Science Planning Mandate

SCIENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE MANDATE AND COMPOSITION

12 MAY 1994 (Revised 16 December 1999, 24 April 2003, and October 9, 2008)

Name of the Committee: Science Planning Committee

Mandate: The purpose of the committee is to formulate long-range plans and to facilitate communication and cooperation among the sciences at Smith College. The areas of planning include among others: Space; Technical and Support Facilities and Staff; Solicitation and Distribution of Funds for the purpose of instructional improvement and support of students and faculty research; Review and Study of Educational Goals. Plans formulated by this committee will be reported to the Dean of the Faculty and appropriate college committees.

Structure: Each Department and Program primarily affiliated with Division III shall be represented by one member appointed by the department chair or program director for a term of two years. Department chairs and program directors are encouraged to serve as the representatives to the Science Planning Committee. The Chair of the Science Planning Committee will be “non-departmental” and will be nominated and elected by the members of the committee at the end of each year. A second person from the chair’s department or program should be appointed to represent that department or program on the committee. The chair may vote only in the event of a tie vote by the committee. There is no limitation on the number of successive terms that a member may serve.

Election of Chair: In March, the Science Planning Committee will appoint a nominating committee of three (who will not stand for chair). The nominating committee will solicit nominations from the entire science community through email sent to all Division 3 faculty and staff (Div3-all mailing list). These nominations do not have to be pre-approved by the nominee. The nominees must be tenured faculty. The nominal term of appointment is two years, although circumstances might lead to a one-year appointment. The nominating committee will bring willing candidates to the Science Planning Committee. If there is more than one willing candidate, the Science Planning Committee will use preference voting to elect a chair from this pool of willing candidates.

The Director of the Science Center, the Science Librarian, the Dean for Academic Development, the Chair of the Division III Academic Computing Committee and members ofthe Advancement Office shall be ex officio non-voting members. A Division III representative from Faculty Council shall be invited to attend meetings of the Science Planning Committee.

Committee meetings normally will be open to all Division III faculty.

Departments and Programs represented on the committee:

  • Astronomy
  • Biochemistry
  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Engineering
  • Exercise & Sports-Studies
  • Environmental Science and Policy
  • Geology
  • Mathematics & Statistics
  • Neuroscience
  • Physics
  • Psychology