Standing Committees

The Academic Affairs Committee considers academic matters including, but not limited to, the following: academic policy, calendar, catalog, standards of admissions and retention, advisement, standards for major/minor requirements, transfer credit from other institutions, and credit earned by life experience and learning. The Committee has ten members: Three members from the different departments of A&S; two members from different departments of ED&PS; one member from the Administrative Faculty; one member from the Librarians, Counselors, and Coaches; one student elected by the Student Senate; the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, or their designee (non-voting); the University Registrar (non-voting, unless elected by Senate to be the voting representative of the Administrative Faculty); a representative of the Advising Center (non-voting). There cannot be more than one member from the same academic department on the Committee.

• Chris Krebs (PSY '26)
  
• Thomas Balcerski (HIS '26)
• Josh Idjadi (BIO ’25)
• Greg Kane (BA ’25)
  
• Andrew Utterback (CFT '26)
• Chris Ambrosio (ADMIN ’25)
• Angela Walker (LIB '25)
• Student Government Association (SGA) representative 
• Vice President, Academic Affairs or designee (non-voting)
• Jennifer C. Huoppi, University Registrar (non-voting)
• Alison Garewski, Advising Center (non-voting)

The Academic Program Review Committee oversees the assessment process for all academic programs; notifies programs that are due for self-assessment, external review, and goal statement; checks and comments on the completion of self-assessment reports; review and recommend the nominated external reviewers who will also review and comment on the program and its self-assessment report. There are six members: Five members from the full-time Instructional Faculty, and one member from the full-time Administrative Faculty. There cannot be more than one member from the same academic department on the Committee.

• Theah Caitlin Vasquez-O’Brien (PSY '25)
• Racheal Pesta (SACSW '27)
• Sara Carroll (HSC '26)
• Open seat - Election Fall '24
• Open seat - Election Fall '24
• Travis Houldcroft (ADM ’25)

The Budget and Resource Allocation Committee informs and advises the University Senate on matters of budget and allocation of human and material resources. The Committee is responsible for: overall assessment of present and proposed budgets of the University; recommendation of ways to strengthen the University’s effort to secure resources and to distribute them equitably; advisement to the University Senate on ways of handling financial matters. The Committee has seven members: Five faculty elected by the University Senate; one student elected by the Student Senate; the Vice-President for Finance & Administration or designee (non-voting). There must be at least one member from the Administrative Faculty and at least one tenured member from the Instructional Faculty.

• Thomas Balcerski (HIS ’25) 
• Taylor Hammond (FAO ’25)
• Damali Abbensetts (ADMIN '26)
• James Hyatt (EES '25)
• Sarit Gluz (Athletics '26)
• Student Government Association (SGA) representative 
• Vice President, Finance & Administration or designee (non-voting member)

The Curriculum Committee is concerned with the development of any curriculum offered for credit in the undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs of the University. Major concerns are the introduction, growth, reduction, or discontinuance of departments or programs, proposed majors and minors, shifts in program emphasis, and new courses. The Committee has nine members: Two from different departments of Education, Communication, KPE, ECO and Business; one from Humanities (Art, PAD, Phil, Eng, WLC); one from Natural Sciences/Math (Bio, EES, KPE, Math/CS); one from Social Sciences (His, Geo, Poli Sci, Psych, Soc, Ant, Crim & Soc Work); one from Support Services (Lib, Counseling, Athletics, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Special Programs); one instructional faculty elected at-large; one student elected by the Student Senate; the University Registrar or designee (non-voting). Specific restrictions on membership are set forth in bylaws, with the exception of the at-large seat.

• Maryanne Clifford (ECO ’26) Chair 
• Jehoon Jeon (BA ’25)
• Open seat - Election Fall '24 
• Open seat - Election Fall '24
• William Mattingly (BIO '26) 
• Scott Moore (HIS ’25) Committee Secretary
• Sandra Flores-Gonzales (OAS ’25)
• Student Government Association (SGA) representative 
• Jennifer C. Huoppi, University Registrar (non-voting)

The Graduate Subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee is concerned with the development of curriculum offered at the graduate level, including any graduate certificates and micro-credentials. In consultation with the full Curriculum Committee, this group will develop forms and processes related to graduate programs. This committee will specifically be concerned with the introduction, review, growth, and discontinuation of graduate programs, certificates, and other micro-credentials. The committee will review and approve graduate online and hybrid programs. The committee may also evaluate graduate programs according to relevant accreditation requirements and make recommendations to the Dean of the Graduate Division. This subcommittee shall consist of five (5) voting members and five (5) ex-officio members.

• Sudha Swaminatha (EDU '25)
• Suki Grandhi (BA '27)
• Garrett Dancik (CSC '27) (Chair)
• Mark Fabrizi (EDU '27)
• Peter Bachiochi (PSY '25)
• Moe RuJoub (ACC&BIS '25)
• The Dean of the Graduate Division or designee (nonvoting)
• The Provost or designee (nonvoting)
• The Registrar or designee (nonvoting)
• Mauricio Calpa (CIT '25) (nonvoting)
• One member from the Curriculum Committee(nonvoting)

The First Year Program Committee is concerned with the program, procedures, and policies relating to the curriculum and structure of the First Year Program. These concerns include approval and oversight of Curriculum Committee-approved courses to serve as components of the First Year Program and the categorization of courses within the program. The Committee advises the First Year Program Director on the administration of program. The Committee has eleven members: Four members from the full-time Instructional Faculty; two members from the full-time Administrative Faculty; one member from the Liberal Arts Program Committee; one student elected by the Student Senate; the Director of the First Year Program (non-voting); the Director of the Academic Advisement Center or her/his designee (non-voting); the Vice President for Student Affairs or her/his designee (non-voting). There cannot be more than one member from the same academic department on the Committee, with the exception of the LAPC rep.

• Inactive

The Instructional Faculty Development Committee serves as a central body for guiding faculty development throughout the University and shall: receive and interpret information and data from faculty development stakeholders at the University, including the Center for Instructional Technology, the Assessment Coordinator, the Center for Teaching, Learning & Assessment, the Strategic Planning Committee, students, departments/disciplines, and others; Provide guidance to the Director of the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment regarding the needed areas of development that should be offered each year as part of an annual faculty development planning cycle; Provide advice to the Office of the Provost regarding the disbursement of AAUP funds designated for faculty development and retraining, in accordance with the CSU-AAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement; Make recommendations regarding the use of other discretionary faculty development funds that become available; and Provide advice to the Deans’ offices on special calls or areas of focus for summer curriculum development awards.

Membership shall consist of eight members of the full-time Instructional Faculty. There shall be six regular voting members: Five members from the full-time Instructional Faculty, with at least one member from Arts and Sciences, and one from Education and Professional Studies, and one from the full-time non-teaching Instructional Faculty. There shall also be two alternate members from the full-time Instructional Faculty to take the place of a regular member when required, one non-voting Student Government Association representative, and two non-voting members, ex officio: Director of the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment, one representative from the Center for Instructional Technology. There cannot be more than one member from any academic department or more than one member of the non-teaching Instructional Faculty (i.e., Librarians, Counselors, Coaches, Athletic Trainers).

• Racheal Pesta (SACSW '27)
• Miriam Chirico (ENG ’26)
• Jenna Scisco (PSY '25)
• Kedan He (PSD ’26)
• Tao Chen (ART '27)
• Megan Silver-Droesch (Coach '25)
• Laura Dzurec (HSN ‘27 - Alternate)
• Ashley Cote (HSN ‘27 - Alternate)
• SGA representative (non-voting)
• Director of the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (non-voting)
• Center for Instructional Technology representative (non-voting)

The Liberal Arts Program Committee is concerned with the program, procedures, and policies relating to the program of liberal arts education of students at Eastern, including: leadership for the program, approval and oversight of courses to serve the liberal arts core curriculum, and the categorization of courses within the program. The Committee works closely with the appropriate Senate committees, academic officers, department chairs, academic program directors, and administrators. The Committee has fifteen members; the eleven voting members are: Two from Humanities; two
from Social Sciences; two from Natural Sciences, Mathematics, or Computer Science; two from
Education, Communication, Accounting and Business Information Systems, Business Administration, or Economics and Finance; one from the Administrative Faculty; one from the
Library Faculty; and one student member elected by the Student Senate. The four non-voting
members are: The two LAC Coordinators, the LAC Assessment Coordinator, and the Registrar (or
its designee). (If one person holds any two of those positions, there are only three non-voting
members.) There cannot be more than one voting member from the same academic department on
the Committee. Specific restrictions on membership are set forth in bylaws.

• Stephen Ferruci (ENG '26)
• Afarin Rahmanifar (ART '27) 
• Sarah Tasmeen (CS '26)
• Peter Bachiochi (PSY '25)
• Nicole Krassas (POL '25)
  
• Peter Drzewiecki (EES '25)
• Open seat - Election Fall '24
• Charlie Chatterton (BA '25)
• Christina Irizarry (Admin-ASC '25)
• David Vrooman (Lib '27)
• Student Government Association (SGA) representative 
• LAC Coordinator
• LAC Coordinator
• LAC Assessment Coordinator (non-voting)
• Cheryl Le Beau provides secretarial assistance

The Liberal Arts Work Committee is responsible for approving the proposals of individual departments to fulfill the LAW graduation requirement. The Committee will assist in developing a procedure to assess whether programmatic learning goals are met by those approved experiences and to create and administer a process for granting exemptions and substitutions to the LAW requirement. The Committee will also be responsible for developing and administering the non-credit bearing transcript notation system. The Committee has thirteen members, eight voting members and five non-voting members, as follows. Voting members: Two from A&S; two from ED&PS; one from either School; one Administrative Faculty; the Director of Career Services; one student elected by the Student Senate. Non-voting: Coordinator of LAW; the Dean of the School of Continuing Education (or designee); the Vice President for Academic Affairs; one representative from Alumni Affairs; the University Registrar (or designee). There cannot be more than one member from the same academic department on the Committee.

• Inactive

The Organization Committee acts as the nominations and elections committee for University Senate. The Committee maintains a roster of all University Committees and an elections list; it oversees the Senate committee structure and makes recommendations to the Senate for establishing or abolishing committees, changing the composition or structure of committees, and resolving jurisdictional disputes. Every five years in academic years ending in zero and five, the Organization Committee will begin the process of conducting a systematic review of the Senate bylaws, including the existing Standing and At-Large committee structure. At the request of the Senate, the Committee can propose revision of the Constitution and/or the Bylaws of the Senate. The Committee is composed of five Faculty elected by the University Senate, the two Senate Vice-Presidents, and one student elected by the Student Senate. At least one faculty member must be from the Administrative Faculty, and at least one faculty member must be from the Instructional Faculty.

• Megan Stanton (SACSW '27) (Chair)
• Mauricio Calpa (ADMIN '26)
• Tao Chen (ART ’27)
• Brian Day (CFT '27)
• Manuel Otero (ENG '27)
• Chris Drewry (ADMIN '26)
• Kristen Morgan (CFT '27)
• Student Government Association (SGA) representative 

The Personnel Policies Committee develops, reviews, and revises University policies and procedures pertaining to 1) the evaluation of faculty for renewal, promotion, and tenure; 2) professional assessment; and 3) sabbatic leave. The Committee reviews departmental procedures for evaluation and assessment of all employees covered by the CSU-AAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement to make them as consistent and fair as possible and aids in developing guidelines for departments to use in their deliberations on renewal, promotion and tenure, including definitions of equivalencies. The committee has eight members: seven full-time faculty elected by the University Senate and the chief human resources officer (or designee, non-voting): at least two full-time Instructional Faculty from A&S and at least two full-time Instructional Faculty from ED&PS; one full-time Instructional faculty member from Librarians, Counselors, Coaches, or Athletic Trainers; not more than one faculty member can be from the Administrative faculty. Members cannot be from the same academic department.

• Meng Guo (BIS&ACC '25)
• Open seat - Election Fall '24
• Amy Groth (BIO '25)  
• Jenna Scisco (PSY '25)
• Angela Walker (LIB ‘26)
• William Cunningham (EES '26)
• Open seat - Election Fall '24
• John Bazin, Chief Human Resources Officer or designee (non-voting)

The Student Academic Advising Committee considers all matters related to academic advising, including the faculty advising system and advising support services. The Committee (1) provides ongoing assessment of the academic advisement system; (2) develops goals, initiatives, and recommendations to strengthen the academic advisement system and increase student retention; and (3) makes recommendations to the University Senate and the Director of the Academic Advisement Center regarding academic advising. The Committee has eight members: Two full-time Instructional Faculty from A&S; two full-time Instructional Faculty from ED&PS; two full-time Administrative Faculty; one student appointed by the Student Senate; the Director of the Academic Support Services (or designee, non-voting). There cannot be more than one member from the same academic department on the Committee.

• Caitlin Vasquez-O’Brien (PSY ’25), Co-Chair 
• Anya Sokolovskaya (CFT '26)
• Vijaykumar Veerappan (BIO ‘26)
• Laura Rodriquez (EDU ’25)
• Casey Kensey (Admin '26)
• Natalie Sabino (RO ’25)
• Student Government Association (SGA) representative - Jennifer Croughwell
• Director of Academic Success Center or designee (non-voting) - Damali Abbensetts

The purpose of the University Assessment Committee is to ensure that Eastern implements and maintains a systematic assessment of student learning in the major, the liberal arts core curriculum program and outside-the-classroom experiences, with a focus on educational improvement. In addition, this committee shall be the consulting body for which University-wide assessments are approved and/or conducted. There are fourteen members: ten voting members and four non-voting members, as follows. Voting members: Three from A&S; three from ED&PS; two Administrative Faculty; one member from the Librarians, Counselors, and Coaches; one student elected by the Student Senate. Non-voting: The Vice President for Academic Affairs; the University Assessment Coordinator; the Director of Institutional Research; and the Coordinator of the Liberal Arts Program Committee. There cannot be more than one member from the same academic department on the Committee.

• Vijaykumar Veerappan (BIO ‘27)
• Tim Cochran (MUS '26)  
• Open seat - Election Fall '24
• Open seat - Election Fall '24 
• Open seat - Election Fall '24
• Nahyun Oh (BA '25)
• Paul C. Serignese (Admin-HOU '25)
• Geeta Thapa (ADMIN '26)
  
• Open seat - Election Spring '24 - Lib, Coun, Coach
• Student Government Association (SGA) representative