The Academic Affairs Committee is governed by the UPUA Constitution, UPUA Assembly Bylaws, and Standing Orders and Operational Code which is adopted and amended by a majority of members.

-Academic Affairs Committee Standing Orders

Statement on Council Independence

The UPUA recognizes the sovereignty of each student council and their ultimate rights and control over their Colleges’ or Divisions’ Student Senator afforded to them by the UFS Constitution Article II, Section 5, Clause C. The AAC acknowledges the agreement between the UPUA and each College’s or Division’s Councils to allow the UPUA to facilitate their Student Senator elections and merge the UPUA Representative and Student Senator positions.

Membership

1. Representative are elected from each of the following University Park academic units:
College of Agricultural Sciences, College of Arts and Architecture, Smeal College of Business, College of Communications, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Health and Human Development, College of Information Sciences and Technology, College of the Liberal Arts, Eberly College of Science, and The Division of Undergraduate. There shall also be a Representative elected from the Schreyer Honors College.

2. The AAC shall include a Delegate from the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG) student representative to the University Faculty Senate (UFS). The AAC shall include one (1) Delegate from every University Park academic unit.

3. All student representatives to the UFS and Council Presidents are invited and welcome to attend general meetings of the AAC and are extend general floor privileges.

Officers

1. Chair — Is responsible for upholding the mission of the Committee, long-term planning for the organization and overseeing all sub-committee activities. Represents the ACC’s opinions to all organizations and members of the University including the Administrative Council on Undergraduate Education (ACUE) and all ACUE Committees and sub-committees. Must report to the ACC any related decisions he makes. Serves on the University Faculty Senate Committee on Undergraduate Education. Serves as a Representative to the Administrative Council on Undergraduate Education.

2. Vice Chair — Monitors members’ attendance, excuses members from General Meetings when requested by the member, at his discretion. The Vice Chair shall also inform all members of the attendance policy and issue warnings for those in dangers of removal. Is charged with assisting the Chair in all internal matters within the ACC and as responsibly directed by the Chair and is charged with compiling a transition binder consisting of the attendance records, Standing Rules, legislation, consultative reports, and projects by the Committee.

3. Sub-Committee Chairs on Undergraduate Education, Administrate Operations, and Programming — Are charged with insuring their committees reach its objectives, charged with scheduling informal meetings, charged with setting each informal meeting’s agenda and making the discussion public at General Meetings, and charged with chairing and otherwise facilitating informal meetings.

Sub-Committees and Caucuses

1. Administrative Operations — Consists of all Committee appointed ACUE Liaisons. Purpose of the sub-committee is to review and coordinate student involvement in ACUE committees through reports and other official action.

2. Undergraduate Education — Form and present AAC consultative reports (position statements) on matters of the University Faculty Senate or other non-ACUE administrative actions with its own initiative or by the direction of the Faculty Senate Caucus on matters pertaining to undergraduate education within the University to be presented to AAC for majority approval. Be empowered to write, sponsor, and review as a Committee, UPUA Opinions and Resolutions within its jurisdiction in accordance with §§6.2.2.1 of the UPUA Bylaws.

3. Programming — Work to improve the advising process at Penn State and recognize via the Advising Award outstanding advisers within the University community. Develop and maintain programs and/or resources for students to use to express their concerns or use as a resource, such as Course Evaluator.

4. University Park Student Senator Caucus — Review the UFS agenda and provide consultation to the overall Student Caucus held every Tuesday prior to the UFS general meeting.