University Standing Committees

Policy Committee of the University

Purpose & Function

The Policy Development, Approval and Dissemination Policy provides that three University Standing Committees, Academic Council, Employee Benefits Committee and the Policy Committee of the University, are authorized to recommend to the President of the University proposals to establish a new University policy or revise an existing University policy concerning their designated area of responsibility. This mandate is outlined in the December 14, 2018 revision to The Policy Development, Approval and Dissemination Policy.

In this capacity, the Policy Committee is responsible to act upon:

• policies affecting more than one major area of the University;
• policies limited to one college or area but having implications for the total University, another major area, or another college;
• policies affecting the objectives of the University;
• policies affecting the long-range development of the University;
• establishing or abolishing a University Standing Committee;
• merging or reconfiguring two or more committees when at least one of them is a University Standing Committee.

The Executive Committee of the Policy Committee of the University

• exercises all of the powers of the Policy Committee of the University when it is not possible to convene the entire committee, and it reports its interim actions at the next regular meeting of the full committee;
• meets with the President of the University and the Secretary of the University and General Counsel about two weeks prior to a full committee meeting to prepare the agenda for the meeting.

Furthermore, the Policy Development, Approval and Dissemination Policy, requires that the Office of the Secretary of the University and General Counsel serve to provide administrative support and direction to the Academic Council and the Employee Benefits Committee for the development and dissemination of these policies.

Membership

To assure maximum effectiveness, the members should have a total University viewpoint.

Members of the Policy Committee of the University include:

President of the University (non-voting)
Provost
Vice President for Finance and Administration
Vice President of Operations
Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services
Vice President for University Advancement
Vice President for Mission Services
Executive Director of Human Resources
Executive Director of Institutional Equity and Inclusion and Title IX Coordinator
Executive Director of Student Success (Interim)
Academic Deans
President of the Faculty Senate
President of the Staff Senate of Marywood University
Two full-time faculty members from each college
Three full-time faculty members at large
One staff member from Enrollment Management and Student Services
One undergraduate student
One graduate student

Members of the Executive Committee of Policy are comprised of the following members of the Policy Committee of the University:

President of the University (non-voting)
Chair of the Policy Committee
Vice Chair of the Policy Committee
Provost
Vice President of Operations
Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services or designee
Executive Director of Human Resources
Executive Director of Institutional Equity and Inclusion and Title IX Coordinator
One academic dean chosen among themselves on a rotating basis
President of the Faculty Senate
President of the Staff Senate of Marywood University

Method of Selection

All Faculty members are elected through the ballot system coordinated by the Faculty Senate.

The Enrollment Management and Student Services representative is appointed by the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services.

The undergraduate student is appointed by the Executive Board of the Student Government Association in consultation with the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services.

The graduate student is appointed by the President of the Graduate Student Council in consultation with the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services.

Election Process for the Chair and Vice Chair of the Policy Committee of the University

The election process for the Chair and Vice Chair of the Policy Committee is the prerogative of the sitting Chair.  At the beginning of the Fall semester, the election of the Vice Chair will occur by electronic ballot sent to the members of the Policy Committee. The position of Vice Chair is a one-year term with the right to succession to the position of Chair for a one-year term at the next Academic Year’s first Executive Committee of Policy meeting. Members of the Policy Committee, eligible for membership for the following year, are eligible for nomination for the position of Vice Chair.  Current voting members are eligible to cast a vote. 

Term

Elected faculty and the Enrollment Management and Student Services representative serve a term of three years with possibility of re-election to one additional consecutive term. Eligibility is effective again after a hiatus of one year.

Student representatives serve for a one-year term.

Meetings

The committee meets at the call of the Chair.

Documentation Requirements for this University Standing Committee:

As provided in the University Standing Committee Policy, the Chair(s) of this University Standing Committee, in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary of the University and General Counsel, must provide the following documentation at the end of each Academic Year: 

Annual Report:            ☒Yes   ☐ No
Minutes of Meetings:   ☒Yes   ☐No

Reports To

President of the University