The College of Health and Human Sciences offers several opportunities for faculty, staff and occasionally students to serve on administrative and advisory committees that help guide the direction of the college. These committees focus on a variety of areas, including undergraduate career development, faculty affairs, graduate programs, diversity and multicultural goals, and more. Learn more about the individual committees below, or view additional information regarding composition and responsibilities of committees in the HHS Bylaws. A complete list of committee members is also available.

Faculty Standing Committees and Special Committees

The Agenda Committee consists of the Secretary of the Faculty and three additional faculty members who are elected by the Faculty Affairs Committee from among their members. The chair is elected by the committee annually, during its last meeting of the spring semester. In collaboration with the dean, this committee sets the schedule and agenda for faculty meetings.

The Area Committee consists of the dean, who serves 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 of that unit in accordance with the college’s promotion and tenure policy. An associate dean of the college who is a tenured full professor is 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 who are selected in accordance with the college’s promotion and tenure policy join the area committee for the discussions and votes on all clinical/professional faculty being considered for promotion. If available, a research (full) professor selected in accordance with the college’s promotion and tenure policy joins the area committee for the discussions and votes on research faculty being considered for promotion. This committee meets and acts upon recommendations forwarded from the primary committees in the college regarding promotion and regarding tenure. The committee also reviews recommendations for honorary doctorates from the college.

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 advisors 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.   

The Faculty Affairs Committee consists of nine faculty members, one elected by the faculty of each unit, none of whom may hold an administrative position in the college. The chair is 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 meets 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 establishes a process for the regular review of deans and heads. In addition, the committee reviews the college’s bylaws every five years.

The Graduate Educational Policy and Curriculum Committee consists of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs, who serves as chair, and the Graduate Committee Chair in each academic unit. In addition, the dean appoints one or more graduate student members to the committee. This committee focuses on such matters as the improvement of graduate instruction, interdisciplinary graduate programs, and policy issues related to the college’s graduate programs. The committee also evaluates proposals for creating or revising graduate courses and programs.

The Honors Programs Coordinating Committee consists of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who serves as chair, and the faculty member from each HHS unit who directs the unit’s honors program or who oversees the coordination between the degree requirements for the unit’s majors and the requirements for an Honors College diploma. In addition, one staff person from Student Services serves on the committee. The committee focuses on matters pertaining to the partnership between HHS and the Honors College to provide distinctive educational experiences for Honors College students.

The International Programs Committee consists of a faculty representative from each unit, the Associate Dean for International Programs, who serves as chair, and one or more undergraduate students who are appointed by the dean. The committee works on programs for study abroad, faculty exchange, and other international activities.

The HHS 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. Committee members will serve for a 3-year term. 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 consists of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who serves as chair, the Undergraduate Committee Chair in each academic unit, and  a staff member in the college’s Office of Student Services who is appointed by the dean. In addition, the dean appoints one or more undergraduate student members of the committee. This committee focuses 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 evaluates proposals for creating or revising undergraduate courses and programs.

Administrative Committees and Councils

The Council of Administrative Officers consists of the dean, the assistant and associate deans, the heads of academic units, and the directors in the college. The dean or the dean’s designee serves as chair and sets the council’s schedule of meetings. The council serves in an advisory capacity to the dean and as a mechanism for communication among the college’s administrative officers.

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee consists of the associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion, who serves as chair, and the directors of diversity, equity and inclusion in each academic unit. Diversity references representation; equity means that everyone has an equal chance of success; and inclusion involves feeling welcomed and a sense of belonging.

The Grade Appeals Committee consists of faculty, undergraduate students, and graduate students appointed by the dean in accordance with University regulations. No academic unit has more than two members serving on this committee. This committee hears and acts upon all cases brought before it in accordance with the provisions of the University regulations.

The Research Advisory Council represents perspectives from across the college and is comprised of outstanding HHS researchers. It was established to help promote and enhance HHS research efforts. The Council seeks to identify and discuss potential barriers to research taking place in the college and to provide guidance in the following areas: Implementation of the research portion of the HHS strategic plan; set specific goals and action plans; Identify and help develop mechanisms to promote increased funding; Promote faculty by encouraging and reviewing awards; Increase visibility of the college, including identifying cores of strength; Identify and help develop mechanisms to promote increased collaboration; Identify and pursue funding for shared equipment needs; Review HHS and University services available to faculty for research; and Identify potential cluster hires with a core in the college.

HHS Representation on University Committees and the University Senate

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 selected 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 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.