Academic Council

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

1. Approve Core curriculum proposals as recommended by the Core Curriculum Committee
2. Approve Intercultural programs & proposals as recommended by the Intercultural Committee

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 consist of twelve voting members and nine ex officio non-voting members as outlined below.

Voting Members (12):
3 School Deans
2 Faculty Representatives from each School-  to reflect the mix of programs in the school
Assistant Provost for Student Success
CODI Representative with Faculty Status
CORE Curriculum Director

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
Executive Director of EMU Lancaster
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).

Appointment of Members 

The Academic Deans, Assistant Provost for Student Success, EMU Core Curriculum Director, Writing Program Director, and Director of Intercultural Programs are members of the Committee based upon their positions.

The Program Director Representatives are elected by faculty (as defined above) in their school. Program Director Representatives elected to the Academic Committee shall serve two-year terms and will represent the interests of their respective schools by attending Academic Council meetings and communicating the opinions and perspectives of the faculty in their schools. See Academic Council Election procedure. 

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.

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

Academic Council Agenda Review Team typically meets about 10 days prior to each Academic Council meeting. Any member of the Academic council can submit agenda items to their academic dean or to the council co-chairs. Program directors should submit curriculum proposals to their school dean and the Registrar.  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 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.

 The Dean's offices will provide notice of formal actions of the Academic Council to all members of the Faculty by the end of the work week in which the action is taken.
The Academic Council must schedule a special meeting at the written request of the University President or Provost, at the request of any five Academic Council members, or at the request of at least seven faculty members.