Institute Representatives

About Institute Committees

What are Institute Committees?

Many important decisions at MIT are made by committees, councils, and working groups made up of faculty, staff, and students. Faculty committees are chartered in the Rules of the Faculty and include issues of educational curricula, discipline, and student life. Presidential committees are chartered by the President and cover many aspects of life and work at MIT, including wellness, health & safety, medical services, intellectual property, and diversity. There are also a variety of other committees and councils that govern important aspects of student life and support at MIT.

What do these committee representatives do?

These GSC representatives participate in Institute Committees, learning how MIT works, interacting with faculty and MIT administrators as partners, sharing their perspectives, gaining leadership experience, and making a difference. Serving on an Institute Committee is an excellent professional development opportunity. The student perspective on Institute Committees is valued and these students work to make sure our community is represented. 

How can I become an institute representative?

Each year in [Month], Institute representatives are first nominated by [Party], then screened by the GSC Nominations Board which passes candidates directly to the institute committee for final decision.

Questions or Comments? 

Contact the GSC Vice President at gsc-vp@mit.edu for general questions. Feel free to contact the GSC committee representatives for the specific committees below. Their kerb is provided in parentheses.

Current Institute Representatives

Standing Faculty Committees

Committee on Campus Planning

The Committee on Campus Planning serves as the standing Faculty advisory body to the MIT administration on campus planning. It provides Faculty perspectives and counsel on campus planning issues, including, but not limited to, future academic and research needs of the community. The committee seeks to understand the needs of the Faculty for the campus environment and ensure communication with the Faculty on important matters related to the MIT campus and surroundings. The chair of the committee serves ex officio on the MIT Building Committee, and members may be called upon to serve on task forces and/or other ad hoc committees concerned with campus planning.

Committee on Discipline

The Committee on Discipline (COD) considers cases of alleged misconduct by students and student organizations that are brought to its attention. The Committee acts with power in all circumstances, including suspension and expulsion of a student from the Institute, revocation of a degree, revocation of recognition for a student group, and loss of a student organization residence. A COD decision to suspend or expel a student, revoke a degree, revoke recognition of a student group, or terminate a student organization residence may be appealed to the Chancellor on grounds described by the COD Rules & Regulations.

Committee on Graduate Programs

The Committee on Graduate Programs consists of six elected faculty members, the Associate Chair of the Faculty, two graduate student members, and the following ex officio voting members and/or their designee(s): the Vice Chancellor, the Vice President for Research, and the Registrar. The Chair of the Committee and the Vice Chancellor jointly appoint one departmental or program graduate administrator to the committee.

Committee on Library System

The Committee on the Library System formulates policy for the administration of the Libraries, with the advice of the Director of Libraries, consistent with the objectives of the Institute. It serves as a liaison between the Libraries and their users. The committee also monitors and upholds the MIT Faculty Open-Access Policy, which details the process for disseminating scholarly research.

Committee on Student Life

The Committee on Student Life (CSL) is concerned with the quality of the learning and living environment of the MIT community. The duties and responsibilities of the CSL include (a) effecting Institute-wide support services to students by maintaining formal and informal relationships among students, the Institute, and the Faculty; (b) modifying policies pertinent to student life and making recommendations to the Faculty and the Vice Chancellor and Dean for Student Life; (c) encouraging innovation in programs, including the coordination and review of initiatives; (d) interacting with other Faculty Committees and student governing organizations and communicating with the MIT community; and (e) serving as the standing Faculty advisory body to the Vice Chancellor and Dean for Student Life.

Committee on Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid

The Committee on Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid is responsible for formulating and reviewing policies on admission of all undergraduate students, including college transfers, and on financial aid to students, including undergraduate scholarships, loans, and student employment. The committee also exercises prior review of MIT publications and formal releases directed toward prospective undergraduate students.

Faculty Policy Committee

The Faculty Policy Committee has the following duties and responsibilities:

  1. Formulate policy on matters of concern to the Faculty, for approval by the Faculty; interpret and implement policy as approved by the Faculty.
  2. Coordinate the work of the other Committees of the Faculty, establishing liaison with them, providing guidance and direction, and referring issues to particular Committees or establishing Ad Hoc Committees as appropriate.
  3. Maintain a broad overview of the Institute’s academic programs, coordinating and reviewing proposals from the Standing and Ad Hoc Committees for presentation to Faculty meeting.
  4. Maintain a broad overview of the activities of the Office of Corporate Relations and other similar efforts as they relate to the activities of the members of the Faculty.
  5. Keep informed of new problems of potential conflicts of interest and recommend appropriate modifications of policies and procedures to the Faculty.
  6. Communicate with the Faculty as a whole on important matters of policy, reporting regularly at Faculty meetings.
  7. Meet periodically with the President, Academic Deans, and others to enhance the interchange between the Faculty and the Administration on matters of concern to the Faculty.
  8. Consider issues involving relationships between Administration and both Faculty and other academic staff with teaching responsibilities.
  9. Establish the manner in which the academic program is presented in official Institute publications, delegating to other Standing Committees such parts of the responsibility as deemed desirable.

Standing Institute Committees

Institute Council on Belonging, Achievement, and Composition

With the announcement of the Institute-wide Strategic Action Plan for Belonging, Achievement and Composition, the former Committee on Race and Diversity will pivot to directly support the plan and assess the Institute’s progress. Newly renamed the Institute Council on Belonging, Achievement, and Composition, the committee will work with the Institute Community and Equity Officer to review relevant data regarding the progress of the Strategic Action Plan, School/College and administrative department action plans, and annual reports from the owners of proposed plan actions.

Community Campus Safety Council

The Community Campus Safety Council (CCSC) serves in an advisory role to the Executive Vice President and Treasurer (EVPT) and the Chief of MIT Police. The MIT Police Department, which falls under the Office of Public Safety and reports to the EVPT, is committed to delivering excellent safety, crime prevention and emergency services and to supporting all members of the MIT community.

CCSC will serve as a communications link between the MIT Police and MIT’s students, faculty and staff. Its objectives are to inform the MIT community of the services available through the Office of Public Safety, and to suggest any opportunities to modify or supplement services to meet any changing needs of the community. The Council may conduct surveys or focus groups to gather community feedback as needed.

While not a policy-making body, the CCSC will work with the EVPT and the MIT Police to recommend ways to improve public safety and police services on the MIT campus. In collaboration with the MIT Police, it will examine any concerns raised by community members or community groups regarding police operations, recommend responses, and generate ideas for enhancing public safety in the MIT community based on best practices for policing.

Council on Family and Work

MIT’s Council on Family and Work serves in an advisory and deliberative capacity concerning family and work related issues as they impact MIT’s faculty, staff, and students. It is the Council’s responsibility to: 1) identify family and work-related issues, 2) establish a process to evaluate and respond to these issues, and 3) make periodic recommendations to MIT’s senior officers about courses of action relevant to these specific issues.

Council on Intellectual Property

The Committee on Intellectual Property recommends to the administration policy guidelines for intellectual property, including patents, copyrights, and agreements. It considers issues of the ownership and distribution of MIT intellectual property, conflict of interest, and MIT-industry interactions. Its policy recommendations balance a desire to transfer MIT technology to industry or other institutions for the public good, with a need to maintain an environment at MIT that promotes openness and excellence in education and research.

Commencement Committee

The Commencement Committee is charged with guiding planning for MIT Commencement with recommendations that combine community values, Institute policy, and feasibility. The Committee’s work includes: confirming the elements of the OneMIT Commencement ceremony; guiding planning for the undergraduate ceremony; making recommendations for elements that are appropriate for the six advanced degree ceremonies; and serving as a resource to Schools as they plan their events.

Committee on the Use of Humans as Experimental Subjects

The Committee on the Use of Humans as Experimental Subjects is responsible for reviewing every research project utilizing humans as research subjects, and for devising effective procedures to ensure the adequate review of all protocols. Its principal role is to determine whether subjects used in any research project are protected against undue risk and to ensure that their rights, privileges, and privacy are protected.

Community Service Fund Board

The Community Service Fund Board provides financial support to local charitable organizations on which members of the MIT community volunteer. The Board solicits funding from the MIT community and from outside sources. Members of the Board review grant proposals in support of projects and programs utilizing MIT volunteers. The Board consists of members throughout the MIT community, with representation from faculty, students, administrators, the MIT Corporation, and alumni/ae.

Committee on Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response

As charged by the President, the Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Committee is an advisory body that will provide guidance to the Provost, the Chancellor, the Vice President for Human Resources, and the Institute Community and Equity Officer as needed; to encourage a campus environment that is safe, respectful and free from discrimination; and to oversee an institute-wide approach to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct and other forms of gender-based discrimination.

DAPER Advisory Board

The DAPER Advisory Board is composed of faculty members, alumnae, students, and ex-officio members of the Administration all of whom are appointed by the President of MIT to advise on all matters of policy and procedure related to the Institute programs in physical education, intercollegiate athletics, club and intramural sports along with informal recreational pursuits.

Presidential Committee on Distinguished Fellowships

The members of the Committee on Distinguished Fellowships conduct interviews in October and November with applicants for various international scholarships, and provide feedback to the Chair of the Committee as well as the students themselves. The committee then meets to evaluate and rate the applicants for the Fulbright Grant and to select two nominees for the Churchill Scholarship.

Committee on the Hobby Shop

The Committee on the Hobby Shop encourages and promotes the use of the Hobby Shop by students.

Medical Consumers’ Advisory Council

The Medical Consumers’ Advisory Council serves as a communications link between the Medical Department and its users. Its objectives are to keep the MIT community informed of the services available through the Medical Department and to discuss criticisms and suggestions for the modification or addition of services to meet the changing needs of the community. The council reports annually to the Medical Management Board, which is the governing board of the Medical Department within the MIT structure.

Committee on Radiation Protection

As a Standing Institute Committee reporting to the Vice President for Research, the Committee on Radiation Protection (RPC) is responsible for establishing, maintaining and advancing a radiation protection program at the Institute and its off-campus sites. The RPC reviews and approves all uses of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation sources through a system of authorization/registration programs, risk assessments, and monitoring programs managed by the Radiation Protection Program (RPP). The RPC is also responsible for Institute compliance with radiation protection regulations and standards promulgated by local, state and federal agencies, and with the conditions of approval noted in the Institute’s government-issued licenses. Within these parameters, the RPC works with students, staff and faculty to facilitate research projects using radiation sources of all types.

ROTC Committee

The ROTC Oversight Committee monitors the partnership between the campus ROTC programs and MIT, working closely with the senior MIT administrator responsible for ROTC. The committee responds to issues as they arise and makes recommendations for changes in policy and operational matters where appropriate.

Committee on Toxic Chemicals (CTC)

The Committee on Toxic Chemicals is responsible for reviewing current practices with regard to the effects on human subjects of toxic chemicals, including carcinogens. The committee is also responsible for formulating policies necessary to control the risks and exposure to personnel working with such agents and for compliance with governmental regulations.

Committee for Transportation and Parking

The Committee for Transportation and Parking reviews and advises on policy governing the operation of the transportation and parking system at MIT. It further serves to monitor and make recommendations concerning transportation-related issues that affect the MIT community.

Women’s Advisory Group

The Women’s Advisory Group is representative of many women at MIT. Its members are selected from various cohorts and from various areas of the Institute. Convened quarterly by the Ombuds Office, the committee advises on areas of concern to the constituent groups and serves as a communications link across campus.

Other Committees

Presidential Advisory Cabinet

PAC is the representative advising body for the President of MIT. PAC exists to act as a confidential sounding board to the President and to provide her with insights into the student experience on matters such as academics, research, and student life. The cabinet meets face to face with the President four times during the fall semester and three times in spring. This is a unique opportunity for students to influence decision making at MIT at the highest level.  

Corporation Joint Advisory Committee on Institute-Wide Affairs (CJAC)

Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Freedom and Campus Expression

Shuttle Committee

The Shuttle Committee meets to talk about daytime shuttles, on-demand shuttles, and grocery shuttles. The committee is very impactful in terms of having the voices of students represented. MIT’s Parking & Transportation team is interested in the viewpoints of students. They provide updates on key initiatives, solicits input on services and works to respond to student needs.