Professional Standards Committee Charter

Mission and Scope

Alignment with Strategic Plan

1. Student Success

  • 1A. Advance student success by optimizing the Student Lifecycle
  • 1B. Undifferentiated outcomes for all

2. Affordable & Accessible Education

  • 2A. Deliver quality, affordable education
  • 2B. Ensure accessible education

3. Advance the Local and Global Workforce

  • Meet evolving workforce needs

4. Inclusive Culture

  • 4A. Foster a high performing organization driven by a culture of engagement, respect, and accountability (Employees)
  • 4B. Foster a high performing organization driven by a culture of engagement, respect, and accountability (Students)

Alignment with NWCCU 2020 Accreditation Standards

  • 1.B.4 The institution monitors its internal and external environments to identify current and emerging patterns, trends, and expectations. Through its governance system it considers such findings to assess its strategic position, define its future direction, and review and revise, as necessary, its mission, planning, intended outcomes of its programs and services, and indicators of achievement of its goals.
  • 2.A.4 The institution’s decision-making structures and processes, which are documented and publicly available, must include provisions for the consideration of the views of faculty, staff, administrators, and students on matters in which each has a direct and reasonable interest.
  • 2.B.1 Within the context of its mission and values, the institution adheres to the principles of academic freedom and independence that protect its constituencies from inappropriate internal and external influences, pressures, and harassment.
  • 2.B.2 Within the context of its mission and values, the institution defines and actively promotes an environment that supports independent thought in the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge. It affirms the freedom of faculty, staff, administrators, and students to share their scholarship and reasoned conclusions with others. While the institution and individuals within the institution may hold to a particular personal, social, or religious philosophy, its constituencies are intellectually free to test and examine all knowledge and theories, thought, reason, and perspectives of truth. Individuals within the institution allow others the freedom to do the same.
  • 2.D.2 The institution advocates, subscribes to, and exemplifies high ethical standards in its management and operations, including in its dealings with the public, NWCCU, and external organizations, including the fair and equitable treatment of students, faculty, administrators, staff, and other stakeholders and constituencies. The institution ensures that complaints and grievances are addressed in a fair, equitable, and timely manner.
  • 2.D.3 The institution adheres to clearly defined policies that prohibit conflicts of interest on the part of members of the governing board(s), administration, faculty, and staff.
  • 2.F.1 Faculty, staff, and administrators are apprised of their conditions of employment, work assignments, rights and responsibilities, and criteria and procedures for evaluation, retention, promotion, and termination.
  • 2.F.2 The institution provides faculty, staff, and administrators with appropriate opportunities and support for professional growth and development.
  • 2.F.3 Consistent with its mission, programs, and services, the institution employs faculty, staff, and administrators sufficient in role, number, and qualifications to achieve its organizational responsibilities, educational objectives, establish and oversee academic policies, and ensure the integrity and continuity of its academic programs.
  • 2.F.4 Faculty, staff, and administrators are evaluated regularly and systematically in alignment with institutional mission and goals, educational objectives, and policies and procedures. Evaluations are based on written criteria that are published, easily accessible, and clearly communicated. Evaluations are applied equitably, fairly, and consistently in relation to responsibilities and duties. Personnel are assessed for effectiveness and are provided feedback and encouragement for improvement.

Mission 

The Professional Standards Committee believes that the accomplishment of the mission of the Faculty Senate and the College, to empower students to succeed by providing affordable and accessible education to advance the local and global workforce, requires a strong, vibrant faculty who have clear and equitable standards and procedures by which they work. The work of the committee is aligned with CWI’s Strategic Plan and the NWCCU accreditation standards.

Charge and Objectives

With the guidance of Faculty Senate, the focus of this committee is on standards and procedures for faculty work. The committee reviews, drafts, and suggests professional standards and procedures regarding faculty and instruction and measures thereof. The Committee is responsible for coordinating the maintenance and revision of the Faculty Handbook. The Committee may also act as a liaison to and collaborate with other parts of the college regarding policies, standards, and/or procedures that affect the work of faculty.

History

The work of the committee was originally split between two committees, Professional Standards Committee and Policy Review Committee. Spring 2022, the Faculty Senate voted to combine the two committees because the work of the committees was truly overlapping, and it was a strain to fully staff two committees.

Former chairs are recorded here for the purpose of facilitating continuity and outreach:

  • Andrea Ascuena
  • Paul Belue
  • Maia Kelley
  • Christina Moore (Policy Review)

Leadership

A. Chair

The committee will have a chairperson to call and organize, represent the committee to various CWI Stakeholders, coordinate the accomplishments of committee objectives and projects, and facilitate communication between the committee and the Faculty Senate

B. Vice Chair

The vice chair will assume all responsibilities of the chair in the chair’s absence, support the chair in the fulfillment of their duties, learn the Chair responsibilities to transition to Chair position, and attend meetings with the Chair as appropriate.

C. Secretary

The secretary will be responsible for taking and maintaining a record of minutes and maintaining committee records and information on the committee’s teamsite.

D. Selection of leadership

Leadership positions are elected through the voting procedures of the committee. Election of leadership positions will occur at the April meeting prior to the position being vacated.

E. Terms

  • Term Periods
    • Leadership positions will be held for a period of three years.
  • Limits
    • A person may serve up to two consecutive terms in a single position. Faculty Senate may vote to extend a person’s terms in a single position beyond two terms for substantial need.
  • Vacancies
    • Should any leader resign from duties an interim will be chosen and voted on by the committee members to complete the term.

Members

A. Ex Officio members

  • The chair of FPC or designee from FPC.
  • One Senator minimum

B. Regular/representative members

The Professional Standards Committee will have 5-9 members. The goal is for all schools to be represented.

C. Non-voting members/visitors

Volunteers may join ad hoc work groups without becoming official committee members.

D. Selection of members

Members will volunteer to serve on the Professional Standards Committee. If the committee would like to have more than nine members and there are volunteers, the existing committee members will elect additional members from the volunteers. The quantity of members needed is tied to the workload of the committee.

E. Terms

  • Term Periods
    • Members serve for two-year terms.
  • Limits
    • Members may serve up to three consecutive terms.
  • Rotations
    • The committee may vote to extend the terms of members for the period of a year to avoid more than 50% of the committee rotating off at a time.

F. Participation Expectations

Members of Professional Standards Committee are expected to participate in meetings, committee communication, projects, and work groups. Involvement in projects and work groups is on a volunteer commitment basis. Members may be considered as inactive and removed by vote of the committee. See voting procedures. Inactivity is considered missing two or more meetings without notifying the chair and/or consistently failing to contribute to the work of the committee as agreed to by the member.

Formation of subcommittees or workgroups

A. Standing Subcommittees

In order to achieve its objectives, standing subcommittees may be formed by vote of the committee. Such subcommittees will have leadership that reflects that set forth for the committee in this charter, and the chair of the subcommittee is responsible to report on the subcommittee’s work prior to each monthly committee meeting. Standing subcommittees may have members from outside of Professional Standards but will have at least one representative member of the Professional Standards committee to act as communication liaison between the committee and subcommittee. Once a standing subcommittee is formed, it will be added to this charter.

B. Formation of workgroups

The committee may form workgroups on an ad hoc basis.

Reporting

A. Reporting body

Professional Standards Committee is a subcommittee of and reports to Faculty Senate.

B. Method of reporting

The chair will send a brief monthly update to the Faculty Senate President one week prior to each meeting. The update will be added to the Senate minutes. If the committee has business to be discussed by the Senate, the chair will send as a separate request one week prior to the meeting.

C. Required report content

Monthly reports will contain information on current projects, upcoming issues, and recent decisions.

Operating Procedures

A. Frequency of meetings

The Professional Standards Committee will meet monthly and/or as needed in accordance with the academic year contracts of the committee members.

B. Methods of meeting

Meetings will be in person or via video conference.

C. Voting procedures

Decisions of the committee will be made by simple majority vote of the members present. In order to make a decision, a quorum—at least half of the committee members—must be in attendance. In instances of a tie, the chair will abstain from voting.

Maintenance of Committee Documents and Records

Committee documents and records, including meeting minutes, will be maintained on the committee’s Faculty Senate teamsite page.