SDSU COMMITTEES

(with Senate representation)

DESCRIPTIONS

(updated 4/18/06)

Academic Policy and Planning
Considers and makes recommendations to the Senate and, within policy guidelines established by the Senate, to appropriate administrative officers concerning issues of academic philosophy, standards, and conduct; appropriateness of present and proposed programs, degrees, majors, options, and concentrations; faculty-student relations, the governance of the university, and other matters of academic policy.

Academic Resources and Planning
Makes recommendations to the Senate and, within policy guidelines established by the Senate, to appropriate administrative officers concerning the allocation of University resources. The Committee shall act as the deliberative body of the Senate on all issues pertaining to, but not limited to, University budgets, allocation of facilities and positions, and allocation of special funds, e.g., Instructional Related Activities and lottery program funds. The Committee's role shall be to review and recommend budget allocations, to review patterns of previous expenditures and propose changes as they may affect instructional programs, and to make general policy recommendations regarding present and future resource decisions.

Bookstore Advisory
Improves the relationship between the faculty and the Aztec Shops Campus Store by reviewing Campus Store policies, textbook requisitions, sales data, and custom course packets. The Committee shall be especially sensitive to specific problems and complaints that are brought to its attention in writing. The Committee may recommend to the Aztec Shops Board changes in policy or procedures.

Campus Development Committee
Represents the University community in all deliberations and decisions regarding major aspects of campus development. The committee shall review the Campus Master Plan and Five-year Capital Outlay Program at least annually and shall report to the Senate on the status of these items in September. It should be informed in a timely fashion of any proposed major changes in campus development so that it may review these changes and report to the Senate. The committee may also propose changes on its own initiative and shall report to the Senate such recommendations. By "campus development" is meant site development, construction of new buildings, modification of existing buildings, roads, landscaping, parking, and related matters.

Constitution and Bylaws
Reviews periodically the Constitution and Bylaws of the Senate and university policies and recommends changes; reports to the Senate its recommendations concerning proposed amendments to the Constitution or Bylaws; responds to questions concerning interpretations of the text of a Senate-approved document; considers revision of the list of committees and functions.

Diversity, Equity, and Outreach
Reviews University-wide programs for the recruitment and retention of protected groups; subject to the approval of the President, advises the University administration regarding Diversity, Equal Employment Opportunities, Outreach, and related matters.

Environment and Safety
Studies, advises, and reports to the Senate and administration on matters relating to the safety, health, and learning conditions in the campus environment. The campus environment shall include sidewalks, walkways, pedestrian malls, and within buildings, classrooms, restrooms, stairwells, elevators, and hallways. The Committee, either on its own initiative or at the behest of faculty, staff, students, or other related committees, shall investigate problems, including but not limited to: health, hazardous materials and waste, safety, emergency preparedness, matters of excessive noise or traffic, and other matters that detrimentally impact upon the campus environment and learning conditions. The Committee shall recommend policy and procedures for implementation on matters relating to the health, safety, and learning conditions of the campus environment.

Faculty Affairs Committee
Considers policy and procedure in personnel matters in which the faculty and the well being of the university are involved.

Faculty Honors and Awards Committee
Responsible for nominations of faculty to the following honors and awards: Emeritus status, CSU Academic Senate Outstanding Professor Award, Alumni Award for Outstanding Faculty Contribution to the University, and such other honors and awards as the Senate from time to time shall designate.

General Education
Coordinates General Education policies and their implementation; reviews and evaluates current and proposed courses for General Education; monitors and recommends changes for the improvement of the General Education programs.

Graduate Council
Delegated University-wide jurisdiction over all matters relating to graduate studies, subject only to the right of review by the Senate: broad responsibility to include, but not be limited to, the development of University-wide policy on graduate programs, graduate student affairs, graduate research and scholarship, and the participation of faculty in graduate programs.

Instructional and Information Technology

The Committee shall advise the administration and the Senate on instructional and information technologies.The Committee shall assist the Directors of Instructional Technology Services, the Library, the Academic Affairs Information Technology Coordinator, and other campus Instructional / Information Technology offices, with developing long-range master plans and shall review and make recommendations on the mission and services of ITS, the Library and Academic Affairs on instructional and information technologies. The Committee shall consider any matter referred by the Senate or by the administration of the University (and may consider, at its own discretion, other matters relating to instructional and information technologies at the campus and CSU system-wide levels.) The committee shall review and provide feedback on campus information technology initiatives as related to instruction, research and operational needs.

Intercollegiate Athletic Authority
Advises the President on varsity intercollegiate athletics; formulates and publishes an annual budget subject to approval by the President; recommends policy to the President within the bounds of NCAA, WAC, CSU, and San Diego State University regulations.

International Programs Council
Makes recommendations on policies and procedures to enhance the University's international activities; identifies existing areas of involvement in international activities and related resource commitments; reports on funding programs and opportunities for external support of international activities; identifies areas needing improvement and development.

Liberal Studies Committee
Develops policy, program, and curricular proposals for recommendation to the Senate and reviews all policy and curriculum proposals developed elsewhere that affect the Liberal Studies program. The Committee shall consult with deans of colleges and with other standing committees of the Senate and shall consider their recommendations in preparing its proposals. The Committee shall have primary responsibility for recommending policy and program changes in Liberal Studies Options 2 and 3, and may request the assistance of external specialists as needed.

Library Committee
Advises the administration of the University and the Senate on matters related to allocation of all book and periodical funds and formulation and revision of Library policies and programs. Pursuant to this responsibility, the Committee shall consider any matter referred to it by the Senate or by the administration of the University and may consider, at its own discretion, other matters relating to Library policy and planning. Upon request of the Committee or the Library administration, any recommendations concerning policy or planning shall be submitted to the Senate to be considered as recommendations to the administration of the University only if adopted by the Senate.

Staff Affairs Committee
Considers staff problems as they are related to Senate functions, selects staff members to serve on Senate and University committees as requested, and considers additional issues at the direction of the Senate or its Executive Committee.

Student Affairs Committee
Reviews items of mutual interest to faculty and students; makes recommendations to the Vice President for Student Affairs when administrative responsibilities for the program or policy in question rest with Student Affairs; makes recommendations to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies or the Dean of the Graduate Division and Vice President for Research when administrative responsibilities for the program or policy in question rest with Academic Affairs; reviews and recommends policies and procedures for the administration of financial aid programs and assures that policies conform to legal requirements of agencies granting financial aid; advises the Financial Aid Director regarding students whose situations warrant special consideration, e.g., applicant eligibility, loan repayment; promotes University-wide understanding of, and assistance with, the financial aid program, particularly through the assistant deans for student affairs in the colleges of the University.

Student Grievance Committee
Hears and to seeks redress of student grievances concerning individual members of the faculty, administration, or staff, and when appropriate, makes recommendations concerning disciplinary action.

Student Learning Outcomes Committee
Provides oversight for student learning assessment; reviews and evaluates student learning outcomes assessment plans for General Education and for all degrees, including programs that are accredited by outside agencies; monitors student learning outcomes reports on an annual basis for all programs and degrees; proposes changes in policy related to student learning outcomes assessment; reports to the Senate on an annual basis regarding campus progress of student learning outcomes assessment.

Undergraduate Council
As the general policy-recommending agency for the Division of Undergraduate Studies: advises the Dean of the Division of Undergraduate Studies; proposes changes in policy dealing with undergraduate programs; supervises specific University-wide undergraduate programs, such as the Undergraduate Writing Proficiency Requirement. The Council shall also review all local submissions to the Systemwide Fund for Innovation and Improvement of Education. The Undergraduate Writing Subcommittee, a permanent subcommittee of the Undergraduate Council, shall encourage the development of courses and programs designed to improve the writing of undergraduate students, shall monitor lower division writing competency and upper division writing proficiency in order to ensure consistent standards, and shall coordinate campus efforts to improve student writing.

Undergraduate Curriculum
Represents the faculty in all matters pertaining to the undergraduate curriculum. It shall be informed in writing of any undergraduate curriculum changes proposed by any department, Extended Studies, or administrative officer and of the recommendations of the Undergraduate Council, when appropriate, so that it may, if it chooses, formulate an opinion concerning such changes. It shall have the authority to propose changes on its own initiative. It shall report to the faculty via the Senate, in writing, its findings, recommendations, and criticisms in all curriculum matters upon which it takes action. Reviews proposals for certificate programs to be offered for credit, to determine adequacy of resources to support the proposed program, appropriateness of the program to the unit, duplication or overlap of the program with others already approved, realistic objectives of the proposal, and an evaluation plan for the proposal; periodically reviews all approved credit certificate programs. Under the term "curriculum changes" shall be included such matters as proposals for adding new or deleting programs and courses, departmental reorganization of courses, proposals involving changes in the course of study, and any modifications of requirements now existing in patterns leading to a degree. The Undergraduate Topics Subcommittee, a permanent subcommittee of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, shall review all course proposals identified as 296, 496, 580 and 596 and General Studies 250, 350, and 550. The Subcommittee shall encourage experimental and interdisciplinary courses.