University Committees

Charge and Membership
The Assessment Advisory Committee (AAC) serves as an advisory committee to the Director of the Office of Educational Assessment (OEA). The AAC serves to develop and enrich effective assessment of the student learning experience at the University of Scranton. The committee collaborates with the Director, OEA and others to ensure ongoing processes for effective assessment, including development, implementation, and maintenance of the University’s Institutional Student Learning Assessment Plan. The committee reviews and recommends a variety of assessment support resources, including those for faculty development.
The committee is chaired by the Director of the OEA, who serves as a non-voting member. Staff members are appointed based on their job positions; faculty members are elected by the Faculty Senate.

2022-2023 AAC Membership:
Chairs: Dr. Vanessa Jensen and Dr. Satyaijit Ghosh, Co-Directors, OEA
Dr. Mary Jane DiMattio, Associate Dean, PCPS
Dr. Gerard Dumancas, CAS, Faculty Fellow
Dr. Marian Farrell, Faculty Representative, PCPS/CTLE
Ms. Julie Ferguson, Registrar
Dr. Robert Giambatista, Assessment Coordinator, KSOM
Dr. Emily Hopkins, Faculty Representative, CAS
Dr. Jeffery Kegolis, Director of Student Conduct and Assessment, Student LIfe
Dr. Lisa LoBasso, Director of Graduate Academics and Student Services
Dr. David Marx, Associate Provost
Dr. Rebecca Mikesell, Faculty Representative, CAS
Dr. Murli Rajan, Associate Dean, KSOM
Dr. Jennifer Schwartz, Faculty Representative, PCPS
Dr. Maria Squire, Associate Dean, CAS
Mr. Nicholas Truncale, Director of Student Retention and Completion
Mr. Richard Walsh, Assistant Provost for Operations and Data Analytics Officer
Professor Donna Witek, Information Literacy Coordinator
Ms. Kathryn Yerkes, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness
Mr. Dominic Finan,  Student Government

Board on Rank and Tenure 2022-2023

Charge: The function of the Board on Rank and Tenure is to recommend to the President that tenure and/or promotion in rank be given or denied to a particular member of the faculty.

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Dean's Conference

Charge:  The CAS Dean's Conference is the advisory, consultative group to the dean of the College

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Dean's Conference Curriculum Subcommittee

Charge: The committee reviews and advises the CAS Dean's Conference on matters regarding proposals for curriculum changes.

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 Individualized Major Committee

Charge: The committee will investigate the reasonableness of developing a "customized major" program of study and to develop a proposal for such a program if their investigation so warrants.

On Hold at this time.

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 Pre-Law Advisory Committee

Computing Sciences Committees

Assessment

Colloquium Series

Graduate Program

Resources

Library

Outreach

Internships/Senior Projects

Introductory/Sequences

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History Program Assessment Committee

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International Studies Assessment Committee

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Political Science-History Department

International Studies Assessment Committee

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BCMB Advisory Board

Committee's Website

Mission Statement

To support the University’s “dedication to the personal development fundamental to the growth in wisdom and integrity of all who share its life,” and to meet the challenge of General Congregation 34 of the Society of Jesus “to listen carefully and courageously to the experience[s] of women” and to work in solidarity with “women in the struggle for a more just relationship between women and men,”

The CSW seeks to accomplish this mission by:

• Raising awareness through communication with the University community regarding behaviors, actions, issues, policies, and procedures that impact the status of women;

• Communicating and collaborating with other committees and organizations to provide support, advocacy, and information regarding women's issues;

• Assisting the administration in identifying the concerns of women at the University that need study, and recommending ways to address the concerns of women at the University to the appropriate administrative offices

Charge: The CCC is responsible for implementation and oversight of the Unversity General Education Program.

This Committee is presently inactive.

Charge: The charge of the Advisory Group is to be advisory to the Director of the CTLE to ensure that the mandate of the Center is achieved and maintained.

Members:

This committee is not active at this time

Charge: A temporary subcommittee of the University Planning Committee, the Diversity and  Inclusion Planning Group is charged with the development of a formal, comprehensive five‐year  plan for institutional diversity and inclusion.  This new plan will directly support the University’s  strategic plan and serve as a framework to coordinate and guide diversity and inclusion efforts  across University programs, departments, divisions, committees and taskforces.   To connect current efforts, the leadership and membership for this group will be conjointly  comprised of members of the University Planning Committee, the Council for Diversity and  Inclusion, and other members of the University Community involved or interested in Diversity  and Inclusion work.  The Group will conduct research and review assessment data, including  recommendations from the recent Middle States Self‐Study, Mission Priority Examen, and  Council for Diversity and Inclusion. As part of its work, the Group will recommend an appropriate  and sustainable path for the management of the plan moving forward.

Charge: To intake and review grant applications, and allocate funds to projects which promote and energize the commitment to diversity, increase and cultural awareness and sensitivity through educational programming, provide the opportunity for inter-cultural engagement as well as expand multicultural experiences for our community.

Charge: The Ellacuría Initiative, formerly known as Education for Justice, enables us to reflect on the meaning of justice; makes us aware of injustice in our society and throughout the world, and of efforts being made to remedy injustice; and introduces us to various methods of analysis, so that we may be able to respond.  The Ellacuría Initiative currently works in three areas – (1) our biennial theme, (2) issues of importance to Northeastern Pennsylvania, and (3) other justice-related programming that emerges because of opportunity or unfolding circumstances.

Charge: To represent the Faculty Affairs Council in its duty to improve the terms and conditions of employment of the full-time faculty through the process of collective bargaining.

Charge: To review and approve proposals for faculty members conducting research or curriculum development work in the summer and intersession terms.

Charge: Review the Faculty Handbook section of the Master Agreement

Charge:  Serve in an advisory capacity to the Director of Research on issues of research policy and procedures; review and approve applications for internal research funding; review and make recommendations concerning sabbatical proposals; and conduct investigations of scientific misconduct if warranted.

Officers:

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Academic Policy Committe:

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GE Review Committee:

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Liason Representatives to the Faculty Senate (Non-Voting):

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University Governance Council (UGC)

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 T.A.G.

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Shared Goverance and Leadership

Not currently being formed or asked to convent at this time, but may be depending on need. 

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Faculty Representatives to the Provost Committee on Academic Policies and Programs

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Faculty Representatives to the Retention Committee

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Conference Committee on the Curriculum (CCC)

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Faculty Representatives tp the Assessment Advisory Committee (AAC)

Charge:  To support faculty travel to professional meetings, workshops and professional development. 

Charge:  Group convened by the Director of First Year Seminar to deliberate over issues related to the FYS and the Ignatian Values in Action lecture; to plan faculty development in relation to the FYS, IVAl, and Royal Read; to assist the Director in monitoring delivery, offerings, ad scheduling of the FYS, as well as enrollment issues; to assit faculty in developing new FYS courses and review proposals; to nominate to the Provost's Office books for the Royal Read and speakers for the IVAL.

Charge: The Health Professions Evaluation Committee interviews applicants to doctoral-level health professions programs.  Committee members work in teams to interview applicants and, with the Director of Pre-Medical and Pre-Health Professions Programs, prepare letters of evaluation for each applicant.

Charge: The Honors Council serves as an advisory body  to the Director of the Honors Program.  It must approve all major changes of policy and procedure.  The Honors Coucil is also responsible for selecting students to participate  in the Honors Program.  This entails meeting with applicants and evaluating them in committee.

Charge:  Establish, implement policies, review & approve all research involving animal subjects conducted at the University or under its sponsorship at another location.  Activities are conducted in accordance w/federal, state, & local regulations.

Charge:  Establish, implement policies, review and approve all research involving recombinant DNA and other biosafety issues as deemed appropriate related to research conducted at the University of Scranton or under its sponsorship at another location.  Activities are conducted in accordance with federal, state and local regulations.

Charge:  Establish, implement policies, review and approve all research involving human subjects conducted at the University of Scranton or under its sponsorship at another location.  Activities are conducted in accordance with federal state and local regulations concerning safeguarding of the rights and welfare of human participants in all research under its sponsorship.

Dean's Conference Management Committee

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AACSB Committee

Charge: The AACSB Committee will monitor and report on new development in AACSB standards and reporting, manage all data collections, analysis, and reporting for AACSB accreditation maintenance, write and distribute an annual report on accreditation maintenance progress, determine faculty development needs arising from AACSB changes, review strategic plan in compliance with AACSB, and coordinate new strategic plan development.

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Assessment Committee

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Teaching and Curriculum Committee

Charge: The role of the Teaching and Curriculum Committee is to review the undergraduate core to consider marketplace changes, current enrollment trends, and competition (peers and aspirants), examine whether to develop undergraduate and graduate certificates and/or tracks in sustainability or other areas, use assessment and student feedback information to recommend changes to curriculum and programs, review academic policies including those affecting internships and study abroard programs, organize a teaching seminar each semester, develop a statement outling areas of impact and their measurement for Kania School faculty teaching, examine the current teaching award with the goal to add 2 additional awards, and create a policy for approving curriculum changes.

Strategic Planning Committee

Charge: The role of the Strategic Planning Groupis to provide input and suggest revisions to the strategic plan and review results and determine the issues (e.g., housing, scheduling, etc.) facing international graduate students and how we can better assist and integrate into the fabric of KSOM.

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Dean's Advisory Group

Charge: The role of the Dean's Advisory Group is to provide guidance to the Dean on the strategic direction of KSOM, provide guidance to the Dean on curriculum and programmatic changes, provide guidance to the Dean with respect to committee assignments, provide guidance to the Dean with respect to KSOM policies, and provide guidance to the Dean with respect to university policies that impact KSOM.

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KSOM Award for Teaching and Research Excellence Committee

Charge: The role of the KSOM Faculty Awards for Excellence Committee is to select the recipient for the KSOM Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship for the year 6/1/22 to 5/31/23, and select the recipient for the KSOM FAculty Award for Excellence in Teaching for the year 6/1/22 to 5/31/23.

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KSOM Award for Staff Excellence Committee

Charge: The role of the KSOM Award for Staff Excellence Committee is to select the recipient for the KSOM Staff Excellence Award for the 6/1/22 to 5/31/23.

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Faculty Research Committee

Charge: The role of the Faculty Research Committee is to determine KSOM resource needs to support scholarship, provide appropriate and necessary resources to support the advancement of scholarship such as databases and facilities-specifically a database related to climate change, develop a statement outlining areas of impact and their measurement for Kania School faculty scholarship, organize scholarly seminars each semester and publish the KSOM working paper series, determine procedures for faculty awards in area of scholarship, and channel faculty concerns and make recommendations to Dean on continuously improoving KSOM scholarship.

Latin American Studies Steering Committee Members:Charge: The Steering Committee serves as the day-to-day decision-making body in the Program, covering instruction, research, special events, outreach, development, and appointment processes for Associate, Affiliated, Adjunct, and Visiting Faculty.

Women's and Gender Studies Steering Committee Members:Charge: The Steering Committee serves as the day-to-day decision-making body in the Program, covering instruction, research, special events, outreach, development, and appointment processess for Associate, Affiliated, Adjunct, and Visiting Faculty.

Library Advisory Committee

Charge: The Library Advisory Committee is an advisory group to Charles Kratz, the Dean of the Library, and meets twice each semester to provide input and responses to the programs and activities of the Library.

This committee is not active at this time

Charge:  Oversees the curricular and programmatic development of the Neuroscience major.  Members are chosen based upon their interests in the program and willingness to serve.  New members are added through current committee consensus.

PCPS Dean's Conference

Charge: To consult with the Dean in the discharge of his/her responsibilities in regard to the development and improvement of the programs of study within the school or college.

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PCPS Field Coordinators'  and Clinical Internship Committee

Charge:  Integrate academic goals for each program in PCPS.  This committee develops collaborative initiatives and discusses issues concerning site-based partners, policies and procedures relevant to PCPS departments in field placement and clinical sites including legal issues, clearances, etc.

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PCPS Program Directors

Charge: Analyze the activities and function for undergraduate and graduate PCPS Program Directors.  Revise the job description goals and define specific outcomes for these positions.

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 PCPS Curriculum Assessment Committee

Charge:  The charge of the committee is to conduct careful and systematic evaluations of course proposals, degree programs, and course syllabi to ensure high quality, academically rigorous learning experiences for all PCPS students.

PCPS Community Based Learing/T.A.P.E.S.T.R.Y.

Charge:  To form men and women for and with others, providing education shaped by the service of faith and the promotion of justice, and emphasizing the development of adult faith and the implementation of the four year professional development plan of TAPESTRY.

PCPS Graduate Policy Committee

Charge: To propose new graduate policies and revisions for existing graduate policies

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Teacher Education Committee (TEC)

Charge:  The undergraduate teacher education  program is guided by the Teacher Education Committee.  The Committee develops policy regarding program design, functioning and evaluation.

Charge: To assist the Provost in reviewing applicants and nominations for the Provost's Awards for Faculty Enhancement

Charge: Makes recommendations to the Provost on academic policies and programs.

Members:

Michelle Maldonado,  Chair
David Marx
Victoria Castellanos
Shannon Zottola
Julie Feruguson
Robert Davis, Jr. 
Ed Steinmetz
Carl Hurst
Nicholas Truncale
Richard Walsh
Mark Higgins
David Dzurec
George Aulisio
Lauren Rivera

Charge: The purpose of the Retention Committee shall be to examine current retention practices, identify the variables that impact retention at the University, and recommed approporiate strategies and tactics to the Strategic Enrollment Planning Team and the Provost's Council for action immediately and over time to improve retention.  To this end, the committee is responsible for:

• Compiling and analzying comprehensive data concerning student enrollment, student progress and student retention;
• exploring factors affecting student academic persistence and recommending strategies for maximizing student success;
• examining existing and ongoing institutional research on student engagement and student satisfaction to determine areas of strength and concern that impact enrollment;
• assessing of the impact of policies relating to and affecting student registration and student  progress to degree;
• monitoring progress toward approved enrollment and retention goals.

Members:

This Committee is not active at this time.

The most up-to-date information can be found on the Staff Senate Website, hhtp://ww.scranton.edu/staff-senate/members.shtml or http://www.scranton.edu/staff-senate/committees.shtml

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This committee is presently inactive

Charge:  In May 2020, the U.S. Department of Education released regulations related to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 with a legal mandate that they be implemented by August 14, 2020. The Title IX Workgroup, which includes a cross section of faculty, staff and students at the University, is tasked to work with the Office of Equity and Diversity in updating the University’s Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy to comply with the regulation.

 The Title IX/SHSM Workgroup

• researches legal compliance standards and best practices
• offers recommendations for policies and reporting procedures
• coordinates resources to support students and employees on and off campus
• raises awareness of issues related to gender based harassment and violence through drafting printed materials and participating in special events

Membership 2020-2021

Charge: , The University Goverance Council (the Council) plays an important role in goverance at The University of Scranton.  Comprised of the leadership of each of the three representative senates, or their designates, the Council serves as a coordinating structure to review institutional policies, sending its recommendations to the President's Cabinet the chief policy and decision-making body of the University. 

In addition to institutional policy duties, the UGC also provides a forum to ensure the three governing bodies-Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, and Student Government - have ample opportunity to discuss policy and other initiatives with one another and forward comments and/or recommendations to the President's Cabinet.

* indiciates individual is president/chair of their respective senate

** alternating meeting attendance

Charge and Membership: 2022-2023

Charge: The University Planning Committee serves as an advisory committee to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. Under the broader Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Model, the UPC provides leadership for the development of each University strategic plan and serves as a steering committeee for plan implementation.  In this capacity, the UPC recommends annual planning priorities and affirms related annual planning and institutional effectiveness assessment activities.  The UPC monitors progress of the plan's initiatives and advises on updates and adjustments to its supporting objectives.  In support of integrated planning, the UPC also considers, endorses, and makes recommendations related to other significant planning initiatives, including the links between planning and other administrative functions. 

UPC Membership:

Charge:  The Student Veterans' Advocacy Committee is an advisotry group comprised of faculty and staff who identify as veterans and/or who are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for veterans at the University.  The group convenes as needed to share suggestions, ideas, and insight with the Advisor of the Student Veteran's Organization.