1.7 Committees of the Institution

The following standing committees report through an appropriate vice president and serve to facilitate, advise, and in some cases, conduct programming for the institution in a specific area. Additional committees may be added or current ones dissolved as determined by need.

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(Provost/VPAA -- Stu. Aff. -- Fin./Admin. -- Admin. Councils)

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1.7.1 Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Committees

1.7.1.1 Faculty Development Committee

1.7.1.1.1 Mission Statement

The mission of the Faculty Development Committee is to promote and foster the professional development of faculty to achieve the highest level of effectiveness in their roles at Ithaca College. This will be done by a variety of means including: supporting the scholarships3 of discovery, integration, application and teaching; conducting workshops and brown-bag luncheons; promoting interdisciplinary and interschool collaboration; sustaining the Faculty Colloquium Series; mentoring faculty; and recommending uses for the College's financial resources for faculty development related activities.

1.7.1.1.2 Statement of Duties

The Faculty Development Committee was established by the Faculty Council to sponsor activities which demonstrate and support a strong commitment to continuing faculty vitality and renewal. Specifically, the Faculty Development Committee:

  1. Obtains input from faculty regarding their needs for faculty development.


  2. Works with the provost and vice president for academic affairs and vice president for academic affairs' office to sponsor a new faculty orientation workshop each fall to help new faculty prepare to teach the Ithaca College student.


  3. Sponsors workshops, colloquia, brown-bag lunch discussions, and seminars on teaching at various times during the academic year.


  4. Develops an institutional plan for on-going faculty development.


  5. Sponsors a spring faculty development conference to highlight faculty scholarly and creative activity.


  6. Selects the recipients for annual Excellence in Teaching, Service and Scholarship awards.


  7. Reviews proposals and hears presentations from faculty about suggested faculty development activities.


  8. Conducts on-going evaluation of the activities sponsored by the Faculty Development Committee.
1.7.1.1.3 Membership

Membership shall consist of two members from each school to ensure that the special needs of each is represented.

1.7.1.1.4 Election

Each school decides individually how it wishes to elect/select its members.

1.7.1.1.5 Length of Term

Terms shall be three years, staggered for continuity. The call for election/selection will be issued on or before April 1 and election/selection should take place on or before April 30.

1.7.1.1.6 Meetings

The committee typically meets monthly.

1.7.1.1.7 Accountability

The Faculty Development Committee files a written report each year to the Faculty Council, which is basically informational. Any recommendation for change in policy is presented verbally to council for discussion and vote by council. A copy of the annual report is sent to the deans, provost and vice president for academic affairs and vice president for academic affairs, and president. The Faculty Development Coordinator files a written report to the office of the provost and vice president for academic affairs' each year, with a copy to Faculty Council and the president.

1.7.1.1.8 Chairperson

The chairperson of the Faculty Development Committee is elected annually by the committee.

1.7.1.1.9 Duties of Chair

The chairperson of the Faculty Development Committee is responsible for:

  1. Organizing the agenda.


  2. Chairing meetings.


  3. Filing a report each year with the Faculty Council, with a copy to the deans, provost and vice president for academic affairs, and president.


  4. Representing the committee as spokesperson.
1.7.1.1.10 Ex-Officio Members

Ex-officio members of the committee are: a representative from the Center for Educational Technology, a representative of the Office of Minority Affairs, the associate provost and the coordinator for faculty development activities. The ex-officio members do not participate in the selection of the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award.

1.7.1.1.11 Procedures and Voting

Generally, the committee operates by consensus and votes by Robert's Rules (or a modified version of them).

1.7.1.1.12 Authority To Which the Committee is Responsible

The committee reports to the provost and vice president for academic affairs while issuing minutes and agenda for each meeting to the school councils. The committee will report its activities to the Faculty Council.

1.7.1.2 Review Committee for Summer Research Grants

The associate provost will annually appoint a committee of faculty representatives of a variety of academic disciplines to review and advise on summer research grants. The committee will meet on the call of the associate provost, be chaired by the associate provost or designee, and submit recommendations for funding to the provost and vice president for academic affairs.

1.7.1.3 Instructional Development Fund Review Committee

The associate provost will annually appoint a committee of faculty selected primarily from the pool of past recipients of IDF awards to review proposals submitted to the IDF committee and make recommendations to the provost and vice president for academic affairs. The committee will be chaired by the associate provost or designee and will meet on the call of the associate provost.

1.7.1.4 Center for Educational Technology Advisory Board

The faculty selected primarily from regular users of the Center for Educational Technology to review proposals for the Educational Technology Summer Fellowships and recommend nominees to the provost and vice president for academic affairs.

1.7.1.5 All-College Teacher Education Committee

1.7.1.5.1 Membership

One faculty member from each school or division offering a teacher education program selected by the dean or director, the dean from each school or division offering a teacher education program, two faculty members in the Center for Teacher Education, the humanities and sciences coordinator of student teaching, a faculty member teaching Educational Psychology selected by the department, and the director of the Center for Teacher Education. The chair will be selected by the members of the committee.

1.7.1.5.2 Term of Office

Members will serve on an annual basis.

1.7.1.5.3 Committee Duties

Set general policy and procedures that ensure all Ithaca College Teacher Education programs meet or surpass the regulations of NYSED and other related agencies.

Conduct review of all new programs and substantial changes in curricular content related to policies established by ACTEC.

In conjunction with the CTE, investigate and provide recommendations concerning ongoing developments in the field of education. The CTE will communicate these findings to each Ithaca College Teacher Education Program.

Work with the CTE to provide an annual review and “State of Teacher Education at Ithaca College Report” to the provost and vice president for academic affairs.

1.7.1.5.4 Authority to Which the Committee is Responsible

This committee reports to the provost and vice president for academic affairs while issuing minutes and agenda to the Faculty Council.

1.7.1.6 Honorary Degrees Advisory Committee

1.7.1.6.1 Honorary Degrees

Ithaca College recognizes the privilege and opportunity to recognize outstanding leadership, scholarship, and/or personal achievement through the granting of honorary degrees. To safeguard the high character of such a degree and the name of Ithaca College, the candidates should be so distinguished in their own fields that the College, by honoring them, brings credit to itself.

The following honorary degrees are designated in the Ithaca College charter:

Doctor of Fine Arts (D.F.A.)
Doctor of Music (Mus.D.)
Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)
Doctor of Commercial Science (D.C.S.)
Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.)

1.7.1.6.2 Composition of Honorary Degrees Advisory Committee

Consistent with the faculty governance structure at Ithaca College, membership of the Honorary Degrees Advisory Committee shall include:

  • a representative from each of the five schools (Business, Communications, Health Sciences & Human Performance, Humanities & Sciences, and Music) and the Division of Interdisciplinary and International Studies (selected by the unit).
  • two members at large chosen by the Faculty Council in the spring prior to the term of service.
  • only full-time faculty who have served at the college for a minimum of five years can serve on this committee. Terms are for two years, originally staggered by lot.
  • one staff member selected by Staff Council for a one year term.
  • one student member selected by the Student Government Association to serve a one year term.
  • The provost and vice-president of academic affairs will serve in an ex-officio capacity without a vote. The chair will be elected by the committee at the first meeting called by the provost and vice-president for academic affairs each year.
1.7.1.6.3 Schedule for Nominations & Committee Meetings

The provost and vice-president of academic affairs of the College shall regularly invite nominees who fulfill the established criteria for honorary degrees (see section 1.7.1.6.4) from members of the campus community, including the faculty, administration, board of trustees, alumni, students, staff, and others associated with the College. Ordinarily, the number of honorary degrees conferred in any given academic year shall not exceed three (3).

The timeline for review of nominees who are intended to be recognized during spring commencement is as follows:

  • September 30— nomination(s) due to the provost and vice-president for academic affairs. Nominations received after that date may be considered the following year. There is nothing that prevents a nomination from being withdrawn if the proposer(s) perceives a necessity to do so at a later date.
  • October — committee meets to review nominations; prepares committee recommendation to Faculty Council for consideration at November meeting
  • second Tuesday in November — Faculty Council votes on committee’s recommendation
  • mid-November — provost and vice-president for academic affairs submits recommendation to president of the College
  • December — president of the College reports recommendation to the Educational Policy Committee of the Board of Trustees.
  • February — if approved, list of nominees shall be recommended for approval by the Board of Trustees.
  • The President will assume the responsibility for notifying the recipients and making final arrangements for the conferral of the degree.
  • As a general rule, honorary degrees will be conferred at spring commencement. Under extraordinary circumstances and upon the recommendation of the president of the College, in consultation with the Committee, honorary degrees may be conferred at a special convocation. No honorary degrees will be awarded in absentia, except under extraordinary circumstances.
1.7.1.6.4 Criteria & Nomination Process

Philosophically, nominees for honorary degrees shall represent the ideals embraced by the Ithaca College community. Particular, although not exclusive, consideration shall be afforded to nominees who have made a special contribution to or have a professional or personal connection to the College.

The granting of honorary degrees by the Ithaca College Board of Trustees upon recommendation of the Ithaca College Faculty will be based on one or more of the following criteria:

  1. the nominee possesses a record of outstanding personal/public achievement, community services, philanthropic endeavors and interest in education and/or humanitarian programs.
  2. the nominee must be known for outstanding scholarly contributions and/or demonstration of some other significant service of benefit to humanity or Ithaca College.
  3. the nominee has made outstanding contributions in the private sector of our society (i.e., the clergy, law, medicine, business, education, etc.) in ways that harmonize with the heritage, character, and mission of the College.

Nominations must be received in writing. Rationale and supporting data are expected at the time of nomination. A nomination shall include the name, address and vitae of the nominee, a list of suggested references and information concerning the candidate specifying how the nominee meets the criteria for selection as stated above.

1.7.1.6.5 Confidentiality

The deliberations of the Honorary Degree committee and Faculty Council are to remain confidential and should not be discussed outside the membership until such time as an official announcement shall be made by the President of the College.

1.7.1.6.6 Authority to Which the Committee is Responsible

This committee reports to the provost and vice president for academic affairs.

1.7.1.7 Premedical Sciences Advisory Committee

1.7.1.7.1 Membership

Two faculty members from Biology, two faculty members from Chemistry, one faculty member from Physical Therapy, one faculty member from Occupational Therapy, One faculty member from the behavioral sciences, one faculty member from Exercise Science, one physician from the Health Center, one representative of the director of career services, and three students in the premedical sciences designated by the Student Government Association. The faculty members on this committee are appointed by the provost and vice president for academic affairs in consultation with the Faculty Council and the vice president for student affairs and campus life as appropriate.

1.7.1.7.2 Term of Office

Faculty shall be designated by the provost and vice president for academic affairs and the Faculty Council for staggered three-year terms with the possibility of reappointment. Other members serve one-year terms.

1.7.1.7.3 Committee Duties
  1. To counsel students interested in the medical sciences.


  2. To interview students who request letters of recommendation, to gather information and references for such students, and to write letters of reference. (This particular duty would not include participation by student members of the committee.)


  3. To examine past, present and future goals, policies, and procedures in order to subject the program to continuous evaluation.
1.7.1.7.4 Authority to Which the Committee is Responsible

This committee reports to the provost and vice president for academic affairs.

1.7.1.8 All-College Review Board for Human Subjects Research

The mechanism for protection of human subjects is prescribed by federal and state law and includes the establishment of in Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects Research. At Ithaca College this body is the All-College Review Board on Human Subjects Research and is appointed by the Provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. "HSR," as it is commonly known, has the responsibility for fulfilling all federal and state regulations pertaining to human subjects research and for assuring that in projects involving human subjects which fall outside the scope of those regulations the subjects are also accorded proper and adequate protection.

See section 2.21 of Volume II of the Ithaca College Policy Manual for further information regarding committee duties, membership, terms of office, and review procedures.

1.7.1.9 Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

The committee shall consist of three professors with research background, one faculty member with non-animal research background, one faculty member from outside the science departments, an outside professional veterinarian, and the associate dean of humanities and sciences. The chairperson shall be elected by the committee. The committee will be appointed by the provost and vice president for academic affairs. Ex-officio members will be the associate provost and the animal caretaker.

Members are appointed for unlimited terms and are replaced by category above by the provost and vice president for academic affairs when a vacancy occurs.

The provost and vice president for academic affairs reports to the president all actions of this committee.

See section 2.22 of Volume II of the Ithaca College Policy Manual for further information regarding committee duties and review procedures.

1.7.1.10 Technology Committee

1.7.1.10.1 Membership

Director of academic computing, one faculty member from each school, one representative from the library, one representative from institutional resources, two deans to be named by the provost and vice president for academic affairs.

1.7.1.10.2 Term of Office

Faculty will serve for two years. Other representatives will serve during the term of their office.

1.7.1.10.3 Committee Duties
  • To advise the provost and vice president for academic affairs regarding the College's computer network, upgrades for the system, new technologies and their application to the academic areas; and


  • To recommend policies and procedures for the most effective utilization of new technology and computers in support of the academic mission of the College.
1.7.1.10.4 Authority to Which the Committee is Responsible

This committee reports to the provost and vice president for academic affairs while issuing reports to the Deans' Council.

1.7.1.11 Recombinant DNA Committee

1.7.1.11.1 Membership

Faculty members working on research projects involving recombinant DNA; one representative from Cayuga Medical Center; member of the environmental health & safety staff; and a representative of the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

1.7.1.11.2 Terms of Office

Faculty continue as members as long as involved in recombinant DNA research; others appointed on a yearly basis by the provost and vice president for academic affairs.

1.7.1.11.3 Committee Duties

Ensure that all recombinant DNA research is conducted in compliance with NIH Guidelines (see section IV-B of the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules re: Responsibilities of the Institution).

1.7.1.11.4 Authority to Which the Committee is Responsible

This committee reports to the provost and vice president for academic affairs.

3 Boyer, Ernest L., Scholarship Reconsidered. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, 1990.

Last Updated: June 1, 2005