CLAS Faculty Governance and Elections
Affiliate Faculty Governance Elections
The CLAS Affiliate Faculty Governance Elections page contains information about affiliate faculty elections and, when available, serves as the voting portal.
The winter 2026 election is coming soon! Follow the above link for details.
Tenure-Track Faculty Governance Elections
The CLAS Tenure-Track Faculty Governance Elections page contains information about tenure-track faculty elections and, when available, serves as the voting portal.
The winter 2026 election is coming soon! Follow the above link for details.
Proposed amendment to CLAS Faculty Governance Bylaws for W26 election
This proposed amendment to the bylaws seeks to restore the restriction of a maximum of two representatives from any one unit on CFC, CCC, and FDC. The bylaws changes approved in the F25 election allowed for the possibility of three representatives from a unit on CFC, CCC, and FDC, since it allowed for an affiliate faculty member from any unit to be elected to a committee that may already have two tenure-track representatives from that unit on the committee. This will restore the restriction of a maximum of two representatives from a unit on CFC, CCC, and FDC, regardless of faculty status (tenure-line or affiliate). Click the blue button on the right to read the proposal.
Committee Rosters
Rosters for CLAS committees as well as University committees with elected CLAS reps for AY 25-26, updated 1-14-26, appear to the right. This includes tenure-track and affiliate faculty members.
Vacancies are highlighted in orange - these seats are open for the W26 election! If you have any questions, please contact CFC chair Kirk Anderson.
CLAS Committees
The College has five elected faculty governance committees. During the first year of the College, a task force designed the current system and elections were held to constitute the CLAS Curriculum Committee, the CLAS Faculty Council, the CLAS Faculty Development Committee and the CLAS Personnel Committee. In 2017, bylaws for a faculty governance committee for Affiliates were approved, creating the first election for members of the CLAS Affiliate Faculty Advisory Committee.
More information including committee bylaws and rosters for CLAS Committees can be found on their individual webpages, linked below.
CLAS Faculty Council
The CLAS Faculty Council (CFC) serves as the executive committee of faculty governance within CLAS and represents the general interests of the CLAS faculty collectively.
The CLAS Personnel Committee (CPC) reviews and recommends to the Dean on all contract renewals, promotion and tenure decisions, dismissal for adequate cause, as well as on personnel policies and issues.
The CLAS Curriculum Committee (CCC) reviews and recommends to the Dean on all curricular matters, including proposals for new courses or programs, course and program changes, program requirements, and general education courses.
Faculty Development Committee
The CLAS Faculty Development Committee (FDC) advises the Dean on faculty development in teaching, scholarship, and service. This includes the mentoring of new faculty consistent with the goals of liberal learning.
CLAS Affiliate Faculty Advisory Committee
The CLAS Affiliate Faculty Advisory Committee (CAFAC) advises the Dean on issues concerning Affiliate faculty such as working conditions, workload, the evaluation process, opportunities for development and advancement, and roles within respective units.
Not sure what to expect? Click above for information on any and all GVSU committees with elected CLAS tenure-track representatives. You will find meeting times, locations and wherever possible, a rough idea of the workload.
The GVSU Faculty Governance site is designed to facilitate communication between faculty representatives in university-wide governance and the faculty-at-large.
CLAS Faculty Governance bylaws
Follow the above link to see the CLAS Faculty Governance bylaws.
Amendments to CLAS faculty governance bylaws from F25 election
At the start of the fall 2025 semester, there was a ballot proposal to amend the CLAS Faculty Governance bylaws.
The proposed amendments passed in the fall 2025 election. The results were: Approve: 69, Disapprove: 20, Total: 89.
The percentage of “approve” votes is 69/89 = 78%. The proportion required to pass is 2/3 = 67%.
The amendments to the bylaws will (a) enable an affiliate faculty member to serve on certain CLAS committees currently restricted to tenure-track faculty members, (b) provide for alternate assignment for the chair of the CLAS affiliate faculty advisory committee, and (c) correct a few minor inaccuracies.
There were nine changes to the bylaws contained in the proposal. The changes will be in effect for the winter 2026 election, and affiliate faculty can potentially serve in this new capacity starting fall 2026.
You can read the language changes by clicking the below button.
Amendments to CLAS faculty governance bylaws from F25 election
Advisory & Subcommittees of CLAS
Administrative Professions Committee and subcommittees (University)