
Faculty Council
Faculty Council is a committee of five elected faculty members whose purpose is to represent the best interests of the faculty in all aspects of the college. According to the Faculty Code, the Council “shall take an overall institutional view for planning, communicating with the Board of Trustees, and for reviewing and integrating the policy decisions of faculty committees and administrative offices.” The Code also asserts that Faculty Council “shall confer with administrative officers on all matters pertaining to budget, financial aid, governance, general welfare of the college and general faculty personnel issues.” Lastly and largely, Faculty Council “shall serve as a forum for faculty ideas and concerns.”
Membership
The current members of Faculty Council are:
- Nathan Derr, Chair, (2025)
- Justin Cammy, (2027)
- Luca Caponga (2027)
- Javier Puente (2027)
- Will Raven (2025)
Meetings
Faculty Council meets on Wednesdays from noon-2 p.m. at rotating locations. We welcome questions or comments via email. Meeting agendas and minutes can be found in Moodle.
Faculty Committees Elections
Faculty committee elections are based on the Hare method of voting.
FAQ on the Hare Method of Voting
1. If I have one favorite candidate I prefer above all others, how do I vote?
Put a “1” next to that person’s name.
2. Is there anything else I can do to increase my candidate’s chances of winning a seat?
No.
3. What if I have a favorite, but also prefer some of the remaining candidates to others. How do I vote?
Put “2”, “3” etc. next to the other candidates in order of your preference.
4. If I do that, do I diminish the chances of my favorite winning a seat?
No.
5. If I consider two candidates tied—exactly equal—is there any way for me to indicate that with my votes?
No. You must choose to rank each candidate for whom you want to vote with a distinct number.
6. What if I see the name on the ballot of someone I’d hate to see elected. How do I vote?
Leave a blank next to that person’s name.
7. Besides that, is there anything else I can do to diminish that person’s chance of winning a seat?
No.
8. I can understand the directions for voting, but I don’t understand how ballots are counted. Doesn’t that put me at a disadvantage against someone who knows how the count is done?
No. There are no strategies which can be used by someone who knows how the count is done to gain an advantage over someone who doesn’t.
Contact Faculty Council
Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063