兔子先生系列麻豆

Policy and Procedures Manual

Classification Number: 1.3.4
Revised: November 14, 2023

SUBJECT:      ACADEMIC COUNCIL

Purpose - The Academic Council serves as the university’s undergraduate curriculum and academic policy review committee and as a forum to ensure that both faculty and administration are involved in undergraduate educational program and policy review. The council is specifically charged with ensuring that each educational program for which undergraduate academic credit is awarded

1. is compatible with the university’s mission statement
2. is based on a field of study appropriate to higher education
3. embodies a coherent course of study that includes a cohesive sequence of courses
4. meets university general education, major, semester hour, and content requirements
5. has stated program and course learning objectives
6. ensures appropriate levels of student achievement
7. provides adequate faculty and learning resources to support the program

In addition the Academic Council is charged with:

1. recommending undergraduate admissions requirements,
2. recommending catalog requirements related to undergraduate study,
3. acting on all appeals related to university undergraduate academic policy or procedures
4. ensuring that university academic policies conform to the criteria established by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission of Colleges, the standards established by The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in matters pertaining to state statute, the standards established by the Texas Education Agency in matters related to teacher certification, and the criteria established by any other accrediting body or state agency with which the university holds membership or affiliation.

Membership - The Academic Council membership is outlined in Attachment A.  The membership of the Academic Council shall be reviewed annually to ensure that the primary responsibility for the quality and oversight of all educational programs rests with the faculty.

Procedure - The Academic Council shall meet at least once each month to handle routine business associated with the university’s academic programs. Matters may be brought to the attention of the Academic Council by:

1. the President’s Cabinet
2. the Faculty Senate
3. an external campus executive director/campus dean
4. an academic school dean
5. the vice president of academic affairs

In the interest of efficiency, if there are no agenda items, the meeting will be cancelled and the Council will meet at the next scheduled meeting time. If there are three or fewer agenda items, the items may be deferred to the next meeting if feasible. If the chair determines after consultation with the individual submitting an agenda item that it is critical the item be acted upon prior to the next scheduled meeting, the matter will be presented to the Council in an electronic format. In such instances, materials received relative to the agenda item will be provided to Council members electronically with a request for a motion for action and a second. Once a motion for action on the item and a second have been received electronically, a 48-hour period will be set aside for any additional input or discussion. At the end of the 48-hour discussion period, the chair will issue an electronic call for a vote. The chair will establish a time when voting will close at the time the vote is called. Once results are tallied, the Council will be informed of the decision.

To conserve time, those desiring to bring a matter before the Academic Council will notify the vice president of academic affairs by the specified time and date prior to placing the item on the council agenda. This will allow time to refine proposals and to ensure that they fall within the mission of the council. School deans are responsible for communicating regularly with school faculty to acquaint them with issues before the council and to secure their input into the council agenda. The vice president of external campuses and the external campus executive director serving on the council are responsible for communicating regularly with other campus executive directors to acquaint them with issues before the council and to secure their input into the council agenda.

The president of the Faculty Senate is responsible for communicating regularly with the Faculty Senate to acquaint them with the issues before the council and to secure their input into the council agenda. The Faculty Senate President provides Faculty Senate members with proposed undergraduate curricular changes in advance of second readings and shares any faculty concerns wit the Academic Council.

Curricular changes submitted to the council require two readings at regularly scheduled meetings prior to a vote. For curriculum matters to be considered at a special session, all members must be notified at least one week prior to the meeting. All votes require a quorum. Upon receiving a simple majority vote, changes are considered approved by the Academic Council. Each spring term, the vice president of academic affairs submits a comprehensive list of approved catalog changes from the recent fall term to the President’s Cabinet for consideration and final approval. In certain instances, recommendations must be submitted to the Board of Trustees for final approval. The academic affairs committee of the Board of Trustees reviews and recommends to the full board all undergraduate academic policies requiring board approval.

Contact for Interpretation: Vice President of Academic Affairs

_______________________________________________________________

This policy statement supersedes all previous policy statements on this subject.

Revisions:

• 11/14/2023 – Editorial revisions
• 11/11/2022 兔子先生系列麻豆 – Inception of Attachment A – Catalog Revision Guidelines
• 08/14/2017 – Title changes
• 07/01/2013 – Revision-Addition of 4^th to last paragraph, title change
• 07/15/2010 – Membership removed to policy 1.2.2
• 11/12/2008 – Title changes
• 04/11/2007 – Title changes and review
• 10/01/2004 – Title changes
• 08/01/2003 – Title changes
• 01/18/2002 – Editorial and clarification
• 09/01/2001 – New number issued as 1.3.4; addition of membership
• 01/01/1997 – Expansion of policy
• 10/18/1995 – Expanded purpose and meeting proceedings; issued as 1.1.4.4
• 12/16/1994 – Inception as 1.1.8