Academic Council and Your Role in Shared Governance Robert W. Schwartz Professor of Ceramic Engineering President of Academic Council

Policy Information The Board of Curators for the University of Missouri sets all policies for the four UM System campuses The four campuses are UMC, UMKC, UMSL, and UMR Your source of information for all policies including tenure, leave, benefits, role and responsibility, and your representative body, are the Collected Rules and Regulations (CRR) Chapter 300 of the CRR are the faculty by-laws Subchapter are the faculty by-laws for UMR

By-Laws Excerpts Preamble The faculty of the University of Missouri-Rolla in order to facilitate communications and to provide for effective academic governance, for participation in decision making, and for shared responsibility in academic affairs, do establish and subscribe to these Bylaws. Duties, Powers, Responsibilities & Privileges Primary functions – education, research, and service Academic, civil, and employment rights Organizations – General Faculty, Academic Council, the Graduate Faculty, Departments, etc. Meetings – General Faculty and Academic Council

Academic Council Structure Elected departmental representatives: 1 representative per 10 faculty members Officers: President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Parliamentarian (a 5 year commitment) Members from faculty, administration, staff, student council, and COGS 32 department representatives 7 officio members of the administration Numerous other ex-officio members (administration, staff council, student council, COGS) Standing and ad hoc committees (also, Judicial committees) All meetings are open All members of the General Faculty may be elected to serve

General Faculty Standing Committees Mission – formulate/recommend action and policies in assigned areas; decision authority in curricula Membership on committee varies (dept., school, AC, Stu Co, etc.)  Academic Freedom and Standards  Administrative Review  Budgetary Affairs  Information Technology/Computing  Curricula  Facilities Planning  Honorary Degrees  Library and Learning Resources  Personnel  Public Occasions  Rules, Procedure & Agenda  Student Affairs  Student Awards and Financial Aids  Tenure Academic Council

Judicial Committees  Grievance Hearing Panel  Parking, Security and Traffic  Student Conduct  Student Scholastic Appeals  Tuition and Residence Academic Council

What We Try to Do Be a representative body – we need to hear from you to represent you effectively! Provide opportunities for communication between faculty and administration Keep you informed of issues Communication Mechanisms AC report/discussion during each department meeting Monthly President’s report to AC Departmental Representatives Academic Council meetings (Sept. 7, 1:30, McNutt 204) Bi-weekly RP&A meetings Academic Council

One Aspect of Our Mission Address issues with which we are tasked –Can be from faculty, administration, Board of Curators, or UM System; also from Student Council or Council of Graduate Students –Issues from system – frequently through IFC representatives IFC – Intercampus Faculty Council –3 representatives from each campus Examples Instructor drop policy Review of strategic plan Recommendations on administrative restructuring Non-tenure track faculty roles and rights Conflict of interest policy

Academic Council and You Your Involvement Specified and mandated by the by-laws – “Shared Governance” Department and University citizenship are critical for a strong university and effective relationships with the administration Communicate with your representative to stay informed and voice your opinion Attend open forums and General Faculty meetings You are welcome to attend Academic Council meetings and meetings of its committees Consider committee service or serving as Departmental Representative A great opportunity for professional growth

Contact Information Schwartz: Web: Other Officers College of Arts and Sciences: Frank Blum School of Engineering: Kurt Kosbar School of Management and Information Systems: Eun Soo Park School of Engineering: Doug Carroll Academic Council