POLICY MEMORANDUM

The University of Texas at Austin

Executive Sponsor: Executive Vice President and Provost

January 29, 2013

I. Policy Statement

The Handbook of Operating Procedures contains a description of the categories and general membership requirements of the standing committees of the General Faculty (see HOP 2-1040). The details of composition and membership of the standing committees categorized as institutional policy or governance committees are given below.

II. Reason for Policy

To define the composition and function of the General Faculty Standing Committees.

III. Scope & Audience

This policy applies to all individuals appointed to the Standing Committees of the General Faculty.

IV. Definitions

None

V. Website (for policy)

http://policies.utexas.edu/policies/standing-committees-general-faculty-institutional-policy-or-governance-committees

VI. Contacts

VII. Responsibilities and Procedures

1.  ADMISSIONS AND REGISTRATION COMMITTEE

Composition. Six voting members of the General Faculty for three-year staggered terms, two staff members for two-year staggered terms, and five students. Two student members shall be appointed by the President from a panel of names submitted by Student Government, two from a panel submitted by the Senate of College Councils, and one from a panel of names submitted by the Graduate Student Assembly. No more than two students may come from any one college or school. In addition, every year the Chair of the Faculty Council shall appoint two voting faculty members of the Faculty Council for one-year terms. Each year, the committee shall elect its own Chair and Vice Chair who shall be voting faculty members of the committee. The Director of Admissions and the Registrar shall serve as administrative advisors without votes.

 

Function. To recommend to the Director of Admissions and the Registrar and to the Faculty Council changes in policies regarding admission and registration; to consult with and advise the Director of Admissions and the Registrar about procedures pertaining to their offices.

2. UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC CALENDAR COMMITTEE

Composition. Four voting members of the General Faculty for three-year staggered terms, and two staff members for two-year staggered terms. Three student members shall be appointed by the President, one each from panels of names submitted by Student Government, the Senate of College Councils, and the Graduate Student Assembly. In addition, every year the Chair of the Faculty Council shall appoint two voting faculty members of the Faculty Council for one-year terms. Each year, the committee shall elect its own Chair and Vice Chair who shall be voting faculty members of the committee. A representative of the Office of the Registrar shall serve as administrative advisor without vote.

 

Function. To make recommendations to the Faculty Council and to the President concerning the University academic calendar. The University Academic Calendar Committee will review the Principles for the Development of the Academic Calendareach year. If changes are needed, the committee will submit a recommendation to the Faculty Council in time for consideration at the council's April meeting. If no changes are needed, the committee will confirm in its annual report that it reviewed the principles and recommended no changes.

3. EDUCATIONAL POLICY COMMITTEE

Composition. Nine voting members of the General Faculty for three-year staggered terms. Three students shall be appointed by the President from a panel of names submitted by the Senate of College Councils, and one from a panel submitted by the Graduate Student Assembly. All undergraduate members must be from different colleges and include at least one lower-division and one -upper-division student. The Graduate Student Assembly panel shall include at least one graduate student who is or has served as an assistant instructor or teaching assistant in an undergraduate course at UT Austin. In addition, every year the Chair of the Faculty Council shall appoint two voting faculty members of the Faculty Council for one-year terms. Each year, the committee shall elect its own Chair and Vice Chair, who shall be voting faculty members of the committee. The Provost, the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, and the Director of Measurement and Evaluation Center, representing the Center for Teaching and Learning, and the Registrar shall serve as administrative advisors without votes. The Chair of the Student Deans' Committee and the President of the Academic Counselors' Association shall serve as consultants without votes.

 

Function. To study proposals on educational policy and assess their possibilities and alternatives; to present recommendations on such matters to the Faculty Council. The committee shall actively seek advice from students.

4. FACULTY BUILDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Composition. Nine voting members of the General Faculty, including a representative from the School of Architecture, and one member of the University staff, all appointed by the President for five-year terms. Two undergraduate students appointed by the President from a panel of names submitted by Student Government, and one graduate student from a panel submitted by the Graduate Student Assembly. Students shall serve one-year terms and shall be eligible for reappointment. The students may not be from the same college or school. In addition, every year the Chair of the Faculty Council shall appoint two voting faculty members of the Faculty Council for one-year terms. Each year, the committee shall elect its own Chair and Vice Chair who shall be voting faculty members of the committee. The Vice President for University Operations or a delegate shall be an ex officio member. The UT System Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning and Construction and a representative from the Office of Campus Planning and Facilities Management shall serve as administrative advisors without vote.

 

Function. To represent the faculty, staff, and students in the planning and programming of buildings. The committee shall have a strong voice in (a) campus master planning, (b) priority of building construction, (c) building location, (d) programming of buildings and (e) reviewing and recommending of final plans. It shall report to the President and periodically to the Faculty Council. During the preparation of the preliminary plans for the erection of a particular building, the President shall appoint a special committee, composed of faculty (and students, when appropriate) who have a direct interest in the proposed building, to serve until the completion thereof, one of whom shall be designated as a voting member of the Faculty Building Advisory Committee for the specified building. Whenever a building is to include library facilities, the Director of General Libraries is to be added as an administrative advisor without vote to the special committee.

5. INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS AND STUDIES COMMITTEE

Composition. Five voting members of the General Faculty for three-year staggered terms and two students. At least one faculty member of the committee shall be a member of a foreign language department. Student members shall be appointed by the President from a panel of names submitted by Student Government. In addition, every year the Chair of the Faculty Council shall appoint two voting faculty members of the Faculty Council for one-year terms. Each year, the committee shall elect its own Chair and Vice Chair who shall be voting faculty members of the committee. The President, through delegation authority to the Executive Vice President and Provost, shall appoint annually, as administrative advisors without vote, the Vice Provosts for Undergraduate Studies and for Graduate Studies, one person selected form the academic associate deans of the colleges and schools, one person selected from among the directors of UT Austin area studies centers, and one person selected from among the assistants to the UT Austin administration in the area of international programs and related student services.

 

Function. To advise the Faculty Council and Executive Vice President and Provost on policies and procedures pertinent to the development, implementation, and operation of international programs at The University and pedagogical and research programs involving overseas study and/or work with internationally-oriented agencies.

6. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS LIBRARIES COMMITTEE

Composition. Eight voting members of the General Faculty for three-year staggered terms, three staff members for two-year staggered terms, and seven students. Staff members shall be appointed by the President from a panel of names submitted by the Staff Council and shall include two research staff representatives. Two students shall be appointed by the President from a panel of names submitted by the Student Government, three from a panel submitted by the Senate of College Councils, and two from a panel submitted by the Graduate Student Assembly. In addition, every year the Chair of the Faculty Council shall appoint two voting faculty members of the Faculty Council for one-year terms. Each year, the committee shall elect its own Chair and Vice Chair who shall be voting members of the committee. The Director of University Texas Libraries shall serve as administrative advisor without vote. Heads of other administrative units on campus that include library programs and services shall be invited to provide comment and information as the need arises.

 

Function. To be well informed concerning the functions of the University of Texas Libraries, including the branch libraries. To advise in development of policies and procedures; to advise the librarian, the Faculty Council and the President concerning the direction and growth of the University of Texas Libraries; to advise the President in the event it becomes necessary to appoint a new librarian.

7. PARKING AND TRAFFIC APPEALS PANEL

Composition. Eighteen voting members of the General Faculty for three-year staggered terms, ten members of the University staff for two-year staggered terms, and ten students. Eight students shall be appointed by the President from a panel of names submitted by Student Government, and two from a panel submitted by the Graduate Student Assembly. In addition, every year the Chair of the Faculty Council shall appoint two voting faculty members of the Faculty Council for one-year terms. Each year, the committee shall elect its own Chair and Vice Chair who shall be voting faculty members of the committee.

 

Function. To review petitions and appeals arising in connection with parking priorities and enforcement of regulations.

8. TRANSPORTATION POLICIES COMMITTEE

Composition. Four voting members of the General Faculty for three-year staggered terms and four staff members, including two representing units at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus (the staff of the Director of Physical Plant are not eligible to serve), for two-year staggered terms. Two students shall be appointed by the President from a panel of names submitted by Student Government, and one from a panel submitted by the Graduate Student Assembly. In addition, every year the Chair of the Faculty Council shall appoint two voting faculty members of the Faculty Council for one-year terms. Each year, the committee shall elect its own Chair and Vice Chair who shall be voting faculty members of the committee. Representatives of Physical Plant, the Dean of Students, University Operations, Parking and Transportation, and the University Police shall serve as administrative advisors without vote.

 

Function. To establish traffic and parking regulations and to review annually a system of priorities for permits to be issued for parking in reserved areas; to recommend to the President ways and means of meeting parking needs of faculty, staff, and students; to recommend to the Faculty Council any changes in the composition and operation of the Parking and Traffic Appeals Panel.

9. RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION COMMITTEE

Composition. Four voting members of the General Faculty for three-year staggered terms, one departmental faculty minority liaison officer for a three-year term, and two staff members (at least one shall be an academic advisor or graduate coordinator) for two-year staggered terms, Three students shall be appointed by the President from a panel of names submitted by Student Government and one from a panel submitted by the Graduate Student Assembly, The Coordinator of the Sanger Learning and Career Center and three members of the administration shall be appointed by the President for one-year terms. In addition, every year the Chair of the Faculty Council shall appoint two voting faculty members of the Faculty Council for one-year terms. Each year, the committee shall elect its own Chair and Vice Chair who shall be voting faculty members of the committee. The Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement, a representative from the Black Alumni Association, and a representative from the Hispanic Alumni Association shall serve as ex officio members without votes.

 

Function. To address the matter of recruitment and retention of minority students and to advise the Faculty Council and the President on constructive solutions to alleviate the problems of recruitment and retention.

10. RESEARCH POLICY COMMITTEE

Composition. Nine voting members of the General Faculty for three-year staggered terms, one school or college administrator (Associate Dean for Research) for a one-year term, and two research staff members for two-year staggered terms. No more than two faculty members of the committee shall be from a given college or school. One undergraduate student appointed by the President from a panel of names submitted by the Senate of College Councils and two graduate students appointed from a panel submitted by the Graduate Student Assembly. At least one of the graduate student members of the committee shall be enrolled in one of the Ph.D. programs of the Graduate School. In addition, every year the Chair of the Faculty Council shall appoint two voting faculty members of the Faculty Council for one-year terms. Each year, the committee shall elect its own Chair and Vice Chair who shall be voting faculty members of the committee. Both the Vice President for Research and the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies shall serve as administrative advisors to the committee without vote.

 

Function. To advise the Faculty Council and the President on matters relating to the research mission of The University and the relationship between the research mission and other components of The University's overall mission; to provide for wider dissemination of information concerning the research mission of The University and how that mission is being discharged.

11. RESPONSIBILITIES, RIGHTS, AND WELFARE OF GRADUATE STUDENT ACADEMIC EMPLOYEES COMMITTEE

Composition. Five voting members of the General Faculty for three-year staggered terms; one staff graduate coordinator for a two-year term; and one teaching assistant, one assistant instructor, and one graduate research assistant. Student members shall be appointed by the President from a panel of names submitted by the Graduate Student Assembly. In addition, every year the Chair of the Faculty Council shall appoint two voting faculty members of the Faculty Council for one-year terms. Each year, the committee shall elect its own Chair and Vice Chair who shall be voting faculty members of the committee. The chair of the Graduate Assembly shall appoint one member of the Graduate Assembly for a one-year term as an ex officio voting member of the committee. One representative from the Graduate School shall serve as an ex officio non-voting administrative advisor.

 

Function. To advise the Faculty Council and the President on matters pertaining to the responsibilities, rights, and welfare of graduate student academic employees.

12. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

Composition. Five voting members of the General Faculty for three-year staggered terms, four staff members for two-year staggered terms, and three students. At least two of the staff member representatives shall not be employed in IT-related areas. Three student members shall be appointed by the President for one-year terms, one from each panel of names submitted by Student Government, the Senate of College Councils, and the Graduate Student Assembly. In addition, every year the Chair of the Faculty Council shall appoint two voting faculty members of the Faculty Council for one-year terms. Each year, the committee shall elect its own Chair and Vice Chair who shall be voting faculty members of the committee. The Chief Information Officer shall serve as an ex officio member without vote. A representative from each of the following shall be selected by the President to serve as an administrative advisor without vote: the Center for Teaching and Learning, the college and school technology coordinators, financial affairs, and department chairs.

 

Function. To recommend to the President, and to the Chief Information Officer, and to the Faculty Council changes in policies regarding information technology; to consult with and advise the Chief Information Officer about policies and procedures pertaining to information technology at the University.

VIII. Forms and Tools

None

IX. Frequently Asked Questions

None

X. Related Information

Faculty Council website- http://www.utexas.edu/faculty/council

2013-13 General Faculty Standing Committees web pages - http://www.utexas.edu/faculty/council/2012-2013/standcom/standcom.html

XI. History

Last review date: October 9, 2012
Next scheduled review date: As needed and determined by the Faculty Council Executive Committee, the Committee on Committees, or by the Admissions and Registration Committee
Previously PM 1.503