Section I.C: Faculty Governance

Under authority delegated by the Board of Trustees, each of the three faculties of the College, operating under approved bylaws, determines the curriculum for the degrees it offers, admits students to degree candidacy, and recommends students for receipt of the degrees for which they have qualified. Each also conducts searches for new faculty, and evaluates their performance for promotion and tenure. Each faculty advises its dean on the development and use of resources, and on other matters of school business that are brought before it.

The faculty of each of the three schools consists of those individuals appointed in writing to faculty positions, as defined in the duly-adopted bylaws of each school. The voting rights of faculty are also established in the duly-adopted bylaws of each school.

Faculty from the various schools serve on several standing institutional committees. These committees are noted in the bylaws for the College of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School of Education and Counseling, and the Law School.

Up to six faculty members—two each from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School of Education, and Counseling and the Law School—are appointed by the board chair to serve as non-voting faculty representatives to the Board of Trustees.

In addition, the president may establish ad hoc institutional committees, composed of faculty from all three schools, to address specific issues of institution-wide concern.

Committee on Honors and Prizes

The Committee on Honors and Prizes ensures full faculty and student participation in the determination of the recipients of college-wide prizes and honorary degrees. It reviews all nominations for college-wide prizes and honorary degrees and makes its recommendations to the Committee on Academic Affairs of the Board of Trustees, which, in turn, makes its recommendations to the full board.

To be considered, nominees should have made distinguished contributions to society through scholarship or achievement in the arts and sciences, in the professions, in business, in politics, or in community service.

Nominations for honorary degrees may be submitted by trustees, faculty, and other members of the College community. Complete information should be furnished with a letter of nomination, including curriculum vitae or resume, qualifications, and reason for the nomination.

Honorary degrees are usually conferred at commencement but may be given on other special occasions.

The committee includes two faculty representatives each from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School of Education and Counseling, and the Law School, and a student from each, to be appointed by the president. It is chaired by the Chief of Staff or other other designee of the President.