Texas A & M University. Academic Council

As a successor to the Texas A & M University General Faculty, the Texas A & M University Academic Council was formed in 1946, with the Dean of the College as chairman, and basically all Presidents, Deans and Heads of Departments of Colleges, as well as full-time faculty as members. The standing committees and any special committees deemed necessary were to be appointed by the President of Texas A & M, but all reports of committees were to be submitted to the Academic Council through the chairman, or Dean of the College.

Two of the standing committees were particularly active and important in the development of the Univesity's curriculum and degree programs. The Executive Committee, composed of the Dean of the College, or Academic Council chairman, the deans of the several schools, the Dean of Men, and the non-voting Registrar, was charged to deal with student petitions and other disciplinary matters, but perhaps most importantly, make recommendations to the Council regarding the establishment of any new undergraduate courses of instruction. Similarly, the Graduate Council considered issues regarding graduate instruction, including policy, regulations, enforcement of standards throughout the University, graduate student petitions, and requests for curriculum changes in the Graduate School . The Graduate Council was composed of the Dean of the Graduate School, the Chairman of the Committee on Graduate Instruction in each of the several schools, and one representative each from the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Texas Engineering Experiment Station .

By 1963, according to the pamphlet titled Organization of the Academic Legislative & Advisory Board, the Academic Council committee members were still appointed by the President of the College, with the President as chairman of the Council. The Council membership included the Vice-President for Research, the Deans, and Directors, Heads of Divisions and Departments. Subject to the approval of the President, the Academic Council had jurisdiction over matters of academic policy and procedure, barring those decisions presided over by the Board of Directors of the University. The Academic Council fixed requirements for entering and continuing in the College, determined courses of study in the various approved curricula, and set standards for conduct for faculty and students. The Executive Committee was, by this time, to give preliminary consideration to all matters coming before the Academic Council. The Research Council, established as of July 10, 1962, established by action of the Executive Committee, to coordinate and supervise the research activities of the College, including maintaining standards of excellence in all such activities, and developing and implementing new research programs.

As of 1975, the chairman of the Academic Council was to be the President of the University and the Vice Chairman to be elected by secret ballot from among the voting members of the Council.

The Academic Council continued to serve three main functions: provide a general forum for discussion on academic matters and opinion within the University, with a view to being a basic advisory group to the University President; make recommendations to the President of the University on academic policy and procedures; and refer specific questions to or raise specific issues with any other University administrative official, council, committee, or other agency, and could create its own committees for carrying out its function.

This configuration of Academic Council standing committees and Council charges remained unchanged until the cessation of the Academic Council in 1985, after which the chief forum and representative body for the Faculty became the Faculty Senate of Texas A & M University.

From the guide to the Inventory of the Texas A & M University Academic Council Records TAMU ARCH 00001., 1946-1985, (Cushing Memorial Library)