Standing faculty committees, through their representative nature and through the work in which they engage, embody essential components of healthy shared governance at Fort Lewis College. Not every faculty member with service responsibilities will be called upon to serve on a standing faculty committee in any given year. Those faculty members with service responsibilities who are not currently serving on standing faculty or College committees must seek to serve the College in other capacities such as advising a student club; advising student government; serving on department, school or division committees and task forces; serving on College advisory boards; serving on College Committees; etc. Since each tenured or tenure track faculty member is awarded three credits of reassigned time designated for College service in his/her contract, these individuals should also expect to serve on ad hoc committees, task forces and study groups constituted by the Faculty Senate on an as needed basis. Unless stated otherwise, the membership of a standing faculty committee is comprised of faculty members interested in undertaking work charged to that committee. The Faculty Senate may provide special charges to standing faculty committees as necessary and may suggest to the College Administration special charges for College committees.

Faculty Standing Committees

• Academic Standards Committee
• Advising Committee
• Assessment Committee
• Awards Committee
• Community-Based Learning and Research Curriculum Council
• Curriculum Committee
• General Education Council
• Campus Reading Board (Gen Ed Subcommittee)
• Campus Writing Board (Gen Ed Subcommittee)
• General Education Policy Committee (Gen Ed Subcommittee)
• Grievance Council
• Honors Council
• Intercultural Committee
• Library Committee
• Visiting Faculty Committee

Faculty Senate Committees

• Senate Executive Committee
• Senate Budget Committee
• Committee on Committees
• Procedures Committee
• Rules Committee
• Senate Relations Committee
• Summer SEC

Faculty Ad Hoc Committees & Task Forces, etc

• Community Based Learning and Research Task Force
• Grievance Process Revision Task Force
• Tenure and Promotion Task Force

College Advisory Commissions, Committees, Councils & Study Groups

Charge: This Committee advises the Provost through the Faculty Senate, to which it reports. Its charge is to maintain and improve the academic standards of the College. The Committee shall encourage and recognize outstanding scholastic achievement of students; review, initiate and recommend Academic Standards policies; determine what academic action (probation level 1, probation level 2, suspension, or dismissal), if any, is appropriate at the end of each term; monitor the progress of probationary students; hear and judge the cases of academic dishonesty brought before it by any member of the academic community; hear and judge the cases of students wishing to appeal academic suspensions or dismissals; and receive and consider proposals about academic standards from any member of the academic community.

The committee will submit a report by March 1 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, and recommendations, if any, for special charges or changes to the charge. The report will typically be a computerized file; however, the Senate may request an in-person report. Academic Standards Report 2005-06

Membership:
Chair
Vice Chair (specified in the http://www.fortlewis.edu/Committees/faculty_senate/constitution-rules-procedures-guidelines/draft-faculty-handbook-03-19-04.doc Faculty Handbook, p. 55)
Counseling Office staff – ex officio
Records Office staff – ex officio
Program for Academic Achievement staff – ex officio
Academic Success Program – by invitation
Office of Admissions – by invitation
6 faculty members, drawn from departments that offer first year level courses

2006-2007 Members:
Beverly Chew (convener)
Deborah Berrier
John Condie
Rick Mull
Delilah Orr
Paul Petersen
Susan McGinness (Counseling Center Director) – ex officio
Kathy Kendall (Registrar’s Office) – ex officio
Jen Wagnon (PAA) – ex officio
Barbara Martin (Admissions) – ex officio
Jennifer Gay (ASP) – by invitation

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Advising Committee

Charge: The Advising Committee is charged with serving as a forum for student, faculty, and administrative concerns with advising; identifying areas for improvement in the academic advising system; and developing plans to make the identified improvements. The Committee reports to the Faculty Senate and, therefore, serves as the primary body acting in shared governance to facilitate discussion of current and proposed advising practices and priorities College wide.

The committee will submit a report by March 1 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, and recommendations, if any, for special charges or changes to the charge. The report will typically be a computerized file; however, the Senate may request an in-person report. Advising Committee 2005-06 Report

2006-2007 Members:
Terry Tannehill (convener)
Beverly Chew
Ginny Davis
Kim Hannula
Soyon Bueno (Transfer Student Coordinator) – ex officio
Carol Smith – ex officio

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Assessment Committee

Charge: The Assessment Committee is charged with the development and implementation of a systematic assessment program at FLC. The Committee, which advises the Office of Assessment through the Faculty Senate, to which it reports, is responsible for the assessment of college-wide learning goals adopted by the faculty. It oversees the collection of data relating to each learning goal; interprets the results of the data; communicates results to appropriate policy-making committees and administrators; proposes changes in curriculum and pedagogy based on the results; and reviews the effectiveness of such changes. In addition, the Committee annually reviews assessment reports from each department, provides support to department liaisons for assessment and works towards the articulation of the connection between the college-wide learning goals and departmental learning goals. It works closely with the General Education Council to ensure that assessment procedures are built into the program.

The committee will submit a report by March 1 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, and recommendations, if any, for special charges or changes to the charge. The report will typically be a computerized file; however, the Senate may request an in-person report.

2006-2007 Members:
Laura Godfrey – ex officio
Chandler Jackson (Chair)
Sue Kraus
Carrie Meyer
Stephanie Owings

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Awards Committee

Charge: The Awards Committee is responsible for choosing the New Faculty Teaching Award and the Alice Admire Teaching Award recipients. The Committee notifies colleagues regarding when and how to apply for these awards and writes articles identifying and honoring award recipients. These articles may be included in the Faculty Senate newsletter and are communicated to External Affairs. Members of the Awards Committee serve a two year term, with three staggered appointments to ensure continuity on the committee. Elections for open seats are at the end of each Winter term.

The committee will submit a report by March 1 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, and recommendations, if any, for special charges or changes to the charge. The report will typically be a computerized file; however, the Senate may request an in-person report.

Membership (elected):
2 faculty members from AHSS
2 faculty members from NBS
1 faculty member from SOBA
1 faculty member from Teacher Education or the Libraries

2006-2007 Members:
Carl Lienert - NBS (Winter 08)
Les Sommerville - NBS (Winter 08)
Kathleen Aguilar - AHSS (Winter 08)
Suzanne Wilhelm - SOBA (Winter 07)
Michelle Malach - AHSS (Winter 07)
Elayne Walstedter -Libraries (Winter 07)

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Curriculum Committee:

Charge: The Curriculum Committee is perhaps the most important of the standing faculty committees. The Committee assists and supports the faculty in development and oversight of the curriculum at Fort Lewis College. It initiates, receives, reviews and recommends actions on proposed curricula and curricular changes including the creation, elimination or alteration of programs and specific courses. The Committee proactively communicates to the faculty and the College Administration regarding its policies, procedures and deadlines. It facilitates fair and transparent curriculum processes and practices that embody the faculty’s roles and responsibilities for developing and overseeing College curricula in service to the College mission.

The committee will submit a report by March 1 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, and recommendations, if any, for special charges or changes to the charge. The report will typically be a computerized file; however, the Senate may request an in-person report.

Special Charge:
Over the next two years, the Committee will work closely with the Faculty Senate, the General Education Council, the Ad Hoc Committee on Curriculum Procedures and Processes (Dugald Owen, Chair), and the Provost to develop recommendations that, should they be adopted in practice, would clarify the roles and responsibilities of these individuals and groups in the curriculum development and change processes and improve the processes themselves. The Committee will present to the Faculty Senate by February 1, 2007, its written recommendations. Once any or all of these recommendations are approved by the Faculty Senate and the Provost, the Committee will post documentation of these processes online so

Note: This committee meets weekly.

Membership:
Chair
1 faculty member from Library
1 faculty member from Teacher Education
1 faculty member chosen as a liaison from the General Education Council
4-6 faculty members proportionally from the other schools
1 Records staff member – ex officio
Total: 9-12 members

2006-2007 Members:
Kurt Lancaster (convener)
Gerald Crawford
Toi Creech
Chandler Jackson
Aaron Lampman
Michael Martin
Don May
Paul McGurr
Amy Wendland
Susan Moss (GenEd Liaison)
Sharon Rader (Records) – ex officio

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Charge: The General Education Council is a hybrid faculty body that operates as an arm of faculty governance and has administrative roles in the School of General and Exploratory Studies.

In its administrative roles it advises/establishes/collaborates with general education administrators on issues such as transfer policy, team teaching, faculty development, course review processes, and assessment goals and processes.

As a faculty governance body, the General Education Council is charged by the Faculty Senate to review proposals related to the general education program in ways that engage faculty campus wide and consider student learning outcomes, institutional mission, academic integrity and institutional resources; develop expertise on General Education programs and issues at a national level and serve as a resource to the campus community; be advocates of an exceptional, high quality General Education program at Fort Lewis College, recognizing that the General Education curriculum represents a third of the required courses for our graduates; work collaboratively with the Faculty Senate, academic departments, administrators, and other campus units to deliver a quality general education program; oversee the activities of its subcommittees and report in writing (and possibly in person) to the Faculty Senate on activities and important issues at least twice a year. Reports should include at least brief annual updates on the activities of the subcommittees of the General Education Council. The General Education Council is also responsible for collaborating, when appropriate, with the General Education Policy Committee (GEPC) and for reporting significant activities of the GEPC to the Faculty Senate.

Note: This committee meets the first Wednesday of every month at 8am. Additional meetings are held on an as needed basis.

Membership:
Chair, elected
1 faculty member from each of the 24 depts. (including Freshman Math Program, Library, Writing Program)
General Education Coordinator, ex officio
Assessment Officer, ex officio
Faculty Senate Representative, ex officio
Dean of General and Exploratory Studies, ex officio
VPAA or Asst., ex officio
AHSS Dean or Asst. – ex officio
N&BS Dean or Asst. – ex officio
SOBA Dean or Asst. – ex officio

2006-2007 Members:
Peter McCormick, Chair
Beverly Chew
Jim Cross
Tina Evans
Aaron Gordon
Charles Hakes
Bill Dodds
Bridget Irish
David Kozak
Carl Lienert
Kathryn Moller
Susan Moss
Mikylah Myers McTeer
Neil McHugh
Sarah Roberts-Cady
Mark Seis
Minna Sellers
Amy Sellin
Tom Sluss
Les Sommerville
Troy Webb
Laura Godfrey – ex officio
Carol Smith – ex officio

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Campus Reading Board (General Education Council subcommittee)

Charge: It would be desirable to have the membership of the board remain constant for at least two years so that valuable experience is not lost during the “learning curve” stages of the program. The Campus Reading Board chair, elected from the membership, would have the responsibility to maintain appropriately representative membership and seek the GEC’s consent of new members.

Members:
1 faculty member from Sciences
1 faculty member from Social Sciences
1 faculty member from Humanities
1 faculty member from Arts
1 faculty member from Professional Programs
1 faculty member from the Writing Program
1 faculty member from the Library
2 staff members
1 student representative

2006-2007 Members:
Pam Arbeeny (convener)
Kevin Bell
Nancy Cardona
Mary Coyle
Bridget Irish
Paul Herz
Carol Smith
Scott White

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Campus Writing Board (General Education Council subcommittee)

Charge: This Committee develops campus-wide initiatives related to writing. Recommendations of the Committee are heard by the General Education Council for endorsement and/or action. When appropriate, these recommendations and actions are brought before the Faculty Senate for endorsement and/or action. The Committee composes and submits to the General Education Council written reports summarizing its activities. These reports should be submitted at least once per academic year and should be timed so as to best facilitate their inclusion into a regular General Education Council report to the Faculty Senate.

The Chair of the board must be in a tenure-track position, and have experience in teaching writing-intensive courses. Board members will serve three-year terms, renewable once if selected again by the General Education Council for a second three-year term. These terms will be staggered to ensure continuity. The Chair of the Writing Board will serve a three-year renewable term and must be recommended by the General Education Council, and approved by the Dean of General and Exploratory Studies and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Membership:

1 faculty member from Sciences--Tom Sluss or Cynthia Dott
1 faculty member from Social Sciences—Michael Martin
1 faculty member from Humanities—Catalina Aguilar
1 faculty member from Arts—Kevin Bell
1 faculty member from Teacher Education--Kris Greer

1 faculty member from Business--Brad Reich

1 faculty member from Exercise Science--Bob Stremba
1 member from the Library—Minna Sellers
Writing Program Director—Brad Benz

Writing Center Coordinator – ex officio—Gretchen Treadwell
Director of Assessment – ex officio--Laura Godfrey

1 student representative – ex officio

2006-2007 Members:
Shawn Fullmer (convener)
Brad Benz

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General Education Policy Committee (General Education Council subcommittee)

This Committee works to implement state and institutional policies related to General Education. It is a “technical” committee that deals with issues such as the awarding of transfer credit for General Education courses and scheduling Thematic Studies courses. This Committee consults as appropriate with the General Education Council regarding policies and procedures that have broad curricular and/or advising impacts or that may impact departmental and/or school governance practices and authority.

Membership:
General Education coordinator
General and Exploratory Studies Dean
Records Office representative
Advising Services representative
1 General Education Council liaison/representative
New Student Advising and Registration representative

2006-2007 Members:
Beverly Chew
Susan Moss
Carol Smith (convener)
Sherri Waggoner
Sharon Rader
Jennifer Gay

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Grievance Council

Charge: The Grievance Council is an elected group of twelve regular faculty from which a committee of three is selected to hear each faculty grievance. The College Grievance Officer, a member of the academic faculty, is appointed annually by the President and is responsible for coordinating and facilitating the grievance process. For more information regarding the Grievance Council as well as the process by which it operates, see the Faculty Handbook , Section 20.

2006-2007 Grievance Officer:
Betty Dorr

2006-2007 Council Members:
Mary Ann Erickson
Bill Dodds
Kathleen Aguilar
Sarah Roberts-Cady
Dugald Owen
Reyes Garcia
Cathy Simbeck
Larry Hartsfield
Mary Jean Moseley
Les Sommerville
Delilah Orr
Tom Skurky

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Honors Council

Charge: The Honors Council advises the Honors Program Coordinator, the four deans and the Provost through the Faculty Senate, to which it reports. Its charge is to develop, approve and provide oversight of initiatives to enrich the experience of high-ability, high-achieving students at Fort Lewis College. These initiatives include, but are not limited to, the John F. Reed Honors Program.

The committee will submit a report by March 1 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, and recommendations, if any, for special charges or changes to the charge. The report will typically be a computerized file; however, the Senate may request an in-person report.

2006-2007 Members:
Dugald Owen (convener)
Pam Arbeeny
Kenyon Bunch
David Gonzales
Joe Ortega
Deborah Walker

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Intercultural Committee

Charge: The Intercultural Committee advises the Provost through the Faculty Senate, to whom it reports. Its charge is to examine and make recommendations regarding (1) the implementation of the College's academic commitment to minority students, and (2) the introduction of all students to diverse cultural traditions in an unbiased manner through the College curriculum. The Committee shall also examine the means by which the different teaching and learning needs of a culturally diverse faculty and student body may be addressed, so that the quality of education received by all students is enhanced.

The committee will submit a report by March 1 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, and recommendations, if any, for special charges or changes to the charge. The report will typically be a computerized file; however, the Senate may request an in-person report.

Membership:
1 ASFLC (Student Senate) appointed liaison – ex officio

2006-2007 Members:
Carey Vicenti (co-convener)
Elayne Walstedter (co-convener)
Reyes Garcia
Joe Ortega
Patricia Sanchez-Flavia
Richard Wheelock
To be updated

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Library Committee

Charge: The Committee advises the faculty and the College Administration through the Faculty Senate to which it reports. The Committee recommends and reviews policies which govern the funding, operation and use of the library to fulfill the mission and goals of the College. As appropriate, the Committee collaborates with the Instructional Technology Committee (College committee) on issues related to information retrieval technology and access.

The committee will submit a report by March 1 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, and recommendations, if any, for special charges or changes to the charge. The report will typically be a computerized file; however, the Senate may request an in-person report.

Membership:
Library Director (Ex Officio)

2006-2007 Members:
M.J. Moseley
Katherine Tischhauser
Simon Walls
Scott White
Chandler Jackson (ex Officio)

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Visiting Faculty (VFAC) Committee

Charge: The Visiting Faculty Committee (VFAC) is a working body that identifies, prioritizes and strategizes responses to issues relevant to visiting faculty. This body will develop proposals and recommendations in collaboration with the Faculty Senate and the College Administration.

The committee will submit a report by March 1 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, and recommendations, if any, for special charges or changes to the charge. The report will typically be a computerized file; however, the Senate may request an in-person report. 2005/06 VFAC Report

Membership:
1 visiting faculty member, AHSS
1 visiting faculty member, SONBS 1 visiting faculty member, SOBA,
1 visiting faculty member, Writing Program
1 visiting faculty member, Freshman Math Program
1-2 at large visiting faculty member(s)
1-2 at large tenure or tenure track faculty member(s)

2006-2007 Members:
John Baranski
Molly Costello (convener)
To be updated

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Faculty Senate committees engage in work closely related to the operations of the Senate itself. These committees are staffed by members of the Faculty Senate, and they report to the Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee

Charge: The Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate shall function as part of the Senate. It shall function in a leadership and advisory capacity but shall not legislate. All members of the Executive Committee are voting members of the Faculty Senate with the exception of the President of the Faculty Senate. The Executive Committee may be convened whenever necessary by its Chair or whenever requested by two or more of its members.

2006-2007 Members:
Byron Dare, President (big kahuna convener)
Chuck Riggs, Vice President
Bridget Irish, Faculty Member of the Board of Trustees
John Condie, Corresponding Secretary
Minna Sellers, Recording Secretary
Chuck Yoos, Committees’ Chair and Parliamentarian

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Faculty Senate Budget Committee

Charge: The Faculty Senate Budget Committee advises the College Budget Committee and other relevant individuals and bodies through the Faculty Senate, to which it reports. The Committee, working through the Faculty Senate, develops an understanding of funding priorities and strategies that are broadly supported among the faculty and articulates to the College Budget Committee recommendations for budgetary action related to these priorities and actions. As a specific area of emphasis, the Committee receives, initiates, and responds to questions and proposals regarding matters of faculty compensation, including salary policy, insurance, flexible spending plans and retirement programs. Since some aspects of faculty compensation overlap those of the professional exempt staff and classified staff, the Committee shall consult and coordinate its work with the appropriate persons and groups in such cases.

Membership:
Faculty Senate President, Chair
Faculty Member of the Board of Trustees
Two senators elected by the Faculty Senate

2006-2007 Members:
Byron Dare - Chair
Bridget Irish
To be updated

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Committee on Committees

Charge: The Committee on Committees assists the Committees chair in carrying out duties connected with staffing recommendations for Faculty and College Committees as well as writing charges for committees, task forces, and ad hoc committees. It is also responsible for updating and revising the Committees document as well as making recommendations for changes to the committee structure.

Special Charge: Develop a one page form for annual committee reports.

Membership:
Committees Chair
2-3 faculty members

2006-2007 Members:
Chuck Yoos - Chair
Molly Costello
Stephanie Owings

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Procedures Committee

The Procedures Committee conducts all elections for the at large senators as well as all separate elections within each school/area to fill Senate seats. The Procedures Committee also conducts all other elections of the Faculty. All voting shall be by secret ballot. The Committee annually updates a calendar of all necessary elections and other regular functions of the Faculty Senate, making it accessible to the faculty at large by posting it within the faculty governance web site.

Membership:
Faculty Senate Corresponding Secretary, Chair
Senate Parliamentarian
2 members elected by Faculty Senate

2006-2007 Members:
John Condie - Chair
Chuck Yoos
To be updated

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Rules Committee

Charge: The Rules Committee advises the Provost and the President through the Faculty Senate to whom it reports. The Committee reviews the Constitution, By-Laws, and rules of the Faculty Senate, interpreting them and recommending changes, when necessary, to the Senate. The Committee may obtain, through the Office of Provost, legal advice from the attorney for the Board of Trustees of Fort Lewis College. The Committee shall ensure that the Faculty Handbook is updated and revised, including those portions which are not the Constitution or By-Laws. The Committee is also responsible for reviewing the minutes of Senate meetings to determine the impacts of decisions made on the handbook and for recommending necessary changes to Handbook language.

Special charge: During the 2006-2007 academic year, the Rules Committee will draft language to present to the Faculty Senate that will formalize the Summer Faculty Senate Executive Committee in the Senate Constitution.

Membership:
Faculty Senate Vice President, Chair
3-4 faculty members

2006-2007 Members:
Chuck Riggs - Chair
Kenyon Bunch
Todd Ellison
Brad Reich
Ellen Paul

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Senate Relations Committee

Charge: The Senate Relations Committee is charged with important work in the development and maintenance of a systemic culture of shared governance at Fort Lewis College. It is responsible for communicating to the Faculty regarding work undertaken by Senate and for soliciting input from faculty regarding issues the faculty recommends to the Senate for consideration and action. In addition, the Committee undertakes and/or recommends actions to maintain and improve lines of communication with the ASFLC, the Alumni Board, the Foundation Board, Student Affairs, the Records Office, the Provost, President, Vice Presidents and the Deans. The Committee assists the Faculty Senate President and the Faculty Senate Executive Committee with organizing and conducting the Faculty Senate Retreat held each summer.

Membership: (minimum staffing)
Faculty Senate Corresponding Secretary, Chair
2 senators

2006-2007 Members:
John Condie - Chair
Kim Hannula
Chad Colby

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Summer Faculty Senate Executive Committee

Charge: The Summer Faculty Senate Executive Committee is elected by the Senate to attend to Senate business that arises during the summer when many members of the Senate are not available on campus. This Committee is authorized by the Senate to respond to requests for faculty input from the College Administration, including the approval of nominations for specific faculty members to perform specific advising roles or serve on committees or task forces. The chair of this Committee will be chosen from members of the academic year Senate Executive Committee in the following order: 1) President, 2) Vice President, 3) Recording Secretary, 4) Corresponding Secretary and 5) Committees’ Officer. The chair position may rotate among members during the summer based on their availability to serve. All decisions made by the Summer Faculty Senate Executive Committee will be reviewed by the Senate in the next fall term.

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Ad Hoc Committees, Study Groups, Task Forces, etc.