Committees and Current Members

The function of the General Education Committee is to assist faculty members to develop or modify courses that facilitate the acquisition of university learning outcomes listed in the General Education Statement, to approve courses for general education based on the criteria established by the General Faculty, and to review transfer courses as necessary (e.g., technical course transfers, courses not approved for general education by the transferring institution) to determine whether they meet the spirit and intent of the Washburn University general education criteria.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

The purpose of the Honors Advisory Board is to encourage faculty participation in and foster a diversified honors program for Washburn students. Its responsibilities are to advise the Dean of Honors in developing policies relating to administration of the honors program, to devise seminars, colloquia and special course sections for honor students, to coordinate efforts of faculty members, department heads and appropriate deans to implement courses, and to approve selection of courses to be offered.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

The Interdisciplinary Studies Committee serves in the role of an academic department for administering University approved courses in Interdisciplinary studies. The committee is responsible for making recommendations for development and review of interdisciplinary curricula, approving the scheduling of Interdisciplinary Studies courses, formulating academic guidelines for implementation of the Interdisciplinary Studies program, and reporting its actions and recommendations to the Faculty Senate.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

The purpose of the Committee is to examine the criteria for promotion and tenure in each school and college and to ascertain that the criteria are applied in a uniform and consistent manner for each of the four schools and the college. The UPTS Committee, on behalf of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, will receive the recommendations of the department committee (where appropriate), department chairperson (where appropriate), school committee, and dean's recommendation, as well as all faculty petitions for promotion and tenure. The purpose of the committee is not to concern itself with the matter of whether promotion is to be granted or whether tenure is to be awarded; rather it concerns itself with the consistent and uniform application of promotion and tenure criteria within each of the major academic units.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

The purpose of this Committee is to allocate funds for the support of scholarly activities of the full-time faculty of Washburn University. In this capacity the Committee will review requests for funds to cover all reasonable expenses associated with scholarly activities.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

A research fund for more extensive activities has been established to provide support for the research and scholarly activities of the full-time faculty of Washburn University. A Review Committee will be elected by the academic units to review proposals and to recommend to the Research Committee allocations from the research fund. The membership will consist of one representative from each academic unit. The Review Committee will then recommend allocations to the Research Committee.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

This committee shall review and recommend the awarding of both academic and sweet sabbaticals to the vice president for academic affairs and the president. The committee shall be composed of one member from each major academic unit and from each division within the College of Arts and Sciences, chosen by those units. Appointees must be tenured faculty. The term of service is two years on a staggered basis.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

The Assessment Committee is charged with coordinating all aspects of the University's assessment efforts, including the implementation and evaluation of the University's assessment plan, and development, implementation and evaluation of the assessment of General Education. Primary responsibility for assessment within their respective areas lies with the departments, major academic units, and the General Education Committee.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

The purpose of the Board of Student Media shall be to set general policies for student publications (as outlined in the board's Constitution), to enforce the "Policy for Student Media of Washburn University," and to encourage effective student publications at Washburn University.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

The Faculty Handbook Committee shall be a standing advisory committee with the purpose of 1) reviewing the Faculty Handbook in a logical and timely fashion, 2) considering suggestions made for modifications to the handbook 3) evaluating new policy recommendations prior to implementation, 4) creating new policies/procedures in response to developments in the legal environment, 5) reviewing policies for possible elimination of practices/rules/guidelines if inconsistent with the current higher education environment, and 6) recommending any of the revisions, modifications or amendments to the handbook through the shared governance process to the President.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

To promote international education at Washburn, including study abroad and exchange of scholars, the International Education Committee shall promote and facilitate study abroad for Washburn Students, recommend financial aid for study abroad, serve as campus Fulbright committee, recruit international students, ensure University compliance with INS requirements and regulations, promote and organize extracurricular international programming on campus and in the Topeka-Shawnee County area, and maintain an active working relationship with the International Center of Topeka, Inc.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

This committee is tasked with (a) soliciting requests for updates to the learning spaces around campus, (b) ranking these requests, and (c) forwarding our rankings to the VPAA.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

The Committee makes recommendations and gives advice to the Director of the University Library on matters of library management and planning. Committee members provide liaison between the Library and the various departments and schools (excluding the Law School), and advise the Library in its collection development efforts.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

This Committee is charged with the responsibility of reviewing policy and establishing minimum standards of the University regarding undergraduate academic grade requirements and scholastic deficiency. The Committee will act upon individual requests for reinstatement and continued probation.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

The purpose of the University Financial Aid Committee is to assure that the Institutional Financial Aid funds are awarded in the most effective manner to the greatest number of qualified applicants, to carry out the mission of the University and to further enhance recruitment and retention.

This committee is currently inactive.

The Student Success Committee is charged with examining the curricular and co-curricular programs, services, and resources aimed to foster holistic development and student success, including but not limited to retention and graduation rates. This is accomplished by reviewing past and current initiatives, analyzing data, and recommending future actions.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

This committee serves in an advisory capacity to the subunits that are being reviewed, the area Vice Presidents and the President.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

The Committee serves to advise the President, the Athletic Director and the Faculty on the University's athletic program. Its responsibilities are to assist in the formulation of athletic program policy, to advise the Athletic Director and President on athletic program policy and operation, to recommend athletic program policy, to review the status of the athletic program, and to report to the Faculty Senate on the status of the athletic program.

This committee is currently inactive.

The Commencement Committee, led and coordinated by the President's Office, is responsible for providing overall coordination and oversight of the University's commencement ceremonies. The committee works collaboratively across campus to ensure that commencement activities are well organized, consistent with University traditions and expectations, and provide a meaningful and positive experience for graduates, families, faculty, staff, and guests. The committee identifies and addresses operational needs, coordinates communication, and logistics among participating areas.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

The Committee shall recommend persons to receive honorary degrees from the University. The Committee will assist in identifying individuals who are worthy of consideration for honorary degrees by virtue of their community service or professional accomplishments, assemble data in support of nominations, and assist in hosting honorees during commencement weekend activities.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

Evaluates the care, treatment, housing and use of animals and certify compliance applicable federal laws, regulations and policies.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

The Institutional Review Board was established by the Board of Regents and is charged with assuring that all research activities conducted under the auspices of Washburn University involving human subjects conform to University policies. The Board reviews all proposals involving human subject research and conducts continuing review appropriate to the degree of risk involved in the research.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

IRB Process

The purpose of this Committee, appointed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, is to recommend to the President future academic calendars including all pertinent dates associated with the academic calendar. These pertinent dates include but are not limited to, start and end dates, fall and spring breaks, and holiday breaks, making certain that the number of meeting days each academic session meet established guidelines. The Committee is also charged with evaluating ad hoc requests for additional non-class days during a semester if necessary.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

The purpose of this Committee is to review applications for faculty development grants and recommend a priority listing of funds to be awarded by the Vice President for Academic Affairs on an annual basis. The Committee also recommends any potential changes to the criteria established for faculty development grant awards.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.

The Sibberson Award Committee is responsible for reviewing finalists for the Sibberson Award at each commencement ceremony and selecting the winner. The committee is made up of the Provost, the Vice President for Student Life, the Deans, and Faculty Representatives.

Committee membership is maintained on the Faculty Governance SharePoint site.