There are two categories of Faculty Standing Committee: those of the Faculty as a whole and those of the Academic Faculty, as follows:

Faculty

  • Faculty Benefits Committee
  • Faculty Honors Committee
  • Faculty Status and Grievance Committee
  • Statutes Committee
  • Faculty Services Committee
  • Welfare and Security Committee

Academic Faculty

  • Institute Undergraduate Curriculum Committee
  • Institute Graduate Curriculum Committee
  • Student Regulations Committee
  • Student Academic and Financial Affairs Committee
  • Student Activities Committee
  • Student Grievance and Appeal Committee
  • Student Honor Committee
  • Student Computer Ownership Committee
  • Academic Integrity Committee

(See http://www.facultygovernance.gatech.edu/ for of members of the various Standing Committees.)

Each Committee is expected to assemble and evaluate information relevant to its charges, to propose policies or procedures for consideration by the parent body, and to make other recommendations for action by the parent body.  After approval of a policy or procedure by the parent body, the Committee is charged with assuring that all employees and units of the Institute act in accord with the policy.  A Committee may be empowered to act for the parent body to translate approved policy or procedure into specific actions or judgments.  Such actions and judgments remain subject to the approval or disapproval of the parent body.
 

Procedures
Each Standing Committee may establish its own rules of procedure, consistent with the policies of the parent body.
 

Members
Standing Committees shall be composed of eligible Faculty, Administrators, and Students.  Committee membership is by election or specific designation as provided by this Handbook.  Limitations on service are covered below.

Administrators named by this Handbook to be members of Standing Committees serve permanent and continuing terms, since they represent a relevant office or staff.  Members of an Administrator’s office or staff may be requested to meet with the Committee for consultation.
 

Election of Members
Elections of representatives of the Faculty and Administration to Standing Committees shall be conducted during the Spring semester by the Secretary of the Faculty.  The Faculty Executive Board, with the assistance of its Nominating Committee, will prepare a slate of nominees that has at least 50% more candidates than positions to be filled in the election for each committee.  Exceptions can be made when insufficient qualified candidates are available.  Voters will indicate their preference for as many candidates as necessary to fill the indicated openings.  Elections from these slates will be determined by the highest vote totals from the pool of candidates for each committee.

Elected Faculty members of a Standing Committee shall serve a three (3)-year term beginning at the start of the Fall semester and may succeed themselves once.  Elected members shall serve on no more than two (2) Standing Committees simultaneously.

Student members of a Standing Committee, whether elected by the Undergraduate and/or Graduate Student Government Association or specifically designated by this Handbook, shall serve a one (1) year term beginning at the start of the Fall semester of each academic year.  They may succeed themselves once.
 

Replacement of Members
If an elected Faculty or Administration member of a Standing Committee resigns, takes a leave of absence, or undergoes a change of assignment so that he/she no longer qualifies as a member of the unit he/she was elected to represent, the Faculty Executive Board shall designate the first runner-up from the most recent election for that position to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.  If the first runner-up is unable or unwilling to serve, the position goes to the second runner-up, etc.  If the entire slate of nominees for that position is unable or unwilling to serve, the Faculty Executive Board shall appoint an appropriate replacement to serve the remainder of the unexpired term upon recommendation of the Faculty Executive Board’s Nominating Committee.  When the Chair of a Standing Committee is to be absent from the Institute for an entire semester, the committee shall elect a chair pro tempore for the period of absence.

When a Student member of a Standing Committee resigns or is no longer qualified for the position in which he/she serves, the Undergraduate and/or Graduate Student Government Association will appoint a successor for the remainder of the academic year and shall inform the Secretary of the Faculty.
 

Limitations upon Service

Faculty Executive Board Membership
Faculty members who are members of a Standing Committee (or Committees) may be candidates for the Faculty Executive Board.  If elected, they must resign from the Standing Committee(s). No elected members of the Faculty Executive Board shall serve on a Standing Committee. 

School Chairs
Chairs of Schools and similar level unit leaders shall, for the purpose of election to committee membership, be considered members of the Academic Faculty and not as Administrators.  Chairs may not be elected to membership on committees charged with reviewing or overseeing the Chair’s actions as an administrator.

Administrators
Administrators or Faculty members shall not be eligible to serve on Standing Committees that are charged with reviewing or overseeing their administrative functions, unless this Handbook specifically provides otherwise.  Administrators named by this Handbook to be members of Standing Committees serve permanent and continuing terms.
 

Voting in Committee
All members of a Standing Committee have the right to vote unless specifically excluded by this Handbook.  A committee may establish its own rules of procedure insofar as such rules are in agreement with the policies of the parent body.  A committee quorum shall be a majority of the voting membership.
 

Meetings
Any member of a committee may request that the Chair call a meeting.  One-third (1/3) of the members of a committee may call a meeting by distributing to all members a jointly signed call, designating purpose, day, place, and time.  Only the matters stated in such a call may be acted upon at the meeting so called.  With the prior approval of the Chair, any member of a Standing Committee who is compelled to be absent from a meeting may send a representative with the power to vote.  No member of a Standing Committee shall participate in the consideration of an appeal of the member’s own decision rendered in the performance of other duties.

Between meetings of the the Academic Faculty, the Research Faculty, or their representative bodies any matters requiring emergency action and not delegated to a Standing Committee shall be referred to the Faculty Executive Board.  Standing Committees charged with judicial activities, either in initial hearings or appeals, shall proceed with dispatch to hear the cases and render decisions.

During its deliberations and before making recommendations, a Standing Committee shall consult with offices and persons having responsibility relevant to its charges.

The minutes of each meeting of a Standing Committee shall be promptly transmitted to the Secretary of the Faculty for posting online.  The minutes will be presented at the next meeting of the parent body for approval including the approval of all action items. Annually, each Standing Committee shall submit a written report to the Secretary of the Faculty detailing its activities and findings.  This report will be posted online and an oral summary shall be made to the Faculty.

Subcommittees
When a Standing Committee needs assistance to accomplish its charge, the Chair may appoint appropriate subcommittees with approval of a majority of the Committee and the approval of the Faculty Executive Board.

Subcommittees so appointed shall be chaired by a member of the appointing Standing Committee, unless otherwise approved by the Faculty Executive Board, and shall be composed of appropriate persons in the Institute.  Sub-committees may fall into one of two categories, ad hoc or standing.  An ad hoc subcommittee shall be given a specific charge and a specific terminal date for its final report to be submitted to the parent committee.  A Standing Subcommittee shall exist upon a continuing basis in order to handle a specific charge of the parent committee.  Members of Standing Subcommittees shall be appointed annually.

Members of a subcommittee may be present to provide whatever clarification is requested when their report is submitted to the Standing Committee and shall provide the same assistance in the meetings when the report is brought before the appropriate parent body.