LIBERAL STUDIES COUNCIL
ACADEMIC SENATE POLICY S86-96
CONTEXT
The Liberal Studies Council is a representative body responsible for planning, reviewing, implementing, and evaluating the policies, procedures and programmatic design of the Liberal Studies degree program. The Liberal Studies faculty consists of those faculty who have demonstrated and are willing to continue a commitment to the program by serving as advisors, teachers, and in other important service roles.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LIBERAL STUDIES COUNCIL
1. to plan, review and recommend academic policies for the Liberal Studies Program;
2. to serve as the primary curricular review and recommendation body for Liberal Studies, including course and program proposals intended to meet program requirements;
3. to assist in the formulation and implementation of plans for a) advising; b) articulation between Colleges, with Elementary Education and with community colleges; and c) evaluation of the Liberal Studies Program;
4. to serve as an advisory body to the Provost's Office and relevant College Deans on matters important to the smooth functioning of the Liberal Studies Program; and,
5. to serve as a forum for the dissemination of information and the discussion of issues relative to the Liberal Studies Program; in particular to establish regular channels of communication with Liberal Studies faculty and advisors.
MEMBERSHIP
Voting Members Colleges or Depts.
2 Humanities (English, Comp. Lit & Speech Communication)2 Science
2 Behavioral & Social Science
3 Humanities & Creative Arts (2 from Art, Music & CAI: 1 from Humanities, Philosophy, & Foreign Lang.)
1 College of Ethnic Studies
1 College of HHS
2 College of Education (at least one member from Elementary Education)
_____
13
Non-Voting Members
1 Educational Policies Council (liaison representative)
1 Dean of Undergraduate Studies
(ex-officio)
1 Advising Center
_____
3
16 TOTAL MEMBERSHIP
The plan for membership of the Liberal Studies Council is intended to assure that both the Colleges involved in the program and the four Liberal Studies Areas are represented. In addition, it is intended that liaison with the Academic Senate be accomplished by having a non-voting representative from the Educational Policies Council (EPC). The Dean of Undergraduate Studies is expected to serve as an ex-officio member without a vote. The voting faculty members should be chosen from among the Liberal Studies faculty. The area coordinators should receive special consideration as potential Council members. The selection method should be determined by the relevant school or schools for the area or department involved.
The term of the College representatives is to be two years. Colleges with more than one representative should attempt to stagger their representative's terms. Members may serve successive terms.
Given the complexities of the Liberal Studies Program, representatives to the Council are expected to devote considerable time and effort in making the program work well. In recognition of this workload, colleges and departments should recognize this assignment as a major part of a faculty member's non-teaching load, and as important in personnel considerations.
SELECTION AND ROLE OF CHAIR
The Chair of the Liberal Studies Council is to be elected by the membership of the Council in the spring of each year for service in the following academic year. The Chair, in consultation with the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, schedules meetings of the Council, prepares agendas, and provides follow-up on actions taken. If possible, assigned time should be given to this position consistent with the arrangement for chairs of comparable committees on campus.
ACTIONS OF THE COUNCIL
The Liberal Studies Council is to serve much in the same manner as departmental and/or College curricular committees. Actions by the Council are to be normally directed to the Provost's representative, the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, for implementation as may be appropriate, or for review through normal approval channels and, when appropriate, for forwarding to the standing review committees of the Academic Senate (i.e., CRAC or APC).
A quorum consists of nine voting members present at a duly called meeting of the Council. If all thirteen voting members are present at a meeting, at least eight members must vote to approve an action item. If fewer than thirteen voting members are present, at least seven members must vote to approve an action item.
ROLE OF PROVOST'S OFFICE REPRESENTATIVE
The Dean of Undergraduate Studies is the Provost's representative charged with the general overall coordination of the Liberal Studies Program. In this capacity, the Dean is a facilitator responsible for making the day-to-day decisions necessary for the smooth operation of the program. In addition, the Dean of Undergraduate Studies is expected to provide secretarial support for meetings of the Council.
STATUS OF THE COUNCIL
The Liberal Studies Council is an All-University Committee. It reports annually to the Senate on its activities.
**APPROVED BY PRESIDENT WOO, APRIL 30, 1986**