INSTITUTIONAL POLICY & PLANNING COMMITTEE (IPPC)

Function: The IPPC advises the President with regard to strategic planning, taking a comprehensive view of significant issues affecting the College. In so doing, it serves as the central deliberative body for all-college governance. More specifically, IPPC advises the President on all policy areas, with primary responsibility for those areas beyond the purview of faculty governance (such as budget and financial planning, benefits, environmental issues, admissions and financial aid, student affairs, and advancement).

The President chairs the IPPC; an elected member of the faculty serves as vice-chair. The agenda of the Committee is set by these two individuals in consultation with the President's Cabinet, the Faculty Executive Committee (FEC), and the Student Government Association (SGA).

The IPPC may appoint subcommittees to serve as resources for the committee with regard to any area of policy or planning as needed. The composition of such subcommittees is determined by IPPC in consultation with FEC and with other groups or individuals as appropriate.

Membership: The President (Chair), the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Finance and Administration & Treasurer, the Vice President for Advancement, the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, the Dean of Student Affairs, the Dean of Faculty, the Dean of Special Programs, the Director of Institutional Research, three faculty members elected for three year terms, one of whom serves as Vice-Chair and all of whom sit on the FEC, the chair of the Committee on Educational Policies and Planning (CEPP), one representative from the administrative/professional staff, one representative from the support staff, the President of SGA, and one additional student selected by SGA.

INTEGRITY BOARD-appointed

Function: To adjudicate cases of academic and social violations.

Membership: The Integrity Board is composed of one or two faculty drawn from a pool of six faculty members appointed by FEC to serve overlapping two year terms, four students including the chair (drawn from a pool appointed by SGA), one other member of the college staff (appointed by the Dean of Student Affairs or the Dean of Studies, in consultation with SGA Executive Committee), and the Dean of Studies or Associate Dean of Student Affairs, serving as Judicial Counsel (non-voting). The student co-chair not party to an anticipated hearing works with Judicial Counsel. (Note: Members of the Integrity Board also serve on the Board of Appeals.)

BOARD OF APPEALS-appointed

Function: To serve as the Appeal Board for cases heard by the Integrity Board.

The Dean of the Faculty and the Integrity Board Chair not party to the initial hearing review Integrity Board recommendations of suspension or dismissal in academic integrity cases. The Dean of Student Affairs and the Integrity Board Chair not party to the initial hearing review Integrity Board recommendations of suspension or dismissal in social integrity cases. Appeals will be considered only when there is new information directly related to the case, evidence regarding the fairness of the board's procedures, or a sanction that appears disproportionate to the violation.

Membership: For academic integrity cases, two faculty members appointed by FEC on a case-by-case basis, drawn from the pool of faculty who serve on the Integrity Board but who have not heard the case in question, the Dean of the Faculty as Chair, and two students serving on the Integrity Board who were not party to the initial hearing. For social integrity cases, one faculty member appointed by FEC, drawn from the pool of faculty serving on the Integrity Board but who have not heard the case in question, the Dean of Student Affairs as Chair, and two students serving on the Integrity Board who were not party to the initial hearing.

HONORS CODE COMMISSION-appointed

Function: To coordinate and conduct Honor Code workshops for first-year students and transfers; and in its capacity as a commission, to help educate all students as to what constitutes an honor violation, to implement the Honor Code by requiring students to write on their tests and exams that they have not witnessed or in any way aided another person cheating, and to recommend changes in the Honor Code System.

Membership: The Student Honor Code Educator as Chair, the SGA Vice President for Academic Affairs, one student representative at-large, one faculty representative at-large, and one representative from each of the judicial boards (Integrity Board, and Board of Appeals).

INFORMATION RESOURCES COUNCIL (IRC)-appointed

Function: To recommend to the College policies and plans regarding information resources, including their ongoing assessment and renewal, and thereby to serve as the College's chief policy-recommending and planning body for information resources; to provide a forum in which the senior administration of the College, the directors of the various information resource centers, and the users of information resources may engage in substantive deliberations to ensure that the College reaps fully the benefits of modern integrated information resources and external networks; to review and revise the College's long-range plan for information resources on a regular basis. The IRC may appoint task forces to address particular aspects of its mission as it deems appropriate. In instances where faculty will be appointed to such task forces, the IRC will inform the FEC of the appointments. In the case of educational policy and planning issues, including issues concerning the library, the IRC will coordinate its consideration of such issues with that of CEPP and will submit proposals for CEPP's approval. Ordinarily, meetings of the IRC will be open and advertised in advance.

Membership: Three faculty members, appointed by the FEC in consultation with the Vice President for Academic Affairs, to serve three-year terms; two students selected by SGA; the Vice President for Academic Affairs, who will serve as Chair; the Vice President for Finance and Administration & Treasurer; the College Librarian; the Director of Information Technology (IT); the Director of Institutional Research; and a representative from the Office of Special Programs.

INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE & USE COMMITTEE-appointed

Function: To monitor the use of laboratory animals in teaching and research.

Membership: No fewer than five members appointed by the Dean of the Faculty; a veterinarian, a scientist experienced in laboratory animal research, and an individual who has no other affiliation with the institution besides membership on the committee.

SAFETY-IN-THE WORKPLACE COMMITTEE-appointed

Function: To publish and maintain the Safety in the Workplace Program, a program that complies both with applicable external laws and regulations and with Skidmore’s specific needs, to review regularly existing safety policies and consider new policies designed to minimize unsafe acts, eliminate or control hazards, and stimulate efforts to create and maintain interest in safety.

Membership: Two faculty members, one student member, one support staff member, one member of Local 200D, all appointed by the President and serving staggered three-year terms; the College physician, the Manager of Employment and Training, the Dean of the Faculty or her/his designee, and the Business Manager (chair).

DIVERSITY & AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE-appointed

Function: To advise the President on Diversity and Affirmative Action policy, to consult with the Diversity and Affirmative Action Officer, to review annually the College’s Diversity and Affirmative Action program including the sexual harassment policy and submit specific recommendations for improvement, to hear concerns from any member of the College community relating to alleged discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, age national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation or concerns relating to sexual harassment, to implement ongoing educational programs and to review discrimination and sexual harassment complaints as directed by the Director of Diversity and Affirmative Action in order to provide the College community with information about diversity and affirmative action policies and issues, including sexual harassment.

Membership: Two full-time faculty members, two support staff, two administrators, all appointed by the President and who serve a three-year term for no more than two consecutive terms; two students appointed by the President for a two year term renewable for a third year; the Assistant to the Dean of Students for Multicultural Students (ex officio with vote) who shall maintain a liaison with the Dean of Students; the Director of Diversity and Affirmative Action (ex officio with vote), and the Director of Human Resources (ex officio with vote). Other members of the College community, for example the Assistant to the President, may be invited to attend without a vote.