Committees of the Faculty Assembly

The Faculty Assembly has seven standing committees: The Executive Committee, HMSI and Senate Chairs committees are long-standing. The four additional standing committees are Faculty Welfare, Educational Policy, Communications, and Governance and Strategic Planning. A special Committee on Diversity, Inclusiveness, and Equity has also been formed to study and address this issue across the system.

Faculty Assembly Standing Committees

Faculty Welfare Committee:  Co-Chairs:  Russell Robinson, Melodie Galloway

Members: 

Charges:

  1. Safeguard faculty agency in terms of teaching, governance, scholarship and service. Review data from the most recent Employee Engagement Survey to make recommendations to system stakeholders to inform system recommendations and or establish needed policies for faculty welfare, specifically in the areas of safety and security, wellness, faculty workload and administrative burden, and faculty morale.
  2. Review the current and proposed levels of coverage for the State Health Plan and make recommendations for adjustment/improvement in collaboration with the System Office.
  3. Develop a Subcommittee devoted to the investigation of the provision of mental health services for students, staff, and faculty across the 17-campus system.  The subcommittee will:
  4. Review the current status of services provided by the System Office, as well as review the proposed model to be put forth by faculty at North Carolina Central University (David Green, Russell Robinson, et al.).
  5. Review the currently available programs for faculty and staff on mental health awareness.
  6. Make recommendations for System-wide improvements.

Educational Policy Committee:  Co-Chairs:  TBD

Members:

Charges:

  1. Serve as a faculty responder for all immediate issues pertaining to COVID-19 and its impact on education planning for the Fall Semester.
  2. When implemented, serve as a resource and represent the faculty/Faculty Assembly for the next System strategic planning process.
  3. Where indicated, serve as an educational resource for the Committee on Educational Planning, Policies, and Programs, and the Special Committee on Strategic Initiatives.

Communications Committee:  Co-Chairs:  Anthony Chow, Kacey DiGiacinto

Members:

Charges:

  1. Continue the implementation of the new Faculty Assembly web page on the new UNC System website.  Once completed, orient the Faculty Assembly to it.
  2. Continue to develop and outline the components of an enhanced communication structure for the Assembly and its activities.
  3. Working with System Office staff, continue the work on developing an on-line academic journal, with plans for implementation by the end of Spring Semester 2021.
  4. Prepare a “Day in the Life of” survey to be sent to the current faculty senate chairs of all 17 institutions.  Following that, work with UNC-TV and UNC Press to outline the production steps.
  5. Partnering with other stakeholders – (potential COVID-19 interim focus) students, staff, veterans, general assembly, etc. (Impact on)

Historically Minority-Serving Institutions Committee:  Chair:  Mesia Steed

Members: Renee Lamphere

Charges:

  1. Advocate for the collective and individual needs of HMSIs, including equity in funding, faculty positions, salaries, and professional development opportunities.
  2. Promote the excellence and innovation of HMSIs.
  3. Enhance the communication between HMSIs, with the System Office, BOG and the Faculty Assembly.
  4. Partner with the Board of Governors Committee on HMSIs.

Faculty Senate Chairs Committee:  Co-Chairs:  Barbara Howard, Anthony Chow

Members:  Faculty Senate/Council Chairs, 2020-2021

Charges:

  1. Work with the Communications Committee to identify both student and faculty who exemplify the high ideals of student success and academic excellence on their respective campuses.
  2. Outline a plan for all 17 campuses to implement the best practices for faculty governance as suggested in the proposed shared governance document. Review all of the policies, bylaws, and other governing documents pertaining to the Faculty Assembly on the new System website, and recommend all additions, deletions, or amendments.
  3. Review all of the policies, bylaws, and other governing documents pertaining to the Faculty Assembly on the new System website, and recommend all additions, deletions, or amendments.
  4. Work with campus administration to secure an ex officio role at each of the campus Boards of Trustees (aka “Constituent Representative

Governance/Strategic Planning Committee:  Co-Chairs:  Jeff Popke, Russell Robinson

Members:

Charges:

  1. Review the proposed revision of the 2005 Shared Governance document before approval and System-wide dissemination.
  2. Develop a primer of the tenure process to inform members of the Board of Governors, Boards of Trustees, and legislators in the General Assembly.
  3. Review all of the policy, bylaws, and other governing documents pertaining to the Assembly on the new System website, and recommend all additions, deletions, or amendments.
  4. Review, revise, or create a mission statement for the UNC System Faculty Assembly.

Faculty Assembly Special Committee

Special Committee on Diversity, Inclusiveness, and Equity:  Co-Chairs:  Nicole Dobbins, Anthony Chow

Members:  Mesia Steed, Barbara Howard, Kacey DiGiacinto, Renee Lamphere, Russell Robinson

Charges:

  1. Review for completeness the section of the UNC Policy Manual (i.e., 300.8.5 = Policy on Diversity and Inclusion within the University of North Carolina) and a corresponding regulation (300.8.S[R)) and offer potential revisions or amendments, where appropriate.
  2. Through contact with identified and appropriate individuals on each campus, identify and assemble the best practices of activities pertaining to diversity, inclusion, and equity.
  3. Identify the best speakers and training programs on diversity, inclusiveness, and equity in higher education, and serve as a clearinghouse for its dissemination.
  4. When requested, provide the combined Board of Governors, Faculty Assembly, Staff Assembly, and Association of Student Governments Task Force on Equity with adequate and specific resources and perspectives.
  5. Serve as a data and statistics repository for campus activities related to diversity and inclusion.