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Faculty and Special Advisory Committees

Faculty Committees

The faculty committees are under the auspices of the Faculty Senate. Membership and means of appointment are given in the USC Columbia Faculty Manual. Faculty Committees are governed by the faulty of the university with membership of these committees listed on the Office of the Faculty Senate webpage.

Special Advisory Committees

Special advisory committees, convened by or primarily supported by the Office of the Provost, the president, or other administrative offices, oversee campus operations with the involvement of faculty, staff, and students. If you are interested in serving on one of these committees, please contact the appropriate chair or designated contact person.

Purpose

The Task Force is charged with developing comprehensive, research-based guidelines for faculty on the use of AI tools in teaching and learning. Key considerations will include academic integrity, privacy, accessibility, and the potential impact on teaching, learning, and research.

Membership
Name Title Department
Adrian Anderson Coordinator for Academic Integrity Student Conduct and Academic Integrity
Aisha Haynes, Ph.D. (Co-Chair) Associate Director of CTE, Director of Distributed Learning Center for Teaching Excellence 
Alamir Novin, Ph.D. Assistant Professor College of Information and Communications
Charlie Pierce, Ph.D. (Chair) Faculty Director of ECC, Associate Professor Civil and Environmental Engineering
Dana Talbert Director Student Success Center
Drew Martin, Ph.D. Interim Faculty Director of AI Research and Education Professor College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sports Management
Emily Manetta, Ph.D. Professor and Director of Linguistics Program Department of English Language and Literature
Hayes Hampton, Ph.D. Director of Advisement USC Sumter, English
Helen Powers Director Career Center
Hengtao Tang, Ph.D. Associate Professor Leadership, Learning Design, and Inquiry; College of Education
Mark Uline, Ph.D. Interim Chair, Biomedical Engineering; Professor, Chemical Engineering Molinari College of Engineering and Computing
Marsha Purday Instructor College of Information and Communications
Meena Khalili Associate Professor School of Visual Art and Design
Michael Stoeltzner, Ph.D. Professor, Chair of the Faculty Appellate Panel Department of Philosophy
Ozgur Ince, Ph.D. Clinical Associate Professor Darla Moore School of Business (Finance)
Wolfgang Messner, Ph.D. Clinical Professor Darla Moore School of Business (International Business)
Meetings

The Task Force meets every three weeks.

Contact Information

Questions can be directed to Dr. Charlie Pierce.

Purpose

The Associate/Assistant Deans Council is a self-organized committee that provides a forum for the deans of undergraduate academic programs to discuss common issues, to make recommendations concerning undergraduate academic affairs to the University administration and appropriate faculty committees, and to respond to proposals related to undergraduate academic affairs submitted by members of the University community.

The Council's Role is to:

  • Promote and support undergraduate education from an academic and advising standpoint; 
  • Problem-solve and improve the undergraduate educational experience; 
  • Act as a sounding board and provide suggestions to constituents involved in the undergraduate educational experience; 
  • Serve as a communication point regarding issues that impact undergraduate academics; 
  • Facilitate cross-college knowledge regarding undergraduate curriculum and academic policy. 
Membership
Name Title Department
Aaron Marterer (ex officio)  Registrar  Office of the Registrar 
Andrea Tanner  Associate Dean  South Carolina Honors College 
Ben Roth  Associate Dean for Curriculum  College of Social Work 
Brian Shelton  Assistant Dean for Student Services  Darla Moore School of Business 
Bridget Miller  Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs  Arnold School of Public Health 
Christy Friend (Chair)  Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies  McCausland College of Arts and Sciences 
Claire Robinson (ex officio)  Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Advising  University Advising Center 
Julie Sease  Senior Associate Dean  College of Pharmacy 
Kathy Smiling  Assistant Dean of Student Services  College of Hospitality, Retail & Sport Management 
Lara Lomicka Anderson  Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies  Office of the Provost 
Melissa Moss  Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs  Molinaroli College of Engineering & Computing 
Robin Dawson  Associate Dean for Academics  College of Nursing 
Ryan Carlson  Associate Dean for Academic Affairs  College of Education 
Steve Lowe  Director of Liberal Studies and Organizational Leadership  Palmetto College 
Susan Rathbun-Grubb  Acting Associate Dean for Academic Affairs  College of Information and Communications 
Tina Stallard  Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Studies  School of Music 
Meetings

The committee meets six times per year: September, October, November, February, March, and April. 

The Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) is comprised of representatives of the administrative divisions, Palmetto College and Comprehensive Universities, Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, and General Counsel and includes a student representative. This committee, chaired by the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs on behalf of the Provost, is charged to consult with university offices on proposals for new, revised and repealed policies to consider whether they are necessary and aligned with institutional mission, goals and priorities; that policies are concise, consistent in format and scope, and easy to understand; to identify constituencies and other policies that may be affected; and to make recommendations to appropriate offices. The PAC also assists with dissemination and sharing feedback regarding policies. 

A list of responsible officers and policy liaisons for university policies is published with the Policies and Procedures Manual

Purpose

This task force will lead the way in the development of a policy and review process for priority registration moving forward to ensure that the priority registration population is reduced; thus, allowing students have fair access to academic courses.

Membership
Name Title Department
Aaron Marterer, Ed.D. Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and University System Registrar University Registrar
Christy Friend, Ph.D. Professor, Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies  Department of English Language and Literature
Courtney Tkacs Student Body Vice President Undergraduate Student
Jacob Vaught Student Undergraduate Student
Joshua Weakland Advising Coordinator Advising Department
Lara Lomicka Anderson, Ph.D. Vice Provost Office of the Provost
Marc Shook, Ph.D. Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Division of Student Affairs
Matthew Boylan, Ph.D. Professor Department of Mathematics
Maura Hamilton Student Undergraduate Student
Shelley Dempsey, Ph.D.  Assistant Provost for Graduation and Retention Graduation and Retention Network
Meetings

The Task Force meets as needed.

Contact Information

Questions can be directed to co-chairs Dr. Lara Lomicka Anderson or Dr. Aaron Marterer.

Purpose

The Provost’s Advisory Committee for Interdisciplinary Studies (PACIS) serves in an advisory role to the provost on issues related to the undergraduate interdisciplinary certificates. The committee is also responsible for accreditation and assessment as they relate to the certificates. 

PACIS consists of representatives from each College at USC-Columbia, as well as representatives from the Office of the Provost. They meet once a semester to: 

  • Review courses submitted for addition, deletion, or revision. 
  • Consider requests for courses to be added to, deleted from, or revised/updated (e.g., change in prerequisite). These requests are directed to the committee co-chairs.  

The committee has determined that: 

  • Course substitutions are not allowed for the courses on the approved course list for each certificate. 
  • Transfer courses determined to be equivalent to an approved course for a certificate may be applied to that certificate. Courses cross-listed with an approved course for a certificate may also be applied to that certificate. 

Learn more about Interdisciplinary Certificates or see answers to frequently asked questions

Membership
Name Title Department
Aaron Marterer, Ed.D. Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and University System Registrar University Registrar
Alexandria Carrico, Ph.D. Assistant Professor School of Music
Andrea Tanner Assistant Dean Honors College
Angela Baum, Ph.D. (Committee Co-Chair) Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Professor College of Education
Ben Roth, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Curriculum, Professor College of Social Work
Bridget Miller, Ph.D Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs, Clinical Associate Professor Arnold School of Public Health
Claudia Benitez-Nelson, Ph.D. Senior Associate Dean for College Initiatives, Interdisciplinary Programs Distinguished Professor McCausland College of Arts and Sciences
Julie Sease, Pharm.D. Director, Interprofessional Education Clinical, Associate Professor College of Pharmacy
Karen Edwards, J.D. Interim Associate Dean of Academic Programs, Senior Instructor College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management
Lara Lomicka Anderson, Ph.D. Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs Office of the Provost
Marc Van Essen Interim Associate Dean Undergraduate Programs
Melissa Moss, Ph.D. Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing
Robin Dawson, Ph.D. Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Accreditation, Professor College of Nursing
Ron Cox, Ph.D. Dean Palmetto College
Shelley Dempsey, Ph.D. (Committee Co-Chair) Assistant Provost for Graduation and Retention GARNET
Sonya Brown Interim Assistant Dean for Curriculum McCausland College of Arts and Sciences
Susan Rathbun-Grubb, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (interim) College of Information and Communication
Meetings

The committee meets each semester to review courses that have been requested for addition or deletion.

Contact Information

Questions can be directed to co-chairs Dr. Shelley Dempsey and Dr. Angela Baum. 

Purpose

The committee bases its work on the research of the Student Experience Project with an interest in transforming instruction to best serve all students in their goal of timely graduation.

Membership
Name Title Department
Amanda P. Zeigler, Ph.D. Director Undergraduate Studies, Biological Sciences
Brett Robertson, Ph.D. Assistant Professor School of Journalism and Mass Communications
Charlie Pierce, Ph.D. Faculty Director of ECC, Associate Professor Civil and Environmental Engineering
Juan Caicedo, Ph.D. Department Chair, Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Molinari College of Engineering and Computing
Lara Lomicka Anderson, Ph.D. Vice Provost Office of the Provost
Matthew Boylan, Ph.D. Professor and Assistant Chair Department of Mathematics
Michelle Bryan, Ph.D. Associate Vice President, Associate Professor College of Education Office of Access and Opportunities
Mitchell Dallas Herring, Ed.D. Instructional Designer Center for Teaching Excellence
Sarah Carroll, Ph.D. Clinical Associate Professor Economics
Shelley Dempsey, Ph.D. Assistant Provost for Graduation and Retention Graduation and Retention Network
Silvia-Patricia Rios-Husein, Ph.D. Associate Vice President for Student Success Student Affairs and Academic Support
Tammi Richardson, Ph.D. Professor, Chair of Biological Science Dept. Department of Biological Sciences
Meetings

The Working Group meets twice a semester.

Contact Information

Questions can be directed to Dr. Lara Lomicka Anderson or Dr. Shelley Dempsey.

Purpose

This group was given the charge by the Provost and the VP for Student Affairs and Academic Support to inventory all student success programs at the University and assess where there are existing gaps and duplications as well as opportunities for collaboration. Membership includes key faculty and administrators from across the university’s academic and administrative units. 

Membership
Name Title Department
Christy Friend, Ph.D. Professor, Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies Department of English Language and Literature
Claire Robinson, Ph.D. Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Advisement University Advising Center
Donald Miles Executive Director / SACSCOC Accreditation Liaison Institutional Research, Assessment, and Analytics
Karen Edwards, J.D. Associate Dean Academic Programs and Student Affairs, HRSM
Lara Lomicka Anderson, Ph.D. Vice Provost Office of the Provost
Sarah Williams, Ph.D. Faculty Executive Director of CIEL, Professor Music History
Scott Verzyl Vice President for Enrollment Management Office of Enrollment Management
Shelley Dempsey, Ph.D. Assistant Provost for Graduation and Retention Graduation and Retention Network
Silvia Patricia Rios-Husein, Ph.D. Associate Vice President for Student Success Student Affairs
Stacy Fritz, Ph.D. Chief Health Officer / AVP Student Health and Well-Being, Student Affairs
Meetings

The Task Force meets monthly.

Contact Information

Questions can be directed to Dr. Lara Lomicka Anderson. 


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