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1.3.1 Academic Governance

Stanford Quad and Memorial Church
Last updated on:
09/01/2004
Formerly Known As Policy Number: 
13

The following briefly summarizes the roles of various faculty groups on issues that affect the academic policy of the University. Detailed descriptions of the academic organization of the University may be found in the Faculty Handbook and the Senate and Committee Handbook. Questions concerning academic governance may be directed to the Office of the Academic Secretary to the University.

1. Academic Council

a. How Formed
Includes the Tenure Line Faculty, Non-Tenure Line Faculty, Senior Fellows at specified policy centers and institutes, and specified academic administrative officers. (Does not include Medical Center Line Faculty or Center Fellows at specified policy centers and institutes.)

b. Role

Vested by Board of Trustees with all powers and authority of the faculty. Delegates functions to the Senate of the Academic Council, but retains review and referendum rights.

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2. Advisory Board of the Academic Council

a. How Formed
Elected by Academic Council from among its members

b. Role
  • Receives recommendations for appointments to professoriate that have originated in departments and have been approved by school Deans and Provost. 
  • Makes recommendations to the President on faculty appointments, promotions and dismissals, and on creation and dissolution of departments, etc. 
  • Holds hearings in cases which arise under the Statement on Faculty Discipline and in certain cases the Statement on Academic Freedom and the Statement on Faculty Grievance Procedures.

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3. Senate of the Academic Council

a. How Formed
Elected by Academic Council from among its members.

b. Role
  • Makes decisions on academic policy; reports decisions to Academic Council. 
  • Hears reports and discusses matters of importance to the faculty. 

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4. Chair and Steering Committee of the Senate

a. How Formed
Elected by Senate from among its members plus the President (or Provost) as a non-voting member.

b. Role
Directs the business of the Senate
 

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5. Committee on Committees (of the Senate)

a. How Formed
Appointed by Steering Committee from among members of the Senate.

b. Role
  • Appoints faculty members to Committees of the Academic Council. 
  • Nominates faculty members to University Committees, Panels, and Boards. 
  • Advises as requested on membership in other committees. 

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6. Planning and Policy Board (of the Senate)

a. How Formed
Appointed by Committee on Committees and Steering Committee from among members of the Academic Council.

b. Role
Exercises, on behalf of the faculty as a whole, responsibility for the general academic health of the University, examining long-term trends and formulating academic policy issues for further consideration.

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7. Committees of the Academic Council

The Committees of the Academic Council include:

  • Academic Computing & Information Systems (C-ACIS) 
  • Graduate Studies (C-GS) 
  • Libraries (C-Lib) 
  • Research (C-Res) 
  • Review of Undergraduate Majors (C-RUM) 
  • Undergraduate Admission & Financial Aid (C-UAFA) 
  • Undergraduate Standards and Policy (C-USP) 

a. How Formed
Faculty members appointed by Committee on Committees from among members of the Academic Council. Student members nominated by ASSU. 

b. Role
Make recommendations to the Senate on academic policy matters as laid out in committee charges. 

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8. Departmental Professoriate

a. How Formed
Members of Academic Council, appointed by Board of Trustees to department.

b. Role
Directs the work of instruction in department and internal administration of department. 

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