The faculty present at the LAS Spring Faculty Meeting on April 14, 2026 approved the proposed AY26-27 slate for LAS Standing Committees.
The College Bylaws (VI.7.4) provide that "Additional nominations, with the nominees' consent, may be presented by a petition signed by eight voting members submitted to the Secretary of the Faculty at least three calendar days prior to the election."
Elections Procedures for LAS Standing Committees (VI.H.5):
- The Nominations Committee shall present nominations for the faculty and non-faculty members for each standing committee in the agenda for the last meeting of the faculty for the academic year.
- If the slate is rejected, the Nominations Committee will develop procedures for a contested election.
If you are eligible and interested in serving on a standing committee with a current vacancy (listed below), or if you would like to be considered for future ad-hoc vacancies if any occur throughout the year, please email Miranda Bullok at mbullok@illinois.edu with your title, department, and which committees you are interested in or willing to serve on.
The usual nominations cycle begins in January for the following academic year. Please check back then for more information on upcoming vacancies and a link to the nominations form.
The next LAS Spring Faculty Meeting will be TBD.
Current and upcoming vacancies (terms to start Fall 2026)
See descriptions, meeting frequency, and vacancies for each Standing Committee below. Please note some vacancies have differing term lengths. Returning members have their term end listed. See the LAS Standing Committees for current committee members.
Electoral Groups are listed as I-VIII (see background information below)
SF = Specialized Faculty
AP = Academic Professional
G = Graduate Student
UG = Undergraduate Student
Committee on Academic Standards
Hears academic integrity appeals for cases where the sanction is for failure of the course and reviews drop status appeals for students who are dropped from the college for academic deficiencies.
Frequency of Meetings: Whenever an appeal is requested, on average 0-6 times a year. Also involves six workdays in mid-June – a training session on a Friday followed by a week of reviews conducted remotely.
NO CURRENT VACANCIES
Awards Committee
Reviews all nominations for LAS College Awards and some campus awards; and makes recommendations to the Dean. College awards include: Dean’s Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching by Graduate Teaching Assistants, Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching by Instructional Staff, Academic Advising Award, LAS Staff Awards, and LAS Academic Professional Awards. Campus awards include: Excellence in Guiding Undergraduate Research, Excellence in Graduate and Professional Teaching, Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring, and Excellence in Online and Distance Teaching.
Frequency of Meetings: Twice in late Fall for Staff and Academic Professional Awards and twice in early Spring for Teaching Awards.
ONE (1) CURRENT VACANCY, may be filled by any of the following positions:
VII. __________________ (2025-27)
VIII. __________________ (2026-28)
Courses and Curricula Committee
Reviews all proposals for new courses and curricula in the college and, when warranted, major revisions to existing curricula. Ensures all proposals meet college and campus requirements. Recommends policy on matters within its jurisdiction.
Frequency of Meetings: Bi-weekly during the Fall and Spring semesters and dependent upon proposal availability.
NO CURRENT VACANCIES
General Education Committee
Reviews all proposals for general education certification and re-certification and oversees the college’s general education program under the umbrella of campus-wide general education. Determines which courses are appropriate for general education in each of its respective distributional areas and establishes guidelines regarding the interpretation and administration of general education policies.
Frequency of Meetings: Bi-weekly during the Fall and Spring semesters and dependent upon proposal availability.
ONE (1) CURRENT VACANCY, may be filled by any of the following positions:
I. __________________ (2026-27)
VIII. __________________ (2026-28)
Honors Council
Oversees the LAS honors programs, policies, and practices.
Frequency of Meetings: Once per semester.
ONE (1) CURRENT VACANCY, may be filled by any of the following positions:
IV. __________________ (2026-28)
VII. __________________ (2026-27)
Policy and Development Committee
Reviews and revises outdated policies in the LAS Policy Manual and updates, as necessary, LAS Bylaws. Coordinates with the VPAA Office on aligning LAS policy with Provost Communications and University Statutes, and with other campus and college offices as needed in ensuring LAS policies are reflective of current campus operations, procedures, and regulations.
Frequency of Meetings: Several times per semester, or as need arises.
ONE (1) CURRENT VACANCY:
IV. __________________ (2026-28)
Background information on nominations and Electoral Groups
VI.H.3. Standing Committee- Membership
Faculty members will normally serve staggered two-year terms. The number of Faculty members on each committee shall be determined by the Faculty on the recommendation of the Nominations Committee. Each standing committee may include up to four members who are not tenure-track faculty (undergraduate students, graduate students, Academic Professionals, Specialized (including but not limited to Instructors and Lecturers)) with full voting rights in the committee. Each committee will elect its own Chair annually. The Dean or a designee shall serve as an ex-officio member of all standing committees.
The Nominations Committee has developed an ideal membership makeup for the four non-faculty members on each committee based on the committee’s purpose. The Nominations Committee is currently soliciting nominations from tenure-stream faculty, students, academic professionals, and specialized faculty for all openings. The Nominations Committee will review all nominations and develop a slate of nominees for each standing committee. If possible, the nominees shall be members of the electoral groups they represent. However, if, after due diligence, the Nominations Committee cannot identify a suitable candidate or candidates from an electoral group, a substitute who is not a member of that group but is qualified to represent that group may be selected.
Electoral groups as defined in the LAS Bylaws:
Group I: Classics, History, Philosophy, Religion
Group II: English, African American Studies, American Indian Studies, Asian American Studies, Gender & Women’s Studies, Latina/Latino Studies
Group III: Comparative & World Literature; East Asian Languages & Cultures; French & Italian; Germanic Languages & Literatures; Linguistics; Slavic Languages & Literatures; Spanish & Portuguese
Group IV: Anthropology, Communication, Political Science, Sociology
Group V: Economics, Psychology
Group VI: School of Integrative Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Group VII: School of Earth, Society, and the Environment; School of Chemical Sciences
Group VIII: Astronomy, Mathematics, Statistics
For purposes of nomination and election to the Standing Committees, non-tenure-track/tenured faculty members within units not mentioned above shall be considered to belong to the electoral groups as follows:
Group I: Jewish Studies, Medieval Studies
Group II: African Studies, Writing Studies
Group III: East Asian & Pacific Studies, Latin American & Caribbean Studies, School of Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics Administration
Group IV: LAS Global Studies Program, South Asian & Middle Eastern Studies, Russian East European & Eurasian Center
Group V: LAS Student Academic Affairs Office, Spurlock Museum
Group VI: LAS Office of the Dean, Neuroscience
Group VII: Applied Technologies in the Arts and Sciences Office
Group VIII: LAS Office of Advancement