October 2018, November 2018, May 2019, August 2019, October 2019, December 2019, June 2021, December 2021)<\/em><\/p> This transcription of the Governance Document retains the structural and linguistic integrity of the original. Sections in this\u00a0Manual<\/em>\u00a0transcription, however, are by necessity numbered differently from those in the original Governance Document.<\/p> Governance is the shared responsibility of all members of the University Community. To fulfill this responsibility, faculty and administration agree to establish collaborative bodies known as Academic Standing Committees, which are charged to perform specific governance duties requiring faculty and administration involvement. In addition, University Standing Committees are established to conduct other University activities. The faculty will also establish its own governance bodies known as Faculty Senate Standing Committees.<\/p> Academic Standing Committees: (Section <\/em>1.16.2<\/em>)<\/em><\/p> University Standing Committees: (Section <\/em>1.16.3<\/em>)<\/em><\/p> Faculty Senate Standing Committees: (Section <\/em>1.16.4<\/em>)<\/em><\/p> Each committee shall keep minutes of each meeting and shall disseminate those minutes expeditiously, once approved, within 5 working days. Minutes shall be provided to all members of the committee, the officer or group to which the committee reports, the Office of the President, the Faculty Senate President, the Faculty Senate Vice\u2013President, to the University Archives, and made available on the V Drive: Admins> MEETING MINUTES as appropriate to the confidentiality of such minutes.<\/p> Each committee shall choose from its membership a chair at its first regularly scheduled meeting but no later than the fourth week of the commencement of fall classes, excluding days lost to University closures. Academic Standing Committees shall be convened by the Committee on Committees in order to elect a chair and set a committee\u2019s first agenda. The officer to whom a University Standing Committee reports shall call the first meeting of a committee for the purpose of electing a chair, except in those cases in which chairs are appointed, and setting a first agenda. University Standing Committees shall elect as chair any member excluding ex officio members of the committee. Academic Standing Committees shall elect as chair any faculty member serving on the committee excluding ex officio members. Faculty Senate Standing Committees shall elect as chair any member serving on the committee. All committee chairs shall have full voting and speaking privileges. The Faculty Senate Vice\u2013President will be informed of and invited to attend all first committee meetings to charge each committee with its responsibilities.<\/p> Ex officio members of the committees, unless otherwise specified, shall have speaking and voting privileges. If an individual serves as an ex officio member of a committee in more than one capacity, that individual shall have but one vote.<\/p> Presence of a majority of the voting members of a committee shall constitute a quorum.<\/p> Elections of faculty within each academic unit and nominations by the Committee on Committees shall be completed before May 1 each year. Faculty shall be notified of vacancies one month prior to elections or appointments to fill such<\/p> vacancies. Faculty shall be appointed to committees by appointing officers before the end of the Spring Semester each year. Faculty, staff, and administrative representatives to a committee, unless otherwise specified, shall be elected\/ selected for two\u2013year (24 month) terms. The terms of faculty representatives to each committee shall be staggered so that committee membership is elected\/selected as close to one\u2013half as possible each year.<\/p> If there is no candidate for a position requiring an elected faculty representative to a committee, the Committee on Committees shall appoint the requisite faculty representative(s).<\/p> When student membership is specified for a committee, those student members shall be appointed by the Student Government Association (SGA) President for one\u2013year terms.<\/p> Each committee shall have the authority to form subcommittees for the purposes contained in the charge to that committee and to invite other members of the University community to meet with the committee.<\/p> The committee chair shall review committee minutes from previous semesters to identify issues and concerns and provide committee continuity.<\/p> In addition to maintaining and distributing minutes, each committee shall submit its recommendations and actions in writing to the University administrator to whom it reports as indicated in the description of the committee. If the committee reports to the Faculty Senate, the recommendations must be submitted at least ten (10) working days before the next scheduled Senate meeting. The University administrator to whom a committee or the Faculty Senate reports shall respond to that committee or the Faculty Senate expeditiously (but within no more than twenty [20] working days) or within a time mutually agreed upon by the Senate Executive Committee and the University President.<\/p> Any modification to these General Operating Procedures shall be mutually agreed upon by a majority of the Faculty Senate and the President of the University.<\/p> Release time shall be granted to equal one course (three credit hours) for faculty holding the following positions: Faculty Senate President, Courses and Curriculum Chair (fall semester only), and the General Education Assessment Coordinator, as these positions require significant time commitment beyond the normal service component outlined in the normal scope of work for the university.<\/p> By joint resolution of the administration and the faculty, the following committees are authorized to share in the governance of the University. The committees listed in this section are those committees within the governance structure that relate to academic issues. Unless otherwise specified, committee recommendations shall be reported to the Faculty Senate for action. Recommendations of the Faculty Senate shall be forwarded to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, who shall as appropriate transmit them to the relevant University bodies. The purposes, membership, and duties\/ responsibilities are detailed for each committee. Modification to the purpose, membership, reporting procedures, and duties and procedures of the committees within this section shall be mutually agreed upon by a simple majority of the Faculty Senate at the meeting after which notice of such change has been given to the President of the University.<\/p> Purpose: To recommend policy regarding matriculation, act on student grade appeals as the next level of appeal after college committees, and act on student appeals related to academic standards.<\/p> Reports to: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs through the Faculty Senate<\/p> Exception: Appeal actions are confidential in nature and appeal files shall not be open to the Faculty Senate. Actions taken related to appeals are sent directly to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.<\/p> Membership (13):<\/p> Duties\/Procedures:<\/p> Purpose: To make recommendations on policies and procedures regarding the undergraduate curriculum, academic programs; serve as a review board for proposed courses and curricula changes and make recommendations for accepted changes. Advise the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs on policies and standards regarding all academic programs.<\/p> Reports to: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs through the Faculty Senate.<\/p> Membership (17):<\/p> Duties\/ Procedures:<\/p> Purpose: Review and assess the General Education program as part of the University\u2019s ongoing institutional assessment process, with specific emphasis on meeting BOR and SACSCOC requirements.<\/p> Reports to: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs through the Faculty Senate.<\/p> Membership (21):<\/p> Duties\/Procedures<\/p> Purpose: To study and review curriculum, program and policy proposals related to the graduate program; review applications for appointment to graduate faculty; act on graduate student appeals related to academic standards.<\/p> Reports to: Director of Graduate Studies<\/p> Membership (16):<\/p> Duties\/ Procedures:<\/p> The\u00a0Faculty Appointment to the Graduate Faculty<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>section of this Manual<\/em> has specific information about faculty appointment to the Graduate Council.<\/p> Purpose: To hear grievances beyond the departmental, college levels, and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs following established ÐÓ°É´«Ã½ Faculty Grievance procedures. Grievances that are legitimately the province of the Committee are those presented by a faculty member. The Committee serves as a hearing and recommending body reporting its findings to the University President.<\/p> Reports to: University President<\/p> Membership (9 + 9 alternate): (18)<\/p> Note: Terms of elected committee members will be alternating three\u2013year terms, appointed members will serve for one term.<\/p> Duties\/Procedures<\/p> Purpose: To act as a goal\u2013setting and policy\u2013making body for the Honors Program.<\/p> Reports to:\u00a0 Vice Provost<\/p> Membership (11):<\/p> Duties\/Procedures<\/p> Purpose: To ensure that the rights and welfare of human subjects are protected in the research process and to determine whether human subjects will be placed at physical, psychological, and social risk.<\/p> Reports to: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs through Faculty Senate<\/p> Membership (10):<\/p> Duties\/Procedures<\/p> Purpose: To gather and disseminate information concerning grants and funds available to the University and review faculty proposals requesting University funding.<\/p> Reports to: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs through the Faculty Senate<\/p> Membership (9):<\/p> Duties\/ Procedures:<\/p> Purpose: Review faculty appeals of the annual formative or the summative evaluation process for promotion and\/or tenure and make a recommendation to the Department Head, Dean or Director of the Library, or the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. The peer review recommendation does not relieve the administrator from the responsibility of making the evaluative decision.<\/p> Reports to: Faculty Senate<\/p> Membership (8):<\/p> All members must be full\u2013time, tenured faculty; members should have the rank of full professor. If there is an insufficient number of full professors in any academic unit, an elected full\u2013time tenured associate professor in that unit will serve. Deans and Department Heads cannot serve on this committee; faculty directors and coordinators who are contracted at 50% or more teaching duties are eligible. Elections shall be completed before any college\u2013level peer review committees are appointed. The at\u2013large position shall be elected from a list of eligible faculty prepared from a master list submitted by the colleges and the Library after the initial elections have taken place.<\/p> Duties\/Procedures<\/p> University committees perform specific tasks on a continuing basis. The purposes, membership, reporting procedures, and duties\/responsibilities are specified for University Standing Committees in the succeeding section. Recommendations of University Standing Committees shall be forwarded to the appropriate Vice President who shall as deemed necessary transmit them to the appropriate University body. Any modification to the purpose, membership, reporting procedures, and duties and procedure of committees as well as deletions or additions of committees named in this document shall be mutually agreed upon by the President of the University and a simple majority of the Faculty Senate at the meeting after which notice of the change has been given.<\/p> Purpose: To serve as advisory body for the University\u2019s varsity athletic programs, to consult with the Vice President for Collegiate Athletics\/Athletic Director and staff in formulation of policy, and to insure that competitive athletics activities are pursued in harmony with the University\u2019s academic mission and with policies of external regulatory bodies.<\/p> Reports to: President<\/p> Membership (11):<\/p> Duties\/ Procedures:<\/p> Purpose: To conduct budget hearings, receive divisional and institutional development request, and recommend funding for budget proposals, plans, and priorities. The committee will use the norm consensus in reaching recommendations.<\/p> Reports to: President<\/p> Membership (21):<\/p> Duties\/Procedures<\/p> Purpose: To serve as a hearing\/appeals body for disciplinary hearings as specified in ÐÓ°É´«Ã½ Code of Student Conduct and Appeals Procedures.<\/p> Reports to: Vice President for Student Affairs<\/p> Membership (13):<\/p> Note: Committee members will serve three\u2013year (thirty-six month) terms.<\/p> Duties\/ Procedures:<\/p> Purpose: To ensure humane treatment of animals used in experimentation, to determine if the researcher considered alternative ways for conducting research without the use of animals, and to support research which benefits both humans and animals through compassionate and health-promoting care of experimental animals.<\/p> Reports to: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs<\/p> Membership: (6)<\/p> Duties\/Procedures:<\/p> Purpose: The committee shall serve as the hearing board for appeals of parking\/traffic citations and delinquent fees (as specified in the University Parking Traffic Regulations).<\/p> Reports to: Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration<\/p> Membership (12):<\/p> Duties\/ Procedures:<\/p> Purpose: To establish or approve and monitor requirements for scholarship holders and make recommendations regarding scholarship in harmony with policies of external regulatory bodies.<\/p> Reports to: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs through the Assistant Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness, Access, and Success<\/p> Membership (12):<\/p> Duties\/Procedures:<\/p> Purpose: To review and recommend policies and procedures related to social concerns affecting members of the\u00a0<\/span>University community; to coordinate activities relating to these areas; and to promote a safe and healthy living\u00a0<\/span>and working environment. These areas may include but not be limited to issues that impact campus climate and\u00a0<\/span>campus health issues.<\/span><\/p> Reports to: Vice President for Student Affairs<\/p> Membership (15):<\/p> Duties\/Procedures:<\/p> Report actions to Vice President for Student Affairs.<\/span><\/p> Purpose: To select student editors and managers for student publications and non\u2013print media and hear student employment appeals.<\/p> Reports to: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs<\/p> Membership (16):<\/p> Duties\/Procedures:<\/p> Purpose: To regulate, monitor, and encourage the activities of student organizations that support the mission of the University.<\/p> Reports to: Vice President for Student Affairs<\/p> Membership (13):<\/p> Duties\/ Procedures:<\/p> Purpose: To ensure that faculty members play an appropriate role in designing courses\/programs offered by distance education, are engaged in the planning and systematic review of distance education and are part of the academic over site of distance education initiatives. To regulate, monitor, and encourage activities related to distance learning.<\/p> Reports to: Vice Provost<\/p> Membership (16):<\/p> Duties\/ Procedures:<\/p> Purpose: The committee shall recommend policy related to the regulations of vehicular operation on campus including, but not restricted to, parking, speed regulations, and registration.<\/p> Reports to: Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration<\/p> Membership (18):<\/p> Duties\/Procedures:<\/p> Purpose: The Coordination of Policy and Procedure <\/em>Manual<\/em> is the responsibility of the Policy and Procedure Manual (PPM) Committee. The PPM Committee is responsible for monitoring all policy changes and for informing all employees of any and all updates. More details regarding PPM maintenance can be found in section 1.19.<\/p> Reports to: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs<\/p> Membership (9)<\/p> Purpose: To serve as a review board for university policies relative to grants, research, and other contracts funded by external agencies to assure compliance with state and federal mandates.<\/p> Reports to: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs through the Faculty Senate<\/p> Membership (18)<\/p> Purpose: Evaluate, manage, and make recommendations to the President regarding requests for campus space, lead the capital planning process for all units and make recommendations to the President to ensure responsible growth that supports the University\u2019s academic mission and identify opportunities for space sharing and repurposing.<\/p> Committee meets semi-annually as needed or more frequently if required.<\/p> Reports to: President<\/p> Membership (12):<\/p> Purpose:\u00a0 To conduct a review of all requests to fill vacant positions as well as review all requests for the establishment of new positions in accordance with the strategic plan.\u00a0 The committee ensures that all requests align with the compensation design plan that the University has adopted, and ensures that the funding source(s) are identified.\u00a0 The committee will use the normal consensus in reaching recommendations made to the President for approval.<\/p> Reports to:\u00a0 President<\/p> Membership (5):<\/p> Duties\/Procedures<\/p> Purpose: The Honorary Doctorate Degree Committee is responsible for the receipt, review, and recommendations of all nominations for such degrees. (Section 5.7.12)<\/p> Reports to: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs<\/p> Membership: (10)<\/p> Note: Faculty members will serve staggered four-year terms. No college may have more than one representative.<\/span><\/p> Note: The Director of Graduate Studies will serve as committee chair, but will be a non-voting member.<\/p> Duties\/Procedures:<\/p> Upon approval by the Board, candidates will be informed by the President of their selection and invited to accept the honorary degree. Following acceptance, a public announcement will be made, and the degree will be conferred at the commencement ceremony.<\/p> Purpose: To recommend policies, procedures, and initiatives regarding the successful retention, matriculation, and graduation of enrolled students at ÐÓ°É´«Ã½ Terms of office of all members of Faculty Senate Standing Committees shall be one year except that of the Faculty Welfare Committee, whose members shall serve two-year terms. The chairs of Faculty Senate Standing committees shall be elected from their membership for one\u2013year terms no later than 5 days following the May Senate meeting. At least one member of each Faculty Senate Standing Committee shall be a Senator. Any modification to the purpose, membership, reporting procedures, and duties and procedure of committees named in this section of the document shall be made by a simple majority approval of the Faculty Senate at the meeting after which notice of the change has been given.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> Purpose: To administer Article III (election of senators) and Article IX (committees) of the Faculty Association Bylaws and implement policies concerning the election\/selection of faculty members to the Faculty Senate, University Standing Committees, Academic Standing Committees, and Faculty Senate Standing Committees; to call the first meeting for Academic Standing Committees each year to ensure timely operation of these bodies.<\/p> Reports to: Faculty Senate<\/p> Membership (7): Membership shall consist of 1 Senator from each electing unit, elected by the respective unit.<\/p> Duties\/Procedures:<\/p> Purpose: To recommend to the Faculty Senate changes in policy related to issues such as tenure and promotion, faculty development, faculty honors, merit system, faculty compensation, and new faculty orientation; to periodically review and update this\u00a0Manual<\/em>\u00a0to reflect current policies; to recommend policy changes in the areas outside the purview of the other committees; and to receive information from faculty regarding matters with an impact on their welfare and to make recommendations to the Senate relevant to these matters.<\/p> Reports to: Faculty Senate<\/p> Membership (14):<\/p> Duties\/Procedures:<\/p> Purpose: To provide leadership for the Faculty Senate<\/p> Reports to: Faculty Senate<\/p> Membership (7): Officers of the Faculty Senate and Chairs of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees.<\/p> Duties\/Procedures:<\/p> Task forces, study groups, special advisory committees, and similar ad hoc groups\u00a0formed to solve specific problems or receive assigned tasks shall not be official governance bodies of the University. All such bodies derive their authority from the University Standing Committees, Academic Standing Committees, or individuals or groups to whom they report. Ad hoc committees shall establish operating procedures by consensus of the membership (policies and procedures should generally conform to the guidelines in this document).<\/p> Neither academic ad hoc groups nor Academic Standing Committees may be appointed by administration to supplant official standing committees. However, when administration finds it advisable to initiate study of academic issues tangentially related to one or more Academic Standing Committees, the following procedure should be followed: 1) a conference with Senate President to determine which, if any, Standing Committee(s) could have an interest in the issue; 2) where such an interest is found, appointment by the Senate President of a member of the appropriate Senate committee(s) to membership in the ad hoc group.<\/p> Back to Top<\/a><\/p> 1.16.4.3<\/p> 1.16.2.3<\/p><\/td> 04\/27\/2015<\/p> 10\/16\/2021<\/p><\/td> Faculty Senate<\/p> Courses and Curricula Committee<\/p><\/td>1.16.1 \u00a0General Operating Procedures for Academic, University, and Faculty Senate Standing Committees<\/a><\/h3>
1.16.1.1 \u00a0Minutes<\/h4>
1.16.1.2 \u00a0Chair Selection<\/h4>
1.16.1.3 \u00a0Ex Officio Members<\/h4>
\u00a0<\/strong>1.16.1.4 \u00a0Quorum<\/h4>
\u00a0<\/strong>1.16.1.5 \u00a0Timelines for Elections and Appointments<\/h4>
1.16.1.6 \u00a0Appointment of Faculty Representatives<\/h4>
1.16.1.7 \u00a0Student Membership<\/h4>
1.16.1.8 \u00a0Subcommittees<\/h4>
1.16.1.9 \u00a0Chair Review<\/h4>
1.16.1.10 \u00a0Submissions<\/h4>
1.16.1.11 \u00a0Modifications<\/h4>
1.16.1.12 \u00a0Release Time for Committee Chairs<\/h4>
1.16.2 \u00a0Academic Standing Committees<\/h3>
1.16.2.1 \u00a0Academic Appeals Committee<\/h4>
1.16.2.2\u00a0 Courses and Curricula Committee<\/h4>
\u00a0<\/strong>1.16.2.3\u00a0 General Education Committee<\/h4>
1.16.2.4\u00a0 Graduate Council<\/h4>
1.16.2.5\u00a0 Grievance Committee<\/h4>
1.16.2.6\u00a0 Honors Committee<\/h4>
1.16.2.7 Human Subjects Institutional Review Board<\/h4>
1.16.2.8 Research Council<\/h4>
1.16.2.9 University\u2013wide Promotion and Tenure Appeals Committee<\/h4>
1.16.3 \u00a0University Standing Committees<\/h1>
1.16.3.1 \u00a0Athletics Council<\/h4>
1.16.3.2 \u00a0Budget Review Committee<\/h4>
1.16.3.3\u00a0 Discipline Committee<\/h4>
1.16.3.4\u00a0 Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)<\/h4>
1.16.3.5\u00a0 Parking\/Traffic Appeals Committee<\/h4>
1.16.3.6\u00a0 Scholarship Committee<\/h4>
1.16.3.7\u00a0 Social and Community Concerns Committee<\/h4>
1.16.3.8\u00a0 Student Media Committee<\/h4>
1.16.3.9\u00a0 Student Organizations Committee<\/h4>
1.16.3.10\u00a0 Distance Learning Committee<\/h4>
1.16.3.11\u00a0 Parking Policy Committee<\/h4>
1.16.3.12\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Policy and Procedure Manual Committee<\/strong><\/h4>
1.16.3.13\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Research and Sponsored Projects Committee<\/strong><\/h4>
1.16.3.14\u00a0 Space Utilization Committee <\/strong><\/h4>
1.16.3.15 R1\/R2 Committee <\/strong><\/h4>
1.16.3.16\u00a0 Honorary Degree Committee<\/h4>
\u2022 Four tenured faculty members
\u2022 One appointed by the President
\u2022 One appointed by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
\u2022 Two appointed by the Faculty Senate
Note: Faculty members will serve staggered four-year terms. No college may have more than one representative.
\u2022 The president of the Faculty Senate, or designee
\u2022 The president of the Student Government Association, or designee
\u2022 The chair of the Classified Advisory Committee, or designee
\u2022 The president of the Unclassified Staff Advisory Council, or designee
\u2022 The president of the Alumni Federation, or designee
\u2022 The director of Graduate Studies. Note: The Director of Graduate Studies will serve as committee chair, but will be a non-voting member.<\/li><\/ul>1.16.3.17 Student Success and Retention Committee<\/h4>
Reports to: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs through the Faculty Senate
Membership (19):
\u2022 One representative member from each academic college and the library appointed by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs from nominations submitted by the Committee on Committees
\u2022 Chair, Director of Student Success and Retention
\u2022 Director of Academic Services
\u2022 Vice President for Academic Affairs
\u2022 Assistant Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness, Access, and Success
\u2022 One representative of Records and Registration appointed by the Provost and Vice
President for Academic Affairs
\u2022 One representative of Enrollment Services appointed by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
\u2022 One representative of Student Affairs appointed by the Vice President for Student Affairs
\u2022 Athletics representative appointed by the Vice President for Collegiate Athletics\/Athletics Director
\u2022 Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence
\u2022 Student Representatives: SGA, and SPA appointed by Vice President for Student Affairs
\u2022 Student Representatives: two students appointed by the director of Student Success and Retention
Duties\/Procedures:
\u2022 Convened by the chair on a regular basis (monthly).
\u2022 Serve as review committee for data concerning retention, progression, and graduation and recommend initiatives based on data analysis.
\u2022 Serve as advisory board for retention, progression, and student success initiatives.
\u2022 Report through Faculty Senate to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
concerning committee activities at least once per academic year.<\/p>1.16.4 \u00a0Faculty Senate Standing Committees<\/h1>
1.16.4.1 \u00a0Committee on Committees<\/h4>
1.16.4.2 \u00a0Faculty Welfare Committee<\/h4>
1.16.4.3 \u00a0Executive Committee<\/h4>
1.16.5 \u00a0Task Forces, Study Groups, and Special Advisory Committees<\/h3>
Changes to Section of Manual<\/h5>
Section<\/th> Effective Date<\/th> Origin<\/th> Change Form<\/th><\/tr>