August 13, 2007

TO:                  Rebecca Le Docq, Convener

                        Academic Policies and Standards Committee

FROM:            Carmen Wilson, Chair

                        Faculty Senate

RE:                   Committee Charge for 2007-2008 Academic Year

This memo is intended to serve as the initial charge letter to the Academic Policies and Standards Committee for the 2007-08 academic year. 

In response to concerns that, frequently, committee member turnover each year tends to slow committee work, the senate executive committee is working to find better ways to orient new committee members.  Additionally, we would like to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of committee work.  To that end, we will be trying several new ideas. 

1. The Senate Executive Committee will be holding a meeting of conveners at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 27 in 325 Graff Main Hall.  Please plan on attending this meeting if possible.  An agenda will follow.
2. The SEC will be holding a meeting of Chairs during the week before classes in January.  The purpose of this meeting will be for committee chairs to report on progress on charges to date and discuss any problems committees may be experiencing.
3. I am including a copy of the 2006-2007 Academic Policies and Standards Committee end-of-year report with this charge letter, as well as a list of last year’s committee members.  The SEC strongly encourages you to invite past members to the first committee meeting of the year to review their work in the previous year. 

Per Faculty Senate Bylaw II. (s):  “Each faculty committee shall hold an organizational meeting and report the name of the chairperson to the senate office by October 1. (Joint Chairpersons are not permitted.)” 

Therefore, as the convener of the CAPS, please arrange, as soon as feasible, an organizational meeting.  In addition to a chairperson, please also elect a secretary.   

 Primary responsibilities of the chairperson include:

o       promptly informing the Senate office (5-8018) the results of the election of officers and any changes in committee membership.*

o       organizing and conducting meetings.

o       completing a year end report on the CAPS activities to be submitted to the Senate Office no later than May 31, 2008.

*The committee chairperson should carefully review Faculty Senate Bylaw II, “Faculty Standing Committees” for information on committee attendance and the role of alternates.

Primary responsibilities of the secretary include:

o       recording minutes of each meeting.

o       promptly sending meeting minutes to Sibbie Weathers (weathers.sylv@uwlax.edu) so that the minutes can be posted on the faculty senate website. 

In the event the committee chooses to rotate secretarial duties, please designate one person to be responsible for e-mailing the meeting minutes to Sibbie Weathers.

According to Faculty Senate Bylaw II. B. The Academic Policies and Standards Committee, the duties and responsibilities of the committee shall include:

1. Formulating and reviewing local policies and standards concerning admissions, advising, retention, advanced standing, probation, dismissal, readmission, the grading system, and graduation honors for undergraduate students.
2. Ensuring equitable application of standards by the undergraduate schools and colleges.
3. Supervising the administration of these standards and formulating procedures for hearing student appeals and petitions on academic matters not resolved by administrative offices of the university.

In addition to the committee's normal duties, I ask that the committee consider and report on the following special charges:

• Create a set meeting time for the committee.  Please let the senate office know of the set time by the end of October.
• Create a matrix showing the likelihood of admission using trend data and data from the most recent classes. CAPS will review the matrix each year and update it as necessary.  Please plan to provide a report to faculty senate at the November 15, 2007 meeting.

The senate executive committee discussed the CAPS recommendation to review the practice of teaching required courses during the January term.  We appreciate the recommendation but feel the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee is the more appropriate committee to address this charge.  The UCC charge will include a recommendation to consult with you to best fully understand CAPS concerns. 

If you have any questions about the charges, please feel free to contact me.

Finally, if the Senate Executive Committee or I can assist your committee in any way during the year, please do not hesitate to ask.

saw