Councils in the College of Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts Council

Liberal Arts Council (LAC) is an assembly of the chairs of departments and directors of interdisciplinary centers in the College. It makes recommendations to and advises the Dean or, when required, to the Council of Academic Deans and other University offices. It communicates policies to faculty and administrators, approves proposals, and offers policy recommendations to faculty and/or University offices. It represents viewpoints of faculty and students in the College, and it offers leadership in matters of curriculum, instruction, and development of academic policies.

The Dean of the College of Liberal Arts presides at meetings of Liberal Arts Council and the Associate Deans for Research and for Curriculum and Students attend ex officio. Voting members of the Council include the chairs of departments (i.e., Anthropology, English, Geography, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and World Languages and Literatures) as well as the directors of the academic centers (i.e., International Studies, Diversity and Gender Studies, and Study of the Southwest).

Typically Liberal Arts Council meets on Wednesday afternoons, beginning at 2 pm. Chairs unable to attend will make arrangements for alternate departmental representation. Directors of academic centers in Liberal Arts are welcome at all meetings and sometimes are required to attend.

Members of the Council, faculty in the College, or representatives from offices outside the College may suggest agenda items for an upcoming meeting. Such requests must be made and any alternatives, recommendations, or other documentation intended for distribution supplied to the Dean and Associate Dean for Curriculum and Students no later than 5:00 pm the day before a meeting. Following the Dean’s approval, Council members will receive an agenda prior to or at the meeting. The Dean may ask chairs, directors, and/or associate deans to prepare and present agenda items.

When the Council offers advice to the Dean, no formal vote is needed.

When the Council acts officially on matters within the College or makes a recommendation to the Council of Academic Deans or some other University office, Council records a formal vote. Each eligible Council member has one vote.

An associate dean records and distributes minutes. Council members receive online drafts of minutes for review and approval at a subsequent meeting or through other means. Draft minutes are usually distributed to the Council on or before the Monday prior to the next regular meeting. The Associate Dean for Curriculum and Students maintains a file of minutes and distributes them as required to chairs, directors, and faculty within the College and, as needed, to other University offices.

Liberal Arts College Curriculum Committee

The Liberal Arts College Curriculum Committee (LACCC) meets periodically in its role as the College Curriculum Committee, during which it reviews and approves proposals for changes to and additions or deletions of all programs and courses within the College (see AA/PPS 02.01.40). Curricular proposals approved by the Faculty Advisory Council advance to Liberal Arts Council and the Dean prior to being routed to offices outside the College.

Each department in the College elects a voting representative to the LACCC at its first fall faculty meeting. The Council also includes as voting members the two faculty from Liberal Arts who represent the College on the University Curriculum Committee. These form a liaison with the University Committee; they may be elected as the representatives from their home departments. Ex officio members include the Associate
Dean for Curriculum and Students and the Director of the Liberal Arts Advising Center. The Associate Dean presides at each meeting.

Study Abroad Council

The College of Liberal Arts Study Abroad Council meets periodically to consider issues involving the promotion, administration, and development of Liberal Arts study abroad programs. It considers and approves recommendations to the Office of Distance and Extended Learning, the Study Abroad Office, and to Academic Affairs. The Associate Dean for International Academic Affairs presides.

Membership comprises Liberal Arts study abroad program directors and all Liberal Arts faculty interested in study abroad programs. Officials representing Distance and Extended Learning, Study Abroad, and
Academic Affairs are invited regularly to attend Council meetings.