2.3.3 Faculty Governance

Under authority delegated by the Board of Trustees, each of the three faculties of the College, operating under approved bylaws, determines the curriculum for the degrees it offers, admits students to degree candidacy, and recommends students for receipt of the degrees for which they have qualified. Each also conducts searches for new faculty, and evaluates their performance for promotion and tenure. Each faculty advises its dean on the development and use of resources, and on other matters of school business that are brought before it.

Faculty from the various schools serve on several standing institutional committees. These committees are noted in the bylaws for the College of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School of Education and Counseling, and the Law School, and are listed in this handbook’s appendices.

In addition, the president may establish ad hoc institutional committees, composed of faculty from all three schools, to address specific issues of institution-wide concern. A current list of those committees follows.

The Committee on Human Subjects Research (See Section 4.2.4) reviews proposals for research by staff and students that involves human subjects. Committee approval for such research is required (by federal or state law) before such research can proceed.

The Committee on Occupational Health and Safety (See Section 4.3.18) reviews issues of occupational health and safety and makes recommendations and helps to implement various safety programs.

The Committee on Fringe Benefits (See Section 3.10.4) reviews existing benefit programs and makes recommendations for the improvement, addition, or deletion of programs.

The Committee on Institutional Biosafety (See Section 4.2.5.1) reviews all research involving recombinant DNA conducted at Lewis & Clark to assure safe handling in compliance with National Institutes of Health guidelines.

The Committee on Honors and Prizes ensures full faculty and student participation in the determination of the recipients of college wide prizes and honorary degrees. It reviews all nominations for college wide prizes and honorary degrees and makes its recommendations to the Committee on Academic Affairs of the Board of Trustees, which, in turn, makes its recommendations to the full board.

To be considered, nominees should have made distinguished contributions to society through scholarship or achievement in the arts and sciences, in the professions, in business, in politics, or in community service.

Nominations for honorary degrees may be submitted by trustees, faculty, and other members of the College community. Complete information should be furnished with a letter of nomination, including a curriculum vitae or resume, qualifications, and reason for the nomination.

Honorary degrees are usually conferred at commencement but may be given on other special occasions.

The committee includes two faculty representatives each from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School of Education and Counseling, and the Law School, and a student from each, to be appointed by the president. It is chaired by the vice president and provost.