Descriptions of Committees with Elected CLAS Representation

CLAS Faculty Council (CFC)

Meeting information: Two Wednesdays per month, 2-4 p.m., Allendale or virtual. Outside of meetings members do an average of 10-12 hours per semester for this committee.

Membership: 9 tenure-track faculty from CLAS

Description: The CLAS Faculty Council (CFC) will serve as the executive committee of faculty governance within CLAS. Its responsibilities include conducting elections within the college, reviewing the functioning of all standing CLAS committees, forming committees as necessary, and facilitating and supervising referenda and assemblies as called under the bylaws. The CFC will serve as liaison between the faculty and the Dean and function in an advisory capacity.

Term Length: 3 years

Ineligibility: Unit heads, faculty who would also be serving on other CLAS committees

CFC website

CLAS Personnel Committee (CPC)

Meeting information: Fridays, 3-5 p.m., virtual. Please note that meetings begin each semester after unit personnel materials are submitted to the CLAS Dean’s office. Outside of meetings, members do an average of 2-4 hours per week once meetings have begun in the Fall, and around 3-6 hours per week once meetings have begun in the Winter.

Membership: 12 tenure-track faculty from CLAS

Description: 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. 

Term Length: 3 years

Ineligibility: Faculty who would also be serving on other CLAS committees, and faculty from units already represented on CPC. Must be tenured to serve on CPC.

CPC website

CLAS Curriculum Committee (CCC)

Meeting information: Fridays, 2-4 p.m., weekly; Allendale. Outside of meetings, members do an average of 5 hours per week for this committee.

Membership: 12 tenure-track faculty from CLAS

Description: 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. CCC reviews proposals for potential overlap with, or effect on, other disciplines, units, or colleges.  

Term Length: 3 years

Ineligibility: Faculty who would also be serving on other CLAS committees

CCC website

CLAS Faculty Development Committee (FDC)

Meeting information: Thursdays 3:30-5 p.m.; 2x/month; Allendale, occasional remote attendance accommodated. Outside of meetings members do an average of 15-20 hours per Fall semester and 10-15 hours per Winter semester.

Membership: 9 tenure-track faculty from CLAS

Description: The CLAS Faculty Development Committee (FDC) will advise the Dean on faculty development in teaching, scholarship, and service.  This includes playing a role in the development of mentoring plans for new faculty that are consistent with the goals of liberal learning. The committee will also advise the Dean on assisting faculty and student research collaboration, and will support faculty in the grant proposal process as a liaison between CLAS and internal and external audiences. 

Term Length: 3 years

Ineligibility: Faculty who would also be serving on other CLAS committees

FDC website

CLAS Affiliate Faculty Advisory Committee (CAFAC)

Meeting information: Every first Friday of the month and third Fridays as needed, 1:00-2:30 p.m. Meetings in Allendale or virtual. On average members do 15-20 hours of work per semester outside of designated meeting times.

Membership: 9 affiliate faculty from CLAS

Description: 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.  It reviews current policies and makes recommendations to the Dean.  Through its work, the committee strives to strengthen the integration of the Affiliate community within their respective departments and across CLAS.

Term Length: 3 years

CAFAC website


University Committees with CLAS Representation

University Academic Senate (UAS)

Meeting information: Friday 3-5 p.m.; once per month; Fall - Allendale & Winter - Health Campus. The default format for UAS will be face-to-face and will be live streamed. The body will determine which modality is preferred.

Membership from CLAS: 22 tenure-track faculty

Description: The University Academic Senate (UAS) 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 the President. Senate membership consists of faculty members elected from and by the faculty of each College and the University Libraries, and students selected by the Student Senate, including the President of the Student Senate. The Provost and designees and the Deans (of any rank) are members ex officio, non-voting.

Term Length:  3 years

UAS website

Executive Committee of the Senate (ECS)

Meeting information: Fridays 3-5 p.m., three times per month, Fall Allendale, Winter Health Campus. The default format for ECS will be face-to-face with the option to pivot to virtual meetings as needed. Members typically also attend UAS meetings one Friday per month, 3-5 p.m. Workload outside of meetings varies.

Membership from CLAS: 8 tenure-track faculty

Description: The Executive Committee of the Senate (ECS) serves as the clearinghouse for matters to be presented to the UAS. Such matters are discussed by ECS before its recommendations are made to the Senate. ECS membership consists of faculty senators from academic colleges and the library, the Student Senate President or designee, and the Provost and designees, ex officio, non-voting.

Term Length:  3 years

ECS website

Academic Policies & Standards Committee (APSC)

Meeting information:  One Thursday per month, 9-11 a.m., virtual. Outside of meetings, members do an average of 1-2 hours per week for this committee.

Membership from CLAS: 4 tenure-track faculty

Description: To study, review, and make pertinent recommendations on academic policies and procedures including admission, retention and dismissal, repeat grades, withdrawal, academic calendar, and suspension of library privileges. The scope of study and review of the Academic Policies and Standards Committee is limited by the published purposes of other standing committees of the University Academic Senate.

Term Length:  2 years

APSC website

Academic Technology Advisory Committee (ATAC)

Meeting information: Arranged by members; two 90-minute meetings per semester; virtual. Workload outside of meetings varies.

Membership from CLAS: 4 tenure-track faculty

Description: To support the academic mission of the University in its use of technologies and services impacting teaching, learning, research and scholarship.

Term Length: 3 years

Affiliate Faculty Advisory Committee (AFAC)

Meeting information: Second Friday of every month 7-9am, fourth Friday of each month reserved for workgroup meetings as needed. Fall-Allendale, Winter-Downtown. In-person attendance strongly encouraged but a virtual option available for people who are unable to attend in person. Outside of meetings regular AFAC members do an average of 4-6 hours per month for this committee.

Membership from CLAS: 4 affiliate and 1 tenure-track faculty

Description: 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.   

Term Length: 3 years

AFAC website

Campus Life Committee (CLC)

Meeting information: Meets 10-11:30 a.m. 1st Monday in October, December, February & April; virtual. Workload outside of meetings varies.

Membership from CLAS: 3 tenure-track faculty

Description: An advisory body to the Vice Provost/Dean of Students regarding strategic planning of: co-curricular learning opportunities 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.

Term Length: 3 years

Equity and Inclusion Committee (EIC)

Meeting information: Meets 9-11 a.m. on two Tuesdays per month; virtual. Outside of meetings members do an average of 1 hour per week for this committee.

Membership from CLAS: 4 tenure-track faculty

Description: The role of the EIC is to promote and facilitate faculty involvement in support of a healthy and equitable campus climate. The committee accomplishes its role by engaging social justice and diversity issues on campus.

Term Length: 3 years

EIC website

Faculty Facilities Planning Advisory Committee (FFPAC)

Meeting information: Meets 8-10 a.m. 1st Friday of each month. Members determine meeting modality (in-person or virtual). If in person, Fall-Allendale, Winter-Pew. Outside of meetings members do 10 and 20 hours of work per semester for this committee.

Membership from CLAS: 7 tenure-track faculty

Description: The role of this Advisory Committee is to provide recommendations to Facilities Planning on planning, remodeling, and building academic facilities at Grand Valley, with the goal of providing an optimal teaching and learning environment.

Term Length: 3 years

FFPAC website

Faculty Grievance Panel (FGP)

Meeting information: Meetings held as needed, virtual is an option. Workload outside of meetings varies. The entire panel never meets as a panel, rather, sub-committees are put together in the instance of a grievance and assigned by the AVP of Human Resources.

Membership from CLAS: 6 tenure-track faculty

Description: To review and make recommendations about a grievance at the request of any aggrieved appointee (see Board of Trustees' Policies BOT 4.2.16 -4.2.17 for other details).

Term Length: 3 years

Faculty Personnel Policy Committee (FPPC)

Meeting information: Meets 3-5 pm on alternate Wednesdays; all meetings are virtual. Outside of meetings members do an average of 15 hours per semester for this committee.

Membership from CLAS: 4 tenure-track faculty

Description: The FPPC 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. FPPC will elect a new chairperson by the end of the winter semester.  The Chair of FPPC will attend the ECS meeting where the annual charges to the FPPC are finalized.

Term Length: 3 years

FPPC website

Faculty Salary and Budget Committee (FSBC)

Meeting information: Meets alternate Fridays 12-1:30 p.m. Fall-Allendale, Winter-Pew, occasional virtual meetings. Outside of meetings members do an average of 1-3 hours per week for this committee.

Membership from CLAS: 7 tenure-track faculty

Description: The FSBC has three primary responsibilities: To study pertinent data and make recommendations to the Senate through the ECS on (a) the allocation of funds within the Grand Valley budget as a whole as well as within the budgets of the administrative divisions, (b) the items of the budget, compensation or faculty job security, and (c) proposals for the establishment of additional units/programs at Grand Valley.

Term Length: 3 years

FSBC website

Faculty Teaching & Learning Center Advisory Committee (FTLCAC)

Meeting information: Third Monday of every month, 1-3 p.m., virtual. Outside of meetings members do an average of 5-10 hours per semester for this committee.

Membership from CLAS: 4 tenure-track faculty

Description: The role of the Advisory Committee is to provide advice on policy, direction and performance of the Pew FTLC.

Term Length: 3 years

FTLCAC website

General Education Committee (GEC)

Meeting information: Mondays, 3-4:30 p.m., Fall-Allendale, Winter-Pew. Outside of meetings members do an average of 2 hours per week for this committee.

Membership from CLAS: 9 tenure-track faculty

Description: a) to provide guidance and support to the university community regarding the aims, philosophy, achievements and problems of the General Education Program, b) to review and act upon courses proposed for the Program, c) to make minor revisions to the Program, d) to propose to UAS major changes to the Program, e) to ensure that the skill and knowledge outcomes of each General Education course are assessed every three years, f) to remove a course from the Program.

Term Length: 3 years

GEC website

Graduate Council (GC)

Meeting information: Three Fridays per month, 9-11 a.m., occasionally virtual may be an option. Outside of meetings members do an average of 10-20 hours of work per semester for this committee.

Membership from CLAS: 2 tenure-track faculty

Description: The GC is responsible for matters related to graduate education at Grand Valley.

Term Length: 3 years

GC website

Honors Curriculum and Development Committee (HCDC)

Meeting information: Wednesday 11 a.m.-11:50 a.m.; twice a month (or as needed); Allendale. Outside of meetings members do an average of 6-10 hours per semester for this committee.

Membership from CLAS: 5 tenure-track faculty

Description: Charged with developing curriculum in accordance with the standards and guidelines established in consultation with the Honors Faculty Council, reviewing curriculum proposals submitted by faculty, ensuring compliance with General Education curricular requirements, reviewing and approving ad hoc curricular proposals, giving suggestions and advice on direction for Honors, often in response to HFC draft documents, recruiting prospective faculty to propose courses and/or teach in existing sequences, making suggestions for co-curricular activities, developing student opportunities and outreach, reviewing and selecting the annual Honors Senior Project awards.

Term Length: 3 years

HCDC website

International Education Committee (IEC)

Meeting information: At least one Monday per month, 2-4 p.m. virtual and in person options. Outside of meetings members do an average of 10-15 hours of work per semester for this committee.

Membership from CLAS: 4 tenure-track faculty

Description: To review, authorize, evaluate, and recommend modifications to all international programs administered by the Office of International Affairs; to recommend priorities, new initiatives, policies, and procedures for the Office of International Affairs programs, including campus curricular and co-curricular activities; to advocate for international students, study abroad, faculty research and exchange, and community integration, within the university and West Michigan; and to ensure integrity and academic excellence in all international initiatives undertaken abroad by GVSU.

Term Length: 3 years

Outstanding Service Award Committee (OSAC)

Meeting information: Business conducted electronically. Outside of meetings members do an average of 12-15 hours per semester for this committee.

Membership from CLAS: 1 tenure-track faculty

Description: 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.

Term Length:  3 years

Research and Development Committee (RDC)

Meeting information: Friday 3-5 p.m.(later when proposals are being reviewed), once per month (more if determined by workload). Members determine meeting modality (in-person or virtual). Has been virtual for years. If in person: Fall - Allendale & Winter - Pew. Workload outside of meetings varies.

Membership from CLAS: 7 tenure-track faculty

Description: To receive, review, develop, and recommend policies pertaining to research conduct & development and to advise the Executive Director of the Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence on the activities of the Center. 

Term Length: 3 years

RDC website

Undergraduate Research Council (URC)

Meeting information: Fridays, monthly (weekly in Winter) 2-4 p.m., virtual. Outside of meetings members do an average of 5 -10 hours of work per Fall semester, and 15-30 hours of work per Winter semester.

Membership from CLAS: 4 tenure-track faculty

Description: 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.

Term Length: 3 years

URC website

University Assessment Committee (UAC)

Meeting information: Meets six or seven Mondays per semester, 3-5 p.m.; Members determine meeting modality (in-person or virtual), but likely to remain virtual. Outside of meetings members do 12-15 hours per semester for this committee.

Membership from CLAS: 11 tenure-track faculty

Description: The UAC is responsible for: a) Providing support to university constituents as they design and implement self-study reports and student learning outcome assessment plans/reports, b)  Reviewing assessment plans, reports, and self-studies, c)  Providing instructions for reporting formats and schedules, d)  Providing feedback to Administration in support of accreditation standards, e) Conducting training on the system for reporting Assessment reviews/plans and Self-Study updates/reports, f)  Maintaining the UAC website, Blackboard site, and Assessment Report and Self-study automated timeline and notification system.

Term Length: 3 years

UAC website

University Conduct Pool (UCP)

Meeting information: Subcommittees assigned to cases as needed

Membership from CLAS: 4 tenure-track faculty (elected)

Description: See Article III of the Student Code.

Term Length: 3 years

UCP website

University Curriculum Committee (UCC)

Meeting information: Wednesdays 2-4 p.m.; weekly; Fall-Allendale, Winter-Pew. Typically the first and last meetings of each semester are in-person at the respective campuses. The remaining meetings are virtual. However, at the discretion of the chair, UCC may meet in person as needed during the semester. Outside of meetings members do an average of 2-3 hours of work per week for this committee. New members have indicated that the first semester workload is higher than average due to the varied nature of the curricular review process.

Membership from CLAS: 7 tenure-track faculty

Description: UCC is responsible for a wide range of curriculum matters at the university. Whether it`s a change to an old course, the introduction of a new course or new program, or a change in requirements to the curriculum  associated with a major or minor, the proposal must be reviewed by UCC. Following review, UCC makes recommendations on all course proposals, degree requirements, program /curriculum proposals, General Education, Honors courses, Continuing Education curricula, off-campus and summer programs, and accreditation processes.

Term Length: 2 years

UCC website

University Library Advisory Committee (ULAC)

Meeting information: Arranged by members; twice per semester, virtual. Outside of meetings members do an average of 2-3 hours of work per semester for this committee.

Membership from CLAS: 4 tenure-track faculty

Description: To advise the University libraries on possible areas of library development as perceived by the faculty; to react to issues brought to them from the University libraries; to serve as a communication channel; to recommend to the Academic Senate in a timely manner on major policy issues and matters of general concern as identified by the Committee.

Term Length: 3 years

Writing Skills Committee (WSC)

Meeting information:  Once per month. Members determine the time. Has historically met on Fridays virtually. Outside of meetings, members do an average of 10 hours per semester for this committee.

Membership from CLAS: 4 tenure-track faculty

Description: The Writing Skills Committee develops and assesses goals for the Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) program through the Supplemental Writing Skills (SWS) program at GVSU. The committee enables collaboration among institutions across campus that support writing, specifically the First-Year Writing Programs, the Fred Meijer Center for Writing and Michigan Authors, the University Libraries, and Information Technology. The work of the committee includes writing/updating the Mission, Vision, and Values statement for the SWS program; developing SWS policies as needed; writing SWS assessment plans and advising the WAC director on implementation; assessing the SWS program; providing feedback to instructors’ syllabi and Course Assessment Reports; and reviewing and advising the self-study report. The committee will also review and evaluate for approval SWS courses proposed by units; advise the director of WAC on new faculty development activities; and sponsor workshops in teaching writing for faculty members.

Term Length: 3 years

WSC website



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