Senate Committee Charges

Charge: Committee Created March 2023 (last updated:  4/19/24)

1. The committee considers calendar matters for the university, excluding OUWB.

2. The committee collects, documents, and maintains established and approved calendar
guidelines and priorities.

3. The committee educates and advises the Senate and other stakeholders on matters
affecting the academic calendar, (e.g., semester start and end dates, and breaks).

4. The committee collects and analyzes calendar change requests from stakeholders, and
educates and advises the campus community on current and potential calendar
structures.

Members of the committee may be asked to meet over the Summer semester as needed.

Charge:

1. To advise the University Senate on all matters pertaining to the use of computers for instruction and research. It is expected to define and be responsive to the needs of students and faculty using the University computer facilities.
2. It is given primary responsibility for devising and directing the implementation of plans to develop appropriate levels of computer literacy.
3. It is required to prepare annually a recommendation to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost and President on requirements for improvements and additions in computer facilities (both hardware and software) to meet the anticipated computing needs for the subsequent five-year period.
4. To advise the Chief Information Officer as necessary and assist in developing services, schedules, and priorities for academic computing usage in relation to total University computer usage. It should, periodically, examine patterns of use and charge systems, and make recommendations for such modifications as may be necessary.

Charge:

To review, propose, and implement policies concerning academic dishonesty.  

This committee is permitted, and does meet for a full 12 calendar months due to the Academic Conduct hearings being scheduled through the summer.  

Faculty membership is set for staggered 3-year commitments.  As a result, chairpersons are typically selected from committee members who have been on the committee for 1 year.  Although there is one chairperson on record, the committee operates with 4 co-chairpersons as a practice.  If selected as a co-chairperson, this commitment involves the 2nd and 3rd years of the staggered 3-year commitments. 

There will be 10 students who serve on this committee to balance the workload of the Academic Conduct hearings that meet during the 12 calendar months of the year.

Charge:

1. To review, propose, and implement university policies concerning academic probation, dismissal, readmission and University Honors;
2. To review petitions from students regarding granting of University Honors and report to the Senate.

Charge:

1. To coordinate and advise on the planning and implementation of assessment by academic units;
2. To prepare an overall University Assessment Plan which meets the requirements of Higher Learning Commission and to consult with the staff of that Association, as appropriate, to insure that the Plan and its implementation continue to meet Association standards;
3. To advise and cooperate with the General Education Committee in planning and carrying out assessment of the University's general education programs;
4. To advise the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the University Committee on Undergraduate Instruction, and the Graduate Council on the findings of the assessment program and their implications for specific program reviews and for maintaining and improving the quality of undergraduate and graduate instruction in general; and
5. To report to the University Senate and the Assemblies of the organized faculties on the findings of the assessment program and their implications for maintaining and improving the quality of undergraduate and graduate curricula and instruction at the University.

Charge: Last Updated 11/21/23

1. To work with the President, vice presidents, and Senate Planning Review Committee in the implementation of university plans, goals, objectives, role, and mission;
2. To receive from the President reports on available resources and their allocation to the university divisions and, jointly with the Senate Planning Review Committee, to advise the President regarding priorities for such allocations;
3. To receive from the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost reports on available resources and their allocation to the university's academic programs and, jointly with the Senate Planning Review Committee, to advise the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost regarding priorities for such allocations;
4. To report to the Senate on the current university budget and its role in advancing university goals and objectives;
5. To advise the Senate concerning the budgetary implications of relevant changes affecting the organization of the university;
6. To report to the Senate and its committees (as needed, UCUI, the Graduate Council, the General Education Committee) on the university-wide budgetary implications of proposed new academic programs or the discontinuance or major reorganization of existing academic programs as may be proposed; and
7. To meet jointly, as needed, but at least once each semester with the Senate Planning Review Committee.

Charge - last updated 10/21/22

1. To consider the aesthetic, ecological, academic, programmatic, and sustainability impacts of both present practices and future plans for the physical maintenance and development of the campus,
2. To recommend and review proposals, guidelines, and policies in these areas, and to advise the administrative officers responsible for campus development,
3. Such issues as new construction and renovation, location of utilities and parking facilities, aesthetic accouterments, the environment and sustainability, maintenance and the identification of areas for outdoor education shall fall within the purview of this committee.
4. Members of the committee may be asked to meet over the Summer semester as needed.
5. This committee will establish an information sharing process including timelines with Facilities Management to ensure timely execution of the committee charge.

Charge - Committee created May 2023

The Committee shall work in consultation with the Registrar and Provost’s Office for monitoring, reviewing, and guiding decision-making with respect to recommendations for classroom and academic scheduling and related resources as well as developing recommendations for policies and practices on the most efficient and effective use of classroom resources and academic scheduling development. 

1. Initiates the development of policies, practices, and procedures pertaining to classroom scheduling and related academic scheduling for approval or endorsement (as appropriate) and then moves them through the appropriate approval processes.

2. To prepare recommendations to the Senate for scheduling policy changes that will be responsive to academic needs of programs and will simultaneously maximize classroom use for strategic growth.

3.  Analyze data relating to classroom usage, course scheduling, seat fill rates, enrollment caps, and space utilization.

4.  To identify all differing course delivery patterns (laboratory/studio, 4- vs. 3-credit, online, hybrid, out-of-module F2F, etc., classes) which impact classroom use and academic schedule development.

5.  Analyze all of the course delivery patterns including delivery patterns that fall outside of the current time modules.

6.  Make the enforcement of standardized course times a priority.

7.  Consults with Registrar on any questions, issues, or disputes about class scheduling in accordance with the Scheduling Values, General Purpose Classroom Optimization and Assignment practices.

8.  Develops registration related policies and procedures including the use of technology and resources to support the class scheduling and registration process.

9.  Consults with other committees, task forces, or working groups as appropriate and may make subcommittees as needed.

Committee Membership:

Committee Established:  May 2022 (Updated 10/21/24)

Rationale: To support the strategic goal of the university to be a community engaged institution.

Charge:

1. Examine university policies, procedures, behaviors, and culture for alignment with community engagement definitions, goals, and priorities. 
2. Unify data collection and reporting on community engagement by:
       a.  recommending to the Senate policies and processes for gathering data on community engagement activities
       b.  working with existing committees on using data to inform decisions, especially around community engagement metrics/needs
       c.  gathering and reporting annually on community engagement data
3. Provide support to and oversight of university-wide community engagement activities.
4. Communicate University community engagement progress:
   1. highlight, elevate and celebrate community engagement work at OU for the external campus community
   2. inform the campus community of successes around community engagement work as well as shared knowledge and best practices of authentic community engagement work
   3. update the community engagement dashboard with relevant data
5. Engage in the process of the Carnegie and other community engagement reports.
6. Report yearly to the Senate on the committee’s activities.
7. Continuously review Goal 3 priorities to advise the University on community engagement activities,
   
8.  Manage the University's Community Engagement awards process.

Membership:

Established:  May 18, 2023 

Rationale: This committee seeks to encourage disability literacy across campus and to promote an understanding of disability as a central component of human diversity. The committee’s aim is to integrate disability visibility into the university curriculum, scholarship, and community as a means of understanding human experience in our contemporary world. 

Charge: To implement this rationale, the committee’s main goal will be to raise the profile of disability as a previously underrecognized way of understanding human diversity, to be included with other urgent areas of inquiry and identity in DEI such as race, class, and gender. Without critical attention to these issues, we further marginalize a part of the population, and thus not serve the whole OU community. This work includes:

1. Advocate for increased attention to disability throughout the university, including the creation of new means of sharing work-in-progress and promoting collaboration across centers, departments, and units
2. Collaborate with multiple units to develop a curriculum at undergraduate and graduate level  
3. Educating through presentations, workshops and events to the university and the surrounding community on issues of disability literacy 
4. Creating partnerships with OU offices and campus resources to support accessibility and other disability visibility issues 

We see barriers existing on campus in a variety of forms including (but not limited to):

1. Students’ lack of access to multi-dimensional support in and out of the classroom
2. The need to fully incorporate disability into DEI measures and discourse throughout the university
3. The scarcity of courses at the UG and Graduate level focused on issues around disability
4. The lack of a center for the study of disability on campus that would integrate all units.
5. The need for more community engagement and partnerships to connect the university community to the larger community

Committee structure: The committee will be composed of an executive committee and working groups. Two co-leaders will direct the executive committee which will serve as the “hub” organizing working groups. Staggered three-years terms for all members will start after the first year. Working groups will be created and staffed as needed.

Executive Committee Membership:

Committee Established:  May 2022 / last updated 9/24/24 (12:10 pm kmd) 

Rationale: To support the use of service learning as a high impact practice and community engagement efforts courses will now be able to be designated on a student’s transcript with a service learning attribute. In order for this attribute to be added to a course the syllabus must be reviewed. This requires a faculty led review process similar to our GEN ED committee processes. The workload of the GEN ED committee is too great to add this to their charge so this new committee was created to manage this process. 

Experiential Learning Committee Charge:

1. To recommend to the Senate policies and requirements for experiential learning courses;

2. function as a curriculum committee for the review of courses seeking an experiential learning designation;

3. function as the assessment committee for courses designated as experiential learning courses;

4. support and collaborate with the Service Learning Subcommittee on it's charge;

5. report yearly to the Senate on the committee’s activities.

Service Learning Subcommittee Charge:

1. To collaborate with the Experiential Learning Committee on policies and requirements for service learning courses;

2. function as a curriculum committee for the review of courses seeking the service learning designation;

3. function as the assessment committee for courses designated as service learning courses;

4. report yearly to the Experiential Learning Committee on the Service Learning committee’s activities;

5. provide information as necessary for the Experiential Learning Committee’s report to the Senate.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING COMMITTEE Membership:

Charge:

• to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in an environment of mutual trust and respect at all levels of the institution
• to facilitate opportunities and success for all community members
• to develop and refine metrics that will be used to monitor and evaluate OU’s performance on faculty-related diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• to develop and implement training
• to research and promote best practices in faculty recruitment and retention
• to Regularly conduct policy audits and recommend changes necessary to support a diversity, equity and inclusion in faculty recruitment, hiring, promotion and tenure and opportunities for leadership

Special Note: The Chair of this committee will serve as the faculty representative on the DEI council.   

General Education Assessment Committee (GEAC)
(Approved May 2020 by the Senate/ Revised May 2022/ last updated:  4/19/24)

The General Education Assessment Committee (GEAC) is a standing committee that oversees the assessment of the General Education program and General Education courses, and it is appointed by the OU Senate to 

1. function as the assessment committee for a university-wide program of General Education,
2. coordinate and advise on the planning and implementation of General Education assessment by academic units;
3. advise and coordinate with the General Education Committee in planning and carrying out assessment of the University's General Education program, exchange minutes, and provide information on General Education assessment for preparation of the with the General Education Committee's annual report.  The co-chairs shall meet at least once each semester with the co-chairs of the General Education Committee.
4. advise the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the University Committee on Undergraduate Instruction, the University Assessment Committee, and the General Education Committee on the findings of their program assessment and on their implications for specific program reviews and for maintaining and improving the quality of general education curricula and instruction;
5. report to the University Senate and the Assemblies of the organized faculties on the findings of the General Eucation assessment program and their implications for maintaining and improving the quality of undergraduate General Education curricula and instruction at the University; and
6. appoint two voting members as co-chairs* who would serve for two years, and their terms would be staggered so that each year the experienced co-chair could orient the incoming co-chair to the committee responsibilities.

Updated:  4/19/24

Charge:

1. To recommend to the Senate policies and requirements for undergraduate general education;
2. To function as a curriculum committee for the university-wide program of General Education;
3. To respond to petitions of exception relating to that program in accordance with Senate authorizations;
4. To communicate with the University Committee on Undergraduate Instruction annually, providing information on petitions of exception from University requirements; and
5. To advise and coordinate with the General Education Assessment Committee to establish priorities for each academic year and exchange minutes.  The co-chairs shall meet aqt least once each semester with the co-chiars of the General Education Assessment Committee.

Committee Established:  May 2022 / last updated 4/19/24

Rationale: In the United States, the higher educational system is founded on the Liberal Arts and General Education. To stay relevant to the needs of our students and society we must undertake regular evaluations of our General Education curricular program and revise it as needed. All members of the Ad Hoc committee must agree to respect the Rules of Engagement as presented below.

Charge: To establish a Senate Ad Hoc committee to investigate the options and prepare a report with recommendations about a revision to the General Education Program at Oakland University.

General Education Reform Rules of Engagement

General education and the liberal arts are the foundation of the higher education system of the United States. The purpose of general education is to provide an array of skills that are essential to modern professions, civic engagement, and lifelong learning. Moreover, the general education curriculum reinforces and supports Oakland University’s legacy and its education principles, mission, values, and strategic plan.

In college campuses across the United States, it is within a general education curriculum where students readily and historically participate in service learning, learning communities, and global and civic learning experiences. It is also the place where students are introduced to internships and undergraduate research. General education is also at the forefront of using Open Education Resources and developing skills that most employers seek such as critical and analytical thinking, digital literacy, applied knowledge and skills, and intercultural competency.

To embark on general education reform, it is important to agree to terms of engagement:

1. Respect the members of the team, their insights, and the conversations of the general education team.

2. Recognize and acknowledge the need to consider general education requirements to better reflect national best practices.

3. Recognize that general education is an essential part of US higher education; it is a co-curriculum to the major.

4. Actively listen and respect the insights and opinions of the team members

5. Learn about different general education curricula and approaches, its impact, and its significance; core curriculum, hybrid, and distribution models; and recent innovations and models. General education has a body of literature and knowledge. Share with the team what you have learned about general education

6. Support the purpose of general education as essential to an Oakland University student experience and how it is a foundation that supports the university’s values, mission, and strategic plan.

7. Commit to supporting an innovative curricular design and high impact learning practices including first year experiences, common experiences, service learning, learning communities, and undergraduate research.

8. Establish equity goals for general education that extend across curricula, programming, service learning, and internship opportunities.

Membership:

NOTE:  Rules setting the Graduate Council membership are part of the OU Senate Constitution Article VI. 

Charge:

1. To recommend to the University Senate academic policies and procedures concerning graduate education; and, when necessary, seek advice from the Senate Planning Review Committee, the Senate Budget Review Committee, and other appropriate bodies concerning the impact of these policies and procedures.
2. To recommend to the University Senate concerning new graduate programs;
3. To confer with the Dean of Graduate Education about program support or other activities in graduate education, as the Dean of Graduate Education may seek such advice;
4. To recommend and approve modifications in graduate programs with advice from other appropriate bodies as needed;
5. To render advice concerning existing programs or alterations in them as Dean of Graduate Education may seek such advice;
6. To review all programs in timely fashion and report findings to the Senate Planning Review Committee and the University Senate;
7. To recommend, when necessary, to the Senate Planning Review Committee and the University Senate, with advice from other appropriate bodies as needed, program suspension or discontinuance based on findings from the program review process;
8. To appoint subcommittees necessary to assist the Graduate Council in the conduct of its responsibilities;
9. To assist in all evaluations of ongoing and proposed graduate programs for their consistency with the goals and objectives of the University;
10. To maintain regular communication with the Senate Planning Review Committee through exchange of minutes; and
11. To approve all candidates for degrees and report this approval to the President of the University. 

Charge:

To consider and recommend candidates for honorary degrees, according to the criteria and procedures specified by the Oakland University Board of Trustees and found at www.oakland.edu/honoarydegree.

Charge:

1. To advise the President and the Athletic Director about matters affecting the academic and athletic integrity of intercollegiate athletics, including, but not limited to, matters affecting student-athlete welfare.
2. To advise the Athletic Director generally on policies for student-athletes including, but not limited to, standards of academic eligibility, student support and health, academic integrity and progress, equity, Title IX, and NCAA and Horizon League issues.
3. To assist Oakland University in meeting the NCAA and Horizon League standards for student-athlete welfare.
4. To receive timely and regular reports from the Athletic Director on matters related to athletics, including but not limited to current and proposed plans and policies that affect the athletic programs, including plans and policies on buildings, facilities, budgets, services, academic support and NCAA compliance; and to advise and make recommendations on same.
5. To receive reports and recommendations from other Senate committees and to advise and make recommendations to the Senate and its committees, as needed.
6. To take on additional duties as directed by the Senate Steering Committee.

Charge:

1. To serve as a liaison between the University Libraries and the faculty and students of the University; to bring faculty and student opinion before the library and to interpret library policies to faculty and students;
2. To advise the library and the University Senate in the formulation of broad general policies on collections, buildings, facilities, and services. These policies shall be presented to the University administration by the Dean of the University Libraries;
3. To receive timely and regular reports from the Dean of the University Libraries on current and proposed library plans and policies;
4. To receive timely and regular reports from the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost on current and proposed university plans and policies which may impact the University Libraries and to advise and make recommendations on same;
5. To receive reports and recommendations from other duly constituted committees and to advise and make recommendations to the Senate and its committees, as needed;
6. To take on additional duties as directed by the Senate Steering Committee; and
7. To meet regularly, but at least once each semester.

Charge: (updated 11/21/23)

1. To gather information on all mental health services currently available (how they operate, their availability, cost, capacity)
2. To assess mental health issues and needs on campus.
3. To gather information on the various OU web pages that have information on mental health support services, and to organize that information to be more easily accessible and visible by supervising the creation of one main web page that can be accessed from the main OU home page.
4. To promote and advocate for the mental health needs of the OU community (faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students) by making recommendations to the University Senate.

Charge:  Last Updated 4/17/23

1. To work with the President, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, other vice presidents, the Senate Budget Review Committee, and other duly constituted committees in the review of university plans, goals, objectives, role, and mission;
2. To advise the President, jointly with the Senate Budget Review Committee, regarding priorities for university resource allocations;
3. To advise the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, jointly with the Senate Budget Review Committee, regarding priorities for academic resource allocations;
4. To make recommendations to the Senate on any changes affecting the academic organization of the university;
5. To advise the Senate on the university-wide implications of relevant changes affecting the organization of the university;
6. To report to the Senate regarding the outcome of organizational changes;
7. To report to the Senate and its committees (as needed, UCUI, the Graduate Council, the General Education Committee) on the university-wide implications of proposed new academic programs or the discontinuance or major reorganization of existing academic programs as may be proposed;
8. To receive reports and recommendations from duly constituted committees, to maintain communication with the Graduate Council, the Senate Budget Review Committee, and the University Committee on Undergraduate Instruction through regular exchange of minutes, and to advise and/or make recommendations to the Senate, as needed;
9. To take on additional duties as directed by the Senate Steering Committee; and
10. To meet jointly, as needed, but at least once each semester with the Senate Budget Review Committee.

Updated:  2/2/23

Charge:

1. To encourage and promote scholarship, research, and creative endeavors among all faculty members of the University.
2. The Committee's responsibilities include, in particular, the evaluation of applications for intramural research funds and the allocation of these funds among bargaining unit faculty members.
3. More generally, they include advising and making recommendations to the Chief Research Officer on practices and policies conducive to scholarly activity. 

Charge

The Elections Committee of the University Senate shall conduct elections and referenda and make apportionments as described in the various articles of the Senate Constitution (Article IV, ix)

Charge:

To promote the academic success of students by considering, evaluating, and recommending policies and procedures in the areas of advising, financial aid, registration, admissions, student life, career development, and any other areas of student academic interest that may be brought before it.

Charge:

1. To promote the teaching function and the learning process by sponsoring incentives for good teaching and by publicizing within the University significant ideas and approaches to teaching and learning;
2. To provide for a more structured outlet for reflection on both the teaching and learning process and the aspirations and accomplishments of the teaching profession.

Charge:

1. To recommend to the University Senate academic policies and procedures concerning undergraduate education and, when necessary, seek advice from other appropriate bodies concerning the impact of these policies and procedures;
2. To evaluate and monitor petitions of exception regarding university-wide undergraduate academic requirements except for university-wide general education requirements;
3. To prepare an annual report on all petitions of exception to be shared with the Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the Registrar, individual Committees on Instruction, and the Senate Planning Review Committee;
4. To make recommendations to the University Senate regarding proposed and existing undergraduate programs, including recommendations for program modification, suspension, or discontinuance;
5. To advise the Senate Planning Review Committee (SPRC) and the Senate Budget Review Committee (SBRC) concerning proposed new undergraduate programs and to maintain regular communication with SPRC and SBRC through exchange of minutes;
6. To cooperate with the General Education Committee in overseeing undergraduate instruction throughout the University and to maintain regular communication with that committee through exchange of minutes;
7. To schedule and monitor decennial reviews of all undergraduate programs in timely fashion and report findings to the Senate Planning Review Committee and the University Senate;
8. To evaluate ongoing and proposed undergraduate programs for their consistency with University academic policies and mission, to monitor catalog copy to ensure compliance with all such policies; and to monitor all catalog changes impacting outside of the Committee on Instruction making the change;
9. To advise the Senate on all matters that body or its Steering Committee may refer to the Undergraduate Committee on University Instruction concerning undergraduate instruction and the general requirements within which the specifics of undergraduate degree programs function.