Faculty Council

Professors stand together smiling at Bryn Athyn College

Faculty Council

The mission of the Faculty Council is the same as that of Bryn Athyn College itself: to enhance students’ civil, moral, and spiritual lives. We strive to achieve this by serving as a New Church intellectual center, enriched, guided, and structured by the Old and New Testaments and the Heavenly Doctrines penned by Emanuel Swedenborg. The Faculty Council provides structure and orderly processes to facilitate the achievement of the mission. Recognized by the Board of Trustees, the Faculty Council provides a forum for conducting the business of the faculty as well as a forum in which the faculty can express their views. Furthermore, the Faculty Council assists Bryn Athyn College in meeting the professional standards of institutions of higher education in the United States.

Faculty Council Standing Committees

Steering Committee

Charge: The Steering Committee coordinates the business of the officers, manages the affairs of the Council, and represents the faculty to the administration and board of trustees (Article VI, Faculty Council Constitution). This shall include monitoring and proposing modifications to the work of committees and subcommittees, managing faculty council meetings, holding elections, overseeing the Council budget, assessing the work of committees, and reporting to the Council (Articles V & VI, Faculty Council Bylaws).

Academic Affairs

Charge: The Academic Affairs Committee represents the faculty in all academic matters. This shall include, but not be limited to, monitoring and proposing modifications to the general curriculum, academic programs and policies, research, and pedagogical policies.

Admissions

Charge: The Admissions Committee represents the faculty in the area of admissions and financial aid. This shall include, but not be limited to, monitoring and proposing modifications to the policies and procedures regarding the recruiting, admitting, and retaining of students while fostering communication between enrollment management offices and the faculty.

Faculty Matters

Charge: The Faculty Matters Committee represents the faculty in all matters relating to employment at the college. This shall include, but not be limited to, monitoring and proposing modifications to employee compensation and benefits, career paths (from orientation to emeritus status), governance, and general faculty policies.

Grievance Committee

Charge: The Grievance Committee is part of the grievance process and is responsible for determining whether the substance of a petition is grievable, whether the informal procedure has been exhausted, and then the merits of the grievance. It reports its conclusions and recommendations to the parties to the grievance and to the HR Director.

Planning, Finance, and Outcomes

Charge: The Planning, Finance, and Outcomes Committee represents the faculty in planning for the future of the College and in outcomes assessment. This shall include, but not be limited to, monitoring and proposing modifications to the planning process and results, the financial status of the college, gifts to further the work of the faculty, and institutional outcomes assessment.

Student Life

Charge: The Student Life Committee represents the faculty in all matters relating to student life. This shall include, but not be limited to, monitoring and proposing modifications to the policies and programs in athletics, residence life, and student development.

Teaching

Charge: The Teaching Committee encourages discussion and development of pedagogy by all faculty members and promotes effective practices in the classroom. It encourages attendance at teaching-related conferences, webinars and faculty presentations, and sharing information gained thereby. It supports the multifaceted use of New Church/Swedenborgian thought in the classroom.

Tenure and Promotions*

Charge: The Tenure and Promotion Committee will develop recommendations for policies and procedures regarding tenure and promotion and communicate them to the Faculty Matters Committee and to the Dean of Academics and Faculty. Using approved policies and procedures, the Tenure and Promotions Committee will conduct reviews of candidates for tenure and promotion and recommend qualified candidates for tenure and promotion to the Dean of Academics and Faculty, and thus to the President. The goal of the Tenure and Promotion Committee’s work is to contribute to the development of a talented and productive faculty appropriate for a New Church liberal arts college.

*Denotes a joint Faculty Council/Administration committee

Related Links

Contact

Grant Schnarr
Faculty Council Chair
grant.schnarr@brynathyn.edu
267-502-6075