Participatory Governance

FACULTY PARTICIPATION IN ACADEMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

TSC faculty members are valued as subject matter experts whose primary responsibilities are to create and implement quality learning experiences and educational programs to maximize student learning and success. Faculty have both a right and a responsibility to participate in academic affairs of the institution. An array of TSC activities provides faculty a voice in developing quality curriculum, academic programs and facilities, facilitating the success of students, promoting collaboration and a culture of teaching excellence among faculty, aligning campus resources with the institution’s strategic direction and evaluating the efficacy of TSC policies and procedures. To further promote the faculty’s direct input into the decision-making process at the College, especially in matters pertaining to academic affairs, TSC welcomes and encourages faculty participation through numerous committees, councils and task forces.

 

Council of Chairs

The Council of Chairs provides a forum for department chairs at TSC to discuss and exchange important and timely information pertaining to academic affairs issues impacting their respective departments. The Council enhances communication between faculty and administration and serves as the collective voice for department chairs in matters pertaining to policies and procedures relevant to departmental work. The work of the Council is facilitated by the Office of the Vice President of Instruction.

 

Council of Program Coordinators

The Council of Program Coordinators provides a forum for Program Coordinators and Program Directors at TSC to discuss and exchange important and timely information pertaining to academic affairs issues impacting their respective programs. The Council enhances communication between faculty and administration and serves as the collective voice for Program Coordinators and Program Directors in matters pertaining to policies and procedures relevant to the work of programs. This includes: development and maintenance of program curriculum (e.g., appropriate course and program student learning outcomes as well as program outcomes, curriculum maps and syllabi that support both the missions of the program and the institution), program review, annual learning assessment reporting, textbook selection, library requests, instructional technologies and equipment recommendations, articulation agreement development and program advisory committee meetings. The work of the Council is facilitated by the Office of the Vice President of Instruction.

 

Curriculum and Instruction Committee

TSC places primary responsibility for the content, quality, and effectiveness of the curriculum with its faculty. Faculty are generally responsible for ensuring the achievement of appropriate student learning, curriculum, and academic program outcomes. To ensure faculty involvement in the approval of educational programs, TSC has developed an academic program approval process, driven by faculty.

The Curriculum and Instruction Committee considers all new course and program proposals, revisions to existing programs, program closures, matters related to the general education core curriculum and other institution-wide programs, as well as issues related to the improvement of programs. The Committee assures compliance with guidelines from The Commission on Colleges and Universities (SACSCOC), Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and program-specific accrediting agencies.

The Curriculum and Instruction Committee includes a committee chair, chair elect, past chair and representative members from the three instructional divisions. The Committee determines what curricular actions are in the best interest of the institution and makes recommendations to the Vice President of Instruction regarding the appropriate administrative action.

 

General Education Assessment Committee

The General Education Assessment Committee is responsible for initial decisions related to the composition and assessment of the Core Curriculum. Specifically, this committee is charged with the following:

  1. Review all courses included in the Core Curriculum, including proposed additions, deletions, and changes, and recommend a Core Curriculum to the Curriculum and Instruction Committee on an annual basis;
  2. Report Core Objectives assessment information and assessment process evaluation results to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
  3. Assess the relevancy and efficacy of the Core Curriculum as a whole by reviewing and approving direct and indirect course and institution level assessments of Core Objectives to include: 
  • Description of the assessment for each of the six Core Objectives
  • Assessment methods (e.g., explanations of measures, methodology, frequency, timeline of assessment activities)
  • Targets that benchmark the achievement of the Core Objectives
  • Evidence of achievement for each of the Core Objectives
  • Analysis and interpretation of assessment information
  • Actions planned, based on assessment evidence, for the improvement of student learning and achievement

This committee is comprised of faculty representatives from a majority of the disciplines which make up the core courses. Faculty constitute the voting membership of this committee. The Vice President of Instruction requests nominations for and then appoints members on an annual basis to fill vacant seats. Appointments are for three years, and the terms of members are staggered. Four administrative non-voting members serve on the committee by virtue of their position. Their term is indefinite as long as they serve in the position listed.
Committee members are responsible for electing a Chair and Co-chair. When the Chair rotates off the committee, the Co-chair automatically assumes the Chair role.

 

Institutional Review Board

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews and approves research proposals involving human subjects. Requests involving human subjects (i.e., TSC students, faculty, staff and/or data from such) for research purposes must follow the human subjects review process and be approved by the IRB. The TSC research review process complies with the regulations set forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Human Research Protections which protect the subject’s rights and welfare.
Proposals for research must be submitted to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Educational Technologies via email at OIPRE@tsc.edu. The review board receives research proposals at any time and meets monthly to review, evaluate and approve/disapprove research proposals.

 

Program Committees

Program Committees support TSC’s commitment to excellence through the development, execution, improvement, and maintenance of quality educational programs, ensuring instructional and curriculum consistency and coherence among departments across the College. Through Program Committees, the prime responsibility for the content, quality, and effectiveness of the curriculum at TSC lies with the faculty, taking into consideration the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) requirements and standards. Program Committees improve upon the efficiency and effectiveness of processes such as curriculum development, program review, instructional materials use in courses and learning assessment.

All full-time faculty teaching in a program are members of its Program Committee. Please note that some General Studies program faculty may serve on two Program Committees simultaneously. Program Committees meet at least once each semester.

The duties and responsibilities of Program Committees are outlined in the Instructional Leaders Guidelines.

 

Program Review Committee

The program review process is systematic and faculty-driven, providing an avenue for continuous improvement of educational programs at TSC. The process is conducted by the Program Coordinator/Program Director together with the faculty who comprise the Program Committee. The faculty analyzes data related to a program’s continued need, student success and achievement, program quality, faculty, instructional resources, and industry engagement.

The Program Review Committee reviews and evaluates the performance of the program, indicating whether the program performance is exemplary, meets expectations, is below expectations or needs improvement. The primary mechanisms for this evaluation are the (a) report submitted to the Committee by program faculty and (b) presentation of the program’s strengths and weaknesses by the Program Coordinator. The Program Review Committee is comprised of faculty representation from each of the three instructional divisions, instructional leadership, institutional effectiveness and educational technologies, and student services.

 

Strategic Enrollment Management Planning Action Committee

Strategic enrollment planning is a continuous and data-informed process to foster planned long-term enrollment and fiscal health. The process uses a return-on-investment approach to provide realistic, quantifiable goals and action plans related to enrollment management.

The Action Committee is comprised of individuals from Instruction, Student Services, Marketing and Communications, Information Technology, Institutional Effectiveness and Educational Technologies, and Finance and Administration at several employment levels including Vice President, Associate Vice President, Executive Director, Director, Coordinator, and Faculty. In addition to the Action Committee, four working groups for Admissions/Advising, Academic (Instruction), Recruitment and Retention/Completion are operational. Each of these working groups has representation from the faculty.

 

Campus Assessment, Response, and Evaluation (CARE) Team

Research gathered from institutional tragedies strongly supports educational institutions in addressing campus safety in a unified, planned, and proactive manner. The TSC Campus Assessment, Response, and Evaluation (CARE) Team addresses potential threats to the safety and security of the College community by enhancing communication, assessing circumstances, and initiating appropriate responses to specific behavioral problems.

This standing team meets on an as-needed basis. Members are selected by their position and represent Counseling, Faculty, Human Resources, Security, Student Life, and Civility. The team is chaired by the Vice President of Student Development.

 

Academic Assessment Committee

TSC places primary responsibility for the quality and effectiveness of program and course level assessment with its faculty. Because faculty are responsible for ensuring the achievement of appropriate student learning, curriculum, and academic program outcomes, and to ensure faculty involvement in the approval and continuous improvement of the academic assessment plan, TSC has developed this faculty-driven committee.