Committees, Organizations, & Events

Pomona College Board of Trustees

How Does the Board Operate?

Much of the work of the Board of Trustees is carried out through its committees. Committees review matters in their jurisdiction and make recommendations about those matters to the full board.  The role, powers, and structures of the Board are described in the By Laws of Pomona College, available on the Dean of Students Sakai site.  Student representatives are elected as voting members (with certain restrictions) to some committees such as Academic Affairs, Advancement, Facilities and Environment, Finance, Honorary Degrees and Student Affairs.  Students are also invited to meet and interact with Trustees at the annual Trustees-Student retreat usually held every fall semester. 

What are the General Functions of the Board of Trustees?

The Board of Trustees has ultimate responsibility for the leadership, guidance and direction of the College. One of the major roles of the Board of Trustees is to hire the President of the College. Once a president is hired, the Board vests in them the responsibility to manage and operate the College. The Board also sets the central policies and procedures of the College. Once policies are established, however, the implementation of the policies and the administration of the College are placed in the hands of the President. The President delegates to the faculty, the administrative staff and to the deans particular functions that the faculty and deans carry out under the President’s direction and in conformity with the policies and procedures established by the Board. In addition, the Board has a number of important functions that it carries out during its four annual meetings, which typically occur in October, December, February and May. Committees of the Board also schedule meetings during these one or two-day meeting periods. In addition to other general powers, the Board of Trustees has authority for the following specific actions:

1. To appoint and dismiss the President of the College, any member of the faculty, and any or all other officers of the Corporation and of the College, and to define their compensation and terms of office and/or employment, all in accordance with and subject to the further provisions of these Bylaws.
2. To approve the annual budget of the College; authorize and direct all expenditures involved in the operation of the College; authorize any debt financing and approve the securitization of loans; authorize the purchase, sale and management of land, buildings and major equipment; authorize the construction of new buildings and major renovations of existing buildings; and establish policies affecting all institutional assets, including investments and the physical plant.
3. To determine the general curriculum to be pursued in the College, and to establish the necessary rules and regulations for the government and direction of the officers, faculty, employees and students of the College.
4. To approve College policies on faculty appointment, promotion, tenure and dismissal, as well as personnel policies for all categories of employees.
5. To approve all earned and honorary degrees as the faculty shall recommend.

How Many Trustees Does Pomona Have?

There are a maximum of 42 Trustees, one of whom is the President of the College and of whom at least 10 must be alumni.

The president of the Pomona College Alumni Association and the National Chair for Annual Giving are ex-officio members of the Board of Trustees. They have the same rights as other Trustees to attend and to speak at meetings, but they do not have voting rights.

There is also a young alumnus or alumna Trustee who at the time of their election has graduated no more than seven years prior. The young alum is elected for a four-year term and may not be re-elected in this capacity. From 2016 through 2020, the person serving in this position is Xiaoye “MD” Ma ‘11.

Find more information about the Board of Trustees.

Trustee Committees

Advancement Committee

The Advancement Committee is charged with providing for the financial needs of the College. It recommends to the Board ways and means of increasing the revenue of the College and of adding to its permanent endowment and plant funds. The Committee keeps itself and the Board informed regarding the policies and programs that affect the public relations and alumni affairs activities of the College. The student representative to the Advancement Committee is the ASPC Vice President. A faculty member also sits on the Committee.    

Facilities and Environment Committee

The Facilities and Environment Committee considers all proposals for the development of the campus, supervises the preparation of plans for any proposed building or permanent improvement, exercises general physical and financial supervision over the construction and major renovation of buildings and improvements and inspects the College premises. The student representative to the Facilities and Environment Committee is the ASPC Environmental Affairs Commissioner. A faculty member also sits on the Committee.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee has the authority to sell or dispose of all real estate or other property held by the College in trust or for specific use, aside from the property maintained as campus buildings or equipment. The Committee considers proposals of the President of the College concerning the annual budget. The Committee makes periodic reviews of the financial position of the College. The committee shall include two students recommended by the governing body of the Associated Students of Pomona College.

Honorary Degrees Committee

The Honorary Degrees Committee investigates the qualifications of candidates for the Trustee’s Medal of Merit and for honorary degrees.  The candidates for honorary degrees are approved by the faculty Cabinet before recommendation to the Board of Trustees for the Board’s approval.  The committee includes two students as ex-officio, non-voting members.  These are the sitting presidents of the junior and senior classes.

Student Affairs Committee

The Student Affairs Committee (SAC) serves as a vehicle for communication by students to the Board of Trustees on issues for which Board involvement is appropriate. It provides the Board of Trustees with a means for reviewing the quality of student life on campus. The committee shall include as voting members the president of the Associated Students of Pomona College and one at-large student recommended by the Associated Students of Pomona College. A faculty member also sits on the Student Affairs Committee. The Student Affairs Committee also sponsors an annual student-trustee retreat on campus each fall.

Other standing committees that are of more specialized interest also exist. They include the Audit Committee, Executive Committee, Investments Committee, Trusteeship Committee, and Wig Fund for Teaching Committee.

Faculty Committees

Find more information on faculty committees.

Academic Procedures Committee

The Academic Procedures Committee is a standing committee of the faculty composed of three faculty members, one from each Division; the Registrar; a faculty member of the Dean of Students’ staff; and two students chosen by the student government. Responsibilities include: a) evaluating academic regulations of the College and recommending changes to the faculty; b) recommending commencement honors to the faculty; c) ruling on student petitions for exceptions to the rules in effect; and d) ruling on student petitions to enroll for more than eight semesters. An extensive description of this committee’s functions appears in Chapter III, Section B, under “Academic Regulations” (adopted by the faculty 3/1/1985).

Academic Discipline Board

Students or instructors may refer issues pertaining to academic honesty to the Academic Discipline Board. The Board consists of eight faculty members, including the three members of the Academic Procedures Committee and the five members of the Faculty Grievance Committee, and seven students. Four faculty members and three student members of the Board are chosen randomly to constitute a panel for each hearing. This selection is made by the Board chair, who is the chair of the Academic Standards Committee; the chair must be a tenured member of the faculty. Each instance of plagiarism or cheating must be reported to the Dean of Students since a student’s second offense, in whatever class it occurs, is automatically referred to the Academic Discipline Board. A full description of this Board’s function appears in Chapter III, Section B, under “Academic Regulations.”

Academic Standards Committee

The Academic Standards Committee consists of the three faculty members of the Academic Procedures Committee, the Dean of Students, the Associate Dean of Students, the Registrar, the Director of the Asian American Resource Center, and the Student Deans from the Office of Black Student Affairs and the Chicano/Latino Student Affairs Center. The chair of the Academic Standards Committee must be a tenured member of the faculty. The committee meets at least once a semester to act on the academic standing of students, including placing those in low academic standing on probation, suspending, or recommending or requiring their withdrawal from the College. A full description of this committee appears in Chapter III, Section B, under “Academic Regulations.”

Admissions/Financial Aid Committee

This committee is composed of five faculty representatives, at least one from each division, one of whom acts as Chair; the Dean of Admissions; and two students. The Director of Financial Aid is also a member of this committee and votes in case of ties on decisions dealing with Financial Aid. A representative from the Office of the Dean of Students and the professional Admissions staff sit on the committee as non-voting members. The committee assists the Dean of Admissions in selecting entering students and in overseeing general and specific guidelines for admissions. The committee also serves in an advisory capacity to the Director of Financial Aid. On questions of policy, the committee may make recommendations to the faculty, but its chief business is to establish priorities if scholarship funds are insufficient to meet the computed needs of all students and to make allowance for particular cases of need.

Alumni Association Board

Members of this committee include faculty, students, and trustees, as well as alumni. This committee is the planning and executing arm of the Alumni Association. Acting through subcommittees, it is responsible for such events as Alumni Weekend, educational offerings for alumni, and student/alumni interactive events.

Asian American Resource Center (AARC) Advisory Committee

This committee serves in an advisory capacity to the Asian American Resource Center (AARC). The function of the committee is to advise the AARC Director on the AARC and Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) campus- and community-related issues; advise the Director on the intellectual, academic, and personal development of APIA students and on outreach to the community; promote interaction between the AARC and the APIA community, administration, students, and faculty; and participate in periodic reviews of the AARC programming. The committee is composed of faculty, the Director of the AARC, and a student representative. At the beginning of every fall semester the committee will convene to set up a preliminary agenda for the year. Meetings will be held at least twice a semester, and issues of significance will be reported to the faculty.

Athletics Committee

This committee provides faculty support for the athletic program, ensures that the athletic program furthers the larger goals of the College, and represents the College at meetings of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). The committee consists of the Director of Athletics, all other administrative faculty in the Physical Education Department, and a faculty member who serves as chair of the Athletic Committee and as Faculty Athletic Representative to the SCIAC.

Cabinet Agenda Committee

This committee assists in planning regular Cabinet meetings, requests additional meetings as needed, and recommends two additional members for each Faculty Personnel Committee subcommittee reviewing faculty members for promotion to full professor.

Charitable Giving Campaign Representative

Curriculum Committee

The Curriculum Committee’s members include the Dean of the College; an Associate Dean of the College; the Registrar; six faculty members, two from each division; and three students, chosen by the ASPC. At least one member from each division must be tenured and no more than one member of any particular department shall serve on the Committee at the same time. The Committee chooses its own chair.

While the curriculum of the College is the responsibility of the faculty, as a whole, the faculty delegates the following responsibilities to the committee: a) general oversight of academic policy and long-range planning; and b) general responsibility for evaluating new course proposals and other curricular changes and making recommendations thereon to the faculty (adopted by the faculty 3/1/85). A subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee forms the Special Majors Committee, which is charged with supervising all special (individualized) majors at the College. It must approve individual independent study exceeding one course per semester for first-years and sophomores or two courses per semester for juniors and seniors. It also appoints committees for supervision of substantial projects that students may propose in the junior and senior years.

Draper Advisory Board

The Draper Center Advisory Board meets two to three times per academic year. The Board advises and guides the Draper Center with regard to strategic and operational directions. Faculty membership includes the Draper Center Faculty Coordinator and two other faculty appointed by the President. Additional faculty may join the Advisory Board as volunteer members, according to their interest. Other members include the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Dean of the College, the Draper Center director, and community members including alumni.

Emeriti Committee

Any member of the faculty or any administrator with faculty status may be granted the title of emeriti, providing that they retire while holding faculty standing at the College. Established in 1980, the committee is composed solely of retired faculty members who serve as an advisory body to the faculty and administration on matters concerning retired faculty.

Executive Committee

Established in 1984 as the principal faculty committee, the Executive Committee is responsible for the work of all faculty committees except the Faculty Personnel Committee, for the policies governing committees and for coordinating reports from all faculty committees to the faculty. The committee, together with the President, appoints the membership of all committees of the faculty except those that have elected memberships. The Executive Committee, in its own work, pays special attention to the broader policies, especially institutional policies, that are of interest and concern to all of the faculty, bringing proposed changes (and new policies) to the full faculty for approval. The Executive Committee also assesses faculty budget priorities and appoints faculty on the following committees of the Board of Trustees: Academic Affairs, Facilities and Environment, Advancement, Honorary Degrees, and Student Affairs. The chair of the Executive Committee normally serves as a member of the Intercollegiate Faculty Council.

By action of the faculty (5/10/07), the Executive Committee consists of six faculty with the rank of assistant professor or above. Each division elects its chair, who serves a two-year term as one of the division’s representatives on the Executive Committee, the second division representative being elected in accordance with the procedure in the Faculty Handbook. The committee selects its own chair. Elected to two-year staggered terms, the members of the committee are nominated by the divisions and elected by the faculty as a whole; for each office each division will choose at least two nominees. No more than one member of any particular department shall serve on the Executive Committee at the same time. The election is held at the March meeting of the faculty.

Executive Committee members who take leave for one semester must be replaced for the semester by the nominee receiving the second largest number of votes in the original election. Members who take leave for a full year must resign from the committee; their unexpired terms must be filled by special election from a slate of at least two nominees from the division in question.

Faculty Grievance Committee

To provide by a process of peer review the full opportunity for just settlement of faculty grievances concerning complaints of infringement of academic freedom or complaints of denial of full and fair consideration in decisions on reappointment, promotion, tenure and dismissal, this committee was established in 2000. This committee consists of five faculty members with tenure or on five- or eight-year rolling contract, two of whom should be at the rank of associate professor and at least one of whom has received tenure within the last three years. They shall be elected for staggered two-year terms by the faculty as a whole. No more than one member of any particular department shall serve on the Faculty Grievance Committee at the same time. Any person serving on the Faculty Personnel Committee must leave that committee for a full academic year prior to serving on the Faculty Grievance Committee. A full description of this committee’s function appears in the Pomona College Faculty Grievance Policy (Chapter IV).

Faculty Personnel Committee

This advisory committee to the President gives counsel on recommendations which the President may make to the Cabinet on original appointments, reappointments, promotions, and tenure of faculty members. It provides the President with counsel on any other questions raised by the President, members of the committee, officers of the College, or by faculty actions. Its weekly meetings are confidential; no minutes are kept. Written ballots are taken on major personnel questions and the results are reported to the Cabinet.

The President is Chair of the committee, the Dean of the College is Vice Chair and Secretary, and the Dean of Students is a non-voting permanent member. Faculty membership is nine. The Associate Dean of the College who serves as Diversity Officer and the Assistant Dean of the College are non-voting, staff members of the Committee. Three members from each division are chosen from among faculty members at the rank of associate professor or above, at least one of whom is a full professor. All members are elected to two-year staggered terms. Committee members are nominated by the divisions and elected by the faculty as a whole at the March meeting of the faculty; for each office there must be at least two nominees, one of whom is not a department chair. No more than one member of any particular department shall serve on the Faculty Personnel Committee at the same time. The three members from each division form a subcommittee that investigates departmental recommendations on reappointment, promotion, and tenure, and reports to the Faculty Personnel Committee as a whole.

Elected members of the Faculty Personnel Committee who take leave for one semester while serving are replaced for the semester by the nominee receiving the second largest number of votes in the original election. Members who take leave for a full year must resign from the committee; their unexpired term must be filled by special election from a slate of at least two nominees from the division in question. A faculty member shall be excused from service on the Faculty Personnel Committee during a year of contract review, tenure decision, or consideration for promotion for that faculty member; the faculty member is replaced by the nominee receiving the second largest number of votes in the original election.

Faculty Position Advisory Committee

This committee advises the Dean of the College and the President on requests for 1) permanent faculty positions, 2) coterminous administrative-faculty positions, 3) the transfer of an existing faculty member from one department or program to another, and 4) conversions of Pomona College programs into departments. Its members include six faculty members with tenure or on five- or eight-year rolling contracts, two from each division; three non-voting students, one from each division, chosen by the ASPC; and the Dean of the College, who is a non-voting member. The faculty members are nominated by the divisions and elected by the faculty as a whole to two-year staggered terms. For each position on the FPAC, the appropriate division will choose at least two nominees. No more than one member of any particular department shall serve on the FPAC at the same time. The division of the student members is determined by their majors (interdisciplinary majors are judgment calls). The student members serve one-year terms. The committee chooses its own chair. A full description of this committee’s procedures and guidelines appears in Chapter IV.

Elected Faculty Position Advisory Committee members who take leave for one semester must be replaced for the semester by the nominee receiving the second largest number of votes in the original election. Members who take leave for a full year must resign from the committee; their unexpired terms must be filled by special election from a slate of at least two nominees from the division in question.

Harassment and Discrimination Grievance Committee

The committee consists of six faculty members, six staff members, and six student members appointed by the President for staggered two-year terms with the possibility of reappointment. The committee will select six of its members to conduct a hearing under the formal resolution procedures outlined in the Pomona College Harassment and Discrimination Policy and Complaint Procedure, in Chapter IV.

Health Sciences Committee

Besides exercising general supervision over the academic program for students preparing to enter the medical field, the Health Sciences Committee’s more specific business is to prepare letters of recommendation for such students. At Pomona College, normally only one joint letter, written by this committee, is submitted to medical schools. The committee collects information in the spring and composes letters in the early fall. Faculty representatives, an Associate Dean of Students, and the Coordinator for Graduate Fellowships and Health Sciences make up the committee, which is chaired by the general pre-medical advisor.

Institutional Review Board: Human Research Protection Committee

This committee reviews research proposals to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations concerning use of humans as research subjects. Committee members include an Associate Dean of the College and faculty members as well as the Director of the Student Health Service and a community representative.

Orientation Book Committee

 This committee solicits book nominations and makes a selection, mainly during the winter break and early spring semester, for the orientation program each fall. It arranges faculty discussion leaders and recommends the distinguished faculty lecturer or outside speaker related to the orientation reading. The committee also contributes and discusses programmatic ideas for more general aspects of first-year student orientation. It is composed of three faculty members (one of whom chairs the committee), five to ten students, and the Dean of Students. The faculty members are appointed by the President to two-year staggered terms.

PAYS Advisory Board

The PAYS Advisory Committee meets 6-8 times per year in late fall and through May. Two faculty members are appointed to the committee by the President. Committee members assist with the direction of and admissions decisions for the Pomona College Academy for Youth Success, a program of the Draper Center for Community Partnerships.

President’s Advisory Committee on Diversity

This committee replaces the Affirmative Action Committee. The scope of this committee includes all functions of the Affirmative Action Committee plus a broader charge of monitoring all aspects of institutional diversity pertaining to faculty, students, and staff. It reports directly to the President, who gives the committee its charge. That charge includes, at a minimum, providing the community with reports on the status of diversity and advising the President on strategies to enhance diversity at the College. It is composed of three tenured faculty members, appointed by the Executive Committee for two-year terms; the Associate Dean of the College who serves as Diversity Officer; two staff members, appointed by the Staff Council; two students, appointed by the ASPC; an Associate Dean or Director from Student Affairs; an Associate Dean or Director from Admissions; the Director of Institutional Research; a Director or Associate Director of Alumni Relations; and the Assistant Vice President and Senior Director of Human Resources.

President’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability

The committee will review and monitor (in quantitative terms) the operations of the campus that directly affect the College’s use of resources. The Committee will also develop new approaches and ideas designed to improve sustainable use of resources. It is expected that the Committee will focus on one or two major efforts each year, understanding that some projects may be multi-year in nature. At the end of each year, the Committee will prepare a report for the President and the Board of Trustees’ Buildings and Grounds Committee. In addition, the Committee will make its annual report available to the full College community.

The committee is composed of three members of the faculty, appointed by the President to two-year terms (renewable); a tenured faculty member shall be appointed chair. Additional members include an Associate or Assistant Dean of the College, the Director of the Environmental Analysis Program, four students appointed to one-year terms (renewable), the Director of Facilities and Campus Services, and other staff.

Radiation Safety

Research Committee

This committee promotes the cause of faculty research through the following activities: advising the College on the overall financial need for research support; advising the Dean’s Office on recipients of grants from the General Research Fund and other internal research funds; advising on the College’s nominees for national and regional fellowship competitions; evaluating sabbatical leave proposals; advising faculty applying for research support from outside agencies; and evaluating faculty-student summer research proposals. The committee consists of one faculty member from each division, one of whom is chair, and an Associate Dean of the College.

Social Responsibility Committee

Created in 1986 in response to social concerns about investments in apartheid South Africa, the Committee on Social Responsibility now advises the President on the voting of proxies of companies in the College’s investment portfolio related to environmental concerns, international law and fair labor practices. The Treasurer and her assistant staff the committee, which meets weekly for six weeks each spring. Members include a non-voting faculty convener, three other faculty or emeriti faculty members, three students, and two staff.

Student Affairs Committee

This committee is charged with the legislative and judicial functions in the area of student affairs. The committee is chaired by one of the faculty members and normally is composed of the following voting members: the three Faculty Residents, a member of the Office of the Dean of Students (currently the Vice President and Dean of Students), and five student representatives from the ASPC Senate (adopted May 9, 1988).

Study Abroad Committee

The committee administers and screens applicants to Pomona College’s study abroad programs. The committee consists of the Director of Study Abroad, the Dean of Students or an Associate Dean of Students, the Director of Oldenborg Center, the Registrar, and faculty members and two students with experience abroad.

Teaching and Learning Committee

The Teaching and Learning Committee (TLC) promotes student learning and achievement by sustaining faculty in their development as teachers. The TLC encourages critical reflection, pedagogical experimentation, and innovation in teaching. It fosters an informed and collaborative dialogue among faculty on matters relating to teaching, learning, and assessment. The TLC includes six faculty members, two from each division (at least one of whom is tenured), appointed to two-year staggered terms. It also includes the Director of Institutional Research, the Director of Instructional Services, the Director of College Writing, and the Associate Dean as ex-officio members.

Work-Family Committee

This committee was originally established as The Commission on the Education of Women (Women’s Commission) in 1972 by President David Alexander to make recommendations that would lead to an increase in women in all ranks of the faculty, and broaden the study and discussion of women’s issues on a curricular and non-curricular basis. In 2012, the Faculty, recognizing the changes in gender roles, family structures, and careers over the previous 40 years, changed the name and the charge of the committee to more accurately represent its current and future role in the College. In addition to its historic responsibilities, the committee also examines issues regarding the balance of work and family obligations among College faculty.

Writing and Critical Thinking Committee

The committee oversees the policies of the Critical Inquiry Program, sets standards and assesses outcomes, plans the annual workshop, and works with the Dean’s office to recruit ID-1 instructors. Committee members include the Director of College Writing, an Associate Dean, and two additional faculty members (one of whom chairs the committee) with substantial, and preferably current, experience teaching ID-1.

Associated Students of Pomona College (ASPC)

The Associated Students of Pomona College coordinate student activities and allocate funds collected by the assessment of Associated Students fees. Through the Senate, ASPC represents students to administrators and faculty by serving on committees and making recommendations on major issues or policies. Additionally ASPC serves as a forum for students to voice concerns and facilitates student participation in the surrounding community. Weekly Senate meetings are open to all members of the student body to address issues of concern.

Senate

The Senate consists of fifteen students including the President; Executive Vice President, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Vice President of Campus Events, Commissioners for Community Relations, Environmental Affairs, External Affairs, Clubs & Organizations, and Sports; four class representatives; and a North and South Campus representative. The President, three Vice Presidents, Junior and Senior Class Presidents, and Commissioners are elected in the spring for the following year and the others are elected in the fall. All serve a one-year term. Learn more about the Senate.

Student Government Positions

ASPC President

Chairs the Senate and the student delegation to the Student Affairs Committee (SAC) and is a voting member of the ASPC Budget Committee. They are an ex-officio member of all Senate committees as well as the Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees. The President meets regularly with the student body presidents of the other Claremont Colleges.

Executive Vice President

The Executive Vice President shall act as a financial advisor to the Senate and shall oversee all student government operations including the Fountain, Store, and financial aspects of KSPC, The Student Life. They shall be a member of the Student Affairs Committee (SAC) and shall chair the Senate in the absence of the President. The Vice President shall also serve on the Budget Planning Advisory Committee, the Trustee Committee for Institutional Advancement, and the Student Clubs and Organizations Committee. They shall chair the ASPC Budget Committee and Coop Committee and shall coordinate annual budget hearings with the student governments of the other Claremont Colleges. The Exective Vice President shall hold an annual meeting for club leaders at the beginning of the fall semester and assist clubs with financial procedures throughout the academic year. They shall be a member of the Judicial Board Selection Committee.

Vice President for Campus Events

The Vice President for Campus Events shall be responsible for the social events of the ASPC. They shall chair the Pomona Events Committee (PEC). S/he shall be a member of the Judicial Board Selection Committee and shall be a member of the ASPC Budget Committee.

Vice President for Academic Affairs

Represents ASPC in questions regarding the educational policy of the College. They chair the Student-Faculty Interaction Committee and is a member of the Academic Procedures Committee and the Curriculum Committee and attends faculty meetings. The VP of Academic Affairs serves on the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees.

Community Relations Commissioner

The Commissioner of Community Relations shall have the primary responsibility of voicing and addressing the concerns of underrepresented communities, activist and support organizations, and mentor groups of the college community. They shall chair the Diversity Coalition, and shall serve on the Student Affairs Committee of the Faculty and the President’s Advisory Committee on Diversity. They shall be responsible for organizing the annual Community Action Summit at the start of every academic year to facilitate inter-organizational conversation and coalition building amongst student activist/support organizations and mentor groups and maintain a system of communication between the leaders and members of these organizations.

External Affairs Commissioner

Shall be primarily responsible for facilitating the relationship between Pomona College and the other Claremont Colleges. They shall serve as the liaison between the ASPC and other student governments.

Club and Oranizations Commissioner

The Commissioner of Clubs and Oranizations shall represent the ASPC in questions regarding registered clubs and organizations on campus. They shall work with the Assistant Director of the Campus Center as a liaison to clubs and organizations and to ensure that they are fulfilling the mission of their charters. They shall chair the Student Clubs and Organizations Committee, through which s/he shall oversee the publication of an online student organizations directory, as well as the promotion and maintenance of an online student forum for organizational interaction. They shall serve as a member of the ASPC Budget Committee.

Sports Commissioner

Shall represent the ASPC and advise the ASPC in questions regarding intramural, club, and intercollegiate athletics. They shall chair the Sports Activities Committee and promote support of varsity athletics at Pomona College.

Environmental Affairs Commissioner

The Commissioner of Environmental Affairs shall represent and advise the ASPC in matters regarding the preservation and improvement of the quality of the environment. S/he shall chair the Environmental Quality Committee and shall appoint students to other committees concerning sustainability and the quality of the environment. S/he shall meet regularly with the College Sustainability Coordinator. S/he shall be an ex-officio member of the President’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability. S/he shall be a member of the Trustee Building and Grounds Committee.

Class Representatives (Presidents)

Create and chair committees to plan class events throughout the year. They formulate and carry out projects each semester in addition to their class projects.

North and South Campus Representatives

The North and South Campus representatives serve as members of the Student Affairs Committee and the ASPC Budget Committee. The North and South Campus Senators formulate and carry out projects each semester, and convene the Food Committee and the Residence Halls Committee.

Student Government Committees 

Budget Committee

This committee is chaired by the Executive Vice President and consists of the President, the North Campus Representative, the South Campus Representative, the Vice President for Campus Events, and the Commissioner of Clubs and Organizations. The Director of the Smith Campus Center serves as Financial Advisor to the Senate and is a non-voting member of the Budget Committee. When elections precede annual budget hearings, the President-elect and the Vice President elect are also nonvoting members of this committee. The Committee distributes allocations from the ASPC fees to clubs and organizations. During the academic year, requests for more than $1,000, or requests where there is a tie vote in this committee are brought before the Senate with a specific recommendation or set of recommendations. During the second semester of every year, this committee recommends to the Senate a general budget for ASPC for the following year. The Senate ratifies the annual budget no later than May first.

Pomona Events Committee (PEC)

PEC is the programming board of Pomona College. Chaired by the Vice President for Campus Events, PEC is responsible for providing social, cultural and co-curricular activities for the Pomona College community. Subcommittees of PEC are based on the types of events presented. Current subcommittees are: Annual Events, North Campus Events, South Campus Event, Symposium, Live Arts, Table Manners, Off-Campus Events. Students interested in organizing events and contributing to the social life of the campus should contact the VP for Campus Events through the ASPC Office.

Committee on Campus Climate and Diversity

This committee shall be chaired by the Community Relations Commissioner and shall consist of seven students, five of whom shall be members from different marginalized student organizations, to be appointed in the fall. The Committee shall be responsible for addressing the concerns of underrepresented students on campus, as well as larger issues of campus climate as they arise. This Committee shall advise the Senate on how their projects, funding and legislation might affect more marginalized student experiences.

Coop Committee

The Coop Committee is chaired by the Executive Vice President for Finance and consists of two additional members of the Senate and the head manager of the Fountain and the Store. The Campus Center Director and the Manager of Retail Services are non-voting members of this committee. The Committee facilitates communication between and among the businesses and the Senate and sets policy for the businesses. This committee meets monthly throughout the school year, with additional meetings arranged and convened by the Chair as necessary.

Environmental Quality Committee (EQC)

This committee is chaired by the Environmental Affairs Commissioner or by a Senate-approved designate thereof. It consists of at least four at-large students to be appointed by the Senate in the spring and additional students who may be appointed by the Senate in the fall at the discretion of the chair. This committee manages environmental projects which it or the Senate deems important. Additionally, this committee informs the Senate how their projects, funding, and legislation might affect the environment.

Food Committee

It is convened by the North and South Campus Senators. It consists of at-large representatives from the student body, the Director of Dining Services and the Deans or Associate Dean of Students. The Food Committee meets bi-weekly to discuss the dining halls and make recommendations for changes to the College’s dining program.

Residence Hall Committee

The Residence Hall Committee is convened by the North and South Campus Senators. Its membership includes a representative from each of the residence halls, the Housing Director and the Dean or an Associate Dean of Campus Life. The Residence Hall Committee meets regularly to discuss room draw procedures and to recommend improvements. In addition, this committee decides on the numbers and location of friendship suites and substance free housing.

Student-Faculty-Staff Interaction Committee

This committee is chaired by a member of the Senate who may choose to invite a faculty member to serve as its general advisor. The Senate appoints the at-large members of this committee in the spring, and may appoint additional members in the fall. This committee plans, promotes, and funds activities which encourage interaction between students and faculty and staff.

Student Media Committee

This committee shall oversee staff appointments, approve policy and budgets, and serve as a steering body for all ASPC-funded media. Specifically, this committee shall recommend appointment for Senate approval for the following positions: The Student Life Editor-in-Chief (semester); KSPC Program Manager and Music Manager (annual); the Digital Media and Programming Group Lead Developer (annual); POSA Director (annual); Metate Editor-in-Chief (annual).

Publicity Guidelines

Chirps!

The Pomona College “Chirps!” is a Monday through Friday e-mail system created to prevent overburdening the Pomona computer system and/or student mailboxes with numerous individual e-mails. The “Chirps!” system is listserv-based and compiles student messages daily and distributes them to students as a single e-mail message. Messages are compiled and distributed at 10:00 AM. “Chirps!” is not intended as a forum for general campus discussion and every effort is made to ensure that it is not used in that fashion. The purpose of “Chirps!” is to efficiently distribute event information and other specific announcements. Anonymous messages will not be posted. All entries must comply with the College’s Publicity Guidelines. Questions regarding the use of “Chirps!” can be addressed to the Dean of Campus Life.

Five-College Poster and Banner Approval Policy

The five Colleges have agreed to the following regulations and guidelines governing publicity distributed at the Claremont Colleges.

Regulations:

For the purpose of these regulations, publicity is defined as printed materials including but not limited to: fliers, posters, table tents, and banners.

1. Any and all publicity to be posted on any or all of the campuses of the Claremont Colleges must be approved by one of the following offices:

   • CMC- Dean of Students Office, Heggblade Center, x18114

   • HMC- Dean of Students Office, Platt Campus Center, x18757

   • Pitzer- Gold Student Center, x73900

   • Pomona- ASPC Business Office, Smith Campus Center, x72268

   • Scripps- Student Activities and Residence Life Office, Malott Commons, ext. 74307

2. All publicity must clearly and recognizably show the name of the sponsoring organization or individual(s).

3. All publicity must have a name and telephone number or email which students may contact for more information about the program.

4. In accordance with the Alcohol Policy: non-electronic advertising may contain no explicit or implicit, written or pictorial references to alcohol beverages or alcohol service.

5. Any questionable materials are subject to review by the Committee of Five College Student Activities Professionals.

Guidelines:

1. For the sake of maintaining a sense of community and support for all members, organizations must refrain from using racial, gender or ethnic slurs, stereotypic depiction, or similar references in all advertising material.

2. In the interest of the environment, organizations are strongly encouraged to promote events electronically and through various online and social media outlets and are encouraged to post the least number of posters for effective advertising.

3. The posting of fliers, posters, and similar material is limited to bulletin boards and approved posting spaces on campus. Nothing may be affixed to trees, glass surfaces, painted surfaces, sidewalks, or campus buildings. Fliers may not be put on cars in parking lots or on public streets. Private doors and windows are permissible with approval of the resident.

4. In accordance with the Residence Hall regulations; door-to-door solicitation or distribution of materials in the Residence Halls is prohibited.

5. College staff remove all advertising material which does not comply with these regulations.

6. Organizations are expected to be respectful to other posted materials. Do not post over other materials that remain current.

7. Oranizations are requested to remove their advertising within forty-eight hours following their programs or projects.

8. CHIRPS! is emailed Monday - Friday during the academic year, once daily, at 10:00am. Learn more about advertising in CHIRPS!.

9. Organizations may bring the original posting/flyer to the ASPC office to be stamped, or flyers can be approved electronically via the following method: Send an email with the flyer/poster attachment to BOTH duplicating@pomona.edu and flyerapproval@pomona.edu

• ​​Include the specific Duplicating order in the email (i.e., how many copies being equested, what type of paper, etc.)

• ASPC staff will review the flyer and approve it for Duplicating Service to apply the approval stamp, electronically

• If requested, the ASPC Office can also provide funding approval for Duplicating Services from a club account

Registered Student Organizations

For a list of active student organizations, visit Engage (formerly Collegiate Link).

Campus-Wide Events and Activities

Departmental

Computer Science Department Activities

The Computer Science Department sponsors a colloquium every other Thursday at 4:15 p.m. Speakers include students talking about their summer experiences, prominent outside lecturers, faculty talking about graduate school and their own research, seniors talking about their senior projects, and alums talking about jobs in CS.

The CS department also sponsors a monthly lunch for students, faculty, and staff, as well as monthly lunches for women in computer science and an annual trip to the college cabin at Halona. Sign up on the department mailing list to receive department e-mails.

Economics Club

The Economics Club is open to all students interested in economics and is intended to encourage greater interaction among the faculty, staff and students of the Economics Department. The Club also sponsors events such as social get-togethers and outside speakers.

English Department Tea

Students and professors mingle as they enjoy light refreshments at English Department Teas, a tradition at Pomona College. The Teas are hosted by the English Department liaisons and are held once a month on a Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon in the Ena Thompson Reading Room in Crookshank Hall. All are welcome.

Geology Activities

For those with a formal or informal interest in geology, the Geology Department welcomes involvement in regularly scheduled activities which are open to all. One way to get involved is to come to the colloquia given by outside speakers three times a semester or so. These talks are normally on Tuesday or Thursday at 11AM and are followed by lunch in Frary South.

Alternatively, informal social gatherings (“Liquidus”) are hosted by the department liaisons each week. Dates and times for Liquidus vary by semester. Contact the liaisons via the department web page to find out when Liquidus is being held. Hope to see you there!

History Department Tea/Barbecue

Arranged by the liaisons, History Department Teas and Barbecues are held periodically during the academic year. They provide students and professors an informal opportunity to meet and discuss different problems and subjects. Call the History Department, ext. 73075, for times.

Linguistics and Cognitive Science

The Department of Linguistics and Cognitive Science holds a fall social, an end of the semester bash, and monthly research colloquia (with refreshments) for all students interested in the field.

Literary Series

The Pomona College Department of English Literary Series hosts readings by major American poets and fiction writers two or three times a semester. All readings are open to the public and are followed by a reception with refreshments.

Mathematics Club

The Pomona College Mathematics Club provides opportunities for students interested in mathematics to get together outside of the classroom.

Depending on interests in the club, it organizes afternoon pizza parties with problem sessions, fosters participation in two national collegiate mathematics contests, the Putnam Examination and the Mathematical Contest in Modeling, and sponsors presentations by alumni on life in math after graduation. It also supports the Math Dojo, the high school Mathematics Talent Search, and other activities of current interest. Professors Ami Radunskaya and Adolfo Rumbos advise the club.

Physics Lunch

The Physics and Astronomy Lunch is a lively weekly lunch in which students and faculty discuss current issues in physics and astronomy and socialize. An additional banquet is catered by the department after spring break. Potential majors and current majors are invited to this festive event, which usually includes a short talk by a visiting scientist, and departmental awards are handed out. In addition to the banquet, an informal BBQ and other social events are offered throughout the year to welcome students to the Department and help them meet current majors, and get to know the faculty and staff of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Pizza and Politics

The aim of the Pizza and Politics series is to offer students and other members of the community a casual forum to hear faculty and invited guests talk about issues of current interest (while listeners get to enjoy pizza for lunch!). There will be plenty of time reserved for questions, comments, and debate. So please come! Eat some pizza! Pizza and drinks are all first come, first serve (or bring your own brown bag lunch). Carnegie 107 is the place to be.

Sports

Athletic Teams and Club Sports

Pomona College supports an extensive program of intercollegiate, intramural, and club sports for men and women. Men’s intercollegiate sports include football, basketball, soccer, water polo, cross country, track and field, baseball, swimming, golf, and tennis. Women’s intercollegiate teams compete in volleyball, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, tennis, swimming, softball, water polo, track and field, and soccer. Club sports include badminton, bicycling, fencing, lacrosse, rugby, sailing, skiing, and men’s volleyball.

The intramural athletic program provides competition in basketball, softball, badminton, soccer, beach volleyball, volleyball, inner-tube water polo, table tennis, tennis, squash, racquetball, flag football, pool/billiards, foosball and ultimate frisbee.

For details about teams, intramurals, or club sports and use of facilities contact Brandon Johnson in the Rains Center at extension 18420. He will assist club sports teams in scheduling fields and facilities for practice and competition. To be eligible to use a Claremont College field or facility or to receive funding assistance from the associated student governments, all club sports must register with the Club Sports Office. The office is located in Rains Center, extension 18420.

Music

The Music Departments of Pomona College, Scripps College, and the Claremont Graduate School present concerts throughout the year by individual students, student ensembles, members of the faculty, and guest artists.

These concerts include the Bessie Bartlett Frankel Festival of Chamber Music sponsored by Scripps, the Robert Mitchell Memorial Chamber Music Concerts sponsored by Pomona, and noon concerts sponsored jointly by the three departments. Most of these concerts are presented free of charge.

Afro-Cuban Drumming Ensemble

Students will learn basic techniques of hand percussion for conga and bata drums and the genres associated with these drums, including rumba and styles originating from Afro-Cuban religious traditions. Regular attendance and participation in the end-of-the-semester concert is required. Half-course academic credit is available to students registered for MUS 42B. The instructor is Mr. Joe Addington.

Balinese Gamelan Ensemble

The Balinese Gamelan Ensemble meets once a week and plays concerts at the end of each semester. The ensemble features a set of Balinese gong kebyar instruments and regularly combines its efforts with the Balinese Dance program. Half-course academic credit is available to students registered for MUS 41. The instructor is Dr. Nyoman Wenten.

Choir

The Pomona College Choir is a large vocal ensemble of students, faculty, staff, and members of the local community. The choir sings two concerts annually. Membership is open by auditions held during the first week of classes in the Fall semester and in December for the Spring semester. Half-course academic credit for participation is available to students registered for MUS 31. The conductor is Professor Donna M. Di Grazia.

Concert Band

The Pomona College Band is composed of students, faculty, and staff from all the Claremont Colleges and generally presents one concert each semester. Music is chosen from the standard repertoire for a concert band but also includes works specially composed or arranged for the ensemble. Half-course academic credit is available to students registered for MUS 35. The conductor is Professor Graydon Beeks.

Glee Club

The Pomona College Glee Club is a chamber choir of approximately 25 students. The ensemble performs several concerts throughout the year and tours for 7-10 days to various areas of the country. Membership is open through audition. Concurrent membership in the Pomona College Choir is required. Half-course academic credit for participation is available spring semester to registered registered for MUS 32. The conductor is Professor Donna M. Di Grazia.

Jazz Ensemble

The Jazz Ensemble meets twice each week and plays concerts throughout the school year. Music is chosen from a variety of styles and there is opportunity for original work. Half-course academic credit is available to students registered for MUS 37. The conductor is Professor Bobby Bradford. Auditions are held at the beginning of fall semester.

Orchestra

The Pomona College Orchestra is composed of students, faculty, staff, and community members. Auditions are held at the beginning of each semester; rehearsals and performances are held in Bridges Hall of Music. The Orchestra usually presents eight concerts annually, four different programs each receiving two performances. The repertoire ranges from Baroque to contemporary, with emphasis on 19th- and 20th-century masterworks. Recent programs have included such works as Brahms’s Symphony #2, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony #6, and Mahler’s Symphony #1. The Orchestra also sponsors a yearly concerto competition, and the winners perform solos with the orchestra. Half-course academic credit is available to students registered for MUS 33. The conductor is Professor Eric Lindholm.

Other Musical Ensembles

Other musical ensembles available for membership to Pomona College students are the Claremont Concert Orchestra, the Concert Choir, and the Chamber Choir, all sponsored by the Scripps College Music Department; and the Chamber Music Program, coached by Pomona and Scripps faculty.

Rotating Ensembles in Residence

The rotating ensembles-in-residence program provides the opportunity for students to experience different performance traditions each year. Theatre and Dance

Department of Theatre and Dance

As the only art forms in which human beings are both the medium and the message, theatre and dance are the quintessential liberal arts. Thus, the liberal arts environment is an ideal one in which to begin a lifetime of learning in theatre and dance. The Pomona College Department of Theatre and Dance is committed to the highest levels of professional training within the context of this liberal arts tradition.

Our commitment begins in the classroom where an emphasis on the quality of learning informs all that we do. A friendly and caring faculty and small class size encourage students to work creatively in exploring the history, theory, literature, and techniques of theatre and dance. Our commitment is furthered by our dynamic and ethnically diverse production season. We view productions as important teaching tools, both for our students and for the rest of the College community, and therefore choose productions from a wide range of periods and styles. Our commitment is also strengthened by the exceptional support of Pomona College and the other Claremont Colleges, which have given us a strong professional staff, adequate funding, and a gorgeous facility in which to do our work. Ultimately, our commitment is enhanced by the energy and commitment of our students, who bring intelligence, creativity, and verve to our challenging and exciting endeavors. We invite you to join us…

Lectures

Major conferences, endowed lectureships, and public lectures by visiting speakers occur frequently on campus and are open to the entire community. For information about more campus wide events, consult The Claremont Colleges Calendar or “CHIRPS!”

Fall Faculty Lecture Series

The Fall Faculty Lecture Series, sponsored by the Dean of the College’s office, offers a diverse range of lectures from the College’s distinguished faculty. All lectures begin at 12:10 p.m. in the Frank Dining Hall Blue Room and include lunch free of charge to faculty, staff, alumni, and friends unless otherwise noted. Please plan to arrive at noon to sign in and get your lunch before the lecture begins.

Women’s Union Thursday Noon Discussion Series

Every Thursday at noon, presentations followed by informal discussion are made on a variety of gender and women’s issues at The Women’s Union. Everyone is welcome. A light lunch is served.

Museum

Pomona College Museum of Art

The Pomona College Museum of Art is the site of an active and ambitious program of temporary exhibitions throughout the academic year. All exhibitions open with public receptions and include lectures and related programs for the College community. Recent exhibitions have included “Kara Walker: Annotating History” (2008); “James Turrell at Pomona College” (2008); “Hunches, Geometrics, Organics: Paintings by Frederick Hammersley” (2007); “Ed Ruscha/Raymond Pettibon: The Holy Bible and THE END” (2006); “The 21st Century Odyssey Part II: The Performances of Barbara T. Smith” (‘53) (2005). Peter Shelton’s (‘73) monumental gandhiG (2002) stands immediately adjacent to the Museum.

The Museum also hosts the ambitious Project Series, now in its eleventh year. The Project Series presents focused exhibitions on the work of contemporary Southern California artists that is experimental and introduces new forms, techniques, and concepts to the community. The Project Series enhances the Museum’s role as a laboratory for exploring innovative, cross disciplinary collaborations and ideas; serves as a catalyst for new knowledge; and contributes significantly to the College’s educational mission. The Museum also employs students as gallery attendants and museum assistants.

The collections of the Pomona College Museum of Art are housed at the Montgomery Art Center. Among the museum’s important holdings are The Kress Collection of 15th– and 16th –century Italian panel paintings; more than 5,000 examples of Pre-Columbian to 20th –century American Indian art and artifacts, including basketry, ceramics, and beadwork; and a large collection of American and European prints, drawings, and photographs, including fine examples of German Expressionists; an important collection of contemporary graphic art donated by June Wayne, the founder of the pioneering Tamarind Lithography Workshop, and Edward Hamilton of Hamilton Press; and perhaps most significantly, the complete first edition sets of the four series of etchings by Francisco Goya. Among the College’s most important artistic treasures are two murals in Frary Hall— José Clemente Orozco’s Prometheus, 1930 (interior, north wall), and Genesis by Rico Lebrun, 1960 (south entrance) and the recently dedicated Skyspace, Dividing the Light, by James Turrell. Information about the collections, exhibitions, and public art works is available at the Museum of Art and on the Museum of Art website.

Films

PEC Films

The Pomona Events Committee (PEC) sponsors a weekly film series showcasing first-run blockbusters as well as independents. Films are screened in Rose Hills Theatre Fridays at 7pm and 10pm and Saturdays at 8pm. Admission for students is free.

International Film Series

Oldenborg sponsors film screenings in its International Theater. Both student groups and faculty may request screenings. Campus film festivals are particularly welcome. The theater seats approximately 45 and is located downstairs in the Oldenborg building. For more information, contact the Oldenborg Center at ext. 18018.