Committees of the Faculty Senate
Membership Roster
Chair: Kristine Nielsen, Meadows School of the Arts
ExCom Liaison: David Sedman, Meadows School of the Arts
Members:
- Joan Arbery, Univesity Foundations
- Chris Logan, Dedman II: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Laura Robinson-Doyle, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
- Peter Moore, Dedman III: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Steve Lindquist, Dedman I: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Orly Mazur, Dedman School of Law
- Ed Fox, Cox School of Business
Standing Charges
The Academic Policies Committee represents the General Faculty in all academic matters. Its purview shall include but not be limited to monitoring the general curriculum, interdisciplinary academic programs, university libraries, and the activities of non-School academic institutes and programs, as well as establishing the academic calendar of the University.
The Committee shall review standing policy regarding academic affairs and proposed changes in those policies. The Committee shall identify inadequacies in policy and propose revisions to the Faculty Senate.
The Committee shall monitor the general education curriculum and interdisciplinary programs in coordination with the appropriate curricular councils.
The Committee shall be responsible for the subcommittees named below, as well as others that may be assigned to it by the Senate. The chairs of these subcommittees shall be members of the committee but other subcommittee members need not be.
- Subcommittee on Admissions and Financial Aid
- Subcommittee on Libraries
- Subcommittee on the Academic Calendar of the University.
The Committee shall make an annual report to the Senate in writing.
Additional Charges for AY 2025-2026
Membership Roster
Chair: Sondra Barringer, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
ExCom Liaison: Alex Zhou, Cox School of Business
Members:
- Gauri Bhat, Cox School of Business
- Gary Brubaker, SMU Guildhall
- Troy Forte, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
- Susanne Scholz, Perkins School of Theology
- Robert Gregory, Dedman III: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Maribeth Kuenzi, Cox School of Business
- Diana Easton, Lyle School of Engineering
Standing Charges
The All-University Finance Committee represents the General Faculty in all matters concerning the financial status of the University. The Committee shall review the annual budgets of the University and the budget process, including financial plans for the University, investment strategies, capital investment plans, financial implications of faculty salary and faculty/staff benefit proposals and other such matters as may be referred to it by the Senate or the Executive Committee.
The Committee shall be responsible for Subcommittees named below as well as others that may be assigned to it by the Senate. The chairs of these Subcommittees shall be members of the committee, but other subcommittee members need not be.
- Subcommittee on Faculty Benefits
- Subcommittee on The Economic Status of the Faculty
The Committee shall brief the Senate each fall concerning the University budget for the current fiscal year and preliminary plans for the next fiscal year. This Committee shall brief the Senate each February concerning the budget to be proposed to the Board of Trustees for the next fiscal year. The Committee shall make an annual report to the Senate in writing.
Additional Charges from AY 2025-2026
Membership Roster
Chair & ExCom Liaison: David Sedman, Meadows School of the Arts
Members:
- Justin Fisher, Dedman I: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Neely Myers, Dedman II: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Ian Harris, Dedman III: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
Standing Charges
The Committee shall work with the Office of the Provost in the advance preparation of the academic calendar.
The Committee shall prepare a written report for action by the Senate at least eighteen months before the beginning of the academic year of the proposed calendar.
Additional Charge for AY 2025-2026
Membership Roster
Chair: Meredith Richards, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
ExCom Liaison: Saaed Salehi, Lyle School of Engineering
Members:
- Liljana Elverskog, Dedman I: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Stephanie Amsel, Dedman I: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
Standing Charges
- The Subcommittee on Admissions and Financial Aid is a subcommittee of the Senate Academic Policies Committee and reports to the Executive Committee and the Senate through that committee.
- The Subcommittee shall represent the Senate in the University Admissions Council and inform the Senate of the Council's work.
- Its members shall also be the Senate's nominees to the University Admissions Council, and the chair of the Subcommittee shall normally serve as chair of that Council.
- The Subcommittee shall brief the Senate each fall on the current year's admissions results and financial aid commitments, and each spring on projections for the following year.
- The Subcommittee shall report annually to the Academic Policies Committee and Senate in writing.
Additional Charges for AY 2025-2026
Membership Roster
Chair: John Potter, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
ExCom Liaison: James Lee, Perkins School of Theology
Members:
- Tiana Blair, Meadows School of the Arts
- Macabe Keliher, Dedman I: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Cassie Walker, Dedman School of Law
Standing Charges
The Committee shall review policy for the University libraries. These reviews shall address the development and maintenance of library collections, the status and compensation of professional librarians, and such operational matters as hours of access, efficiency, impact of new construction and remodeling, and computerized library systems.
The Committee shall advise the directors of the libraries, and shall review annually the library budgets and the allocation of funds.
The Subcommittee shall report annually to the Senate in writing.
Additional Charges for AY 2025-2026
Membership Roster
Chair: Jim Webb, Lyle School of Engineering
ExCom Liaison: James Lee, Perkins School of Theology
Ex Officio Athletics Council: Matthew Wilson, Dedman II: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
Members:
- Quan Xi, Meadows School of the Arts
- Monnie McGee, Dedman III: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Ona Seaney, Dedman I: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Tomce Runcevski, Dedman III: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
Standing Charges
The Athletics Policies Committee represents the General Faculty in all matters concerning intercollegiate athletics. Its members shall also be the Senate's nominees to the University Athletic Council, and Chair of the Committee shall normally serve as chair of that Council. The Committee shall review and recommend to the Senate policies and standards pertaining to:
- Intercollegiate athletics.
- The preparation and implementation of the Athletic Department budget.
- The selection and retention of administrative personnel and head coaches in the Athletic Department.
- The control of eligibility of all participants in athletics.
- The control of the scheduling of games.
- All other matters embraced within the rules of those intercollegiate athletic organizations of which the University is a member.
- The Committee shall discharge these duties in cooperation and, where appropriate, in coordination with the All-University Finance Committee, the Subcommittee on
- Admissions and Financial Aid, and the Student Policies Committee.
- The Committee shall make an annual report to the Senate in writing.
Additional Charges for AY 2025-2026
Membership Roster
Chair: Maribeth Kuenzi, Cox School of Business
ExCom Liaison: James Lee, Perkins School of Theology
Members:
- Watt “Les” Black, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
- Harsha Gangammanavar, Lyle School of Engineering
- Michael Chimieleski, Dedman II: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Fred Aquino, Perkins School of Theology
- Susana Solero Adoboe, Dedman I: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
Standing Charges
The Subcommittee on The Economic Status of the Faculty is a subcommittee of the Senate All-University Finance Committee and reports to the Executive Committee and Senate through that committee. The Subcommittee shall:
- Prepare, in consultation with the Provost's Office, appropriate studies of the economic status of the faculty.
- Work with the All-University Finance Committee in the preparation of coordinated recommendations on budgetary policies.
- Assist the Senate in promoting the economic status of the faculty. The Subcommittee shall support the All-University Finance Committee in that committee's semiannual briefings of the Senate.
- The Subcommittee shall report annually to the All-University Finance Committee and the Senate in writing.
Additional Charges for AY 2025-2026
Membership Roster
Chair: Janice Lindstrom, Meadows School of the Arts
ExCom Liaison: Anne Lincoln, Dedman II: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
Members:
- Lori Stephens, Dedman I: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Wayne Shaw, Cox School of Business
- Maya El Dayah, Lyle School of Engineering
Standing Charges
- The Subcommittee on Graduate Education shall review and recommend policies to foster the professional development of the faculty and promote scholarly excellence in graduate education.
- The Committee shall understand its mandate to be broadly construed in a way that encompasses the diversity of professional activities and graduate education across all schools of the University.
- The Committee shall review and make recommendations to the Senate regarding graduate programs, including the recruitment of graduate students, awards of scholarship and loan assistance, and opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation.
- The Committee shall work in consultation with the Committee on Research and Creativity to ensure joint efforts where there is overlap in duties between these committees.
Additional Charges for AY 2025-2026
Membership Roster
- Scott Davis,Simmons School of Education and Human Development
- Monika Ehrman, Dedman School of Law
- James Lee, Perkins School of Theology
- Anne Lincoln,Dedman II: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Lourdes Molina, Dedman I: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Jennifer O'Brien, Dedman III: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Saeed Salahi, Lyle School of Engineering
- David Sedman, Meadows School of the Arts
- Alex Zhou, Cox School of Business
Standing Charges
The Executive Committee is composed of the president (who serves as its chair), the president-elect, and the immediate-past president. In addition, the secretary and four or more senators will be elected by the Senate to serve on the Executive Committee. An effort will be made to provide representation on the Executive Committee for all Schools and their electoral units. All members of the Senate are eligible for election to the Executive Committee. (Senate By-Laws, revised May 3, 2006).
The Executive Committee should exercise all functions granted to it by Article III of the Constitution. In particular the Committee shall:
- Represent the Senate to the University Administration between Senate meetings.
- Act for the Senate between academic semesters.
- Review annually the necessity of continuing various standing committees and propose to the Senate the abolition of unnecessary standing committees.
- Monitor the Faculty Handbook and the Policy Manual and from time to time appoint a special committee to revise the Faculty Handbook.
- Conduct all General Faculty elections.
- Nominate members of the Committee on Committees in a timely manner so that they can be elected at the first meeting of each new session of the Senate.
Additional Charges for 2025-2026
Membership Roster
Chair: Luigi Manzetti, Dedman II: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
ExCom Liaison: Scott Davis, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
Members:
- Darryl Dickson-Carr, Dedman I: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Anna Mance, Dedman School of Law
- Sara Idacavage, Meadows School of the Arts
- Scott Norris, Dedman III: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Nuri Erashin, Cox School of Business
- Saaed Salehi, Lyle School of Engineering
- Harold Recinos, Perkins School of Theology
Standing Charges
- The Faculty Ethics and Tenure Committee represent the General Faculty in all matters concerning faculty ethics and tenure.
- The Committee shall defend the exercise of academic freedom throughout the University; investigate any matter endangering such freedom, and recommend remedies. To this end, the Committee shall review the established criteria and procedures for granting tenure and promotion. When appropriate, the Committee, in cooperation with the various schools of the University, shall recommend, through the Senate, changes in these criteria and procedures to the President of the University and the Board of Trustees.
- The Committee shall investigate questions of due process in individual tenure and promotion cases that are directed to it and make recommendations to the President. The Committee shall provide guidance concerning policies for professional behavior of the University's faculty.
- The Committee shall investigate alleged breaches in professional ethics, deliberate the circumstances when violations are found, and recommend action.
- The Committee shall take up any questions or investigations directed to it by the Faculty Senate, the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate, the Provost, the President, or the Board of Trustees.
- This Committee shall consult with the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate concerning its responsibilities and work in progress.
- The Committee shall make an annual report to the Senate in writing, maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
Additional Charges for AY 2025-2026
Membership Roster
Chair: Theo Walker, Perkins School of Theology
ExCom Liaison: Monika Eherman, Dedman School of Law
Members:
- Jessica Burnham, Lyle School of Engineering
- Michael Braun, Cox School of Business
- Kate Carte, Dedman I: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Raanju Sundararajan, Dedman III: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Justin Childress, Meadows School of the Arts
- Holly Bowen, Dedman II: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Xiaodan Hu, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
Standing Charges:
The Committee on Graduate Education shall review and recommend policies to foster the professional development of the faculty and promote scholarly excellence in graduate education.
The Committee shall understand its mandate to be broadly construed in a way that encompasses the diversity of professional activities and graduate education across all schools of the University.
The Committee shall review and make recommendations to the Senate regarding graduate programs, including the recruitment of graduate students, awards of scholarship and loan assistance, and opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation.
The Committee shall work in consultation with the Committee on Research and Creativity to ensure joint efforts where there is overlap in duties between these committees.
Additional Charges for AY 2025-2026
Membership Roster
Co-Chair: Squirrel Eiserloh, SMU Guildhall
Co-Chair: Marta Krogh, Dedman I: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
Ex Com Liaison: Lourdes Molina, Dedman I: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
Members:
- Abigail Pruitt, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
- Greta Davis, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
- Miroslava Detcheva, Dedman I: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Lane Harder, Meadows School of the Arts
- Ted Glasscock, Dedman III: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
Standing Charges
- Advocate on behalf of non-tenure track faculty.
- Provide a system of parity to align the progression of non-tenure track faculty with the progression of tenure-track faculty.
- Explore best practices of peer and aspirant universities regarding policies related to non-tenure track faculty.
Additional Charges for AY 2025-2026
Membership Roster
Chair: Herve Tchumkam, Dedman I: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
Ex Com Liaison: Jennifer O’Brien, Dedman III: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
Members:
- Nathan Cortez, Dedman School of Law
- *Theo Walker, Perkins School of Theology
- Zoe Hess Carney, Meadows School of the Arts
- Silas Farley, Meadows School of the Arts
*–member from Graduate Education
Standing Charges
- The Research and Creative Activity Committee shall understand its mandate to be broadly construed in a way that encompasses the diversity of professional, research and creative activities across all schools of the University.
- The Committee shall review and recommend policies to foster and facilitate excellence in research, creative, and professional activities across the university.
- The Committee shall monitor and recommend improvements to the resources and incentives available on campus for faculty research, creative, and professional activities, including structures available to support faculty access to external funding.
- The Committee shall review and make recommendations to the Senate regarding graduate research, including competitive graduate stipends, awards of scholarship and loan assistance, and opportunities for workshops, programs, and other means to train and educate students in grants and other fund-securing research, creative, and professional activities.
- The Committee shall review and recommend policies to foster and facilitate excellence in Post-Doctoral funding and operation.
- In consultation with the Academic Policies Committee, the Committee shall review, evaluate, and recommend changes to graduate education policies as they relate to promoting research and creative activity.
Additional Charges for AY 2025-2026
Membership Roster
Chair: Constantine Icleanu, Dedman I: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
ExCom Liaison: Anne Lincoln, Dedman II: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
Members:
- Kristie Abt, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
- Tashima Thomas, Meadows School of the Arts
- Donna Binkowski, Dedman I: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Leon Turner, Perkins School of Theology
Standing Charges
- The Student Policies Committee shall review and recommend policies to achieve and maintain a high quality of intellectual life for students at the University.
- The Committee shall review policies that affect the academic life of students beyond the classroom and influence the academic atmosphere of the University toward the goals of strengthening the intellectual growth of students and integrating the social and academic aspects of student life. This shall include but not be limited to policies and programs of the Office of Residence Life and Housing, the Foreign Student Advisor's Office, and other administrative units.
- In reviewing student academic life, the Committee shall consider the role of the sorority and fraternity system; the experience of students not participating in sororities and fraternities; the diversity of the student body; and the participation of international students, ethnically diverse students, and students with disabilities.
- The Committee shall receive the report of the faculty representative to the Board of Trustees’ Committee on Student Affairs.
- The Committee shall make an annual report to the Senate in writing.