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Division of University Affairs - Councils, Committees and Boards

INSTITUTIONAL STATEMENT ON COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES

To facilitate informed decision-making at its various administrative levels, Stephen F. Austin State University provides for a broad-based system of faculty, staff and student advice through councils and committees. The system includes Administrative Councils reporting to the appropriate administrator, Presidential Committees reporting to the President, and University Committees reporting to the appropriate Vice President.

The principal functions of the committees and councils in general are (1) to recommend policy, (2) to recommend operating procedures and practices, and, when specified, (3) to adjudicate variances to policy. Further specification of the functions of each body is provided as a part of each committee's description.

Appointments of members of the faculty and staff to University Committees will normally be for terms of three years and will be arranged so that approximately one-third of the appointees will terminate each year. After completing a term of service, a faculty or staff member is not eligible for reappointment to the same committee for the following year. Appointments of student members will be for a term of one year, and students are eligible to succeed themselves. Administrative Councils, for the most part, are continuing, with either an appointed and/or elected membership. Presidential committees are appointed by the President for an indefinite term.

Faculty members to serve on University Committees are nominated by the College Deans and the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate after the Senate has announced vacancies and invited applications. Appointments are made by the appropriate Vice President. The Senate Executive Committee submits two nominations for each vacancy.

Student members to serve on committees are nominated by the President of the Student Government Association (two nominees for each vacancy) and are appointed by the appropriate Vice President.

Ex officio members of the University administration serve at the discretion of the President or appropriate Vice President. Selections are made on the basis of the individual's interest, the needs of the committee, and maintenance of an equitable distribution of faculty and professional staff members on the various committees. In instances of resignations or other kinds of terminations, the designated administrator shall appoint new members to fill vacancies and complete the terms of the replaced persons. The annual period of service for committees is from September 1 to August 31. Chairs for certain committees will be designated; other committees will elect their chairs annually.

Council and committee meetings should follow procedures as specified by Roberts Rules of Order. A quorum of more than 50 percent of the voting members is required to conduct business. Committees will meet at the call of the chair or on petition of more than 25 percent of the members. Each committee may keep minutes and distribute them to all members, with an official copy of reports to be filed with the President or the appropriate Vice President. Reports of University Committees also will be filed with the Chair of the Faculty Senate. The reports should be succinct but comprehensive and should give prominence to any recommended revisions in policies, practices, and procedures. As all committees are advisory, they will meet on an as needed basis.

The committees listed below are advisory and make their recommendations to the Vice President for University Affairs:

University Affairs Council

Chaired by:
Vice President for University Affairs

Membership:
Dean of Student Affairs, Director of Counseling and Career Services, Director of Student Publications, Director of Disability Services, Director of University Health Center, Chief of University Police, and Judicial Officer.

Function:
To advise the Vice President for University Affairs on any matters of policy or procedure effecting the operation of any unit within the Division of University Affairs; and leaders of individual units within the Division of University Affairs; to keep staff members informed on procedural developments and policy.

Members:

First Year Experience Committee

Chaired by:
Steve Westbrook, Vice President for University Affairs
Dr. Richard Berry, Associate Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs

Membership:
As appointed by the Vice President for University Affairs and the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs

Term: ad-hoc

Function:
To review the first-year freshman experience at SFA

Members:

Faculty/Staff Traffic Appeals Board

Chaired by:
Elected by the Traffic Appeals Board membership

Membership:
Seven faculty/staff members and, as ex officio, one representative from the Student Traffic Appeals Board.

Function:
To hear appeals from faculty and staff members concerning traffic and parking citations and to advise the administration on policies affecting campus parking.

Members:

Public/Student Health Committee

Chaired by:
Appointed by the Vice President for University Affairs from the Committee membership

Membership:
Four faculty members, two staff members, two students, and, as ex officio, the General Counsel, and the Director of the University Health Center.

Function:
To advise the Vice President for University Affairs on matters relating to public health, and coordinate the University's effort to fulfill its responsibility concerning public health and to recommend policies and procedures for student health services and the operation of the University Health Services facility. The Committee shall follow the guidelines of recognized authorities including: The National Center for Disease Control, the U.S. Public Health Service, the Texas Department of Health, and the American College Health Association. Further, it shall conform its actions to the Texas Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Act and other law.

Members:

Student Center Advisory Board

Chaired by:
Director of the Student Center

Membership:
Two faculty members, one person representing the Alumni Association, Director of Auxiliary Services, Director of Student Affairs, Coordinator of University Reservations and Conferences, and eight students.

Function:
To provide student, faculty, and administrative input into the operation and policy development of the University Center.

Members:

Student Conduct Committee

Chaired by:
Appointed by the President from the committee membership.

Membership:
Five members selected from the faculty and staff.

Function:

Members:

Student Publications Committee

Chaired by:
Chair, Department of Communication

Membership:
Student publications advisor; three students not holding paid positions on The Pine Log or Stone Fort staff; two representatives from the journalism faculty; one representative each from the Business Office and Public Affairs; and two other faculty members.

Function:
To recommend editorial policy for and to provide advice in the appointment of editors of The Pine Log and the Stone Fort; and to hear complaints and act as an appeals body on problems of an editorial or advertising nature of and proposed business contracts for those publications.

Members:

University Affairs Committee

Chaired by:
Appointed from the committee membership by the Vice President for University Affairs

Membership:
One faculty representative from each undergraduate college, four students, and, as ex officio, the Director of Auxiliary Services, and Coordinator of Residence Life.

Function:
To review all campus policies and practices with a view toward developing and maintaining non-academic programs and general student life of high quality; to review all student out-of-class programs and activities funded from student fees or utilizing University facilities and the budgetary procedures for those programs and activities; and to assist and advise the administration on student discipline on campus.

Members:

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