A68: Branch Community Colleges Council

Approved By: Faculty Senate
Effective Date: August 24, 2021
Responsible Faculty Committee: Branch Community Colleges Council
Office Responsible for Administration: Office of University Secretary

Applicability

All UNM faculty, including the Health Sciences Center and Branch Community Colleges.

Policy Rationale

The Branch Community Colleges Council highlights the academic and professional contributions of UNM branch community college faculty; fosters collaboration, communication, and camaraderie between faculty members on all UNM campuses; proactively ensures the Senate is aware of issues that are specific to branch community colleges when making decisions affecting branch community colleges; proactively brings matters to the Senate that are specific to branch community colleges that may warrant supportive action by the Senate; actively champions student success; and seeks opportunities to optimize the campus climate at the various branch community colleges.

Policy Statement

The Branch Community Colleges Council will provide guidance to the Faculty Senate, the Faculty Senate Operations Committee, and the Faculty Senate President regarding concerns specific to UNM branch community colleges, especially those that involve interactions with Albuquerque campuses. To further enhance inter-campus collaboration, the Branch Community Colleges Council will attend to matters including, but not limited to:

a. Faculty shared governance and other branch community college specific concerns pertinent to all faculty;

b. Branch community college faculty inclusion on committees, projects, professional development, and research opportunities made available to UNM faculty;

c. Through the Faculty Senate, collaboration with leadership in Academic Affairs and Student Affairs on Albuquerque campuses pertaining to student success initiatives that increase retention and graduation rates of branch community college students who transfer to Albuquerque campuses;

d. The coordination and support of branch community college faculty in matters related to academic freedom, tenure, and promotion processes; and

e. The support for and recognition of branch community college faculty research, teaching, and service.

This Policy strengthens communications and relationships across UNM faculties in order to best support faculty, staff, and students and ultimately foster a more inclusive campus community. The Branch Community Colleges Council fosters Faculty Senate awareness, discussion, and action meant to supplement or work in concert with other initiatives at Albuquerque campuses and/or branch community colleges.

The Branch Community Colleges Council membership

a. Voting members of the Branch Community Colleges Council shall be all duly elected faculty senators representing the Gallup, Los Alamos, Taos, and Valencia campuses.

b. Council members serve as liaisons between their respective branch student and faculty governance members for input on issues, concerns, and ideas.

c. The Council Chair will be elected to a two-year term by a vote of the Council members.

d. The Council Chair-elect will be elected by the Council members and must be a current faculty senator. The Chair-elect must be installed and active for a minimum of one (1) year prior to the expiration of the current Council Chair’s term of office. Subsequently, the Chair-elect will become the next Council Chair upon the expiration of the current Council Chair’s term of office.

Procedures

The Branch Community Colleges Council will schedule regular meetings and should meet at least once each semester. The Council Chair will meet regularly with the Operations Committee but not less than once each semester.

Definitions

There are no specific definitions required by this Policy.

Contacts

Direct any questions about this policy to the Office of the University Secretary.

Who should read this policy

• All UNM faculty.
• Academic administrators and staff.
• Administrative staff responsible for policy development.

Related Documents

Faculty Handbook:

• A51: Faculty Constitution
• A53: Development and Approval of Faculty Policies
• A60: Faculty Senate Bylaws

New Mexico Statute NMSA Chapter 21, Article 14, 21-14-1

History

• July 1, 2025 - Policy format updated to align with FHB A53
• August 24, 2021 - Policy approved by Faculty Senate