UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls
This site contains a list of administrative committees defined in the Faculty & Staff Handbook. The faculty members of these committees are nominated and approved by the Faculty Senate. The general management of these committees falls under the responsibility of the UWRF Administration and follows the directions listed in the Faculty & Staff Handbook. It is expected that the UWRF Administration promptly communicates with the Faculty Senate and the general UWRF community on matters such as updated membership lists, meeting dates, agendas, minutes, website addresses, legislative initiatives, and resolutions approved by these committees.
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.16. Advisory Committee on Veterans Affairs Committee Composition:
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.1. 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 or designee; the 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: the chair of the Faculty Senate Assessment Committee (or designee), 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, one from the College of Education and Professional Studies, and one at-large tenure-track faculty member. Two students serve as appointed by the Student Senate for two-year terms. [FS 12/13 #105]
The Audit and Review Committee is the evaluative body for six-year program audit and reviews (see UW System Academic Information Series 1.0). A review consists of an external reviewer's report, the review of the data collected for the program through the program prioritization process, and a departmental visitation by the Audit and Review Committee. In addition, the review will conform to UW System and Higher Learning Commission requirements. During the Spring Semester, the department with the program being reviewed submits its materials to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The information is sent to the Audit and Review Committee. The Audit and Review Committee then schedules and carries out a departmental visitation. Finally, the Audit and Review Committee prepares a report and submits it, with recommendations, to the Provost.
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.2 Chancellor’s Award Committee for Academic Staff
This committee is charged with reviewing nomination materials and selecting an annual recipient of the Chancellor's Award for Excellence for Academic Staff. Membership of the committee includes the Chancellor's designee (chair), the previous year's recipients, and one member appointed by the Faculty Senate, the Academic Staff Council, and the Student Senate.
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.4 Chancellor’s Award Committee for Students
This committee is charged with reviewing nomination materials and selecting annual recipients of the Chancellor's Award for Students. Membership of the committee includes the Chancellor's designee (chair), two appointees from the Student Senate, one appointee from Student Affairs, and one faculty member from each of the four academic colleges.
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.3 Chancellor’s Award Committee for University Staff
This committee is charged with reviewing nomination materials and selecting two annual recipients of the Chancellor's Recognition Award for University Staff. One recipient is selected among personnel from crafts/technical and law enforcement/security and one recipient among personnel from administrative support, fiscal staff, and supervisory/human resources. Membership of the committee includes the Chancellor's designee (chair), the Provost, the Assistant Chancellor for Business and Finance, and one member appointed by the University Staff Senate.
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.21. Co-Curricular Assessment Committee
Membership: Provost or designee, who shall serve as the chair; Assistant Chancellor for Student Affairs or designee, Director of the Library, three academic staff appointed by the Academic Staff Council; two faculty members appointed by Faculty Senate, one university staff member appointed by the University Staff Senate, and one student appointed by Student Senate.
Terms: three years, staggered, for the academic staff, university staff, and faculty members, and one-year terms for the student member.
Charge: To ensure appropriate definitions, expectations, policies and procedures, and oversight related to co-curricular assessment are developed and implemented. Issues that are "out of scope" include activities that are already part of academic program prioritization, academic program audit and review and/or academic assessment.
Responsibilities:
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.5 Competition Review Committee
In accordance with Regent Policy Document 12.1, the Competition review Committee shall provide guidance to the chancellor to determine whether products and services provided to students, faculty, staff, private organization, or the public at large might compete with similar products or services offered by the private sector.
Membership:
Charge:
The chancellor will refer to the institutional competition review committee all major new potentially competitive activities. In addition, s/he shall also refer all ongoing activities whose appropriateness or pricing has been questioned. Under normal circumstances, the chancellor’s referral to the competition review committee’s chairperson will be made within two weeks after the chancellor is first informed of a complaint or proposal brought forward by a member of the private sector or general public. The chancellor will send a letter to the person making the proposal or complaint which states that the issue had been referred to the competition review committee and which included as an enclosure a copy of the Board of Regents’ policy. Upon referral from the chancellor, the chairperson of the competition review committee will schedule a meeting of the committee at the earliest possible convenience of the committee’s member. Using the “Criteria for Judging the Appropriateness of Competition Activities” and the “Pricing Policies” found in Regent Policy Document 12-1, the committee’s charge will be to:
Decision
The chancellor will determine whether the institution will become involved with the new activity or continue an ongoing activity and whether changes should be made to the pricing of products and services. Under normal circumstances, the chancellor will announce his/her decision within two weeks after receiving the recommendation of the committee. The chancellor will send a letter explaining his/her decision to the person making the proposal or complaint.
The chancellor’s decision may be appealed to the University of Wisconsin System President. If a satisfactory resolution cannot be developed, an appeal can be made to the Board of Regents by addressing a letter to the Secretary of the Board. Board Policy: Regent Policy Document 12-1
https://www.wisconsin.edu/regents/policies/competition-with-the-private-sector/
Link to the committee's website.
3.4.6.2 Teaching Awards
[FS 22/23 # 30]
The Distinguished Teaching Award is presented annually. The method of selection and presentation is as follows:
1. Purpose and Eligibility
The purpose of the UWRF Academic Distinguished Teaching Award is to recognize excellence in the teaching of undergraduate and/or graduate students. Eligible for the award are all tenured and tenure-track faculty and Instructional Academic Staff each of whom has a minimum of ten years of teaching experience at UWRF.
A Distinguished Teaching Award Recipient is defined as one who is supportive, impactful in positive ways, effective at helping students learn, and who provides an inclusive environment.
2. Nomination Procedure
Eligible nominators include all current students and alumni of UWRF. An online nomination form will be made available through the University website and advertised via email to all current students and alumni. The nomination form will consist of a standardized survey approved by the Diversity and Inclusivity Committee.
3. Selection Procedure
The Distinguished Teaching Award Committee is an administrative committee that is charged with selecting the Distinguished Teaching Award recipient. The Distinguished Teaching Award Committee will be chaired by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) Director (or designee) and will also include the Provost (or designee), additionally, a tenure-track or tenured faculty member selected by the Faculty Senate and an Instructional Academic Staff Member selected by the Faculty Senate in consultation with the Academic Staff Council and a previous Distinguished Teaching Award Recipient nominated by the CETL Director and confirmed by Faculty Senate. All Faculty and Academic Staff terms shall be three years.
The committee's selection will not be based solely on the number of nominations received but will also consider student and alumni scores and comments on the survey. This will be done to address disparate teaching loads across departments and to standardize the process. The committee will use a rubric approved by the Diversity and Inclusivity Committee (and matched to the nomination survey) to evaluate the responses provided by nominators as part of the selection process.
The Department Chair and/or the Dean of the finalist will be asked to provide a brief statement of support solicited by the finalist but sent directly to the committee chair.
4. Award Presentation
The only name to be announced will be the teacher selected for the award. The award presentation will be made at the Chancellor’s Award Reception and the recipient will speak at Fall Commencement. The recipient will receive a stipend from the Chancellor’s Office. A teacher may receive the award only once.
5. Nomination Survey Questions and Scoring Process
_____________________________________________
1-not at all 2 3 4 5-very much
1-not at all 2 3 4 5-very much
1-not at all 2 3 4 5-very much
1-not at all 2 3 4 5-very much
Rubric for assessment of the open-ended question:
1-not at all 2 3 4 5-very much
1-not at all 2 3 4 5-very much
Total score (scale items + rubric score) = 26 possible
Link to the Dykstra committee's website.
Link to the Wurtz Committee's website
2.8.17. Dykstra and Wurtz Awards Committee
2.8.17.1 Charge
To select recipients of the Keith Wurtz Award for Teaching Excellence and to select recipients of the Paul B. and Robert Dykstra Faculty Excellence Award.
2.8.17.2 Membership and Terms
Provost or designee (who will serve as chair), and the willing award recipients from the previous three years. If previous recipients are unwilling or unable to serve, replacements will be appointed by Faculty Senate. [FS 14-15 #37].
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.6 Experience China Advisory Committee
The Experience China Advisory Committee is charged with selecting the Experience China program staff for future terms. The selection process will be based primarily upon concerns for the development of a well-rounded education abroad curriculum that takes advantage of the Chinese setting. The selection committee will decide which faculty members from the campuses partnering with UWRF will receive the teaching assignments, and it will also decide which courses the faculty will teach from the array the faculty member has submitted for consideration. These courses will complement the courses taught by Chinese adjunct faculty that address cultural, historical, and/or language elements of China that are part of the academic year curriculum. In addition, the Advisory Committee will review faculty qualifications for any proposed EXC and UNIV courses pertaining to Experience China.
Membership:
Faculty interested in the Experience China program, with faculty who have taught in the program preferred. Faculty will hold a three-year term as a voting member. Experience China staff will participate as non-voting ex-officio members.
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.7 Faculty Academic Staff Development Board
2.8.7.1 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 for 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:
2.8.7.2 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:
*If an OPID representative is also an appointed voting member, she/he shall not lose his/her voting privileges. [FS 12/13 #145]
The full Board will elect its chair at the first scheduled meeting. Chair terms will be two years. Chairs may be reelected for no more than two additional terms of office.
Day-to-day operations of the Board will be conducted by the Chair of the Board, the Provost (or designee), and other board members as needed.
The Board will subdivide itself into four committees: a Teaching Committee, a Research Committee, a Faculty Professional Development Committee (each with at least three voting members), and an Academic Staff Professional Development Committee (with at least three voting members, including two academic staff members).
2.8.7.3 Responsibilities of the Board
2.8.7.4 Committee Responsibilities
Each of the Board's four committees is responsible for a particular facet of faculty/academic staff development at UWRF. Within their realms of responsibility they will:
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.
2.8.7.5 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:
2.8.7.6 Research Committee
The Research Committee supports research projects of faculty and academic staff in all disciplines. It is responsible for:
2.8.7.7 Faculty Professional Development Committee
The Faculty Professional Development Committee supports activities designed to help faculty advance themselves in their professions. It is responsible for:
2.8.7.8 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
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.22 Honors Steering Committee
Membership: Director of Honors, who shall serve as the chair; faculty member from each college and the fourth division; and a student
Terms: three years for faculty, one year for student
Charge: to make appropriate recommendations regarding curriculum, co-curricular activities, assessment, and realter matters
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.8 Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is tasked with the protection of animals used in teaching and research at UW-River Falls. IACUC is also tasked with ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. The committee is organized as a stand-alone academic committee as dictated by NIH/USDA. The committee represents all colleges that use animals as research and teaching subjects and consists of current or retired faculty, 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. The committee chair is selected by the committee. There is no term limit for the chair or members. Faculty, staff, or students who are conducting research involving animals must obtain written approval from this committee before beginning covered research or teaching activities. Please visit the Grants and Research webpage for additional information, including current committee membership and steps for submitting a protocol for review.
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.9 Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Human Subjects Committee
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) /Human Subjects committee is tasked with the protection of human subjects involved in research at UW-River Falls. The committee is also tasked with ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and is organized as a stand-alone academic committee as dictated by NIH. The committee represents all colleges that use human subjects in research and consists of current or retired faculty, an ethicist, 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. The committee chair is selected by the committee. There is no term limit for the chair or members. Faculty, staff, or students who are conducting research involving human subjects, including surveys or observations, must obtain written approval from this committee before beginning research activities. Please visit the Grants and Research webpage for additional information, including current committee membership and steps for submitting a protocol for review.
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.10 Non-Academic Misconduct Hearing Committee
As required by UWS Chapter 17.07, the chief administrative officer of each institution, in consultation with faculty, academic staff, and student representatives, shall adopt policies providing for the establishment of a student nonacademic misconduct hearing committee to fulfill the responsibilities of the nonacademic misconduct hearing committee detailed in UWS Chapter 17.12.
A student nonacademic misconduct hearing committee shall consist of at least three persons, including at least one student, except that no such committee shall be constituted with a majority of members who are students. The presiding officer shall be appointed by the chief administrative officer. The presiding officer and at least one other member shall constitute a quorum at any hearing held pursuant to due notice.
Our Charge:
The purpose of the Strategic Enrollment Plan (SEP) Steering Committee is to facilitate a comprehensive strategic enrollment planning process, develop a robust data-informed strategic enrollment plan, oversee its implementation, evaluate its effectiveness, and identify needed modifications on an annual basis. The Steering Committee is composed of individuals campus-wide connected to and invested in moving strategic enrollment planning efforts forward.
Membership:
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.12 Strategic Plan Progress Committee
The Strategic Plan Progress Committee is charged with monitoring and communication progress on the strategic plan.
2.8.12.1 Role
Manage, assess, and communicate progress in implementing the 2012-2020 strategic plan.
Specific Responsibilities and Duties:
The responsibility of the Strategic Plan Assessment and Communication Task Force is to:
2.8.12.2 Membership
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.23 Title IX Committee [FS 19/20 #67]
The Title IX committee is an advisory group that meets to discuss policy implementation and revision, assess the effectiveness of training and educational programming, to address campus climate issues, and to provide guidance to the Title IX Coordinator.
Membership includes: Title IX Coordinator, All Deputy Title IX Coordinators; Chancellor’s Office representative, Department of Athletics representative, Health and Counseling representative, Faculty member appointed by Faculty Senate, Responding and Reporting Party Advisors, and the Violence Prevention Coordinator.
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.13 University Safety Committee
2.8.13.1 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.
2.8.13.2 Charge of 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.
2.8.13.3 Goals and Objectives
2.8.13.4 Membership
Committee members will be appointed by the Assistant Chancellor for Business and Finance; nominations will be requested from division administrators.
2.8.13.5 Advisory Members
2.8.13.6 Officers
The committee chair will be appointed from the membership by the Assistant Chancellor for Business and Finance.
The committee chair shall:
The recording secretary shall:
2.8.13.7 Terms
2.8.13.8 Meetings
Regular meetings of the committee shall be held the third Wednesday of each month unless otherwise ordered by the committee.
2.8.13.9 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 Assistant Chancellor for Business and Finance.
2.8.13.10 Accountability
The committee chair will provide an annual report of the committee's activities to the Assistant Chancellor for Business and Finance, due annually, July 1.
2.8.13.11 Authority
The University Safety Committee is an advisory group and will make recommendations to department chairs/supervisors for corrective action to safety problems.
2.8.13.12 State of Wisconsin Mandate
The committee is established with Wisconsin Governor’s Executive Order #194, 1994
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.14 URSCA Council
2.8.14.1 Charge of the Committee
The URSCA Council is an administrative committee whose charge it to:
2.8.14.2 Membership
The URSCA Council membership shall consist of the following: Up to nine faculty members appointed by the UWRF Faculty Senate to serve for up to three years. There shall be at least one faculty member from each college, with no more than four faculty members from any of the following: College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Science; College of Arts and Sciences; College of Business and Economics; or the College of Education and Professional Studies. The URSCA Director will serve as the exofficio, non-voting chair of the committee. As a non-voting committee chair, the URSCA Director's college affiliation will not affect the distribution balances from the colleges described above. The URSCA Coordinator will serve as the non-voting recording secretary.
2.8.14.3 Terms of Office
Faculty member terms of up to three years. The URSCA Director and the URSCA Coordination's service on the committee will be continuous and ongoing.
2.8.14.4 Officers
The committee chair shall:
The recording secretary shall:
Link to the committee's website.
2.8.19 Wisconsin in Scotland/Experience Scotland Committee
The Experience Scotland Advisory Committee consists of representatives from UWRF and the partner schools in Wisconsin in Scotland/Experience Scotland (WCWC) collaborative. This committee is charged with selecting the Experience Scotland program staff for future terms. The selection process will be based primarily upon concerns for the development of a well-rounded education abroad curriculum that takes advantage of the Scottish setting. The selection committee will decide which faculty members from the campuses in the collaborative will receive the teaching assignments, and it will also decide which courses the faculty will teach. There are courses taught by Scottish adjunct faculty that address cultural and historical elements of Scotland that are part of the academic year curriculum. In addition, the Advisory Committee will review faculty qualifications for any proposed WIS and UNIV courses related to Wisconsin in Scotland.
Membership:
One faculty member from River Falls who has taught in the program. The remainder of the Advisory Committee will consist of faculty and staff representatives from the partner schools. The faculty member from River Falls will hold a three year term as a voting member. Experience Scotland staff will participate as non-voting ex-officio members.
University Committees not in the Faculty and Staff Handbook
