Fulfilling the mission of Walden University requires collaboration among the Board of Directors, administration, faculty, and students. This is an important part of Bud Hodgkinson’s early vision for Walden University, and a robust faculty governance system is a fitting and proper tribute to the legacy that he has given us.
Adequate opportunities for communication are essential if faculty are to fulfill their role in institutional governance, namely to oversee the university curriculum (including its outcomes and content), to approve the academic policies that impact how the curriculum is offered to students, to ensure that students have fulfilled the outcomes of the curriculum, and to recommend them for degree conferral to the Board of Directors. With a geographically-dispersed faculty, the university is challenged to design a governance system that gives the faculty their full voice in the governance of the curriculum and bridges the physical gap between faculty members. Faculty governance structures at both the university and the college level ensure that the faculty fulfill their role as overseers of the curriculum.
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University Governance
School Governance
Academic Council Charter (Word)
At the university level, there are four governance structures: a university-wide “virtual” organization of all faculty; a group of standing advisory committees related to the major academic functions of the university; the Academic Council; and Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Directors.
1. University Faculty Council: All faculty of the university comprise the University Faculty Council; it “assembles” once a year in cyberspace to receive the President and Chief Academic Officer’s annual report on academic affairs and plans for the coming year, with both synchronous and asynchronous opportunities for discussion. The purpose of the University Faculty Council is to receive information about the overall academic programs at the university and provide advice and suggestions to the President and the Chief Academic Officer.
2. Standing Committees: The President and the Chief Academic Officer, in consultation with the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Directors, shall appoint standing committees; at least half of the membership of the university standing committees shall be part-time faculty. The university has the following standing committees:
a. University Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee, chaired by the Chief Academic Officer, is made up of the faculty representatives to the Academic Council, the Vice Presidents of the Colleges, and the President (who is a non-voting member). Its purpose is to:
i. Review, approve, and recommend to the University’s Board of Directors, proposals for new programs from the School Curriculum and Academic Policy committees.
ii. Consider and approve any revisions to University-wide and School academic policies and admissions requirements and advise Walden’s Board of Directors.
iii. Review curriculum assessment information and other relevant assessment information to ensure that Walden University is achieving its academic mission.
b. Library Committee: Advises the Executive Director for Student Success and the university librarian about matters pertaining to library resources.
c. Research and Assessment Committee: Advises the Executive Director for Institutional Research & Assessment about the University Outcomes Assessment Plan.
d. Honors and Awards Committee: Selects recipients for all university honors and awards to recommend to the Board of Directors for approval.
e. Course and Instructional Design Advisory Committee: Advises the university on matters relating to the learning management platform and delivery of the online instructional program.
3. The Academic Council: The Academic Council of the university advises the Walden Board of Directors Academic Affairs Committee. Chaired by the Chief Academic Officer, its membership includes a faculty representative from each College elected by the faculty of that College, as well as board members, academic administrators, and students. The Academic Council meets twice a year, face to face.
4. The Board of Directors Academic Affairs Committee: The Board of Directors Academic Affairs Committee includes two voting elected faculty members from the Academic Council who are in the second year of their two-year terms.
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At the College and the School level, there are two governance structures: a College-wide “virtual” organization of all faculty and a Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee for Schools and, in some instances, program areas.
1. School Faculty Councils: School Faculty Councils, consisting of all full- and part-time faculty members in each school, “assemble” once a year in cyberspace to receive the Associate Deans’ annual reports on School affairs and plans for the coming year, with both synchronous and asynchronous opportunities for discussion. The purpose of a School Faculty Council is to receive information about the overall academic programs of that school and to provide advice and suggestions to the Associate Dean for the School.
2. Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee: Each School of the university has a Curriculum and Academic Policy (CAP) Committee with the following purposes:
a. Review School admissions policies and procedures, including evaluating admissions policies and standards by periodically reviewing a representative sample of admissions decisions, along with student progress information.
b. Recommend to the University Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee (UCAP) changes in school or university-wide admissions standards and policies.
c. Review and recommend to the UCAP proposals for new programs and proposed changes to the curricula of the existing programs of the School.
d. Review and recommend to the UCAP academic policies related to the programs of the School.
e. Make recommendations to the UCAP for new programs or university-wide academic policies.
f. At the Associate Dean’s request, review academic appeals, including grade appeals, and the like.
g. Review and advise the Associate Dean on procedures for faculty recruitment, faculty appointments, and faculty evaluation.
h. Advise the College Vice President and the Chief Academic Officer on evaluation of the Associate Dean and School academic leaders, who are reviewed at least every three years by all members of the School Faculty Council.
The Curriculum and Academic Policy (CAP) Committee of each School, chaired by the Associate Dean for the School, is composed of the College Vice President and full-time and part-time faculty from the School, selected by the Associate Dean to serve staggered 2 year terms. The School CAP may be made up of up to 12 faculty members, with a balance between full-time and part-time faculty.
When appropriate, a School CAP may appoint subcommittees for specific programs; these subcommittees may be made up of a balance of full-time and part-time faculty whose primary assignments are in that program. The subcommittee will be chaired by a faculty member who is also a member of the School CAP. The subcommittee will be charged with reviewing and recommending to the UCAP all curricular and policy changes that impact the program.
The CAP Committee meets face-to-face at least once a year and via electronic means at other times throughout the year as needed.
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