INSTRUCTION
FACULTY GOVERNANCE

Procedure

FACULTY GOVERNANCE

Navarro College recognizes that Faculty are the primary change agents for academic activities that empower students to achieve their personal, academic and career goals and that promote lifelong learning for all communities served.

In addition to teaching responsibilities, the faculty has primary responsibility for such fundamental areas as curriculum, subject matter and methods of instruction, and other matters directly related to teaching and learning. The faculty also recommend the requirements for degrees and certificates. These are accomplished through faculty association meetings, academic council, and through institutional effectiveness measures such as assessment of student learning outcomes (SLO's), program learning outcomes (PLO's), core objectives, and annual and comprehensive program reviews.

The College also recognizes that faculty are an integral component in the operation and success of the College. As such, faculty serve the institution and its mission through activities that transcend the classroom. These shared governance activities include:

Department Chairs and Program Coordinators: Department Chairs work with the Deans to ensure course offerings reflect student needs, procure necessary instructional resources, and maintain positive communication and coordination with adjunct faculty. The following are specific responsibilities of Department Chairs:

  • Conduct program reviews according to the Institutional Effectiveness Plan.
  • Manage and document efforts through the assessment process to continuously improve student learning according to the Institutional Effectiveness Plan.
  • Work with the Dean to develop departmental schedules and teaching assignments as requested.
  • Work with the Dean to identify instructional resources (fiscal, technical, and human) consistent with delivering quality instruction.
  • Ensure resources and mentoring is available to adjunct Faculty
  • Assist in recruiting, screening, and hiring qualified adjunct instructors
  • Assist in training of new full-time and adjunct faculty
  • Coordinate textbook adoption and communicate selection of books and other instructional materials to full-time/adjunct faculty and coordinate training as appropriate.
  • Monitor and evaluate departmental course syllabi to ensure alignment with the College catalog, assessment practices, and adopted principles of an effective syllabus.
  • Maintain the departmental/program organization in Canvas.
  • Seek input from the faculty and provide effective communication to promote morale and collegiality within the division and throughout the College community.
  • Coordinate and lead departmental meetings.
  • Assist in compliance with SACS-COC criteria, state and national guidelines, and accrediting standards.
  • Plan and coordinate the teaching/learning process in the department.
  • As applicable, assist in developing policies and ensuring that policies and procedures have received administrative and Board approval and have been implemented in the department/division.
  • As applicable, assist in recruiting and business development.
  • Monitor and evaluate departmental courses to ensure alignment with the ACGM/WECM course inventories.
  • Revise or develop courses and curriculum.
  • Collaborate with departmental faculty to determine course content and grading standards.
  • Encourage initiative and innovation in teaching methods and techniques within the department.

New Faculty Appointments: Full-time faculty are actively involved in the appointment of new faculty. Faculty are appointed to screening and interview committees as part of the new faculty selection process.

Committees: Faculty serve on a number of committees at the college in the furtherance of its mission. Some of these include:

  • Academic Council
  • Campus safety
  • Scholarship committees
  • SACSCOC
  • Strategic Enrollment Management
  • Safety Committee
  • Hiring Committees
  • QEP
  • Ad hoc

FACULTY ASSOCIATION

The purpose of the Faculty Association is to address matters that relate to the faculty.

All full-time faculty including librarians serve as members of the Faculty Association. The Association as a whole annually elects officers and a nine-member Executive Committee. The Faculty Association Executive Committee (FAEC) meets on a regular and periodic basis with the District President to discuss matters of interest to the faculty. The Chairperson of the FAEC will normally serve as the faculty spokesperson and representative of the faculty. The Chairperson will be the point of contact with the faculty and will appoint faculty to other committees as may be required. The FAEC Chairperson also serves on other committees including the SACSCOC Steering Committee.

ACADEMIC COUNCIL

Full-time faculty serve on the Academic Council. The Academic Council serves as the Curriculum Review Committee for the college and in this capacity clearly defines the process through which the curriculum is established, reviewed and evaluated. This process recognizes the roles of the Faculty, the Administration, and the Board of Trustees. Faculty are voting members and have a voice in all academic matters addressed by the Council. All curriculum changes, including modification of existing programs, program updates, and new program approvals, must be approved by the Academic Council. Academic Council meets monthly during fall and spring semesters (August – May) and can be convened during the summer, if needed.

Membership: The Vice President for Academic Affairs serves as the Chair of the Academic Council. The Faculty Association and Executive Deans may recommend faculty members on this committee.

UPDATED: March 31, 2020