Secretary to the Faculty
Smith College
Northampton, Massachusetts 01063
T (413) 585-3000 F(413) 585-3070
Faculty Action Sheet
At the final regular meeting of the 2014-2015 academic year on May 14, 2015 (Conference
Room, Alumnae House), the following actions were taken by the Smith College faculty:
I. The faculty unanimously approved the April 29, 2015 faculty meeting minutes.
II. The following items were recommended by the Committee on Academic Priorities and
unanimously approved by the faculty:
A. New Topics Courses:
1. HST 263(C) Continuity and Change in Spanish America and Brazil; Topic—
Revolution and Counter-Revolution in Cold War Latin America
2. LAS 201(C) Colloquium in Latin American and Latino/a Studies; Topic—Latin
American Economic History, 1825-present
B. Curricular Changes:
1. New Physics Education Track
2. CHM 108 Environmental Chemistry to be dual prefixed as CHM 108/ENV 108
3. Change in prerequisite for PHY 327 to: 215 or permission of the instructor.
Taking 317 before 327 is recommended.
III. The faculty approved the following revision to the Faculty Code Appendix H with 87 in
favor, 15 opposed and 4 abstentions:
Policy on Sexual Relationships between Faculty and Students
Because of their potential to damage the bonds of mutual trust and responsibility upon
which this intellectual community depends, sexual relationships between faculty
members and students are prohibited. Such relationships are prohibited when the faculty
member is directly teaching, advising, evaluating, or supervising the student, and they are
prohibited in the absence of any direct pedagogical relationship between faculty member
and student; they are prohibited even if the relationship is consensual; they are prohibited
regardless of the age of the student. Failure to abide by this policy will result in
discipline to the faculty member, up to and including dismissal from employment at the
College.
A Note on Procedure
The enforcement of this policy will follow existing College procedures. Reports of
violation of the policy go the President, under her responsibility for the “discipline of the
College” (Faculty Code, Section 1.a.); any investigation will be conducted by the
College’s Title IX officer; disputes over disciplinary sanctions will be decided according
to the “Removal from the Faculty for Cause” provision of The Policy of Appointment,
Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure (Section VIII. 2), which provides for a hearing of
the case by the Committee on Tenure and Promotion (T&P); decisions of T&P may be
appealed, on procedural grounds, to the Committee on Grievance (Faculty Code, Section
27). A full description of the procedures to be followed in the case of a violation of this
Policy is on file in the Office of the Provost and Dean of the Faculty.
This Policy shall be understood not to affect the Tuition Assistance Benefit the College
offers to spouses of faculty members.”
IV. The faculty unanimously approved Provost Rowe’s motion on behalf of the
Administrative Board to recommend to the Board of Trustees that the baccalaureate
degree be conferred upon the students on the official class list of seniors on file in the
Office of the Registrar with the following qualifications and omissions:
*The records of 22 students, including 3 out of residence, are incomplete because of
unreported grades so these degrees will not be awarded until the records are complete.
*The degrees of 8 students with records that are deficient because of credit shortages
and/or unfulfilled major requirements will be awarded as of August 31st, if complete.
*2 students from previous years have been added to the list of students graduating in
2015.
V. The faculty unanimously approved Provost Rowe’s motion on behalf of the
Subcommittee on Honors and Independent Programs to recommend to the Board of
Trustees that the baccalaureate degree with Departmental Honors and/or Latin Honors be
conferred upon students on the official lists on file in the Office of the Registrar, subject
to the registrar checking with relevant departments, as follows:
*12 for the degree with Honors
*40 for the degree with High Honors
*24 for the degree with Highest Honors
*82 for the degree cum laude
*29 for the degree magna cum laude
*9 for the degree summa cum laude.
VI. The faculty unanimously approved Provost Rowe’s motion on behalf of the Office of
Graduate and Special Programs to recommend to the Board of Trustees the awarding of
67 diplomas and advanced degrees to be conferred upon the students on the official list
on file in the Office of the Registrar, including 16 Master of Education of the Deaf, 8
Certificate of Study, 12 Diploma in American Studies, 12 Master of Science, 15 Master
of Arts in Teaching, and 4 Master of Fine Arts, with the following qualifications:
*The records of 8 students are incomplete because of unreported grades so these
degrees will not be awarded until the records are complete.
*The records of 16 Master of Education of the Deaf students and 1 Master of Arts in
Teaching student will be complete in August, after completion of summer course
requirements, with an official date of graduation on August 10, 2015.
Respectfully submitted,
Carrie N. Baker
Secretary of the Faculty
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