Faculty Senate Committees

Committee Members

Mandy Howard—Arts and Sciences
Kelly Jensen—Arts and Sciences
Janie Kennedy - Arts and Sciences
Alan Blankley—Business
Carl Beckwith—Divinity
Amy Hoaglund—Education
Tondra Moore—Public Health (Chair)
Carol Koch—Health Professions
Mike DeBow—Law
Becky Hutto—Library
Lora Shelton—Nursing
Emily Snyder Andrews—School of the Arts
Robert Riggs—Pharmacy

Ex-Officio Members

Tom Woolley (provost designee), Eric Fournier (Center for Teaching and Learning), and Jay Flynn (University Registrar), Wimberly Underwood (student).

Meeting Dates

TBD

Charges

This committee shall have responsibility to study, evaluate, and recommend policies concerning the academic affairs of the university in five areas, working with the Center for Teaching, Learning and Scholarship and other resources as appropriate. See Faculty Handbook (A1.5.9.2 pg. 15)

a.Evaluation of faculty by various groups (e.g. peer reviews, student evaluations)
b. Processes for enhancing teaching, learning, and scholarship
c.Encouragement of and support for faculty research, including solicitation, review, and prioritization of faculty proposals for internally funded research and development grants

a.Orientation of new faculty
b.Mentoring of new faculty
c.Identifying faculty development opportunities and faculty
training programs
d.Sabbaticals
e.Visiting scholar programs 

a.Admissions
b.Academic dishonesty
c.Academic probation and suspension
d.Academic calendar
e.Student retention

4.Academic Freedom Complaints. This committee shall review written complaints regarding academic freedom as outlined in section A6.3 of this Handbook.

5.Academic Program Approval. This committee shall review and recommend applications for new academic programs, and substantive revisions to existing programs and requirements.

Composition (Faculty):

Arts and Sciences (3)
Education (1)
Arts (1)
Business (1)
Law (1)
Nursing (1)
Divinity (1)
Library (1)
Pharmacy (1)

Ex-Officio (non-voting):

Provost or Designee; Dean of Academic Services; Director of Teaching, Learning and Scholarship; Student

Total: 11 voting; four non-voting

Committee Members

Brian Toone (Chair)—Arts and Sciences
Cynthia Lohrke—Business
Rob Willis—Divinity
Celeste Hill—Education
Jean Roberson—Public Health
Jonathan Waugh—Health Professions
Jill Evans—Law
Della Darby—Library
Amy Bigham—Nursing
Mark Lackey—School of the Arts
Bruce Waldrop—Pharmacy

Ex-Officio Members

Connor Hafenrichter (Student)
Chad Owens
Doug Rigney
Michele Haralson
Greg Laughlin
Kim Herndon
David Parks
Tom Woolley (provost designee)

Meeting Dates

 TBD

Charges

Working in conjunction with the university libraries, Technology Services, the Technology in Learning Center, and the Center for Teaching, Learning and Scholarship, the Committee will promote a shared vision and priorities for utilizing the libraries and academic technologies to enhance faculty teaching and student learning. This Committee shall have responsibility to:
1.Support library faculty as they establish priorities for resource development and patron services.
2.Collaborate or consult with technology services to identify priorities for resource development and patron services.
3.Foster and support creative uses of technology for teaching and learning
4.Act as an advocate and active liaison with the Samford community to ensure all constituents have a voice in, and are aware of, the future technology environment of the University.
5.Review, recommend, and promote various academic technology resources for faculty, staff and student use.
6. Promote academic technology and stewardship of resources across the campus.

Composition (Faculty)

Arts and Sciences(1)
Education (1)
The Arts (1)
Business (1)
Law (1)
Nursing (1)
Divinity (1)
Library (1)
Pharmacy (1)

Ex-Officio (non-voting)

Provost or designee; Chief Information Officer or designee; Student; director from each library unit: Davis Library, law, education, pharmacy, Global Center; director of Center for Teaching, Learning and Scholarship

Total: nine voting; nine non-voting

Committee Members

Jennifer Rahn—Arts and Sciences
Gerald McDermott—Divinity
Darin White (Chair)—Business
Erin Gilchrist—Education
John Petrella—Health Professions
Katie Coate—Public Health
Howard Walthall—Law
Lance Day—Library
Tim Heath—School of the Arts
Terri Cahoon—Nursing
Katie Lomax—Pharmacy
Ex-Officio Members

Emily Hynds
Harold Goss
Michelle Durbin
Martin Newton
Kayla Marx
Sammy Solberg (student)
Jesse Keppley (provost designee)

Meeting Dates

 TBD

Charges

This committee shall review policies and make recommendations related to intercollegiate athletics to the Athletic program and the Samford University Administration. This committee is an intermediary and communicating body between the athletic program and Samford staff, faculty, and student bodies. This committee is involved with the following:

1. The development and emphases of the athletic program in the spirit of the overall university mission
2. The development of sportsmanship and fair play among student athletes, coaches, and staff of the athletic program
3. Academic compliance and achievement by all athletes in varsity sports

The committee shall assist, as needed, the athletic director in maintaining the integrity of the athletic program for the benefit of the individuals involved with the university.

More specifically, each year the committee ordinarily:

1. Reviews each year the admission profile of student athletes in each freshman class as data becomes available from the Student Records office
2. Reviews each semester schedules of individual sports for the upcoming semester in order to identify class attendance problems
3. Reviews each fall data provided by the athletic program of the midterm grade performance of student athletes
4. Surveys student athletes each semester as to the efficacy of the athletic program’s academic support programs, maintaining the data across time to identify problems and successes
5. Reviews each spring summary data on values violations by student athletes as compared with those by the student body generally
6. Reviews each spring graduation rates and retention data provided by the Office of Institutional Research
7. Conducts exit interviews with graduating student athletes prior to commencement each semester
8. Surveys student athletes each semester as to the efficacy of the athletic program’s academic support programs, maintaining the data across time to identify problems and successes
9. Participates, on the occasion of vacancies, in head coach searches through the inclusion and participation of at least one member of the committee in the search process.

Composition (Faculty)

Arts and Sciences (1)
Education (1)
Performing Arts (1)
Business (1)
Law (1)
Nursing (1)
Divinity (1)
Library (1)
Pharmacy (1)

Ex-Officio (non-voting):

Athletic Director; University NCAA Representative; Representative from the Faculty Senate; Student

Total: nine voting; four non-voting

Committee Members

Jennings Marshall (Chair)—Business
Malia Fincher—Arts and Sciences
Frank Thielman/Ken Mathews—Divinity
David Little—Education
Hal Neumeier—Public Health
Margaret Johnson—Health Professions
Tom Stone—Law
Cheryl Cecil—Library
Carol Ratcliffe—Nursing
Laura Byland—The Arts
Terri Wensel—Pharmacy

 Ex-Officio Members

Mike Hardin (provost designee)
Vice President for Business Affairs or Designee
Vice President for Operations and Planning or Designee

Meeting Dates

TBD

Charges

The responsibilities of the Business Affairs and Faculty Welfare committee shall be as follows:

1. Review and make recommendations on matters related to faculty welfare including but not limited to salaries, benefits, parking and security, requested by the Senate executive committee or referred to the Committee by the Senate
2. Solicit comments and suggestions related to faculty welfare from individual faculty members and groups of faculty including but not limited to comments concerning salaries, benefits, parking and security
3. Initiate dialogue between the administration, human resources and faculty on faculty welfare issues such as salaries, benefits, parking and security
4. Examine and monitor issues involving faculty welfare, including salaries and benefits, in comparison with peer and aspirant institutions, and provide assessments of competitiveness to the senate for the purpose of assisting and improving faculty recruitment and retention

Composition (Faculty)

Arts and Sciences (1)
Education (1)
Arts (1)
Business (1)
Law (1)
Nursing (1)
Divinity (1)
Library (1)
Pharmacy (1)

Ex-Officio (non-voting):Provost or designee; vice president for business affairs or designee; vice president for operations and planning or designee

Total: nine voting; three non-voting

Committee Members

Nia Johnson—Arts and Sciences
Mandy Howard—Arts and Sciences
Jennifer McClure—Arts and Sciences
Matt Mazzei—Business
Mark Searby—Divinity
Karen Birkenfeld—Education
Rachel Copeland—Public Health
Shannon Ashe—Health Professions
David Smolin—Law
Becky Hyde—Library
Pam Carver—Nursing
Joe Cory—School of the Arts (Chair)
Jessica Skelley—Pharmacy

Ex-Officio Members

Provost or Designee—Katrina Mintz
Student Affairs Representative—Phil Kimrey/Renie Moss
University Minister—Matt Kerlin
Admissions Representative
University Advancement Representative—Todd Cotton
Student—Julia Phillips

Meeting Dates

TBD

Charges

This committee shall review and make recommendations concerning all areas of student life other than the university’s academic programs, which are under the purview of the committee on academic affairs. The committee shall also review and make recommendations concerning the university’s interaction with its external constituencies. Areas of responsibility include:
1. Campus programs and organizations which promote student development, including but not limited to University Ministries groups, Greek life, intramurals/campus recreation, honorary societies, and other voluntary extracurricular learning experiences
2. Policies and procedures related to student discipline (other than academic issues covered under Academic Affairs)
3. Policies and procedures related to convocation programs, as well as guidelines for convocation attendance
4. Student retention programs
5. External relations

Composition (Faculty)

Arts and Sciences (3)
Education (1)
Arts (1)
Business (1)
Law (1)
Nursing (1)
Divinity (1)
Library (1)
Pharmacy (1)

Ex-Officio (non-voting):

Provost or designee; vice president for Student Affairs; university minister; associate dean of students; director of student activities/leadership development; dean of admissions; University Relations representative; student

Total: 11 voting; eight non-voting

Committee Members

Betsy Emmons—Arts and Sciences
Carlos Aleman (Chair)—Arts and Sciences
Nia Johnson—Arts and Sciences
Bill Belski—Business
Allen Ross—Divinity
Jane Cobia—Education
Rusty Johnson—Law
David Cecil—Public Health
Mallory Marshall—Health Professions
Carla Waddell—Library
Stephanie Wynn—Nursing
Don Sandley—School of the Arts
Maisha Freeman—Pharmacy

Ex-Officio Members

Provost or Designee - Denise Gregory
Adult Degree Program Representative - Chris McCaghren
Staff Advisory Council Representative - Sandra Boyken
Student - Holland Bayles

Meeting Dates:

TBD

Charges

In an effort to realize the University's core values and be consistent with the Faculty Statement on Diversity, this committee shall have responsibility in three areas:

1. Structure. The Diversity Committee shall promote institutional inclusiveness, equality, and diversity by:
a. Reviewing and reporting on efforts of faculty ensure and promote diversity
b. Reviewing and reporting on efforts of admissions and other administrative branches to recruit and retain a diverse student body

2. Process. The Diversity Committee shall promote efforts to build a campus culture that promotes equality, inclusiveness, and diversity by:
a. Reviewing student life, student organizations, and student ministries and reporting findings
b. Recommending the establishment of policies and procedures addressing issues of equality and diversity among faculty, andassisting in developing these where appropriate
c. Analyzing best practices among other universities with well-established diversity programs, and recommending, as appropriate, those to be incorporated into the campus culture
d. Reviewing the Faculty Statement on Diversity annually and recommending revisions
e. Promoting activities that celebrate diversity
f. Reviewing the inclusiveness of campus programming and activities
g. Finding educational opportunities and raising awareness of these among members of the University
h. Supporting initiatives that encourage University partnerships with diverse off-campus communities

3. Advocacy. The Diversity Committee may address actions and statements within the University that disempower or disaffirm anyone based on that person's group membership by:
a. Observing University communication and recommending language that may be more appropriate
b. Reviewing the intellectual, social, and spiritual events on campus and suggesting means of enhancing diversity where appropriate
c. Advocating against discrimination
d. Serving as a resource for information and moral support on issues related to group identity and diversity

Composition (Faculty)

Arts and Sciences (3)
Education (1)
Arts (1)
Business (1)
Law (1)
Pharmacy (1)
Divinity (1)
Nursing (1)
Library (1)

Ex-Officio (non-voting):

Provost or Designee; Adult Degree program Representative; Staff Advisory Council Representative; Student

Total: 11 voting; 4 non-voting

Committee Members

Pilar Murphy—Pharmacy
Bill Service—Business
Osvaldo Padilla—Divinity
Betsy Rogers—Education
Alyssa DiRusso—Law
Jennifer Taylor—Library
Jane Holston—Nursing
Brian Viliunas—The Arts
Steven Epley—Arts and Sciences
Nathan Kirkpatrick—Health Professions (Chair)
Christson Adedoyin—Public Health

Ex-Officio Members

Chair of the Faculty

Meeting Dates
TBD

Charges

This Committee shall have responsibility in two areas of election procedure:

Faculty Officers. The Committee on Elections shall supervise the election of Faculty Officers. The Committee shall nominate candidates for the offices, seek their approval, and circulate their names at least two weeks before the election. The Committee shall prepare ballots for the election and count them. If no one receives asimple majority for an office, a run-off between the two top nominees will occur on that day. Annual elections by secret ballot shall be held at the end of the spring semester meeting of the University Faculty.

Standing Committee Members. The Committee on Elections shall review and confirm members and nominate officers of the Standing Committees in accordance with the procedure specified in Article VI Section 2. The Committee on Elections shall implement a rotation schedule whereby one-third of the total number of faculty comprising the voting membership for each committees shall be assigned for one year, one-third for two years, and one-third for three years. For committees having a total voting membership which is not evenly divisible by three, the number of faculty in each rotation group will be made as nearly equal as possible.

To assure continuity in the Committee on Elections membership, the Chair of the Committee will serve as a member of the Committee for the year following the year of office, but a new Chair shall be elected each year by the elected members of the Committee.

Members of the Committee on Elections shall be elected by their respective schools at the spring semester meeting of the University Faculty.

Composition (Faculty)

Arts and Sciences (1)
Education (1)
Arts (1)
Business (1)
Law (1)
Nursing (1)
Divinity (1)
Library (1)
Pharmacy (1)

Ex-officio (non-voting):

Chair of the Faculty

Total: 9 voting; 1 non-voting

Committee Members

David Bains (Chair)—Arts and Sciences
Clay Carey—Arts and Sciences
Angela Ferguson—Arts and Sciences
Dennis Sansom—Arts and Sciences
Jennifer Speights-Binet—Arts and Sciences
Steven Epley—Arts and Sciences
Joe Cory—School of the Arts
Jim Reburn—Business
Crystal Deas—Pharmacy
Lisa Gurley—Nursing
DJ Gililland—Health Professions
Ashley Robertson—Public Health
Celeste Hill—Education
Lance Day—Library

Ex-Officio Members

Tom Woolley (provost designee); dean of Arts and Sciences or designee; registrar or designee

Meeting Dates

Meetings are at 3 p.m. in Brooks 126 on the following dates:
November 1
November 29
January 24
February 21
March 21
April 18

Charges

This Committee shall provide faculty oversight and direction to the general undergraduate curriculum of the University, including the Core Curriculum and general education program. It ensures that the University’s foundation in the liberal-arts tradition rooted in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences is part of all of the University’s undergraduate programs. It recognizes the unique responsibility of the faculty of each of the schools for ensuring that their curricula meet disciplinary and accreditation standards. It consults with academic administrators in each school involved in the general curriculum concerning potential changes. It brings its recommendations concerning curricula and courses to the University Curriculum Committee and brings other recommendations to the Faculty Senate.

Specifically, the committee shall:

1. Develop and maintain by reconsideration and revision the philosophy of liberal learning central to a Samford baccalaureate degree articulated in the Statement of Purpose for Undergraduate Education, the Baccalaureate Goals, and the General Education Goals and Learning Objectives.

2. Receive and review assessments of the Core Curriculum and General Education from the academic units teaching these courses and other administrators in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the curricular structure and the individual courses of which these curricula are comprised. As necessary, this committee may request such assessments of learning outcomes. In particular, general education courses will be evaluated when courses undergo substantive change or at least every five years to ensure courses continue to address general education goals and learning objectives.

3. Make recommendations, as necessary and appropriate, regarding the improvement or redesign of the Core Curriculum and General Education curriculum.

4. Review and approve or reject proposals for new or existing courses to be designated as General Education courses. This review would occur within the University Curriculum Committee process.

5. Review and approve or reject the implementation of the Core Curriculum and General Education within proposals for creation or modification of undergraduate degrees, majors, minors and concentrations. This review would occur within the University Curriculum Committee process. 

6. Periodically consult with department chairs regarding approved substitutions for General Education courses.

Committee Members

TBD

Ex-Officio Members

Meeting Dates

Charges

Committee Members

Chair: Drew Hataway—Arts and Sciences
Grant Gentry—Arts and Sciences
Don Bradley—Arts and Sciences
Jeremy Thornton—Business
Carl Beckwith—Divinity
Peggy Connell—Education
Erin Gilchrist—Education
Mark Bateman—Education
Mallory Marshall - Health Professions
Suresh Matthews - Public Health
Jill Evans—Law
Amy Bigham—Nursing
Gretchen McDaniel—Nursing
Jongwha Cha—Pharmacy
Greg Gorman—Pharmacy
Rachel Slaton—Pharmacy
Carol Beall - outside representative

Ex-Officio Members 
Katrina Mintz (provost designee)

Meeting Dates

Charges

The Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects of Samford University has been established in compliance with federal regulations concerning experimentation involving human subjects (45 C.F.R. Part 46, Protection of Human Subjects). The purpose of this board is to provide review of all research conducted by faculty, staff, and students to insure protection of human subjects and compliance with the federal regulations.

Committee Members

Peng Mu—Library
Heather West—Arts and Sciences
Serena Simoni—Arts and Sciences
David Shipley (Chair)—Arts and Sciences
Clif Eason—Business
Peter Malysz—Divinity
Clara Gerhardt—Education
Deborah Young—Law
Kristen Johnston—Nursing
Larry Thompson—The Arts
Patricia Jumbo—Pharmacy
Rachel Hagues—Public Health
Gilaine Nettles—Health Professions

Ex-Officio Members

Nancy Biggio (provost designee)
Lily Haskins (student)

Meeting Dates

Charges

Committee Members

Mandy Howard—Arts and Sciences
Stephen Epley—Arts and Sciences
Jennifer Layton—Arts and Sciences
Rusty Yerkes—Business
Karen Birkenfeld (Chair)—Education
Laura Promer—Health Professions
Kim Davey—Public Health
Rachel Cohen—Library
John Lundeen—Nursing
Brad Diamond—School of the Arts
Jeff Kyle—Pharmacy
John Carroll—Law
Osvaldo Padilla—Divinity

Ex-Officio Members

Nancy Biggio (provost designee), Phil Kimrey, Jason Black, Lane Smith,
Jacob Evans (student)

Meeting Dates

TBD

Charges

This Committee shall have responsibility to facilitate discussions regarding student enrollment across the respective schools and programs. The discussions include practices that impact recruitment, admissions, enrollment and retention of the aggregate student body. The Committee’s recommendations on enrollment management will be coordinated with the respective undergraduate Office of Admissions and the graduate schools’ offices of admission.