Article I. Organization

Section 1

The Academic Senate is established to exercise the functions as defined by the Bylaws of the Board of Trustees. It shall be a continuing body, these Bylaws continuing in force save as amended in accordance with the procedures of Article 5 hereof.

Section 2.

The Academic Senate shall be composed of faculty, CLT, HEO, student, alumni and administrative representatives with full privileges and vote, and shall include: the President and five (5) administrators selected by him or her annually; eight (8) officers of Student Government, designated by virtue of office; and one (1) alumni representative, to be selected annually in a manner prescribed by the Alumni Association.

The faculty senators shall be elected in April to serve immediately upon election for three years and shall consist of the following: forty-one (41) faculty at large, elected by those who have been granted faculty rank, and shall not include members of the administration. The chairperson of each department shall also serve as a faculty senator. If a chairperson wishes to decline the office of senator, the department shall elect another representative to the Academic Senate. No more than five (5) faculty members totally shall be permitted to be from any one department. Two (2) full-time CLTs shall be elected by the full-time CLTs to serve with vote. Two (2) representatives from the Higher Education Officer series (HEOs) shall be elected by the full-time HEOs to serve with vote. The election of the two (2) HEO members-at-large to the Academic Senate shall be conducted by the Committee on Committees. Nominations shall be made by petition signed by at least five (5) members of the full-time HEOs. Elections shall be conducted in April by secret ballot of the full-time HEOs. Elections shall be decided by plurality for a term of three (3) years. Vacancies shall be promptly filled using a list of the most recent election tally. One (1) adjunct faculty member shall be elected at large by the adjunct faculty to serve with one vote.

The election of the forty-one (41) faculty members-at-large to the Academic Senate shall be conducted by the Committee on Committees. Nominations shall be made by petition signed by at least seven (7) members of the bylaws faculty. Elections shall be conducted in April by secret ballot of those having faculty rank. Elections shall be decided by plurality for a term of three (3) years. Vacant seats among the faculty members at large shall be filled by the Committee on Committees, using the top of the list from the most recent election. A seat shall be so filled until (1) the Senator elected thereto is qualified to resume the seat, or (2) the term expires.

Where two or more nominees are tied for the same place in the preferential order, the names of those so tied shall be presented to the Academic Senate for action.

The election of the two (2) CLT members-at-large to the Academic Senate shall be conducted by the Committee on Committees. Nominations shall be made by petition signed by at least five (5) members of the full-time CLTs which may include the Voting adjunct CLT. Elections shall be conducted in April by secret ballot of the full-time CLTs and the Voting adjunct CLT. Elections shall be decided by plurality for a term of three (3) years. Vacancies shall be promptly filled using a list of the most recent election tally.

Where two or more nominees are tied for the same place in the preferential order, the names of those so tied shall be presented to the Committee on Committees for a run-off election.

The election of one (1) adjunct faculty representative to the Academic Senate shall be conducted by the Committee on Committees. Nominations shall be made by petition signed by at least five members of the adjunct faculty, as defined in Article VI, Section ld of these Bylaws. Election shall be conducted in April by secret ballot of adjunct faculty members. The election shall be decided by plurality for a term of three (3) years. Vacancies shall be promptly filled using a list of the most recent election tally.

Where two or more nominees are tied for the same place in the preferential order, the names of those so tied shall be presented to the Academic Senate for action.

In the event that there are vacancies in Faculty Member-At-Large positions or with the Adjunct members or CLT's or HEO's that cannot be filled by available Alternates, these positions are to be filled by a direct vote by the entire Senate at the next regular meeting of the Academic Senate following the occurrence of the vacancy. The elected replacement Senator will then serve for the length of the remaining term of that Senator who has left the college, or for the period that Senator is on leave.

Section 3. Nonmembers

  1. There shall be no substitute or proxies in place of absent members.
  2. Meetings of the Academic Senate shall be subject to the Open Meetings Law and the Freedom of Information Law. Under the Open Meetings Law, the public has the right to attend any meeting of a public body. Any time a quorum of a public body gathers to discuss business, the meeting must be held in public, subject to the right to convene an executive session under certain limited circumstances. Non-members must conform to the usual requirements of parliamentary procedure; the Parliamentarian will interpret and enforce the rules which include that no non-member of the body may speak without the permission of the body.

Section 4. Officers

  1. The Academic Senate shall elect a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and a secretary for the Academic Senate, from among members elected at large to the Senate, for a one-year term. These three elected members of the Academic Senate shall constitute a Steering Committee of the Senate. The Academic Senate shall also elect two members of the Senate; one to serve as Parliamentarian and one to serve as Senate Technology Officer. Nominations and elections for the Steering Committee of the Senate, the Parliamentarian, and the Senate Technology Officer shall be conducted directly from the floor at the duly convened May meeting of the Academic Senate except in the case of the first Senate body.

    The Senate Technology Officer shall:
    1. Update and maintain the Academic Senate e-mail distribution list.
    2. Update and maintain Academic Senate Roster files in concert with the Steering Committee and the Committee on Committees.
    3. Manage, maintain, and update the system for recording votes of the Academic Senate.
  2. Vacancies in the Steering Committee or the offices of Parliamentarian or Senate Technology Officer shall be filled by persons normally eligible for such office to fill the unexpired term. Nominations and elections shall be conducted from the floor at the Senate meeting next following the occurrence of the vacancy.
  3. The Steering Committee of the Academic Senate shall represent the interest of and uphold the policies adopted by the Academic Senate when it is not in session. It shall report to the Senate, at its next regular meeting, such College actions that may have been implemented while the Academic Senate was not in session. If such action requires the immediate establishment of new policy, a special meeting of the Academic Senate shall be called.
  4. The Steering Committee of the Academic Senate shall present at the start of each academic year a report to the Academic Senate of the Steering Committee request for resources (resources refers only to any reassigned time allocated for certain officers on certain committees) in support for the operation of the Academic Senate submitted to the College Administration and a report on the response to that request and on any distribution of resources supplied by the Administration.

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Article II. Meetings

Section 1.

The Chairperson of the Steering Committee shall preside over regular meetings of the Academic Senate, or, in the Chairperson’s absence, the vice-chairperson of the Steering Committee shall preside. The Chairperson of the Steering Committee shall open special meetings of the Academic Senate. The first item on the agenda of a special meeting shall be the election of the chairperson for that meeting by the members of the Academic Senate.

Section 2. Regular Meetings

Regular meetings shall be held at least four times each full semester on the second Tuesday of each month unless that date falls on a period of recess.Should the date set for a regular meeting be a holiday or a day when Tuesday classes have not been scheduled by the University, the meeting shall be held on the Tuesday immediately following. Public notice of the time and place of any meeting that is scheduled a week or more in advance must be given to the news media and conspicuously posted in one or more designated public locations at least 72 hours before the meeting. In the case of meetings scheduled less than a week in advance, notice must be given at a reasonable time thereto.

Section 3. Special Meetings and Executive Sessions

  1. Special Meetings shall be called by the Chairperson of the Academic Senate, on the written request of any eight (8) senators, or by written petition from one hundred (100) faculty members who are eligible to vote for the academic senators. The agenda of the special meeting shall be fixed five (5) days before the meeting. Additional business may be considered only by two-thirds (2/3) consent of those present.
  2. An Executive Session is not separate from an open meeting, but is a portion of an open meeting during which the public may be excluded. Subjects that may be discussed in an Executive Session relate to matters that are not likely to be discussed at a meeting of bodies such as college associations or a faculty senate. These include issues of public safety and law enforcement, proposed or pending litigation, collective bargaining, the medical, financial, credit or employment history of a particular person or corporations, or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation, the preparation, grading or administration of examinations and the proposed acquisition, sale or lease of real property or the proposed acquisition, sale or exchange of securities. To close a meeting for executive session, a public body must take several steps. First, a motion must be made during an open meeting to enter into executive session. Second, the motion must identify the general area or areas of the subject(s) to be considered. Third, the motion must be carried by a majority vote of the total membership of the public body.
  3. Exemptions from the Open Meetings Law. The Law does not apply to discussions concerning matters that might be made confidential under other provisions of state or federal law. Accordingly, disclosure or personally identifiable data regarding students must not take place in an open meeting, unless the consent of the students and/or their parents has been obtained.

Section 4. Proposed Agenda

  1. The Steering Committee shall prepare the agenda after discussions with the President.
  2. The proposed agenda of a regular meeting shall be sent to all members of the Academic Senate and faculty and students serving on standing Committees of the Academic Senate at least one week prior to the meeting. The agenda for a special meeting shall be communicated with the notice of the meeting. All original motions and Amendments should be visually presented. Items requested by a majority of the chairpersons of the academic departments may be considered as an item for the agenda of a regular meeting after those from Senate Standing Committees.
  3. The order of business at any meeting, except where otherwise specially provided for, shall be as follows:
    1. Attendance.
    2. Approval of the Agenda.
    3. Consideration of the minutes of the previous meeting.
    4. Communications from the Board of Trustees or any of its Committees.
    5. Communications from the President of the College or his designee on matters concerning the College or University.
    6. Communications from the University Faculty Senate Liaison to the College.
    7. Communication and/or Report from the Steering Committee.
    8. Elections.
    9. Degrees.
    10. Reports of Standing Committees.
    11. Reports of Special Committees.
    12. Unfinished Business.
    13. New Business.

Section 5. Quorum

A quorum for both stated and special meetings shall consist of a majority of the members of the Academic Senate.

Section 6. Rules of Order

In all matters not covered by these Bylaws, the Senate shall be governed by parliamentary rules and usage as set forth in Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, latest edition.

Section 7. Minutes

Minutes of an Open Meeting must consist of a record or summary of all motions, proposals, resolutions, and any other matter formally voted upon and the vote thereon; such minutes must be available to the public within two weeks from the date of the meeting. Minutes of executive sessions must consist of a record or summary of the final action that was taken and the date and vote thereon; such minutes must be available to the public within one week from the date of the executive session. If a body discusses a matter during executive session, but takes no action, minutes of an executive session need not be compiled.

Minutes of each meeting shall be sent to the members of the faculty and students serving on standing Committees of the Academic Senate as soon as practicable after the meeting, but in no case less than one week before the next regular meeting. Attendance of members of the Academic Senate shall be recorded in the minutes.

Section 8. Record of Final Votes

The Freedom of Information Law requires that a public agency must maintain a record of the final vote of each member in every agency proceeding in which the member votes. In order to minimize delay, especially on uncontroversial matters, several motions may be grouped together for a single vote and/or the chair may seek unanimous consent of the members present. All senate votes will be recorded and the minutes will note the outcome of voting actions.

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Article III. Powers of the Academic Senate

Section 1.

Through its Steering and Standing Committees, the Academic Senate shall have the power to request and receive information appropriate to or necessary for the performance of its duties, from the President and members of the administration, from students and student organizations and from such other sources as may be appropriate. It may address communications to the Board of Trustees by the President in some document whether it be a Chancellor's Report or some other report in which the vote must be recorded. As the policy making body of the College, the Academic Senate shall adopt policies not inconsistent with BOT policies and Bylaws and shall be the voice of the academic community of Queensborough Community College of the City University of New York in all matters which shall appropriately be brought before it:

  1. Extracurricular programs: athletics and cultural, fine and performing arts.
  2. Educational objectives of the College.
  3. The establishment and location of new units of the College.
  4. The periodic review of all departments of the College with the power to recommend to the Board of Trustees the creation, deletion, or restructuring of departments of the College in consultation with the department(s) in question.
  5. The formulation of the policy relating to the admission and retention of students, subject to the guidelines of the Board of Trustees, and curriculum, awarding of College credits, and granting of degrees. In granting of degrees, student members of the Senate shall not vote.
  6. The recommendation of search and evaluation procedures.
  7. And such other areas affecting the welfare of the institution.

Section 2. Presidential Consultation.

The President shall inform and discuss with the Academic Senate or with the Steering Committee when the Senate is not in session, prior to his recommendation to the Board of Trustees on all College-wide matters which fall within the purview of the Academic Senate, where his recommendations will be in disagreement with the vote of the Academic Senate and in areas that could not have been presented to the Academic Senate because of the necessity of meeting a deadline.

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Article IV. Ratification

Upon adoption by a majority of the Academic Senate present and Voting at a meeting of the Academic Senate, these Bylaws become the Bylaws of the Academic Senate of Queensborough Community College. September 1982

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Article V. Amendments

An amendment to these Bylaws may be adopted at a special or regular meeting of the Academic Senate, provided that a copy of the proposed amendment is sent to each Senate member at least one week before it is to be voted upon. The vote required shall be a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the members present.

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Article VI. Voting

Section 1.

  • Lecturers (full-time), Instructors, and the persons in Registrar series and all individuals in professorial titles who do not hold administrative positions shall have the right to vote for faculty representatives to the Academic Senate and to serve as faculty senators.
  • All full-time college laboratory technicians shall have the right to vote for two (2) CLT representatives to the Academic Senate.
  • Adjunct CLTs shall elect one (1) representative from among their number who shall cast one vote in the election of the two full-time CLT representatives to the Academic Senate and any other college-wide positions to which CLTs are elected. For purposes of this document, adjunct CLTs shall be defined as any person who is employed part-time as a CLT and who does not otherwise have Voting rights as described in the appropriate sections of this document.
  • All full-time members of the Higher Education Officer series as of February 14, 2006, shall have the right to vote for two (2) HEO representatives to the Academic Senate.
  • Adjunct faculty shall be permitted to vote for one (1) adjunct representative to the Academic Senate.
  • Persons having received notice of non-reappointment shall not have the right to vote for representatives to the Academic Senate or in the Academic Senate upon immediate receipt of such notice. Persons who have submitted a resignation shall not have the right to vote for representatives of the Academic Senate or in the Academic Senate immediately upon receipt of such resignation.
  • Persons on leave shall retain the right to vote for representatives to the Academic Senate.

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Article VII. Committees

Section 1. Eligibility

  1. All persons eligible to vote as defined in Article VI of these bylaws and in addition all full-time faculty serving in their initial two (2) years shall be eligible to serve on Academic Senate Committees, except that persons on leave of any type shall be ineligible to serve on Senate Committees during the period of their leaves.
  2. To be eligible to serve on a committee, students must be matriculated, possess a 2.0 index or better, and have completed at least 24 credits, of which a maximum of 9 may be equated credits. The names of students appointed to Senate Committees shall be submitted to the Committee on Committees for transmittal to the Senate; the students' term of membership shall begin at the conclusion of the Senate meeting at which the name is reported. Student members may not serve on more than one committee.
  3. There shall be no ex-officio members of any standing or special Academic Senate committee except as provided in these Bylaws or upon designation by the Academic Senate.

Section 2. Organization

The Academic Senate may establish such standing and ad hoc Committees as it determines. Each committee shall elect a chairperson, secretary, and such other officers as may be appropriate.

  1. Special Committees:

    Special Committees may be created by action of the Academic Senate for specific purposes. Special Committees shall be elected by the Senate.

  2. Sub-Committees

    Any committee of the Academic Senate, standing or special, may establish subCommittees for specific purposes. Members of such a subcommittee need not be members of the parent committee. The establishment and membership, consonant with Article VII, Section 1a, of each subcommittee shall be reported to the Senate. The subcommittee shall be appointed for a specific time with a life of not more than one (1) calendar year from the date of creation subject to renewal.

  3. There shall be one (1) student, designated by Student Government, from among the student members of the committee, to represent each of the Committees on which there is student participation. If the student is not a designated senator, he/she may attend meetings of the Academic Senate, and shall have speaking privileges without vote when his/her committee report is under discussion.

  4. The President and the Chairperson of the Steering Committee, or their designees, shall be ex-officio members, without vote, on all standing Committees.

  5. Any member of the instructional staff College community may be present and request permission to speak at a meeting of an Academic Senate committee.

  6. Meetings of Committees, Subcommittees and Special Committees The public has the right to attend any meeting of standing committees and subcommittees and special committees that might send matters to the Academic Senate. Any time a quorum of any such committee gathers to discuss business, the meeting must be held in public, subject to the right to convene an executive session under certain limited circumstances. In addition, there must be prior notice of the meeting; the business of the meeting must be recorded in written minutes; and a record must be obtained of the final vote of each member of the committee on all matters on which a vote is formally taken. Non-members must conform to the usual requirements of parliamentary procedure; the Parliamentarian will interpret and enforce the rules which include that no non-members of the body may speak without the permission of the body.

    1. Compliance with Robert's Rules of Order, relating to electronic Voting in order to provide, at a minimum, simultaneous aural communications between all meeting participants.

    2. Compliance with open meeting laws pursuant to New York State V. Perez.

    3. Compliance with all other committee meeting regulations provided for under this section.

  7. Standing Committees of the Academic Senate shall have faculty and instructional staff members in a total number that is a multiple of three.

  8. Faculty and instructional staff members on Standing Committees of the Academic Senate shall be elected to three year terms. The terms shall be staggered with one third elected each year.

  9. In the Spring of 2014, faculty and instructional staff members on Standing Committees of the Academic Senate will be elected one third each to terms of one , two and three years.

Section 3. Committees' Jurisdiction.

  1. The primary function of an Academic Senate committee shall be: to study the subjects referred to it by these bylaws or by the specific action of the Senate; to formulate appropriate policies thereon; and to propose such policies to the Senate for action. Every Academic Senate committee shall maintain a continuing review of College policy in its area.
  2. Members of the Academic Senate standing Committees shall function from the date of election until the first day of the Fall Semester following their election. During the changeover period from the April Senate meeting to the first day of the following Fall Semester, the various Committees shall consist of members of both the retiring Committees and the new Committees. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the committee size as of the first day of the Fall Semester. Those who will constitute the new committee shall elect one chairperson before the last day of classes of the semester in which the committee is elected. The new chairperson shall serve beginning the first day of the Fall Semester; the retiring chairperson shall be responsible for the preparation and submission of the annual report as stipulated in Article VII, Section 7b, of these Bylaws.

Section 4. Nomination and Election.

  1. Nomination to all standing Committees except the Committee on Committees shall be made by the Committee on Committees and shall be circulated to the members of the instructional staff at least two weeks prior to the election. Additional nominations may be made by a petition to be signed by seven (7) members of the instructional staff, and submitted to the Chairperson of the Committee on Committees at least one week prior to the election.
  2. All standing Committees shall be elected at the April Academic Senate meeting except as herein provided. The preparation of ballots, the appointment of tellers, and the conduct of the election shall be the duty of the Chairperson of the Committee on Committees.
  3. Election to Committees shall be by secret ballot. A majority of the votes cast shall be necessary for election to a committee. In the event that a candidate does not receive a majority, additional nominations from the floor are permissible.
  4. Student members shall be eligible according to Article VII, Section 1b, of these Bylaws at the beginning of the Fall semester.

Section 5. Vacancies.

  1. Vacancies on all Committees other than the Committee on Committees shall be filled through appointment by the Committee on Committees for the unexpired term.
  2. Vacancies on the Committee on Committees shall be filled for the unexpired term by an election of the Academic Senate.
  3. Vacancies of students shall be filled by appointment by the Executive Committee of the Student Government Association.

Section 6. Officers.

Except as otherwise hereinafter provided, each committee shall elect its own officers from among the members of the committee by secret ballot at its first meeting. If the chairperson of a committee is not designated by these Bylaws, the member whose name comes first in alphabetical order, shall, within ten days of the committee's creation, call the organization meeting of the newly elected committee.

Section 7. Reports.

  1. All committee reports requiring Senate action shall be circulated to all members of the Senate at least one week prior to Academic Senate meetings.
  2. Each standing committee shall distribute to the members of the instructional staff an annual written report and a copy filed with the Secretary of the Academic Senate prior to the first Senate meeting in September. The Secretary shall inform the Academic Senate of the names of the Committees which have not filed such reports.
  3. Ad hoc and special Committees of the Academic Senate shall make annual reports to the Academic Senate.
  4. There shall be an annual review of all ad hoc and special Committees of the Academic Senate.

Section 8. Committee on Committees.

  1. Organization
    1. The Committee on Committees shall consist of nine (9) persons. These persons shall be Voting faculty as defined in Article IV of the Bylaws of the Faculty.
    2. Only one member from any department may serve at any time on the Committee on Committees. In an election where more than one member from a department is elected, the person having the most votes shall be eligible to serve. The other will then be automatically deemed ineligible. In the case of a tie, a run-off will be conducted. A hiatus equal to the number of years of service must exist between terms for a person re-elected to the Committee on Committees.
    3. Nominations and elections for the Committee on Committees shall be conducted directly from the floor at the duly convened May meeting of the Senate except in the case of the first Senate body.
    4. Except as provided in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection d, the term of office of each member of the Committee on Committees shall be three years commencing from the time of his or her election. For the first committee, however, the members shall be elected and serve as follows:
      1. The nine (9) individuals receiving the greatest number of votes shall be deemed elected;
      2. Of the nine (9) individuals elected to the committee, the three (3) receiving the greatest number of votes shall serve for a term of three (3) years; the three (3) receiving the next three (3) highest number of votes shall serve for a term of two (2) years; and the three (3) receiving the fewest number of votes shall serve for a term of one (1) year.
      3. A person elected to fill an unexpired term shall serve only to the end of the term to which he/she was elected to complete.
  2. The Committee on Committees shall:
    1. Prepare a list of Committees, their structures and functions for adoption by the Academic Senate.
    2. Present to the Senate a slate of all nominations to standing Committees, including those nominated by petition.
    3. Fill all vacancies on standing Committees other than the Committee on Committees which occur between annual elections and report all such actions to the Senate at the meeting immediately following such action.
    4. Conduct the election of members at large to the Academic Senate as provided hereinafter.
    5. Conduct any other election as requested by the Steering Committee or the Faculty Executive Committee.
    6. Review and report on the operations of all of the Committees of the Academic Senate.
    7. Advise and provide assistance to Committees in the mechanics of committee operations.
    8. Designate a member(s) of the Committee on Committees as liaison(s) with Academic Senate Committees.
    9. Receive and report on suggestions to establish or terminate Committees of the Academic Senate.

Section 9. The Committee on Academic Development.

The Committee on Academic Development shall consist of nine (9) members of the instructional staff and two (2) students.

The Committee on Academic Development shall:

  1. Promote and/or arrange for the presentation of lectures, seminars, workshops, and exhibits to specifically include effectiveness of instruction.
  2. Review, evaluate, and report to the Academic Senate on the system of student evaluation of faculty.
  3. Consult with the departments concerned, regarding specific programs being planned.
  4. Consult with the Director of External Affairs, the Director of the Performing Arts Center and the Vice President of Institutional Advancement regarding scheduling of events.
  5. Review and/or promote activities beneficial to elective programs such as the CUNY – BA/BS, International Studies, and Honors programs.

Section 10. The Committee on Admissions

The Committee on Admissions shall consist of six (6) members of the instructional staff and three (3) student members who shall participate and vote only on matters of policy.

The Committee on Admissions shall:

  1. Formulate and recommend to the Academic Senate matriculation standards governing entrance of students to the various curricula and programs at Queensborough Community College.
  2. Formulate and recommend to the Academic Senate matriculation standards governing re-entrance of students to the various curricula and programs at Queensborough Community College.
  3. Consider appeals for matriculation and make decisions in accordance with Board of Trustees policies.

Section 11. Committee on Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness

The Committee on Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness shall consist of nine (9) members of the faculty and eligible staff, reflecting, where possible, a balanced representation of faculty from varied programs and curricula, with no more than one representative from any given department; and two (2) students.

The Committee on Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness shall:

  1. Review and evaluate summary reports describing initiatives to assess student learning from academic departments, academies, and academic programs of the college;
  2. Review and evaluate documents relating to assessments of institutional effectiveness from all non-academic units of the college;
  3. Make annual reports of progress in assessment of data collection, including:
    1. The review of assessment reports from each department/unit of the college;
    2. Courses/college units assessed from each department;
    3. Summary of Assessment data gathered from assessments;
    4. Any departmental conclusions drawn and/or actions taken as a result.
  4. Review and evaluate assessment procedures the College undertakes and make recommendations concerning these assessment initiatives to the Academic Senate, in support of principles of shared governance, academic freedom and transparency.

Section 12. The Committee on Awards and Scholarships

The Committee on Awards and Scholarships shall consist of six (6) members of the instructional staff and one (1) student.

The Committee on Awards and Scholarships shall:

  1. Evaluate and recommend to the Academic Senate criteria and selection procedures for recipients of awards and scholarships.
  2. Select and recommend to the Academic Senate recipients for College awards and scholarships for all currently enrolled students and mid-year graduates.
  3. Assist departments and coordinate administration of awards and scholarships.
  4. Receive data on all awards and scholarships granted in the College and report the data to the Academic Senate.

Section 13. The Committee on Budget Advisement

The Committee on Budget Advisement shall consist of one (1) representative from the Steering Committee of the Academic Senate; one (1) representative from the Budget Committee of the College Personnel and Budget Committee/Committee of Chairs; one (1) representative from the Faculty Executive Committee; and one (1) representative from Student Government; and

The Committee on Budget Advisement shall:

  1. Meet, on at least a bi-annual basis, with the College's chief officer for Finance and Administration to discuss college budgetary matters;
  2. Serve in an advisory capacity to the President on matters of the College budget in its entirety including the Resource Allocation Process;
  3. Hold any college budget documents circulated in meetings as confidential;
  4. Report to the College Advisory Planning Committee (CAPC) and the Academic Senate concerning budgetary conditions, and any recommendations regarding the budget and/or the budget allocation process at Queensborough Community College

Section 14. The Committee on Bylaws

The Committee on Bylaws shall consist of six (6) members of the instructional staff and one (1) student.

The Committee on Bylaws shall:

  1. Consider and recommend to the Academic Senate new bylaws and Amendments to the Bylaws of the Academic Senate.
  2. Consider and recommend to the Academic Senate new bylaws and Amendments to the existing Bylaws of the Board of Trustees.
  3. Consider and inform the Academic Senate of changes in the Bylaws of the Board of Trustees.
  4. Advise the Academic Senate regarding the application of the Bylaws.
  5. Upon the request of the Executive Committee of the Faculty, consider and recommend to the faculty new bylaws and Amendments to the Bylaws of the Faculty.

Section 16. Committee on Computer Resources

The Committee on Computer Resources shall consist of nine (9) members of the instructional staff and three (3) students.

The Committee on Computer Resources shall:

  1. Report to the Academic Senate on the developments, problems and policies related to all computer resources and computer related activities at the College (i.e. registration, faculty research, library, use of local and remote computers, educational uses, etc.)
  2. Make recommendations to the Academic Senate on matters involving the present and future utilization of these resources and related policies.
  3. Survey and inform the College community about utilization and new developments related to computer technology at the College (i.e. committee newsletter, web site, etc.).
  4. Act as a general advisory group on computer resources, training, academic web site and general educational use of technology.
  5. Provide liaison members to Committees concerned with computer and information technology.

Section 17. The Committee on Pre-College

The Committee on Pre-College shall consist of six (6) members of the instructional staff and one (1) student. Ex-Officio members should include the following: Directors of CUNY Start, CLIP, College Now, and the BTECH Campus Liaison.

The Committee on Pre-College shall:

  1. Report and recommend to the Academic Senate on services and facilities available to the Pre-College programs.
  2. Serve as a mechanism for articulation alignment between the Pre-College instructional staff and students, with respective academic departmental chairs and the Academic Senate.
  3. Consider and evaluate proposals received from faculty, students, and the community regarding policies and practices pertaining to Pre-College programs in consultation with respective academic departmental chairs and Dean of Academic Affairs.
  4. Recommend proposals and policies that would enhance the operation of the pre-college programs tothe Associate Dean of Academics.
  5. Serve as a consultative body for the development of Continuing Education and Workforce Development programs.
  6. Provide feedback to proposed courses/programs and existing ones to ensure:
    • that they are presented to the related committees and/or academic departments to avoid any conflicts of interest
    • that they are in keeping with the mission and image of college

subsequently reporting these new courses/programs and/or existing ones to the Academic Senate for its information.

The 6 members will be assigned by the Committee on Committees in staggered terms as follow: 2 members from 2020- 2021 (1 year), 2 members from 2020-2022 (2 years), and 2 members from 2020-2023 (3 years).  Thereafter, vacancies will be filled for 3 year terms.

Section 17 a. The Committee on Continuing Education and Workforce Development

The Committee on Continuing Education and Workforce Development shall consist of six (6) members of the instructional staff and one (1) student.

The Committee on Continuing Education and Workforce Development shall:

  1. Report and recommend to the Academic Senate on services and facilities available to the Continuing Education and Workforce Development programs.
  2. Serve as a mechanism for articulation alignment between the Continuing Education and Workforce Development instructional staff and students, with respective academic departmental chairs and the Academic Senate.
  3. Consider and evaluate proposals received from faculty, students, and the community regarding policies and practices pertaining to Continuing Education and Workforce Development in consultation with respective academic departmental chairs and Dean of Academic Affairs.
  4. Recommend proposals and policies that would enhance the operation of the Continuing Education and Workforce Development programs to the Dean of Continuing Education and Workforce Development.
  5. Serve as a consultative body for the development of the Continuing Education and Workforce Development
  6. Provide feedback to proposed courses/programs and existing ones to ensure:
  • that they are presented to the related committees and/or academic departments to avoid any conflicts of interest
  • that they are in keeping with the mission and image of college

subsequently reporting these new courses/programs and/or existing ones to the Academic Senate for its information.

 The 6 members will be assigned by the Committee on Committees in staggered terms as follow: 2 members from 2020- 2021 (1 year), 2 members from 2020-2022 (2 years), and 2 members from 2020-2023 (3 years).  Thereafter, vacancies will be filled for 3 year terms.

Section 18. The Committee on Course and Standing

The Committee on Course and Standing shall consist of nine (9) members of the instructional staff and, in accordance with the Governance Plan, there shall be two (2) student members who shall participate and vote only on matters of policy.

The Committee on Course and Standing shall:

  1. Formulate and recommend to the Academic Senate policies pertaining to the academic standards of Queensborough Community College including scholastic requirements for graduation, retention standards, probationary limits, and the grading system.
  2. Consider individual student appeals, interpret, and in some cases, waive existing College policies.

Section 19. The Committee on Curriculum

The Committee on Curriculum shall consist of nine (9) members of the instructional staff and two (2) students.

The Committee on Curriculum shall:

  1. Consider and recommend to the Academic Senate new curricula and courses.
  2. Consider and recommend to the Academic Senate changes in established curricula and course credits or hours.
  3. Consider and recommend to the Academic Senate graduation requirements for new curricula and changes in graduation requirements for existing curricula.

Section 20. The Committee on eLearning

The Committee on eLearning shall consist of nine (9) faculty members and two (2) students. All faculty and students should be familiar with online instruction. Faculty shall come from different departments so as to be representative of the wide range of disciplines and degree programs at the college.

The Committee on eLearning shall:

  1. Report and make recommendations to the Academic Senate on all matters related to eLearning, in particular concerning policies and procedures related to the development of, support for, and offering of fully online, partially online, hybrid and web-enhanced programs, degrees and classes;
  2. Develop and disseminate guidelines, standards, and best practices in online instruction to the College;
  3. Serve as the faculty advisory body for the College’s program for certifying faculty for instruction in online modalities, as developed in conjunction with the Committee;
  4. Provide standards for assessment of the quality of online course instructional designs, reviewing and revising these standards as needed;
  5. Work on the assessment process and criteria related to the eLearning program of the College and report findings to the Academic Senate; and
  6. Serve as an advisory body for all matters related to eLearning.

Section 21. Committee on Environment, Quality of Life and Disability Issues

The Committee on Environment, Quality of Life and Disability Issues shall consist of nine (9) members of the instructional staff and two (2) students.

The Committee on Environment, Quality of Life and Disability Issues shall:

  1. Through a process that involves the administration, formulate and recommend to the Academic Senate policies and practices pertaining to the College environment in matters of health, safety, security, maintenance and allocation of facilities;
  2. Evaluate and report to the Academic Senate on the administrative response to problems in the College environment;
  3. Receive all proposals concerning naming and renaming campus facilities and make appropriate recommendations to the Academic Senate;
  4. Review and report on College Master Plan regarding facilities and the campus environment;
  5. Review the assessment of the campus with regard to services for students with disabilities and disability issues as the assessment relates and pertains to the campus environment and campus facilities and make appropriate recommendations to the Academic Senate.

Section 22. The Committee on Cultural and Archival Resources

The Committee on Cultural and Archival Resources shall consist of ten members. The eleven (11) Voting members of the committee shall be: nine (9) members of the instructional staff; two (2) students. The nonVoting members of the committee shall be the Director of the QCC Art Gallery, the Director of the Queensborough Performing Arts Center (QPAC), and the Director of the Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center & Archives. In the event of a tie vote, the director(s) of the institution(s) shall have a vote on matters pertaining to their area of concern.

The Committee on Cultural and Archival Resources shall:

  1. Serve as a liaison between the QCC Art Gallery, Queensborough Performing Arts Center (QPAC) and Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center & Archives, and the campus community
  2. Report to Academic Senate concerning activities, acquisitions, and facility updates at the QCC Art Gallery, Queensborough Performing Arts Center (QPAC), and Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center & Archives
  3. Recommend involvement of the campus community in the QCC Art Gallery, Queensborough Performing Arts Center (QPAC), and Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center & Archives
  4. Advocate for pedagogy that utilizes the resources of the QCC Art Gallery, Queensborough Performing Arts Center (QPAC), and Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center & Archives

Section 23. The Committee on Food Insecurity

The Committee on Food Insecurity shall consist of 11 members: 9 faculty members and 2 students: one officer of the Queensborough Student Association; and one other student.

The Committee on Food Insecurity shall:

  1. With the Food Pantry becoming a part of Queensborough Community College and receiving grant funding and donations from the QCC fund, the pantry is no longer independent of the college. Members of the Food Insecurity Committee will work with administration in an advisory capacity on policy making issues and in the running of the food pantry. This change to the bylaws seeks to reflect this reality, and establish the advisory nature of the academic senate committee. Reducing the size of the Committee on Food Insecurity to nine (9) members (seven (7) faculty members, one (1) HEA/HEO and one (1) student) will better reflect the scope of the Committee’s work and will alleviate scheduling challenges. The addition of a HEA/HEO representative to the Committee acknowledges HEA/HEO participation in the Food Pantry and incorporates their additional input. The committee remains willing to continue volunteering to keep the food pantry open in partnership with the administration.

Section 24. The Committee on the Library

The Committee on the Library shall consist of six (6) members of the instructional staff and one (1) student.

The Committee on Library shall:

  1. Report and recommend to the Academic Senate on matters pertaining to the Library of Queensborough Community College.
  2. Serve as an advisory group.

Section 25. The Committee on Publications

The Committee on Publications shall consist of six (6) members of the instructional staff and three (3) students.

The Committee on Publications shall:

  1. Recommend to the Academic Senate policies and procedures pertaining to College publications including the college website.
  2. Receive information on the college website and all publications associated with the College or bearing the College name, and report this information to the Academic Senate.
  3. Serve as an advisory group for the college website and publications associated with the College.
  4. Serve as an editorial board for the Queensborough Community College Newsletter, Community Calendar, the Faculty Handbook and other handbooks, and other publications of this nature.

Section 26. The Committee on Student Activities

The Committee on Student Activities shall consist of six (6) members of the instructional staff and three (3) students.

The Committee on Student Activities shall:

  1. Report to the Academic Senate on policy matters relative to student activities.
  2. Act as an advisory group to any student group seeking faculty assistance.
  3. Assist the Director of Student Activities, other administrators, and faculty involved in student activities.
  4. Participate in the implementation of Article VII, Section B, Part 2, of the Governance Plan which states: “The Faculty and student body shall share equally the responsibility and the power to establish, subject to the approval of the Board, more detailed rules of conduct and regulations in conformity with the general requirements of this article.”

Section 27. The Committee on Vendor Services

The Committee on Vendor Services shall consist of six (6) members of the instructional staff and two (2) students.

The Committee on Vendor Services shall:

  1. Receive and evaluate the report of the Auxiliary Enterprise Board on vendor services and recommend to the Academic Senate on matters pertaining to the services and facilities of all vendors to the College, including the Bookstore and Food Services, on an annual basis;
  2. Consider and evaluate suggestions and complaints regarding the service and facilities of all vendors to the College, including the Bookstore and Food Services, sending them on to the Auxiliary Enterprise Board;
  3. Review the College's assessment of the manner of selection of and the contractual arrangements with all vendors to the College, including the Bookstore and Food Services and make recommendations.

Section 28. The Committee on Writing in the Disciplines/Writing Across the Curriculum (WID/WAC)

The Committee on WID/WAC shall consist of the director or one co-director of the WID/WAC Program, nine (9) faculty members from different departments who have participated in WID/WAC professional development and one (1) student.

The Committee on WID/WAC shall:

  1. Oversee and make recommendations to the Academic Senate related to the WID/WAC Program;

  2. Review and recommend changes in the criteria for a writing intensive (WI ) class to the Academic Senate for its approval;

  3. Oversee a continuing WID/WAC Faculty Professional Development Program with the Office of Academic Affairs;

  4. Hear and decide student cases requesting a waiver from any WI degree requirements;

  5. Provide a list of current WI-certified classes and the instructors certified to teach WI classes to the department chairs who will make the final decision on the designation of a course or section as WI each semester;

  6. Insure through a certification and recertification process that all classes designated as WI meet the criteria for a WI class.

  7. Provide the Committee on Committees with a list of faculty members who are participating in the WID/WAC program.

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Campus Cultural Centers

Kupferberg Holocaust Center exterior lit up at nightOpens in a new window
Kupferberg Holocaust Center Opens in a new window

The KHC uses the lessons of the Holocaust to educate current and future generations about the ramifications of unbridled prejudice, racism and stereotyping.

Russian Ballet performing at the Queensborough Performing Arts CenterOpens in a new window
QPAC: Performing Arts CenterOpens in a new window

QPAC is an invaluable entertainment company in this region with a growing national reputation. The arts at QPAC continues to play a vital role in transforming lives and building stronger communities.

Queensborough Art Gallery exterior in the afternoonOpens in a new window
QCC Art Gallery

The QCC Art Gallery of the City University of New York is a vital educational and cultural resource for Queensborough Community College, the Borough of Queens and the surrounding communities.