1. Faculty Council participates in the shared governance of the College of Humanities and Sciences Faculty, and exists in accordance with Article VI of the VCU Bylaws of the Faculty, which mandates that “The Faculty of each school of the University shall organize and establish in assembly, rules and procedures for faculty participation in the governance of the school.” Faculty Council also fulfills the obligation of the College of Humanities and Sciences to the “Philosophy of Shared Governance” articulated by the University Council (5/4/2017). 
2. Faculty Council helps create, maintain, and protect a diverse and inclusive College environment conducive to growth of scholarship, creativity, learning, teaching, research, and service.
3. Faculty Council represents the concerns of College Faculty to the Dean of the College and to other appropriate bodies in the University. 
4. Faculty Council advises the Dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences about issues of concern to the Faculty, including but not limited to graduate and undergraduate curricula, programs, evaluation and improvement of instruction, Faculty employment conditions, information technology, awards and honors, tenure and promotion, and teaching and research grants.
5. Faculty Council advises on and approves substantive changes to departmental, School, and interdisciplinary academic program structures and bylaws; the organization of CHS curriculum and units; and other structural organizational matters affecting the research and teaching environment of the College. 
6. Faculty Council will assist the Dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences to establish slates of candidates for University and College committees, councils, and boards. In extraordinary circumstances, it will work with the Dean's office to fill vacated positions quickly without recourse to a full Faculty vote. 
7. Faculty Council oversees the compliance of CHS standing committees with the College’s bylaws, while also serving as a hub of information for the activities of the standing committees.

The Faculty Council is comprised of members from throughout the College, including: 

1. One elected representative of each department, School, and interdisciplinary academic program.
   1. The term of service is three years, and open to tenured, tenure-track, and term faculty. 
   2. Terms are staggered across the College’s departments, Schools, and interdisciplinary academic programs.
   3. Members cannot hold an administrative title at the level of departmental chair, director of the School of World Studies, director of the Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture, or above. 
   4. Representatives should be named by April 25th of the year before they are to serve.
2. Non-voting members to serve one-year, renewable terms. Non-voting members include: 
   1. The Chairs of the College’s standing committees detailed in Section V of the CHS bylaws;
   2. The President of the Faculty Senate, or a designated alternate currently serving in the Senate who is also a member of the Faculty of the College; 
   3. The President of the University Council, or a designated alternate currently serving on the Council who is also a member of the Faculty of the College; 
   4. The President of the Staff Council, or a designee currently serving on the Council.

1. The officers of the Faculty Council will include: President, Secretary, and Parliamentarian; 
2. Officers will be drawn from the continuing Faculty Council membership for one- year terms;
3. The President of the Faculty Council shall be afforded a one-course release per semester; 
4. Officers shall hold no more than two consecutive terms in any one position;
5. Officers must be elected by the Faculty Council by April 25^th of the academic year before they are to take office; 
6. The duties and responsibilities of Faculty Council officers are detailed in the policies and procedures of the Faculty Council.

1. Faculty Council meetings will be held monthly according to the official academic calendar; 
2. The President of Faculty Council shall call special meetings as necessary; 
3. Faculty Council procedural matters, including the scheduling of meetings, are governed by the policies and procedures of the Faculty Council.

1. Purpose
   1. The Undergraduate Academic Committee shall be concerned with degree requirements, academic standards, curriculum development, and other matters appropriate to the maintenance and development of the Humanities and Sciences undergraduate academic program.
   2. The Undergraduate Academic Committee shall study all departmental proposals in the College of Humanities and Sciences for addition or deletion of undergraduate courses that carry semester-hour credit. 
   3. While decisions regarding technical details of course content shall be recognized to be the province of the department, School or interdisciplinary academic program concerned, the function of the Undergraduate Academic Committee shall be to ensure that courses offered for credit shall be of appropriate quality and to prevent serious duplication of courses offered by two or more departments or schools. It shall study and make recommendations regarding the establishment of new programs or the abolition of existing programs leading to bachelor’s degrees or certificates in Humanities and Sciences. The Undergraduate Academic Committee shall also study and make recommendations concerning new rules, or changes in the rules, affecting the academic status of undergraduate students in the College of Humanities and Sciences, in respect to admission policies, academic advising, degree requirements, grades and any other academic policy matters.
2. Membership
   The Undergraduate Academic Committee shall be composed of:
   1. A representative from each department, School, and interdisciplinary academic program in the College chosen under their respective bylaws for a two-year term;
   2. One undergraduate student representative from the College may be appointed following nomination and approval by the committee; 
   3. The Dean or the Dean’s designee, serving as non-voting member;
   4. The President of the Staff Council, or a designee currently sitting on the Staff Council, serving as a non-voting member. 
3. Officers and Duties 
   1. The chairperson and other officers shall be elected and serve according to the provisions of the Committee’s policies and procedures.
   2. The particular duties and responsibilities of all officers must be detailed in the policies and procedures of the Committee. 
   3. These duties must include regular communication with relevant committees within the College and the University, including the Faculty Council.
   4. The chairperson will convey a written summary of Committee activities to the President of the Faculty Council on an annual basis in conjunction with the close of the academic year. 
   5. The chairperson, or designee, will oversee the Committee’s website, including any and all updates to membership, leadership, and Committee policies and procedures.
4. Meetings
   1. Committee meetings will be held monthly during the academic year. 
   2. The Committee chairperson shall call special meetings as necessary. 
   3. Procedural matters, including the scheduling of meetings, are governed by the policies and procedures of the Committee.

1. Purpose
   1. The Graduate Academic Committee shall be concerned with graduate admission requirements, degree requirements, academic standards, curriculum development, the establishment of new graduate courses and programs and the abolition of existing ones, and other matters relating to the graduate programs in the College of Humanities and Sciences.
2. Membership
   The Graduate Academic Committee shall be composed of:
   1. A representative from each department, School, and interdisciplinary academic program in the College that has a graduate program, chosen under their respective bylaws for a one-year term;
   2. One graduate student representative from the College may be appointed following nomination and approval by the committee;
   3. The Dean or the Dean’s designee, serving as a non-voting member.
   4. The President of the Staff Council, or a designee currently sitting on the Staff Council, serving as a non-voting member.
3. Officers and Duties
   1. The chairperson and other officers shall be elected and serve according to the provisions of the Committee’s policies and procedures.
   2. The particular duties and responsibilities of all officers must be detailed in the policies and procedures of the Committee.
   3. These duties must include regular communication with relevant committees within the College and the University, including the Faculty Council.
   4. The chairperson will convey a written summary of Committee activities to the President of the Faculty Council on an annual basis in conjunction with the close of the academic year.
   5. The chairperson, or designee, will oversee the Committee’s website, including any and all updates to membership, leadership, and Committee policies and procedures.
4. Meetings
   1. Committee meetings will be held monthly during the academic year.
   2. The Committee chairperson shall call special meetings as necessary.
   3. Procedural matters, including the scheduling of meetings, are governed by the policies and procedures of the Committee.

1. Purpose
   1. The Committee on Administration is convened by the Dean to discuss administrative and procedural matters, share information, and enhance coordination so as to promote the efficient and effective operation of the College of Humanities and Sciences.
2. Membership
   The Committee shall be composed of:
1. The Dean of the College;
2. The Associate Deans of the College;
3. The chairpersons and directors of each department, School, and College interdisciplinary academic program;
4. The President of the Faculty Council, or a designee currently sitting on the Faculty Council;
5. The President of the Staff Council, or a designee currently sitting on the Staff Council.
3. Officers and Duties
   1. The Dean will act as chair and is responsible for setting the meeting agenda.
4. Meetings
   1. The Committee on Administration shall meet at least once per month during the academic year.

1. Purpose
   1. The Technology Committee shall discuss technology-related developments in instruction and research and their impact on faculty and students of the College. The committee will also coordinate applications for technology funding in the College, in addition to overseeing the allocation and use of these funds.
2. Membership
   The Committee shall be composed of:
   1. A representative from each department, School, and interdisciplinary academic program in the College, chosen under their respective bylaws for a two-year term;
   2. One undergraduate student representative from the College may be appointed following nomination and approval by the committee;
   3. One graduate student representative from the College may be appointed following nomination and approval by the committee;
   4. The Dean or the Dean’s designee, serving as a non-voting member;
   5. The President of the Staff Council, or a designee currently sitting on the Staff Council, serving as a non-voting member.
3. Officers and Duties
   1. The chairperson and other officers shall be elected and serve according to the provisions of the Committee’s policies and procedures.
   2. The particular duties and responsibilities of all officers must be detailed in the policies and procedures of the Committee.
   3. These duties must include regular communication with relevant committees within the College and the University, including the Faculty Council.
   4. The chairperson will convey a written summary of Committee activities to the President of the Faculty Council on an annual basis in conjunction with the close of the academic year.
   5. The chairperson, or designee, will oversee the Committee’s website, including any and all updates to membership, leadership, and Committee policies and procedures.
4. Meetings
   1. Committee meetings will be held at least once per semester during the academic year.
   2. The Committee chairperson shall call special meetings as necessary.
   3. Procedural matters, including the scheduling of meetings, are governed by the policies and procedures of the Committee.

1. The Promotion and Tenure Committee is responsible for the fair and equitable evaluation of promotion and tenure applications originating from departments, Schools, and College interdisciplinary academic programs within the College.
2. The Promotion and Tenure Committee is currently selected and tasked according to section 7.1.3 of the College of Humanities and Sciences Promotion and Tenure Guidelines.
3. In addition to the responsibilities detailed therein, the Promotion and Tenure Committee will monitor and advise the Faculty Council and the Dean on the standards and practice of promotion and tenure within the College, with particular regard to compliance with University and College guidelines. Accordingly, the chair will report findings on the standards and practice of promotion and tenure within the College in written form on an annual basis to the President of the Faculty Council, the Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs, and the Dean of the College.
4. The chair, or designee, will also oversee the Committee’s website, including any and all updates to membership, leadership, and Committee guidelines.

1. Purpose
   1. The Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Committee shall assist in the development of policy and practices that ensure an academic and work environment characterized by inclusive excellence.
   2. The Committee will support the development, implementation, monitoring, and ongoing refinement of the College’s Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Plan.
   3. The Committee will engage in activities that support the College’s diversity and inclusion goals, including: content development of the College’s website focusing diversity; publicizing the College’s diversity programming; recognizing the professional and scholarly achievements of faculty and staff in advancing inclusion, diversity, and equity; promoting standards of inclusion, diversity, and equity among College boards and committees; assessing the views of faculty and staff on inclusion, diversity, and equity priorities, practices, and initiatives in the College; and advocating on behalf of faculty and staff in defense of the intellectual value of diversity and inclusion in higher education.
   4. The Committee will produce an annual report that specifies the College’s diversity and inclusion goals and activities of the previous fiscal year and the budget and projected goals for the upcoming fiscal year.
2. Membership
   The Committee shall be constituted in the following manner, while ensuring equitable representation across the humanities, the social sciences, and the mathematical and natural sciences. With the exception of the non-voting representative from the Office of the Dean and the Staff Council, no elected or appointed member may serve consecutive terms; however, members may be re-appointed or re-elected after a one-year gap between terms.
   1. Five members drawn from and elected by the Faculty to serve three-year, staggered terms;
   2. Five members drawn from and elected by all classified staff and University and Academic Professionals in the College to serve three-year, staggered terms;
   3. One undergraduate and one graduate student member drawn from and elected from their respective student body to serve one-year terms;
   4. One at-large member elected by the entire College to serve a three-year term. The at-large member may not be a member of a department which is already represented, and they cannot currently serve in an administrative capacity;
   5. Two members appointed by the Dean in consultation with the Faculty Council and Committee leadership;
   6. A non-voting representative from the Dean’s office;
   7. The President of the Staff Council, or a designee currently sitting on the Staff Council, serving as a non-voting member.
3. Officers and Duties
   1. The chairperson(s) and other officers shall be elected and serve according to the provisions of the Committee’s policies and procedures.
   2. The particular duties and responsibilities of all officers must be detailed in the policies and procedures of the Committee.
   3. These duties must include regular communication with relevant committees within the College and the University, including the Faculty Council.
   4. The chairperson will convey a written summary of Committee activities to the President of the Faculty Council on an annual basis in conjunction with the close of the academic year.
   5. The chairperson, or designee, will oversee the Committee’s website, including any and all updates to membership, leadership, and Committee bylaws.
4. Meetings
   1. Committee meetings will be held at least two (2) times per semester during the academic year.
   2. The Committee chairperson(s) shall call special meetings as necessary.
   3. Procedural matters, including the scheduling of meetings, are governed by the policies and procedures of the Committee.