Committees >

Restructuring faculty committees requires substantial changes to the Faculty Manual. In the interest of readability, this Green Sheet is organized as follows.

A summary of deletions from and changes to the Faculty Manual
Complete text of the new Student Life Committee
Complete text of the new Curriculum Committee
Rationale

The fully edited version of the Faculty Manual (complete with all strike-throughs and renumberings) will be available on the RPC web site.

1. Summary of deletions and changes to the Faculty Manual

Student Life Committee changes

Delete 3.IV.B.1: Admissions, Retention, and Financial Aid
Delete 3.IV.B.2: Appeals Board
Delete 3.IV.B.3: Athletic Committee
Delete 3.IV.B.4: Board of Student Media

Curriculum Committee changes

Delete 3.IV.B.5: Curriculum and Educational Policies Committee
Delete 3.IV.B.6: Curriculum Coordinating Committee
Delete 3.IV.B.9: General Education Committee
Delete 3.IV.B.13: International and Domestic Off-Campus Studies Committee

Other changes

Change 3.IV.A.11

Current language:
The chairs of the Review and Planning Committee and the Curriculum and Educational Policies Committee must be tenured members of the faculty. To accord with NCAA regulations, the chair of the Athletic Committee must be a faculty member.
New language:
The chairs of the Review and Planning Committee, the Curriculum Committee, and the Student Life Committee must be tenured members of the faculty.

Change 3.IV.A.12

Current language:
Copies of the minutes for the Curriculum and Educational Policies Committee and the Review and Planning Committee shall be made readily available to all faculty. The agenda for the next meeting shall be sent to all faculty prior to the meeting.
New language:
The agendas and minutes for the Student Life Committee, Curriculum Committee, and the Review and Planning Committee shall be made readily available to all faculty.

Change 3.IV.B.14

Current language:
The four major committees, RPC, CEPC, GEC, and International and Off- Campus Studies Committee, shall keep the faculty informed of those decisions not otherwise brought to the faculty.
New language
The three major committees ––Review and Planning, Curriculum, and Student Life––shall keep the faculty informed of those decisions not otherwise brought to the faculty.

Change 4.XX.A.3.c

Current language:
Adjustments required in each department shall be prepared by the President and the Dean of the College and reviewed by both the Curriculum and Educational Policies Committee and the Review and Planning Committee.
New language:
Adjustments required in each department shall be prepared by the President and the Dean of the College and reviewed by both the Curriculum Committee and the Review and Planning Committee.

2. Complete text of the Student Life Committee

Student Life Committee

Purpose: To examine current policies and programs related to student life. To debate issues that are brought to its attention, and, when necessary, make recommendations to all appropriate parties. The Student Life Committee is concerned with the quality of the learning and living environment at St. Olaf College; its primary function is advisory.
Responsibilities:

Academic and Personal Integrity: The committee shall review the College's policies regarding academic and personal integrity both in and out of the classroom. It shall constitute, from its own membership, an Appeals Board consisting of three faculty members, one student, and the Dean of Students, to address student disciplinary proceedings in accordance with the processes established in the [then current--is this needed?] student handbook. The Appeals Board shall have appellate jurisdiction over cases appealed by defendants from Honor Council cases and administrative hearings, and may also hear appeals from defendants who have exhausted other avenues of appeal.
Residence Life Policies: The committee shall review the regulations, procedures, and goals of the College's residence life program. It shall discuss grievances and requests pertaining to the conduct of students both on and off campus.
Co-curricular Programs and Activities: The committee shall review current and proposed co-curricular programs and activities in relationship to the purposes of the College. Co-curricular programs and activities include, but are not limited to, recognized student organizations, recreation and intramurals, student media, student performances, music organizations, and athletics. Review athletic schedules and present them to the faculty for approval.
Campus Climate: The committee shall review and encourage programs and activities that foster welcoming and inclusive College community and shall promote initiatives in this area.
Enrollment: The committee shall consider the implications of financial aid, outreach, admissions, and retention for the academic program and the College community. It shall review the orientation program for first-year students.
Support Services: The committee shall review the academic advising program and college-wide student support services (e.g., those provided by the Academic Support Center, the Counseling Center, International tudent Services, and Student Support Services).
Dean of Students: The committee shall serve as an advisory body to the Dean of Students.

Personnel :

Five faculty representatives, one from each of the Faculties, elected by the faculty as a whole
Five student representatives selected through a process outlined in the Student Government Association Bylaws
The Dean of Students, or a designated representative
Representative
The Vice President and Dean of Enrollment , or a designated representative.
The faculty representatives serve three-year, staggered terms. The student representatives serve one-year terms.
The committee is chaired by one of its faculty representatives. The Chair must be tenured and may not serve as Chair for more than two years per term.

3. Complete text of Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee

General Purpose : T o oversee the curriculum of the College in light of its mission, aims, and objectives. To recommend to the faculty procedures and policies affecting the educational work of the college. The work of the Curriculum Committee and the faculty on curricular issues is subject to final review by the Board of Regents and the President, as stipulated by the College’s bylaws.
Responsibilities : The committee shall have primary responsibility to review and make recommendations regarding the following areas.

Degree Requirements :

General graduation requirements
Comprehensive graduation requirements (general education)
Majors, concentrations, and areas of emphasis

On-campus credits:

Semester courses
Interim courses
Summer school courses
Continuing education
Independent Study/Independent Research
Auditing of courses

Off-campus credits:

Pre-college credit (e.g., AP, IB, PSEO)
Transfer credit
International and off-campus study (St. Olaf and non-St. Olaf)
Internships and other forms of experiential learning

Academic regulations and procedures: T he committee shall recommend policies and guidelines relative to the curriculum in the St. Olaf Academic Catalog . These concern the following broad categories:

Registration, change of registration, special registrations
Counting of courses and credits
Grading and examination policies and procedures.
Academic status of students (in cooperation with the Student Life Committee).
Academic records of students
Leaves of absence, withdrawal, returning to St. Olaf after an absence
Graduation, commencement, diplomas

Long-term Curricular Planning: The committee is responsible for initiating policies (and responding to initiatives from the faculty) that affect the curricular integrity of the College. This includes both formative and summative assessment of student learning. This category includes approval of the academic calendar.

Personnel :

Twelve faculty representatives, two from each Faculty and two at-large
Three student representatives selected through a process outlined in the Student Government Association Bylaws
The Dean of the College, or a designated representative
The College Registrar,or a designated representative
The faculty representatives serve three-year, staggered terms. The student representatives serve one-year terms.
The committee is chaired by one of its faculty representatives. The Chair must be tenured and may not serve as Chair for more than two years per term.

Procedures : The committee shall consider and make recommendations to the faculty regarding the integrity of the of the curriculum, assessment of student learning, the academic schedule and calendar, the St. Olaf Academic Catalog, and the Faculty Handbook. The committee is expected to bring to the faculty for a vote matters that are of importance to the faculty. These include significant changes to the academic information in the catalog, items to be included as Category 2 material in the Faculty Handbook, and other items that the committee believes impact the curricular and educational policy of the college

The committee will consult with the College Librarian, the Director of Academic Research and Planning, the Director of Government and Foundation Relations, the Director of International and Off-campus Studies, and others on issues directly related to their areas of responsibility.
Permanent Subcommittees : Each of the elected faculty members, other than the Chair, shall be a member of at least one permanent subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee. The Director of Academic Research and Planning shall be an ex-officio member of the Policy and Planning subcommittee. The Director of International and Off-campus Studies shall be an ex-officio member of the Off-campus Courses subcommittee.

On-campus Courses Subcommittee:
Responsibilities: To review all new on-campus courses and all courses seeking General Education credit, then make recommendations to the full committee.
Off-campus Courses Subcommittee:
Responsibilities: To review and make recommendations to the full committee regarding the College’s international and off-campus program (in consultation with the director of IOS). These responsibilities include:

Recommending probationary approval for first-time offerings of off-campus courses and programs
Recommending approval during off-campus courses and programs in their second year.
To periodically review all off-campus courses and programs.

Policy and Planning Subcommittee:
Responsibilities: To review and make recommendations to the faculty regarding college policies in areas such as assessment, transfer credit, catalog issues, calendars, etc.; to initiate discussions regarding policies that affect the curricular integrity of the College; to review evidence of student learning in relation to educational policy and curriculum planning.

4. Rationale

These committees originated in the charge to RPC to review the existing faculty committee structure, with the goal of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of faculty governance. For issues relevant to the curriculum and student life, these committees offer forums in which faculty, students, and administrators may discuss, offer advice, and make recommendations.

Curriculum : This committee will combine the work of three existing committees: Curriculum and Educational Policies, General Education, and International and Domestic Off-Campus Studies. Having a single committee will make it less likely that work will be duplicated, and will make the approach to curricular review more integrated.

Student Life : This committee will combine the work of four existing committees: Admissions, Retention, and Financial Aid Committee; Appeals Board; Athletic Committee; and Board of Student Media. It will provide a much needed bridge between student life and faculty.