Educational Policies Committee
The Faculty Handbook Committee circulated a proposal to revise Section 2.2.5 of the Faculty Handbook - Educational Policies Committee. Click here to find our original proposal. In response to our request for feedback, we received a number of responses citing relatively minor corrections (e.g. switching "Provost" to "Academic Vice-President"). Two comments addressing the substance of the proposal are cited anonymously below:
Comment
#1
"The second concerns the status of the student representatives. I
suggest that the handbook committee, if it hasn't done so, discuss listing the
student representatives as non-voting members. Or, to put it another way,
should students determine educational policy? While it is very important
that the committee receive student input (in addition to administrative input)
on proposals, I feel that the final decision on educational policy should reside
with those individuals who usually formulate and implement that policy, i.e.,
the faculty. It is true that students are directly affected by these
decisions, but they are not educators and most would not have the experience or
perspective to make such decisions.
"I suppose that this could also lead to the
question of whether or not the Vice President for Academic Affairs should have
any voting rights as well. It could be argued that any policy that does
not garner a majority of the committee's votes (5 out of 8) should not be
implemented. A split decision would suggest that additional faculty input
and possibly revision or compromise is needed.
"I ask the committee to please consider returning the decisions on
educational policy to the faculty."
Comment #2
We should amend the language of the proposal to emphasize that the EPC approves
curriculum of new programs/departments, but does not "create" or
"close" departments themselves. The creation/closure of
departments and programs is an administrative prerogative.
The Faculty Handbook Committee response to each comment should be available in the minutes to the February 20, 2004 meeting. In the meantime, we have revised our proposal and sent it to Faculty Assembly officers for inclusion on the March 2004 FA agenda.
From the current Faculty Handbook:
2.2.5 Educational Policy: This committee formulates, interprets, and coordinates curricular policy. Final recommendations and proposals to the committee are made through the Dean of the appropriate College. To allow for university wide discussion of all educational policy decisions, the agenda is published one week before every committee meeting. All materials (16 copies) must be submitted by the time the agenda is set. After committee decisions, a file of revised materials is kept in the Provost's Office. The original documents must be corrected by the author to correspond with the approved policies and submitted to the chair of EPC within two weeks of approval.
2.2.5.1 Membership: Provost (who votes to break ties), ex officio, the Director of General Education (without vote), ex officio, and eight faculty members, one elected from each of the three Colleges to 2-year overlapping terms; in addition one faculty member from the College of Business, one faculty member from the College of Human Services and three faculty members from the College of Arts and Sciences. Colleges will present two faculty members of the College in nomination for these elections by the entire faculty. Three students in good academic standing named by the Deans, one from each of the Colleges and one of which must be a graduate student.
Proposed Revision:
2.2.5 Educational Policies: This committee formulates, interprets, and coordinates EDUCATIONAL policy. TYPICAL POLICY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF CURRICULA FOR NEW DEPARTMENTS OR PROGRAMS, NEW COURSES FOR EXISTING DEPARTMENTS, PROGRAM REVIEWS, CHANGES IN MAJORS OR MINORS, GRADING SCALES, ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS, AND ANY OTHER EDUCATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THE UNIVERSITY CATALOG. Final recommendations and proposals to the committee are made through the Dean of the appropriate College. To allow for university wide discussion of all educational policy decisions, the agenda is published one week before every committee meeting. PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING MATERIAL TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE CAN BE FOUND ON THE EPC PAGES OF THE ACADEMIC VICE PRESIDENT’S WEBPAGE. After committee decisions, a file of revised materials is kept in the ACADEMIC VICE PRESIDENT’S Office. The original documents must be corrected by the author to correspond with the approved policies and submitted to the chair of EPC within two weeks of approval.
2.2.5.1 Membership:
VICE-PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS (VOTES TO BREAK TIES), EX OFFICIO
DIRECTOR OF GENERAL EDUCATION (WITHOUT VOTE), EX OFFICIO
EIGHT FACULTY MEMBERS, ELECTED TO TWO-YEAR, OVERLAPPING TERMS
FOUR MEMBERS OF THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
TWO MEMBERS OF THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
TWO MEMBERS OF THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HEALTH SCIENCES
COLLEGES WILL PRESENT TWO FACULTY MEMBERS OF THE COLLEGE IN NOMINATION FOR THESE ELECTIONS BY THE ENTIRE FACULTY
THREE STUDENTS IN GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING NAMED BY THE DEANS (ONE STUDENT FROM EACH COLLEGE, ONE OF WHOM MUST BE A GRADUATE STUDENT
Update, 3/18/04: The Faculty Handbook Committee submitted this proposal for consideration at the March 2004 Faculty Assembly meeting. The proposal was approved unanimously and will be read a second time at the April 2004 Faculty Assembly meeting. Thanks to everyone for their input.
(Updated: 3/18/04)