There are four groups of college committees: Standing Committees, Elected Committees and Appointments, College-Wide Committees, and Administrative Committees and Appointments.

Except in cases when an administrator is the designated chair, the chair of each committee should ordinarily be chosen from faculty members in their second or third year of service on that committee. The term of service for committee chairs is normally one year but may on occasion be extended to two.

Each committee shall appoint a secretary (possibly in rotation) and each committee chair should make an annual report in writing to the faculty and administration. Minutes and reports will be kept on file for a minimum of three years in the office of the Dean of the College.

1. Standing Committees

a. The President of the College determines the structure of the College Standing Committees; he or she may receive recommendations concerning committee composition and functions from the Faculty Representative Committee, from which he or she also receives nomination for committee appointments except when otherwise specified. These committees are responsible to the faculty.

b. The normal term of appointment to Standing Committees is three years. These committees are classified as Heavy Load, Moderate Load, and Light Load. The purpose of this classification is to provide a general idea of the amount of time required of committee members in performing their responsibilities. Normally, a faculty member will not be asked to serve on more than one Heavy Load Committee. Heavy Load Committees generally meet weekly throughout the academic year. Although some Heavy Load Committees may meet less often, it is unusual for one to meet less than twice a month. Moderate Load Committees will meet twice a month on average throughout the year, although they may do the majority of their work during a limited portion of the academic year. Light Load Committees usually meet monthly or less frequently throughout the academic year. At certain times of the year, however, they may meet more often.

c. The Standing Committees are as follows:

(1) Academic Personnel (Heavy Load)

The primary functions of the Committee are:

• To review (or to pass on to the appropriate body) any issue which a faculty member refers to the Committee as constituting a significant factor in the morale of the faculty.
• To review policies on tenure, promotion, and academic freedom, and to bring to the faculty or to the administration, as appropriate, proposals involving policy changes.
• To make tenure recommendations to the Dean of the College and the President concerning faculty members who have completed their probationary period and, upon request of the administration, to serve in an advisory capacity on questions of promotion.
• To consult with the Senior Administration when changes in the structure of faculty compensation or other benefits are contemplated.
• To consult with the Dean of the College on the development of sabbatical criteria and to review sabbatical proposals and make recommendations to the Dean.

There are two subcommittees. The Faculty Grievance subcommittee and the Student Grievance subcommittee which act (as might an ombudsman) to consider complaints or problems brought by individuals. The Faculty Grievance subcommittee is composed of the Chair and two faculty members; the Student Grievance subcommittee is composed of the Chair, the other two faculty members, and the two student members of the Committee.

The committee as a whole and the sub-committees are appointed at the same time. In the case of a conflict of interest, the sub-committee member will excuse him/herself and a temporary substitution will be made by the chair of the committee.

Membership: Five tenured faculty members (one chairs the Committee), two students (juniors or seniors) who serve on the Student Grievance subcommittee only. The Dean of the College serves as a resource person for the Committee. [Amended: Faculty, 3/9/92; Trustees, 4/25/92]

(2) Curriculum Committee (Heavy Load)

The Committee considers questions concerning the curriculum and other matters of academic policy. Matters may be presented to the Committee by any member of the faculty or administration or by a department, or they may originate within the Committee. Students on the Committee furnish information on student needs and attitudes and provide liaison between the Curriculum Committee and the Student Curriculum Committee.

The Committee reviews for approval or rejection all departmental proposals for permanent course changes and presents those approved to the faculty for its approval. It reviews for approval or rejection all proposals for Independent Study and Experiential Learning projects.   It considers for approval courses to be listed as part of the General Education Program.  It also approves new courses to be given on a "one-time only" basis. The Committee may consider and recommend to the faculty changes in educational policies.

Membership: five faculty members (one chairs the Committee), two students, and, as non-voting members, the Dean of the College, the Registrar and the Librarian of the College.

[Amended: Faculty, 4/12; Trustees, 5/12]

(3) Admissions (Heavy Load)

The Admissions Committee provides the Admissions staff with guidelines for the identification, encouragement, and selection of students for admission. The Admissions staff provides the Committee with regular statistical reports on the number and status of applications. Faculty members of the Committee may read any application folder at any time, and all members of the Admissions Committee evaluate folders of applicants who do not meet the criteria established by the Committee. The whole Committee meets to compare notes on their file reviews and find consensus on an admissions decision.

Voting members: Vice President for Enrollment Management, who serves as convener, Director of Admissions, Associate Dean of the College, the Admissions staff member who has prepared the folder, two faculty members, disabilities coordinator, Dean of Students.  Non-voting members: Other Admissions staff members.

[Amended October 2011]

(4) Board of Review (Moderate Load)

The Board makes decisions on student petitions concerning academic regulations and eligibility requirements. It hears appeals from students wishing to resubmit an application for experiential learning or independent study that has been rejected by the Curriculum Committee. It also reviews academic policies and makes recommendations to the Curriculum Committee.

The Committee also evaluates proposals from women returning to formal education under the Prime Time program. These women may request a waiver of graduation requirements as stated in faculty legislation, including the granting of up to 78 hours of transfer credit from other institutions.

Membership: Four faculty members*, one of whom serves as chair; Associate Dean of the College; Registrar (non-voting). [Amended: Faculty, 3/9/92; Trustees, 4/25/92]

*Faculty members should ordinarily be available to meet occasionally during intersessions.

(5) Information Technology Advisory (ITA) Committee (Light Load)

     The functions of the committee are to :

• Review requests made by faculty and academic departments for computer hardware and software, along with PIN requests (unexpected/emergency, low cost technology needs) and to make recommendations to the IT Director concerning those requests;
• Work with the IT Director to recommend and review policies pertaining to the procurement, location and use of technology resources for use by the College in general, as well as to the academic program in particular;
• Coordinate efforts for faculty development and support related to technology, and to make recommendations to the Dean of the College;
• Consult with the IT Director on hardware and software decisions affecting the academic program;
• Consult with the Dean of the College on the technology aspects of academic renovation projects;
• Serve as a channel for information about campus computer resources; 
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and evaluate the appropriateness of their application to the College;
• Pay special attention to the impact of technology use on the College's culture;
• Assist in setting priorities for College-wide technology projects;
• Communicate technology directions to the campus community;
• Examine and evaluate potential hardware and software decisions that affect the entire community;
• Welcome input from any campus constituency on IT issues.

       Membership: Four faculty members, one of whom is a member of the
       library faculty; Chief Technology Officer (ex officio/voting); a
       representative from the Registrar's Office; a representative from the Dean
       of the College Office; and two students.

[Adopted: Faculty 5/01; Trustees, 5/01]

(6) International and Off-Campus Programs Committee (Heavy Load)

The functions of the committee are:

• Promotes study abroad and domestic programs that enhance home-campus courses of study.
• Monitors off-campus study policies and Criteria for Approval of Off-Campus Study Programs.
• Assists the Director of International Programs, including allocation of scholarship funds for students studying abroad.
• Using the Criteria for Approval, rules on all program proposals submitted by faculty for affiliated programs and short-term study seminars and submits approved program proposals to the Curriculum Committee for its approval. If a program is approved, the Curriculum Committee will then present it to the faculty as an information item.
• Using the Criteria for Approval, rules on proposals submitted by students. Proposed programs approved by the Committee become endorsed programs and will go on a List of Endorsed Programs for a trial period determined by the Committee before final endorsement.
• Using the Criteria for Approval, rules on off-campus study applications submitted by students planning to participate in an affiliated or endorsed program.
• Establishes a timetable for evaluations of affiliated and endorsed programs and conducts those evaluations using materials supplied by the Director of International Programs, the Director of Off-Campus Domestic Study/Associate Dean, and faculty sponsors.

Membership: Four faculty members, Director of International Programs (ex officio/voting), Director of Off-Campus Domestic Study/Associate Dean of the College (ex officio/voting), and Director of the Career Development Center (ex officio/voting).

[Adopted: Faculty 5/3/93; Trustees, 4/29/93] [Amended: Faculty 5/12/98; Trustees 10/98; Faculty 2/6/01; Trustees, 5/01]

(7) Professional Development (Light Load)

The Committee's role is to encourage faculty research, curriculum improvement, and participation in professional activities beyond the campus. It invites faculty to apply for grants for these purposes. The Committee processes the grants and forwards its recommendations to the Dean.

Membership: Four faculty members, one of whom chairs the Committee; the Dean of the College participates in an advisory capacity in discussions of policy changes.

(8) General Education Committee (Heavy Load)

The General Education Committee will work to establish college-wide criteria for what general education courses should accomplish, approve courses to be listed as part of the general education program, bring proposals regarding General Education to the Faculty, and be responsible for ongoing assessment of the program.

Membership: Five faculty (one chairs the Committee), the Dean of the College, two students (normally appointed as juniors), a professional librarian (ex officio), and the Registrar (ex officio).

[adopted Faculty 12/99; Trustees 2/00; II.C.1.c.(8) Amended: Faculty, 12/13/10; Trustees, PENDING]

2. Elected Committees and Appointments

a. Faculty Representative [Adopted: Faculty 3/2/99; Trustees 5/99]

The Committee performs both representative and planning functions.

Representative Functions:

• To represent faculty interests to the administration
• To preside over a meeting of faculty not less than once each semester
• To oversee, in consultation with the President, the faculty committee structure. The Faculty Representative Committee shall be responsible for bringing to the faculty, in April, a list of nominees for all elected and appointed positions and committees for the following year
• To assist the President in the appointment of committee members.
• Academic Planning Functions:
• To engage in long-term academic planning for the College and make advisory recommendations to the Dean of the College and the President.
• To oversee program and departmental reviews on a regular basis and make recommendations as appropriate to the Dean of the College.
• To review departmental staffing requests when a vacancy occurs or a new position is sought and make an advisory recommendation to the Dean.

Membership: The Chair of the Faculty, who is elected for a two-year term, will chair the committee. Six other faculty will be elected for three-year terms, with two of the terms expiring each year. Elections will ordinarily take place at the April faculty meeting. The committee meets regularly with the President and the Dean of the College and consults as needed with chairs of other committees. The Chair of the Faculty serves as the representative to the Board of Trustees. [Amended: Faculty 5/5/03; Trustees, 5/03].

b. Faculty Representative to the Buildings and Grounds Committee of the Board of Trustees

c. Faculty Secretary

d. Faculty Budget Committee (Heavy Load)

The primary functions of the Committee are:

• Ensure that faculty members have substantial input into budgetary decisions affecting the curriculum, expenditures for academic initiatives, the purchase of educational equipment, the library budget, funds for research, and those aspects of student life that relate to the educational process.
• Advise the President and the Vice President for Academic Affairs with regard to College-wide priorities in deciding on the overall allocation of institutional resources and the proportion to be devoted directly to the academic program as well as faculty salaries and fringe benefits.
• Meet with the Vice President for Finance and Administration, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the President to discuss College-wide budget priorities in the early stages of budget preparation for the following academic year. Normally this meeting will take place inOctober. A further meeting will be held in the spring when the budget is nearing completion.
• The Committee shall promote transparency by frequently seeking advice from faculty colleagues and keeping them informed about considerations and decisions throughout the budget process.
• The Committee shall have access to the information necessary to perform its task effectively, and it shall have the opportunity to confer periodically on fiscal matters with representatives of the administration and governing board of the college [Amended: Trustees, 5/9/09; Faculty, 5/12/09]
• Review annual updates from the Vice President for Academic Affairs and biannual updates from the Director of Human Resources on changes in faculty and staff respectively, including new positions, revised or eliminated positions, and positions converted from part-time to full-time or full-time to part-time. These updates shall include the funding sources for these positions. These updates will be made available to the Faculty.

Membership: Three elected faculty members (one chairs the Committee) serve in rotation for three year terms, Vice President for Academic Affairs, ex-officio.

[II.C.2.f. Added: Faculty, 4/14/09; Trustees, 5/9/09]

3. College-Wide Committees

a. Institutional Effectiveness Committee

The purpose of the committee is to support and document institutional progress toward the accomplishment of the College’s mission. The committee will work in close cooperation with the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College on academic matters and with other senior administrators on non-academic matters. Its functions include the following:

1. developing, reviewing and recommending policies and procedures for academic and administrative units assessment
2. reviewing each unit's goals and assessment plan on an annual basis and providing feedback to each submission
3. serving as a resource on assessment information.

Membership: Director of Institutional Research, three administrators (at the director level) designated by the President, four faculty members recommended by the Faculty Representative Committee, and two students recommended by the President of Student Government. The Director of Institutional Research chairs the committee. Members serve three-year staggered terms.

[Approved by the Faculty, 4/9/99; Trustees, 5/99. Amended: Faculty, 4/3/01; Trustees, 5/01.]

b. The Campus Events Committee (Moderate Load)

The committee coordinates campus events, selects performers and speakers, and facilitates long-range planning of public events. The committee works with coordinators of other planned events in order to minimize schedule conflicts. The committee consults with other interested students, faculty, and staff regarding types of programs and performances, topics for presentations, and names of performers and speakers.

The committee also awards grants to individual departments for guest speakers from a small annual fund that is separate from the general planning budget.

Membership: Three faculty members appointed for three year terms (one of whom co-chairs the committee), Director of Communications (who serves as the other co-chair), and three student members.

The Dean of Students, Vice President for Development, Coordinator of the Thayer Memorial Lecture Series, and one faculty from each of music, art, dance, and creative writing serve as resources for the committee. [Adopted: Faculty 5/99, Trustees, 5/99. Amended: Trustees 5/00.]

c. Information Technology Advisory (ITA) Committee (Light Load)

     The functions of the committee are to :

• Review requests made by faculty and academic departments for computer hardware and software, along with PIN requests (unexpected/emergency, low cost technology needs) and to make recommendations to the IT Director concerning those requests;
• Work with the IT Director to recommend and review policies pertaining to the procurement, location and use of technology resources for use by the College in general, as well as to the academic program in particular;
• Coordinate efforts for faculty development and support related to technology, and to make recommendations to the Dean of the College;
• Consult with the IT Director on hardware and software decisions affecting the academic program;
• Consult with the Dean of the College on the technology aspects of academic renovation projects;
• Serve as a channel for information about campus computer resources; 
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and evaluate the appropriateness of their application to the College;
• Pay special attention to the impact of technology use on the College's culture;
• Assist in setting priorities for College-wide technology projects;
• Communicate technology directions to the campus community;
• Examine and evaluate potential hardware and software decisions that affect the entire community;
• Welcome input from any campus constituency on IT issues.

       Membership: Four faculty members, one of whom is a member of the library faculty; Chief Technology Officer (ex officio/voting); a representative from the Registrar's Office; a representative from the Dean of the College Office; and two students.

d. Student Symposium Committee (Heavy Load)

The Committee's role is to organize, promote, and oversee the College's annual Symposium of Artists and Scholars.

The functions fo the Committee include:

• Working with the IT Department to ensure that the application materials are available on -line;
• Reading applications and selecting students to participate; organizing panels; editing abstracts for inclusion in the program; fielding questions and concerns from students;
• Working with the Office of College Relations, the Dean of Students' Office, and the Alumnae Office to ensure that the Symposium's events are advertised with all constituencies aware of the events;
• Working with the Office of College Relations to ensure that the program is printed and distributed;
• Working with Buildings & Grounds to ensure that the required spaces on campus are reserved and set up for Symposium activities;
• Working with Catering to ensure that food and drink for the Symposium events are ordered and delivered.

Membership: three faculty members (one chairs the Committee), three staff members (preferably the Assistant Dean of Students, the Alumnae Director, and a representative from the Office of College Relations).

[II.C.3.d. Approved: Faculty, 12/14/10; Trustees, 2/12/11]

e. Committee for Student Scholarship (Heavy Load)

 The Committee's role is to support and promote production and presentation of student research and creative endeavors through management of the RISE Program, the Summer Research Program, and the Symposium of Artists and Scholars.

 The functions of the Committee include:
• Communicating with students and faculty about RISE, Summer Research and the Symposium;
•Accepting, evaluating, and making determinations on student applications for the programs;
•Working with the Office of Constituent Relations to promote campus events related to the programs;
•Overseeing logistics of campus events related to the programs;
•Managing budgets for the programs;
•Working with the Office of Admissions to promote student research opportunities to prospective students;
•Working with Grants Office to serve as a resource for finding outside funding for joint student-faculty research.

 Membership: four faculty members (including two Directors) and three staff members, preferably to include representative from the Offices of the Dean of Students, Alumnae and Alumni Relations, and Constituent Relations.

 The Director of Student Research chairs the committee.

 The Director of Summer Research oversees the Summer Research Program, including management of all summer activity.

 The Directors are appointed by the Dean of the College in consultation with the Faculty Representative Committee and typically serve three-year terms

[II.C.3.e. Approved: Faculty, 4/12; Trustees, 5/12]

4. Administrative Committees, Appointments

Alumnae Awards Committee

American Culture Advisory Committee

Animal Research Committee

Chemical Hygiene Officer (see Safety Committee)

College Marshal

Enrollment Advisory Council

Health Professions Advisor

Health Professions Advisory Committee (Light Load)

• The Health Professions Advisory Committee interviews students for health professions programs when a committee letter is required by the program.  The chair and committee write the committee letter together.  The student arranges for reference letters and transcripts to be sent to the chair, and may submit other materials as appropriate.  The chair prepares and maintains the files in electronic and paper format, and coordinates sending them to health professions schools as requested by the student during the application cycle, which may include the summer months.

Human Research Committee

Judiciary Committee, elected for a two-year term
Judicial Appeals Board, immediate past representative to the
      Judiciary Committee, serves a two-year term.
NCAA Representative
Parliamentarian
Pre-Law Adviser
Reading Liaison and Assistant Liaison
Safety Committee and Chemical Hygiene Subcommittee

       Safety Committee (Light Load)

• Duties:
  The main function of the safety committee is to actively promote interest in safety and reducing accidents.  The duties of the safety committee members are:
  1. to be familiar with the campus safety policies, programs and responsibilities.
  2. to assist in the developing of safety procedures and assist in monitoring the safety program.
  3. to be active participants in committee meetings and support the activities of the committee.
  4. to review and discuss current accident investigations. The committee will determine if the accident was preventable and make recommendations to the appropriate faculty and/or staff for improvement.
  5. to make facility inspections and report findings and recommendations for the elimination of unsafe acts or conditions to the appropriate faculty and/or staff.
  6. to set an example of safe acts and procedures by wearing proper protective equipment and operating equipment by established procedures. 
• Membership:
  1. Vice President for Finance and Administration-to act as the President's representative and liaison to the Committee.
  2. Director of Safety and Security
  3. Director of Buildings and Grounds
  4. Director of Capital Projects
  5. Director of Human Resources
  6. Athletic Director
  7. Dean of Students
  8. Chemical Hygiene Officer-may represent the chemistry, biology and art departments or faculty from each department may be members
  9. One faculty member to serve as chair
  10. One faculty member from any department other than chemistry, biology or art.

Chemical Hygiene Subcommittee (Light Load)

• Duties:
  The Chemical Hygiene Officer, in conjunction with the Chemical Hygiene Subcommittee:
  1. updates and maintains the chemical hygiene plan for the College based on current OSHA and EPA requirements.
  2. conducts safety inspections periodically in all academic areas of the College where chemicals and biologicals are used.
  3. reports safety violations to the Safety Committee and department chairs, who are then responsible for correcting the problem(s).
  4. maintains licenses necessary for research and classroom use of hazardous chemical and/or biological materials.
  5. purchases and oversees the use and disposal of chemicals, biologicals and waste.
  6. maintains an inventory of all chemicals and biologicals used in the Martin Science Building.
  7. provides training for new college employees (faculty, staff and students) assigned to work in the science building.
  8. approves after hours permission requests as submitted by faculty members.
  9. keeps and maintains all records as required by law and by the Safety Committee in relation to chemicals and biologicals.  
• Membership:
  The Chemical Hygiene Officer, one faculty member from each of the following departments: art, biology, and chemistry, because of the extensive use of chemicals and/or biologicals in these areas.

Sexual Harassment Review Board (see V.F.)
Skeller Advisers
Student Fellowship Representatives
Student Government Faculty Representative

• Duties:
  The faculty advisor to Student Government shall serve as an active liaison between the Randolph-Macon Woman’s College faculty and the elected students, who serve as representatives of the entire student body. He or she is responsible for advising the Executive Board and communicating the activities of Student Government to the faculty, when appropriate. He or she additionally has a permanent spot on the agenda to report to the Senate any important faculty matters affecting students. The position of faculty advisor is vital to fostering communication and the sharing of information between the faculty and the students of the College.
• Logistics:
  The faculty advisor shall serve an appointed term of three academic years. The Faculty Representative Committee appoints the faculty advisor to Student Government. In the spring semester of a faculty member’s third year as advisor, he or she shall meet with the President of Student Government to discuss the nomination of a successor. The President of Student Government shall also confer with the rest of the Executive Board and come to a consensus about the next faculty advisor. After the faculty member has been approached and agrees to serve as the new faculty advisor, the Executive Board will then make a formal recommendation to the Faculty Representative Committee.
• The faculty advisor to Student Government shall also meet with the President of Student Government at the beginning of each academic semester to coordinate at least two informal meetings between the advisor and the Executive Board per semester.
  [SG Senate February 24, 2003; faculty October 14, 2003]

Teacher Education Advisory Committee

United Way Representative

Women's Studies Advisory Committee

Writing Board (Light Load)

     The Writing Board is composed of faculty from across the disciplines. The Director of the Writing Program serves ex officio as Chair of the Board.
      The primary functions of the Committee are:

• To evaluate placement essays submitted after commencement of the semester,
• To evaluate proficiency essays submitted in response to faculty low writing skill evaluations,
• To meet with Writing Lab staff during the semester as necessary to discuss topics of mutual interest and/or concern,
• To select recipients of three prizes awarded by the Writing Program: Best Short Paper, Best Long Paper, and Best Senior Paper,
• To monitor and advise on writing-based matters throughout the curriculum. 

Members (at least four members plus a chair) of the Writing Board are recommended to the Dean of the College by the FRC and should represent a wide range of academic disciplines (preferable at least one from mathematics or sciences).