Department Committees
All Department committees are advisory and recommendatory to the Chair. The membership, structure, and function of some of the Department's committees are governed by University, Administrative and Operational Policies and the applicable CBA. The Chair may establish other departmental standing and ad hoc committees in consultation with the FAC. The Chair will welcome requests from Faculty members for positions on the Department’s various committees. The Chair, when making appointments to Department committees, will be mindful of the diversity of disciplines within the Department and will consider the expertise and interests necessary for the effective functioning of specific committees.
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The Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC)
The FAC is structured and operates as described in the CBA. The FAC is elected directly by the full-time Faculty of the Department as defined in subhead III A. Definition of the Faculty above.
FAC terms are for one (1) year. Elections are conducted in the Spring Semester and the FAC members assume office at the beginning of the Fall Semester. The FAC shall consist of five tenured and tenure-track Faculty members: four from the Kent Campus and one from the Regional Campuses. A majority of the members from the Kent Campus shall be tenured. The Regional Campus member shall be tenured, provided there are a minimum of three tenured Regional Campus Faculty. At least one representative shall be elected from each rank if there are at least three members on the Kent Campus in that rank. If the membership in one of the ranks is less than three, a representative-at-large shall be elected. If there are fewer than three Regional Campus Faculty, a representative-at-large shall be elected. If a vacancy should occur on the FAC, a special election will be held to fill the vacancy.
The FAC is convened and chaired at least once per term by the Chair who, in consultation with the FAC, sets the agenda for its meetings. FAC members may request that items be added to the agenda. Additional meetings of the FAC may be called by the Chair, as needed or upon a request by at least one-half of the members of the FAC. The FAC elects one (1) member to act as the Department representative to the College Advisory Committee (hereafter “CAC”).
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The Undergraduate Program Committee (UPC)
The UPC assists the Undergraduate Coordinator in supervising and coordinating the Department’s curricular programs. The UPC makes recommendations on any and all matters that affect the UG academic programs of the Department including but not limited to Faculty proposals for new courses, changes in course content, major requirements, and other curricular matters. The makeup and the responsibilities of the committee are specified in the Department Operations Manual.
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The Graduate Program and Admissions Committee (GPAC)
The GPAC assists the Graduate Coordinator with the oversight and development of the Department’s graduate program. The GPAC reviews proposals for new graduate courses, changes in course content and related curricular matters, and conducts periodic reviews of the Department’s graduate program as a whole. The GPAC assumes the role of Curriculum Committee for graduate curriculum. The GPAC is responsible for evaluating applications for admission, evaluating and recommending candidates for graduate appointments, and monitoring the progress and academic performance of graduate students in the Department. The makeup and the responsibilities of the committee are specified in the Department Operations Manual.
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Student Academic Complaint Committee (SACC)
The SACC is composed of four Faculty members and at least one student appointed by the FAC. The FAC, or any other standing committee of the department determined by the FAC, with the addition of at least one student, may also function as the SACC. The Chair of the SACC is elected by the SACC at the beginning of each academic year. The policies and procedures of this committee are governed by University Policy 3342-4-02.3. The policy provides for only one SACC in each department.
In the event that a member of the SACC is the subject of or may otherwise be involved with a student complaint, the FAC will select a replacement from the full-time tenured and tenure-track Faculty. If the Chair of the SACC is the subject of or may otherwise be involved with a student complaint, the Chair will appoint a member of the Student Academic Complaint Committee to chair the committee and the FAC will appoint an additional member to the committee from the full-time tenured and tenure-track Faculty.
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Reappointment, Tenure, and Promotion Committee (RTP)
Members of the RTP are all full professors and tenured members of the FAC. The policies and procedures that govern the RTP are included in University Policy. Procedural and operational guidelines for this committee are provided annually by the Office of the Provost. This committee reviews materials relevant to the professional performance of Faculty who are candidates for reappointment, tenure, or promotion in rank, and to make recommendations to the Chair on each of these personnel decisions. The recommendations of this committee and the Chair, together with the materials assembled for the committees, are forwarded to the Dean.
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Candidacy Examination Committee (CEC)
The CEC will prepare, administer and evaluate the results of the Departmental examination for acceptance into the Ph.D. program. The CEC consists of four persons from the graduate Faculty: two elected by those Faculty having full graduate Faculty status for staggered two-year terms, one appointed by the Chair, and the Chair ex officio (non-voting). The CEC is chaired by the elected member in the second year of his/her term.
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Other Departmental Committees
The Chair may establish, charge, and appoint the membership of additional departmental standing or ad hoc committees as required by the Department. In establishing departmental committees, naming members and designating a committee chair, the Chair shall consult with the FAC. The Chair will welcome requests and preferences from the Faculty before establishing and making appointments to departmental committees.