Senate Committees and Subcommittees AY 08-09

Executive Committee

Committee on Committees

Academic Policies Committee

  1. Subcommittee on Admission and Financial Aid
  2. Subcommittee on Libraries
  3. Subcommittee on the Academic Calendar of the University

All-University Finance Committee

  1. Subcommittee on Faculty Benefits:
  2. Subcommittee on Economic Status of the Faculty

Athletics Policies Committee

Committee on Research

Faculty Ethics and Tenure Committee

Honorary Degrees: (CONFIDENTIAL)

Information Technology Committee

Student Policies Committee

Ad Hoc Committee on Non-Equivalent Transfers

Additional charge to committees and subcommittees.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee should exercise all functions granted to it by Article III of the Constitution. In particular the Committee shall:

  1. Represent the Senate to the University Administration between Senate meetings;
  2. Act for the Senate between academic semesters;
  3. Review annually the necessity of continuing various standing committees and propose to the Senate the abolition of unnecessary standing committees;
  4. Monitor the Faculty Handbook and the Policy Manual and from time to time appoint a special committee to revise the Faculty Handbook;
  5. Conduct all General Faculty elections;
  6. Nominate members of the Committee on Committees in a timely manner so that they can be elected at the first meeting of each new session of the Senate.

Members:

  • Dennis Foster, President, Dedman I
  • Carolyn Smith-Morris, Dedman II
  • Fredrick Olness, President-Elect, Dedman III
  • Gary Evans, Former President, Engineering
  • Linda Eads, Law
  • Ken Springer, Education
  • Mark Stamm, Theology
  • Amit Basu, Cox
  • Michael Connolly

Academic Policies Committee

STANDING CHARGES:

The Academic Policies Committee represents the General Faculty in all academic matters. This shall include, but not be limited to monitoring the general curriculum, interdisciplinary academic programs, university libraries, university research support, university support for scholarly publications, the activities of non-School academic institutes and programs, and establishing the academic calendar of the University.

The Academic Policies Committee represents the General Faculty in all academic matters. This shall include, but not be limited to monitoring the general curriculum, interdisciplinary academic programs, university libraries, university research support, university support for scholarly publications, the activities of non-School academic institutes and programs, and establishing the academic calendar of the University.

The Committee shall review standing policy regarding academic affairs and proposed changes in those policies. The committee shall identify inadequacies in policy and propose revisions to the Faculty Senate.

The Committee shall monitor the general education curriculum and interdisciplinary programs in co-ordination with the appropriate curricular councils.

The Committee shall be responsible for the subcommittees named below, as well as others that may be assigned to it by the Senate. The chairs of these subcommittees shall be members of the committee but other members need not be.

  1. Subcommittee on Libraries
  2. Subcommittee on Admissions and Financial Aid
  3. Subcommittee on the Academic Calendar of the University

The Committee shall make an annual report to the Senate in writing.

Additional Charges for AY 08-09:

  1. Review the committee’s annual report from spring 2008 and respond to its suggestions.
  2. Monitor developments related to the Bush Institute and Library as they affect faculty issues.
  3. Monitor implementation of recommendations from Task Force on Substance Abuse.
  4. Monitor implementation of faculty background checks.  Review at least annually report from Provost’s office on the actual use of the background check policy.
  5. Review developments in interdisciplinary programs.
  6. Monitor changes intended to improve consistency in policies for appointment and tenure among academic units.  (Implementing the Strategic Plan, 2.5)
  7. Explore the wisdom of instituting an honor roll for Evening Degree students and part-time degree students.

Members:

Academic Policies 08-09

  

Chair (1 year term):

Alan Brown (Dedman II)

Members to 2011:

William Bridge (Law)

 

Michael Connolly (Meadows)

 

Karen Baker-Fletcher (Theology)

 

Beth Newman (Dedman I)

Members to 2010:

Gordon Birrell (Dedman I)

 

Alan Brown (Dedman II)

 

Dennis Foster ( Dedman I)

 

James Hopkins(Dedman I)

Member by being Chairs of Subcommittee:

Christine Buchanan Adm & Fin Aid

 

James Collins Calendar

 

John Buynak Libraries

Executive Committee Liaison and Member:

Michael Connolly

NOTE:

The Chairs of the Subcommittees on Admissions and Financial Aid, Bookstore, Calendar, and Libraries serve as members of the Academic Policies Committee.

An Ex Officio member appointed by the Council on General Education will sit on the Committee.
Members, other than the Subcommittee chairs and the Council on General Education appointment, serve staggered terms of three years.

a. Subcommittee on Admission and Financial Aid

STANDING CHARGES:

The Subcommittee on Admissions and Financial Aid is a subcommittee of the Senate Academic Policies Committee and reports to the Executive Committee and the Senate through that committee.

The Subcommittee shall represent the Senate in the Admissions Council and inform the Senate of the Council's work.

Its members shall also be the Senate's nominees to the University Admissions Council, and the chair of the Subcommittee shall normally serve as chair of that Council.

The Subcommittee shall brief the Senate each fall on the current year's admissions results and financial aid commitments, and each spring on projections for the following year. The Subcommittee shall report annually to the Academic Policies Committee and Senate in writing.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR AY 08-09:

The following specific charges are made with the understanding that members of this Subcommittee represent the faculty on the University Admissions Council and that these charges are, in effect, the business of the entire Council.

Meet once as a faculty committee separate from the University Admissions Council for a planning session at the beginning of the academic year.

Continue to gather and examine data that will help define what makes a “successful” transfer student.  Where appropriate, suggest changes in admissions practices or policies directed towards the transfer population.

  1. Continue to explore recruitment and admissions strategies that will help maintain a diverse student body.
  2. Review all recruitment material and make specific suggestions for improvements.
  3. Explore strategies to permit and encourage faculty involvement in student recruitment.
  4. Examine the content and quality of the campus tours provided for prospective students and their families.
  5. Monitor the effect of federal policy changes on availability of financial aid, especially its effect on diversity of our student body.
  6. Review financial aid information, particularly in terms of how students are affected by accrual of debt and its impact on their education.
  7. Coordinate with appropriate members of the Law School faculty regarding recent Supreme Court decisions related to diversity in student admissions.

MEMBERS:

Subcommittee on Admissions and Financial Aid

  

Chair (1Year Term)

Christine Buchanan (Dedman III)

Members to 2011

Leslie Brott (Meadows)

 

Eli Olinick (Engr)

 

Jaime Clark-Soles (Theology)

Members to 2010

Robert Howell (Dedman I)

 

Raj Sethuraman (Cox )

Executive Committee Liaison

Jaime Clark-Soles (Theology)

 

 

NOTE:

The Subcommittee shall consist of three or more members serving staggered terms of three years.

The Subcommittee on Admissions and Financial Aid is a subcommittee of the Senate Academic Policies Committee and reports to the Executive Committee and the Senate through that committee.

The Subcommittee shall represent the Senate in the Admissions Council and inform the Senate of the Council's work.

Its members shall also be the Senate's nominees to the University Admissions Council, and the chair of the Subcommittee shall normally serve as chair of that Council.

The Subcommittee shall brief the Senate each fall on the current year's admissions results and financial aid commitments, and each spring on projections for the following year. The Subcommittee shall report annually to the Academic Policies Committee and Senate in writing.

Members also serve on the University Admissions Council.

b. Subcommittee on Libraries

STANDING CHARGES:

The Subcommittee on Libraries is a subcommittee of the Senate Academic Policies Committee and reports to the Executive Committee and the Senate through that committee.

The Subcommittee shall review policy for the University libraries. These reviews shall address the development and maintenance of library collections, the status and compensation of professional librarians, and such operational matters as hours of access, efficiency, impact of new construction and remodeling, and computerized library systems.

The Subcommittee shall advise the directors of the libraries, and shall review annually the library budgets and the allocation of funds.

The Subcommittee shall report annually to the Academic Policies Committee and Senate in writing.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR AY 08-09:

  1. Continue to work with the Central University Libraries (CUL) and the Office of the Provost to increase budgets for acquisitions, materials access, and salaries.
  2. Monitor and report on the program of restorative additions to the CUL acquisitions budget.
  3. Report on status of the CUL budget for the university archives.
  4. Monitor and report on the status of CUL journal and acquisitions.
  5. Monitor and report on the status of electronic CUL journal acquisitions and maintenance of electronic resources, including journals, archives, and other materials.
  6. Investigate impact of Bush Presidential Library on the academic libraries.

MEMBERS:

Subcommittee on Libraries  

Chair ( l year term)

John Buynak (Dedman III)

Members to 2011

Andrew Parker (Meadows)

 

Melissa Dowling (Dedman I)

Members to 2010

Lee Alvoid (SEHD)

 

Benjamin Johnson (Dedman I)

 

Paul Krueger (Engineering)

NOTE:

The Subcommittee shall consist of eight or more members serving staggered terms of three years. One member should come from each School other than Dedman College, and one from each Division of Dedman College.

The Subcommittee on Libraries is a subcommittee of the Senate Academic Policies Committee and reports to the Executive Committee and the Senate through that committee.

The Subcommittee shall review policy for the University libraries. These reviews shall address the development and maintenance of library collections, the status and compensation of professional librarians, and such operational matters as hours of access, efficiency, impact of new construction and remodeling, and computerized library systems.

The Subcommittee shall advise the directors of the libraries, and shall review annually the library budgets and the allocation of funds.

The Subcommittee shall report annually to the Academic Policies Committee and Senate in writing.

c. Subcommittee on the Academic Calendar of the University

STANDING CHARGES:

The Subcommittee on the Academic Calendar of the University is a subcommittee of the Senate Academic Policies Committee and reports to the Executive Committee and the Senate through that committee.

The Subcommittee shall work with the Office of the Provost in the advance preparation of the academic calendar.

The Subcommittee shall prepare a written report for action by the Senate at least eighteen months before the beginning of the academic year of the proposed calendar.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR AY 08-09:

Monitor the calendar to protect January interterm programs and to prevent the overlap of finals with the beginning of any university-sponsored programs.

  1. Monitor the scheduling of summer academic programs to improve communications among them, and where possible, to minimize conflict.
  2. Revise calendar to reduce time between end of exams and spring graduation to three days.

MEMBERS:

Subcommittee on the Academic Calendar of the University

  

Chair (1 year term)

James Collins (Cox)

Members to 2011

Doug Reinelt (Dedman III)

 

Mike Adler (Dedman II)

 

Theo Walker (Theology)

 

Jim Dunham (Engineering)

 

Pam Lange (Dedman I)

Members to 2010

James Collins (Cox)

NOTE:

The Subcommittee shall consist of three or more members serving staggered terms of three years.

The Subcommittee on the Academic Calendar of the University is a subcommittee of the Senate Academic Policies Committee and reports to the Executive Committee and the Senate through that committee.

The Subcommittee shall work with the Office of the Provost in the advance preparation of the academic calendar.

The Subcommittee shall prepare a written report for action by the Senate at least eighteen months before the beginning of the academic year of the proposed calendar.

All-University Finance Committee

STANDING CHARGES:

The All-University Finance Committee represents the General Faculty in all matters concerning the financial status of the University.

The Committee shall review the annual budgets of the University and the budget process, including financial plans for the University, investment strategies, capital investment plans, financial implications of faculty salary and faculty/staff benefit proposals and other such matters as may be referred to it by the Senate or the Executive Committee.

The Committee shall be responsible for Subcommittees named below as well as others that may be assigned to it by the Senate. The chairs of these Subcommittees shall be members of the committee, but other members need not be.

  1. Subcommittee on Faculty Benefits
  2. Subcommittee on The Economic Status of the Faculty


The Committee shall brief the Senate each fall concerning the University budget for the current fiscal year and preliminary plans for the next fiscal year. This committee shall brief the Senate each February concerning the budget to be proposed to the Board of Trustees for the next fiscal year.

The Committee shall make an annual report to the Senate in writing.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR AY 08-09:

  1. Work with the Vice-President for Business and Finance to prepare the budget.
  2. Review the effectiveness of the 2008-2009budget.
  3. Review the proposed 2009-2010 budget.
  4. Report to the Senate on the feasibility of analyzing the social and ethical impact of SMU’s investments.
  5. Review summary reports from the Faculty representatives to the Board of Trustees’ Committees on Audit, Development, Finance, and Investment.
  6. Monitor the progress of the Centennial capital campaign, particularly in terms of efforts to raise funds for faculty-related issues.

MEMBERS:

All-University Finance Committee

  

Chair (1 year term)

Joseph Magliolo (Cox)

Members to 2011

Chris Hanna (Law)

 

Joseph Magliolo (Cox)

 

Linda Eads (Law)

 

Robin Pinkley (Cox)

 

Sean Griffin (Meadows)

Members to 2010

Thomas Coan (Dedman III)

 

Glenn Linden (History)

Members to 2009

Thomas Carr (Dedman III)

 

Fred Olness (Dedman III)

Members by being chairs of subcommittees

Hemang Desai EcoStatus(Cox);
Don Vandewalle(Cox)FacBenefits

Executive Committee Liaison

Fred Olness (Dedman III)

NOTE:

The Committee shall consist of nine members serving staggered terms of three years.
Chairs of the Subcommittees on Faculty Benefits and Economics Status serve as members of the Committee.

a. Subcommittee on Faculty Benefits:

STANDING CHARGES:

The Subcommittee on Faculty Benefits is a subcommittee of the All-University Finance Committee and reports to the Executive Committee and the Senate through that committee. Its members shall also be the Senate's nominees to the University Benefits Council, and the chair of the Subcommittee shall normally serve as chair of that Council.

The Subcommittee shall represent the Senate in the University Benefits Council and inform the Senate of the Council's work. Through the Benefits Council the Subcommittee shall:

  1. Review, and forward faculty suggestions regarding benefits;
  2. Review changes in benefits proposed by administrative offices or others and make recommendations concerning the proposed changes;
  3. Review existing benefits plans and make suggestions for improvements;
  4. Present faculty recommendations concerning benefits to the administration prior to the time of budgetary planning;
  5. Engage in an over-all evaluation of the benefits package.

The Subcommittee shall report annually to the All-University Finance Committee and the Senate in writing.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR AY 08-09:

The following specific charges are made with the understanding that members of this Subcommittee represent the faculty on the University Benefits Council and that some of these charges are, in effect, the business of the entire Council

  1. Monitor progress on the university’s child care facilities and report the findings to the Senate.
  2. Explore the possibility of allowing SMU faculty to see doctors at the Health Center for medical problems.
  3. Pursue the addition of Roth 403B accounts to retirement options.
  4. Monitor developments of Benefits changes and methods for communicating benefits information.
  5. Collaborate with the university committee on retirement oversight to ensure adequate retirement benefits..
  6. Monitor and assess implementation of Emeriti program.
  7. Investigate the possibility of having an ombudsman to assist faculty in making retirement decisions.

MEMBERS:

Chair (1 year)

Don Vandewalle

Members to 2011

Steve Edwards (Meadows)

 

Bob Puelz(Cox)

 

Roark Reed (Law)

 

Carolyn Smith-Morris(Dedman II)

Member until 2010

Don Vandewalle (Cox)

Executive Committee Liaison

Carolyn Smith-Morris (Dedman II)

NOTE:

b. Subcommittee on Economic Status of the Faculty

STANDING CHARGES:

The Subcommittee on The Economic Status of the Faculty is a subcommittee of the Senate All-University Finance Committee and reports to the Executive Committee and Senate through that committee.

The Subcommittee shall:

  1. Prepare, in consultation with the Provost's Office, appropriate studies of the economic status of the faculty;
  2. Work with the All-University Finance Committee in the preparation of coordinated recommendations on budgetary policies;
  3. Assist the Senate to study and promote the economic status of the faculty.

The Subcommittee shall support the All-University Finance Committee in that committee's semiannual briefings of the Senate.

The Subcommittee shall report annually to the All-University Finance Committee and the Senate in writing.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR AY 08-09:

  1. With the help of the Director of Institutional Research, develop internal salary data by School, rank, and ethnicity and report this information to the Faculty Senate.
    1. Report data on endowed chairs separately.
    2. Report on current status of salary compression.
    3. Include percentage raise by academic unit.
  2. Pursue question of mandatory enrollment in retirement group as the issue is reported in last year’s Committee report.
  3. Review the past three years of salary and benefits data, and consider recommendations for action by the Faculty Senate at its first meeting in February.
  4. Monitor compliance of Goal One, Objective Two of the SMU Strategic Plan (1).

MEMBERS:

Note:  The Subcommittee shall consist of three or more members serving staggered terms of three years. 
1)Goal One, Objective Two:  Development, evaluation, and retention of a diverse faculty through competitive compensation, an environment conducive to teaching and research, externally funded support, and effective annual performance review.

Subcommittee on Economic Status of the Faculty

  

Chair (1 year term)

Hemang Desai (Cox)

Members to 2011

Hemang Desai (Cox)

 

David Croson (Cox)

 

Barbara Morganfield (SEHD)

 

Amit Basu (Cox)

 

Alexis McCrossen (Dedman I)

Members to 2010

Danny Buraczeski (Meadows)

 

Mark Stamm (Theology)

Executive Committee Liaison

Amit Basu (Cox)

NOTE:

The Subcommittee shall consist of three or more members serving staggered terms of three years.

Athletics Policies Committee

STANDING CHARGES:

The Athletics Policies Committee represents the General Faculty in all matters concerning intercollegiate athletics. Its members shall also be the Senate's nominees to the University Athletic Council, and Chair of the Committee shall normally serve as chair of that Council.

The Committee shall review and recommend to the Senate policies and standards pertaining to:

  1. Intercollegiate athletics;
  2. The preparation and implementation of the Athletic Department budget;
  3. The selection and retention of administrative personnel and head coaches in the Athletic Department;
  4. The control of eligibility of all participants in athletics;
  5. The control of the scheduling of games;
  6. All other matters embraced within the rules of those intercollegiate athletic organizations of which the University is a member.

The Committee shall discharge these duties in cooperation and, where appropriate, in coordination with the All-University Finance Committee, the Subcommittee on Admissions and Financial Aid, and the Student Policies Committee.

The Committee shall make an annual report to the Senate in writing.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR AY 08-09:

The following specific charges are made with the understanding that members of this Committee represent the faculty on the University Athletics Council and that some of these charges, but not all of them, are the business of the entire Council.

  1. In coordination and collaboration with the Senate’s Subcommittee on Admissions and Financial Aid, continue to monitor the recruitment and admission of student-athletes.
  2. Monitor the budget of the Athletic Department and its efforts to reduce its deficit.
  3. Continue to monitor compliance resources, staffing, and practices.
  4. Continue to monitor compliance with Title IX and NCAA rules.
  5. Receive the report of the faculty representative to the Board of Trustees Committee on Athletic Affairs.
  6. Report on the activities of the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics.

MEMBERS:

Athletics Policies Committee

  

Chair (1 year term)

Dan Orlovsky (Dedman I)

Members to 2011

Ken Hamilton (Dedman I)

 

Ben Johnson (Dedman I)

 

David Willis (Engr)

Member to 2010

Patty Delaney (Meadows)

 

Dan Orlovsky (Dedman I)

 

Matthew Wilson (Dedman II)

Executive Committee Liaison:

Dennis Foster

NOTE:

The Committee shall consist of seven members serving staggered terms of three years.

Committee on Committees

STANDING CHARGES:

The Committee on Committees shall normally be responsible for acting on behalf of the General Faculty to provide nominees for president-elect, secretary, the Executive Committee, standing committees of the Senate (except the Committee on Committees), subcommittees, special committees, and other entities as well as for diverse-constituency committees.

The Committee shall also nominate to the University administration candidates for Chief Marshall and All-University Judiciary and shall report its nominations to the Executive Committee.

Suggest  to the Executive Committee the appropriateness of establishing additional committees (or subcommittees) or disestablishing existing committees (or subcommittees) in order to advance the role of the faculty within the system of shared governance at SMU.

Members are elected for staggered terms of three years at the first meeting of each session of the Senate.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR AY 08-09:

MEMBERS:

Committee on Committees

  

Chair (1 year term)

Ken Springer (SEHD)

Members to 2011

William Bridge (Law)

 

Theo Walker (Theology)

 

Larry Ruben (Dedman III)

Members to 2010

Daniel Buraczeski (Meadows)

 

Michael Van Breda (Cox)

 

David Matula (Engineering)

 

Ken Springer (SEHD)

Executive Committee Liaison

Ken Springer (SEHD)

Members are elected for staggered terms of three years at the first meeting of each session of the Senate.

NOTE:

Faculty Ethics and Tenure Committee

STANDING CHARGES:

The Faculty Ethics and Tenure Committee represent the General Faculty in all matters concerning faculty ethics and tenure.

The Committee shall defend the exercise of academic freedom throughout the University; investigate any matter endangering such freedom, and recommend remedies. To this end, the Committee shall review the established criteria and procedures for granting tenure and promotion. When appropriate, the Committee, in cooperation with the various schools of the University, shall recommend, through the Senate, changes in these criteria and procedures to the President of the University and the Board of Trustees.

The Committee shall investigate questions of due process in individual tenure and promotion cases that are directed to it and make recommendations to the President. The Committee shall provide guidance concerning policies for professional behavior of the University's faculty.

The Committee shall investigate alleged breaches in professional ethics, deliberate the circumstances when violations are found, and recommend action.

The Committee shall take up any questions or investigations directed to it by the Faculty Senate, the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate, the Provost, the President, or the Board of Trustees.

This Committee shall consult with the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate concerning its responsibilities and work in progress.

The Committee shall make an annual report to the Senate in writing, maintaining appropriate confidentiality.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR AY 08-09:

  1. Examine the existing policy on the tenure clock.
  2. Complete revision of Faculty Handbook to be sure it is in line with Policy Manual
  3. Review policy 6.16 for Sanctions and monitor the university’s compliance with the policy.

MEMBERS:

Faculty Ethics and Tenure Committee

Chair (1 year term)

Ken Springer (SEHD)

Members to 2011

Dennis Simon (Dedman II)

 

Barbara Hill-Moore (Meadows)

 

Mary Spector (Law)

 

Dinesh Rajan (Engr)

 

Tom Knock (Dedman I)

 

Johannes Tausch (Dedman III)

Members to 2010

Glenn Linden (Dedman I)

 

Evelyn Parker (Perkins)

 

Marion Sobol (Cox)

 

David Willis (Engr)

 

Ken Springer (SEHD)

Executive Committee Liaison:

Ken Springer

NOTE:

The Committee shall consist of one member from each School other than Dedman College, and one member from each Division of Dedman College. The eight members should serve staggered terms of three years.

Honorary Degrees: (CONFIDENTIAL)

STANDING CHARGES:

The Honorary Degrees Committee recommends nominees for Honorary Degrees to the Faculty Senate. The membership of the committee shall not be announced publicly. Communications to it shall be made through the Secretary of the Faculty Senate.

The Secretary of the Faculty Senate on behalf of the Committee shall seek nominations from all segments of the University - students, faculty, administration, trustees, and alumni. The Secretary shall do this, formally and annually, by written communication to the members or elected offices of each segment and, if possible, by public announcement in appropriate places. All nominations made to the Committee shall be seriously considered if accompanied by sufficient supporting data. The identity of nominators shall not normally be conveyed to the members of the Committee.

The Committee shall not rely merely on recommendations made to it but shall seek energetically on its own to find names of persons deserving honor from the University. The Committee shall be guided in its decisions by the Statement of Policy adopted by the Faculty Senate.

The Affirmative votes of six members are required for the nomination of Honorary Degrees to be submitted to the Senate.

The Committee shall normally submit its nominees, by secret written ballot, to the Senate not later than the February meeting of the Senate. The Senate nominates by secret ballot and by a three-fourths majority of the votes cast. The Secretary of the Faculty Senate shall forward the names of the Senate's nominees to the President of the University.

When a nominee has been elected by the Trustees, his or her degree will be conferred at a regular commencement or at a time mutually agreeable to the President and the recipient. No degrees, however, will be granted in absentia.

When an elected candidate has accepted the offer of a degree, the Committee shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, a citation which, when approved by the Committee, the Provost, and the President, shall be read at the appropriate Commencement or Convocation by a member of the faculty appointed by the Committee.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR AY 08-09:

  1. Review and report on the viability of the seminars for honorees.
  2. Make every effort to recruit an appropriate faculty member to present the degree recipient at graduation.

MEMBERS:

*Members of the Honorary Degree Committee are confidential

NOTE:

Student Policies Committee

STANDING CHARGES:

The Student Policies Committee shall review and recommend policies to achieve and maintain a high quality of intellectual life for students at the University.

The Committee shall review policies that affect the academic life of students beyond the classroom and influence the academic atmosphere of the University toward the goals of strengthening the intellectual growth of students, and integrating the social and academic aspects of student life. This shall include but not be limited to policies and programs of the Office of Residence Life and Housing, the Foreign Student Advisor's Office, and other administrative units.

In reviewing student academic life, the Committee shall consider:

  1. Role of the sorority and fraternity system
  2. Experience of students not participating in sororities and fraternities
  3. Diversity of the student body
  4. Participation for international students, ethnically diverse students, and students with disabilities

The Committee shall make an annual report to the Senate in writing.
Receive the report of the faculty representative to the Board of Trustees’ Committee on Student Affairs.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR AY 08-09:

  1. Continue collaboration with the Faculty Senate’s Academic Policies Committee to identify Senate actions that might be taken to support the work of the First Year Experience Task Force, the Honors Task Force and the International Studies Task Force.
  2. Monitor and assist in implementation of the recommendations emerging from the President’s Task Force on Substance Abuse Preventions.  Explore the development of metrics for determining quality of intellectual life on campus.
  3. Meet with representatives from the Office of Student Affairs and Student Senate to find areas where the Faculty Senate might work to improve the experience of student life on campus.  Consider in particular the Student Senate’s recommendations on Academic Advising.
  4. Meet with the Director of International Students/Scholars to discuss the experience of international students on the SMU campus.
  5. Meet with the director of retention to explore possible coordination with Senate activities.

MEMBERS:

Student Policies Committee

  

Chair (1 year term)

Thomas Osang (Dedman II)

Members to 2011

Thomas Osang (Dedman II)

 

Luigi Manzetti (Dedman II)

Members to 2010

Ed Fox (Cox)

 

Alice Kendrick (Meadows)

 

Doug Reinelt (Dedman III)

 

Rajani Sudan (Dedman I)

NOTE:

The Committee shall consist of six members serving staggered terms of three years. A representative from the Council on General Education is appointed as an Ex Officio member.

Information Technology Committee

STANDING CHARGES:

The Information Technology Committee shall represent the concerns of the Faculty, with regard to information technology on the SMU campus, to the Administration of the University.

The Committee shall report to the Faculty Senate regarding the actions of the university-wide information technology committees.

The Committee shall represent the concerns of the Faculty with regard to Systems and Network issues, insofar as they impact the educational mission of the University.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR AY 08-09:

  1. Monitor the implementation of Faculty Senate resolutions by the University Information Technology Service.
  2. Monitor campus e-mail issues, automatic inventories of hardware and software, wireless network, and other matters affecting the faculty’s use of information technology.
  3. Monitor implementation of network security measures and work with ITS in scheduling, notification, and user support as changes occur.
  4. Monitor the performance of The Computer Corner in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center.
  5. Investigate the issues regarding public access to Senate documents on the website, and report to the Executive Committee in February.
  6. Monitor the impact and effectiveness of the reorganization of the IT offices structure.
  7. Monitor the efficiency of university-wide software acquisitions and licensing.
  8. Work with Offices of Provost and Vice President of Business Affairs to develop new IT governing committee for campus.

MEMBERS:

Information Technology Committee

 

Chair (1 year term)

Michael van Breda (Cox)

Members to 2011

Michael van Breda (Cox)

 

Larry Ruben (Dedman III)

Members to 2010

Ted Campbell (Theology)

 

Ed Countryman (Dedman I)

 

Carlos Davila (Engineering)

 

Rob Frank (Meadows)

Executive Committee Liaison:

Dennis Foster, President

Ex Officio Member:

JoAnn Lan (SEHD)

NOTE:

The Committee shall consist of a minimum of four or more faculty members, serving staggered terms of three years, in addition to the Faculty Senate Webmaster, who shall serve as Chair.
Members of the Committee shall serve on all university-wide information technology committees.

Committee on Research

STANDING CHARGES:

The committee shall understand its mandate to be broadly construed in a way that encompasses the diversity of professional activities across all schools of the university.

The committee shall initially focus on studying current university structures and resources available to support and foster faculty access to external funding.

The committee shall gather information regarding resources and incentives available on campus for faculty research, creative, and professional activities at the university, college/school, and departmental levels.

The committee shall evaluate how teaching and service are currently balanced with research, creative, and professional activities.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR AY 08-09:

  1. Monitor and assist with reinstating participation of private Texas universities in the Texas Higher Education Coordination Board (THECB) sponsored research programs.
  2. Monitor and assist with extending participation of private Texas University in the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF).
  3. Monitor, assist and provide input to the SMU process of obtaining congressional ear marks and plus ups.
  4. Work with the Offices of the Provost and the Associate Vice President for Research to work on issues of technology transfer, royalties, and high-level computing.

MEMBERS:

Committee on Research

 

Chair (1 year term)

John Buynak (Dedman III)

Members to 2011

Shelley Berg (Meadows)

 

John Buynak (Dedman III)

 

Greg Crespi (Law)

 

Ernest Jouriles (Dedman II)

 

Patricia Mathes (SEHD)

 

David Matula (Engineering)

 

William Orr (Dedman III)

 

Miguel Quinones (Cox)

 

Kamal Saggi (Dedman I)

 

David Weber (Dedman I)

Executive Committee Liaison

Gary Evans

NOTE:

Ad Hoc Committee on Non-Equivalent Transfers

Charges and Additional Charges

STANDING CHARGES:

Evaluate for transfer credit as free electives those courses completed with the grade C- or better for regionally accredited colleges or universities for which there is no equivalent discipline at SMU.  Report annually to the Faculty Senate on the committee’s activities.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR AY 08-09:

MEMBERS:

Ad Hoc Committee on Non-Equivalent Transfers

  

Chair (1 year term)

Christine Buchanan (Dedman III)

Member to 2009

Alan Brown (Dedman II)

 

Christine Buchanan (Dedman III)

 

Deborah Diffily (SEHD)

 

Ulrike Schultz (Cox)

NOTE: