Faculty Governance and Leadership

As a small academic community, members of the faculty participate significantly in the life of the institution. Information concerning governance and the administrative structure of Swarthmore College can be found in the Handbook for Instructional Staff. This is also where College and  Faculty policies and procedures which have been legislated by faculty vote may be found. The prevailing administrative practices are collegial and prioritize broad consultation.

Faculty Committees

There are a large number of committees on which faculty members serve. The Committee on Faculty Procedures assigns faculty to committees each year.  Information about committees as well as the current committee assignments of faculty members may be found on the Faculty Committees page.

Faculty Meetings

The Provost's Office, in conjunction with the Committee on Faculty Procedures (COFP), sets the dates and agendas for faculty meetings.  Meeting location and times can be found here. Section I-4 of the Handbook for Instructional Staff details who can attend and vote at faculty meetings.

Department Chairs

Department Chairs are chosen by the Provost and Dean of the Faculty after consultation with members of their departments. Being a chair allows a faculty member to play an essential role in maintaining the excellent standards of a Swarthmore education and to find many opportunities for leadership and mentoring.  Information and resources for chairs can be found here. A list of current Department Chairs and Administrative Support can be found here.