Bossier Parish Community College is in compliance with this comprehensive standard because the College provides for the authority of faculty in academic issues through its published policies. Most of these policies are contained in the BPCC 2005-2007 Faculty Handbook.

EVALUATION OF ADMINISTRATORS

Faculty members have the opportunity to evaluate academic administrators. The Faculty Handbook 14-15 states the following: "Policies for evaluation of vice chancellors, academic division chairs, and other personnel are available upon request. Contact the appropriate division chair or Human Resources if questions arise concerning any evaluation process involving BPCC personnel." The instrument used to evaluate academic administrators is the Employee Feedback Survey.

COLLEGE STANDING COMMITTEES

The Faculty Handbook 15 states that governance is the shared responsibility of all members of the college community. To fulfill this responsibility, faculty, staff, and administration agree to establish collaborative bodies known as College Standing Committees which are charged to perform specific governance duties requiring faculty, staff, administrative, and student involvement as well as conducting other college activities as defined in the Faculty Handbook 15. As is indicated in the Faculty Handbook, faculty members serving on each College Standing Committee play a vital role regarding academic and governance matters of the College. For example, standing committees that affect students' academic pursuits and curriculum include the Academic Admissions & Appeals Committee, Academic Affairs & Administrative Policies Committee, Academic Misconduct Appeals Committee, Curriculum Committee, Disciplinary Hearing Committee, Financial Aid Appeals Committee, and Scholarship Committee. Other standing committees, such as the Student Technology Fee Committee and the Electronic Learning Committee, have a more direct impact in the governance of the College as they make decisions regarding the use of student technology fees for purchasing technology for students as well as decisions regarding online courses and policies. Each College Standing Committee contains at least one faculty member, and the composition of each committee is determined by the Committee on Committees which selects the membership of each college standing committee based on the credentials, talents, and interests of faculty and staff. Faculty, staff, and administrative representatives to a committee unless otherwise specified shall be selected for two-year (24 month) terms. Moreover, both Ad-Hoc Committees and Advisory Committees are used to assure that the college is meeting the needs of the community. These committees consist of representatives from BPCC faculty, administrators, students, graduates, and also professional and community representatives.

FACULTY SENATE

The Faculty Handbook 23 states that the purpose of the Bossier Parish Community College Faculty Senate (herein after referred to as the Senate) shall be to promote the general welfare of the College; to discuss and express views on matter of general concern to the faculty; to effect communication between the faculty and other entities within the College; to initiate policy proposals; to make recommendations on policy proposals submitted to the Senate by administrative officials of the College; to represent faculty in discussions of controversial issues; and to request from the administrative officials of the College information which might influence policies and recommendations. The Faculty Senate Constitution and by-laws of the Faculty Senate appear in the Faculty Handbook 23-26. The Chair of Committee on Committees, the College committee that has the role of assigning membership of the College Standing Committees, is a member of the Faculty Senate Executive Council, thus allowing the Faculty Senate an even more vital role in assigning responsibility and authority of faculty in academic and governance matters.

FACULTY RIGHTS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Academic Freedom

The Faculty Handbook 28 states that Bossier Parish Community College is committed to faculty rights through the principle of academic freedom. This principle allows faculty members to teach, study, and research without undue institutional restrictions. The principle also includes the right of a member of the faculty to exercise in speaking, writing, and action outside the college the ordinary rights of the American citizen, but it does not decrease the responsibility and accountability which the member of the academic staff bears to the college, the state, and the nation.

Duties of the Academic Faculty

The Faculty Handbook 29 states that each member of the faculty is expected to be devoted to the accomplishment of the purposes for which the college exists. Members of the academic faculty are charged to determine the educational policy of the college through deliberative action in their respective units and divisions.

Responsibilities of Academic Faculty

The Faculty Handbook 28-29 states that it is a basic principle that every member of the faculty, regardless of rank, shall at all times be held responsible for competent and effective performance of duties. The concept of freedom should be accompanied by an equally demanding concept of responsibility. College faculty members are citizens, members of a learned profession, and officers of an educational institution. When speaking or writing as citizens, faculty should be free from institutional censorship or discipline; however, special positions in the community impose special obligations. As learning and educational officers, faculty should remember that the public might judge the profession and the institution by their utterances. Therefore, respect for others' opinions should be of utmost importance.

FACULTY EMPLOYMENT

Vacancies, Recruitment, and Hiring

One key element in this section which pertains to the authority of faculty in governance matters is in the hiring policy. The Faculty Handbook 30-31 states that a search committee consisting of one full-time faculty member from each academic division, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and the Chancellor shall be established to review applications for all vacant and new chair positions. This committee will review applications, interview prospects, and make a recommendation to the Chancellor.

POLICIES AND SERVICES PERTAINING TO INSTRUCTION

Advising of Students

One of the published policies on the responsibility of faculty in academic matters relates to the advising of students. The Faculty Handbook 34-35, 46-47 states that faculty members provide academic advising for students. Academic advising is regarded by BPCC as an extension of the teaching function and therefore, is an important responsibility of the faculty. A faculty member is typically assigned to advise students majoring in fields within the faculty member's academic division/ area of expertise. Furthermore, the Faculty Handbook reiterates this in the Job Description for Instructional Faculty and is an item in the Full-Time Faculty Employment Agreement.

Curriculum Policy

Another published policy on the responsibility of faculty in academic matters relates to curriculum. The Faculty Handbook 55 states that Bossier Parish Community College is committed to responding to the needs of the community by providing education to enhance the community, to provide necessary workforce training, and to heighten the educational level of its constituents. The College recognizes that educational services are a cooperative effort including the combined vision of several entities. This policy on curriculum is a statement of the clearly defined process which establishes the curriculum, reviews its efficacy, and evaluates its validity. It has been in effect for a number of years, and the policy recognizes the roles of the community, faculty, administration, students, and the governing board. Curricular change is made only after careful review by faculty, administration, the governing board, and other appropriate state agencies.

In summary, Bossier Parish Community College publishes policies on the responsibility and authority of faculty in academic and governance matters. The College publishes these policies within its Faculty Handbook. This publication clearly delineates policies pertaining to faculty rights, duties, and responsibilities, individual and shared, both inside and out of the classroom environment.