CAMPUS-WIDE COMMITTEES

Effective: August 15, 2024

Purpose: The principle of University shared governance requires establishment of numerous committees, task forces, boards, councils, and related bodies.

Scope: This policy applies University wide.

Responsible Office: Academic Affairs; Office of the President

Policy Statement: The principle of University shared governance requires establishment of numerous committees, task forces, boards, councils, and related bodies. Such bodies are important to the University but should be abolished when their functions have been served. To this end this policy authorizes procedures to be used to review the function of these bodies and to abolish those which are no longer needed. Campus-wide committees that are comprised entirely of faculty-staff within an individual school, college, or academic unit are not considered campus-wide committees. All other groups shall be considered campus-wide administrative and faculty committees, task forces, boards, councils, and related bodies, with the exception of the Faculty Senate and whichever advisory or leadership cabinet, council, or other group that may be established by the President or by the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Task Forces are organized for a short term to deal with one specific purpose and therefore are not subject to COCG (Committee on Campus Governance) review.

If the Faculty Senate’s role is to recommend membership to any of these bodies i.e., councils, advisory committees, boards, review committees, task forces), written annual activity reports of the body are given to the Senate Executive Committee.

FEDERALLY MANDATED UNIVERSITY-WIDE COMMITTEES SUBJECT TO SENATE REVIEW

Because of federal or state regulations which require the existence of University committees to approve and monitor all research projects or other University activities that involve the use of radioactive materials/radiation producing devices, the care and use of animals, and the use and involvement of human subjects, the following University committees have been established to review these three areas and approve or disapprove all projects according to federal or state guidelines. The three committees include:

• the Radiation Safety Committee,
• the Animal Care and Use Committee,
• the Institutional Board for Treatment of Human Subjects.

The above three committees will not be subject to being dissolved under the normal provisions of the Sunset Bill (FSB 85007) because governmental regulations require the committees to be formed and functioning. However, the three committees will each be reviewed once every fourth year by the Senate Committee on Campus Governance to make sure the committee is organized and meeting on a regular basis according to guidelines established for the committee.

The committees will also be expected to keep minutes and send copies of these minutes to the Faculty Senate Office and to the current chair of the Committee on Campus Governance.

Definitions: All words and phrases shall be interpreted utilizing their plain meanings unless otherwise defined in University or Board of Regents policy or by statute or regulation.

Advisory Committees - All standing bodies organized and charged with the responsibility to advise heads of service units are titled advisory committees.

Boards – All standing bodies that allocate monies and determine how those monies are spent are titled boards.

Councils - All standing bodies organized to directly assist a dean, vice president, or President in determining policy or procedures in the administration of certain University-wide academic programs are titled councils.

Review Committees – All standing bodies organized to review specific disputes, requests, grievances, or concerns are designated review committees.

Task Forces – Any group organized to perform a 1-time task is titled a task force. The duties of a task force shall not duplicate those of an existing university-wide committee.

Procedures: All procedures linked and related to the policies above shall have the full force and effect of policy if said procedures have first been properly approved by the University’s administrator in charge of Academic Affairs Procedures.

[Academic Affairs Procedure - coming soon]

Related Policy Information: [coming soon]