Faculty Governance

Faculty Governance

Faculty governance at SIPA provides faculty members with a central role in the academic affairs of the School. Through faculty meetings, elected and appointed committees, and participation in University governance, faculty members contribute to the development of academic programs, curriculum, faculty appointments and reviews, and other matters affecting the academic mission of the School.

Faculty governance is exercised through faculty meetings, standing and ad hoc committees, and representation in the Columbia University Senate.
 

SIPA Faculty Meetings

Faculty Meetings convene full-time SIPA faculty members holding recurring appointments. Faculty are asked to reserve Thursdays from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for these meetings and are notified in advance of specific meeting dates.

Faculty Meetings provide an opportunity for faculty members to consider matters relating to the academic affairs of the School, including curriculum, academic programs, faculty governance, and other issues affecting the educational mission of SIPA.

Questions regarding Faculty Meetings may be directed to the Office of Academic Affairs.
 

SIPA Faculty Committees

Faculty committees play an important role in the governance of the School and provide leadership on matters relating to curriculum, academic programs, faculty appointments and reviews, faculty development, and other aspects of the School's academic mission.

Standing, review, and search committees are appointed annually by the Vice Dean in consultation with the Dean. Committee members must hold an appropriate rank relative to the candidates or matters under review.

The School maintains standing committees, review committees, search committees, and advisory bodies to support the academic affairs of the School. Annual committee assignments are published by the Office of Academic Affairs.

Questions regarding committee membership and service may be directed to the Office of Academic Affairs. 
 

SIPA Committee on Instruction

The Committee on Instruction (COI) serves as the School's principal faculty committee for curriculum governance and academic policy matters. The Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving proposals for new academic programs, courses, curriculum changes, and academic policy changes.

The COI also provides leadership on a range of academic matters and consults with faculty, students, and administrators, as appropriate.
 

University Senate

The University Senate is Columbia University's representative legislative body, composed of faculty, students, officers of research, administrative staff, librarians, alumni, and senior administrators.

The Senate considers matters affecting the University as a whole, including educational programs and priorities, the budget, academic freedom and tenure, the conduct of research, libraries, information technology, external relations, student affairs, and other issues of University-wide importance. Trustee concurrence is required for actions of the Senate.

The Senate consists of 108 voting members, including representatives of the faculty, students, officers of research, administrative staff, librarians, alumni, and senior administrators.

SIPA holds two University Senate seats, one tenured and one non-tenured, to represent the School for two-year terms. Elections are held as needed at a Faculty Meeting in accordance with University Senate procedures.

Questions regarding SIPA Senate elections may be directed to the Office of Academic Affairs.