The College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences is one of fifteen independent colleges and schools in the University. The Dean of the College reports to the Provost and President of the University.

The School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, the School of Oceanography, and the School of Marine Affairs are the academic departments of the College; the Applied Physics Laboratory is a research and development unit. The Washington Sea Grant Program also reports to the Dean of the College, but functions as a University-wide and state-wide program.

The advisory structure of the College includes two councils. The Executive Council advises the Dean on both day-to-day matters and on long-range policy issues. It develops statements of common goals and long-range plans, coordinates areas of common goals, reviews facilities requirements, advises on overall budget policies, promotes community relations, and advises on the need for establishment or discharge of College committees. The Executive Council of the College is made up of the heads of the five major units (Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, Oceanography, Marine Affairs, Applied Physics, Sea Grant), the Associate Dean, the College Administrator, and the Dean.

Executive Council Members:

* Arthur R. M. Nowell, Dean, College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences
* David Armstrong, Director, School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences
* Penelope Dalton, Director, Office of Environmental and Resource Programs (Washington Sea Grant)
* Thomas M. Leschine, Director, School of Marine Affairs
* Russell McDuff, Director, School of Oceanography
* Jeffrey A. Simmen, Director, Applied Physics Laboratory

The College Council advises the Dean on research and program issues, and such faculty matters as appointments, granting of tenure, and promotion. It acts on behalf of the College faculty in recommending the granting of undergraduate degrees and, upon the recommendation of the faculty, advises the Dean in matters of curriculum and academic programs. In addition, the College Council considers and advises the Dean on budget issues, on the selection of the College's postdoctoral fellows, and on matters of long-range policy as it deems appropriate. The College Council consists of an elected Chair, seven members chosen by election from the academic and research units of the College, the Dean (who serves ex officio), and two students.

College Council Members:

* KerryNaish, School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences
* Robert Odom, Applied Physics Laboratory
* Evelyn Lessard, School of Oceanography
* Dan Schindler, School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences
* Gabrielle Rocap, School of Oceanography
* Peter Kaczkowski, Applied Physics Laboratory
* Marc Miller, School of Marine Affairs
* Arthur R. M. Nowell, Ex Officio, Dean's Office, College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences

Five other committees form part of the College structure. Three are under the Executive Council. These are (1) the Operations Committee, which provides liaison and coordination among the administrative officers of the five units; (2) the Computer Committee, which provides advice on general long-range planning, on new hardware acquisition, and on facilitating electronic communication within and between units of the College; (3) the Library Committee, which examines the University Library Services available to the College units and makes recommendations as to how these services can be sustained and further developed in support of research and teaching; and (4) the Space and Facilities Committee, which assesses College-wide needs for capital construction and other large facilities. The fifth committee, the Curriculum Committee, is under the College Council, and advises on all curricula matters and the awarding of degrees.

The overall College structure has been codified into the Code of Organization and Procedure, which was passed by the governing body (faculty and APL senior staff) of the College in June 1982 and revised in March 1988 and 1993. Copies of the Code are available from the Dean's Office.