Adjudicative/Mandated Committees

This page provides a summary of the role of each adjudicative and mandated committee and identifies the chair of that committee or other appropriate contact. For more information, please consult the Faculty Governance charters document.

Faculty Grievance Committee

Chair: Andy Duncan (English and Foreign Languages)

Purpose:

The Grievance Committee shall review conflicts of interest in PHS/NSF sponsored activities which cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the Director of Research and Sponsored Programs. The Committee will also hear grievances in any matter not covered specifically by another grievance procedures. Specifically excluded from the jurisdiction of the committee are the following:

  1. The complaint pertains to a subject that is reviewable under, or is specifically excluded from review by any other System or institutional policy;
  2. The complaint pertains to an official policy, regulation, or procedure of System or the institution; a decision or action by Board of Regrets, the Chancellor or President; or any matter the remedy for which would contravene or interfere with any such official policy, regulation, procedure, decision, or action;
  3. The complaint pertains to board areas of the fiscal management, staffing, or of the University System of Maryland or constituent institutions; or
  4. The resolution of the complaint is not under the control of the institution and/or of the University System.
  5. The grievance originally falls under the jurisdiction of the Faculty Appeals Committee.
  6. The grievance originally falls under the jurisdiction of the Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Group.

 

Faculty Mediation Committee

Chair: 

Purpose:

Faculty Mediators are trained mediators nominated and elected by their peers to provide mediations in the event of grievances between faculty members as an informal resolution mechanism before a formal petition is made to the Faculty Grievance Committee. This committee shall serve as a governance body for Faculty Mediators in which to review their procedures and make recommendations to improve the mediation process.

Faculty Appeals Committee

Chair: Tom Lambert (Biology)

Purpose:

The provisions of the University System of Maryland Policies on Appointment, Rank, and Tuner (USM A.R.T) mandate the function of the Faculty Appeals Committee. As such, it will hear appeals brought by individual faculty members of the recommendations of the Provost on sabbatical, professional/research leaves, promotions, tenure, permanent status, academic freedom, and other personnel matters. The Faculty Appeals Committee's Functions include:

  1. Hearing cases involving formal proceedings concerning actions leading toward dismissal of a tenure/permanent status faculty member or a probationary appointment faculty member whose term of appointment has not expired;
  2. Hearing individual appeals by faculty members regarding promotion;
  3. Hearing individual appeals by faculty members regarding Evaluation/Merit Recommendation (only applicable to Faculty members who score less than 3.0 overall);
  4. Hearing individual appeals by faculty members regarding sabbatical professional/research leave;
  5. Hearing individual appeals by faculty members regarding tenure/permanent status;
  6. Hearing individual appeals by faculty members terminated under a retrenchment plan;
  7. Hearing cases involving formal proceedings concerning actions leading to sanction against a faculty member;
  8. Hearing individual appeals by faculty members who allege an infringement of academic freedom;
  9. And carrying out such other responsibilities as are indicated in the ISM A.R.T. document.

 

Parking Appeals Committee

Contact: Chief Cynthia Smith, FSU Police 

Purpose:

The Parking Appeals Committee has as its purpose the adjudication of appeals received from the recipient of University paring ticket(s). Additionally, bases upon the perceptions gained from reviewing said appeals, the Committee may recommend to the University Police, modification of procedures and/ or provisions to the University Police, modification of procedures and/or provisions associated with parking, parking regulations, and the enforcement thereof.

 

Institutional Review Board

Chair: Christopher Masciocchi (Psychology)

Purpose:

The full name of the IRB is the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Humans as Participants in Research. Its review of protocols focuses on protecting research participants and making sure that any risks are balanced appropriately by expected benefits under Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations 46 Protection of Human Subjects. That is its sole function

For more information on FSU's IRB requirements and procedures, visit the Humans as Participants in Research page.

 

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Chair: Karen Keller (Biology)

Purpose:

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee exists to minimize potential harm to vertebrate animal subjects of research and teaching projects. Its responsibilities include:

  1. Semiannual inspections of all live vertebrate animal care facilities on campus, including making recommendations to ensure quality humane care.
  2. Reviewing and approving animal use protocols (AUP’s) involving the use of live vertebrate animals in research or teaching to ensure compliance with all regulations and standards in the current Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C.
  3. Review of proposed significant changes to animal use of previously approved AUP’s.
  4. Preparing such annual or special reports on vertebrate animal research or teaching risks as may be required by federal or state agencies.
  5. Preparing guidelines and application materials as may be helpful to researchers or instructors on campus.
  6. Assisting in informing the campus of other regulations and requirements, which govern research exempt from Committee review by the federal rule.

The IACUC will also complete such other duties as changes in federal or state regulations may require or are directed by the President.

For more information, visit FSU's Animal Care and Use page.

Academic Department Chairs Council

Chair: Michael Flinn (Computer Science and Information Technologies)

Purpose:

The Academic Department Chairs Council provides:

  • A forum for chairs to discuss and address issues of particular interest to academic departments and department chairs,
  • A channel of communication between department chairs and various administrative offices of the University and faculty governance, and
  • A vehicle for initiating proposals related to academic departments and department chairs in faculty governance.
  • An opportunity, in conjunction with the Institutional Priorities and Resources Committee, to review (at least once every five years) department chairs' compensation, including stipends and reassigned time, to determine if change is warranted.

 

Student Conduct Hearing Panels

Contact: Carl Crowe, Dean of Students

Purpose: 

Hearing panels have as their primary purpose the adjudication of possible violations of the Code of Student Conduct. The Student Conduct system is designed to be educational in nature rather than punitive in nature even though serious violations will involve considerations of a recommendation of suspension or dismissal from the institution. Procedures are designed to focus on student behavioral choices and civic responsibility within a context of student learning.