Faculty Cluster Liaison and Cluster Chair Responsibilities
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The Academic Management Manual establishes faculty clusters as influential governance and recommending entities responsible for shaping curriculum, approving course development initiatives, establishing instructional-material standards, and maintaining academic quality within their disciplines. It clearly assigns operational authority and accountability within the College's academic decision-making framework.
1. The Cluster is comprised of disciplines and/or programs. Each cluster has a Cluster liaison, who is an associate dean or director.
2. Programs or a discipline(s) may choose to meet more frequently. If a program or a discipline meets outside of the four required meetings during the academic year, minutes must be taken and distributed via email to the Academic Minutes Distribution list.
3. Any cluster member may place an item on the agenda for discussion and/or voting. The cluster chair does not have the right to refuse an agenda item from a cluster member.
4. An item is approved if the majority of cluster members vote to approve the agenda item.
Cluster Liaison is responsible for:
A. Collaborating with the Cluster Chair to ensure that at least the four required meetings are scheduled.
B. Holding a group meeting with all the programs and disciplines under that cluster.
C. Ensuring that minutes are taken, including addressing any district issues set forth by the VPAA, and distributed to the Academic Minutes Distribution list.
D. Identifying which programs/clusters meet in addition to the main cluster meeting. If discipline or programs meet in addition to the main cluster meeting, minutes must also be taken and distributed.
E. Clusters are recommending bodies. Recommendations from the cluster are made to the cluster liaison, who then sends them to the Deans' Council in accordance with established policy and procedure.
F. Supporting approved and established college policies and procedures.
Cluster Chair is responsible for:
A. Responsible for communicating with faculty cluster members on cluster meeting schedules and agenda items.
B. Naming a scribe and ensuring that minutes are submitted. Minutes should be prepared and distributed no more than one week after a cluster meeting.
C. Minutes should be prepared using the standard minutes template located at
www.palmbeachstate.edu/academicservices/documents/MinutesTemplate.doc.
Minutes must address any district issues identified by the VPAA.
D. Any cluster recommendations should be in writing and sent to the Cluster Liaison. The recommendation will be presented to the Dean's Council and then to the VPAA for final decision.
E. Any curriculum changes (new courses, revised courses, etc.) must be initiated through the established curriculum process (www.palmbeachstate.edu/Curriculum-Development).
October 2026