List of Committees

Divisional structure. For purposes of electing committees, this is the current grouping of the departments:

Division I: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Cell Biology; Chemistry; Geological Sciences; Mathematics; Neurobiology and Physiology; Physics and Astronomy; Statistics

Division II: African-American Studies; Anthropology; Economics; History; Linguistics; Political Science; Psychology; Sociology

Division III: Art History; Art Theory and Practice; Classics; English; French and Italian; German Language and Literature; Spanish and Portuguese; Philosophy; Religion; Slavic Languages and Literatures

Ad hoc committees are appointed by the dean to offer advice on many topics, and most faculty members serve regularly on one or more. These groups have recently considered such varied matters as a “Plan for the 1990s” for the College, the renovation of University Hall, the nature and quality of the teaching of science at the introductory level, and the search for faculty members to occupy endowed chairs in interdisciplinary fields. One subset of ad hoc committees comprises groups of faculty members who are responsible for the interdisciplinary academic programs (as distinct from discipline-specific departments) that offer major concentrations or certificate concentrations; members of those committees are typically appointed on the recommendation of the program director or members already serving. Another important group of ad hoc committees comprises the confidential committees that evaluate candidates for promotion or the grant of tenure.

The Administrative Board of the Graduate School includes three members of the College's faculty, one from each division, serving staggered four-year terms. Nomination and election are divisional. Nomination is by petition of five voting members. A faculty member who has just concluded a full four-year term on the board may not immediately serve again. If necessary, the College's Committee on Committees completes the ballot so that two candidates appear for each vacancy. Election takes place in the Spring Quarter for a term beginning the next academic year.

The Committee on Appeals has several appellate functions. It considers appeals by students of rulings of the associate dean for undergraduate studies in cases of alleged dishonesty in academic work.

It considers appeals by students who believe that grades they have received are the result of inconsistent, capricious, or prejudicial standards on the part of the instructor and who have exhausted their recourse at the department or program level. The associate dean for undergraduate studies first hears each appeal. If, in the judgment of the associate dean for undergraduate studies, there is prima facie evidence of prejudiced or capricious grading, he or she presents the background of each student's case to the committee.

It considers appeals by students who have been dismissed for academic reasons and whose petitions for early readmission have been denied by the associate dean for undergraduate studies (or a member of his or her staff, usually the assistant dean for academic standing). Furthermore, it considers petitions for readmission from students who have been dismissed for academic reasons on more than one occasion.

The Committee consists of 9 faculty members and 2 students. The associate dean for undergraduate studies does not serve as a member of the Committee.

The Budget Committee advises the dean on the adjustment of faculty salaries and on related fiscal and planning matters. It comprises three full professors, one nominated and elected by each division. Members may not serve on another elected College committee. Election is in the winter quarter. Membership commences formally the following September with the new academic year. Nomination is by ballot on which all eligible faculty members are listed. Ineligible for membership are those in departments from which a colleague has served a full three-year term on this committee during the previous six years. Persons receiving five or more votes are eligible to become nominees, and between four and six nominees must appear on the election ballot. (In the event that fewer than four or more than six emerge from the nominating round, the Committee on Committees completes the ballot.) If one of the nominees receives a majority, that person is elected. Otherwise, the two receiving the largest number of votes appear on a runoff ballot.

The Committee on Committees, together with the dean, names members of the indirectly elected standing committees, subject to endorsement by the whole faculty. This committee oversees all committee elections. It fills in any election ballot left incomplete by the petitionary nominating process, in order that two candidates shall appear on the ballot for each vacancy. The committee comprises three members, one from each division, and nomination is by petition of five members of the division in question (nominators must be eligible to vote in meetings of the faculty). Ineligible to serve are faculty members in a department from which a colleague has served a full three-year term on this committee during the previous six years. Election is College-wide, by direct ballot, and takes place in the spring quarter for a term beginning the following academic year.

The Curricular Policies Committee oversees the quality and coherence of undergraduate academic programs. The Curricular Policies Committee examines the curriculum and makes recommendations to the faculty about degree requirements, the awarding of credit, grading policies, the establishment of major and certificate concentrations, and, in general, any College-wide regulation or procedure affecting academic programs. The committee meets as often as warranted. It comprises ten members: two faculty members from each of the three divisions, two students, the associate dean for undergraduate studies ex officio, and the assistant dean for curriculum ex officio. Its chairperson is appointed by the dean.

The Curricular Review Committee considers proposals for new courses and significant course revisions, for changes in existing major and certificate programs, and for ad hoc majors, courses in the program of student-organized seminars, and programs of field study and internships. The committee meets as needed and reports its actions at least once a year to the faculty. It comprises eleven members: two faculty members from each of the three divisions, three students, the associate dean for undergraduate studies ex officio, and the assistant dean for curriculum ex officio. Its chairperson is appointed by the dean.

The General Faculty Committee of the University Senate meets frequently to consider matters of importance to faculty members University-wide. It acts as a liaison between the faculty and central administration and advises the latter (see the Northwestern University Faculty Handbook). It includes six members elected by and from the faculty of the College, two from each division. The election takes place in the spring quarter for a three-year term beginning with the subsequent academic year.

The General Studies Committee oversees most College-wide curricular programs: freshman seminars, distribution requirements (it regularly reviews the courses meeting those requirements), junior-year tutorials, Senior Linkage Seminars, and writing proficiency (see p. 43). The committee reports its activities to the faculty at least once a year, and submits its decisions for faculty approval when appropriate. The committee has nine members: six faculty members, at least one from each division; two students; and the associate dean for undergraduate studies ex officio.

The Committee on Promotion advises the dean about the offer to a faculty member of from the rank of tenured associate professor to full professor. The committee's advice takes the form of a discussion of the dossier of each candidate in the context of a discussion of all such dossiers, and a vote on each candidate. The committee comprises six tenured full professors, two from each division. It elects a chairperson who reports the committee's actions to the faculty. The dean, serving ex officio without vote, presides. Nomination and election are overseen by the Committee on Committees and take place in the fall quarter, with service beginning in the immediately subsequent spring quarter. Nomination is by petition of any ten faculty members who have voting status in faculty meetings. Ineligible for membership are faculty members who have served a full three-year term on this committee, any part of which fell in the past three years; faculty members on a leave of absence during the subsequent spring quarter; and members of the Budget Committee. Faculty who have filled unexpired or interim terms of one or two years are eligible for election to a normal three-year term. The ballot contains a brief academic resume for each nominee. The membership of the committee is distributed by division, but the direct election of each member is by vote of all tenure-line faculty who have voting status in faculty meetings.

The Committee on Superior Students and Honors considers recommendations by the departments and programs of students deemed worthy to receive the degree of bachelor of arts “with distinction” or “with highest distinction” or who are to be cited as graduating “with department honors” or “with program honors.” The committee names winners of the awards presented to outstanding junior-year students in each of the divisions. Members serve on subcommittees nominating students for a variety of undergraduate and graduate fellowship competitions. The associate dean for undergraduate studies coordinates the work of this committee and serves ex officio.

The Committee on Teaching Awards receives from the Student Advisory Board and from the departments and programs their nominations for the College's Outstanding Teacher Awards and Outstanding Graduate Teacher Awards and presents to the dean a rank-ordered list of recommended candidates. The committee comprises three faculty members and two students. Faculty members—each a former winner of the Outstanding Teaching Award and during service on the committee ineligible to repeat as a winner—serve staggered three-year terms, the senior member chairing its proceedings.

The Committee on Tenure advises the dean about the grant of tenure to a faculty member. The committee's advice takes the form of a discussion of the dossier of each candidate in the context of a discussion of all such dossiers, and a vote on each candidate. The committee comprises twelve tenured members of the faculty, four from each division. It elects a chairperson who reports the committee's actions to the faculty. The dean, serving ex officio without vote, presides. Nomination and election are overseen by the Committee on Committees and take place in the fall quarter, with service beginning in the immediately subsequent winter quarter. Nomination is by petition of any ten faculty members who have voting status in faculty meetings. Ineligible for membership are faculty members in departments two of whose members are continuing on the committee; faculty members who have served a full three-year term on this committee, any part of which fell in the past three years; faculty members on a leave of absence during the subsequent winter quarter; and members of the Budget Committee. Faculty who have filled unexpired or interim terms of one or two years are eligible for election to a normal three-year term. The ballot contains a brief academic resume for each nominee. The membership of the committee is distributed by division, but the direct election of each member is by vote of all faculty who have voting status in faculty meetings.

The University Faculty Reappointment, Promotion, Tenure, and Dismissal Appeals Panel (UFRPTDAP). For the responsibilities of this group, see the Northwestern University Faculty Handbook. It includes eight tenured faculty members from the College (three from Division I, three from Division II, and two from Division III), who serve staggered three-year terms. Nomination is divisional, by petition of five members; if necessary, the College's Committee on Committees completes the ballot so that two candidates appear for each vacancy. Election, also divisional, is direct, and takes place in the spring quarter for a three-year term beginning the subsequent academic year.

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