final version of the self-study document - Keuka College's Middle ...

committee work and are brought to the faculty floor for discussion and approval. New academic
programs, developed by faculty, follow a two-phase process: during the first phase, a review of
resource feasibility with the Vice President for Academic Affairs is concurrent with a review of
curricular feasibility by the Curriculum Committee (or Graduate Program Committee, in the case
of a proposed new graduate program). In the second phase, the sponsoring academic faculty
provide a proposed curriculum, complete with assessment plan, to be reviewed by either the
Curriculum Committee or Graduate Program Committee, and pending approval, to be brought
before the faculty for a vote, before the Board of Trustees for approval, and then submitted to
NYSED and accrediting bodies as necessary (2.7 Form III Directions for Proposing a New
Academic Major).
The faculty is very committed to the principle of shared governance, yet often feels that
committee work has become more onerous as the College’s range of activities has expanded. In
particular, the Professional Standards Committee has seen its workload increase as the number of
faculty it must evaluate has grown over the last three years. The Faculty Liaison Committee has
proposed a thorough review of the academic governance structure as it affects faculty workload,
and discussion of this topic is in progress for the 2012-2013 academic year.
The President of the College or his designee is the presiding Officer of the Faculty and is the
channel of formal communication between the Faculty and the Board of Trustees. It is the duty
of the President to ensure that faculty views and recommendations are presented to the Board in
those areas and on those issues where responsibilities are shared. Similarly, the President
informs the Faculty of the views of the Board on like issues. If the President fails to fulfill these
duties, the Faculty is empowered to authorize the Faculty Liaison Committee to request a
meeting with the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees to transmit faculty concerns and
recommendations.
The President per Article I, Standing Committees, of the Bylaws of the Keuka College Faculty is
an ex-officio member of all Standing Committees and, as such, attends monthly meetings of the
Faculty Liaison Committee. He also holds two group meetings during the semester with the
chairs of the other faculty Standing Committees. Pursuant to the Bylaws of the Keuka College
Faculty Handbook, each standing committee must submit an annual report on committee
activities to the Faculty at the close of each academic year.
Faculty members serving as division chairs also participate in monthly meetings of the Academic
Council, which is comprised of all division chairs, program directors, and staff from academic
support units. Although it has no decision-making authority role according to the faculty
governance documents contained in the Keuka College Faculty Handbook, Academic Council
serves an important role in enhancing communications across campus and acting as a sounding
board on campus initiatives, thereby informing the work of the VPAA and their own areas of
operation.
The Keuka College Faculty Handbook provides the Faculty members with the guidelines,
policies and procedure to assist them with their role in Keuka’s shared governance. The
Handbook includes the Constitution of the Keuka College Faculty and the Bylaws of the Keuka
College Faculty. The Constitution of the Keuka College Faculty includes the following articles:
Page 13 of 19 Chapter 3: Leadership, Gov. & Admin.