Educational Policy Committee
The Educational Policy Committee is is a key element in Northern Michigan University's commitment to shared governance. The Committee is instrumental in developing policies that shape staffing decisions, program review and the allocation of resources.
The Educational Policy Committee is comprised of twelve members of which six are faculty and six are members of the administration.
The Committee will use this site to keep the campus apprised of its work, and to invite feedback.
The responsibilities of the EPC include advising the Provost and the Association on:
- Mission statements,
- Short- and long-term academic program planning for the University,
- Financial considerations attendant to implementation of new programs such as majors and minors,
- Enrollment patterns and projections,
- The allocation of the budget for the support of academic programs,
- The generation of credit hours within colleges and academic departments,
- Staffing requirements within colleges and academic departments.
Academic Senate
The Academic Senate and Educational Policy Committee have companion roles in the development of academic programs. The Senate and its curriculum committees (CUP and GPC) are responsible for deliberating on the academic merit of proposed curricula. The EPC makes recommendations to the Provost regarding the allocation of budget to support academic programs.
Policies
Northern Michigan University’s Educational Policy Committee has worked diligently to create a body of guidelines and policies which are used in the committee’s decision-making process as it develops its recommendations for the Provost regarding academic programming. These include policies related to academic program review, how to reallocate resources and appropriate staffing to deliver the programs in a high-quality manner.
Resources
At the spring 2010 university forum, former NMU President Les Wong charged the Educational Policy Committee with creating the criteria the university would use in reviewing academic programs, with the ultimate intent to reallocate resources to those programs and academic areas with the greatest potential to enhance the student experience, increase enrollment or bring distinction to the university. The review will also identify programs that should be considered for termination, based on the criteria. New academic departments, majors and centers are also to be considered based on the criteria.