Academic Structure and Organization of the College
-
Academic Program Areas
-
The CAE Comprises the following Academic Program Areas
- Aeronautics and Aviation (AERN)
- Applied Engineering and Technology (AET)
- Graduate Studies (MTEC)
-
Academic Program Area Coordinators
- An Academic Program Area Coordinator is the chief academic representative of each Academic Program Area. The Program Area Coordinator is responsible for recording, maintaining, and implementing the academic and operational policies and procedures stated in this Handbook through regular and thorough consultation with the Program Area faculty and the College's various committees. Academic Program Area Coordinators report directly to the college Dean. In those cases where a Director or Chair is the chief academic representative for the academic program area, the Director/Chair will assume the role and responsibilities of the Academic Program Coordinator as described in this CAE Handbook part/sub-section.
- Selection of the Academic Program Area Coordinators
- At the Spring All-College meeting, in U.S. presidential election years, the Faculty Organization members within each Academic Program Area shall elect a faculty member from their Academic Program Area to recommend to the Dean to serve a renewable four-year term as Academic Program Area Coordinator, beginning with the following Fall semester. If the recommended candidate is not accepted, the Dean will provide a written statement explaining his/her rejection of the recommendation and the Academic Program Area Faculty Organization members shall then make a new recommendation. Before the end of the Spring semester, Academic Program Area Coordinators of each Academic Program Area are appointed by the Dean upon the recommendation of the Faculty Organization members in the applicable Program Area.
- Academic Program Area Coordinators will be given an appropriate load assignment each academic semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer). A six-hour teaching load release for the fall semester and a six-hour teaching load release for the spring semester is recommended given the current organizational structure of the college. Academic Program Area Coordinators will be given an administrative contract with a three-hour load equivalency during the summer term in order to maintain continuity during this term with respect to undergraduate student advising, admission and graduation processing, transfer evaluations, and other Academic Program Area administrative support functions.
- If the Academic Program Area Coordinator does not serve out the term of their appointment, another person will be elected by the Faculty Organization members from the Academic Program Area to serve out the remainder of the current term. If the recommended candidate is not accepted, the Dean will provide a written statement explaining his/her rejection of the recommendation. The Program Area Faculty Organization members will then make a new recommendation.
- Academic Program Areas with a Director or Chair as the chief academic representative shall not be subject to the conditions of this sub-section. Selection of Directors/Chairs shall be according to the University Policy Register.
- The duties and responsibilities of the Academic Program Area Coordinators include but are not limited to the following:
- Facilitate the development and maintenance of the academic programs to be consistent with the college’s goals for the programs in the applicable academic program area.
- Approve course substitutions, transfer credit evaluations, and special petitions for the corresponding Academic Program Area.
- Recommend representatives to search committees to the Dean, as requested.
- Evaluate and approve full-time and part-time/adjunct CAE faculty to teach specific courses within the corresponding Academic Program Area.
- Coordinate Kent Academic Progress System (KAPS) and Graduation Planning System (GPS) coding and form preparation and submission.
- Coordinate undergraduate curriculum development efforts of courses and programs related to their program area.
- Develop and review overall program curricula and undergraduate course inventory for the corresponding Academic Program Area.
- Review, approve, and recommend to the Dean the hiring of individuals as part-time, temporary, and visiting faculty.
- Present all proposed programs for the corresponding Academic Program Area to the College Curriculum Committee for approval.
- Select faculty members to provide peer teaching evaluations when requested by CAE faculty in the corresponding Academic Program Area.
- Provide final approval of special-topics and continuing education courses.
- Serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the College Advisory Committee (CAC), College Curriculum Committee (CCC), and Graduate Faculty Advisory Committee (GFAC) unless elected to membership. In the event that the Academic Program Coordinator is a member of the Graduate Faculty, or is an elected representative to the CAC or CCC, he/she will possess his/her voting privilege in that committee.
- Verify the accuracy and distribution of Program Requirement Sheets and Advising Sheets for the corresponding Academic Program Area.
- Work with lead faculty on common issues across all curricula in the corresponding Academic Program Area.
- Coordinate accreditation and assessment efforts for the program area curriculum and degrees.
- Work with faculty of that Academic Program Area to develop workload equivalency specifications and/or revisions, to follow guidelines in the approval process, and to oversee incorporation in the College Handbook of the specifications and/or revisions.
- Plan and coordinate faculty retreats, meetings, etc., for the corresponding Academic Program Area.
- Coordinate all course scheduling and course change requests for undergraduate courses offered by the applicable Academic Program Area.
- To meet with the Graduate Coordinator and all full-time faculty in the applicable Academic Program area to develop the schedule and workload assignments for each faculty member for the upcoming academic year. Scheduling for the upcoming Fall semester must be completed by the first week of March; scheduling for the upcoming Summer sessions must be completed by the first week of January; and scheduling for the upcoming Spring semester must be completed by the first week of March. In the Spring semester, upon resolution of workload and scheduling issues with each faculty member, to submit a workload recommendation to the Dean for each full-time faculty member for the upcoming academic year.
- Each semester, post his/her office hours, class schedule, and contact information (e-mail address, phone, etc.) on his/her office door. The Academic Program Coordinator shall also provide this information to the CAE's Office of Student Advising, and the Dean’s Administrative Assistant.
- Oversee the delivery of courses offered by the academic program that are taught by full-time, adjunct, or part-time faculty. The coordinator may delegate oversight of specific courses to a Faculty Organization member.
- Form industrial advisory committees and conduct meetings for the programs in the applicable program area. The frequency of the advisory committee meetings will be determined by the need and should occur at least once a year.
- Recommend to the Dean, with the advice of the Graduate Coordinator, the awarding of graduate assistantships in the program area.
- The role of the Academic Program Coordinator in the student complaint or grievance process shall be in accordance with University policy governing student grievances and academic complaints, and with the provisions of this Handbook regarding the college’s Student Academic Complaint Committee.
- Assume additional responsibilities as assigned by the Dean.
- Prepare information for the University’s Undergraduate Catalog description of the Academic Program Area.
-
Graduate Coordinator
- The Graduate Coordinator chairs the Graduate Faculty Advisory Committee (GFAC) and oversees the operation and development of the College's graduate programs and curriculum. The Graduate Coordinator reports directly to the college Dean.
- Selection of the Graduate Coordinator
- At the Spring All-College meeting, in U.S. presidential election years, the GFAC’s Faculty Organization members will elect and recommend to the CAE Dean a Graduate Coordinator to serve a renewable, four-year term. If the recommended candidate is not accepted, the Dean will provide a written statement explaining his/her rejection of the recommendation. The GFAC’s Faculty Organization members will then elect and recommend a candidate to the Dean. Before the end of the Spring semester, the Graduate Coordinator is appointed by the Dean upon the recommendation of the GFAC’s Faculty Organization members.
- The Graduate Coordinator will be given an appropriate load assignment release each academic semester (Fall, Spring). A six-hour teaching load release for the fall semester and a six-hour teaching load release for the spring semester is recommended given the current organizational structure of the college. The Graduate Coordinator will be given an administrative contract with a three-hour load equivalency during the summer term in order to maintain continuity during the term with respect to graduate student advising, admission graduation processing, and other graduate program administrative support functions.
- If the Graduate Coordinator does not serve out the term of his/her appointment, another person will be elected by the Faculty Organization members of the GFAC to serve out the remainder of the current term. If the recommended candidate is not accepted, the Dean will provide a written statement explaining his/her rejection of the recommendation. The GFAC’s Faculty Organization members will then make a new recommendation.
- The duties and responsibilities of the Graduate Coordinator include but are not limited to the following:
- Oversee the development and maintenance of the graduate programs toward the college’s goals for the graduate programs in the college.
- Approve course substitutions, transfer credit evaluations, and special petitions for students in the Graduate Program.
- Distribute Graduate faculty membership criteria and expectations to all CAE GFAC-eligible faculty and invite them to submit their credentials for membership.
- Make recommendations from the GFAC to the Dean of the CAE regarding Graduate Faculty memberships.
- Evaluate and approve full-time CAE faculty to teach specific graduate courses based on the recommendation of the GFAC.
- In consultation with appropriate graduate faculty, evaluate and approve part-time/adjunct faculty to teach specific graduate courses.
- Develop and review overall program curricula and the graduate course inventory.
- Oversee the graduate programs admission approval process. Chair the Graduate Admission Committee and select at least two GFAC faculty as members of the committee. Approve recommendations from the Graduate Admission Committee for admission to the College's graduate program, and forward the Graduate Admission Committee's recommendations to the CAE Dean's Office. During the spring recess, winter break, semester intersession, and the summer sessions, determine the admission recommendation for graduate program applicants on behalf of the Graduate Admission Committee.
- Present admission applications of special circumstances to the GFAC.
- Assist in the selection, and provide approval for the faculty advisor for each graduate student.
- Prepare information for the University’s Graduate Catalog description of the CAE Graduate program, after consultation with the GFAC.
- Present graduate assistantship applications to the GFAC for its approval. Recommend to the Dean, with the advice of the GFAC and Academic Program Coordinators/Directors, the awarding of graduate assistantships and teaching fellowships.
- Maintain and review graduate student records to monitor academic standing and provide notification of significant dates. Upon a student’s application for graduation, provide an audit of student MTEC degree completion requirements to CAE Student Services advisors for their use in graduation clearance.
- Represent the CAE at the academic and administrative meetings in the Division of Graduate Studies. Serve as either the primary or alternate College liaison, as designated by the Dean of the College, to the University's Division of Graduate Studies. Also serve as the College Representative to the Graduate Council of the University's Graduate Educational Policies Council (EPC).
- Maintain a schedule of CAE Graduate course offerings three years in advance.
- Conduct performance evaluations of Teaching Fellows/graduate students providing instruction.
- Conduct reviews and make recommendations to the Dean on Graduate Faculty status.
- Initiate and coordinate changes and improvements in graduate curricula, requirements, and programs.
- Chair meetings of the GFAC.
- Approve thesis topics, thesis faculty directors/advisors, individual investigations, and special topics courses at the graduate level.
- At the invitation of an Academic Program Coordinator/Director, meet with the Academic Program Coordinator/Director and the full-time faculty in the applicable Academic Program area to assist in the development of schedule and workload assignments for each faculty member for the upcoming academic year. Scheduling for the upcoming Fall semester must be completed by the first week of March; scheduling for the upcoming Summer sessions must be completed by the first week of January; and scheduling for the upcoming Spring semester must be completed by the first week of March.
- Each semester, post his/her office hours, class schedule, and contact information (e-mail address, phone, etc.) on his/her office door. The Graduate Coordinator shall also provide this information to the CAE's Office of Student Advising, and the Dean’s Administrative Assistant.
- The Graduate Program Coordinator will assign oversight responsibility to a faculty member for each graduate course. The assigned faculty member shall be responsible for maintaining the course and for assisting the Graduate Coordinator in providing oversight, direction, and facilitation of the course delivery by teaching assistants and by full-time, part-time and adjunct faculty.
- In consultation with the appropriate Academic Program Area Coordinator/Director, coordinate all course scheduling and course change requests for graduate-level courses.
- Coordinate accreditation and assessment efforts for the graduate degree(s).
-
Lead Faculty
- A Lead faculty member may be selected by the Faculty Organization members of each Academic Program Area for each applicable degree concentration and minor. More than one Lead faculty member may be selected for degree concentrations with multiple tracks. The Lead faculty member will assist the Academic Program Coordinator/Director to provide student advising pertaining to the associated area and shall propose or suggest curricular changes, and shall suggest to the Academic Program Coordinator/Director proposed faculty to teach courses for the academic area.
- A faculty member may represent more than one academic area as the Lead faculty.
- Lead faculty elections will be held by all full-time Faculty Organization members within each respective Academic Program Area at the Fall All-College meeting in odd-numbered years. Newly elected Lead faculty representatives shall take office at the beginning of the Fall Semester, and shall serve a two-year term. The position will be a two-year renewable term.
-