Institute and Faculty Committees

Standing Faculty Committees

Committee on Academic Performance (CAP)

CAP is the academic review arm of the Institute. After consulting a sitting member of CAP, we wanted to ensure both a strong moral compass and strong ethical judgment in our nominees as well as an approach to academic review that is case-by-case and seeks to better the student in question, not harm them. We also sought nominees who have had experience with CAP and will approach this job with particular empathy.

Committee on Campus Planning

The Committee on Campus Planning deals with the long-term vision of the entirety of MIT’s property. This past year, the committee has focused on getting a big picture understanding of MIT's campus planning processes in an effort to synthesize what is a complex landscape and provide recommendations to members higher up in MIT's administration. It is important that the single student representative on this committee is passionate about advocating for students as well as knowledgeable about this field.

Committee on Curricula (CoC)

CoC is the arm of the Institute that is responsible for the Institute curriculum. This committee entertains proposals that impact all current and future undergraduate students. After consulting a sitting member of CoC, we nominated students that have an understanding of MIT’s current curriculum, provide class and major diversity, and have ideas about how the curriculum can improve that is founded in their own curriculum experience and the experience of their peers.

Committee on Discipline (COD)

COD is the discipline arm of the Institute. After consulting a sitting member of COD, we wanted to ensure the nominees had a strong moral compass and strong ethical judgment as well as an approach to discipline that is case-by-case and seeks to better the student in question, not harm them. COD focuses on violations to community standards.

Faculty Policy Committee (FPC)

FPC is the only Institute committee that is faculty-focused. After consulting a sitting member of FPC, the student representative is there to listen, not lead (although there sometimes presents a moment for the student representative to present an agenda item). It is important to nominate a student with extensive experience working with faculty and a deep understanding of faculty governance and the role it plays as a partner to the work of the undergraduate students.

Committee on the Library System (CLS)

CLS is the arm of the Institute that is responsible for maintaining the library systems. We nominated students that have an understanding of MIT’s library systems and utilize its diverse offerings. We also nominated students with ideas about how the library systems can improve and have experienced many of the libraries’ resources.

Committee on Student Life (CSL)

CSL is the representative advising body for the DSL. After consulting a sitting member of CSL, we nominated students that have had experience engaging with DSL on housing and dining issues, particularly during recent student-administration conflicts (i.e. mutual selection) and a team of students who display dorm and dining option diversity. While historically CSL has acted primarily in an advisory and feedback-focused capacity, the committee nominated representatives who would help CSL be a more policy and oversight-focused body. This push would require working closely with the new faculty chair of the committee, knowledge of how CSL has worked in the past, and a strong understanding of the issues Undergraduates care most about. Additionally, this committee typically has a member from each of the rising senior, junior and sophomore classes and we followed this practice with our nominations.

Committee on Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid (CUAFA)

CUAFA is the arm of the Institute concerned with undergraduate admissions and financial aid. After consulting a sitting member of CUAFA, we sought to increase the diversity of student experiences in the room, particularly international students and students who have encountered issues with admissions and financial aid processes. We also sought nominees who presented working ideas to improve both of these divisions at MIT.

Committee on the Undergraduate Program (CUP)

CUP is the arm of the Institute that is responsible for the undergraduate program. This committee meets weekly and entertains proposals that impact all current and future undergraduate students. After consulting a sitting member of CUP, we nominated students that have an understanding of MIT’s current undergraduate program, provide class and major diversity, and shared ideas about how the undergraduate program can improve that is founded in their experience and the experience of their peers.

CUP Subcommittee on the Communication Requirement

The Subcommittee on the Communication Requirement supports, encourages, and monitors the development of new, innovative subjects and changes to the Communication Requirement and ensures regular review of new and existing subjects to ensure that the educational goals of the Communication Requirement are met while maintaining MIT’s high educational standards. Similar to the Subcommittee on the HASS Requirement, ideal student representatives are familiar with the communication requirement and have a good sense of ways to address student concerns.

CUP Subcommittee on the HASS Requirement

CUP Subcommittee on the HASS Requirement supports, encourages, and monitors the development of new innovative subjects and changes to the HASS Requirement and ensures regular review of new and existing subjects to ascertain that the educational goals of the HASS Requirement are met while maintaining MIT’s high educational standards. Ideal student representatives are familiar with HASS classes and have a good sense of ways to address student concerns.

Standing Institute Committees

Community Campus Safety Council (CCSC)

The CCSC serves in an advisory role to the Executive Vice President and Treasurer (EVPT) and the Chief of MIT Police. The MIT Police Department, which falls under the Office of Public Safety and reports to the EVPT, is committed to delivering excellent safety, crime prevention and emergency services and to supporting all members of the MIT community.

Council on Family and Work

MIT’s Council on the Family and Work serves in an advisory and deliberative capacity concerning family and work-related issues as they impact MIT’s faculty, staff, and students. It is the Council’s responsibility to: 1) identify family and work-related issues, 2) establish a process to evaluate and respond to these issues, and 3) make periodic recommendations to MIT’s senior officers about courses of action relevant to these specific issues. One student who was passionate about family and work-related issues who could clearly articulate areas for improvement was chosen as the student representative.

MIT Health Consumers' Advisory Council

The MIT Health Consumers’ Advisory Council serves as a communications link between MIT Health and its users. Its objectives are to keep the MIT community informed of the services available through MIT Health and to discuss criticisms and suggestions for the modification or addition of services to meet the changing needs of the community. The council reports annually to the MIT Health Management Board, which is the governing board of MIT Health within the MIT structure.

Institute Council on Belonging, Achievement, and Composition (CBAC)

CBAC will work with the Institute Community and Equity Officer to review relevant data regarding the progress of the Strategic Action Plan, School/College and administrative department action plans, and annual reports from the owners of proposed plan actions. CBAC will monitor and assess MIT’s efforts to “create and institutionalize new policies, systems, and behaviors that promote equity, value differences of opinion and origin, and establish conditions for productive disagreement that unite all of us in service to the Institute’s mission.”

ROTC Oversight Committee

The ROTC Oversight Committee monitors the partnership between the campus ROTC programs and MIT, working closely with the senior MIT administrator responsible for ROTC. The committee responds to issues as they arise and makes recommendations for changes in policy and operational matters where appropriate.

Committee on Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response

As charged by the President, the Committee on Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response is an advisory body that will provide guidance to the Provost, Chancellor, the Vice President for Human Resources, and the Institute Community and Equity Officer, as needed, to encourage a campus environment that is safe, respectful and free from discrimination; and to oversee an institute-wide approach to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct and other forms of gender-based discrimination.

Committee on the Use of Humans as Experimental Subjects

The Committee on the Use of Humans as Experimental Subjects is responsible for reviewing every research project utilizing humans as research subjects, and for devising effective procedures to ensure the adequate review of all protocols. Its principal role is to determine whether subjects used in any research project are protected against undue risk and to ensure that their rights, privileges, and privacy are protected.

Women’s Advisory Group

The Women’s Advisory Group is representative of many women at MIT. Its members are selected from various constituencies and from various areas of the Institute. The committee meets quarterly and works with and advises the Special Assistant to the President on areas of concern to the constituent groups and serves as a communications link with her office.

Other Institute Committees

Corporation Joint Advisory Committee on Institute-Wide Affairs (CJAC)

CJAC is a project-based Institute committee that provides students the unique opportunity to bring forth ideas that demand Institute-wide attention and resources. The UA President serves as ex-officio and the nominating committee chooses two students to join the student representative team. This year, MIT’s relationship with fossil fuel investments, MIT’s governing structure, and a DEI Institute-wide strategic plan are the three project proposals to which the UA President hopes to raise awareness. The two students  who applied with both a vision and expertise in these areas were nominated.

OCW Faculty Advisory Committee (OCW FAC)

The OCW FAC is looking for a student who has some experience with OCW, e.g. has used our materials in their own learning, brings perspective and ideas about how MIT might better engage with students and the community, and shares our commitment to the value of sharing knowledge freely with the world.

Presidential Advisory Cabinet (PAC)

PAC is the representative advising body for the President of MIT. Since the President is concerned with a wide-range of issues, it is important to nominate a student slate that is diverse along varied aspects from identity to student involvement. After consulting a sitting member of PAC, we wanted to maintain vocal and understanding students who are measured in thought. Having interviewed a unique applicant who was a transfer to MIT, we saw this opportunity to expand the diversity present by including his voice.

MIT Values Statement Committee

MIT’s MindHandHeart office has been charged with implementing the MIT Values Statement intent and language across the Institute. In its final report, the MIT Values Statement Committee made a range of suggestions for implementing the statement's intent and language into the life and operations of the Institute, noting: "Values statements can be a powerful force for positive change and building trust throughout a community, but those benefits come about only with shared ownership, sustained action, and attention."

For more detailed information on each committee please see https://facultygovernance.mit.edu/committees-and-councils