Chapter II: Administrative Organization

2.6 Administrative Committees

2.6.1 Audit and Review Committee

The Audit and Review Committee, chaired by the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs [FS 08/09 #66], is comprised of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Deans of the Colleges of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Business and Economics, and Education and Professional Studies; and six faculty members appointed for three-year terms by the Faculty Senate: one from the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, two from the College of Arts and Sciences, one from the College of Business and Economics, and one from the College of Education and Professional Studies. Two students serve as appointed by the Student Senate for two-year terms.

The Audit and Review Committee is the evaluative body for 7-year program audit and reviews (see http://www.uwsa.edu/acss/acis/). During the Spring Semester, the department with the program being reviewed submits its self-study document, along with the external reviewer’s report, to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The report is sent to the Audit and Review Committee by March 21 The Audit and Review Committee then schedules and carries out a departmental visitation. Finally, the committee prepares a report and submits it, with recommendations, to the Provost by June 1.

2.6.2 Facilities Development Committee
[FS 08/09 #25]

2.6.2.1 Membership

The Facilities Development Committee is comprised of:

• 4 faculty: one from each college, selected by Faculty Senate
  
• 4 administrative staff, selected by administration
  
• 2 students, selected by Student Senate
  
• Support staff:
  
• • Campus Planner (Chair)
    
  • Facilities Management Director
    
  • St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development Director
• Other support staff brought in as needed: Director of Institutional Research, Budget Officer, Registrar, etc.

2.6.2.2 Term

Selected members (not support staff) will serve three-year terms.  One third of the members will rotate off on an annual basis.  This leaves two thirds of the selected membership with history and understanding of past discussions and topics.

2.6.2.3 Meeting Frequency

The group will meet once per month, including over the summer and in January, unless agreed upon by the group (by consensus) that a regular monthly meeting can be skipped.

2.6.2.4 Recording

A recording secretary will be chosen by the group and will hold the position for the term of one year.  This will help ensure consistent note-taking and interpretation of discussion topics at each meeting.

2.6.2.5 Leadership

Responsibilities of the committee chair include:

• calling and organizing meetings
  
• assuring that relevant materials are distributed to members and involved support personnel
  
• assuring active participation by all members of the group
  
• annual reporting of the actions of the group to shared governance

2.6.2.6 Tasks/Responsibilities

• to act as the master planning coordinating committee for the campus when comprehensive master plans utilizing outside consultants are carried out
  
• to review the Campus Physical Development Plan, which is updated every two years and submitted to UW-System Administration in June of each even-numbered year
  
• to review the Six-year Plan, which contains prioritized lists of major projects in all funding categories
  
• to provide feedback to administration on current facilities management and development topics
  
• to provide feedback to administration on space management and space reallocation actions that occur between major campus units such as colleges and major administrative areas
  
• to review and rank integrated budget request documents in support of the integrated planning and budgeting function on an annual basis
  
• to act as the campus project committee for all classroom modernization projects
  
• to help Campus Planning and Facilities Management assess the effectiveness of their respective efforts by polling the campus periodically

2.6.2.7 Assumptions

• Selected members will receive training in facilities management and campus planning theory and methods.
  
• Selected members are representative of their areas.  They must communicate back to their constituents actions and issues that come before the group.
  
• All members must actively participate in the work of the committee.  This means that members must read relevant materials prior to meetings and come prepared for active discussion.

2.6.2.8 Final Decision Making 

The group will not make final decisions regarding space allocations, reallocations, funding of projects, or final prioritization of project sequencing or scope.  All space decisions and project prioritization will be performed by the Cabinet with final approval by the Chancellor or designee.

2.6.3 Faculty/Academic Staff Development Board

2.6.3.1 Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Faculty/Academic Staff Development Board (FASDB) at UWRF to directly promote the effectiveness of faculty and academic staff with respect to teaching, professional development, and research. This involves the provision of adequate funding and time to faculty and academic staff to pursue activities related to instructional and organizational development, community, and societal service as well as basic and applied research endeavors. Such activities are intended to have a direct impact on the career satisfaction of faculty/academic staff and, in turn, positively affect student learning.

Key issues regarding funding, identifying new resources and maintaining existing ones, selecting and evaluating faculty/academic staff-initiated projects and providing ongoing support and mentoring will be within the scope of the FASDB. In this manner the FASDB seeks to identify and coordinate previously separate programs and resources for faculty and academic staff development into a single comprehensive effort. At the same time the FASDB seeks to maintain the variety of opportunities for faculty/academic staff development.

Issues for faculty/academic staff development include the following:

• developing innovations in curriculum and instruction
• responding to community and societal needs through increased service activities
• engaging in research activities that contribute to academic disciplines and student learning
• understanding the increased role of technology and its potential impact on instruction and learning
• adapting instructional methods to changing student populations and needs
• conducting research with respect to new paradigms for teaching and learning
  
• responding to needs for continued efforts to improve retention of new faculty/academic staff in addition to retention and graduation of students
• understanding the needs for continued development of diversity in our faculty/academic staff and student population.
• responding to the need to expand the traditional organization of higher education to include support for school-to-work efforts including cooperative education, internships, and team training
• supporting the pursuit of opportunities for external funding
• supporting travel for faculty and academic staff development

2.6.3.2 Administration of the Program

The UWRF Faculty/Academic Staff Development Program is administered by the Faculty/Academic Staff Development Board (FASDB), which consists of the following:

• seven tenured faculty members appointed by the UWRF Faculty Senate for a term of six years
• two academic staff members appointed by the Academic Staff Council, each for a six-year term

The Assistant to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and the Director of Grants and Research (both non-voting).

The full Board will elect its chair at the first scheduled meeting. Chair terms will be two years. Chairs may be re-elected for no more than two additional terms of office.

Day-to-day operations of the Board will be conducted by the Operations Committee, consisting of the Assistant to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the chair of the FASDB, and two other Board members. At least two of the four members of the Operations Committee must be faculty members.

The Board will subdivide itself into five committees: a Teaching Committee, a Research Committee, a Faculty Professional Development Committee (each with at least three faculty members), an Academic Staff Professional Development Committee (with two academic staff members), and a University-wide Initiatives Committee.

2.6.3.3 Responsibilities of the Board

• promotes, fosters, and supports faculty and academic staff development on the UWRF campus
• makes decisions regarding the allocation of the Faculty/Academic Staff Professional Development Awards and informs Faculty Senate, Academic Staff Council and Provost and Vice Chancellor of those decisions
• monitors Faculty/Academic Staff Development Program budgets and administration procedures
• submits requests for changes in Faculty/Academic Staff Development Program policy to the Faculty Senate Executive Committee for referral to the appropriate Faculty Senate Committee [FS 06/07 #69]
• organizes Faculty/Academic Staff Development Program evaluation efforts
• determines membership and oversees operation of the five standing committees
• solicits additional reviewers from the Faculty Senate Executive Committee and the Academic Staff Council to assist in the evaluation of proposals as appropriate
• serves as liaison with UW-System Office of Professional and Instructional Development (OPID)
• oversees the UWRF mentoring program

2.6.3.4 Committee Responsibilities

Each of the Board's five committees is responsible for a particular facet of faculty/academic staff development at UWRF. Within their realms of responsibility they will:

• support and encourage development efforts
• pursue additional funding from UWRF, UW System, and other sources
• award available funds to faculty and academic staff.

Most funds will be awarded through a competitive grants process. The Board intends that these various awards will be made solely on the basis of the merits of the proposals, not on the departmental or collegiate homes of the proposers.

2.6.3.5 Teaching Committee

The Teaching Committee supports the efforts of faculty and academic staff to improve their teaching. Proposals may focus on methods or delivery of instruction or acquisition of knowledge related to one's teaching responsibilities. The Teaching Committee is responsible for:

• improvement of classroom instruction grants
• UWRF participation in UW-System Faculty College and Teaching Fellows programs
• Regents Teaching Excellence awards for individuals and departments
• UWRF proposals to the Office of Professional and Instructional Development (OPID) Program
  
• OPID Conference Grants
• Mini-technology grants.

2.6.3.6 Research Committee

The Research Committee supports research projects of faculty and academic staff in all
disciplines. It is responsible for:

• Faculty Research grants
• incentive grants (funds for travel and/or reassigned time to allow faculty/academic staff to write grant proposals)

2.6.3.7 Faculty Professional Development Committee

The Faculty Professional Development Committee supports activities designed to help faculty advance themselves in their professions. It is responsible for:

• Sabbatical leaves
• Administrative internships for women
• Faculty professional development grants
• End-of-year grants

2.6.3.8 Academic Staff Professional Development Committee

The Academic Staff Professional Development Committee supports activities designed to enable individual professional development, improve program quality, and enhance institutional effectiveness.

This committee is responsible for Academic Staff Professional Development grants.

2.6.3.9 University-wide Initiatives Committee

The University-wide Initiatives Committee supports faculty and academic staff as they engage in activities which will affect large numbers of UWRF faculty and staff. It is responsible for:

• UW-System Institutional Enhancement grants
• on-campus faculty development events, e.g., workshops during fall and spring semester administrative days
• UW-System Race and Ethnicity grants
• UWRF Foundation grants (in consultation with the foundation

2.6.4 Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee consists of representatives from departments using animals as research subjects, from the Laboratory Farms, the University's consulting veterinarian, and a member of the community who is not employed by UW-River Falls. The Director of Grants and Research serves ex officio as secretary. Faculty, staff, or students who are conducting research involving animals must obtain the approval of this Committee before they begin their research. Contact the Director of Grants and Research for research protocol forms. For forms and for details of the UWRF animal care and use policy, see:

http://www.uwrf.edu/GrantsAndResearch/IACUC.cfm

2.6.5 Institutional Competition Committee

The Institutional Competition Committee is comprised of the Controller (Chair), representation from faculty, academic staff, and students, and several community representatives. The Committee is not to exceed nine members. The Institutional Competition Committee's charge, as established in Board of Regents Policy 12-1 (formerly 89-1), is to examine issues when the institution is involved in new activities which might compete with private sector businesses and to review any on-going activities whose appropriateness has been questioned. Following a review of these issues the Committee will recommend to the Chancellor a course of action to address these concerns.

2.6.6 Institutional Review Board/Human Subjects Committee

The Institutional Review Board/Human Subjects Committee consists of representatives from departments which use human subjects in their research, an ethicist, and a member of the community who is not employed by the University. The Director of Grants and Research serves ex officio as secretary to the Committee. Any faculty, staff, or students who are conducting any sort of research using human subjects--including in- or out-of-class surveys, observations or experiments--must have their research approved by this Committee. Contact the director of Grants and Research for the appropriate forms and procedures. Most research at UW-River Falls is exempt from review by the complete Committee, but must be reviewed by the secretary of the Committee.

http://www.uwrf.edu/GrantsAndResearch/IRB.cfm

2.6.7 Re-classification Committee

The Re-classification Committee's purpose is to review all requests for re-classification from 'classified' to 'academic staff' or from 'academic staff' to 'classified'. After the review, the Committee will submit its recommendation regarding the request to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The Committee is comprised of the Special Assistant to the Chancellor, who will act as the Committee's Chair; the Chairs of the Faculty Senate, the Faculty Welfare and Personnel Policies Committee and the Academic Staff Council; the Director of Human Resources; and the Assistant to the Chancellor for Equity, Compliance, and Affirmative Action.

2.6.8 University Planning Group

2.6.8.1 Charge to the Committee

1. Review progress of the Strategic Plan
2. Communicate progress
3. Monitor progress
4. Facilitate the Strategic Plan

2.6.8.2 Membership

Administration
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services
Budget Officer
Assessment Coordinator

Faculty Senate Representatives, Academic Staff Representatives, Student Senate
Representatives: (Excluding the Chair of the University Planning Group, 50 per cent of
membership of the UPG will be appointed by the Faculty Senate. [FS 06/07 #91])

Faculty Representatives:
CAFES (2), CBE (2), CEPS (1), CAS (4)

One Academic Staff Representative

Student Senate President

2.6.8.3 Steering Committee

A 6-person Steering Committee consists of three members appointed by Faculty Senate and three members appointed by the Provost with recommendations from the administrative membership. Members serve a one-year term that can be extended without limit.

2.6.8.4 Functions of the Steering Committee

1. Determine the agenda for the UPG.
2. How and in what ways the UPG should focus its attention.
3. How and in what ways to move the Strategic Plan forward

2.6.9 University Safety Committee
[FS 08/09 #27]

2.6.9.1 Mission Statement

The University Safety Committee will identify safety hazards/problems with input from the campus community and provide realistic solutions. It will also provide continuous awareness of safety behavior through education and training to create a safe work environment for employees, students, and the campus community.

2.6.9.2 Charge to the Committee

The Committee is charged with promoting health and safety for all employees at UW-River Falls; it is also charged with reducing workplace accidents and injuries and minimizing Workers' Compensation costs.

2.6.9.3 Goals and Objectives

• to promote safety communication and training to create a proactive attitude toward safety.
  
• to review safety audit reports and other similar reports for the purpose of making corrective recommendations to the appropriate departments.
  
• to provide a forum for the discussion of health and safety problems, preventive measures, and possible solutions.

2.6.9.4 Membership

Committee members will be appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance; nominations will be requested from division administrators.

1. supervisory employee
2. custodians from Facilities Management and Student Affairs (2)
3. maintenance worker
4. farm employee
5. craft worker
6. clerical worker
7. representative from academic department
8. union representative (could be represented by someone from 2,3,4 or 6)
9. representative from Public Safety

2.6.9.5 Advisory Members

• Risk Management Officer
  
• Human Resources Director or Workers Compensation Coordinator
  
• Facilities Management Director

2.6.9.6 Officers

The committee chair will be appointed from the membership by the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance.

The committee chair shall:

• preside at all meetings
  
• plan agenda with recording secretary’s support to announce agenda
  
• appoint chairs for sub-committees as appropriate
  

The recording secretary shall:

• record the minutes of the meetings
  
• be the custodian of all documents including bylaws, special rules of order, and standing rules
  
• conduct correspondence as directed by the committee chair
  
• announce reminders of next meeting, agenda, and minutes of previous meeting

2.6.9.7 Terms

Terms will be for three years, staggered so that one third of the terms expire each June 30.
Terms are renewable once at the discretion of the nominating and appointing bodies.
New committee members will begin appointments effective July 1.
Replacement of a vacancy in membership must be approved by the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance.

2.6.9.8 Meetings

Regular meetings of the committee shall be held the third Wednesday of each month unless otherwise ordered by the committee.

2.6.9.9 Method of Communication

Agendas and minutes are published for each meeting. The chair prepares and distributes agendas in advance of meetings. The recording secretary will take minutes. Agendas and minutes are sent to all committee and advisory members and to the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance.

2.6.9.10 Accountability

The committee chair will provide an annual report of the committee’s activities to the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, due annually, July 1.

2.6.9.11 Authority

The University Safety Committee is an advisory group and will make recommendations to department chairs/supervisors for corrective action to safety problems.

2.6.9.12 State of Wisconsin Mandate  

The committee is established in compliance with Wisconsin Governor’s Executive Order #194, 1994.

2.6.10 University Differential Tuition Oversight Committee

2.6.10.1: Charge

The charge is to receive expenditure and progress reports from those administering budgets involving all differential tuition usage in order to ensure that funds are expended for proper uses, consistent with differential tuition proposals approved by Student Senate and the Board of Regents.

2.6.10.2

Membership and Terms are the Budget Director, the Director of Student Life, a faculty member appointed by the Faculty Senate for three-year terms, two student members appointed by the Student Senate for two-year terms with the initial appointments' being staggered; each member is a voting member.  The Budget Director serves as chair and one student on the Committee serves as vice chair.

2.6.11 Former Administrative Committees

2.6.11.1 Calendar Committee   

Moved to Chapter III, FS 06/07 #42

2.6.11.2 Commission on the Status of Women

Subsumed into Diversity Committee, FS 06/07 #40

2.6.11.3 Disability Advisory Committee

Moved to Chapter III, FS 06/07 #34

2.6.11.4 Enrollment Management Committee

Functions taken over by Recruitment, Admissions and Retention Committee

2.6.11.5 Long-range Planning Committee

2.6.11.6 Space Management and Facilities Planning Committee

Replaced by Facilities Development Committee FS 08/09 #25

2.6.11.7 University Budget Committee

Functions taken over by new budget process: Faculty and Academic Staff Handbook Chapter I, 1.9.

2.6.11.8 University Committee on Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Concerns

Subsumed into Diversity Committee FS 06/07 #40