Academic Relations Committee

Charge

The Academic Relations Committee promotes attention to and develops resources for enhancing members’ professional development and the institutional forms within which the study of religion takes place. To fulfill its charge the Academic Relations Committee generates programs, undertakes studies, articulates best practices, and develops resources for the undergraduate and graduate study of religion.

Duties and Responsibilities

Members of the Academic Relations Committee are expected to participate in sponsored or co-sponsored sessions at the Annual Meetings.

Meeting Schedule

• One in-person meeting at the Annual Meetings in November
• Spring and Fall virtual meetings via Zoom

Timeline of Activities

• Time commitments peak in March for planning of sessions/co-sponsored sessions for the following Annual Meeting.
• Time commitments peak again in the Fall as we prepare for the upcoming Annual Meeting.

Committee Members

• Term of Service: Four years, non-renewable
• Committee Composition: Up to six members

Webinars

In 2023, the ARC committee launched a webinar series focused on discussing the obstacles and challenges facing the humanities, as well as offer models for solutions to overcome them.

• Department Mergers: A Survival Guide
• Humanities Closures: Two Public University Case Studies
• Recruiting Majors: Strategies and Experiences
• The State of Roman Catholic Small Liberal Arts Colleges
• AI’s Impact on Teaching and Research
• Retooling Graduate Education in the Study of Religion
• The State of the Humanities
• The State of the Humanities at HBCUs
• Reflections on the State of the Humanities from a University President
• The State of the Humanities at a Liberal Arts College
• Revisiting Humanities Department Closures and Mergers – One Year Later
• The REL Toolbox: Resources for Departments & Programs

Recommended Resources

• Data and Studies

External Review Assistance

• Guide for Reviewing Programs in Religion and Theology
• Guide for Choosing an External Reviewer
• Guide for External Reviewers
• Request an External Reviewer
• Volunteer as External Reviewer

AAR and Committee Activities

• New Academic Relations Committee Webinar Series on Challenges to Departments and Programs
• Statement on Best Practices for Posting Placement and Graduation Records
• “The Academic Study of Religion in the Face of Budget Cuts (PDF)” (2009)
• “Focus on the Undergraduate Study of Religion (PDF)” (2008) – Teagle/AAR White Paper
• “Focus on the Religion Major and Liberal Education (PDF)” (2007)