2.3 Divisions
Academic divisions exist to integrate the work of the departments within the broader educational objectives of the college as a whole.
2.3.1 Organization
2.3.1.1 The Academic Divisions
The academic departments are organized into three academic divisions:
- Division of Arts, Languages, and Education: The departments of Art and Art History; Classical Languages; Communication Arts and Sciences; Education; English; French; Germanic and Asian Languages and Literature; Music; and Spanish
- Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics: The departments of Biology; Chemistry and Biochemistry; Computer Science; Engineering; Geology, Geography, and Environmental Studies; Mathematics and Statistics; Nursing; Physics and Astronomy; and Psychology
- Division of Social Sciences and Contextual Disciplines: The departments of Business; Congregational and Ministry Studies; Economics; History; Kinesiology; Philosophy; Political Science; Religion; and Sociology and Social Work.
2.3.1.2 Membership
A person appointed to the faculty with the rank of instructor or higher is a member of the academic division of which his or her department is a part.
2.3.1.3 Chairperson
The chairperson of an academic division is either the academic dean of that division or a faculty member appointed by the provost.
2.3.1.4 Executive Committee
The executive committee of a division shall be composed of the chairperson of the division plus the chairpersons of the departments within the division. The Science Division Executive Committee also includes a secretary elected from division members.
2.3.2 Functions of the Division
The functions of the division shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
- reviewing new course and program proposals emanating from the departments within the division prior to recommending them to the appropriate academic affairs committee;
- coordinating departmental endeavors within the division;
- providing advice to division departments concerning matters of common interest and to the academic dean concerning interdisciplinary programs falling, in part or in whole, within the division; and
- providing advice to the academic dean on building needs and allocation of space.
Each division, with its chair, determines how it performs these functions (e.g., through meetings of the whole division, executive committee, or virtual meetings).
2.3.3 Functions of the Chairperson
Each division chairperson is responsible for providing the administrative services necessary for proper functioning of the division. The academic dean is responsible for the educational articulation of the college's ideals in the division under his or her jurisdiction. Annually he or she shall submit to the provost an evaluation of the state of the division, including projections for future needs and changes.
