Standing Committees of the Academic Faculty

Institute Undergraduate Curriculum Committee – IUCC

Policy Library 2.6.7 The Committee shall:

• Recommend to the Academic Faculty the requirements for all undergraduate degrees and propose changes in undergraduate degree requirements and curricula;
• Evaluate all proposals for new undergraduate courses and degree programs from each Instructional Unit and transmit them with recommendations to the Academic Faculty for action;
• Review all proposals for deactivation (suspension) or reinstatement of undergraduate degree programs and present the results to the Academic Faculty Senate as an information item prior to the Institute communicating such requests to USG and SACSOC, as appropriate.
• Recommend to the Academic Faculty guidelines regulating Student petitions for course substitution and grade corrections
• Rule on requests and appeals by undergraduate Students for exceptions to established rules and regulations in academic matters
• Review new methods, aids, and techniques of instruction in order to make recommendations to the Academic Faculty or to the appropriate Instructional Unit.

Institute Graduate Curriculum Committee – IGCC

Policy Library 2.6.8 The Committee shall:

• Recommend the minimum requirements for all graduate degrees and propose changes in graduate degree requirements and curricula.
• Evaluate all proposals for new graduate courses and degree programs from each Instructional Unit and transmit them with recommendations to the Academic Faculty for action.
• Review all proposals for deactivation (suspension) or reinstatement of graduate degree programs and present the results to the Academic Faculty Senate as an information item prior to the Institute communicating such requests to USG and SACSOC, as appropriate
• Establish guidelines which will encourage appropriate research activities as an integral part of the graduate program and encourage high standards of student research, and foster the utilization of all available resources in the development of research activities that are supportive of the graduate programs of the Institute.
• Rule on requests and appeals by graduate Students for exceptions to established rules and regulations in academic matters.
• Develop policy and minimum requirements for the admission of Students to graduate programs, the admission of Students to candidacy for an advanced degree, and the awarding of graduate degrees.
• Decide, in consultation with the Instructional Unit concerned, what undergraduate courses may be accepted for graduate credit.
• Develop policy for qualifications of Faculty members who teach graduate courses and direct thesis research.
• Develop policy for the awarding of graduate fellowships, scholarships, and assistantships.

Student Regulations Committee

Policy Library 2.6.9 The Committee shall:

• Conduct a comprehensive review, at least once every five years, of the Rules and Regulations section of the Georgia Tech Catalog for consistency and relevance of its provisions, making recommendations of any proposed changes to the Academic Faculty.
• Originate or receive all proposed changes in or amendments to Institute policies and regulations pertaining to the student body, both graduate and undergraduate.
• Review any proposed changes to determine whether they are in accord with this Handbook and make recommendations concerning proposed changes to the Academic Faculty.
• Define and publish, with the approval of the Academic Faculty and the President, the official policy of the Institute concerning acceptable student conduct and academic integrity.  This policy shall define categories of offenses and penalties.

Student Academic & Financial Affairs Committee (SAFAC)

Policy Library 2.6.10 The Committee shall annually review and make appropriate recommendations to the Academic Faculty concerning:

• The system for academic advising;
• Policy governing the academic standing and classification of Students;
• Both graduate and undergraduate financial aid programs;
• The counseling and career planning program; and
• The orientation program for new Students.

In addition, the Committee shall:

• Establish and periodically review the qualifications for a Student to receive academic honors and prizes and advise the office or the individual responsible for the formal programs at which such awards are presented.
• Originate or receive and make recommendations regarding all changes in policy, criteria, or procedures regarding Student admission and readmission to the undergraduate programs of the Institute.
• Approve all intercollegiate schedules of extracurricular activities, such as athletics and debate, including post season athletic events.
• Approve all institutional functions for which excused absences from classes for the Students involved are to be granted.

Student Activities Committee

Policy Library 2.6.11 The Committee shall:

• Receive and consider all proposed changes in any Constitution of the Student Body and make appropriate recommendations to the Academic Faculty.
• Consider for approval all charters of student organizations recommended by the Student Government Association and make appropriate recommendations to the Academic Faculty.
• Originate or receive, review, and recommend to the Academic Faculty all changes in regulations for the Student Government concerning social fraternities and sororities, clubs, societies, student housing, student publications, intramural athletics, the Georgia Tech Student Center, and other student organizations and activities.
• Review all proposals from the Student Government to the President recommending the amount and distribution of student activities fees.

Student Grievance & Appeal Committee

Policy Library 2.6.12 The Committee shall:

• Carry out duties associated with the Grievance Process as specified in Section XX of the Rules and Regulations in the Georgia Tech Catalog.  Specifically
  • The Committee shall appoint an outside member of the Academic Faculty to serve on an ad hoc appeal committee constituted at the school, college or unit level.
  • The Committee shall act as a second level of appeal in such decisions if requested by a student, as specified in the Rules and Regulations section of the Georgia Tech Catalog (XX.C.3).
• Develop and, with the approval of the Academic Faculty Senate, establish and publish its own rules of procedures for the conduct of formal hearings.

The Committee may:

• Act on its own cognizance, or upon request of any Student or group of Students, to specify or review grievances, suggestions, or criticisms concerning any matter relevant to the Institute that is not resolved by other mechanisms set out in Section 4.7 of the Faculty Handbook.  It may weigh and evaluate the material and transmit constructive recommendations to appropriate individuals, offices, committees or groups.

In its distributed minutes and in the annual report of its activities and findings, the Committee shall preserve the anonymity of individuals by generalizing the issues involved and the actions taken.

Student Honor Committee

Policy Library 2.6.13

Cases involving alleged dishonesty in academic matters on the part of a Student shall be heard and decided by a Hearing Panel formed from members of the Committee.

• This Panel shall be composed of three (3) or four (4) Academic Faculty members, of whom a majority should be tenured or tenure-track, and two (2) or three (3) Students with at least one (1) Student from the same group as the accused (undergraduate or graduate). 
• Each Panel shall have a Chair appointed by the Chair of the Student Honor Committee from among the faculty members on the Panel. 
• The decision in the case shall be transmitted to the office, or offices, responsible for recording it, for notifying the Student officially, and for implementing the action.

In its distributed minutes and in the annual report of its activities and findings, the Committee shall preserve the anonymity of individuals by generalizing the issues involved and the actions taken.

Student Computer Ownership

Policy Library 2.6.14 The Committee shall:

• At least annually, review and update the standard hardware specifications for a minimally-configured student computer.
• Originate or receive all requests to add or delete specific software from the standard software suite used by the Georgia Tech community, make recommendations to the Academic Faculty regarding any significant modifications to the standard software suite, and adopt on its own discretion any minor modifications and/or revisions to the standard software suite.
• Review annually all student computer support procedures, originate or receive all requests to modify these procedures, make recommendations for minor changes or revisions to the appropriate Administrative unit, and make recommendations for any significant changes to the Academic Faculty.
• Originate or receive and make recommendations to the Academic Faculty regarding any changes to the Student Computer Ownership policy.
• Assist in the establishment and promotion of activities that encourage the use of computers in education.

Academic Integrity Committee

Policy Library 2.6.15 The Committee shall:

• Assess and benchmark the nature of academic misconduct at Georgia Tech and in the nation.
• Examine, assess, and recommend to the Academic Faculty methods and programs that can enhance the level of academic integrity at Georgia Tech.
• Review, assess, and benchmark the current organizational structure, processes, and procedures for enforcing the Student Honor Code and for hearing cases of academic misconduct.  The Committee shall make appropriate recommendations to the Academic Faculty to improve this system.
• May investigate and recommend to the Academic Faculty alternate methods of dispute resolution that could enhance the administration of the Student Honor Code at Georgia Tech.
• Work in parallel with the Student Honor Advisory Council to promote the Student Honor Code as an integral part of academic values at Georgia Tech.