Student Handbook 2012-2013
A complete copy of the University Governance Document is available on the web at www.denison.edu/offices/provost/handbook/governancedocument.html.
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ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL reviews and makes policy decisions on all matters relating to curriculum and educational policy.
Membership: Provost, Associate Provost, Six (6) Teaching Faculty, Three (3) students, and Registrar (ex officio).
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CAMPUS AFFAIRS COUNCIL makes recommendations on all aspects of student life, student judicial processes, student publications, intercollegiate athletics, fraternities, sororities, student clubs, and social life.
Membership: President of DCGA, Speaker of DCGA, Four (4) students, Two (2) Teaching Faculty, Vice President for Student Development, One (1) Administrative Staff, and One (1) Supportive Operating Staff.
Standing Committees:
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Committee on Residential Life is responsible for reviewing/advising administration and CAC on residential life policies.
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Committee on Recreational and Intercollegiate Athletics is responsible for reviewing intercollegiate athletic programs.
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UNIVERSITY COUNCIL advises the President on policies relating to personnel, enrollment, and financial matters within the University, and oversees the implementation of those decisions. This council takes an active role in long-range planning.
Membership: President (ex officio), Provost, Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students, Vice President for Finance and Management, Five (5) Teaching Faculty, Three (3) students, and Two (2) Supportive Operating Staff.
Standing Committees:
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Personnel Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending to the University Council modifications of all policies and procedures relating to affirmative action, hiring, and benefits, for all persons employed by Denison.
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Student Enrollment and Retention Committee is responsible for establishing policy for admission, financial aid, and retention, and evaluating long-range plans for these areas.
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Finance Committee is responsible for reviewing/evaluating financial management and the annual budget.
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Information Technology Committee is responsible for reviewing/recommending policies of and resource allocations for academic computing services and the Library and Learning Resources Center. The Board will also take an active role in long-range planning for the future development of information resources and associated technology.
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Campus Sustainability Committee operates under the premise that to change the world, we must first create change within our circle of influence. As members of this committee, we commit to take and recommend actions that (1) respect the dynamic equilibrium of planetary ecosystems and (2) reduce our impact on the natural environment through reduced consumption and educated resource use decisions.
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NOTE: All Standing Committees must report regularly to their Councils and must secure "approval" of their proposals/decisions before those proposals come to the General Faculty for consideration.
Proposals may come from any person or groups of persons and must be sent on official forms to the Steering Committee. Steering Committee assigns the proposal to the appropriate Council(s) and advises on its assignment as (a) debatable, (b) non-debatable academic, or (c) non-debatable non-academic. Membership of the Steering Committee consists of the Chairperson of the Faculty, Provost, and the Speaker of DCGA Senate.
Proposals may also come from a Council, from one of its Standing Committees or from a Task Force.
After passage at the Council level:
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Debatable issues are voted on by the Faculty one at a time (academic issues by the Teaching faculty, non-academic by the General Faculty).
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Non-debatable academic issues are voted on as a unit by the Teaching Faculty.
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Non-debatable non-academic issues are voted on as a unit by the General Faculty.
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Any item can be moved to debatable calendar by 2/3 vote on the General Faculty at the meeting.
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No action of any Council is final or binding until the Faculty votes and passes it.
Task Forces may be proposed by a Council or by petition (35 faculty, one third of DCGA SENATE or 60 Supportive Operating Staff and presented to the Chair of the Faculty) and are created only by a vote of the General Faculty. Task Forces are not meant to circumvent the decision making bodies of the governance system. They are to be formed only when a significant and complex issue is to be studied. Task Forces report to the regular governance bodies.
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ACADEMIC STANDING BOARD
The Academic Standing Board reviews student petitions regarding exceptions to academic policy. Among the most common issues considered by this board are: general education modifications, late withdrawal requests, residency requirement waivers, and reinstatement petitions. The Academic Standing Board also serves as the review board for academic grievances.
Membership: Registrar, Associate Provost, Director of Academic Support & Enrichment or his or her designate, and Four (4) elected faculty members.
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THE DENISON CAMPUS GOVERNANCE ASSOCIATION (DCGA)
The Board of Trustees has final authority in all matters pertaining to the governance of Denison University. Responsibility regarding student life has been delegated to the Faculty, which in turn has delegated certain of these responsibilities to the Student Senate, subject to continued supervision by the Faculty. This distribution has created the three areas of faculty, student and joint jurisdiction in campus government.
The faculty sphere is delineated by the Faculty Regulations and the University Governance System and the student area by the Student Government Constitution and the University Governance System. Between these lies the sphere of joint action which illustrates the Denison concept of community government. In this area, problems of common concern are resolved by the University Council composed of faculty and students. The University Council's power is binding on all decisions, unless said decisions are subjected to reconsideration by the faculty or the Student Senate.
Being committed to the concept of community government at Denison, both students and faculty emphasize the joint jurisdiction of the University Senate decisions.
The purpose of the government so formed shall be: to ensure direct student participation in campus government, to protect the rights of these students of Denison University, and to determine the legitimate needs and desires of the student and manifest them in policy.