SKIDMORE COLLEGE

CFG OPERATING CODE

Version Adopted October 20, 2000

Function
Membership
Beginning of the Academic Year Tasks
Election Guidelines
Committee Appointments
Oversight of the Faculty Handbook
End of the Year Academic Tasks
Archiving of Committee Records
Faculty, College, and SGA Committees
Normal Schedule of Elections

 

FUNCTION: To represent the faculty in matters of faculty governance and to foster the effective functioning of the faculty governance system.

CFG convenes the Committee of Committees (comprising faculty members of All-College Council, CAFR, CAPT, CEPP, College Benefits Committee, Curriculum Committee, CFG, FPPC, and IPC) at least twice a year to assess the interactions among member committees and between them and the administration, and to discuss ongoing issues and any problems in committee operations. CFG is then required to inform the faculty at large of the issues raised by
the Committee of Committees.

CFG is responsible for coordinating faculty committee work and for furthering democratic representation and committee efficiency. In accordance with this purpose, it promotes cooperation among members of the college community, brings governance issues of faculty concern to the faculty and makes recommendations to the faculty, other committees, and the administration. In addition, CFG reviews operating codes of all faculty committees and maintains files of annual committee reports.

CFG is responsible for ensuring the proper constitution of faculty committees and for the equitable distribution of committee assignments. It conducts nominations and elections for and makes appointments to faculty committees; it provides advice and oversight of procedures regarding faculty appointments to search committees for senior administrative positions and to administrative, trustee, and SGA committees; and it maintains a list of all faculty members on all committees.

Finally, CFG is responsible for ensuring that the text of the Faculty Handbook appears and remains precisely as approved by the faculty. (Return to the top of the document) 

MEMBERSHIP: Six faculty members elected to serve three-year terms, at least two of whom are tenured and all of whom have had experience on one of the elected faculty committees listed in the Faculty Governance Section of the Faculty Handbook, or who will be concurrently serving on one of those elected faculty committees at the time of the beginning of their term of service on the CFG. The Committee will normally elect a chair from among the continuing members. (Return to the top of the document) 

The Operating Code forms a set of guidelines for the functioning of the Committee on Faculty Governance (CFG). It is prepared in order to provide a written description of how the CFG operates. These are only guidelines. Situations arise during the academic year that will require the CFG to use its best judgment, in the light of these guidelines, on a particular course of action. This Operating Code should be distributed to all members of the CFG at the beginning of each academic year and reviewed and modified at the end of each academic year.

A. BEGINNING OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR TASKS  

1. The Chair requests from the Dean of the Faculty a "Faculty Status List." The Chair must then determine all full-time members of the faculty who are eligible to serve on committees and vote in elections.
2. The mailing list of eligible faculty must be brought up to date.
3. The Committee Membership List must be reviewed to determine if any committee members need to be replaced for the academic year or for a semester. The replacements should be made as soon as possible. Committee Chairs should be asked to notify the CFG if they know of or anticipate needing any replacements and to deal with any vacancies that have arisen over the summer.
4. The Committee membership list is posted on the CFG Web-page at the beginning of the year.
5. The current schedule of elections should be circulated to all faculty members at the beginning of the year.
6. CFG chair will participate in the new faculty orientation to introduce the new faculty to Skidmore's faculty governance system.
7. A representative of CFG should meet with student leaders and inform them of policy for information exchange between faculty committees and students governance. This discussion should include interpretation of key language (e.g., public information)

Several key faculty and college committees (e.g., FPPC, CEPP, IRC, Athletic Council, Curriculum Committee, IPC, etc.) include representatives from several constituencies within Skidmore's governance structure, e.g., the faculty, the administration, and the student community. The steady and accurate flow of information between these committees and their represented constituencies is essential to the proper functioning of College governance. In the case of communication with the student community, the normal vehicle for such exchange of information is through the student representatives on these committees.

In addition,

1. The Student Senate may request that the chair or other appropriate spokesperson for a faculty or college committee (on which students serve) meet with it to provide information and exchange viewpoints about committee matters that are public.
2. Following this information session, the Student Senate may choose to put the issue on the agenda for All-College Council (All-CC).
3. 3.As a result of its discussions, All-CC may choose to provide input on this issue back to the original committee.  

Note: The privileges listed above for the Student Senate also apply to other constituencies in the College community, such as academic departments and administrative offices. (Return to the top of the document)

B. ELECTION GUIDELINES  

A list of elected and appointed committees and a schedule of elections is at the end of this Operating Code. Generally, the responsibility to conduct each election round will be assigned to a different member of the Committee. CFG will conduct the elections electronically.  

1. Willingness-to-serve  

C. COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

1. CFG circulates willingness to serve for appointed committees to the faculty via e-mail. Faculty return the forms to CFG, indicating prioritized interest in service on specific committees. Appointments are made from among those willing to serve, balancing factors of individual interests, diversity of representation on appointed committees, and widespread inclusion of faculty members in committee service.
2. Consultative appointments:
1. In those instances where committee appointments are made by others in consultation with CFG, the following procedure applies: CFG requests lists of candidates under consideration CFG requests a rationale for the recommended appointments CFG provides its input as to the appropriateness of the appointments The appointing body retains the right to make the final appointments
2. In those instances where CFG makes appointments in consultation with other parties, the following procedure applies:
• CFG forwards a list of candidates to the appropriate person or body
• CFG provides a rationale for the recommended appointments
• CFG receives input as to the appropriateness of the appointments
• CFG retains the right to make the final appointments

Generally, newly elected CFG members are invited to omnibus appointment meetings.

CFG circulates willingness to serve for appointed committees to the faculty via e-mail. Faculty return the forms to CFG, indicating prioritized interest in service on specific committees. Appointments are made from among those willing to serve, balancing factors of individual interests, diversity of representation on appointed committees, and widespread inclusion of faculty members in committee service.   (Return to the top of the document)