University Council

• • • The main responsibility of the University Council is to formulate the budget of Al Falah University (AFU) and to confer on the financial position of the University.
    • The Council also makes the policies and procedures related to the University’s participation in community service.
    • Additionally, the Council makes the plans for relations between AFU and other academic institutions on an international level.
    • The university council is chaired by the President of AFU.  This council is composed of the College Deans, Representatives from each College, Dean of Student Affairs, Director of Quality Assurance and Centre, Director of Finance, General Service Unit Manager, Director of Admission and Registration Unit, Director of Information Technology, and two AFU students.

Members:

Deans' Council

The Deans’ Council is chaired by the University President.  It comprises the deans of colleges, the Dean of Student Affairs.  The Deans’ Council meets once a week; and has the right to invite other member(s) upon demands

Responsibilities:

• • • Review and take actions on proposed development plans for the university to achieve the
    • university’s mission and vision.
    • Assist with strategic planning, helping identify opportunities and priorities for the University.
    • Implementing the University policies.
    • Conferring University academic degrees.
    • Setting terms and conditions regarding students’ admission and number of accepted students
    • considering the Ministry of Education overall plans.
    • Making policies regarding the size and quality of student Enrolment.
    • Applying for approval of new academic programs and new non-academic units.
    • Making the final decision regarding faculty promotion upon recommendation from the Appointment and Promotion Committee
    • Approving plans, which secure the appropriate infrastructure to execute University objectives.
    • Approving the Bylaws that govern employment, organizational, financial, and executive university affairs.
    • Approving new University study plans.
    • Directing and overseeing studies aimed at establishing new colleges and new programs. Following- up the implementation of college plans for teaching and research.
    • Approving admission policies.
    • Approving academic degrees to students.
    • Assuring that no staff member may take part in the promotion and/or appointment and/or any other issue of a staff member of a higher rank.

Members:

• • • President of the University and Chairman
    • Dean of College of Law
    • Dean of College of Business Administration
    • Dean of College of Mass Communication
    • Dean of College of Art and Humanities, and Acting Dean of Student Affairs

Central Standing Committees

Terms of Reference

• • • Make sure that all exams are held in accordance with the policies of the university, and provide the needed logistics to the invigilators such as Attendance Sheet and Proctoring Report Form Completed Exam Papers, Exam Conduct Report and any violations including cheating cases, if any, and make sure that completed answers’ sheets are returned to Faculty for evaluation.
    • Preparing and implementing exam schedules based on the approved calendar & timetable 
    • Providing the list of invigilators for each course section 
    • Monitor the process of examination avoiding any possible problems during examination.
    • Provide suggestions to solve any problems that may occur during examination by coordinating with AFU colleges, departments, and units. 
    • Preparation and submission of exam report to QAAC.
    • Implementation of awareness sessions for faculty members & students on the instructions and procedures of exams at AFU
    • Receiving forms for monitoring case(s) of cheating from the dean of the college and transferring those cases to the Central Standing Student Discipline Committee
    • Supervise the acceptance exam for the newly admitted students (where applicable).

Terms of Reference 

• • • The committee is the decision-making authority for appointing new faculty members and granting promotions for the eligible academic staff upon recommendations from the related college council.
    • For an academic promotion, the committee members shall have a rank equal to- or higher than- the faculty member applicant.
    • The committee members review the application- according to the “Academic Promotion” policy.

Terms of Reference:

• • • Review complaints concerning student misconduct.
    • Propose conciliation or arbitration arrangements, when practicable.
    • Follow-up to document implementation of measures.

Terms of Reference:

• • • The committee members will review the appeals submitted by the students in accordance with the policies and procedures in the Student Handbook.
    • The committee considers and discusses the appeal, and the final decision should be made.
    • The final decision taken will then be referred to all concerned/relevant departments.

Terms of Reference:

• • • Review complaints concerning staff misconduct.
    • Propose conciliation or arbitration arrangements, when practicable.
    • Follow-up to document implementation of measures.

Terms of Reference:

• • • Review complaints concerning faculty misconduct
    • Propose conciliation or arbitration arrangements, when practicable
    • Follow-up to document implementation of measures.

Terms of Reference:

• • • The committee members will review the appeals in accordance with the policies and procedures in the Faculty and Staff Handbooks.
    • The committee considers and discusses the appeal, and the final decision should be made.
    • The final decision taken will then be referred to all concerned/relevant departments.

The University’s Risk Management Committee (RMC) administers a structured approach to risk management that identifies and manages, to an acceptable level, key risks that may adversely affect the university’s ability to achieve its mission, goals, and objectives. The Committee reports to the Senior University Management regarding the effectiveness of the University’s risk management program. The Committee works with the University’s Colleges and administration units on continuous improvement of the University’s capabilities around managing priority risks, and reduce the likelihood of occurrence, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptive incidents if/when they arise.

The RMC provides advice and support to the management on the potential impact of all types of risks of all strategic plans, ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the risk management framework, and establish the identification, discussion, and collaboration.

Terms of Reference:

• • • The University’s risk management framework, and practice
    • The effectiveness of controls and management to an acceptable level in place with particular focus on areas of significant risk
    • The internal risk management processes or systems implemented to identify, mitigate, monitor, or otherwise manage such risks or exposures; and
    • Actual or potential risks that require more active management and actions that might be taken to deal with them.
    • Review proposals of all initiatives and submit a recommendation to the president.
    • Review the risk management practices, policies, procedures, and related documents and recommend enhancements which shall be commensurate with the strategic direction and the risk profile of the university.
    • Review the effectiveness and efficiency of the implementation of the risk management related processes, practices, analysis, controls, and mitigation plans, and recommend enhancements and controls, as needed, to ensure building operational resilience in the university with the capability for effective response to any disruption.
    • Review internal and external audit reports, incidents, progress reports, and significant findings with respect to risk management and submit recommendations.
    • Escalate significant issues, including, but not limited to, significant compliance issues, as soon as deemed necessary by the Committee to the president.
    • Enhance continuity and incident management capabilities among AFU staff and facilitate inter-departmental collaboration and support of risk identification and mitigation strategies.

Terms of Reference:

• • • Develop, and oversee the implementation of the University’s Quality Assurance Policy and Framework 
    • Continuous work on improving and updating the Quality Assurance Manual according to Annex 8 in the CAA Standards 2019.
    • Promote and implement good practices in quality assurance and improvement
    • Review and monitor progress on the implementation of recommendations/ actions plans (closing the loop) arising from internal quality reviews/ annual quality assurance reports
    • Assist in preparation for external institutional/programmatic reviews and audits 
    • Audit course files and ensure timely completion of Course Portfolio
    • Monitor progress on the implementation of recommendations/actions plans (closing the loop) arising from Course Reviews Forms.
    • Evaluate Programs Effectiveness by implement regular assessment of academic programs using PLOs Assessment Matrix, and Academic Program Review Form as per AFU related policies, and propose Program amendment as required
    • The committee reports above activities outcomes directly to Deans’ Council/President.

Terms of Reference:

The Health and Safety Committee work must be based on the following, but not limited to:

• • • Stipulation 7: Health, Safety and Environment of CAA 2019 Standards, 
    • Framework for the Compliance Inspection of Higher Education Institutions (Latest Release).
    • National Protocol for the Operation of Educational Establishments during the Pandemic (Latest Release).

Terms of Reference:

• • • Identify clear procedures and steps to identify needs within the community
    • Develop a plan for community participation commensurate with the mission and vision of the university
    • Developing formal and informal relations with employers, clarifying the details of these relations, and describing the benefits of these agreements for Both parties and the obligations of each party, which enhances the university’s mission.
    • Establish relations with other educational institutions, in an official manner, for further benefits.
    • Establish clear communication lines with graduates, including:
      • Alumni Database
      • Career development for graduates
      • Investigate the employment of graduates and keep records of their first destinations and their work in the long term and use that information to enhance the learning process.
    • Evaluate the effectiveness of relations with the community periodically through questionnaires or any other methods to ascertain the results.