University Committees
There are many opportunities for faculty and staff to engage in the governance of the University through service on University committees with each committee having a specific charge and responsibility. Committees report to the designated Vice President responsible for that area. Each spring the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs will distribute a call for service on committees, as membership on most committees is for three years, it is important to note that it may take several attempts before a vacancy from a specific unit occurs.
For membership listing, please see University Committee Membership List.
University Committees
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President
Campus Planning Committee
The purpose of the Campus Planning Committee is to develop a plan for the orderly development of the University campus and all University properties regarding the physical facilities' needs, vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow and land use.
Diversity Advisory Committee
The Diversity Advisory Committee (DAC) exists to stand for the various constituents, whose interests the Office for Campus Diversity (OCD) serves, by providing guidance, direction, support, and monitoring the effectiveness of the office.
President's Council on Campus Sustainability
This campus-wide advisory body shall guide the University's efforts to integrate environmental sustainability into campus life, including operations, educational programs, research, and community outreach. The PCCS shall serve to help awareness of sustainability issues and the promotion of individual responsibility for reducing the university's impact on the environment. The PCCS shall promote, assist, expand and standardize the GEAUX R.E.D. recycling program throughout campus. Other important responsibilities of the PCCS will be to identify revenue sources for support of sustainability initiatives; to provide input and analysis of sustainability issues with regard to current and future campus facilities and expansion projects; and, to develop and integrate a campus sustainability plan to guide the university's long-term vision and policies.
University Athletics Committee
The University Athletics Committee serves in an advisory ability primarily as a conduit of information and concerns between the faculty and the Athletic Department. The committee is chaired by the faculty athletic representative to the NCAA and composed primarily of faculty, the SGA president and an alumni representative appointed by the President.
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Provost/Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs
Committee on Academic Affairs and Standards
The Committee on Academic Affairs and Standards shall initiate policy concerning the academic standards of the University subject to the approval of the University President, study regulations adopted by the various agencies that affect the academic policies of the University and bring them into conformity with such regulations, hear routine appeals for waiver of academic regulations in cases of individual students, act as a final court of appeal in cases concerning accusations of unfair and capricious grading, and formulate other University policies as directed by the University Provost. Specific positions for faculty to serve. Charge: Initiate policy concerning the academic standards, in addition the committee should complete the committee's bylaws.
Faculty Benefits and Welfare Committee
The Faculty Benefits and Welfare Committee shall study and make recommendations regarding faculty retirement, insurance, other fringe benefits, safety, health and other matters relating to faculty welfare. ffairs.
Faculty Grievance Committee
The Faculty Grievance Committee has as its primary purpose the provision of a fair investigation of a faculty grievance for the purpose of learning the facts of the complaint and making a recommendation to the President. Also, the Committee shall hold a preliminary hearing when charges have been brought by a university administrator against a faculty member which might result in dismissal or any other major sanction. The Committee shall try to affect a mutual settlement and, failing that, shall recommend to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs whether or not sufficient reasons exist for a formal hearing. Reports directly to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs. NOTE: Having tenure is a requirement to serve on the Faculty Grievance Committee. Tenure-track and instructor faculty are not eligible to serve.
Charge: Primary purpose is the provision of a fair investigation of a faculty grievance, in addition the Committee should update the procedures.
Graduate Council and Graduate Council Standing Committee
The purpose of the Graduate Council is to formulate policies for governing the University's graduate programs. Specifically, the Council establishes criteria relating to admission and retention of students. Must hold graduate faculty appointment.
Honors Convocation Committee
The purpose of the Honors Convocation and Academic Excellence Awards Committee is to plan, organize, and implement an annual program recognizing academic achievements of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty excellence.
Library Committee.
The purpose of the Library Committee is to serve as an advisory body to the Director of Libraries, especially regarding the establishment of policy in all matters affecting the usefulness and overall operation of the library. Charge: Serve as an advisory body to the Director of Libraries, in addition review submissions for student research awards, and conduct a review of expenditures to facilitate student and faculty research.
Student Evaluation of Instruction Committee
The purpose of the Student Evaluation of Instruction Committee is to supply effective, efficient, and significant means for the periodic evaluation of instruction by the students at the university. Primarily, the committee is concerned with the review and revision, when necessary, of the evaluation form, but can make recommendations for changes in the mechanism of the student evaluation such as who should review the evaluation, when they should be done, etc. Charge: Review and revise, the evaluation form, in addition the committee should pilot college specific questions and develop initiatives to increase student response rates.
Study Abroad Committee
The UL Lafayette Study Abroad Program provides opportunities for faculty to teach abroad and for students to learn through a global experience. The Study Abroad Committee serves as an advisory body to make recommendations about program locations reviewing existing programs and considering proposals for new programs. Committee members annually review faculty proposals for courses to be offered abroad and makes selections of courses and faculty. Must hold a faculty position to serve.
Undergraduate Research Council (La Coeur - Louisiana Council on Excellence & Undergraduate Research)
An advisory council to the Student Research Center. Charge: This mission is to serve as an advisory council to the Vice President for Research, the provost and the President on matters about the development of Undergraduate Research at UL Lafayette.
University Committee on Graduate Student Success and Retention
The mission of the University Committee on Graduate Student Success and Retention shall be to examine the comprehensive graduate student experience at UL Lafayette to improve graduate student retention and graduation rates without compromising the high quality of our graduate programs. It works with the Graduate School and the Graduate Council to support the retention and success of students in both degree and non-degree graduate programs. In doing so, and in partnership with other campus constituencies, it assesses graduate student needs, reasons for stop out and drop out, and barriers to completion; professional development for career success; University services and student affairs support systems for graduate students; and other retention-related topics. Reports to the Dean of the Graduate School. Must hold a graduate faculty appointment to serve. Charge: Improve graduate student retention and graduation rates.
University Grade Appeals Committee
The purpose of the University Grade Appeals Committee is to serve as a screening committee to hear student appeals of final grades as supported in the "Guidelines for Appealing Unfair and/or Capricious Final Grades." Must hold a faculty position to serve.
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Vice President of Student Affairs
Communications Committee
The purpose of the Communications Committee is to serve as a review board for the following campus communications media: Vermilion and L'Acadien. The Committee serves as a recommending body to the University through the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. The specific responsibilities of the Committee include recommendations for appointment and dismissal of Chief Student Administrator and Business Manager of each of the communications media. As a general policy group and review board, the Committee is not directly responsible for operational control of the communications media. Advisors are appointed by the President.
Housing Appeals Committee
The purpose of the Housing Appeals Committee is to serve as an appeal board to review student requests to be released from the housing agreement.
SGA Child Development Center Advisory Board
The purpose of the Committee is: 1) To serve as consultants and advisors to the staff of the SGA Child Development Center and 2) To make recommendations on overall policies of the Center.
Student Affairs Appeals Court
The Student Affairs Appeals Court has appellant authority over the committees which make recommendations to the Vice President for Student Affairs: University Emergency Response and Preparedness Committee, Communications, Fraternities/Sororities Social Committee, Parking Planning Committee, Parking Appeals Committee, Religious Activities Committee, Student Financial Aid Committee, Student Health Committee, University Organizations Committee, SGA Child Development Center Advisory Board. The court has the power to concur in or reverse the decision of other committees and make determinations which affect all committees which report to the Vice President for Student Affairs. The court may also hear cases concerning administrative policy which affects students and matters not in the authority of any other committee.
Student Discipline Committee
The Discipline Committee is primarily responsible for administration of student discipline.
Student Health Committee
Following the guidelines that have been developed by the American College Health Association, the Louisiana Department of Health and Human Resources, the Board of Trustees and our Communicable Disease Policy Statement, the Student Health Committee seeks the maintenance of a health environment over the entire campus within the physical facilities as well as among students, faculty, and staff.
University Emergency Response and Preparedness Committee
The purpose of the University Emergency Response and Preparedness Committee is to meet when a natural disaster is imminent to decide on the best course of action to ensure the safety of the campus and the population. The Committee periodically reviews the procedures for safety and preventative action in case of natural disasters.
University Organizations Committee
The purpose of the University Organizations Committee is to: 1) Serve as the main organization that screens and recommends chartering of student groups to the Vice President for Student Affairs; 2) Serve as a policy-making board and recommends those policies to the Vice President for Student Affairs (ex. policies concerning what information a petitioning group should present, criteria for recommending an organization, etc.); 3) Serve as a liaison between the Religious Activities Committee, the Fraternity/Sorority Committee and the University administration; 4) Keep record of all approved student organizations and review information on each organization periodically; and 5) Has the responsibility of declaring an organization to be inactive or disbanded according to certain criteria.
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Vice President for Enrollment Management
Fee Committee
The purpose of the Fee Committee is to recommend a Fee Refund Policy to the Administration and to serve as an appeal board to process student requests for exceptions to the Fee Refund Policy. Charge: The committee addresses hearing appeals from students requesting an exception to the University’s tuition and fee refund policy.
Residency Committee
The purpose of the Committee is to provide a mechanism for a University student to appeal their residency classification, for fee purposes, which was assigned by the Admissions Office. Charge: The committee is responsible for hearing appeals from students seeking in-state residency for tuition purposes.
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Vice President for Finance and Administration
Occupational Health and Wellness Committee
Identify and maintain current the position titles requiring specialized training, and assist in monitoring/enforcing compliance of required training. Identify/develop a "group" (Banner/Cornerstone) for all position titles needing specialized training, so these employees receive immediate notification of training requirements upon hire. Charge: Policy/procedure development. Identify training requirements and update according as regulated/mandated. Identify methods of communicating training requirements to incumbents of position titles requiring the specialized training; to include supervisors. Develop a workflow/monitoring process to manage incumbents in position titles. Evaluate accidents/incidents of affected employees
Parking Appeals Committee
The Parking Appeals Committee has the lower appellate authority concerning the "UL Lafayette Traffic Code" violations issued by Parking & Transit and University Police and may make recommendations to the Parking and Planning Committee for revisions to the "UL Lafayette Traffic Code" and in general provide "Due Process" for all violations.
University Campus Safety Committee
The University Campus Safety Committee is chaired by the Environmental Health and Safety Director. Members include representatives from University Police, Human Resources, the Office of Disability Services, a faculty member in Sciences, auxiliary and research departments, and others. The committee is charged with learning about all facets of University safety and security, discussing any challenges that may exist in these areas, and recommending or implementing any necessary action that can make the campus safer and more secure.
Vehicle Accident Review Committee
The purpose of the Accident Review Committee (ARC) will be to review circumstances surrounding accidents which involve UL Lafayette/State vehicles and to recommend proper action which may be taken against the UL Lafayette/State employee who is involved in such an accident.
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Vice President of Student Affairs and the Vice President of Administration and Finance
Americans with Disabilities Act Committee
The University has established an ADA Committee to promote compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and to ensure that individuals with disabilities are afforded equal access to University programs, services, activities, and employment. Reports directly to the Vice President of Student Affairs and the Vice President of Administration and Finance. Charge: Reviewing potential barriers to equal access to the programs, services, and activities of the university and recommending solutions to leadership administration. Preparing an annual prioritization of projects and reviewing progress made in the prior year on resolving access barriers. When applicable, reviewing cases where accommodations or modifications are likely to result in a fundamental alteration of a course, or impose an undue hardship or financial burden on the institution. Serves as the decisive step in the accommodation appeals process.