1.7.2.1 Faculty Development Committee

1.7.2.1.1 Mission Statement

The mission of the Faculty Development Committee is to promote and foster the professional development of faculty to achieve the highest level of effectiveness in their roles at Ithaca College and to solicit, evaluate, and determine faculty excellence.

1.7.2.1.2 Statement of Duties

The Faculty Development Committee was established by the Office of the Provost to sponsor activities which demonstrate and support a strong commitment to faculty vitality and renewal. Specifically, the Faculty Development Committee:

  1. Obtains input from faculty regarding their needs for faculty development and conveys that information to the Center for Faculty Excellence director for consideration in developing programs and events.
  2. Assists the Center for Faculty Excellence director in the planning of ongoing faculty development and mentoring programs.
  3. Supports the scholarships of discovery, integration, application, and teaching.
  4. Promotes interdisciplinary and inter-school collaboration.
  5. Sponsors workshops, colloquia, and seminars on teaching at various times during the academic year.
  6. Collaborates with the Center for Faculty Excellence director to plan events to highlight faculty scholarly and creative activity.
  7. Recommends uses for the college's financial resources for faculty development-related activities.
  8. Solicits nominations for and selects the recipients for annual Faculty Excellence Awards.
  9. Conducts ongoing evaluation of the activities sponsored by the Faculty Development Committee.

1.7.2.1.3 Membership

Membership shall consist of two members from each school to ensure that the special needs of each are represented.

1.7.2.1.4 Election

Each school decides individually how it wishes to elect/select its members.

1.7.2.1.5 Length of Term

Terms shall be three years, staggered for continuity. The call for election/selection will be issued on or before April 1 and election/selection should take place before April 30.

1.7.2.1.6 Meetings

The committee typically meets monthly.

1.7.2.1.7 Accountability

The Faculty Development Committee files a written report each year to the Faculty Council, which is basically informational. Any recommendation for change in policy is presented verbally to Council for discussion and vote by Council. A copy of the annual report is sent to the deans, provost & senior vice president for academic affairs, and the president. The Center for Faculty Excellence director files a written report to the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs each year, with a copy to the Faculty Council and the president.

1.7.2.1.8 Chairperson

The chairperson of the Faculty Development Committee is elected annually by the committee.

1.7.2.1.9 Duties of the Chair

The chairperson of the Faculty Development Committee is responsible for:

  1. Organizing the agenda.
  2. Chairing meetings.
  3. Filing a report each year with the Faculty Council, with a copy to the deans, provost & senior vice president for academic affairs, and the president.
  4. Representing the committee as spokesperson.

1.7.2.1.10 Ex Officio Members

Ex officio members of the committee are: a representative from the Center for Educational Technology, a representative of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and the Center for Faculty Excellence director. The ex officio members do not participate in the selection of the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award.

1.7.2.1.11 Procedures and Voting

Generally, the committee operates by consensus and votes by Robert's Rules (or a modified version of them).

1.7.2.1.12 Authority to Which the Committee is Responsible

The committee reports to the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs while issuing minutes and agenda for each meeting to the school councils. The committee will report its activities to the Faculty Council.

1.7.2.2 Review Committee for Summer Research Grants

The Center for Faculty Excellence director will annually appoint a committee of faculty representatives of a variety of academic disciplines to review and advise on summer research grants. The committee will meet on the call of the CFE director, be chaired by the CFE director or designee, and submit recommendations for funding to the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs.

1.7.2.3 Instructional Development Fund Review Committee

The Center for Faculty Excellence director will annually appoint a committee of faculty selected primarily from the pool of past recipients of IDF awards to review proposals submitted to the IDF committee and make recommendations to the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs. The committee will be chaired by the CFE director or designee and will meet on the call of the CFE director.

1.7.2.4 Center for Educational Technology Advisory Board

The faculty selected primarily from regular users of the Center for Educational Technology to review proposals for the Educational Technology Summer Fellowships and recommend nominees to the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs.

1.7.2.5 All-College Teacher Education Committee

1.7.2.5.1 Membership

One faculty member from each teacher education program selected by the dean and/or chair and identified as the "program coordinator," one additional faculty member from the Department of Music Education, the chairs of the Departments of Health Promotion and Physical Education and Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, the dean from each school offering a teacher education program, and an Associate Provost, who serves as chair. Administrative support is provided by the School of Humanities and Sciences; the Field Experience Coordinator and the Accreditation Coordinator serve as ex officio members of the committee. The Accreditation Coordinator is responsible for convening regular meetings, leading the work of accreditation, and preparing the annual review and "State of Teacher Education at Ithaca College" report to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.

1.7.2.5.2 Term of Office

Members will serve on an ongoing basis.

1.7.2.5.3 Committee Duties

Set general policy and procedures that ensure all Ithaca College Teacher Education programs meet or surpass the regulations of NYSED and other related agencies, including the agency or agencies responsible for teacher education program accreditation at the College.

Conduct review of all new programs and substantial changes in curricular content related to policies established by ACTEC.

Monitor the unit assessment system for effectiveness and fairness; make recommendations for the purposes of program improvement.

Investigate and provide recommendations concerning ongoing developments in the field of education.

Convene an Annual Meeting of all the professional education faculty at the College.

1.7.2.5.4 Authority to Which the Committee is Responsible

This committee reports to the Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.

1.7.2.6 Honorary Degrees Advisory Committee

1.7.2.6.1 Honorary Degrees

Ithaca College embraces the privilege and opportunity to recognize outstanding leadership, scholarship, and/or personal achievement through the granting of honorary degrees. To safeguard the high character of such a degree and the name of Ithaca College, the candidates should be so distinguished in their own fields that the College, by honoring them, brings credit to itself.

The following honorary degrees are designated in the Ithaca College charter:

Doctor of Fine Arts (D.F.A)
Doctor of Music (Mus.D.)
Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)
Doctor of Commercial Science (D.C.S.)
Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.)

1.7.2.6.2 Composition of Honorary Degrees Advisory Committee

Consistent with the faculty governance structure at Ithaca College, membership of the Honorary Degrees Advisory Committee shall include:

  • a representative from each of the five schools (Business, Communications, Health Sciences and Human Performance, Humanities and Sciences, and Music). Each representative shall be selected by their unit. Terms are for three years, originally staggered by lot.
  • the Faculty Council chair (or designee).
  • the Staff Council chair (or designee).
  • the Student Government Association president (or designee).
  • the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs (or designee).

The committee shall be convened by the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs (or designee), and shall elect its chair at the first meeting.

1.7.2.6.3 Schedule for Nominations and Committee Meetings

The provost & senior vice president for academic affairs of the College shall regularly invite nominees who fulfill the established criteria for honorary degrees (see section 1.7.2.6.4) from members of the campus community, including faculty, administration, board of trustees, alumni, students, staff, and others associated with the College. Ordinarily, the number of honorary degrees conferred in any given year shall not exceed three (3).

Ordinarily, nominations for honorary degrees to be awarded at spring commencement shall be received in the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs no later than November 1st. Under extraordinary circumstances or when special opportunities for recognition arise, as determined by the president, this deadline may be waived and the schedule outlined here may be compressed.

The provost & senior vice president for academic affairs (or designee) will coordinate review of nomination as follows:

  • November 1 – nomination(s) due to the provost.
  • Provost convenes Honorary Degree Advisory Committee (HDAC) to review nominations; committee elects its chair at the first meeting and prepares HDAC recommendation for Faculty Council consideration.
  • Faculty Council votes on HDAC's recommendation; this step will ordinarily be complete no later than the April meeting of the Faculty Council.
  • Provost submits recommendation to president of the College.
  • President of the College submits recommendation to the Educational Policy Committee of the Board of Trustees.
  • If approved, the honorary degree(s) shall be recommended for approval by the Board of Trustees.

The president (or designee) will assume the responsibility of notifying the recipients and making final arrangements for the conferral of the degree. As a general rule, honorary degrees will be conferred at spring commencement. Under extraordinary circumstances and upon the recommendation of the president of the College, in consultation with the committee, honorary degrees may be conferred at a special convocation or other public event. No honorary degrees will be awarded in absentia, except under extraordinary circumstances. If an honorary degree recipient cannot be present on campus in the year for which they are originally approved, the president may arrange for the degree to be conferred in a subsequent year.

1.7.2.6.4 Criteria and Nomination Process

Philosophically, nominees for honorary degrees shall represent the ideals embraced by the Ithaca College community, and shall serve as a mirror of the College’s values, mission and character. Consideration shall be afforded to nominees who have made a special contribution to or have a professional or personal connection to the College.

The granting of honorary degrees by the Ithaca College Board of Trustees upon recommendation of the Ithaca College Faculty will be based on one or more of the following criteria:

  1. The nominee possesses a record of outstanding personal/public achievement, community service, philanthropic endeavors and interest in education and/or humanitarian programs.
  2. The nominee is known for outstanding scholarly contributions and/or demonstration of some other significant service of benefit to humanity or Ithaca College.
  3. The nominee has made outstanding contributions in the private sector of our society (e.g., the clergy, the law, medicine, business, education, etc.) in ways that are consonant with the heritage, character, and mission of the College.

Nominations must be received in writing. Rationale and supporting data are expected at the time of nomination. A nomination shall include the name and contact information of the nominee, and information concerning the candidate specifying how the nominee meets the criteria for selection as stated above.

1.7.2.6.5 Confidentiality

Nominations should be communicated confidentially to the chair of the Honorary Degree Advisory Committee. The deliberations of the Honorary Degree Advisory Committee and Faculty Council are to remain confidential and should not be discussed outside the membership until such time as an official announcement shall be made by the president of the College. Nominees should not be informed of their selection by anyone other than the president.

If, during or after the nomination and approval process, an extraordinary event should occur or information come to light which renders the nominee an inappropriate candidate for receiving an honorary degree from Ithaca College, the president, in consultation with the committee, may rescind the offer of a degree. Should such events or information become known after the committee has made its recommendations, the committee may amend its original recommendation regarding the nominee.

1.7.2.6.6 Authority to Which to Committee is Responsible

The committee reports to the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs.

1.7.2.7 Premedical Sciences Advisory Committee

1.7.2.7.1 Membership

Two faculty members from Biology, two faculty members from Chemistry, one faculty member from Physical Therapy, one faculty member from Occupational Therapy, One faculty member from the behavioral sciences, one faculty member from Exercise Science, one physician from the Health Center, one representative of the director of career services, and three students in the premedical sciences designated by the Student Government Association. The faculty members on this committee are appointed by the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs in consultation with the Faculty as appropriate.

1.7.2.7.2 Term of Office

Faculty shall be designated by the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs and the Faculty Council for staggered three-year terms with the possibility of reappointment. Other members serve one-year terms.

1.7.2.7.3 Committee Duties

  1. To counsel students interested in the medical sciences.
  2. To interview students who request letters of recommendation, to gather information and references for such students, and to write letters of reference. (This particular duty would not include participation by student members of the committee.)
  3. To examine past, present and future goals, policies, and procedures in order to subject the program to continuous evaluation.

1.7.2.7.4 Authority to Which the Committee is Responsible

This committee reports to the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs.

1.7.2.8 All-College Review Board for Human Subjects Research

The mechanism for protection of human subjects is prescribed by federal and state law and includes the establishment of in Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects Research. At Ithaca College this body is the All-College Review Board on Human Subjects Research and is appointed by the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs. "HSR," as it is commonly known, has the responsibility for fulfilling all federal and state regulations pertaining to human subjects research and for assuring that in projects involving human subjects which fall outside the scope of those regulations the subjects are also accorded proper and adequate protection.

See section 2.21 of Volume II of the Ithaca College Policy Manual for further information regarding committee duties, membership, terms of office, and review procedures.

1.7.2.9 Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

The committee shall consist of a minimum of two professors with research background, one faculty member with non-animal research background, one faculty member from outside the science departments, an outside professional veterinarian, and a nonaffiliated member of the community.  The chairperson shall be elected by the committee. The committee will be appointed by the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs. Ex-officio members with voting privileges will be the Sponsored Research director, the Environmental Health and Safety Officer, and the animal caretaker.

Membership terms of faculty will be three years.   All other members are appointed for unlimited terms and are replaced by category above by the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs when a vacancy occurs.

The chair shall be a tenured senior faculty or staff member with a 3 year term.

The Provost & senior vice president for academic affairs reports to the president all actions of this committee.

See section 2.22 of Volume II of the Ithaca College Policy Manual for further information regarding committee duties and review procedures.

Compliance: NIH Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

1.7.2.10 Academic policies committee

1.7.2.10.1 Membership

The provost and vice president for academic affairs (or their designated representative) as a non-voting member; the dean of each of the schools (of their designated representative); three faculty members from each school, selected by the faculty of the respective schools; three additional faculty members elected by the faculty of the whole college with the election to be supervised by Faculty Council; one additional faculty member from Faculty Council, selected by Faculty Council (Faculty Council and the individual schools may establish specific criteria for faculty membership); one student from each school selected by Student Government  Council by the end of the previous spring semester (the Student Government Council may establish specific criteria for student membership); the Student Government Council vice president of academic affairs as a nonvoting member; the librarian (or their designated representative) as a nonvoting member; the associate provosts as non-voting members; and the registrar (or their designated representative) as a non-voting member.

The chairperson of the committee will be selected from the chairs of the three subcommittees. This selection will take place in the spring, after elections for subcommittee chairs have been concluded. The procedure for selecting a chairperson is described in the APC Procedures Manual.

The chairperson shall convene regular meetings of APC and shall collaborate closely with the provost and vice president for academic affairs (or their designated representative) in ensuring effective communication among all participants in the processes of policy, assessment, and curriculum review. The Office of the Provost and Vice President for academic affairs is responsible for providing staff support to the committee.


1.7.2.10..2 Term of Office

The term of the faculty member from Faculty Council shall be one year. The terms of the other faculty members shall be three years. Student terms are for one or two years as designated by the Student Government Council at the time of selection. If a member of the committee resigns, then the group which originally selected the member shall select a replacement.


1.7.2.10.3 Committee Duties

This committee is responsible for considering any matters affecting academic policy in the institution. Its duties are to review new programs and periodically review the reorganization or, modification of majors or programs; to review and provide feedback on the college's academic assessment process; to advise on periodic academic program reviews; to recommend appropriate action by the faculty; to advise the provost and vice president for academic affairs in academic matters; and to make recommendations to the provost and vice president for academic affairs on adjudicatory resolutions of competing academic interests or policies. The APC Procedures Manual shall describe the procedural details of how the work within the subcommittees is accomplished. 

Subcommittee on Curriculum (APC-C). Before they are presented to the Academic Policies Committee, curriculum proposals need the approval of the faculty – through the appropriate school procedure – and the dean of the school. Curriculum proposals for designations associated with the ICC will be reviewed by APC-C, in consultation with the Director of the ICC. The Subcommittee on Curriculum reviews the proposals sent by the school and recommends them to the committee. Curricular proposals associated with graduate programs proceed from schools to Graduate Council, and Graduate Council notifies the Academic Policy Committee of the outcome of their review. On all curriculum proposals of any kind, the Academic Policies Committee makes recommendations to the provost and vice president for academic affairs, who conducts the final institutional review and approval.

Subcommittee of Assessment (APC-A). The Subcommittee on Assessment (APC-A) makes recommendations to the provost about the College's annual learning outcome (SLO) assessment process for academic affairs and provides oversight of, and serves as a mentoring resource for, school-based assessment committees. Upon the request of APC-C, the subcommittee may review and provide feedback on assessment plans and SLOs for new programs. The Subcommittee reviews, and in consultation with the Director of the ICC, makes recommendations on the assessment of the core curriculum. The Committee also reviews the program periodic self-study narratives and action plans prepared by departments and programs, provides formative feedback to programs/departments, and reports on their recommendations to the committee as a whole. The Academic Policies Committee forwards its recommendations about the program reviews to the Provost/VPAA for consideration in their review. The Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs makes the program review guidelines and timelines available to the departments and the Subcommittee on Assessment.

Subcommittee on Policy (APC_P). The Subcommittee on Policy reviews policy proposals and recommends them to the committee. The Academic Policies Committee makes its recommendations about policy proposals to the Faculty Council which conducts its own review of the proposed policy and forwards the proposal and recommendation back to the Subcommittee on Policy. If both entities are in agreement, the proposed policy is forwarded to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. If the Faculty Council has concerns or reservations about a proposed policy recommendation, a subgroup selected by Faculty Council will enter into discussions with representatives of the Subcommittee on Policy until all concerns have been satisfactorily addressed, at which time the Subcommittee on Policy will forward the agreed-upon proposal to the provost and vice president for academic affairs. If Faculty Council and the Subcommittee on Policy are unable to come to a satisfactory resolution of differences, the Subcommittee on Policy will forward the individual reports to the provost and vice president for academic affairs for adjudication and resolution. The provost and vice president for academic affairs will consult with the Executive Committee of Faculty Council and with the Academic Policies Committee, as well as with the Subcommittee on Policy, to reconcile the differing perspectives on the policy. After such reconciliation–and revision, where appropriate–is completed, the provost and vice president for academic affairs will review and then forward the recommended policy to the provost for final institutional review and approval.

A schedule of meetings for the academic year will be set up early in the fall semester to ensure the most expeditious interaction between the Academic Policies Committee and the Faculty Council.

To ensure that curricular proposals are reviewed in a timely fashion, the committee should adhere as closely as possible to the schedule prepared by the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Proposers should bear in mind that the Subcommittee on Curriculum may request additional information about proposals and/or request revisions of proposals. Additional meetings of the full or subcommittees may be added to the schedule, on an as-needed basis, to expedite the business of the committee.


1.7.2.10.4 Authority to Which the Committee is Responsible

This committee reports to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

1.7.2.11 Institutional Biosafety Committee

Charge to the Institutional Biosafety Committee

AUTHORIZATION

Ithaca College shall have an Institutional Biological Safety Committee established under the authority of the Office of the President.

GENERAL CHARGE

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is a Standing College Committee and is responsible for reviewing all College research and teaching activities conducted by faculty, staff, students, and/or visiting scientists on Ithaca College property that involve the use of biohazardous materials (regulated animal and plant pathogens, biological toxins, and nucleic acids). The purpose of these reviews is to ensure that all activities involving biohazardous materials and the facilities used to conduct such work are in compliance with all external regulations and applicable College policies. Foremost, the IBC's objective shall be to ensure that such activities meet standards of good biological safety practice emphasizing protection of personnel, the general public, and the environment. To this end, the IBC shall assist principal investigators and protocol directors in meeting their responsibilities and impose requirements and review and approve policies, procedures, programs, and facilities pursuant to the safe use of biological agents, other materials, and toxins.

The IBC shall function so as to discharge the College’s obligations and responsibilities placed upon the IBC by current governmental requirements, including those described in the National Institutes of Health Guidelines (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidelines, Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) Regulations, and those other requirements that overlap with or are reviewed by other established College Committees – Human Subjects Research, Institutional Animal Care and Use, Radiation Safety Committee, etc. When appropriate, the IBC will formulate draft policies and procedures for approval by the appropriate College bodies and promulgation by the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. The IBC is expected to advise the College and establish policies to guide principal investigators and the Office of Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) in carrying out the College’s Biosafety Program in the acquisition, use, training, storage, disposal, and emergency response procedures for all biosafety activities.

DEFINITIONS and GUIDELINES

Biohazardous Agents

  1. Infectious/pathogenic agents classified in the following categories: Class 2, 3, and 4 bacterial, fungal, parasitic, viral, rickettsial or chlamydial agents as defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or,
  2. Other agents that have the potential for causing disease in healthy individuals, animals, or plants.
  3. Biological toxins including metabolites of living organisms and materials rendered toxic by the metabolic activities of microorganisms (living or dead).

Biohazardous Agents

Activities involving Class 2, Class 3, and Class 4 biohazardous agents must be reviewed and approved by the IBC prior to the initiation of use of agent. Protocols involving Class 1 agents that do not involve recombinant DNA are not reviewed by the IBC.

Toxins

The routine use of most toxins will not require IBC review and approval. However, the IBC shall review any experiments that involve the isolation and production of toxins from live organisms, and those experiments that involve the acquisition and use of toxins that are listed in the CDC Standard, Additional Requirements for Facilities Transferring or Receiving Select Agents. Toxins appearing on this list must be registered with EH&S.

Nucleic Acids

  1. Molecules which are constructed outside living cells by joining natural or synthetic DNA segments to DNA molecules that can replicate in a living cell or,
  2. DNA molecules that result from the replication of those described in “A” above.

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic Acid activities are defined in the NIH Guidelines.  Different nucleic acid activities require different timetables for approval by the IBC, or by federal agencies, and these are also detailed in the NIH Guidelines.  Experiments involving nucleic acid activities exempt from the NIH Guidelines must still be reported to the IBC for approval. 

Gene Therapy

Delivery of exogenous genetic material (DNA or RNA) to somatic cells for the purpose of modifying those cells.

Gene Transfer Therapy

Human subjects and other animal subjects protocols involving gene transfer or gene therapy must be reviewed and approved by the IBC prior to initiation of protocol. Approval may be granted for no more than one year after review at a convened meeting. Final approval for human subjects studies on gene transfer  is contingent upon protocol approval by the NIH Office of Recombinant DNA Activities (ORDA/RAC).  Approval for human subjects protocols must also be granted by the Human Subjects Research Committee.  Approval for other animal subjects protocols must also be granted by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. 

OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES

All activities including collaborative activities with other institutions involving the use or storage of biohazardous materials and nucleic acids must be reviewed and approved by the IBC either prior to or concurrently with the start of the activities depending on the classification of the agent or the containment level required (see below). The IBC may approve research protocols with or without modifications, or withhold approval of all or any portion of a protocol. Approval may be granted for no more than three years after review at a convened meeting of a quorum of the IBC (i.e., a majority of the voting members) with the affirmative vote of a majority of those present. Any changes in agents, protocols, or project personnel must be communicated to and reviewed by the IBC prior to the implementation of those changes. All biosafety protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) shall be available for review by any member of the IBC. IBC shall maintain records of research protocol reviews, minutes of meetings, including records of attendance and IBC deliberations. In accordance with the NIH Guidelines, no member of an IBC may be involved (except to provide information requested by the IBC) in the review or approval of a project in which she/he has been or expects to be engaged or has a direct financial interest. The IBC shall file an annual report with the Office of Biotechnology Activities, Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee as specified by Federal guidelines.

Coordination with Other College Committees

All human subjects protocols involving gene transfer or gene therapy, as defined in the NIH Recombinant DNA Research Guidelines, shall be reviewed by the IBC in coordination with the Human Subjects Research Committee. All protocols that involve gene transfer or gene therapy in non-human mammal subjects shall be reviewed by the IBC in coordination with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. All protocols that involve the use of radioisotopes or radiation producing equipment shall be reviewed by the IBC in coordination with the Radiation Safety Office and the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

Sanctions

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) shall assess suspected or alleged violations of protocols, external regulations, or College policies that involve bio-hazardous materials. Non serious violations will require correction of the noncompliance and must be completed in the timeframe stated in stage 1. Activities in which serious or continuing violations occur will result in immediate movement to stage 4. Initiation of certain research activities without the approval of the IBC is considered a serious violation. In such cases, the IBC will immediately notify the affected investigator(s), the relevant school dean, Director of Sponsored Research, appropriate College officers, the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, and others as required by College policies and external regulations.

STAGE 1:

Upon confirmation of a non-serious violation a copy of the findings will be given to the faculty/staff member responsible for the lab.  The responsible faculty/staff will be given 5 business days from the review date to correct any deficiencies and e mail biosafety@ithaca.edu or fax (4-3064) a copy of the finding with what corrections were made to the Biosafety Committee.  Depending on the quantity and nature of the deficiencies, a follow up review may occur.  Failure to submit a response within the given time period will result in the review process moving to Stage 2.

STAGE 2:

If a rectified response to the findings is not returned to the Biosafety Committee within 5 business days, a reminder notice will be sent by email and/or facsimile to the responsible faculty/staff member with a copy of the notice and findings to the department chair, and Director of Sponsored Research.  The responsible faculty/staff member will be given 3 additional business days to correct all deficiencies and to e mail biosafety@ithaca.edu or fax (4-3064) corrections made to the Biosafety Committee.  A follow up review may occur.  Failure to submit a response within the 3-day extension will result in the review process moving to Stage 3.

STAGE 3:

If a response is not emailed or faxed to the Biosafety Committee within the 3 additional days, a memorandum, along with the Committees findings and first reminder notice, will be sent to the responsible faculty/staff member, the department chair, and the relevant school dean.  Two (2) additional business days will be granted to address remaining deficiencies.  A follow-up review will occur.  Failure to submit a response after the second extension will result in the review process moving to Stage 4.

STAGE 4:

At Stage 4, the responsible faculty/staff member has had 5 business days to correct noted deficiencies.     Under the direction of the relevant school dean and the Director of Sponsored Research, EH&S will shut down the laboratory operations of the responsible faculty/staff member.  A meeting will be scheduled with the responsible faculty/staff member, the department Chair, the Dean’s office, and Biosafety Committee representatives.  Laboratory operations will remain shut down until ALL noted deficiencies are corrected and a letter stating the corrections were made is sent to the Biosafety Committee and EH&S.  A follow up review will occur. Once the review is completed and they deem the corrections satisfactory the lab will be released. 

Serious violations

  • Improperly discarded bio-hazardous or  rDNA waste material
  • Breach of containment associated with rDNA materials
  • Illness potentially associated either bio hazardous material or  rDNA research
  • Personal injury involving rDNA materials
  • Spills or accidents with BSL2 materials resulting in overt exposure to personnel

The IBC procedures for reviewing concerns are:

Individual concerns about biosafety can be submitted to any member of the IBC. All concerns are presented to the chair, and if deemed necessary by the chair, a meeting of the IBC can be called to discuss the concerns. Any necessary changes in biosafety procedures can be mandated by the IBC, with no reprisals to the reporting individual.  The IBC shall provide every laboratory manager and principal investigators with a notice describing how to report concerns regarding biosafety.  This information shall also be posted in a visible location and will be maintained on the website.  In addition, the Ithaca College Whistle Blower Policy (Section 2.34 – Ethics and Integrity) states that complaints may be made anonymously.  Complaints shall be dealt with confidentially to the extent reasonably possible.  No member of the College is subject to any reprisal for reporting any suspected violations.   The IBC shall post this “whistle blower” policy on the website as a confidential means for anonymously reporting safety and security issues associated with possession, use, and transfer of bio-hazardous materials.

APPEAL METHOD

In cases of dispute with respect to procedures or decisions of the IBC, appeals may be made to the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs for cases requiring intervention for problem resolution.

MEMBERSHIP

The IBC Chairperson is appointed by the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs. Half of the IBC members are appointed by the provost and the other half of the IBC members are appointed by the IBC Chairperson after consultation with the College Biosafety Officer and the provost or provost’s designee. The IBC shall have at least three members with expertise in general issues of laboratory biosafety, use of infectious materials, and nucleic acid technology. Individuals on the IBC include at least one faculty member with expertise in each of the following areas: transgenic plants, transgenic animals or gene therapy in animals, viral pathogens and vectors, microbial pathogens, biotoxins, and biotechnology. In addition, the IBC shall include at least one laboratory staff member, two members from the local community not otherwise affiliated with the College, the College’s Biosafety Officer, and an executive secretary. Others may be invited to serve with the approval of the provost or provost’s designee when their expertise is required.

Collectively, the membership of the committee should include:

  • Experience and expertise in:
    • Nucleic acid technology; and
    • Biosafety and physical containment
  • Knowledge of:
    • Institutional commitments and policies;
    • Applicable laws;
    • Standards of professional conduct and practice;
    • Community attitudes; and
    • Environmental considerations
    •  
  • The capability to:
    • Assess the safety of nucleic acid research; and
    • Identify potential risks to public health and safety

Voting ex officio members shall include representatives of the: Office of Environmental Health & Safety (College Biosafety Officer) and the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affiairs.

The term of membership on the IBC is a 36-month appointment renewable period beginning June 1.

IBC MEETINGS

The IBC shall meet as necessary to conduct its business but no less than twice every year. A meeting agenda will be sent at a minimum of one week in advance of a scheduled IBC. Meeting minutes will be taken each meeting and kept on file by the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.

SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT

The Chair shall submit an annual report of IBC activities and deliberations to the Office of the Provost and the President by July 1st each year.

STAFF SUPPORT

The Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs shall provide the necessary staffing and administrative assistance for the IBC. EH&S shall provide technical expertise and advise as necessary for the IBC to fulfill its duties.

1.7.2.12 IC 20/20 Advisory Committee

1.7.2.12.1 Charge

IC 20/20 is the strategic plan for educational excellence that will govern development of the college for the coming period. The IC 20/20 vision consists of fifteen initiatives, each of which includes specific goals that will be achieved over the nine-year span from 2011 to 2020.

The purpose of the IC 20/20 Advisory Committee will be to monitor achievement of the goals connected with this strategic plan, including achievement of the foundational or background activities that enable the IC 20/20 goals to be achieved. The Advisory Committee will work with the IC 20/20 timeline, and will as needed offer advice on possible adjustments to that timeline.

1.7.2.12.1 Membership

  • The provost & senior vice president for academic affairs will chair this committee
  • One additional vice president, appointed by the president
  • Two deans, appointed by the provost
  • Five faculty members, including one from each of the five schools, appointed by the provost in consultation with the Faculty Council Executive Committee from among nominees forwarded by the Faculty Council. The Faculty Council will offer at least two nominees for each available position. Faculty Council will appoint at least one faculty member on the committee to serve as a liaison to Faculty Council. If any faculty member needs to be replaced, Faculty Council will offer at least two nominees (at least one from the school of the faculty member being replaced) for appointment by the provost in consultation with Faculty Council.
  • Two members of the staff, identified for relevant expertise and appointed by the President in consultation with the provost
  • Two students, appointed by the provost from among nominees forwarded by the Student Government Association. The SGA will offer at least two nominees for each available position.
  • No alternates will be permitted when and if Committee members are unable to attend meetings.
  • The president will be a member of the committee, ex officio.

1.7.2.12.3 Responsibility and Function

Each fall the Advisory Committee will identify the actions and goals that need to be accomplished in the fiscal year whose beginning is nineteen months away. The Committee will identify those parties responsible for achieving particular goals, and will have timely conversations with those parties to further define the objectives to be achieved. The identified priorities will be forwarded to the Institutional Effectiveness and Budget Committee at the beginning of the spring semester, for incorporation into that committee’s overall review of strategic plans and budgetary allocations. 

Each fall, the IC 20/20 Advisory Committee will review progress on the goals identified as IC 20/20 goals during the current year and to date, compared to the timeline. Goals for the year ahead will be reviewed for feasibility and to ensure that the responsible parties are aware of the objectives to be achieved. 

The Committee will observe confidentiality in its work. 

1.7.2.12.4 Meetings

The Advisory Committee will meet as determined by the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs in order to accomplish its mission.

1.7.2.12.5 Term of Office

Terms of office will be three years, with staggered rotation of term established at the time the committee is first composed.

1.7.2.12.6 Reporting

The Advisory Committee will prepare a report to the President at the end of each academic year on the progress made by Ithaca College toward achievement of the fifteen initiatives of the IC 20/20 Vision. It will share its observations, recommendations and conclusions, as appropriate and approved by the President, with the College community or selected components of it.

1.7.2.12.7 Sunset Provision

The charge, membership and functioning of the Advisory Committee will be reviewed by the president and the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs no later than three years after it is established to ascertain whether any adjustments should be made in order to ensure the most effective and efficient achievement of its goals. The Committee will in any case cease to exist at such time as the Board of Trustees should declare the IC 20/20 vision no longer valid as a strategic plan of the College.

1.7.2.13 Academic Calendar Committee

COMMITTEE DUTIES/CHARGES:

On or before February 1 of each academic year, this committee reports to the provost and sr. vice president for academic affairs with a proposed calendar for not less than the third succeeding academic year. A calendar proposed by the committee shall be well advertised. This committee shall also evaluate each year's calendar and assess other university and college calendars.

MEMBERSHIP:

The registrar; the provost or designee (ex officio, without vote); the associate provost for graduate and professional studies; one designated faculty member from each school, as well as a representative from Faculty Council; two students, designated by Student Government Council; one staff member, designated by Staff Council; the director of athletics; one representative from the Division of Advancement; one representative from the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Life, , and the director of new student and transition programs. Designated members shall serve for two-year terms; there is no limit on the number of successive terms a designated member is permitted to serve. All members will act as a liaison between the committee and their constituent group, ensuring that the interests and concerns of the faculty, students, and staff are represented in the committee’s recommendations regarding the academic calendar. 

1.7.2.14 International Travel Committee

(This committee no longer exists.)

1.7.2.15 Library Committee

(This committee no longer exists. This policy was originally in section 1.6.2.11.)

1.7.2.16 Provost's Council

The Provost's Council meets regularly and is responsible to the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs. It advises the provost on matters pertaining to academic affairs, and carries out policies agreed upon at the Provost's Council meetings, as well as other directives from the provost.

The Provost's Council is composed of the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs, the associate vice president for academic and student affairs, the associate provosts, assistant provosts, and executive assistant to the provost, and the five academic deans.

1.7.2.17 Graduate Council

(This was moved from section 1.6.6.6.)

1.7.2.17.1 Constitution of the Graduate Council


Article I: Name

Graduate Council

Article II: Mission

Graduate programs at Ithaca College provide advanced study in specific fields based on the recognition that effective leadership in these fields requires additional knowledge and specialized skills beyond the baccalaureate level. Graduate education at Ithaca College involves the attainment of both an extended and more sophisticated knowledge of the discipline. In the course of graduate study, students enhance their ability to apply new skills and information to challenging professional situations. Graduate study in these disciplines fosters the qualities that characterize an educated person and skilled professional: logical interpretation and application of information; independent thought; intellectual and creative initiative; and an informed approach to problems and situations.

Article III: Function of the Graduate Council

The Graduate Council is a collaborative effort between the Office of the Provost and graduate chairs responsible for addressing graduate-related activities, policies and procedures, and curriculum. The Graduate Council functions to:

  • Make recommendations to the provost regarding graduate policies and procedures.
  • Make recommendations to the provost regarding degree-bearing graduate programs and curricula, including the conditions under which degrees are awarded, in collaboration with the Academic Policies Committee
  • Provide input on graduate hooding and the degree conferral process
  • Consult on marketing and enrollment strategies for graduate education
  • Suggest and discuss graduate student-related needs and activities

Article IV: Bylaws

The council shall have the authority to make bylaws on such matters as membership, meeting procedures, voting, elections, committees, and other organizational matters and needs of the council. Such bylaws may not be in conflict with the charter or bylaws of the Ithaca College Board of Trustees or any other governing group recognized by the Board of Trustees of Ithaca College.

Article V: Amendments to the Constitution

Amendments to the constitution of the Graduate Council may be proposed to the council at any time by any member. If necessary, the council may choose to establish an ad hoc committee to address issues surrounding the proposal. The proposal must be submitted to all council members at the regularly scheduled council meeting prior to the meeting at which the proposal will be considered for a vote. The constitution can be amended by a two-thirds vote of approval by the Graduate Council. To accommodate this procedure, absentee votes by ballot are required from members who wish to vote and are unable to attend the meeting. Such ballots are to be delivered to the council chair prior to the meeting at which the amendment is being considered. The council must assure the proposal does not conflict with the Ithaca College governance structure as found in section 1.6 of the Ithaca College Policy Manual.

1.7.2.17.2 Bylaws of the Graduate Council

Article I: Membership

Membership on the Graduate Council includes the chair/director of each graduate program and the School Dean, or their designee. In addition, the Associate Provost, Graduate and Professional Studies and a representative from the office of admission and office of the registrar will serve on the council as ex-officio non-voting members.

The council is chaired by a council graduate program faculty member, who also serves as the chair of the Graduate Curricular Subcommittee (GCS). Graduate council members will elect a chair by majority vote. The election will take place in April before the academic year in which the new chair takes office. The chair will serve a two-year term and may be reelected without term limits.

Article II: Policy Changes

The council will formulate and recommend changes to any graduate policy stated in this policy manual and the Ithaca College Graduate Catalog, as needed. The graduate programs at Ithaca College are registered with the New York State Education Department.

Article III: Curriculum Changes

The council shall establish a Graduate Curricular Subcommittee (GCS), to be chaired by the council chair. The GCS is responsible for reviewing all proposed degree-bearing graduate programs and curriculum in accordance with its established policies and procedures. The GCS makes recommendations on graduate programs and curriculum to the full council for a vote.

Article IV: Amendment Procedures

Follow procedures as outlined in Section 1.7.2.17.1 Article V of the Constitution of the Graduate Council.

Article IV: Voting

Graduate program faculty members and the deans on the council are all voting members. The associate provost, graduate and professional studies, Office of Admission and Office of the Registrar are non-voting members. A majority of the voting members constitutes a quorum. Approval of motions, other than amendments to the constitution or bylaws, requires a majority vote of the quorum.

1.7.2.18 Retention Committee

1.7.2.18.1 Mission

The mission of the Retention Committee is to serve as a permanent standing committee with responsibility for assessing and monitoring student attrition and retention, and for initiating and assessing the effectiveness of action steps to improve performance on key measures of retention.

1.7.2.18.2 Statement of Duties

Study and evaluate the causes for attrition of students who decide to leave Ithaca College.
Identify relevant sources of data, and initiate additional information gathering as appropriate to better assessment of attrition and retention issues.
In particular, study and evaluate the third semester retention rates and six year graduation rates of underrepresented ALANA students, international students, and students registered with Student Accessibility Services.
Recommend appropriate action steps to ensure that underrepresented ALANA students’ graduation rates and retention rates are at least equal to those of other students.
Examine existing College policies and practices that may be contributing to student attrition, and recommend appropriate changes.
Develop and initiate strategies to improve retention.
Prepare annual retention report for the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs.

1.7.2.18.3 Membership

The Retention Committee includes the following members, and may include additional members as appointed by the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs. Members named by title have the option of designating an alternate representative as appropriate.

Associate Provost, Faculty and Student Advancement
Two Associate/Assistant Deans
Representative from the Office of the Registrar
Chair, Academic Policies Committee
Two representatives from Enrollment and Communication Division
Director, Center for Academic Advancement
Representative from Institutional Research
Associate Vice President and Dean, Student Affairs/Campus Life
Associate Director, Residential Life
Senior Assistant to the Senior Associate Vice President, Student Affairs/Campus Life
Director, Center for Counseling, Health and Wellness
Vice President, Academic Affairs, Student Government Association

1.7.2.18.4 Chairperson

The Retention Committee is chaired by the associate provost for faculty and student advancement, by their designee, or by another committee member as appointed by the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs.

1.7.2.18.5 Authority to Which the Committee is Responsible

The Retention Committee reports to the provost & senior vice president for academic affairs.

Last Updated: Febrary 13, 2023