1. Senate committees may appoint standing, ad hoc/temporary/special subcommittees, as they deem appropriate, for matters that fall within their jurisdiction. There should be an affirmative committee vote to appoint a subcommittee. Staffing for such subcommittees will be worked out in consultation with the chair of the Faculty Consultative Committee; generally, staff support will be limited to arranging meetings (locations, times, provision of refreshments) and duplication of materials. Additional support will be provided as the FCC chair, Senate committee chair, and Senate staff work out.

An item of business for each committee at the start of each academic year should be to review whether any standing subcommittees continue to be needed, and whether any temporary, ad hoc, or special committees are completing their work in a timely fashion.

2. Subcommittees may be appointed in any manner the appointing committee deems appropriate. Generally, chair of the appointing committee should suggest names to the other committee members, at a meeting or by email. Committee members should also have the opportunity to suggest names. The appointing committee should approve, by email vote or by vote at a meeting, the makeup of subcommittees. Members of subcommittees need not be members of the parent committee, although it is useful to have at least one member of the parent committee serve on a subcommittee, to ensure adequate communication between the subcommittee and the parent committee.

Alternatively, the appointing committee may delegate responsibility for appointment of subcommittee members and chairs to the Committee on Committees.

3. The charge to a subcommittee, and its expected duration, should be in writing and approved by the appointing committee (or the responsibility for writing the charge should be delegated to the chair). If the appointing committee expects deadlines to be met and reports and recommendations to be provided, it should so stipulate.

4. Senate committees may appoint joint subcommittees. The chairs of the appointing Senate committees should work out the allocation of members, and charge, and seek the approval of the parent committees for the charge and members to be appointed. The appointing committees may agree to delegate the responsibility for identification of joint subcommittee members and chairs to the Committee on Committees.

5. Funding for the work of a subcommittee, if more than nominal, requires approval of the Senate Budget Committee. If there is any doubt, the chair of the Senate Consultative Committee shall determine if a proposed expenditure is more than "nominal."


Approved by the Chair of the Senate Consultative Committee Fall, 1999
Revisions and the document approved by the Senate Consultative Committee March, 2004