The CAS faculty functions under a governance plan adopted in 2004. Descriptions of faculty committees in this document are abbreviated, and not all committees are mentioned in this document. Copies of the most recent governance document are available in the Office of the Provost. A revision of the governance document is linked to the CAS faculty web page. The proposal leading to the Faculty Senate is also available as a link from the CAS faculty web page.
The CAS Faculty Senate meets monthly during the academic year. Processes for election of senators and officers and for the Senate Steering Committee were agreed upon in 2005. The Faculty Senate receives reports from faculty committees as described below and acts upon them, governing the academic life and curricular structures of the CAS, and advising the administration on a wide range of issues affecting faculty affairs, student life, and other aspects of the College of Arts & Sciences.
Most of the work of the faculty related to governance takes place in the academic departments and in committees established to accomplish particular tasks. In 2005, three divisional academic committees and an Academic Policies Committee were established. In a discussion of the relationship of the faculty and administration, the most recent governance document notes:
The administration and the faculty are to work closely with each other by maintaining open and effective communication processes and relationships. They strive to make decisions, whenever possible, that are agreements resulting from careful study and discussion. Administrators view their role as one of managing educational programs and executing decisions within the policies, goals, and guidelines adopted by the faculty. In turn, the faculty seeks to assist administrators in doing the best job for the good of the whole community by listening carefully and sympathetically to the concerns and recommendations of the administrators.
The most recent governance document outlines five types of committees, three of which are on-going:
- Policy committees, responsible for formulating policies and goals, developing broad guidelines for programs, and evaluating existing programs.
- Administrative advisory committees, responsible for assisting and advising administrators in the development and management of programs that seek to achieve the goals and to operate within the guidelines established by the related policy committee.
- Coordinating committees, responsible for coordinating CAS programs with program requirements and concerns of outside groups. These committees may have non-CAS personnel as members.
- Ad hoc committees, appointed on a temporary basis by the Executive Council with either “policy” or “administrative advisory” functions.
- Other ad hoc committees.
These committees shall be responsible for presenting new or revised policy, goal, or guideline recommendations to the faculty for their approval. All policy committees make recommendations to the faculty; the governance document mandates that “all policy committee chairpersons will prepare monthly informational reports to the faculty,” which will be distributed to the faculty and administration “at least three school days before the regular monthly faculty meeting.” The governance document also notes that before any recommendations are submitted to the faculty the committee must hold at least one open hearing, with notice to faculty as least three school days in advance of the hearing.
- Academic Policy Committees (APC): The Academic Policy Committee is responsible for the review, evaluation and updating of existing Academic Policies. The APC also develops and proposes policy to meet emerging needs as initiated by the APC, the faculty, the DACs, the administration or the Faculty Senate. APC policy proposals are reviewed and approved by the DACs and/or the Faculty Senate.
- Faculty Policy Review Committee (FPRC): See University Joint Committees.
Administrative Advisory Committees
- The Academic Appeals Committee (APC): To hear appeals related to dismissal; to advise the admissions staff on applications of a nonstandard nature; to serve as a board of review if a decision of the Director of Financial Planning is appealed by an applicant for aid. When the appeal concerns the admission of a student, the Director of Admissions will sit on the committee in place of the Dean of Academic Programs. When the appeal concerns a student's financial aid, the Director of Financial Planning will sit on the committee in place of the Dean of Academic Programs.
- Appointment Committee (AC): This committee serves the College of Arts & Sciences. It evaluates the performance of nontenured faculty members eligible for reappointment and submits appropriate recommendations to the Provost; it also interviews candidates for appointment to the faculty and submits recommendations to the Provost.
- Co-Curricular Advisory Committee (CCAC) (Formerly called Student Development Faculty Policy Committee - SDFPC): This committee serves in an advisory capacity to the Student Life and Campus Ministries staffs concerning policies and goals, and broad program outlines. The committee also serves as a judicial forum for appeals when students are disciplined. This advisory role will hopefully lead to the promotion of co-curricular programs among all members of the Bethel community.
- Convocation Administrative Advisory Committee (CoAAC): The Convocation Committee plans a schedule of all-school convocation lectures and programs enriching to the general educational experience of the entire campus and in harmony with the chapel program; to assist departments and campus organizations in the selection and presentation of speakers and programs of more limited appeal and applicability; to function in an advisory capacity to the President on controversial campus speakers; to coordinate convocation opportunities with the Seminary whenever possible.
- Promotion and Tenure Committee (PTC): This committee makes recommendations to the Provost regarding faculty leaves and sabbaticals, rank, promotion, tenure, and termination of faculty members in the College of Arts & Sciences.
Ad Hoc Committees
- Honors Program Committee: This committee provides overall policy guidance for the design, implementation, and evaluation of the Bethel College Honors Program. It bears primary responsibility for Honors Program student recruiting and admissions, including design of publicity materials, evaluation of applications, and selection of members. The committee hears appeals on student petitions relating to the program. Members individually represent the program to the faculty at large, and bring general faculty, departmental, or administrative concerns to the attention of the committee.
- Faculty Retreat Committee: This committee plans, manages and evaluates the Faculty Retreat at the beginning of and following the academic year. Budget authorization is through the Office of Academic Affairs.
- General Education Committee: This committee is responsible to monitor the implementation and ongoing evaluation of Bethel’s General Education Program.
- International & Off-Campus Studies Coordinating Committee: This committee assists the director of international studies in determining direction/scope of program, including recommending policies of Bethel-initiated programs, cooperative programs with other schools, experience options, and individual study plans of students.
- Teacher Education Coordinating Committee (TECC): This committee coordinates the tasks of the various departments involved in teacher preparation programs including program modifications mandated by the Minnesota Board of Teaching, and NCATE. It works with the Department of Education in the formulation of policy and program proposals to be submitted to appropriate committees for approval, works with the Department of Education in evaluation of non-standard applications to the Education Program, and monitors and evaluates student progress through the program.