Faculty Committees
Faculty Governance

Academic Standards Committee

Charge: This Committee advises the Provost through the Faculty Senate, to which it reports. Its charge is to maintain and improve undergraduate and post baccalaureate academic standards of the College. The Committee shall encourage and recognize outstanding scholastic achievement of students; review, initiate, maintain, and recommend Academic Standards policies; evaluate progress of students not in good academic standing; determine what academic action (academic warning, academic care alert, academic intervention, academic separation), if any, is appropriate at the end of each term; monitor the progress of students not in good academic standing; hear and judge the cases of academic dishonesty brought before it; hear and judge the cases of students wishing to appeal academic separation; and receive and consider proposals about academic standards.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by March 31 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, and recommendations, if any, for alterations to the charge. Additionally, the committee will submit a more lengthy report by June 1 summarizing relevant statistics on academic standings, etc.

View the Academic Standards website

Membership: Eight faculty members appointed by the SEC, as well as ex officio members from relevant administrative offices as needed.

Current members

• Mark Beattie - Health & Human Performance (27) Co-Chair (convener) 

• Paul Kuenker - History (27) Co-Chair 

• Erich McAlister - Mathematics (28) 

• Tapati Dutta - Public Health (28) 

• Michele Malach - English (27)  

• Yisrael Lamb - Chemistry (28) 

• Hannah Kurzweil - Mathematics (28) 

Charge: The Assessment Committee will work with the Office of Assessment to offer assessment aid to faculty, staff, and students and to serve as peer consultants to Programs/Departments, providing support and guidance regarding assessment. Committee members will also review comprehensive and annual assessment plans and work to request any significant missing information and/or clarifications, provide feedback, and validate final plans with the intention of aligning assessment efforts to program learning outcomes, the strategic plans of the college, and Higher Learning Commission (HLC) assumed practices.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by May 31 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, brief evaluations of members, and recommendations, if any, for alterations to the charge.

Membership: Any number of faculty members appointed by SEC as well as ex officio members from relevant administrative offices as needed.

Current members

Charge: The Curriculum Committee assists and supports the faculty in developing and overseeing the curriculum at Fort Lewis College. It initiates, receives, reviews, and recommends actions on proposed curricula and curricular changes, including creating, eliminating, or altering 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.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by March 31 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, brief evaluations of members, and recommendations, if any, for alterations to the charge.

Membership: The committee will have eight faculty members appointed by SEC: one from the LAC Council, one from the sciences, one from the social sciences, one from arts & humanities, one from teacher education, one from the library, one from the school of business administration, one from an interdisciplinary program, and ex officio members from relevant administrative offices as needed.

Current members

• Maggie Perino - Health & Human Performance (Chair) (27)
• Andrew Fulmer - Psychology (28)
• Del Zartner - Arts & Design (28)
• Laura Parks - Teacher Education (28)
• Nate Klema - Physics & Engineering (27)
• Emily Reiff - English (28)
• Michael Rendon - Political Science (28)
• Meg Dermody - LAC (28)
• Carma Claw - KATZ (28)
• Olivia Burkhart (Registrar) - ex officio
• Ben Miller (Registrar) - ex officio  
• Matt Armstrong (Registrar) - ex officio
• Paul Clay (Academic Affairs) - ex officio

Charge: The Faculty Handbook and Policy Committee reports to the Faculty Senate. This committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Faculty Senate regarding both Handbook and faculty policy additions, deletions, revisions, and interpretations. Handbook and policy issues that concern faculty responsibilities and expectations, personnel review (including promotion, tenure, and post-tenure), salary and related processes, course load and size, teaching evaluations, grievance procedures, and college organization are the purview of this committee. The committee is also responsible for recommending which issues are addressed in the Handbook and which by policy. Handbook changes require a full faculty vote. Policies must be consistent with the Handbook but may supplement these after Senate approval. Any committee, administrator, or faculty member can bring questions, requests, or concerns to the Handbook and Policy Committee via the Senate Executive Committee.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by March 31 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, brief evaluations of members, and recommendations, if any, for alterations to the charge.

Membership: Any number of faculty members appointed by SEC as well as ex officio members from relevant administrative offices as needed.

Current Members

• Ruth Alminas - Political Science (28) (Chair) 

• Andy Gulliford - History (27)  

• Justin Hubbard - Music (27) 

• Di Ryter – Teacher Education (28) 

• Rebecca Austin - Anthropology; Environment & Sustainability (27) 

• Candace Nadon - English (28) 

Graduate Academic Standards Committee

Charge: This Committee advises the Provost through the Faculty Senate, to which it reports. Its charge is to maintain and improve graduate academic standards of the College. The Committee shall encourage and recognize outstanding scholastic achievement of students; review, initiate, maintain, and recommend Academic Standards policies; evaluate progress of students not in good academic standing; determine what academic action (academic warning, academic care alert, academic intervention, academic separation), if any, is appropriate at the end of each term; monitor the progress of students not in good academic standing; hear and judge the cases of academic dishonesty brought before it; hear and judge the cases of students wishing to appeal academic separation; and receive and consider proposals about academic standards.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by March 31, summarizing its accomplishments, major issues discussed, brief evaluations of its members, and any recommendations for alterations to the charge.

Membership: Any number of faculty members appointed by the SEC, with at least one member from each department that offers graduate programs and an ex officio member from the Academic Standards Committee and relevant administrative offices as needed.

Current members

• Chiara Cannella - Associate Dean (28)- ex officio (convener) 

• Jay Dougan - Art (28) 

• Joseph Ortega - Biology (27) 

• Nate Klema - Physics & Engineering (27) 

• Kari Deswood - Teacher Education (28) 

• Tapati Dutta - Academic Standards Committee member (28) - ex officio 

• Ben Miller - Registrar - ex officio 

Charge: The Honors Council 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.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by March 31, summarizing its accomplishments, major issues discussed, brief evaluations of its members, and any recommendations for alterations to the charge.

Membership: Any number of faculty members appointed by the SEC and ex officio members from relevant administrative offices as needed.

Current members

• Candace Nadon - Honors Program Coordinator - Chair 

• Kyle Rakowski - Sociology & Human Services (28) 

• Katherine Jetter - Music (28) 

• Nathanael Peach - Economics (28) 

• Erik Juergensmeyer - English (27) 

• Andrew Darling - Geosciences (27) 

• William Mira - Psychology (27) 

• Mark Boespflug - Philosophy (27) 

• Meg Alvarado-Saggese - NAIS (27) 

• Antonio Lecuna - Katz (28) 

• Emily Reiff - English (28) 

Charge: The primary goals of the Liberal Arts Core Council are:

1. To build a narrative between faculty, staff, students, and trustees about what constitutes the liberal arts, particularly at Fort Lewis College.
2. To educate the public about what constitutes the liberal arts, particularly at Fort Lewis College.
3. To design and implement our Liberal Arts Core.
4. To serve in an advisory capacity, making recommendations regarding the Liberal Arts Core and curriculum to the Faculty Senate.
5. To collect baseline data and facilitate assessment of student learning in the Liberal Arts Core.
6. To evaluate and disseminate assessment data to inform curricular decisions within the Liberal Arts Core.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by March 31 summarizing accomplishments, major issues discussed, brief evaluations of members, and recommendations, if any, for alterations to the charge.

Membership: The committee will include one member from each academic department and ex officio members as needed.

Current Members:

Charge: The Women Faculty Committee makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate on issues pertinent to the status of faculty members who identify as women. The Committee will advise the senate and facilitate the implementation of policies, programs, and services that address issues of concern to faculty members who identify as women.

Report: The committee will submit a one-page electronic report by March 31, summarizing its accomplishments, major issues discussed, brief evaluations of its members, and any recommendations for alterations to the charge.

Membership: Any number of faculty members appointed by the SEC, as well as ex officio members from relevant administrative offices, as needed.

Current members

• Faron Scott - English (28) (Chair) 
• Michelle Larkins - Environment & Sustainability (27)  
• Sarah Schwarz- KATZ (28) 
• Maggie LaRose - Health & Human Performance (28) 
• Joanna Casey - Physics and Engineering (27) 
• Missy Thompson - Health & Human Performance (28) 
• Joslynn Lee - Chemistry (28) 
• Christie Chatterley - Physics & Engineering (28) 
• Julie Korb - Biology (27) 
• Jocelyn Cuthbert - Biology (28) 
• Bethany Doane - English (28)