Faculty Handbook

     The Bylaws of the University describe the Advisory Committee as follows: "To the end that the knowledge and views of the faculty may be appropriately represented and understood in connection with certain important appointments, there shall be an Advisory Committee consisting of the Provost, the Deans of the college and schools, ex officio, and of six faculty members selected from and by the undergraduate faculty and one faculty member selected from and by the law faculty. The Board shall consult with the Committee in considering the selection of a President of the University. The President shall consult with the Committee in considering the selection of a Department Head or Dean, and may consult with the Committee and with the appropriate Department Head or Dean in considering appointments of persons to the Faculty."

     When the Advisory Committee is dealing with undergraduate promotion and tenure review recommendations; reviewing undergraduate Glenn and R. E. Lee Grant proposals; and reviewing department head recommendations, it will function as an undergraduate committee. Its membership will include six undergraduate faculty members, who will be elected by the undergraduate faculty (two annually to serve three-year terms) and, ex officio, the Provost, the Dean of the College and the Dean of the Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics.

     When the committee is dealing with undergraduate and law faculty leave proposals; consulting with the president re decanal appointments; recommending to the Board of Trustees candidates for honorary degrees; and consulting with the president on matters of University-wide importance where Faculty and decanal advice is needed, or other University matters, it will function as a University committee. Its membership will include the same six undergraduate faculty; one law faculty member, elected by the law faculty to serve a three-year term; and, ex officio, the Provost, the Dean of the College, the Dean of the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics, and the Dean of the School of Law.

     Those Faculty rotating off the committee each year will be regarded as alternates for the following year. When the Advisory Committee requires a replacement, one of the two members rotating off will be chosen by lot to serve as the replacement. If two are needed, then both will be asked. If either or both cannot serve, then the committee would turn to those who rotated off the previous year, etc. until a replacement is found.

     The Bylaws define the duties and composition of the committee as follows: "The President's Advisory Committee and the Rector of the Board shall constitute a Committee on Honorary Degrees. The Board, on its own initiative or upon recommendation of the Committee, may from time to time grant such honorary degrees as it deems proper, and must approve honorary degree recipients."

     These are committees which administer faculty responsibilities and whose actions are subject to university faculty revision and review. The Bylaws define the duties of the faculty as follows: "The Faculty shall be responsible for the academic regulation of students, for entrance and graduation requirements, for the approval and supervision of courses of study, for the recommendation of students for degrees, and for the discipline and government of the students and all student organizations."

     Advanced Placement Committee consists of five undergraduate faculty members appointed by the President to formulate policies concerning undergraduate advanced placement credit and to help process applications for such credit.

     Automatic Rule and Reinstatements Committee is composed of the Dean of the College, the Dean of the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics, the Dean of Students, the Associate Dean of the College, Associate Dean of the Williams School, the Dean of Freshmen, two undergraduate faculty members, and such other administrative personnel as the President may appoint. It administers regulations concerning undergraduate academic probation and the automatic rule which govern an undergraduate student’s academic eligibility to continue enrollment at Washington and Lee. The Committee also determines whether an undergraduate student who has withdrawn from the University may be readmitted and whether a student who applies to the Committee may receive a leave of absence.

     Courses and Degrees Committee is composed of the Deans of the College and the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics, six undergraduate faculty members appointed by the President, and two student representatives appointed by the President upon nomination by the Student Body Executive Committee; the University Registrar serves as the non-voting secretary. The committee is charged with the general supervision and development of policies concerning undergraduate entrance requirements, courses of study, curricular standards, and degrees. More specifically, its functions, subject to review and final action by the undergraduate faculty, are: (a) to make suggestions concerning entrance requirements as they relate to the curriculum of the University; (b) to study and consider the change and improvement of undergraduate curricula and requirements for degrees, and to recommend such changes; (c) to determine questions concerning the introduction, substitution, and evaluation of individual courses of study, and also the policy governing credit for work offered by transfer students from other institutions; (d) to consider methods and standards of instruction including the matter of duplication of courses.

     Faculty Committee on Inclusiveness represents faculty concern for making Washington and Lee a community open to persons from diverse backgrounds, one that respects and recognizes benefits of administrators, faculty, staff, and students from these different backgrounds. The committee receives reports from administrators as recommended by the faculty, advises University administrators where appropriate, and proposes new initiatives to the faculty when and if they are needed. The committee reports to the faculty annually. The committee consists of seven undergraduate and two law faculty appointed for three-year, staggered terms. Undergraduate members are appointed by the Provost in consultation with the current committee, subject to approval of the undergraduate faculty. Law members are appointed by the Dean of the School of Law in consultation with the current committee and subject to approval of the law faculty. Committee members should include senior and junior faculty members representing all segments of the diverse community for which we are striving.

     Faculty Committee on International Education is composed of undergraduate faculty members appointed by the President. The University Registrar serves as the non-voting secretary. The Foreign Study Adviser and the Associate Dean of Students are ex officio, non-voting members. The committee’s responsibilities include disseminating general information about other institutions’ foreign study programs, approving programs of study for individual undergraduate students interested in participating in other institutions’ programs, advising the Courses and Degrees Committee on the University’s own foreign study programs, and coordinating and evaluating those programs once they are in operation.

     Faculty Executive Committee acts ad interim for the University and undergraduate faculties; it receives student, Faculty, and departmental petitions requesting exceptions to University regulations on matters not delegated to other University Committees; it originates recommendations to the University and undergraduate faculties relating to matters not delegated to other committees; it receives a suggested one- and five-year undergraduate calendar from the Registration and Class Schedules Committee and recommends a calendar to the undergraduate faculty; it advises the President and Deans on matters not delegated to the Advisory Committee.

     When the Faculty Executive Committee is dealing with strictly undergraduate matters, it will function as an undergraduate committee. Its membership will include six undergraduate faculty members, elected by the undergraduate faculty (three annually to serve two-year terms); two student representatives, appointed annually by the President upon recommendation of the Student Executive Committee; and, ex officio, the Dean of the College, the Dean of the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics, the Dean of Students, and the University Registrar as the non-voting Secretary.

     When the committee is dealing with matters of interest to both the undergraduate and law faculties, it will function as a University committee. Its membership will include the same six faculty members, the student representatives, and ex officio members, the Dean of the School of Law, and one law faculty member elected by the law faculty to serve a two-year term.

     Those Faculty rotating off the committee each year will be regarded as alternates for the following year. When the Executive Committee requires a replacement, one of the two members rotating off will be chosen by lot to serve as the replacement. If two are needed, then both will be asked. If either or both cannot serve, then the committee would turn to those who rotated off the previous year, etc. until a replacement is found.

     Institutional Effectiveness Committee is composed of five members of the University faculty appointed by the President; two students; a representative from the Office of the Dean of Students; the first-year faculty member serving on the Courses and Degrees Committee; and the University Registrar. The committee is charged to assist the faculty and the administration in developing means of assessing the effectiveness of programs that fall under the supervision of standing undergraduate faculty committees.

Student Affairs Committee (SAC) is composed of the Dean of Students (chair), an Associate Dean of Students, the Associate Dean for Student Services at the School of Law, four members elected by and from the University Faculty (undergraduate and law), one member elected by and from the Law Faculty, the President of the Student Body, the Chair of the Student Judicial Council (SJC), the Vice-Chair of the Student-Faculty Hearing Board (SFHB), the President of the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the President of the Panhellenic Council (PC), the Head Dormitory Counselor, the President of the Student Bar Association (SBA), and the first-year representative to SBA...

     The four areas of primary responsibility for the Student Affairs Committee are:

     * SAC shall serve as a University forum for the discussion, debate and dissemination of issues and information affecting student life.

     * SAC shall recommend changes in University policy on non-curricular student issues directly to the University faculty.

     * SAC shall oversee student judicial procedures.

     * Violations of the Standards for Fraternities/Sororities that would involve the possible suspension or expulsion of a fraternity or sorority, or placing a fraternity or sorority on Critical Probation, shall be handled by the SAC. 

     SAC also serves as a University forum for issues affecting student life, and it may recommend changes in University policy on non-curricular student issues directly to the faculty.

     SAC takes action on individual discipline and fraternity cases at times when the Student Judicial Council cannot meet, aids in the planning of freshman orientation, and assumes jurisdiction over all student affairs not covered by other committees. It is also an advisory board to the Office of the Dean of Students.

     When SAC requires a replacement, the one person rotating off every two years will be regarded as the alternate, and the two Faculty rotating off every third year will be regarded as the alternates. The one person rotating off will be chosen to be the substitute in each of those two years with the replacement in the year that two rotate off being chosen by lot. When the person or persons rotating off cannot serve as a replacement, the committee will turn to those who rotated off in the previous year, etc.

     Student-Faculty Hearing Board (SFHB) is authorized to hear and adjudicate allegations of prohibited student discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and hazing. It is composed of eight students and eight faculty. The students are appointed by the Student Body Executive Committee (EC), which designates one of the student members to serve as Vice-Chair. The EC may also nominate faculty for consideration by the Provost, who designates one of the faculty members to serve as Chair.

     University Lectures Committee is composed of the Dean of the College, the Dean of the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics, and the Dean of the School of Law, the Dean of Students, University faculty members appointed by the President, and one student member appointed by the President upon nomination by the Student Body Executive Committee. The Committee assists the various departments of the University in their plans to bring suitable speakers to the campus and approves all expenditures for the same. Proposals for speakers to be invited to the campus made by student and faculty groups (with the exception of ODK, Phi Beta Kappa, and the Tucker Lecture Committee, which proposals shall go directly to the President) may be referred to the committee for approval, or for recommendation to the President.

C. Administrative Committees

     These are committees which function at the behest of the administration to assist it in discharging certain of its responsibilities.

     Academic Computing Advisory Committee is composed of eight University faculty members, appointed by the President, and the Director of University Computing. The members advise the Dean of the College on all matters pertaining to the ways in which University Computing interacts with the academic program of the University and its administration; provide long-range planning for the development of university computing, its proper housing, and the purchase of equipment; assist in the selection of the Director; and provide consultative and advisory services in the formulation of operating policies.

     Alumni Committee is composed of six University faculty members appointed by the President, the Alumni Secretary, and the Assistant Alumni Secretary. Its members assist the Alumni Secretary in entertaining returning alumni and in collecting items of interest about alumni; they also counsel the Alumni Secretary about alumni activities.

     Cincinnati Awards Committee is composed of undergraduate faculty members appointed by the President. It annually confers the Virginia Cincinnati Society award upon the author of the best essay in American military history or some other subject in colonial, revolutionary, or Civil War history of the United States.

     Environmental Planning and Management Committee is charged with the coordination, planning, management, and implementation of issues related to environmental concerns in the operation of the University. It is meant to be both a practical and an educational committee, particularly important as the University moved forward with its strategic plan and with its efforts to address a variety of related concerns both inside and outside the classroom. Working with all University constituencies, the committee helps frame policy and action plans for issues such as energy usage, indoor air quality, recycling, transportation, landscaping, etc.

     Faculty Review Committee (FRC) is advisory to the President and shall hear appeals for non-reappointment or failure to promote based on detailed and substantiated allegations of inadequate consideration or improper consideration. The FRC is composed of six members and three alternates, all of whom shall be tenured members of the Faculty. Five members and two alternates shall be elected from and by the undergraduate faculty and one member and one alternate shall be elected from and by the law faculty. Members of the Advisory Committee are not eligible to serve on the FRC. Members and alternates shall serve staggered three year terms with one third of each to be elected each year. Each fall, after new members have been elected, the FRC shall meet to elect its Chair.

     Faculty and Staff Fringe Benefits Committee is composed of three University faculty members, one retired faculty member, and one or more staff members (all appointed by the President), the University Treasurer, and the Provost.  It periodically reviews programs relating to faculty and staff benefits and acts in an advisory capacity to the President.

     Fishback Fund for Visiting Writers Committee is composed of six undergraduate faculty members appointed by the President to serve five-year terms and two students appointed by the President. The committee administers a lecture series established by an endowment gift from William A. Fishback, Jr. (Class of ’56) in memory of his parents Margaret Haggin Haupt Fishback and William Hunter Fishback. The fund supports a lecture series which features writers of distinction who have written for the general public on important issues in public affairs, history, the environment, and the theatre. The Fishback Lecture will be given once annually.

     Freshman Admissions Committee is composed of nine undergraduate faculty members, the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, the Director of Financial Aid, the Dean of Students, the Associate Dean of Admissions, an Associate Dean of Students, and the Dean of Freshmen. Two student representatives appointed by the President upon nomination by the Student Body Executive Committee vote with the Committee on policy matters but not on individual admissions decisions. The Admissions Committee makes recommendations to the undergraduate faculty about policy regarding undergraduate admissions and practices. The Committee also determines the scope of recruiting efforts; participates in those efforts; and assists in the review of Honor Scholarship applicants.

     Glasgow Endowment Committee is composed of seven undergraduate faculty members from the humanities, appointed by the President, chiefly from the language arts departments, and the Associate Dean of the College. It controls the funds of the Glasgow Endowment, a bequest by Arthur Graham Glasgow "to promote the art of expression by pen and tongue, including voice production and delivery." It plans and produces public programs involving language artists/poets, dramatists, and fiction writers, as well as others whose work can be characterized as "artful expression."

     Graduate Fellowships Committee is composed of eight undergraduate faculty members appointed by the President, the Dean of Students, and the Associate Dean of the College. It disseminates information on fellowship opportunities and selects nominees for Fulbright, Luce and other scholarship programs.

     Information Technology Advisory Committee is being developed as of this writing. Information about the committee’s charge is available from the office of the Provost.

     Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee is composed of four undergraduate faculty members, two non-institutional members, including a veterinarian, and one W&L community representative. All members are appointed by the President. The committee is charged to review and monitor protocols for all research and instructional use of vertebrate animal species. These protocols should comply with relevant federal and state regulations.

     Institutional Human Subjects Research Committee is composed of four members of the Washington and Lee community and one non-institutional member. The primary purpose of the committee is to assure the protection of the rights and welfare of human research subjects according to federal and state regulations and guidelines. The committee will review institutional or University faculty research proposals which would involve the use of human subjects and assure their compliance with appropriate protocols.

     Institutional Research Group, comprised of representatives of the Institutional Effectiveness Committee, the University Registrar’s office and the Treasurer’s Office, compiles and disseminates institutional statistical and assessment data for use in administrative and programmatic analysis and planning. The committee reports to the Provost.

     International Education Committee is composed of four undergraduate faculty members appointed by the President, two from the College and two from the Williams School, and two undergraduate students recommended by the Student E.C. (one of whom is an international student recommended by SAIL) and appointed by the President. Its responsibilities include working with the Director of International Education, coordinating with the Global Stewardship steering committee, coordinating and consulting on matters of mutual interest, and providing a faculty voice and general oversight on matters pertaining to study abroad and other international education issues as brought to it by the Director or the Deans, and the Provost. Academic recommendations will be sent to the faculty via C&D. The committee will consider and make recommendations to the faculty, as necessary, on:

-Academic matters pertaining to study abroad, including spring term abroad                                  

-New program initiatives and development         

-General and specific policy issues including financial considerations, safety and liability issues, credit transfer, etc.                                                   

-Curricular and extra-curricular issues intrinsic to international education                                  

-Student Association for International Learning (SAIL)                                                      

-International student concerns

     Oxford Exchange Committee is composed of six undergraduate faculty members appointed by the President. It establishes the criteria and procedures for selecting one student each year to spend a full year at University College and selects the student.

     Public Functions Committee is composed of the Marshal of the University, nine University faculty members appointed by the President, and one member of the Buildings and Grounds staff. It supervises arrangements for University assemblies and for official appearances of the faculty and students at Fall Convocation, Founders’ Day, Phi Beta Kappa Convocation, Baccalaureate Day, Commencement Day, and other official occasions.

     Radiation Safety Committee is composed of three undergraduate faculty members, one student, and the University Safety Officer, ex officio. All committee members are appointed by the President. The committee’s responsibilities include establishing regulations for the safe operation of any radiation producing equipment, the safe procurement, use, transfer, and disposal of radioactive material, and the protection of personnel working with ionizing radiation. The committee also reviews all charges of non-compliance and makes appropriate reports to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

     Registration and Class Schedules Committee consists of the University Registrar and five undergraduate faculty members appointed by the President, two student representatives appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Student Body Executive Committee, the Associate Dean of the College, and the Director of Athletics. It deals with the undergraduate program. It annually recommends a five-year undergraduate academic calendar to the Executive Committee of the Faculty, considers and recommends changes related to the scheduling of courses and registration of undergraduate students, and serves as an advisory committee to the University Registrar.

     Special Collections Committee is comprised of Faculty and staff, provides oversight for the Reeves Center, Lee Chapel, and the various art collections of the University. The committee makes policy recommendations to the administration and approves acquisitions for the University art collections. The Director of the Reeves Center chairs the committee.

     Student Financial Aid Committee consists of the Director of Financial Aid, two representatives from the Office of the Dean of Students, two representatives from the Admissions Office, five undergraduate faculty members appointed by the President, and two students appointed by the President upon nomination of the Student Body Executive Committee. The Committee considers applications and establishes policy for awarding financial assistance to undergraduate students with demonstrated need.

     Student Health Committee consists of the Director of Student Health, an Associate Dean of Students, three University faculty members appointed by the President, and three students appointed by the President upon nomination by the Student Body Executive Committee. It acts in an advisory capacity on matters pertaining to the scope and effectiveness of Washington and Lee’s Student Health Services.

     Transfer Admissions Committee includes the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, the Dean of the College, the Dean of the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics, and the Associate Dean of the College. It determines efforts to be made in encouraging undergraduate transfer candidates and establishes admissions requirements for those who have previously attended college. Changes in policy are recommended to the undergraduate faculty by the Committee. The members also determine, by review of individual dossiers, those candidates to be admitted or rejected.

     University Athletic Committee is composed of six University faculty members appointed by the President, the Dean of Students, two alumni members chosen by the Alumni Association, and three student members appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Student Body Executive Committee. The Athletic Committee acts in an advisory capacity to the Athletic Director, the administration, and the University faculty with regard to all aspects of the athletic program — intercollegiate, intramural, curricular, and recreational.

     University Library Committee consists of nine University faculty members (appointed by the President), the University Librarian, and three student representatives appointed by the President upon nomination by the Student Body Executive Committee. It acts as an advisory board to the University Librarian, the President, and the Board of Trustees on matters pertaining to the maintenance and development of the library. The problems the Committee usually considers concern public and technical services but may include other areas in which the Librarian seeks advice.

     Watson Fellowship Committee consists of seven faculty appointed for staggered 2- or 3-year terms, and participates in selecting candidates for the Watson Fellowship Program.

     University Scholars Advisory Program consists of the Director of the University Scholars Program and three undergraduate faculty members, all appointed by the President. The Committee reviews the needs of the University Scholars Program and advises the Director on pertinent matters.

     Writing Program Advisory Committee consists of six undergraduate faculty members appointed by the President, the coordinator of the writing program, an English Department representative, and the Associate Deans of the College and the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics. The committee reviews undergraduate needs for writing instruction; advises the writing program coordinator; collaborates with departments regarding writing components in their curricula; and helps evaluate the writing program.

Revised May 2003