The Security Studies Faculty Committee

The Security Studies Faculty Committee is responsible for setting academic policy and standards for the Security Studies program.

I. Membership

  1. Membership of the Faculty Committee consists of the Director and Associate Director of Security Studies, and an equal number of representatives from the history and political science departments. In the event that a substantial number of students in Security Studies have a primary interest in another department, or courses from another department become a part of the Security Studies program, the Director and Associate Director of Security Studies may appoint a representative of that department to the Faculty Committee.
  2. Those eligible for membership include members of the Security Studies faculty or other faculty with teaching responsibilities or research interests related to Security Studies.
  3. Invitations to join the Faculty Committee are made by the Director of Security Studies in consultation with the Associate Director and the potential member's department chair.
  4. Membership of the Faculty Committee is on a yearly basis. The term generally runs from start of the fall semester to the start of the fall semester, though other terms are possible.
  5. Repeated failure to carry out the duties of the Faculty Committee or participate in its meetings is grounds for expulsion from the committee and replacement by another member if so agreed by the Director and Associate Director of Security Studies.

II. Duties

  1. The Faculty Committee sets academic policy for the Security Studies program, including establishing course requirements, approving new courses, overseeing the examination process for Ph.D students, and other issues relevant to the academic function of the program.
  2. The Faculty Committee serves as the admissions committee for the Security Studies program, reviewing applications and as necessary conducting applicant interviews.
  3. As necessary, the Faculty Committee monitors and reviews the Security Studies curriculum and courses to ensure their continuing rigor and appropriateness.

III. Procedures

  1. The Faculty Committee meets periodically as needed when called by the Director of Security Studies to perform the duties listed above. Quorum is three-quarters of the membership.
  2. The Faculty Committee strives to work by consensus and mutual agreement, remaining mindful of the interests of both the history and political science departments, as well as of the individual students and faculty in the program.
  3. The Faculty Committee's central guiding principle is the academic integrity and rigor of the program. It also strives to maintain the maximum possible flexibility for a variety of student populations (civilian, military, and international) consistent with that central principle.