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Committee Descriptions

University-Wide Committees
A single column table for formatting purposes.
Academic Calendar Advisory

This committee is responsible for drafting the academic calendar for each academic year and submitting the draft(s) to the Provost for approval. In 2007-08, the committee completed its recommendations for calendars through 2020. The committee meets from time to time to discuss any new issues that might have arisen regarding the calendar since its approval. Normally, the committee should not need to meet more than a couple times a year, unless in the process of developing drafts for multiple years. Time commitment by students would be fairly minimal on this committee.

Admission Policy Advisory

The Admission Policy Committee serves at the pleasure of the Provost. The committee is composed of eight faculty members from various schools, four students, and three ex-officio administrators who meet two or three times a year. Its function is to oversee the university's admission policies and procedures. As such, it works very closely with the Office of Admission, the Provost for Enrollment and the Office of Financial Aid. An Admission Athletic Review subcommittee of five persons (three faculty and two administrators) also meets six or seven times a year for the purpose of evaluating the admission of athletes requiring further action outside of the regular admission process.

Assessment Steering Committee

The purpose of this committee is to design and implement a long-range plan to launch assessment in a new direction. The Committee first reviewed the history of the revised curriculum at William & Mary. From this overview, they presented a long-range plan for student assessment in two major sections. The first of these involves assessment of general education, and includes subsections addressing evaluation of the revised curriculum and co-curricular activities, and the assessment of the seven general education requirements. The second major section includes a plan for the next round of departmental and program assessments. The Conclusion argues that this assessment plan provides a framework for integrating academic and administrative resources in the support of the undergraduate program.

Athletic Policy Advisory

The Committee, composed of faculty appointed by the Faculty Assembly and the Schools, meets regularly with the Athletic Director, Associate Athletic Director, Faculty Representative to the NCAA, and the NCAA Compliance Officer to discuss and monitor the relationship between academics and athletics at the university. Grade reports for all student-athletes are reviewed each semester, budgetary issues are discussed; faculty concerns about the role of intercollegiate athletics are often considered. The Committee recently provided input on the Athletic Department's Interim-Report on gender equity. Committee members also assist the Athletic Department in conducting exit interviews with graduating seniors each spring. The Committee generally meets two to three times a semester.

Commencement Policy

The Commencement Policy Committee makes recommendations to the President on the content and nature of the Commencement weekend activities, including the format, elements, and sequencing of the ceremony itself; the manner of conferring degrees; the processes for ticket distribution; the overall coordination for scheduling and space allocation for weekend events. The Committee also makes decisions on any Commencement Policy proposals and/or appeals. Members of this committee are responsible for coordinating the process for selecting the student Commencement speaker and for identifying who will receive major awards at Commencement (the Carr Cup, the Botetourt Medal, and the Sullivan Awards). The Commencement Policy Committee usually meets 4 or 5 times during the academic year, and is chaired by the Vice President for Student Affairs.

  • Note: The Undergraduate positions on this committee are ex officio and not open for general application.
  • 2 graduate students; 3 undergraduate students (Student Assembly President, Senior Class President, Senior Class Vice President)
  • Additional links: Commencement
Committee on Social Responsibility in Manufacturing

The Committee on Social Responsibility in Manufacturing provides oversight on environmental sustainability and social justice as they relate to the provisioning of the William & Mary Community.  As part of this charge, the Committee promotes institutional contributions to social responsibility on campus through reports, white papers, and other forms of public engagement.

Created by the Provost in 2011, the Committee on Social Responsibility in Manufacturing (formerly known as the Licensing Code of Conduct Committee) is dedicated to manufacturing standards that protect workers and the environment, sets minimum standards for wages, benefits, health and safety, and protects workers' freedom of association and bans child labor. The Committee helps to oversee the licensing process, and seeks to advise and educate campus about the process and value of purchasing goods from socially responsible manufacturers and vendors. In these capacities, the Committee partners with Auxiliary Services, Office of Sustainability, student groups, faculty and administrators, the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC), and the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC).

  • 1 graduate student; 1 undergraduate student
Committee on Sustainability

The Committee on Sustainability (COS) is charged with integrating sustainability into the fabric of the university. Sustainability is approached similarly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as a way of thinking long-term and inclusively to make wise decisions towards a flourishing people and planet.

COS has two undergraduate and one graduate student representative appointments, running for one year beginning in the fall. Visit the Sustainability website to learn more.

Honorary Degrees Advisory

This committee is charged with accepting suggestions for honorary degrees and commencement speakers from the community. The committee gathers background on the nominees, reviews and recommends to the Provost those names that the committee feels are appropriate. The Board of Visitors makes the final selections. Student members are on the committee by virtue of held offices. The President of the student assembly, President of the senior class, and the President of the graduate council serve as members of the committee. Since the committee does its work during February and March, (3-4 meetings overall), this means that during the course of the meeting of the committee, student officers change because of March elections. Generally the previous year officers start the process, and then the new officers take over. Student members are responsible for polling their constituencies to gather names for commencement speakers. They review the suggestions in the commencement committee with the VP, Student Affairs and bring a ranked list to the Honorary Degree committee.

  • Note: The Undergraduate positions on this committee are ex officio and not open for general application.
  • 1 graduate student (Graduate Council President); 2 undergraduate students (Senior Class President, Student Assembly President)
International Advisory Committee

The International Advisory Committee advises the Provost, the Vice Provost for International Affairs/Reves Center Director, and others on internationally focused initiatives and programs across the university.  The Committee provides recommendations on how best to build incentives for incorporating international/global perspectives, competencies, and experiences into all levels of the university's work– study-abroad, public programs, research initiatives, etc.  The Committee recommends guidelines for university-wide education abroad programs and reviews various Reves Center initiatives and university strategic planning requests.  The committee communicates to university stakeholders about W&M international initiatives.

  • 1 graduate student; 1 undergraduate student
Parking Advisory

The Parking Advisory Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Vice President for Administration on parking policy issues including, but not limited to the decal pricing system, allocation and reallocation of spaces, and parking fine amounts. The Committee is made up of students, faculty, and staff and meets approximately once a month.

  • 2 graduate students; 4 undergraduate students
Parking Appeals

The Parking Appeals Committee is responsible for: reviewing parking appeals from students, staff, faculty and visitors; acting on special requests for passes that include medical reasons, community service volunteering, and work exemptions; and meeting with those members of the community that want to appeal any decisions in person. The Committee is made up of students, faculty and staff. The Committee meets approximately once a month once the full committee has been established beginning around October 1.

  • 3 graduate students; 5 undergraduate students
  • Additional links: Parking Services
Student Conduct Council

This body has the responsibility for adjudicating charges of alleged misconduct by students and imposing fair sanctions as provided in the Student Handbook. The Student Conduct Council is comprised of faculty, staff, and students (both graduate and undergraduate). The 13 undergraduate members are selected each year through a separate application process coordinated by the Dean of Students Office. The 15 graduate student members (3 from each of the 5 graduate schools) are selected on an annual basis by a process determined by each of the graduate student governing bodies. Members of the Student Conduct Council will be trained to serve as panel members on Student Conduct Panels. Undergraduate panelists will hear cases involving accused undergraduates; graduate student panelists will hear cases involving accused graduate students from their own graduate school communities.

  • NOTE: The undergraduate members of the Student Conduct Council are selected through a separate process administered by the Dean of Students Office.
  • 13 undergraduates, 15 graduate students -- 3 from each of the 5 graduate schools
Student Conduct and Honor Appeals Board

Hears appeals concerning rulings of the Honor and Student Conduct Council. This committee requires a commitment of 2-4 meetings per month.

  • 10 undergraduates; 15 graduate students -- 3 from each of the 5 schools
Student Technology Advisory Committee

The members of STAC reflect technology interests of the William & Mary student community.  STAC is a committee that allows deeper transparency into the work and practices of the IT department and provides a mechanism for students to exchange ideas about IT activities and potential technology solutions to enhance the student experience.  Members will receive updates on new initiatives and status of current relevant projects from the IT Management team (ITMT). Role is advisory with recommendations made to ITMT.

  • 5-7 graduate students 1 from each of the schools to represent on-ground programs for each; 2 to represent on-line (1 from Business; 1 from Education)
  • 5-7 Undergrads
University Library Committee

The Committee advises the President, Provost and Faculty Assembly on policy matters pertaining to libraries, consistent with the standards of appropriate accrediting agencies. It collaborates with the Dean of University Libraries and other library directors to enhance the mission of the university. It will communicate with the broader faculty community on matters related to the campus libraries collections, services and facilities and will develop an awareness of trends and issues in academic libraries.

  • 2 graduate students; 2 undergraduate students
Arts & Sciences Committees
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Educational Policy

The Committee on Educational Policy conducts a continuing study of the undergraduate educational program, regularly reviewing the educational policies and procedures of the Faculty. It reviews recommendations and requests for changes in the curriculum brought before it by any member or agency of the Faculty or any officer of the university. It brings proposals involving changes in educational policy before the Faculty, together with its recommendations for action, but has authority to approve or disapprove any changes in the curriculum that do not alter existing policy.

  • 0 graduate students; 3 undergrads
Graduate Studies

There is a standing Committee on Graduate Studies which makes recommendations to the Faculty regarding policy, and carries out established policy, with respect to admissions, curricula, degree requirements, and academic standards in programs leading to the degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy, and such other earned post-baccalaureate degrees as may fall within the jurisdiction of the Faculty; and, concurrently with other Faculties of the university, for all programs in which members of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences participate substantially. The Committee on Graduate Studies, of which the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research is chair, includes the Dean of Graduate Studies of the School of Marine Science and the chairs of departments and directors of programs of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences offering graduate work or their respective representatives, and such other members of the Faculty as the Committee on Faculty Affairs may recommend. This committee meets every other week throughout the academic year.

  • 1 graduate student (President of the A&S Graduate Student Association); 0 undergrads
  • Additional links: Graduate School
Honors and Interdisciplinary Studies

The duties for the Committee on Honors and Interdisciplinary Studies are: "to make policy for a variety of honors and interdisciplinary programs including concentration honors, Monroe Scholars, and interdisciplinary degree programs; to serve as advisors for Monroe Scholar Summer Projects; and to make policy and referee proposals for various faculty development programs, including the May Seminar/University Fellowships program".

International Studies Advisory Committee

This is an advisory committee to the Dean and the Faculty Affairs Committee, mandated to provide support and guidance to A&S faculty initiatives in international studies. The committee has three main functions:

  1. Support and encourage innovation and coordination in faculty efforts to internationalize the curriculum.
  2. Promote prudent liability and risk-management practices in all faculty-student initiatives that involve international field experiences by facilitating faculty interaction with the campus agencies designated to deal with such issues.
  3. Exercise oversight of A&S study-abroad programs administered by the Reves Center as specified by the framework agreement between A&S and Reves.