Current Standing Committee Array – The Faculty Executive Committee periodically assesses the array of standing committees to determine if they are the best ones to accomplishing the mission of the faculty.
Charges and Compositions for Standing Committees – At this point committee charges and compositions for all standing committees match current practice reasonably closely. So that these remain current, individual committees need to review their charges regularly and suggest changes as needed; this should be done at a minimum at least yearly. The Executive Committee assumes primary responsibility for periodic review of charges and compositions of all committees.
Procedures of the Faculty Executive Committee and the Faculty Personnel Committee – These are posted in the Faculty Handbook and on the Intranet.
Faculty Service on Committees – For the elected committees the duration of service for faculty colleagues should be defined by the term of office, usually three years with the possibility of reelection once. Academic and other types of leaves do not suspend the service clock. A replacement should be selected to complete the unfinished term or to cover leave absences. Members of elected committees normally do not serve on standing committees.
Except for unusual circumstances the typical service length for faculty members on standing committees is three years. Exemptions from committee service may be allowed for good reason but must be requested formally; faculty colleagues should not seek exemptions in successive years. The annual committee preference form allows for requests for exemption. The Executive Committee regards the practice of routinely asking for exemption from committee service as unfair to one’s colleagues and strongly discourages this.
Because of the difficulty in maintaining continuity in standing committee membership and especially in identifying experienced colleagues to act as committee chairs, exemption for faculty members from assignment to standing committees for work on special committees or other duties requires careful consideration by the Executive Committee. Faculty colleagues, especially untenured members, who are in doubt about accepting assignments on special committees, should consult with their Executive Committee representatives or other trusted associates. Service as department or division chair does not usually alter one’s availability for committee service.
Committee Member Lists – A list of membership for all elected, standing, advisory, and many special committees is made available at the start of each academic year. This inventory is a resource that should be consulted when committee staffing by members of the College community is undertaken.
