Purpose: The Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) works with the Provost to improve teaching and learning and the quality of academic programs. In that capacity, it serves as the final locus of dialogue in the formulation of University policies, procedures, and guidelines that relate to academic affairs.
The Academic Affairs Committee makes its recommendations to the Provost, the senior administrator overseeing academic affairs.
Membership:
- Jo-Ellen Pozner, Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship, 2021-24 (Chair)
- Katharine Heintz, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies (Provost Designee)
- Andrew Ishak, Director, Core Curriculum Undergraduate Studies (ex officio)
- Diana Morlang, Senior Lecturer of Political Science, 2021-24
- Scot Hanna-Weir, Director of Choral Activities & Associate Professor of Music, 2022-25
- Chris Weber, Professor of Physics, 2021-25
- Ye Cai, Associate Professor of Finance, 2023-26
- Paul Abbyad, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 2023-26
- Nick Pecora, Undergraduate Student, 2023-24
- TBD, Executive Assistant to the Provost (administrative support, non-voting participant)
Charge
The charge of the Academic Affairs Committee is to:
- Promote continued improvement of academic programs and of teaching, learning, scholarship or artistic expression, and service within the University and/or the community at large.
- Review and evaluate proposals for new academic programs to ensure their academic rigor and contribution to goals and mission of Santa Clara as a Catholic and Jesuit university.
- Review and evaluate proposals for substantive restructuring of academic programs or departments within the University.
- Review and evaluate proposals for substantive changes in the academic calendar.
- Review and evaluate the work of those committees charged with specific responsibilities for various aspects of the University's academic affairs, for example, student advising, academic integrity, assessment, etc.
- Ensure appropriate consultation with students, faculty, and staff in the Committee's deliberations.
Proposals, Guidelines for Proposals & Academic Programs Definitions
Guidelines for Development of Proposals
Academic Programs: Criteria and Definitions
Instructions and Examples for proposal of a new minor
Examples of Successful Proposals:
- Proposal for a certificate in Robotics (approved March 2023)
- Proposal to turn General Engineering into a department (approved January 2023)
- Proposal for an online graduate certificate in Bioengineering (approved May 2023)
- Proposal for updating curriculum in MSBA program (approved February 2021)
Examples of Successful Proposals for New Minors:
- Proposal for a Gerontology Minor (2023)
- Proposal for a Marketing Minor (2023)
- Proposals for (1.) Asian American studies, (2.) African American studies, and (3.) Latina/o/x studies Minors (2020)
- Proposal for a Construction Management Minor (2019)