Not only do committees promote a sense of community and involvement, they also provide a forum for discussion of relevant issues affecting the quality of instruction, learning, and planning. Some committees serve an advisory capacity, while others make decisions regarding curriculum, personnel, student conduct, grades, and budgets. Participation in campus committee activities not only helps to broaden one's contacts on campus but also promotes collegiality and campus community. Additionally , service to the campus is one of the criteria for promotion and tenure. Committee service is one way of demonstrating a commitment to campus service.
Some committees are limited to full-time, tenured faculty.
Others are open to all. Elected comm ittees are staffed by divisional or campus-wide elections in April of each year. All eligible faculty are automatically nominated to serve on elected committees. It is part of each faculty member's duty to serve on a committee to which he or she is e lected. In general no faculty member will be assigned to more than two committees, although there are exceptions.