Committees

The governance of the college is facilitated by the Area Promotions Committee, by various faculty standing committees, and by administrative committees and councils on which faculty serve. Information regarding the composition and responsibilities of these committees is provided below and in the HHS Bylaws. In addition, the dean makes available a list of the membership of all committees of these types. That list also indicates which HHS faculty represent the college in the University Senate and on the other University committees that are described below.

Area Promotions Committee

The Area Promotions Committee shall consist of the dean, who will serve as the chair, the heads of the college’s academic units, and one other tenured full professor from each unit who is elected by the voting faculty in that unit in accordance with the college’s promotion and tenure policy. An associate dean of the college who is a tenured full professor shall be appointed by the dean to serve as a non-voting member of the committee and to preside in the absence of the dean. In addition, clinical/professional faculty at the rank of full professor will be selected in accordance with the college’s promotion and tenure policy to join the area committee for the discussions and votes on all clinical/professional faculty being considered for promotion. Research faculty at the rank of full professor will be selected in accordance with the college’s promotion and tenure policy to join the area committee for the discussions and votes on all research faculty being considered for promotion. This committee will meet and act upon those recommendations forwarded from the primary committees in the college regarding promotion and regarding tenure. The committee shall also review and vote on recommendations for distinguished professorships and nominations for honorary doctorates from the college.

Faculty Standing Committees

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee shall consist of the Associate Dean for DEI, who will serve as chair, and the Directors of DEI in each academic unit. This committee shall focus on matters related to increasing diversity among faculty, students, and staff, and to fostering equity, inclusion, and success. The committee shall examine existing policies, programs, procedures and initiatives, informed by relevant data where possible, to identify areas for improvements. The committee will discuss and implement strategies and initiatives for creating and sustaining positive change. Examples include a focus on DEI in relation to research, outreach, engagement, recruitment, retention, scholarships, fellowships, grants, mentoring, curriculum, teaching, and learning opportunities for raising critical consciousness and reducing bias. HHS DEI committee members will serve as DEI liaisons to other major HHS faculty committees.

The Faculty Affairs Committee shall consist of nine faculty members, all of whom have been elected by the faculty of their units, and none of whom may serve as an assistant or associate dean, or as a head, assistant head, or associate head in the college; and an ex-officio member who serves on the DEI Committee of the college. The chair shall be elected by the committee annually, during its last meeting of the spring semester. This committee, which serves primarily as a liaison between the faculty and the dean, may convene to discuss any and all matters that affect the responsibilities, rights, and welfare of the college’s faculty. The committee shall meet with the dean at least once each semester to discuss topics of special concern to the faculty. Working in collaboration with the dean, the committee shall also establish the process for the regular review of deans and heads that is described in Article I.B. of the HHS Bylaws  Finally, as stated in Article IX of the bylaws, the committee shall review these bylaws every five years.

The Graduate Educational Policy and Curriculum Committee shall consist of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs, who will serve as chair, the Graduate Committee Chair in each academic unit, and an ex-officio member who serves on the DEI Committee of the college. If a Graduate Committee Chair prefers not to serve, another member of that unit’s graduate committee shall be named by the head as the unit’s representative. In addition, the dean shall appoint one or more graduate student members to the committee for a one-year renewable term. This committee shall focus on such matters as the improvement of graduate instruction, interdisciplinary graduate programs, graduate fellowships and awards, and policy issues related to the college’s graduate programs. The committee shall also evaluate proposals for creating or revising graduate courses and programs.

The International Programs Committee shall consist of a faculty representative from each unit; a staff representative from Student Services; a HHS graduate student; two HHS undergraduate students, one of whom is an international student; and an ex-officio member who serves on the HHS DEI Committee.  The HHS Faculty Director of Global Education will chair the committee. The students shall be nominated by the faculty and staff representatives and chosen by the chair. The committee shall work on programs for study abroad, faculty exchange, and other international activities.

The Online Learning Committee consists of the Associate Dean for Online Education, who serves as chair; the Purdue Online Administrative Lead for HHS, who serves as an ex-officio member; and a representative from each academic unit who is appointed by the unit head. The primary goal of this committee is to promote and enhance HHS efforts in online/hybrid and professional learning. This committee focuses on such matters as identifying and stewarding HHS efforts in online/hybrid and professional programs and policy issues related to these programs. The committee also provides guidance for creating or revising online/hybrid and professional programs, fosters and identifies professional development opportunities and resources for faculty and staff engaged in online/hybrid and professional learning, and collaborates with internal and external Purdue partners to offer HHS programming to diverse audiences.

The Research Advisory Committee consists of the associate dean for research, who serves as chair, one faculty representative from each unit who is nominated by the unit head, and an ex-officio member who serves on the HHS DEI Committee.  The main goal of the committee is to promote and enhance HHS research efforts. The committee achieves this goal by identifying barriers to the effective conduct of research, supporting college-level, research-related events and awards; championing the college’s research strategic themes and initiatives; providing support for obtaining research funding and conducting research (e.g., beyond funding, to include issues related to space, equipment, regulatory issues, collaborators, etc.); increasing visibility of research accomplishments; and encouraging a productive and inclusive research community.

The Teaching Awards Committee shall consist of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who shall serve as the chair, and one faculty representative from each unit who is nominated by the unit head. This committee shall select the winners of the college’s undergraduate teaching awards and shall nominate HHS faculty for Purdue University teaching awards.

The Undergraduate Educational Policy and Curriculum Committee shall consist of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will serve as chair; the Undergraduate Committee Chair in each academic unit; and an ex-officio member who serves on the HHS DEI Committee. If an Undergraduate Committee Chair prefers not to serve, another member of that unit’s undergraduate committee shall be named by the head as the unit’s representative. A staff member in the college’s Office of Student Services will also be appointed by the dean to serve on the committee. In addition, the dean shall appoint one or more undergraduate student members of the committee for a one-year renewable term. This committee shall focus on such matters as the improvement of undergraduate instruction, honors programs, core requirements, graduation requirements, curriculum standards, general academic organization, interdepartmental undergraduate programs, and policy issues related to the college’s undergraduate programs. Also, the committee shall evaluate proposals for creating or revising undergraduate courses and programs.

Administrative Committees and COUNCILS

The HHS Leadership Team shall consist of the dean, the assistant and associate deans, the heads of academic units, and other college leaders invited by the dean. The dean shall serve as chair and set the team’s schedule of meetings. The team shall serve in an advisory capacity to the dean and as a mechanism for communication among the college’s administrative officers.

The Career Development Advisory Council consists of the Director of Career Development, who serves as the chair: the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs, who is an ex-officio member, a faculty member and an academic advisor from each HHS academic unit, and other staff from HHS Student Services. The council serves in an advisory capacity as liaisons to the deans and unit heads. The goal is to share career development embedded into majors and units as well as discuss improvements for the current career development of undergraduate students. The area of career resources and development may include internships/co-ops, career courses/curricula, job preparation, and further studies for graduate school and professional programs.   

HHS Representation on University Committees and the University Senate

The HHS members on the Campus Promotion Committee, Panel A, include the Deanandone Tenured professor. Additional tenured faculty members may serve if nominated and elected by the University Senate. Tenured faculty members are elected for 3-year terms.  Panel A is convened for purposes of academic tenure and promotion.

The HHS members on the Campus Promotion Committee, Panel B may include the Dean and tenured and clinical/professional professors. Panel B consists of six faculty members. The Provost nominates three of these faculty from Panel A.  The remaining three faculty, Clinical/Professional Professors, are nominated by the University Senate Nominating Committee and appointed by the President for 3-year terms. Panel B is convened for purposes of promotion of clinical/professional faculty.

The HHS members on the Campus Promotion Committee, Panel C, may include the Dean, if HHS employs research faculty; tenured professors; and research professors. Faculty members on this committee are appointed by the Provost from the University Promotions Committee. Research professors are also appointed by the Provost. Appointments are for 3-year terms. Panel C is convened for purposes of promotion of research faculty.

The HHS representative on the Honors College Governance Committee may be appointed by the dean or elected by the faculty. The committee advises the dean of the Honors College, acts as a curriculum committee for that college, and assists with communication between the Honors College, Senate, and academic units.

The HHS representative on the Undergraduate Curriculum Council is elected by the faculty from among its members. The committee is charged with the administration and oversight of the core curriculum.

The HHS members of the University Grievance Hearing Committee are selected by the voting faculty of the college from among its members. The committee hears and acts upon all cases brought before it in accord with the provisions of the University Policy on Faculty Grievances.

The HHS representative on the University Mediation Committee is appointed by the Dean to serve a 3-year term. Members of this committee assist in the resolution of faculty grievances.

The HHS members of the University Senate are elected by the faculty to represent the college in the University Senate and are responsible for participating regularly in the senate’s activities, communicating with other faculty in their units about senate actions and deliberations, and transmitting viewpoints of their faculty to the senate. Each year the senators select one of their members to report on the senate’s activities at the college’s regular faculty meetings.

The HHS members of the University Teacher Education Council include faculty from HHS units that have teacher education candidates. They are appointed by the Dean for a 3-year term. Representatives on this committee participate in the undergraduate and graduate instruction of students preparing to meet licensure requirements by establishing academic standards. The HHS members of the University Teaching Awards Selection Committee include one to two faculty members and one to two HHS students who are appointed by the Dean. Members of this committee are responsible for reviewing nominations for the University Teaching Awards submitted by each college and attending meetings where these nominations will be discussed and winners will be selected.