There are six Standing Committees of the Senate, all of which are comprised exclusively of senate members. These committees are charged with conducting specific aspects of senate business.
Most committees reporting to the Senate are Standing Committees of the Faculty which have a continuing existence and responsibility over a particular subject matter.
The Academic Assessment Committee is a standing Committee of the Faculty elected by the Faculty and serves as the primary advisory body about practices for the evaluation of student learning outcomes in Central’s undergraduate and graduate programs. The Committee also coordinates, but does not implement, the overall program for the assessment of general education learning outcomes. The Committee is responsible for providing feedback and support to Departments by reviewing reports about their assessment of student learning outcomes, and for identifying and disseminating promising assessment practices.
The Academic Integrity Committee advocates for, and raises awareness of, academic integrity issues at Central; the responsibility for acting with integrity remains up to each member of the university. The Committee reports to the Faculty Senate about the status of the Academic Misconduct Policy. The Committee generates educational resources, promotes awareness regarding academic misconduct, and may propose amendments to the policy.
The Academic Standards Committee reviews a variety of University standards and makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate regarding these standards. The committee reviews standards for undergraduate admission, standards for probation and dismissal from any undergraduate program, standards for admission and termination of studies in any undergraduate professional program, and standards in matters related to a student’s academic program.
Pursuant to article 5.6 of the current CSU-AAUP/BOT contract (2007-16), the Committee advises the President on the nomination of members for the title "CSU Professor." Rights and privileges of the CSU Professorship are described in article 5.6.
In accordance with the guidelines and deadlines set forth by the Board of Regents, the committee shall solicit nominations from the Central community, collect materials in support of nominees, and select the candidate to receive the award. The award competition is open to assistant and associate professors in tenure-track or tenured positions. Nominees are expected to demonstrate substantive contributions or achievements in their academic field of study during the last five years.
In accordance with the guidelines and deadlines set forth by the Board of Regents, the committee shall solicit nominations from the Central community, collect materials in support of nominees, and select the candidate to receive the award. The award competition is open to tenured or tenure-track Assistant and Associate Professors who have distinguished themselves as outstanding teachers for at least five years and have at least a two-year record of promoting instructional improvements for their programs or departments. The committee will also select the candidate to receive the Board of Regents Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award.
Five teaching faculty, with at least one from each undergraduate school, elected by the Faculty Senate for staggered two year terms.
One non-voting administrator appointed by the President.
The Committee on Academic Advising serves as a collective forum for the review of the University’s undergraduate advising systems and the generation of new ideas. The committee serves to build partnerships between faculty and administrative offices as it relates to advising. The committee monitors and examines undergraduate advising at the University and provides recommendations for changes and improvements. The committee meets the last Thursday of every month from 12:15pm to 1:30 pm.
Community engagement describes the collaboration between higher education institutions and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity (Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, 2006). Community engagement is closely linked to the scholarship of engagement, which seeks to connect the resources of the university with pressing social, civic, and ethical problems (Boyer, 1996).
The purpose of the Community Engagement Committee is to advise the University on and make recommendations regarding the promotion of policies, curricular enhancements, and campus and community events designed to foster Community Engagement.
The Council of Academic Chairpersons will promote synergy among department chairpersons and efficacy in the performance of the chairperson role, resulting in important gains for the University.
The Curriculum Committee is a standing committee of the Faculty Senate charged with reviewing and recommending to the Faculty Senate changes affecting Central curricula, including but not restricted to course offerings and program requirements (see Curriculum Committee Bylaws, Article 3).
The primary responsibility of committee members is to apply their professional expertise as they consider the merits of each proposal before the committee on each agenda.
The secondary responsibility of each member of the committee is to bring to the committee any changes their department chooses to propose.
NOTE: This Committee is included here for convenience. It is an administrative committee with members elected by the Senate, not a Standing Committee of the Faculty.
The Distinguished Service Award/Honorary Doctorate Committee (DSA/HD) annually solicits from the University community nominees for both these honors. The committee reviews and recommends to the University President candidates for both. In the case of honorary doctorates, as part of its review procedure, the committee will seek counsel from appropriate academic departments and deans.
The purpose of the Faculty Senate Diversity Committee is to advise the University on and make recommendations regarding the promotion of policies, curricular enhancements, and campus events designed to foster respect for all people. To that end, the committee will support and design programs and events which:
The purpose of this committee is to advise the president regarding the Excellence in Teaching Award.
The Grade Appeals Committee, which functions as the Grade Appeals Review Board, is the final arbiter of student grade appeals that cannot be settled by appeal to the instructor, department chair, or dean of the school in which the course was taken.
The graduate school is a community of scholars devoted to increasing human awareness and understanding through scholarly inquiry, research, and study in specialized disciplines. The aim of graduate education is to provide students with the environment to develop knowledge and skills to make contributions to their discipline and to the rapidly changing world. Through an atmosphere of intellectual and personal integrity, an attitude of excellence, and a spirit of creative independence, our graduates develop mastery in their field and become lifelong learners and leaders within their respective professions.
International Education is one of Central Connecticut State University’s Elements of Distinctiveness and comprises courses and semesters abroad, partnerships with foreign universities, hosting international students, faculty exchanges and hosting international scholars, faculty development, foreign language courses and other courses with an international emphasis, and other programs and functions designed to enhance students’ understanding and appreciation of cultures beyond the borders of the United States. The Faculty Senate’s International Education Committee (IEC) is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the Faculty Senate concerning International Education and for promoting International Education at Central.
The Mediation Committee shall have the functions and follow the procedures as provided under Article 16 of the 2007–2016 CSU-AAUP/BOT Contract, and/or in the equivalent section of the current contract.
The Online Learning Committee is charged with the academic quality control of online learning which include: making recommendations about the creation and selection of online course offerings, making evaluations of Central’s use of technology in online course offerings, making recommendations about faculty training, and making an ongoing assessment of the online course program overall.
The purpose of the University Promotion and Tenure Committee is to evaluate candidates for promotion and tenure and to make recommendations to the Provost regarding the granting of promotion and tenure in accordance with this document.
The Committee receives all sabbatical requests and proposals as submitted to the University President by the various departments and areas, and makes recommendations to the President on the basis of merit and in conformity with the current BOT/CSU/AAUP contract.
The Student Affairs Committee informs the Faculty Senate of new co-curricular interests of students. The Student Affairs Committee provides a forum through which Student Affairs may consult and inform faculty on student life areas, policy, and procedures. The aim is to gain faculty perspective and enhance faculty knowledge of student life initiatives and services. The Student Affairs Committee also advises the President regarding the establishment and recognition of student organizations.
The Termination Hearing Committee shall have the functions and follow the procedures as provided under Article 16 of the 2007–2016 CSU-AAUP/BOT Contract, and/or in the equivalent section of the current contract.
The UAB serves to provide a structure for the dissemination of information about the athletics program to the Faculty Senate and the University community; it also works with the administration to oversee institutional control of athletics. As an academic committee, its areas of responsibility include academic progress of student-athletes and related elements that impact academic progress.
The University Planning and Budget Committee advises the President, within the context of the University’s mission, through the Senate, on the long-term goals, strategic planning process and budgetary priorities of the University. It provides a forum for the discussion of planning and budgetary issues so that recommendations reflect the concerns of the entire campus community.
The Senate President can create—and the Senate will confirm by majority vote—an Ad hoc Committee for a specific task; the committee dissolves once that task is completed.
