Matters of Governance and Related Procedures

Ashtabula Campus faculty are represented on a number of departmental, school or college committees, including Faculty Advisory Committee, School and/or College committees and curriculum committees. They also participate in a variety of other matters relating to the academic responsibilities of their departments, schools and colleges, including search committees, reappointment, tenure, and promotion committees, and other committees.

Ashtabula Campus faculty hold rank within their respective academic departments and are then reviewed by their colleagues for reappointment, tenure, and promotion. However, tenure, when earned by a Regional Campus faculty member, is granted to the faculty member in the Regional Campuses, not the Kent Campus.

The colleges and academic departments at the Kent Campus, including Regional College, are responsible for such academic matters as course approvals, evaluation and assessment of instruction, curriculum development and evaluation. The decisions made at the unit, department, school, and college level directly impact each regional campus so it is important regional campus faculty have a role and voice in departmental matters. Therefore, in an effort to ensure coordination and integration, regional campus faculty participate in governance to their respective academic departments and units.

Faculty involvement in the governance of the University is two-fold. First is the Faculty Senate, a University-wide body of representatives elected at large from each academic unit having a full-time faculty of more than thirty members (department, school, regional campus). The Ashtabula Campus is represented by one senator elected for a two-year term. Regional Campus representatives may also, by election or appointment, serve on the Executive Committee of the Senate. Moreover, faculty other than elected Senators may serve on various committees of the Senate. The Faculty Senate functions primarily in the establishment and periodic review of University-wide academic and professional standards.

Ashtabula Campus Faculty Council (FC) is composed all tenure-track faculty (TT) and full-time non-tenure-track (FTNTT) faculty appointed as resident faculty to the Ashtabula Campus. This Council is an advisory and recommendatory body to the Campus Dean and Chief Administrative Officer (hereafter “Dean”). The Dean serves as an ex-officio, non-voting member for the Council.

It is the purpose of the FC, or designated subcommittees to advise and recommend on all faculty matters, including, but not limited to, the following:  faculty personnel issues, appointment of new resident faculty, review of full-time non-tenure-track (FTNTT) faculty assigned to the campus, allocation and reallocation of faculty positions, campus program development, evaluations relating to faculty salary adjustments, campus planning and budget priorities, issues relating to teaching assignments and workload equivalencies, faculty professional improvement and other scholarly leaves, issues relating to the advising and retention of students, and ensuring that instructional standards are followed.

The Constitution of the Ashtabula Faculty Council is located in section V. Other Academic Unit Guidelines of this Handbook.

As part of their service obligations, full-time tenured and tenure-track (T/TT) faculty members are expected to participate actively in campus, department, and university committees and serve on search committees to fulfill positions in their areas or programs as needed. Full-time non-tenure track (FTNTT) faculty are encouraged and invited to engage in any and all committee activities, except those involving TT reappointment, tenure, and promotion, and merit awards.

Below are the names of standing and ad hoc committees with descriptions at the Ashtabula Campus and related University and Regional College committees:

AAUP Representative: One T/TT faculty member is elected to represent the T/TT faculty and an FTNTT faculty member is elected to represent FTNTT faculty. Each is elected by members of their respective bargaining units per their Collective bargaining Unit agreements. These faculty members represents the Ashtabula faculty at AAUP meetings.

Beitler Award: This committee annually reviews vitae of former students who began their academic career at the Ashtabula Campus and have made notable contributions to their vocation or profession. This committee awards the Roger T. Beitler Distinguished Student Award to the selected candidate at the May Commencement ceremony each year.

Commencement Speaker Committee: This committee reviews recommendations of Dec./May graduates to represent the graduating class. The committee selects the candidate and helps the speaker prepare the Commencement speech.

Diversity Representative: At least one faculty member represents the campus at meetings of the University’s Diversity Action Council. This committee addresses diversity issues and increases Campus awareness of diversity.

Enrollment Committee: This committee meets with EMSS staff at the campus to discuss student recruitment and retention.

Faculty Senate Representative: One T/TT faculty member is elected to represent the T/TT faculty at Ashtabula. FTNTT Senate representatives are elected from the entire pool FTNTT to represent all FTNTT faculty at the University.

FTNTT Review Committee: This committee consists of all tenured faculty at the campus and one non-voting, senior, FTNTT member selected by the FTNTT resident faculty.  This committee reviews files for the various levels of FTNTT reappointment to make recommendations to the campus Dean.

Handbook Update Committee: Faculty review and make recommendations to modify the Handbook. The Dean may also suggest recommendations to be considered. Handbook revisions are shared and approved by the FC, as necessary.

Merit Award Committee: This committee is made up from T/TT faculty that submit files to the merit process.

Provost’s Tenure or Promotion Advisory Committees:  A faculty members chosen for this committee meets in March to review tenure or promotion files and to hear appeals.

Reappointment, Tenure, Promotion Committee: This committee is made of all campus tenured faculty.  The group reviews all TT files to make reappointment, tenure, and promotion decisions to the campus Dean.

Regional College Advisory Committee (CAC):  A committee elected from the Regional College faculty members.  The CAC is made of three T/TT and one FTNTT from each of the three division within the Regional College.  The role of the committee is to provide governance and advisory responsivities as outlined in the CBA.  See the Regional College Handbook for more detailed description.

Regional College Curriculum Committee (CCC): A committee elected from the Regional College faculty members.  The CCC is made of three T/TT and one FTNTT from each of the three division within the Regional College.  This committee recommends, reviews, and approvals curricular actions for all Regional College academic programs. See the Regional College Handbook for more detailed description.

Scholarship Awards Committee: This committee reviews and selects student recipients of various campus scholarships.

Student Complaint Review Committee: is a standing committee of three faculty and two students appointed by the campus dean. Faculty appointments shall be made from nominations to the dean from the faculty council; student appointments shall be made from nominations from student government officers. Appointments are made annually.  The duties of the committee are to receive and review information from all parties involved, identify possible solutions and make recommendations to the campus dean.

University Teaching Council Representative: A faculty member serves at meetings of the University Teaching Council.

Both the evolution of the Regional Campuses and their role and mission dictate that external advisory groups play an important part in their continuing development. Because of the practice of encouraging each campus to grow in a way that is compatible with the community in which it operates, the external advisory groups from campus to campus do not have identical titles. In general, these groups function at two distinct levels:

a.    Community Advisory Group to the Ashtabula Campus and the Dean
Each Regional Campus has what is in effect an advisory board, the membership of which is determined by the board itself. It advises the Dean on the educational needs and concerns of the community. In turn, the Dean informs the group of developments on Campus. At the Ashtabula Campus this advisory group is titled the Ashtabula Area College Committee, Inc.

b.    Community Advisory Groups for Academic Programs
Each campus also maintains advisory groups for its programs to comply with the Board of Regents' requirements. These groups inform the Campus Dean and faculty of developments in the field, apprise them of pertinent community needs, and assist with curriculum development and revision, recruitment, placement of graduates, and program promotion. Advisory committees presently operate for all associate degree programs offered at the Ashtabula Campus.

Ashtabula faculty may have the opportunity to participate on University Committees (for example, the Academic Hearing Panel and/or numerous others). Committees such as these are recognized as service. Any faculty member performing service at any level in the University enhances their professional standing and benefits the campus. Faculty are encouraged (but not required) to do as much they can around their teaching/advising workloads. Note that committee work has value for T/TT and FTNTT faculty but is not required as a part of the review criteria for FTNTT.