University Committees
Bringing an Issue, Question, Problem or Resolution to Faculty Governance for Consideration
Basic Procedure
This document outlines a set of procedures that are usually followed if an individual faculty member, academic staff member, administrator or student, or any unit or organization at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, wishes to bring an issue, question problem or resolution for consideration by faculty governance. Attached to this document is an organizational flowchart that addresses the overall structure of faculty governance at UWSP. Further details about the organization of the Faculty Senate and its constituent Standing Committees can be found in the Constitution of the Faculty of the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and at the Faculty Senate Web Page at
http://www.uwsp.edu/governance/facsenat/
Typically, a problem or issue is brought to the attention of faculty governance by contacting the Chair of the Faculty Senate or the Secretary of the Faculty Senate directly. The Chair, in consultation with the Vice Chair and the Secretary, will make a determination as to whether the issue is an appropriate one for governance consideration. If it is appropriate, the issue is then sent to one of the Senate’s Standing Committees described below. If it is inappropriate, the petitioner(s) will be so informed.
At the discretion of the Chair, the issue may also be brought first for discussion to the Senate Executive Committee meetings before being assigned to one of the Standing Committees. This is done when the issue is of very great importance to the University, when it is unclear which Standing Committee should take up the issue, or when the issue itself has been presented in an unclear fashion. The Executive Committee consists of the Chairs of the various Standing Committees, and is headed by the Chair of the Faculty Senate.
Once the issue has been discussed and a vote taken, the Chair of the Standing Committee will inform the Executive Committee of the outcome of the discussion and the vote, and then bring this information before the entire Faculty Senate at its next meeting. If it is an issue that requires action by the Faculty Senate, a vote will be taken in the Senate. Further, if the issue is a matter of policy and is supported by the vote, the matter then becomes university policy, once the Senate Resolution detailing it has been signed by the Senate Chair and the Chancellor.
An action item that does not receive a majority affirmative vote in committee will not be taken before the entire Senate. The matter stops at the level of that committee. An exception to this can occur when the Senate is informed of the matter and the lack of majority support in committee, and decides, at the request of any Senator, that the matter be taken up for discussion and action in the Senate. An issue may be brought back for governance consideration after a negative decision either at the committee level or at the Senate level, provided the petitioner(s) can clearly demonstrate that some the objections or concerns raised previously have been dealt with adequately in the second version.
Faculty Senate Standing Committees
The following Standing Committees operate under the aegis of the Faculty Senate. The brief descriptions below will give the reader a basic idea of the purview of each committee. They are taken verbatim from the Faculty Senate Web Page and are included here so that all of this information will be available together in one location. These descriptions should guide the prospective petitioner(s) in selecting a standing committee that is best suited to a particular issue. If there are questions about the functions of a specific committee and the appropriateness of an issue for that committee, please consult the Chair of the Senate or the Senate Secretary.
Academic Affairs Committee
The Academic Affairs Committee has the authority to recommend to the Faculty Senate policies pertaining to academic affairs, and to determine such policies subject to review by the Senate, in such matters as the following:
The Mission of the University
Such outreach programs as: continuing education and summer and interim sessions, and international programs
Learning Resources
Academic Standards
Inter-organizational Collaborations
Subcommittees include the Assessment Subcommittee, Grade Review Subcommittee, Individually Planned Major Subcommittee, International Programs Subcommittee and Program Review Subcommittee.
Academic Staff Council
The Academic Staff Council has the authority to recommend to the Faculty Senate policies pertaining to the members of the academic staff, and pursuant to UWS 9, shall consult with and advise the Chancellor on all policies and procedures adopted by the University pursuant to chapters UWSP 9-14 and UWS 9-14 of the Academic Staff Personnel Rules. In addition, the Council has the authority to work with and make recommendations to any academic staff, faculty, or administrative committee or agency that is concerned with academic staff welfare.
The Academic Staff Mediation Subcommittee has the authority to appoint hearing committees to conduct hearings in any of the following:
Grievances of fixed term academic staff who have served 7 years or more on .5 FTE or more and who have not been reappointed
Nonrenewal of probationary academic staff appointments
Dismissal of academic staff
Layoff of academic staff for reasons of budget or program
Complaints of/against academic staff
Grievances of/against academic staff
The Academic Staff Representative represents the UWSP academic staff at all meetings of the University of Wisconsin Academic Staff Representatives and reports information/action items to the academic staff.
Curriculum Committee
The Curriculum Committee has the authority to recommend to the Faculty Senate policies pertaining to the undergraduate curriculum. The Committee recommends to the Senate: majors, minors, new and unique course sequences, and certification programs; and changes in title of academic disciplines and of curricular programs.
The Committee approves any changes in majors, minors, unique course sequences, and curricular programs; new courses, experimental courses, changes in number, title, credit, description, prerequisites of courses and courses designated as fulfilling general degree requirements. It reports these matters to the Senate for review and for action at the request of any member of the Senate.
The General Degree Requirements Subcommittee, a subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee, oversees the general degree curriculum in accordance with the educational aims of the university and the general degree criteria to meet these aims.
The Teacher Education Subcommittee, a subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee, reviews those curriculum and curricular policy matters which are referred to it by the Curriculum Committee, in order to certify that such proposals are consistent with Wisconsin standards for certification, and reports its recommendations to the Curriculum Committee.
Faculty Affairs Committee
The Faculty Affairs Committee has the authority to recommend to the Faculty Senate policies pertaining to the faculty affairs of unclassified personnel with a faculty appointment and to determine such policies subject to review by the Senate. The concerns of the academic staff who teach courses shall be referred to the Academic Staff Council.
The Committee recommends policies pertaining to unclassified personnel with faculty appointments on matters such as recruitment, appointment, retention, promotion, tenure, and salary.
The Committee recommends policies pertaining to the governance of departments, schools, colleges, the University, and the University of Wisconsin System.
Subcommittees:
The Faculty Mediation Subcommittee appoints hearing committees to conduct hearings in any of the following: nonrenewal of probationary faculty appointments; denial of tenure; dismissal of faculty; layoff of faculty for financial emergency; complaints of/against faculty; grievances of/against faculty; failure to reappointment fixed term classroom teaching academic staff; dismissal of classroom teaching academic staff; complaints of/against classroom teaching academic staff; and grievances of/against classroom teaching academic staff.
The Salary Subcommittee has the authority to review all policies for the distribution of salary to the faculty including for those who hold administrative appointments, makes recommendations on such to the Faculty Affairs Committee, and proposes revisions or new plans for distribution of salary to the Faculty Affairs Committee.
The University Awards Subcommittee has the authority, according to rules prescribed by the University Handbook, to select faculty recipients of University Awards.
Graduate Council
The Graduate Council is the representative body of the graduate faculty, acts as its executive committee, and exercises all powers legally and/or traditionally exercised by the graduate faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. These powers include:
Responsibility for approving all policies relating to UWSP graduate program and specifying the manner in which they are administered.
Approval of graduate faculty, graduate programs, graduate courses, and other graduate offerings. On all curriculum matters, the council shall, before taking any action, consider budget implications. The council may solicit advice and recommendations from the Budget and Business Affairs Subcommittee and/or the University Planning Committee.
Establishment of admission, retention, and matriculation criteria of the Graduate Programs.
Approval of candidates for graduate degrees.
Review of the mission statement of the University and determination of the priorities to be assigned to graduate proposals.
University Affairs Committee
The University Affairs Committee has the authority to recommend to the Faculty Senate policies pertaining to:
University facilities, including physical planning for and operations of buildings, grounds and parking
Institutional planning
The community relations of the University, including community services, arts and lectures, public information, alumni, and foundations
The student affairs of the University, including student recruitment, retention, welfare, financial aids, activities and athletics
Human relations of the University, including:
The development of understanding and respect among the racial, ethnic, religious, and educational groups on the University campus and within the community at large.
Equality of treatment of the groups within the University community.
Protection of the rights of members within the University community.
The Budget and Business Subcommittee recommends institutional budget priorities to the chancellor and appropriate administrative authorities, and shall review the annual and biennial budgets of the institution.
The Historic Preservation Subcommittee identifies state and local historic preservation ordinances pertinent to the university and recommends policies to the University Affairs Committee that bring the university into legal compliance. The subcommittee also identifies university property, both artifacts and facilities, of historic significance as defined by state and national guidelines, and recommends policies to the University Affairs Committee for the preservation of such property.
The Nominations and Elections Subcommittee has the authority to establish rules for Senate elections, to supervise such elections, and to have such other authority as the constitution delegates to it.
University Personnel Development Committee
The University Personnel Development Committee has the responsibility to develop the policies and formulate the criteria necessary to maintain a viable program for the development of University personnel (classified and unclassified on this campus).
The Committee has the authority to recommend to the Faculty Senate policies pertaining to such matters as the following:
UWS and UWSP grants including sabbaticals, research, faculty/staff development grants, and undergraduate teaching improvement grants.
Faculty and staff retraining and renewal policies as funded through grants.
In addition, the Committee shall:
Recommend to the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor a level of funding to be made available for support of a program for the development of University personnel.
Review and recommend to the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor proposals which are to be funded by state or non-state funds.
Coordinate all system and local development programs, superseding all committees currently involved in this area.
Be authorized, whenever appropriate, to shift applications among the appropriate funding components in order to insure the maximum benefits from available sources.
Recommend to the Dean of Graduate Studies the transfer of unallocated funds budgeted from one component to another as the need arises.
Present an annual report of the committee's activities to the Senate at the end of the academic year.
University Technology Committee
The University Technology Committee, subject to review by the Faculty Senate, has the authority to determine Senate policies pertaining to the development, implementation, and use of technology across the campus. The committee's authority shall extend to such matters as the following:
Policies governing technology development, acquisition, and access.
Policies governing faculty/staff development in uses of technology.
Policies governing student training in technology.
Non-Faculty Senate Committees
Affirmative Action Committee
This committee deals with Affirmative Action issues in all areas of the University. Three students sit on this committee.
Athletics Committee
This committee deals with personnel concerns, Title IX compliance efforts, and other concerns of University athletes and coaches. Two students, 1 male and 1 female, sit on this committee.
Day Care Board
This is the advisory board which looks at the functions and needs of the University Child and Learning Care Center. One student sits on the committee.
Environmental Health and Safety Committee
This committee deals with occupational health and safety concerns on campus. Issues include, but are not limited to; chemical disposal, recycling, and building evacuation. One student sits on the committee.
Facilities Planning and Space Allocation
The committee looks at new building projects on campus and changes to the allocation of space. Two students sit on the committee.
Labor Standards
This committee only meets when cases arrive and one student sits on it.
Policy and Advisory Board for Student Organizations (PACSO)
This committee has representatives from various student organizations on campus and is responsible for enforcing University policies and procedures.
Parking Appeals Committee
Deals with parking ticket appeals. Two students sit on this committee, one off-campus and one on-campus.
Residence Hall Association (RHA)
Deals with anything related to the Residence Halls or Residence Life. One representative from SGA sits on the committee.
Telephone Rate Review
This committee meets once per year to review telephone rates. One student sits on the committee.
University Centers Advisory and Policy Board (UCAPB)
This committee oversees the activities of the University Centers including policy enforcement, hours of operation, food, programming, etc. One representative from SGA sits on the committee.
Sustainability Taskforce
Deals with sustainability issues around campus and looks at ways to increase efficiency. Previous projects include a green roof, increasing energy efficiency, and solar energy. Two representatives from SGA sit on the committee.
Women's Committee
Looks into women's issues on campus. Two representatives from SGA serve on the committee.