Professionalization – As more functions in the academic realm have been assumed by professional administrators, the ability of faculty members to master technically demanding aspects of higher education has declined. Thus certain faculty committees require the input of administrative colleagues. The strength of the faculty governance structure in this regard lies in faculty members’ ability to provide alternative perspectives on important issues, including institutional memory, disciplinary expertise, and direct academic contact with students.
Numbers of Administrators on Committees – Administrators should not outnumber faculty members on standing committees of the faculty.
Membership by Administrators on Several Committees – This aspect capitalizes on the benefit of administrative insight into specific issues handled by different committees. Advantage conferred to administrators by this detailed knowledge should be used to direct the agenda of a given committee with great care.
Exclusion of Administrators in Committee Meetings – Standing committees vary in their approach to meeting with administrators whose expertise may be necessary for success in achieving the committee’s mission. Faculty committees should define the circumstances under which administrators, particularly those specified for membership in committee charge and composition statements, should be excluded from meetings.
Administrator Voting – Individual committees determine procedures for formal voting by administrator members of faculty committees.
