Judith Herb College of Education

JHCOE College Council

Welcome to our College Council webpage. On this page you will find links to communicate with Council; Council bylaws; Council representatives, agendas, and minutes; Council Committee members, minutes, and year-end reports and an explanation of the role of Council in faculty governance.

Bylaws and Constitution

Our Council was established Spring 2013 in the constitution and bylaws of the Judith Herb College of Education. Council was given two charges: represent faculty and act on faculty matters.

“The College Council of the Judith Herb College of Education shall represent College Faculty in relationships and matters of interest with the College Administrative Officers, University Council, Faculty Senate, Graduate Council, University Administration, and other communities of interest.” (JHCOE constitution, Article III, section 1).

“The JHCOE College Council shall act on all matters related to the authority granted or delegated to faculty in the bylaws of the Board of Trustees and other University of Toledo administrative policies. These include: academic policies, curriculum, academic programs, academic standards, and degree requirements.” (JHCOE constitution, Article III, section 2).

Our College Council represents the college faculty and acts on behalf of the faculty. Like a board, Council is a policy-setting body. This is very different from a committee. Committees are charged with specific tasks. Council committees do work and make recommendations to Council. The council acts as an over-arching body that speaks and acts on behalf of the faculty as a whole.

Policy is a standing rule that is public and in writing. Policies are often drafted in committee and then brought to Council for action.

Council has six standing committees, as seen below.

  1. Executive Committee
  2. Academic Affairs Committee
  3. Administrative Review Committee
  4. Assessment Committee
  5. Diversity Committee
  6. Student Engagement and Technology Committee

These committees report to Council. Reports may be received, accepted, or approved. Committee work is a proposal until Council approves it as policy (e.g. curriculum changes) or accepts it. Council acceptance is an endorsement that college faculty can consider when they decide whether to approve it as policy (e.g. new college elaborations). Committee reports are received when they are read but Council does not act on (i.e. accept or approve) the report.

Attendance and voting are important. Council representatives and committee members are elected to speak on behalf of their colleagues. It is a good idea to ask your representatives to share the business of Council or committees with your department and to review the meeting minutes. Moreover, it is the duty of every member to vote regardless of whether it is Council, a Council committee, or a College committee. Members need to be present to ensure representation and quorum. And abstentions do matter. Although members cannot be compelled to vote yes or no, an abstention is counted and can result in a motion not being supported.

Meeting minutes are a record of what was done not what was said. Minutes include: name of the committee; members present and absent; date, time, and location of meeting; name of person recording the minutes; whether the prior meeting minutes were read and approved; a separate paragraph for each topic with voting results if appropriate; and time of adjournment.

All staff and faculty are invited to the open meetings of College Council.  

Please join us. Please talk with your Council representative about your ideas, questions, or concerns.  

Last Updated: 9/1/22