Governance Committee Descriptions

Below is a list of the 31 university governance committees.  Although not all governance committees report to the University Senate, the University Senate appoints or conducts elections to fill membership positions.

If you have any questions about the membership on a particular committee, call the University Senate Office at extension 3-4856 or email senate@kutztown.edu. The Senate Office has access to all the current information about committee structures, chairs, meeting times, etc.

  • Shared Governance Task Force

    Task Force Charge: The Task Force shall research and analyze current KU and best shared government practices.

    • To enhance communication and reporting of KU governance committees
    • To reduce redundancy and streamline membership and selection processes
    • To identify and explore state and national governance best practices (AAC&U and PASSHE)
    • To improve efficiency and clarify mission statements of shared governance
    • To promote the value of university service

     Timeline: The Task Force shall complete its charge by April 2022 and deliver its report and recommendations to the University Senate by the May 2022 meeting.

    Willingness Appointments to Task Force

    Effective August 2021

    • Tony Wong, Chair-Committee on Committees, Ex-Officio
    • Mary J Bononno, Senate, Management Technician, Ex-Officio

    Staff & Management Representatives

    • Matt Delaney
    • Carissa Pokorney-Golden
    • Caecilia Holt
    • Jerry Schearer, Co-Chair
    • Jason Garcia

    Faculty Representatives

    • Deryl Johnson, Co-Chair
    • Albert Fu
    • Jason Lanter
    • Ashley Coombs
    • Tabetha Bernstein

1. Academic Standards & Policies Committee: 

Recommends to the University Senate policies regarding academic standards and admissions standards for all students and programs, undergraduate and graduate. Meetings: monthly and as needed. Terms: 2 years. Appointees: 6 of the 13 members. - Reports to University Senate.

2. Academic Technology Committee:

Acts as a clearinghouse for all other technology related committees on campus for the purpose of keeping all parties informed of activities and needs. Meetings: as needed. Terms: 2 years. Appointees: 5 of the 24 members. - Reports to University Senate.

3. Athletic Policies & Programs Committee:

Makes recommendations concerning all matters, including financial management that affect the operation of the athletic, intramural and recreational programs at the university. Meetings:  TBD. Terms: 3 years. Appointees: 4 of the 10 members. - Reports to University Senate.

4. Calendar Committee:

Makes recommendations to the Administrative Council with regard to an academic calendar for the University. Meetings: TBD. Terms: 2 years. Appointees: 7 of the 16 members. – Reports to Administrative Council.

5. Campus Beautification & Preservation Committee:

Makes recommendations as to ways the campus can be beautified both internally and externally. It also solicits the cooperation of all members of the university community in keeping the campus beautiful. Meetings:  as needed. Terms: 2 years. Appointees: 6 of the 10 members. – Reports to Administrative Council.

6. Center for Engaged Learning Advisory Board:

The Kutztown University Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) exists primarily to facilitate the involvement of faculty in a dialogue regarding the art and science of university teaching. The CEL offers programs, activities, and resources to support excellent teaching throughout the university. Meetings: TBD Terms: 3 years. Appointees: 6 of the 12 members. - Reports to University Senate.

7. Commission on Human Diversity:

Pursues the goal of having a university community where all members honor each other's differences. It sets priorities, monitors changes and educates the community in order to create an environment in which all members will receive proper recognition, encouragement and support. Meetings: monthly Terms: 2 years. Appointees: 11 of the 27 members. – Reports to Administrative Council.

8. Commission on the Status of Minorities:

Focuses on the monitoring of the recruitment and retention of students, faculty,
staff, and administrators of color at Kutztown University. The responsibilities of the CSM
include making recommendations regarding new policies, as well as changes to existing
Kutztown University policies, programs, and/or procedures to support the creation of a culturally and psychologically “safe” environment in which the cultural, educational, and intellectual needs of students, staff, faculty, and administrators of color can be met and their experience at Kutztown enhanced. Terms: 2 years.  Appointees: 5 of 18 membersReports to Administrative Council.

9. Commission on the Status of Women:

Addresses equity issues of concern to all women at the university. The commission will make recommendations to the Commission on Human Diversity concerning the conditions necessary for women students, faculty, staff and administrators to assert their expectations of respect, recognition and reward with special attention to minority women and the under-utilization of the talents and perspectives of women throughout the university. Meetings: monthly Terms: 2 years. Appointees: 10 of the 27 members. –Reports to Administrative Council.

10. Committee on Committees:

Makes faculty and professional staff appointments to university-wide committees as needed. It also makes recommendations on the structure of the committees to which it makes appointments. Meetings: monthly and as needed. Terms: 3 years. Electees: 8 elected members. - Reports to University Senate.

11. Cultural Performing Arts Advisory Committee:

Advises in the selection of performances for the Performing Artist Series at the university. Meetings: once a semester or as needed. Terms: 2 years. Appointees: 4 of the 6 members. Reports to the Cultural Affairs Director

12. Enrollment Management Committee:

Identifies, supports and facilitates effective enrollment management programs and strategies. Meetings: TBD Terms: 3 years. Appointees: 4 of the 17 members. - Reports to University Senate.

13. Events Advisory Council:

Determines guidelines for the scheduling of all activities except for those scheduled by the Dean of Academic Services and the Director of Athletics. Each spring the committee reviews applications for and oversees the preparation of the Schedule of Events for the following year. Meetings: as needed. Terms: 2 years. Appointees: 2 of the 12 members. - Reports to University Senate.

14. Grade Appeal Board:

Reviews and acts on petitions from students who believe that their final course grade reflects unsubstantiated academic evaluation and who wish to pursue a grade change appeal in accordance with the Grade Appeal Petition. Meetings: as needed. Terms: 3 years. Electees: 5 of the 6 members. - Reports to University Senate.

15. Graduate Exceptions Committee:

Reviews graduate student requests for exceptions to current Kutztown University procedures and policies, including time extensions.  With respect to these duties, the mission of the Graduate Exceptions Committee is to promote graduate student welfare and uphold Kutztown University academic policies. Meetings: as needed. Terms: 3 years. Appointees: 5 of the 7 members. - Reports to University Senate.

16. Honorary Degree Committee:

Implements policy and procedures to invite outstanding individuals to serve as visiting professors. It also implements policy and procedures by which the university confers honorary degrees. Meetings: as needed. Terms: 2 years. Appointees: 5 of the 8 members. - Reports to University Senate.

17. Institutional Climate Committee:

The purpose of the ICC is to heighten awareness of campus community members' perceptions and attitudes about KU; open up communication concerning perceptions and attitudes about KU; recommend university policies, procedures, and practices that promote more positive stakeholder perceptions and attitudes about KU; encourage teaching, research, and programs that enhance KU's climate of engagement, and transform KU into a more welcoming and inclusive place to live, work and learn. The ICC shall serve as a consulting team for stakeholder concerns about climate that arise from the survey and from other sources, and they shall present the results of their inquiry in open forums and in campus community reports and updates. Meetings: monthly Terms: 3 years. Appointees: 8 of the 17 members. - Reports to University Senate.

18. Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects:

Reviews research, both student and faculty, which involves human subjects in order to assure that no research at Kutztown University exposes persons who participate as subjects or respondents to unreasonable risks to health, general well-being, or privacy. Meetings: as needed. Terms: 2 years. Appointees: 7 of the 8 members. - Reports to University Senate.

19. International Affairs Committee:

Coordinates activities for international students on campus. It fosters and promotes international education programs. Meetings: as needed. Terms: 3 years. Appointees: 9 of the 14 members. - Reports to University Senate.

20. Library Committee:

Considers library needs and makes recommendations concerning library policies. It serves as a liaison between the library and university community. Meetings: TBD Terms: 2 years. Appointees: 7 of the 9 members. Reports to Library Director.

21. Professional Development Committee:

Facilitates the professional growth of the faculty  at the University. It considers and funds individual and group proposals from faculty that satisfy the guidelines of the committee. Meetings: twice monthly. Terms: 2 years. Appointees: 4 of the 6 members and 4 alternates. - Reports to University Senate.

22. Research Committee:

Supports research projects of faculty and administrators by providing seed money under guidelines distributed by the committee to allow a person to pursue, on a limited basis, a new topic or idea. Meetings: as needed. Terms: 2 years. Appointees: 8 of the 9 members and 8 alternates. - Reports to University Senate.

23. Space Allocation and Renovation Committee:

Implements changes in the usage of various areas on campus. Meetings: as needed. Terms: 2 years. Appointees: 5 of the 11 members. Reports to Vice President Administration & Finance

24. Strategic Planning & Resources Committee:

Makes recommendations concerning strategic planning, budget, and development and allocation procedures for the university. In order to fulfill this responsibility, the committee develops and reviews all pertinent planning and budget materials. Meetings: TBD Terms: 3 years. Electees: 11 of the 29 members. - Reports to University Senate.

25. Student-Faculty Review Board

Provides due process for the student population by hearing appeals and deciding whether or not violations by students have arisen under legally established university regulations. Meetings: as needed. Terms: 3 years. Appointees: 5 of the 10 members. - Reports to Dean of Students.

26. Undergraduate Academic Honesty Committee

Responsible for (1.) hearing testimony and/or reviewing evidence relevant to an allegation of undergraduate academic dishonesty; (2.) making a finding based on testimony and evidence presented; and, (3.) recommending a sanction, based on Policy ACA-027 Academic Honesty- Undergraduate Students. Meetings: As needed.  Terms: 3 years. Appointees: 5 of the 6 members. - Reports to University Senate.

27. Undergraduate Admissions Exceptions Committee:

Recommends admission for students who do not qualify for regular admission to the university. Meetings: bi-monthly. Terms: 2 years. Appointees: 4 of the 7 members. - Reports to University Senate.

28. Undergraduate Exceptions Committee:

Reviews petitions of individual students wishing to have a specific regulation waived for just cause. Meetings: monthly and as needed. Terms: 3 years (Counseling Center 2 years). Appointees: 5 of the 9 members. - Reports to University Senate.

29. University Conduct Board:

Hears cases involving students accused of violating a university regulation. Meetings: as needed. Terms: 3 years. Appointees: 10 of the 22 members. - Reports to Dean of Students.

30. University Traffic Bureau:

Advises the Administrative Council on proposals, policies and regulations pertaining to parking and traffic control on the campus. It serves as an appellate body to hear and adjudicate violations of campus parking and traffic regulations. Meetings: twice monthly. Terms: 3 years. Appointees: 2 of the 9 members. – Reports to Administrative Council.

Students are invited to participate in the Kutztown University Governance and Advisory Committees.  This is a great way to get to know others at the university, become a part of the decision-making process and have your voice heard.  No prior experience necessary, just a genuine interest in being an active part of the community!

The Student Government Board will review online applications on a rolling basis and makes student placements in early September.  Questions?  Please contact Leah in Student Involvement at casselli@kutztown.edu.   

Union Committee Representative: To be considered for a committee union position please contact a union representative.

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