DRAFT Terms of reference of Department Committees.
These terms of reference are as suggested by the current committee chairs or by the Committee on Committees where no such committee exists at present. In the first instance committees should make suggestions for modifications to their terms of reference to the Faculty Committee, who may also refine them from time to time. Similarly voting rights should be defined by the committees and submitted to the Faculty Committee for ratification.
Faculty Committee
This is the primary governing committee of the Department, as described in the "Plan of Organization of the Department of Geography". Rules for voting membership, Chairperson etc are described in that document. All other departmental committees report to this Committee. The only sub-committees recommended are the Teaching Teams who report to the Teaching Committee.
To advise the Chairperson of the Department and provide a context for the Chair to introduce new items for consideration by the department. All changes in procedures and policy determined by the Chair will be communicated.
Transmittal of initiatives, policies, procedures and other items introduced by the College and Campus with relevance to members of the department.
Introduction of initiatives, policies, procedures and other items from the senior administrative staff of the department (e.g., Director of Administration, Research Coordinator).
Consideration of initiatives, policies, procedures and other items emanating from the various departmental subcommittees. These subcommittees are established and appointed by the Chair to facilitate pursuit of department goals. As such, they are subject to revision as needs require.
Consideration and possible adoption of modifications to or initiation of policies and procedures by which the department conducts business. Examples of the policies and procedures are the Departmental Organization Plan, Merit Pay distribution, Promotion and Tenure, etc. Voting procedures, attendance, and membership are defined in the Organization Plan.
Forum for introduction of new items for consideration by any member of the Department. In general these items will then be directed to one or more of the departmental subcommittees for consideration and recommendations.
Development and maintenance of Teaching portfolios and Course Portfolios
Teaching Evaluation Instrument - Dept. questions, development of a system for review, the use of data generated by instrument
Course improvements - with emphasis on the teaching
Schedule of classes - coordinate plans of each subject group (Teaching Team), and questions related to undergraduate and graduate offerings - in terms of schedule
Teaching Improvement Strategies and Grants
Integration of adjuncts into teaching program
Allocation of Teaching resources (including credit hrs to classes and programs, Teaching Assistants, Facilities, Class teaching funds)
Oversight of Teaching Teams (the 3 or more groups responsible for teaching in the departments subject fields). Teaching Team chairs should be ex officio members of the Teaching Committee.
Currently there are three Teaching Teams, Human, Biogeophysical, and Methods. Each member of Tenure Track Faculty and Research Scientist is encouraged to be associated with two of these Teams. The Teams report to the Teaching Committee and also to the Graduate and Undergraduate Committees, as appropriate. Non-Geography coordinators of programs that Geography serves, or serve Geography, may be asked to attend meetings from time to time.
Responsible for the design and implementation of the curriculum for undergraduate and graduate classes in the Team's delegated area of competence
Strategic planning of courses of study, including required and elective courses.
Planning course offerings in time to allow the Teaching Committee to meet University scheduling requirements
Recommendation of instructors for each course.
Maintenance of continuity of successive offerings of the same course.
For adjunct instructors; recommendations on text books, level of material to be presented, examination methods, supervision of teaching performance.
Seek out appropriate classes in other Departments of the Campus and prepare a descriptive catalogue for advisors and students. Negotiate access to these classes for Geography students.
Liaise with other departments on Campus to encourage the listing of Geography courses in other courses of study.
Program Effectiveness
Advising System
Career/Placement activities, including career days
Program - monitoring, initiatives,
Curriculum, areas of concentration
Ancillary activities - internships, cooperatives, research appointment, undergraduate TAs.
Awards
Undergraduate web site
Recruitment and morale of majors, undergraduate organizations.
Oversight of the Graduate Programs in the Department
Recruitment and selection of graduate students
Coordination of financial support for graduate students
Responsible for Masters and PhD Comprehensive examinations
Recommendations of course offerings
Oversight of the Master's Advising and Doctoral Committee functions
Selection of recipients for awards
Coordination of Alumni affairs including information, services, meetings etc.
Management of Computer Resources
Software
Interactions with other parts of the University
Operational Costs
Management of the Department Web Site
Physical Space Occupied by the Department
One area of potential oversight that may overlap with other committees:
Oversight of Teaching Labs and Teaching space
Periodically evaluate the state of diversity in the department.
Assess the state of diversity on UMD campus to ascertain Departmental compliance.
Monitor and submit proposals for enhancing diversity among students, staff, and faculty.
Participate in the direct and indirect recruitment of students of color.
Develop and recommend programs and initiatives to improve diversity among undergraduate and graduate students in Department.
Review available pertinent diversity data from the Dean's Office and convey findings to Chair.
Write and submit annual Departmental diversity and accountability report to Chair and Provost.
1. The Research Faculty Committee is comprised of all Research Faculty in the Department (Assistant, Associate and Senior Research Scientists as well as Research Associates and Visiting Research Scientists). Ongoing topics include annual merit review criteria and rankings, facilities and space, hiring guidelines and promotion procedures, teaching by research faculty, and short-term salary support for senior and associate members. The committee meets on an as-needed basis, typically twice but at least once per semester. The Department Research Director participates in all meetings of the Research Faculty Committee.
2. The committee's mission is to:
Represent the interests and professional development of the Research Faculty;
Elect voting representatives to relevant departmental and campus committees;
Act as a forum for Research Faculty concerns;
Provide comment on departmental policies affecting the Research Faculty.
3. The Chair of the Research Faculty Committee is the arbiter of any procedural matters and is a voting member of the Department Faculty, along with two other Research Scientist representatives of the Committee.
The Chair of the Research Faculty Committee is the primary point-of-contact for the Department Chair and the Research Director.
The FRA Research Committee is comprised of all Faculty Research Assistants whose primary employment responsibilities involve funded research activities.
The committee's mission is to:
Represent the professional development interests of these FRAs;
Elect voting representatives to relevant departmental committees, especially the Faculty Committee;
Act as a forum for any FRA concerns; and
Provide comment on departmental policies affecting the FRAs.
3. The elected representative to the Faculty Committee will act as chair of the FRA Research Committee and is the arbiter of all procedural matters.
4. Additional meetings may be held as determined by the FRA representative to the Faculty Committee.
The FRA representative to the Faculty Committee will be the primary point-of-contact for the Department Chair and the Research Director.
The Department Chair and the Research Director are invited to observe at all meetings of the FRA Research Committee.
1. Review and improvement of department research climate
2. Make recommendations on the management of changes in the research program, including direction, growth, redeployment of resources etc.
3. Encourage interdisciplinary research within the department and with other Campus units.
4. Oversight of relationships of the department with other research institutions, including Federal and State Agencies
5. Encouragement of increased diversity of sources of funding
6. Organize discussions within the department and at the Campus level of thematic research issues of interest to the department
7. Organize appropriate external reviews to enhance the research program
8. Coordinate multiple responses to individual funding opportunities
Review any thesis proposal for research that involves humans as subjects for research.
Ensure that any research, domestic or foreign, meets the ethical principles as put forth in the document "Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the protection of Human Subjects of Research".
Where necessary, recommend changes in the proposed research to meet the ethical guidelines.
Forward any research proposal that involves substantial risks to subjects during the investigation to the University IRB established for this purpose.