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Academic Council

Academic Council

Nov 07, 2025

Purpose

The Academic Council will be the academic legislative body of the faculty and will act on behalf of the faculty in making decisions or approving recommendations that pertain to the curriculum or academic policies.
The faculty are an integral component of the University structure and, along with the Board of Trustees and executive administration, are responsible for the well-being of the University community. The faculty are directly responsible for providing the quality of education provided at EMU, for supporting holistic personal development in students, and for conducting academic inquiry.

Decisions

The Academic Council exercises the delegated authority of the faculty. In representing the faculty and seeking the well-being of the academic units, the Academic Council is authorized to:
A. Approve academic policies
B. Approve curricular proposals arising from any school, center, or instructional site at EMU, including general education and Intercultural programs.

C. Give counsel to Academic Deans as requested
D. Convene a special Faculty Meeting as needed to present issues, invite broader discussion, or secure broad-based support.

Membership

The Academic Council will have ten voting members and ex officio, non-voting members as outlined below.

Voting Members (10) 

*Academic Affairs Deans (3)- Divisional Deans and Dean of Faculty and student success (co-chair) 

Faculty Representatives (Program Directors) should reflect the mix of disciplines at EMU (6)

CODI Representative with Faculty Status

 

Ex Officio, Non-Voting Members (9)

*Registrar (invited to every meeting)

Director of Academic Success Center

Director of Writing Program

Director of Career Services

Director of Libraries

Director of Intercultural Programs

Student Government Association representative

*SACSCOC Liaison  

Academic Council will be co-chaired by one Academic Dean (chosen by the currently serving academic deans)  and a faculty member (selected by the other members of the Academic Council).

*Agenda review team, plus the faculty co-chair

Appointment of Members 

  • The Academic Deans and the ex Officio representatives are members of the Committee based upon their positions.

  • The Program Director Representatives are elected by faculty and serve renewable, two-year terms. See Academic Council Election procedure. 

  • No later than May 15, eligible faculty will be asked to nominate program directors to represent their Division on Academic Council. The dean prepares a ballot that will indicate the primary focus of each program director (undergraduate or graduate) and the current representatives on the Academic Council. Deans will select representatives from the preferred nominees in each division, in consultation with each other and the Provost.

  • Faculty representatives shall represent the interests of their respective schools by attending Academic Council meetings and communicating the opinions and perspectives of the broader faculty. 

  • The Academic Council will be co-chaired by one Dean from academic affairs and a faculty member. 

  • To facilitate broad input and clear communication, ex officio and non-voting members will be notified of all meeting agendas in advance; the Registrar is invited to every meeting. 

  • An ex officio faculty Senate representative will be appointed if no member of the Academic Council is also a senator. 

Meetings

The Academic Council will meet at least once a month during each semester of the regular academic year. All Academic Council meetings will be open unless an executive session is designated. Executive sessions will include only voting Members of the council.

Voting procedures 

  • Quorum is defined as a majority of voting members and at least one program director from each division.

  • For Motions and Recommendations: the three-finger consensus test (3-fully support, 2- can live with and support, 1-do not consent) is given to all members (voting or non-voting) of Academic Council. If AC is unable to reach consensus (defined as all 2s and 3s), the motion shall be placed to a straight vote requiring support of 80% of voting members in attendance.

Agenda and Communication Procedures and Guidelines 

  • The Academic Council Agenda Review Team typically meets about 10 days before each Academic Council meeting. Any member of the Academic Council may submit agenda items to their dean or to the council co-chairs. Program directors should submit curriculum proposals to their divisional dean and the Registrar.  

  • The Dean's offices will provide notice of formal actions of the Academic Council to members of the Faculty by the end of the work week in which the action is taken.

Steward 

Academic Deans

Stakeholders

Academic Council (voting and non-voting members), Program Directors 

Policy Review

This policy is to be reviewed every three years.

Distribution

Faculty/Staff Handbook

Last review date 

approved, August 2025