Faculty Governance Manual
Compiled by former clerks of the faculty: Neal Baker, Nelson Bingham, Tom Hamm, Meg Streepey Smith, Jennifer Seely, Nancy Taylor and Mark Van Buskirk.
I. Delegations of Responsibility in the Earlham Bylaws (Article III)
- Responsibilities of the President
- Responsibilities of the Chief Academic Officer
- Responsibilities of the Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer
- Responsibilities of the Dean of the School of Religion
- Responsibilities of the Vice Presidents
- Responsibilities of Other Officers
- Conduct of Business
- Officers
- Clerk
- Recording Clerk
- Observers and visitors
- Creation of College Committees
- Standing Committees, elected and appointed
- Nominating Committee
- Committee composition
- Self-perpetuating committees
- Ad Hoc Committees
- Standing Committees, elected and appointed
- Committee Process
- Teaching Faculty
- Faculty Interview and Search Committee
- Faculty Affairs Committee
- Student Faculty Affairs Committee
- Student Search and Interview Committee
- Administrative Faculty
V. Mission and Degree Programs
- Mission
- Degree Programs
- Divisions, Departments and Programs
- Divisions
- Departments
- Programs
- College Committees concerned with the B.A. Program
- Academic Advisory Committee
- Advisory Committee on Assessment
- Curricular Policy Committee
- Diversity Progress Advisory Committee
- GLCA Academic Council
- Professional Development Fund Committee
- Social Conduct Council and SCC Faculty Pool
VII. Graduate Programs in Education
- Non-Academic Affairs of the Community
- Principles and Practices of the Earlham Community
- College Committees concerned with Community Life
- Athletic Advisory Committee
- Campus Life Advisory Committee
- Earlham Events Committee
- Social Conduct Council
- Sustainability Progress Committee
- College Committees concerned with Administrative Matters
- Admissions and Financial Aid Advisory Committee
- Budget Advisory Committee
- Welfare Advisory Committee
- Staff Concerns and Communication
- Employee Council
- Board Liaisons
- Eligibility and Election Procedures for Faculty Affairs Committee and Nominating Committee
- Tenure Track Allocation Model
- Essays on Earlham College Governance
I. Delegations of Responsibility from the Earlham Bylaws adopted 2021
Fundamental responsibility for the operations of Earlham College rests, by law, with the Earlham Board of Trustees. The Earlham Bylaws, which are enacted by the Board of Trustees, set the basic framework of governance at the college. Article III of the Earlham Bylaws delegates responsibilities to the President. This article reads as follows:
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE PRESIDENT
“The President shall be Earlham’s Chief Executive Officer and the chief adviser to and executive agent of the Board of Trustees. The President shall be selected and approved by the Board of Trustees and shall continue in office at the pleasure of the Board. His or her authority shall be vested through the Board of Trustees and shall include responsibility for all educational and managerial affairs. The President shall have the ultimate administrative authority to make and implement decisions on behalf of Earlham and the Board of Trustees, consistent with Board policies and direction and with the best interests of Earlham, and shall have the authority to execute all documents on behalf of Earlham and the Board in the performance of the President’s duties. As the Chief Executive Officer, the President shall be responsible for implementing all Board policies, recommending actions to be taken by the Board including approval of budgets and granting of tenure, keeping the Board informed on appropriate matters, consulting with the Board in a timely manner on matters appropriate to its policy-making and fiduciary functions, and serving as Earlham’s authorized spokesperson.” (Earlham Bylaws, Article III, Section 2, part a)
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER
“The Chief Academic Officer shall, under the general direction of the President and working closely with Faculty committees and representatives, be responsible for all matters of personnel management affecting the teaching Faculty, including the recruitment of Faculty and the processes for appointment, retention, promotion, and tenure. The Chief Academic Officer is responsible, working closely with the Faculty, for the development of educational policy and curriculum strategy, and with the Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer, for the development of departmental and program budgets.” (Earlham Bylaws, Article III, section 2 part b)
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND TREASURER
“The Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer shall be responsible for the financial and business affairs of Earlham with such responsibilities and authority as the President shall designate from time to time with the approval of the Board. The Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer is the chief administrative officer of Earlham reporting directly to the President and having such responsibilities and authority as the President shall designate from time to time with the approval of the Board. Unless the Board otherwise determines in its discretion, the Chief Financial Officer shall exercise the responsibilities and authority of the President in case of a vacancy in that office and during a period of the President’s absence or incapacity. The President may appoint one or more Assistant Treasurers to whom some of the duties of the Treasurer may be delegated.“ (Earlham Bylaws, Article III, section 2, part c)
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF RELIGION
“The Dean of the Earlham School of Religion shall serve as the principal administrative officer of the School of Religion under the general direction of the President and shall have the authority and responsibility which normally accompanies such office. The Dean of the School of Religion shall report regularly to the Board on the programs, finances, and other activities of the School of Religion. (Earlham Bylaws, Article III, section 2 part d)
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE VICE PRESIDENTS
“Other Vice Presidents of Earlham shall serve for such terms and have such authority and responsibilities as the President shall determine from time to time.“ (Earlham Bylaws, Article III, section 2 part e)
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR OTHER OFFICERS
“The Board may establish other officers as it may deem prudent. Each other officer of the Corporation shall perform such duties as the Board of Trustees or the President may prescribe.“ (Earlham Bylaws, Article III, section 2 part f)
II. Faculty Meeting
A. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
The Faculty Meeting exercises the plenary powers of the Faculty. In the conduct of business, it makes decisions and formulates recommendations through a process of consensus decision-making. The Faculty meeting may delegate its responsibilities to college committees it creates.
Draft minutes will be distributed via email in advance of approval. Normally, we will continue to read the minutes aloud for approval. The Clerk has the power to waive the reading aloud in situations where the press of other business appears to require it. Notice will be sent out with the agenda. Approval will be asked on the basis of the written minutes thus distributed. Individual Faculty members have the right to call for full or partial reading of the minutes, if needed.. (1-25-2017). As a reliable historical record, the minutes should reflect actual utterances rather than what was later stated as a speaker’s intent. (FM 9-23-2015).
B. OFFICERS
1. Clerk of the Faculty
The Clerk of the Faculty sets the agenda and presides at faculty meetings, and works with the Recording Clerk on minutes of the Faculty Meeting. The Clerk convenes Convenors Lunch and attends Board Meetings on behalf of the Faculty. Term is one year, with a possible one-year extension.
2. Recording Clerk of the Faculty
The Recording Clerk of the Faculty records faculty discussion and action, notifies all involved when faculty action has been taken, maintains faculty minutes, and notifies faculty committees of reports and evaluations which are to be made to the faculty meeting. Term is one year, with a possible one-year extension.
C. OBSERVERS AND VISITORS
1. The Faculty invites Earlham Student Government to appoint one student as an observer to attend Faculty Meetings, and invites Employee Council to name one staff member as an observer. The editor of the Earlham Word is also invited to attend Faculty Meetings as an observer. [FM 9-27-1977; 10-23-1979; 3-31-1981; 9-20-1983]
2. Normally, the Clerk will invite student and staff members of committees to attend a Faculty Meeting when the committee to which they belong is making a report or recommendation.
3. The Clerk may invite others to attend Faculty Meetings as visitors.
III. College Committees
A. CREATION OF COLLEGE COMMITTEES
1. Standing committees
All standing college committees are created by the Faculty. In acting to create a committee, the Faculty will establish the charge for the committee, its composition, and the manner of appointment or election. The Faculty elects members for two college committees: Nominating Committee and Faculty Affairs Committee. Rules for election of these committees are stated in an appendix to this document. [FM 3-26-1985, 2-1-1989] For all other college committees, Faculty members are appointed through nomination by the Nominating Committee and approval by the Faculty.
Charge: The Nominating Committee nominates, for faculty approval, members to all standing committees except those elected directly by the faculty, that is Nominating and Faculty Affairs committees. It nominates, for faculty approval, members to other committees when requested to do so by the appropriate committees; nominates the clerk and recording clerk of the faculty; prepares and maintains a record of all committee assignments, including terms of service of the members; conducts elections for Nominating and Faculty Affairs committees; supervises and encourages the periodic pruning of the committee structure of the College; consults with the president and/or Dean of the Faculty regarding appointments to ad hoc committees; and consults with the various committees and individual faculty members concerning the composition and function of committees.
Membership: Academic Dean; four elected teaching faculty members, one from each of the divisions; and two elected administrative faculty members. (3-13-2013)
Eligibility and Election Rules: stated in Appendix A
2. Committee composition
a. The normal term of a faculty appointment to a college committee is three years. Exceptions to this norm are designated under the appropriate committees. Nominating Committee occasionally recommends appointments for periods that differ from the normal term. These exceptions are usually in response to cases in which filling mid-term vacancies would compromise continuity or schedule future simultaneous terminations of a majority of the faculty on a committee. [FM May 1983]
b. The unqualified term ‘faculty’ when used in the composition of a committee refers to the entire pool of Teaching Faculty, Administrative Faculty Who Also Teach, and Administrative Faculty from which we draw nominees. Under some committees, the pool is more specifically limited to subsets by Division, by Administrative or Teaching, etc. [FM May 1983]
c. “Ex-officio” status on a committee is taken to mean that a member holding a position so designated normally ought not serve as the convener of that committee. This is especially important in those situations where a committee acts in an advisory capacity to the member holding that office. [FM May 1983]
d. The President is an ex-officio member of all college committees.
e. There are student members of all college committees except for committees that make decisions about student standing, committees that are involved in making judgments about individual members of the faculty or staff. Student members of committees are chosen through Student Government nominating procedures.
f. When staff members are included on a committee, they are selected by Employee Council.
g. Faculty, student and staff members of committees are of equal status; and, unless otherwise stated, may participate in forming a consensus or serve as convener.
3. Self-perpetuating committees
Self-perpetuating committees originate by a variety of means, though usually at the formal initiation of the President of the College or the Provost. Their members are not appointed by recommendation of the Nominating Committee to the faculty meeting. The activities of these committees seem to cease when common sense so dictates. [FM May1983]
4. Ad hoc committees
a. From time to time, either the President or the Faculty may create ad hoc committees to accomplish special purposes. The charge and composition of these ad hoc committees are stated when they are created, and these ad hoc committees are dissolved when they complete the task for which they were created.
b. Within the terms of their charge, committees may create ad hoc sub-committees to further their work. Final decisions or recommendations should be made by the full committee.
B. COMMITTEE PROCESS
1. All college committees shall choose a convener from among their members and communicate the name of the convener to the Nominating Committee and the Academic Dean. The means of selection is left to the committee. In cases where a committee is advisory to or has oversight over an administrative unit, representatives of the administrative unit who serve on the committee may not serve as convener.
2. All college committee meetings are normally open to any members of the college community who wish to attend, except Faculty Affairs Committee. Faculty Interview and Search Committee, and Nominating Committee. Because of the personal nature of the information discussed these meetings are closed unless someone is expressly invited to attend because they have information the committee wants. Those who choose to attend may observe, but not participate in the discussion unless asked to do so by the committee. Attenders are also not to be part of consensus decisions reached by the committee in the course of carrying out its business. In rare instances, committees may choose to go into executive session when only members of the committee will be present during a meeting. Normally, committees meet in executive session when they are considering cases involving individual persons.
3. All committee conveners shall prepare and circulate agendas to the committee membership prior to each meeting. In addition, committees should prepare longer-range agendas for their work over a semester or academic year, and make these agendas available to the clerk of the faculty for possible wider publication to the college community and for the planning of business to be brought to the faculty.
4. Committee decisions are to be reached by a process of consensus that is respectful of the roles and persons of all committee members.
5. All committees shall keep minutes and publish these minutes in the manner determined by the Nominating Committee. Copies of committee minutes should be posted to the designated college web site (Box, Moodle, WebDB, etc.) and sent to the College Archives. Furthermore, student members of committees are encouraged to communicate actions that affect students to Student Government.
6. Committees decide what items they should bring to the Faculty Meeting for information or decisions in consultation with the Clerk of the Faculty. Committees that are advisory to administrative offices and services report their deliberations to the office or director of the service.
IV. Faculty Appointments
A. TEACHING FACULTY
1. Consideration of the addition, elimination or reallocation of teaching faculty positions should follow procedures for such matters approved by the Faculty. (FM 11-1-1989, 12-8-2010, )
2. The process and criteria for appointment, promotion, tenure, termination and dismissal are stated in the Faculty Handbook, which is approved by the Faculty, the President and the Board of Trustees. Changes in the Faculty Handbook require approval of the Faculty, the President and the Board of Trustees
3. “Earlham’s President is responsible for the appointment and contract renewal of Earlham’s teaching faculty and for recommendations to the Earlham Board of Trustees for tenure. That responsibility is exercised in the context of receiving advice and recommendations from the Faculty Affairs Committee (FAC) and the Student Faculty Affairs Committee (SFAC). Along with the five elected members of FAC, the Academic Dean fully participates ex officio in FAC deliberations, consensus seeking, and minute writing.” [Faculty Handbook section A]
Charge: The Faculty Affairs Committee serves as advisory committee to the President for such faculty matters as promotion, tenure, termination and dismissal.
Membership: Five tenured teaching faculty members elected at large and the Academic Dean. Elected members of the committee shall serve for four years. Their terms shall be staggered.
Eligibility and Election Rules: stated in Appendix A.
Charge: The Faculty Interview and Search Committee serves as an advisory committee to the president for matters of faculty hiring and appointments.
Membership: Four members, one faculty from Humanities, one faculty from Natural Sciences, one faculty from Social Sciences, one faculty from Visual and Performing Arts, selected by the Nominating Committee; and the Academic Dean. Members of the committee shall serve for four years. Their terms shall be staggered.
(4-13-2011; 10-11-2017)
Charge: The Student Faculty Affairs Committee serves as advisory committee to the President for such faculty matters as promotion, tenure, termination and dismissal. SFAC works closely with FAC.
Membership: Five students selected by Student Nominating Committee in consultation with the current convener of SFAC.
Recommendation: that all members be expected to serve at least three semesters; (for both SFAC and SSIC) that there be at least one, if not more, students who serve on both committees for ongoing consistence and understanding of the intimate relationship of the committees work. (FM 1-23-2008)
Charge: The Student Search and Interview Committee serves as an advisory committee to the president for matters of faculty hiring and appointments for all teaching faculty members who will teach full time for one full year or more. SSIC works closely with FISC.
Membership: Five students selected by Student Nominating Committee in consultation with the current convener of SSIC. (FM 1-23-2008)
Recommendation: that all members be expected to serve at least three semesters; (for both SFAC and SSIC) that there be at least one, if not more, students who serve on both committees for ongoing consistence and understanding of the intimate relationship of the committees work.
4. “The Earlham Board of Trustees approves tenure and promotion recommendations for teaching faculty, as specified in the college by-laws. In so acting, the Board does not seek to replace the professional judgment of peers and academic administrators but seeks only to satisfy itself that correct procedures have been followed.” [Faculty Handbook section A]
B. ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY
1. There should be consultation with the Budget Advisory Committee before any additions are made of administrative faculty positions.
2. “In appointing and renewing administrative faculty, the President may share this responsibility with the appropriate administrative department head. For many administrative positions, appointments are made after a broadly constituted search committee has submitted its recommendations.” [Faculty Handbook section A]
3. Within the guidance provided in the Faculty Handbook, the President may establish additional procedures for the appointment and evaluation of administrative faculty.
V. Mission and Degree Programs
A. MISSION
The mission of Earlham College will be set by the Board of Trustees on recommendation of the Faculty.
B. DEGREE PROGRAMS
Degree programs in support of the mission of Earlham College will be approved by the Board of Trustees on recommendation of the Faculty.
VI. B.A. Program
A. ACADEMIC DIVISIONS, DEPARTMENTS, PROGRAMS
- Academic Divisions
Divisions are groups of disciplinarily related Departments. The Divisions are Humanities, Natural Science, Social Science and Fine Arts. While some Academic Divisions organize themselves regularly for business, Academic Divisions have no formal responsibilities in the governance structure. Academic Divisions are available for consultation on matters that particularly affect them. Academic Divisional representation is used in the nominating process to ensure an array of disciplinary perspective on committees where this is deemed important.
- Academic Departments
Academic Departments and interdisciplinary programs are the planning units responsible for Departmental Majors and Minors and for filling in the staffing and curricular details of the academic program in specific subject areas. In regular Unit Reports submitted to the Academic Dean, Academic Departments develop the curricular offerings and staffing arrangements for these offerings. Academic Departments operate within the framework of policies established by the Faculty through the Curricular Policy Committee, and by the President through the authorization of tenure lines. Academic Departmental recommendations concerning the curriculum are directed to the Faculty also through the Curricular Policy Committee.
Academic Departments and interdisciplinary programs also have specific responsibilities for recommendations concerning hiring, contract renewal, and tenure of faculty. These recommendations are made in accordance with Section E of the Faculty Handbook.
- Academic Programs
Academic Programs function in the same manner as Academic Departments with regard to the academic program, with specific responsibility for Interdisciplinary Majors and Minors.
Those Academic Programs that are the primary appointment for individual members of the faculty function in the same manner as Academic Departments with regard to hiring, contract renewal, and tenure of these faculty.
B. COLLEGE COMMITTEES CONCERNED WITH THE B.A. PROGRAM
Charge: Evaluates the academic performance of students, and in particular, makes decisions in regard to questions of academic standing or dismissal for students who have not maintained a satisfactory level of scholastic performance.. Serves as a resource for students on probation and final probation toward improving academic standing.
Membership: Registrar, Associate Academic Dean, Dean of Student Life Director of Residential Life, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Dean of Admissions or designate, Director of Academic Enrichment Center, International Student Advisor, two regularly nominated, teaching faculty and additional teaching faculty (with no term limit) as deemed necessary by the committee and appointed by the Academic Dean (FM 3-13-2013; 2-27-2019)
Charge: The Advisory Committee on Assessment (ACA) is responsible for guiding and coordinating assessment efforts for both academic and co-curricular activities at Earlham. Specifically the committee will work to provide advice and guidance on: 1) methods to assess student learning outcomes, 2) Protocols for the assessment of quality and success of majors/minors and co-curricular activities; 3) periodic assessment of general education student learning outcomes (in conjunction with the Curricular Policy Committee); 4) Academic Departmental and Program 5-year reviews; and 5) external accreditation processes. Additionally, the Committee will coordinate and maintain an assessment website that provides assessment guidance and tools to faculty for course and program evaluation.
Membership: Associate Dean for Academics and Assessment (convener/ex-officio), Vice President and Dean of Student Development (or designee from Student Development whose duties are assessment related; ex officio), Associate Director of Institutional Research and Assessment (ex officio), Two Academic Division Representatives (nominated through Nominating Committee), Library and Archives Representative (ex officio), One Student (nominated by Earlham Student Government), Teaching-Learning Consultant (ex officio). (3-13-2013)
Charge: Provides oversight of the on-campus and off-campus curriculum. Studies, formulates, and proposes policies and curricular opportunities involving the educational operations of the College (e.g., revisions to the daily/weekly calendar). Reviews and proposes courses and modifications to existing programs in the academic curriculum (e.g., suggests needed courses, approves proposed courses, approves revisions to majors and minors, and approves individual education programs not usually recognized by the College). Oversees, reviews, and proposes General Education requirements and policies. CPC should be consulted on all curricular affairs that have policy implications.
Membership: Academic Dean; Associate Academic Dean; Registrar; the Director of International Education; one librarian; one faculty from Humanities; one faculty from Natural Sciences; one faculty from Social Sciences; one faculty from Visual and Performing Arts; one at-large teaching faculty; and, three students. (FM 3-13-2013)
Charge: The Diversity Progress Advisory Committee is tasked with thinking through, developing, monitoring, and helping to implement Earlham’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. This committee creates new initiatives to build a thriving culture of diversity at Earlham; reviews and reports on the progress of current diversity and inclusion initiatives; and makes recommendations to senior leadership for improving diversity and equity across campus. This committee works with and supports student leaders and groups (in particular the Earlham Student Government and the Student Diversity Council) in order to make sure students have the opportunity to contribute to how diversity and inclusion are understood on campus. This committee will also work in consultation with the Board of Trustees’ Diversity Committee when appropriate. DPC participates in implementing recommendations and holding all areas of the college accountable for our commitment to the belonging and success of all community members.
Membership: Vice President of Academic Affairs or designate; Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students or designate; Associate Dean of Students and Director of Diversity and Inclusion; Director of Athletics or designate; Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications or designate; Vice President of Enrollment Management or designate; Director of Human Resources or designate; Director of Events and Operations or designate; Director of Center for Social Justice; Executive Director for the Center for Global and Career Education; Chaplain and Director of Quaker Life or designate; one teaching faculty; one administrative faculty; one staff member; and two students. (FM 10-16-2019)
Charge: Represents the College faculty at the GLCA meetings to share curriculum changes, and challenges, and to learn about national trends in curriculum.
Membership: Two faculty members for three-year terms. (8-31-2016)
Charge: Recommends the awarding of funds to teaching and administrative faculty to facilitate professional development related to teaching, artistic production, and scholarship.
Membership: Associate Academic Dean, two teaching faculty, and one administrative faculty. (2-28-2018)
Charge: SCC hears cases of alleged social and academic violations assigned to them by the Judicial Advisor (Academic Dean). It determines responsibility for such violations and assigns sanctions appropriate to the circumstances. This body has jurisdiction over all very serious violations, where the sanctions would likely include suspension from the non-academic life of the College, suspension from the College or expulsion from the College. It is also hears appeals rising out of SJC decisions.
Membership: Two teaching faculty from each division and four administrative faculty (not otherwise affiliated with Student Development). The council can also draw on previously trained members (within the past five years) when necessary(FM 3-13-2013; 5-6–2014)
VII. Graduate Programs in Education
The Graduate Programs in Education offer the degrees of Masters of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) and Masters of Education (M.Ed.).
VIII. Community Life
A. NON-ACADEMIC AFFAIRS OF THE COMMUNITY
These responsibilities have been delegated by the faculty, with the concurrence of the Board, to the Campus Life Advisory Committee, which is composed of students, faculty, staff and administrators. Actions of the Campus Life Advisory Committee are subject directly to review and approval by the President of the College. Student Government and all student organizations and activities operate within the framework of policies and procedures approved by the Campus Life Advisory Committee. (FM, BM 02-1977) Copies of such policies and procedures are available in the office of the President, the Dean of Student Development, and on the Earlham website.
B. PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF THE EARLHAM COMMUNITY
Expectations of the conduct of community members — students, teaching and administrative faculty, and staff – are stated in Principles and Practices of the Earlham College Community, whichis approved by the Student Government, the Faculty, the President and the Board of Trustees, and is periodically reviewed and revised.
C. COLLEGE COMMITTEES CONCERNED WITH COMMUNITY LIFE
Charge: Advises the Director of Athletics regarding athletic policies, providing perspectives from across the community. Serves as a conduit for community ideas regarding athletic policies. Reports to the Faculty Meeting, Staff Meeting, and Earlham Student Government as a matter of information, to keep all community members updated.
Membership: Director of Athletic Director, Dean of Student Life or designate; Director of Wellness (or designate); Associate Athletic Director/Senior Women Administrator; two full-time head coaches, one from a women’s and one for men’s sport (nominated for two-year terms); two faculty athletic conference representatives; one administrative faculty from outside Athletics; one staff representative, and three students. (FM 3-13-2013; 2-27-2019; 11-13-2019)
Charge: Advises the Dean of Student Development regarding co-curricular life policies, providing perspectives from across the community. Oversees periodic revisions of the Earlham College Community’s Principles and Practices. Serves as a conduit for community ideas for ideas regarding co-curricular life policies. Reports to the Faculty Meeting, Staff Meeting, and Earlham Student Government as a matter of information, to keep all community members updated.
Membership: Dean of Student Development; Director of Student Activities (and advisor to Student Government); Director of Multicultural Affairs; two hourly staff; two teaching faculty; two administrative faculty outside student development; President, Vice-President, Secretary of Finance and Recording Clerk of Student Government; and, three at-large student representatives. (FM 3-13-2013; 11-13-2019)
Charge: Works with the Events Coordinator to envision and design the pattern of major events, including Convocations, sponsored by Earlham. The committee should seek community input so that a variety of events are offered to meet varied curricular and social needs. The committee will work closely with the Fine Arts faculty, Marketing and Communications Office and other groups responsible for particular events or with overall responsibilities for which public events are important.
Membership: Events Coordinator, three members of the faculty (at least two should be teaching faculty, with one usually from Fine Arts), one staff representative, and two students (one representative from the Student Activities Board and a student-at-large representative). (FM 12-6-2000; 11-13-2019)
Charge: SCC hears cases of alleged social and academic violations assigned to them by the Judicial Advisor (Academic Dean). It determines responsibility for such violations and assigns sanctions appropriate to the circumstances. This body has jurisdiction over all very serious violations, where the sanctions would likely include suspension from the non-academic life of the College, suspension from the College or expulsion from the College. It is also hears appeals rising out of SJC decisions.
Membership: Two teaching faculty from each division and four administrative faculty (not otherwise affiliated with Student Development). The council can also draw on previously trained members (within the past five years) when necessary.
Charge: Advises the Sustainability Coordinator and the Sustainability Office regarding sustainability policies, providing perspectives from across the community. Recommends college sustainability priorities, tracks progress on the Earlham Sustainability Plan, and leads sustainability planning. Serves as a conduit for community ideas regarding sustainability policies. Reports to the Faculty Meeting, Staff Meeting, and Earlham Student Government as a matter of information, to keep all community members updated.
Membership: Sustainability Coordinator; Director of Center for Integrated Learning; Director of Facilities; Director of Food Services; Associate Dean of Student Development; Vice President of Finance and Operations; two teaching faculty; two staff; two administrative faculty; and, two students. (FM 3-13-2013; 11-13-2019)
Charge: This committee’s role is to hear and mediate harassment complaints face to face with the concerned parties either together or separately, as appropriate, and to make a recommendation to the administrator of the area(s) concerned. The Ombuds Council will archive notes on informal as well as formal mediation and meet regularly with Human Resources to allow the College to track possible patterns of harassment and to pursue disciplinary action as appropriate.
Membership: Two teaching faculty, two administrative faculty, two hourly staff, and two students. (FM 3-8-2017)
IX. Administrative Matters
A. COLLEGE COMMITTEES CONCERNED WITH ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
In the conduct of their responsibilities, the Vice Presidents and Deans who lead the major administrative divisions of the college are expected to consult broadly before making important decisions. With regard to some matters, the Faculty may create standing college committees to serve as the established body with which the administrative officer is expected to consult.
Charge: Advises the Vice President for Enrollment Managementregarding admissions and financial aid, providing perspectives from across the community. Serves as a conduit for community ideas regarding admissions and financial aid. Reports to the Faculty Meeting, Staff Meeting, and Earlham Student Government as a matter of information, to keep all community members updated.
Membership: Vice President for Enrollment; Associate Academic Dean; Director of Admissions; a Faculty Athletics Representative; two students; two teaching faculty; one staff representative, and, one administrative faculty outside admissions. (3-13-2013; 2-27-2019; 11-13-2019)
Charge: Advises the Vice President for Finance and Operations regarding the college budget and decisions that impact college finances, providing perspectives from across the community. Reviews predictive models of the college budget and financial assessments of proposals under consideration and evaluates budgets and projects during and after implementation. Serves as a conduit for community ideas regarding budgeting and other fiscal issues. Reports to the Faculty Meeting, Staff Meeting, and Earlham Student Government as a matter of information, to keep all community members updated.
Membership: Vice President for Finance and Operations; College Controller; two hourly staff; two teaching faculty; two administrative faculty outside the accounting office; and, three students. (3-13-2013)
Charge: Advises the Director of Human Resources and Operations, Vice President for Finance and Operations, and President regarding faculty and staff welfare policies (e.g., insurance programs, benefits, general salary scales, retirement programs, tuition remissions, wellness initiatives), providing perspectives from across the community. Serves as a conduit for community ideas regarding faculty and staff welfare policies. Some committee recommendations might be reached after studying grievances of faculty and staff members, but the committee will not serve as an advocate in any individual’s grievance case. Reports to the Faculty Meeting and Staff Meeting, as a matter of information, to keep all employees updated.
Membership: Two teaching faculty, two administrative faculty, two hourly staff, Vice President for Finance and Operations; Director of Human Resources and Operations; an ESR employee, appointed by the Dean of ESR. (FM 3-13-2013; 11-13-2019)
B. STAFF CONCERNS AND COMMUNICATION
Charge: Employee Council provides a communication link between staff employees and the College. The seven-member committee is to serve as a staff nominating committee when needed and to allocate staff Professional Development Funds in response to employee requests. The members are elected by the staff as each three-year term expires.
Membership: Seven members of hourly staff chosen by area of the campus; and one faculty member as liaison, a two-year term.
X. Board-Faculty Relations
A. BOARD LIAISONS (STATEMENT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, APRIL 2018)
As a Quaker college, we strive to listen deeply to all voices. At the heart of our decision-making process is an inclusive approach that discerns the way forward after hearing all perspectives.
Earlham faculty and staff have a significant stake in board decisions, and they have important insight and perspectives to offer on key strategic issues to which the Board should be attuned. Listening directly to faculty and staff perspectives in its deliberations may strengthen the Board’s decisions, build trust, help avoid misperceptions, and lead to a better-aligned organization.
In a shared governance model, teaching and administrative faculty have the lead role in shaping the curriculum and supporting students on campus. The trustees, on the other hand, hold the financial and strategic responsibility. During times of change and challenge it is important that both constituents fully understand each other’s motivations and rationale for decisions.
Having faculty and hourly staff representatives observe the Board Meeting and report back to the campus has long been the practice for interaction. But it has become clear that there is a need to reevaluate and improve on that process. To that end, we have had extensive conversation among the Board, faculty and administration over the past several years on how to build a model that can best facilitate collaboration. After much listening and discussion, the Nominating and Governance Committee now makes the following recommendation to broaden and improve our collaborative process:
- The Clerk of the Faculty, and three additional members of the Earlham College teaching or administrative faculty will serve as liaisons to Board Committees.
- In addition, the Clerk of the Faculty and one of the Earlham College faculty Board liaisons will also serve as observers of the Board Meeting. One member of the ESR teaching faculty, and one member of the Earlham College hourly staff will serve as liaisons to Board Committees and observers of the Board Meeting. Two students will continue to serve as observers of the Board Meeting.
The above-stated process replaces the previous system of having two faculty, one hourly staff and two students serve as Board observers.
The Nominating and Governance Committee will accept nominations from the College’s Nominating Committee, the Employee Council, and the Dean of ESR for these positions. Nominated individuals should have experience or expertise relevant to a Board committee. For the three teaching and administrative faculty positions (other than the Clerk), the Board will consider nominations approved through the regular nominating process in faculty meeting. The Board Governance and Nominating Committee reserves the right to give final approval of nominated liaison
Board liaisons are invited to attend the Opening Session of the Board Meeting and will each be assigned, based on their experience and expertise, to attend two of the following committee meetings (one that meets in the morning and one that meets in the afternoon): Academic Affairs, Property and Finance, ESR, Institutional Advancement, Enrollment and Marketing, and Campus and Community Life.
- Board liaisons will not participate in the Executive Sessions (unless by invitation).Board liaisons will not participate in decisions, but will have access to the same pre-meeting committee materials as trustee committee members, except for materials pre-designated for executive session. In cases where committees need to consider a confidential issue, the board liaisons will be excused from the meeting.
- Board liaisons will not publicly discuss or report on committee meetings, and it is expected that sensitive discussions will be treated appropriately. The practice of observers publicly reporting their perspectives on only the full Board Meeting will continue.
- Board liaisons will serve three-year terms, with initial terms for teaching and administrative faculty staggered from one to three years.
- Board liaisons should not function as representatives of departments or constituents. Like trustees, they are not to come to meetings with prepared statements or rigid positions; rather, they are there to listen, engage in the process as appropriate and seek the way forward with the rest of the committee.
- All newly appointed Board liaisons will be expected to attend new board orientation during the October Board meeting of their first term.
Additional administrative or teaching faculty, other than the board liaisons will, when necessary, continue to be asked to participate in Board meetings, share insights or make presentations during various committee or other Board sessions.
(FM 8-29-2019)