Standing Committees

 Governance bodies are established to support the academic mission, ensure institutional integrity, and promote shared governance across campus. Committees include representatives from faculty, administration, staff, and students. Their responsibilities span key areas such as curriculum, assessment, academic standards, faculty development, and student affairs. 

Academic Appeals

Hears cases of students who desire to appeal a final course grade or charges of academic dishonesty (e.g., cheating, fabrication, collaboration, destruction of reference sources, and plagiarism). Each college shall designate one full-time faculty member to serve on the Academic Appeals Committee and one alternate. Faculty members from each college will nominate students at the beginning of the academic year, and the dean will forward these names to the Provost for consideration. For any given case, the committee will consist of three faculty members and two students from outside the college from which the appeal arises.

Admissions and Credits

Administers faculty policies and state regulations regarding problems related to admissions and credits. Members: the Registrar, the Provost or designee, one faculty member elected by the Faculty Senate, one staff member, and one student elected by Student Government. The registrar serves as the chair.

Assessment and Accreditation

Reviews academic assessment reports required by the Board of Governors and the WV-HEPC during the Program Review process, or as subsequent follow-up reports. Assessment and Accreditation Committee recommendations are shared with the Provost, College Dean, Department Chair or Program Director, and Faculty Assessment Coordinator for each academic program under review. Final recommendations are submitted to the University Board of Governors and the WV-HEPC. The committee includes one faculty representative from each college, the Director of University Effectiveness, and a Chair appointed by the Provost. Membership terms are for three academic years and members may serve multiple terms. If a member is unable to fulfill their role, their college dean nominates a replacement for the remainder of that term.

Athletics Rules Compliance

Administers the institution’s compliance with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Mountain East Conference (MEC) rules and regulations, along with federal and state laws that govern and direct intercollegiate athletics. Members: the Faculty Athletics Representative, the Director of Athletics, the Senior Women’s Administrator, the Registrar and Director of Financial Aid, the Director of Admissions, the Athletics Compliance Coordinator, and the Athletics Academic Advisor.

Campus Community Committee

The committee will identify and recommend strategies that improve campus climate, student belonging, and success outcomes. The committee will support the success of all students by supporting strategies that improve the campus experience. The committee will contribute to programs that create a welcoming, supportive, and academically enriching environment for every student.

Center for Teaching, Learning & Online Education

Provides leadership and oversight for all online learning. Supports the Office of Teaching, Learning, and Online Education (CTLOE) and maintains compliance with WLU policy and the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement as well as benchmarking performance against the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions’ Interregional Guidelines for the Evaluation of CTLOE. Chaired by the Director of CTLOE, membership includes faculty representatives from each college and school, CTLOE staff, and a student selected by Student Government.

Committee on Committees

The Committee on Committees is established to oversee the structure, function, and effectiveness of all West Liberty University standing and ad hoc committees. This committee ensures that all university committees operate efficiently, have clearly defined responsibilities, and align with the institution’s mission, vision, and strategic goals. 

Council of Deans

Shares information about mutual problems for the purpose of effecting solutions; works cooperatively with other administrators, faculty, and students; makes formal recommendations when necessary in any and all areas of campus and academic life to the appropriate person or body including but not limited to the President, Provost, Curriculum Committee, Graduate Studies Council, and Faculty Senate. Members: Provost and the academic college deans.

Council of Department Chairpersons and Program Directors

Shares information about mutual problems for the purpose of effecting solutions; works cooperatively with other administrators, faculty, and students; makes formal recommendations, when necessary, in any and all areas of campus and academic life to the appropriate person or body including but not limited to the President and the Provost. Members: Department chairpersons of all academic departments and Program Directors of all individually accredited academic programs.

Enrollment Planning Committee

The Enrollment Planning Committee is charged with providing strategic guidance and cross-functional collaboration to support the university’s short- and long-term enrollment goals. The committee works to align recruitment, retention, and student success initiatives with institutional priorities and demographic trends.

Faculty Awards Committee

The Faculty Awards Committee is charged with reviewing nominations and selecting recipients for the university’s annual Faculty Excellence Awards in the areas of Teaching, Service, and Professional Activity. The committee evaluates submissions based on clearly defined criteria and promotes the recognition of outstanding faculty contributions across the institution.

Financial Aid Committee

Recommends and reviews policies for the operation of financial aid programs; serves as a student appeal board on matters related to student financial aid. Members: a representative from the Enrollment Services division, the Financial Aid Director, one faculty member, and one student.

General Studies Assessment

Includes one faculty representative from each academic college in addition to a Chair appointed by the Provost. This committee provides oversight of the assessment of the general studies program and assists with developing and approving rubrics and other measures of student learning for the assessment of general studies skills. Recommends and provides comments on proposals to modify the general studies program.

Graduate Studies Council

Shares information about mutual problems for the purpose of effecting solutions; works cooperatively with other administrators, faculty, and students; makes formal recommendations, when necessary, in any and all areas of campus and academic life relative to graduate education to the appropriate person or body including but not limited to the President, Provost, and Faculty Senate. Serves as a general oversight body for graduate programs. Members: the Provost, Dean of Graduate Studies, the deans of academic colleges and schools with graduate programs, one faculty representative from each graduate program, and one graduate student.

Honorary Degrees and Recognition

Reviews nominations for honorary degrees, emeritus status and other awards according to established guidelines and criteria. Members: Provost (chair), one faculty member elected by Faculty Senate, one staff elected by Classified Staff Council, one student elected by Student Government Association, and the Alumni Association Liaison.

Honors Council

Administers the Honors College. The council consists of one faculty member from each college, a student elected from the Honors College, the Provost or a designee, and the Dean of the Honors College, who serves as chair.

Institutional Review Board

Establishes and maintains guiding principles which elicit the highest professional standards in dealing with experimental human subjects in order to provide assurances that proper standards are met, and that procedures do not infringe upon the safety, health, and welfare of subjects at risk. The IRB will consist of at least one faculty representative from each college, an IRB administrator, and an IRB chair. The IRB administrator is the Dean of the College of Sciences, who designates, in consultation with the Provost, an IRB chair. Nominations for IRB membership are submitted by each college dean as necessary, and appointments are determined by the IRB administrator and chair. The IRB administrator and chair are responsible for ensuring that IRB membership composition meets, to the best of their ability, current federal guidelines and regulations. Membership terms are for three academic years, and members may serve multiple terms. If an IRB member is unable to fulfill their role, their college dean will nominate a replacement for the remainder of that term.

Interdisciplinary Studies

Administers the Interdisciplinary Studies Program. Designs, implements, and evaluates degree program policies, procedures, and requirements under the auspices of the Office of the Provost. Evaluates plans of study. Members: the coordinator and faculty representing each of the colleges of instruction.

Interfaith Campus Ministry

Meets one time per semester of each academic year with representatives from the various campus ministries to foster unity, integrity, and respect among groups, to receive reports of their activities, and to assist in resolving problems pertaining to scheduling, facilities, and programming. Membership is open to appointed or designated representatives of any faith community working on the WLU campus.

Internationalization

Provides leadership for increasing opportunities for students to expand their knowledge of global issues on campus and abroad. Membership includes the Provost or designee, faculty, staff, and students.

Policy Committee

The Policy Committee is charged with overseeing the development, review, revision, and recommendation of university-wide academic and administrative policies to ensure they are current, consistent, and aligned with the institution’s mission, strategic goals, and regulatory obligations.

President's Council

Facilitates communication between administration and University faculty, staff and students. Fosters cross-functional communication between offices and departments at the University and provides feedback to the President and Cabinet on important University matters. Identifies issues for further study and discussion and expands knowledge about University functions, policies, and events. Membership includes faculty and staff. Meets monthly. 

Research, Creative Activity and Performance (RECAP)

Plans and organizes the annual RECAP symposium and competition for students at West Liberty University with the goal of recognizing and rewarding outstanding achievement in scholarly research, creative activity and performance among both graduate and undergraduate students. Membership includes faculty and staff.

Residency Appeal

Hears cases of those students who desire to appeal tuition residency status.  The institutional committee shall be comprised of members of the institutional community, including faculty and at least three, in any event, an odd number. The student representative(s) shall be appointed by the president of the institutional student government association while the faculty representative(s) shall be selected by the campus-wide representative faculty organization.

Retention Committee

Staff Development

Meets regularly to design and implement opportunities and programs for the personal development of classified staff. Provides reimbursement of travel expenses for events or conferences, tuition and/or fees associated with class of service to the institution.

Sustainability Committee

Organizes and promotes efforts related to recycling, environmental education, and sustainability. Consists of faculty, staff, and students.

Teacher Education/EPPAC

Provides university leadership for the teacher education programs: reviews, evaluates, and recommends program policies and serves as a communicating and coordinating body between the Department of Professional Education and other academic departments with teacher education programs. Voting members seventeen: two representatives from the Department of Professional Education: The Director of Teacher Education and the department chairperson; six representatives from the four colleges: number is determined by the number of education programs in the college; two education student representatives; five representatives from public and/or private schools; and one representative from the W.Va. State Department of Education. The Director of Student Teaching serves as a nonvoting ex officio member. The Director of Teacher Education chairs the committee.

Textbook Affordability Committee

The Textbook Affordability Committee is charged with identifying, promoting, and supporting strategies to reduce the cost of course materials for students while maintaining academic quality and instructional effectiveness.

Undergraduate Curriculum

Considers proposals for new degree programs, any major or minor program additions or deletions within a degree program, modifications in the general studies program, and any curricular changes by one college that affect course offerings of other colleges, acts on course additions, deletions, credits, and descriptions. Proposals for new degree programs are sent to the Faculty Senate for their consideration. Proposed modifications to the general studies program are made available for consideration and comment to the General Studies Assessment Committee, Council of Deans, and the Faculty Senate prior to being considered by the Curriculum Committee, Council of Deans, and the Faculty Senate prior to being considered by the Curriculum Committee. Members: the Provost, the academic college and school deans, one faculty member from each college, a representative of the Council of Department Chairpersons and Program Directors, the Registrar, and one student elected by Student Government.

University Planning Committee

The University Planning Committee is tasked with ensuring the effective implementation and evaluation of the West Liberty Strategic Plan to advance the institution's strategic goals and objectives. Through collaboration and strategic foresight, the committee seeks to optimize the allocation of resources, enhance institutional effectiveness, and promote a vibrant and inclusive academic community. Membership includes two-year terms for faculty, staff, and students.