Winter 2026 Election Information for University- and College-Level Committees

Election time is here and the call for nominations is now open!

The deadline for casting your nomination ballot is Wednesday, January 28 by 11:59 PM.

Please self-nominate for an open committee that interests you.  If you wish to nominate a colleague, it is best to confirm that they are willing to serve on the committee before submitting their name.  For incumbent committee members with expiring terms, if you wish to be on the ballot, please self-nominate.  The extended deadline for nominations is 11:59 p.m., Friday, January 30. 

After verification, nominees will be added to the Confirmed Candidates lists.  Although not required, we encourage nominees to submit a personal statement relevant to the position.  These will be linked to their names in the Confirmed Candidates lists. Please forward your statement to Rita.

Election Timeline

  • The nomination ballot will be sent to all faculty/staff by Wednesday, January 14.
  • Nominations are due Friday, January 30 by 11:59 p.m.
  • The election ballot will be sent to all faculty/staff by Monday, February 9.
  • Monday, February 23 will be the final day to submit your vote by 5:00 p.m.
  • Committee results will be announced the week of March 1.

By nominating yourself to represent either CECI on a university committee or your unit on a college committee, you are agreeing to commit to the following expectations in your role as a representative:

  • Attend all scheduled committee meeting dates and complete all required committee tasks. If you are unable to attend a meeting date, representatives should make an attempt to find a colleague (any tenure/tenured-track faculty in CECI for university committees and in your unit for college committees) to fill in during their absence.
  • Regular communication throughout the academic year on the work of the committee to either the entire college or your unit. Communication includes:
    •  Reporting important information to your unit during department meetings for college committees.
    • Informing faculty through email and the CECI Connections newsletter of significant updates.
    • Ensuring committee websites are up-to-date with meeting minutes and agendas.
    • Working with Faculty Council to update the CECI committee slideshow.
  • Holding forums for CECI faculty discussion when feedback from faculty is needed to be brought back to the committee. 

University-Level Committees

NOMINATION FORM

The nomination form is currently being updated to reflect the additional seat available on the Faculty Facilities Planning Advisory Committee and will be available tomorrow.  Your patience is appreciated.

Committee descriptions, meeting frequencies, and term lengths are listed below.  

University Academic Senate (two seats available)
The University Academic Senate (UAC) is the highest faculty governance body. It has the authority to deal with any academic issue or faculty concern. It makes recommendations to the Provost and/or President regarding such matters as curriculum, the academic organization of the university, faculty personnel policy, the budget, and other issues considered relevant to academic affairs.
Meeting Frequency: Meets on Fridays from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Full Term: 3 years

Academic Technology Advisory Committee (one seat available)
The purpose is to support the academic mission of the University in its use of technologies and services impacting teaching, learning, research and scholarship, including:
Meeting Frequency: Meetings held twice a semester
Full Term: 3 years

Affiliate Faculty Advisory Committee - Regular Faculty Seat (one seat available)
The role of this Advisory Committee is to represent the needs and perspectives of all University Affiliate Faculty and to provide recommendations to University bodies on matters which may impact Affiliate faculty responsibilities, with the goal of providing an optimal teaching and learning environment as well as increased advocacy, visibility, retention, and development for all Affiliate faculty.
Meeting Frequency: Meets one Friday per month from 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Full Term: 3 years

Affiliate Faculty Advisory Committee - Affiliate Faculty Seats (two seats available)
Meeting Frequency: Meets one Friday per month from 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Full Term: 3 years

Campus Life Committee (one seat available)
An advisory body to the Vice President for Student Affairs regarding strategic planning of: co-curricular learning opportunities (i.e., educational, social, recreational, etc.) to actively engage students in the life of the university; support services that assist students to be successful in their academic and personal lives; and management of various environments at the university (e.g. living centers, apartments, dining areas, Kirkhof Center, Recreation Center, etc.).
Meeting Frequency: Meets 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. on the first Monday in October, December, February, and April
Full Term: 3 years

Faculty Personnel Policy Committee - Must be tenured (one seat available)
The Faculty Personnel Policy Committee (FPPC), established in April 1986, has the responsibility to review faculty personnel policy matters that extend beyond the college, as specified by the ECS, and make appropriate recommendations to the ECS.  The Chair of FPPC will run meetings, facilitate the deliberations of the committee, and write personnel policy proposals.
Meeting Frequency: Meets 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on alternate Wednesdays
Full Term: 3 years

Faculty Teaching and Learning Center Advisory Committee (one seat available)
The Faculty Teaching and Learning Center Advisory Committee (FTLCAC) was set up in January 1997 to provide advice on the policies, direction, and performance of the Faculty Teaching and Learning Center. It serves as liaison between the campus community and the Center's director, establishes grant funding priorities, and reviews applications for teaching renewal and development grants. Among other responsibilities, the committee annually evaluates the effectiveness of the director and the center's activities.
Meeting Frequency: Meets 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. one Monday per month
Full Term: 3 years

Graduate Council (one seat available)
The Graduate Council is a faculty-led governance standing committee of the University Academic Senate.  It was established in the 2004-05 academic year to promote excellence in graduate education by creating policies and reviewing curriculum that ensure consistency, equity, and fairness across all graduate programs.
Meeting Frequency: Meets on Fridays from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Full Term: 3 years

Outstanding Service Award Committee (one seat available)
To review nominees, select the awardees, and forward the names to the Provost by December 15 for awards to be made at the next Faculty Awards Convocation.  The Outstanding Service awardees serve on the committee for the academic year following their awards.  The students and faculty members on the committee shall be representative of all segments of the campus community, including academic discipline, academic level, instructional level, race and sex.
Meeting Frequency: No formal meetings; business conducted electronically in the fall semester
Full Term: 3 years

Undergraduate Research Council (one seat available)
In keeping with the values and strategic plan of GVSU that students should acquire new knowledge and explore its application through research, artistic expression, and scholarly activity, and that active scholarship may include collaboration of faculty and staff with students, the role of the URC is to provide advice and recommendations on university-wide policies and programs that apply to undergraduate research and creative practice.
Meeting Frequency: Meets monthly during Fall semester; potentially weekly in Winter semester
Full Term: 3 years

University Assessment Committee (two seats available)
The University Assessment Committee (UAC) is the standing committee of the University Academic Senate that supports and promotes program- and unit-level assessment at GVSU. The committee meets in full session biweekly during the academic year.
Meeting Frequency: Meets on Mondays from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Full Term: 3 years

2026 Confirmed CECI Candidates for University-Level Committees

University Academic Senate

Terry Stockton (LEFT)
Elizabeth Stolle (LEFT)
Raymond Higbea (SCLD)
Laila McCloud (ELC)

Academic Technology Advisory Committee

Rick Vandermolen (ELC)
Pakky Gerkin (SCCJLS)

Campus Life Committee

Jina Lee (SCCJLS)
Carrie Buist (SCCJLS)
Mohammad (Didar) Hossain (SSW)

Faculty Teaching and Learning Center Advisory Committee

Terry Stockton (LEFT)
Allison Phillippe (T&L)
Leane Kang (LEFT)
Adrian Copeland (SCCJLS)
Paul Bylsma (ELC)

Undergraduate Research Council

Janelle Grant Ashbaugh (LEFT)
Ronke Olawale (SSW)

University Assessment Committee

Raymond Higbea (SCLD)


College-Level Committees

Committee descriptions, meeting frequencies, and term lengths are listed below.  

College Advisory and Communication Committee (six seats available)
The College Advisory and Communication Committee (CACC) is a collaborative and broadly representative forum that exists to advise the other standing committees and the Dean of the College of Education and Community Innovation (CECI). The purpose of the CACC is to identify gaps in processes and address needs that intersect units across the college.
Meeting Frequency: Meets once a month or as needed during the academic year
Full Term: 3 years
Seats available: CECI UAC, LEFT, SSW, CEP (two-year term), OCA (two-year term), SCLD (one-year term)

College Curriculum Committee (three seats available)
The College Curriculum Committee (CCC) will review and advise the Dean on all curricular matters, including proposals for new courses, programs, majors, minors, general education, prospective and final plan proposals, and other university documents and criteria for program admission; review proposals for potential overlap with, or effect on, other disciplines, Units, or Colleges; inform the Dean’s Office of requests to assist with communication or coordination among affected disciplines, Units, and Colleges.; and the committee will monitor and review curricular consistency with competencies and objectives required for accreditation, state approval, and specialty program approval.
Meeting Frequency: Meets every other Tuesday from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. during the academic year
Full Term: 3 years
Seats available: At-large, SCCJLS, SCLD (two-year term)

College Personnel Committee (one seat available)
The College Personnel Committee (CPC) will review and make recommendations to the Dean on all contract renewals, tenure, and promotion decisions, dismissal for adequate cause, personnel policies and issues, and other requirements (see Faculty Handbook).  It will also make recommendations to the Dean and/or the Faculty Council (FC) concerning other personnel matters or policies, upon its own initiative, or upon the request of the Dean or the FC.
Meeting Frequency: Meets as necessary to 1) review personnel actions, 2) discuss and address personnel policy, and 3) attend to other business as necessary.
Full Term: 3 years
Seat available: T&L

Faculty Council (four seats available)
Faculty Council (FC) is a deliberative and representative forum that exists to consider the activities of the College of Education and Community Innovation (CECI) in all of its facets, with particular attention to educational objectives, strategic initiatives, and those matters that affect the common interests of faculty and students within the college. Faculty have the primary responsibility for fundamental areas such as curriculum, subject matter and methods of instruction, research, faculty status, and those aspects of student life that relate to the educational process. 
Meeting Frequency: Meets once a month during the academic year
Full Term: 3 years
Seats available: ELC, SCLD, T&L, SCCJLS (one-year term)

Staff Executive Committee (eight seats available)
The Staff Executive Committee (SC) will discuss staff concerns and recommend college policies and procedures to the Dean and college governance; the SC executive committee, or designees, will recommend staff for awards and university and college committee representation when available, and create standing and ad hoc committees as needed; and will assist in developing and implementing the strategic plan of CECI. 
Meeting Frequency: Meets once a month during the academic year
Full Term: 3 years
Seats available: OCA, T&L, SCLD (two-year term), SCCJLS (two-year term), CECI UAC (one-year term), ELC (one-year term), LEFT (one-year term), SSW (one-year term)

2026 Confirmed CECI Candidates for College-Level Committees

College Advisory and Communication Committee

Rui Niu-Cooper (LEFT)
Zohra Asad (SSW)
Melanie Rabine-Johnson (CECI UAC)
Mei Mah (CEP)
Ronke Olawale (SSW)
Shelly Page (OCA)



Page last modified January 29, 2026