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BUSINESS OF THE DEPARTMENT

50.

 

(a)

 

In routine departmental business, the voting members of the department shall comprise those persons qualified to vote at faculty meetings. In matters of appointment, reappointment, promotion, and tenure, the voting members of the department shall vary depending on the status of the candidate. Appointment to the regular faculty shall be voted on by members of the permanent and temporary staffs. Reappointment to the regular faculty, as well as promotion in rank, shall be voted on by those members of the permanent and temporary staff whose rank is higher than that of the candidate. Tenure shall be voted on by the permanent staff only. Appointment and reappointment of lecturers, visitors, and replacement faculty shall be voted on by the regular faculty and senior lecturers. A voting member on leave or sabbatical for a semester or year may participate in departmental meetings in accordance with Section IV.B.2.b. of the Policy of Appointment, Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure at Smith College.

 

(b)

 

Other members of the faculty teaching in the department shall be entitled to be present and take part in discussions at departmental meetings.

 

(c)

 

All departments concerned must examine and make a recommendation upon proposed new courses, appointments, and posts involving their department.

 

(d)

 

Matters to be decided at department meetings include recommendations as to courses of study; arrangements of course sections and hours; elections and reports of department committees; and the budget, exclusive of salaries

(e)

 

Each department shall designate an adviser or advisers of the major whom students may consult regarding the selection of a major and the approval of the academic program. The adviser will carefully check students' programs against all departmental requirements of the major. Appeal from the decisions of the adviser of the major regarding the major program may be made to the Administrative Board.

 

(f)

 

Each department shall designate a Director or Directors of Honors, an Adviser for Study Abroad and, where appropriate, a Director of Graduate Studies.

 

(g)

 

The department represents the single most important factor both in acquainting the student with the general purpose, nature, and operation of her education at Smith College and in enlisting her cooperation and interest in the organization of this education.

Every department shall establish a joint committee of faculty and majors in which the course offerings, instruction, and the structure of the major shall be a subject of discussion at least once a semester.

Departments with graduate programs are urged to establish clearly understood procedures whereby the views of graduate students can be properly weighed in the determination of the graduate programs.

 

(h)

 

To encourage early, intelligent selection of the major by sophomores, departments should make informative presentations about the majors, including the major requirements and the honors programs. Departments are required to make at least one presentation each year in the fall or in the spring. Such presentations should be so staggered in the College calendar that a student can attend two or more without conflict.

 

(i)

 

Departments should keep on file with the Provost and Dean of the Faculty a brief description of their procedures in conducting the business of the department.

 

(j)

 

Each department and program which offers a major shall periodically assess the effectiveness of its efforts to improve the writing of the students majoring in the department in the kinds of writing assignments appropriate to the field. These efforts shall be discussed in department reviews with the administration.

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