3.7.5  

The institution publishes policies on the responsibility and authority of faculty in academic and governance matters.

RATIONALE FOR COMPLIANCE JUDGMENT

Faculty responsibilities for academic and governance issues are available through several college policies. 

The primary responsibility that Faculty have for curriculum is stated in section IA of the Nashville State Technical Community College (NSCC) Curriculum Committee Manual: “The institution places principal responsibility for the content, quality, and effectiveness of its curriculum with the faculty.  Typically faculty members initiate curriculum proposals at the program level” [1].

Faculty responsibilities for governance are embedded in the Faculty and Program Coordinator job descriptions, role of the Faculty Senate, and responsibilities the Executive Committee.  The Faculty job description specifically includes the faculty role with advisory committees and on College Committees [2].  Program coordinators are full-time faculty members with released time for administrative responsibility, and the Program Coordinator job description addresses the responsibilities of this part-time administrative position [3].

The purpose of the Faculty Senate, as stated in its constitution, is “to represent faculty interests and to speak for faculty members’ constituencies during institutional and faculty decision-making processes” [4].  This is found in the Faculty/Staff Handbook.

The Faculty Senate chair and vice chair and the AAUP President are all members of the Executive Committee.  All campus policies are considered by the Executive Committee, whose college-wide governance role is described in the Faculty/Staff Handbook [5].  In addition, a majority of the members of the Assessment and Planning Council, which makes recommendations to the Executive Committee and the President on matters of planning and assessment, are faculty members [6].