| VII. THE FACULTY SENATE
- Nature and Function of the Senate
- The Faculty Senate shall be the delegate assembly
of the Faculty-at-Large through which the Faculty-at-Large shall
exercise its responsibilities.
- The Faculty Senate shall serve as a means of communication
between the Teaching and Research Faculty and the Administration.
- Any action of the Faculty Senate must be reviewed
at a general meeting of the Faculty-at-Large when a petition,
bearing the signatures of 10 percent of the Faculty-at-Large
and calling for a general meeting to review an issue, is presented
to the Chair of the Faculty-at-Large.
- Petition for such a review must be received
by the Chair of the Faculty-at-Large within 30 days following
notice to the Faculty-at-Large of the Senate action that
is the object of the petition to review.
- The action of the Senate which is the object
of the petition shall be presented to the Faculty-at-Large
at a meeting called by the Chair of the Faculty-at-Large
and, on motion and vote, the Faculty-at-Large may sustain
or veto the action of the Senate.
- Duties of the Faculty Senate - The Faculty Senate
shall receive and consider proposals concerning policies affecting
the general welfare of the University, provide for channels
of communication between the Faculty-at-Large and other constituencies
of the University, and develop procedures for the functioning
of the Senate. Specifically, the Faculty Senate shall perform
the following:
- Policy Function -- The Faculty Senate
shall receive and consider proposals for the institution,
abolition, or amendment of policies as detailed below. Recommendations
of the Faculty Senate concerning such proposals shall be
forwarded to the President of the University for consideration
for recommendation to the Board of Regents.
(1.) The Faculty Senate shall recommend academic
policy, including but not limited to policies concerning
admission, curriculum, instruction, and criteria for granting
degrees. In the exercise of this duty, the Faculty Senate
shall receive and make recommendations concerning all
policy or program proposals approved by the Council on
Academic Affairs.
(2.) The Faculty Senate shall recommend policies relating
to faculty welfare, including policies relating to the
recruitment, selection, retention, tenure and promotion
of faculty members, and other personnel policies affecting
faculty welfare. In the exercise of this duty the Faculty
Senate shall receive, review, and make recommendations
concerning faculty welfare, policy proposals developed
by special committees appointed to consider specific areas
affecting faculty welfare.
(3.) The Faculty Senate shall recommend policies relating
to student affairs in the areas where the proposed policy
concerns the students' academic achievement and in such
other areas as specifically delegated by the Board of
Regents or requested by the Council on Academic Affairs,
and receive, and take appropriate action concerning recommendations
of the Student Affairs Committee.
(4.) The Faculty Senate shall receive and make recommendations
concerning such other policies as are referred to the
Senate for consideration by the President of the University.
(5.) The Faculty Senate in conjunction with appropriate
administrators shall receive, review and make recommendations
concerning university restructuring/reorganization proposals,
such as the addition or elimination of a college, department,
center/institute or other academic unit. The Executive
Committee of the Faculty Senate is the vehicle for placing
such restructuring/reorganization proposals on the agenda
of the Faculty Senate.
- Communication Function - The Faculty
Senate shall be responsible for maintaining communication
between the Teaching and Research Faculty and the Administration
of the University. In the performance of this duty, the
Faculty Senate shall provide avenues of communication by
which the Teaching and Research Faculty may receive information
concerning University affairs and may submit information
relating to matters that concern them. Specifically, the
Senate shall:
(1.) Provide a channel for faculty involvement
in the procedures concerning the selection of personnel
involved in academic administration, organization of academic
functions, and other matters relating to the welfare of
the University.
(2.) Provide a forum for the President of the University
to discuss matters affecting the welfare of the University.
(3.) Provide a forum for the Faculty Regent to discuss
matters affecting the welfare of the University.
(4.) Provide a channel for faculty involvement in the
preparation of the University budget.
- Internal Function - The Faculty Senate
shall exercise those duties necessary for its proper function
and continuation. In the exercise of these duties the Senate
shall:
(1.) Establish rules and procedures for the
Faculty Senate and committees of the Senate.
(2.) Through its Committee on Elections, be responsible
for supervising the election of Senate members.
- Membership of the Senate
- The membership of the Senate shall consist of administrative
faculty members and elected faculty members. The administrative
members shall be:
- President of the University
- Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
- One Academic Dean to be elected by the Deans
of the Academic Colleges, Dean of Graduate School, and
Dean of Libraries.
- Faculty Regent
- Elected Members
- Eligibility - Full time faculty members as defined
in Article II, Section B, all department chairs regardless
of teaching load, and full-time faculty holding visiting
rank shall be eligible for election to the Senate.
- Election Units - The election units for the
selection of the elected membership of the Senate shall
be the academic departments of the several colleges of the
University. Additional election units shall consist of (1)
the Library Faculty, who are not included in the faculties
of a college, and (2) the Deans of the Academic Colleges,
Dean of Graduate School, and Dean of Libraries (hereafter
referred to as the Dean's Unit).
- All individuals eligible for election to the
Faculty Senate shall be eligible to vote in a Faculty Senate
election. An individual shall be eligible to cast a ballot
for Senate members only in that election unit in which the
individual holds the academic rank of Professor, Associate
Professor, Assistant Professor, Instructor, Visiting Professor,
Visiting Associate Professor, Visiting Assistant Professor,
University Librarian, Associate University
Librarian, Assistant University Librarian, and Library Instructor.
- Determination of Delegate Representation
(1.) An election unit with 1-14 faculty members
during the Fall semester shall be entitled to one delegate
for the academic year, and an election unit with 15-29
faculty members during the fall semester shall be entitled
to two delegates for the academic year.
(2.) An election unit with 30-39 faculty members during
the Fall semester shall be entitled to three delegates
for the academic year; an election unit with 40-49 faculty
members during the Fall semester shall be entitled to
four delegates for the academic year; an election unit
with 50-59 faculty members during the Fall semester shall
be entitled to five delegates for the academic year, and
so on.
- The Committee on Elections shall determine as
soon after the beginning of the spring semester as possible
the number of delegates to be selected from each election
unit and a schedule for elections of delegates.
- Except for the member elected from the Deans'
Unit and the member elected from the Part-time Faculty,
whose terms are two years, elected members shall serve for
a term of three years. Elected members shall serve no more than two consecutive full year terms; eligible members must then forego membership for one year before being eligible for Senate election again. If a senator is elected as chair of the Senate at the end of their second term, they can then serve a third term before stepping down. However, if an elected member ceases to be a full-time member in the election unit from which elected, a vacancy shall be declared. All voting members of the Senate are elected to represent the faculty in their departments. In order to ensure consistent and accurate representation, each department is also asked to elect an alternate for a three-year term in addition to their regular Senator(s). Each election unit shall be entitled but not required to elect alternate delegates (as many as the unit deems feasible) to ensure voting rights of their faculty. The alternate may attend for any Senator in the departments with more than one representative. Elected alternates will possess full voting rights and attend meetings when the elected Senator is unavailable. In situations where an alternate is either not elected or is unable to attend, a substitute may attend. Substitutes are allowed to speak to issues and report back to their departments, but substitutes may not have voting rights. The Senate Chair and/or Secretary should be notified in advance whenever an alternate or a substitute will attend a Senate meeting in place of a Senator.
- When a permanent vacancy occurs in the elected
membership of the Senate, the election unit shall elect
a delegate to fill the unexpired term of the vacancy. When
a temporary vacancy of at least one semester's duration
occurs in the elected membership of the Senate, the election
unit through the Committee on Elections shall recommend
for Senate approval a member of the full-time faculty of
the same election unit to serve until the end of the semester
for which the member is temporarily absent.
- The Committee on Elections shall establish and
notify election units needing to elect a new member of appropriate
election procedures. The election unit shall carry out the
election using the procedures promulgated by the Committee
on Elections. The Committee on Elections shall certify to
the Chair of the Faculty-at-Large the election of Senate
members.
- Part-time Faculty Representative
- Part-time faculty may have one voting representative
on the Faculty Senate. This person shall be chosen from
among the names of current part-time faculty that normally
teach each semester and that are nominated by the departments
in which they teach. Each department that employs part-time
faculty may nominate one person. Part-time faculty shall
elect a representative from among the nominees. The election
shall be conducted by April 15 of each year so that the
elected representative can be seated a the May organizational
meeting. The person receiving the most votes shall be the
elected representative.
- The part-time faculty representative shall serve
for a two-year term. While the part-time faculty representative
is elected to a two-year term, continuing representative
is contingent upon the part-time representative's being
contracted by the University to teach again. The part-time
faculty representative's election in no way may be construed
as guarantee of employment beyond their current contract.
- The Chair of the Faculty Senate shall fill a
vacancy in this seat for the remainder of the term by appointing
a representative from the list of part-time faculty last
nominated for the seat.
- Organization of the Senate
- Chair of the Senate
- The Chair of the Senate shall be nominated annually
in April and elected annually in May from the elected membership
by the Senate. The election is to be held during the organizational
meeting for the newly constituted Senate. To be eligible
to serve as Chair, a Senator shall have tenure and at least
one semester's prior service in the Senate. A Chair may
not serve more than two terms consecutively.
- The Chair of the Senate shall preside at meetings
of the Senate. In the absence of the Chair of the Senate,
the Vice Chair of the Senate shall preside.
- The Chair shall meet with the President of the
University at least once a month to confer on Senate business.
- The Chair shall serve as Chair of the Senate
Executive Committee.
- The Chair shall maintain an active file for
matters submitted to the President and awaiting action.
- The Chair of the Faculty Senate should be eligible
for a campus-wide ("special") parking permit. It is the
responsibility of the Chair to initiate a request for the
permit through normal channels.
- The Chair of the Senate will receive one-half
released time from teaching and other department and college
responsibilities. The Chair's home department or unit will
receive funds to cover the salary of a part-time replacement
for the reduced teaching load of the chair.
- The Chair shall administer the Faculty Senate
budget and shall pay the bills of the Senate as approved
by the Executive Committee.
- Vice Chair of the Senate
- The Vice Chair of the Senate shall be nominated
annually in April and elected in May from elected membership
by the Senate. The election is to be held during the organizational
meeting for the newly constituted Senate. To be eligible
to serve as Vice Chair, a Senator shall have tenure and
at least one semester's prior service in the Senate.
- The Vice Chair of the Senate shall preside at
meetings of the Senate in the absence of the Chair.
- The Vice Chair will serve as a voting member
of the Senate Executive Committee
- The Vice Chair will be appointed by the Senate
Chair to be the chair of a Senate Standing Committee.
- The Vice Chair of the Senate will receive one-quarter
release time from teaching and other department and college
responsibilities.
- Secretary
- The Secretary shall be elected annually at the
organizational meeting in May by the members of the Senate.
The term of the Secretary shall be for one year and shall
begin on January 1 following the election. In the temporary
absence of the Secretary, the Chair of the Senate will appoint
a member from the University to serve as acting secretary.
- The Secretary shall cause all deliberations
and actions of the Senate to be recorded in the official
records of the Senate.
- The Secretary shall maintain a file of all minutes
and progress reports for each Senate standing and ad hoc
committee.
- The Secretary shall distribute copies of the
record of each meeting to all members of the Faculty-at-Large
and staff as soon as possible following a meeting of the
Senate, but no later than one week prior to the next regular
meeting. Distribution may include notification by electronic
means.
- The Secretary shall distribute an agenda with
attachments to all Senators by the Wednesday morning preceding
the regularly scheduled meeting. The agenda shall be sent
to all faculty noting the availability of the agenda with
attachments from their respective Senator and/or through
electronic posting.
- Meetings of the Faculty Senate
- The newly constituted Senate shall convene initially
for an organizational meeting in May following the conclusion
of the last meeting of the previous Senate. The Senate shall
meet on the first Monday that the University is in regular session
for each month from September through May. Adjustments may be made to compensate for Holidays and when the University is not in session. The Senate shall
meet at other times on call of the Chair or the Executive Committee,
reasonable notice being given to members of the Senate.
- Meetings of the Senate shall be open to members
of the Faculty at Large. Persons other than Senate members may
participate in the deliberations of the Senate only on consent
of the Senate.
- Fifty percent of the membership of the Senate shall
constitute a quorum.
- The current edition of Robert's Rules of Order
Newly Revised shall govern conduct of meetings of the Senate,
except when the Senate shall adopt rules otherwise; and the
presiding officer may appoint a Parliamentarian to aid in questions
of parliamentary procedures.
- Senate voting on all matters, except election of
officers and of members of Standing Committees, shall be viva
voce or by a separation of the house. Officers of the Senate
and members of Standing Committees of the Senate shall be elected
by ballot except that a voice vote may be taken when there is
the same number of nominees as positions to be filled on the
committee.
- Committees of the Senate
- Executive Committee
- The Executive Committee shall consist of the
Chair of the Senate, who shall serve as Chair of the Executive
Committee, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and
five members elected by the Senate from its elected membership.
Committee membership shall be for the duration of the elected
senator's current term.
- The Executive Committee shall be responsible
for maintaining communication between the Faculty-at-Large
and the Administration. Once the Faculty Senate acts upon
a motion, the President acting on behalf of the University
shall be requested to inform the Faculty Senate of the disposition
of the motion within three months.
- The Executive Committee shall be responsible
for preparing the agenda for each regular meeting of the
Faculty Senate. The Executive Committee shall receive requests
from members of the Faculty-at-Large relating to items for
consideration of the Senate and shall, through the chair,
bring these to the attention of the President. Items submitted
for inclusion on the Senate agenda shall reach the Chair
or a member of the Executive Committee of the Senate at
least two weeks before a scheduled meeting. The Executive
Committee shall make known the time and place of meetings
to set the agenda.
- The Executive Committee shall serve as an advisory
agency to the President of the University in those matters
referred to the Committee.
- In the designated years, the Executive Committee shall
conduct a systematic review of the President as described
in Part III; EVALUATION OF ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATORS, section
V of the Faculty Handbook.
- Committee on Committees
- The Committee on Committees shall consist of
five members elected by the Senate from its elected membership.
Committee membership shall be for the duration of the elected
senator's current term.
- The Committee Chair shall be elected annually
by the Committee from among its membership.
- The Committee on Committees shall advise the
President concerning formulation of standing committees
of the Faculty at Large and the selection of appointed members
of faculty standing committees.
- One week before each Executive Committee meeting,
the Chair of the Committee shall submit written minutes
or a progress report to the Chair of the Senate who will
forward them to the Secretary of the Senate for permanent
filing. The Chair of the Committee shall submit a written
annual report to the Faculty Senate at the May meeting.
- Committee on Elections
- The Committee on Elections shall consist of
five members elected by the Senate from among its elected
membership. Committee membership shall be for the duration
of the elected senator's current term.
- The Committee Chair shall be elected annually
by the Committee from among its membership.
- The Committee on Elections shall supervise all
nominations and elections for Senate membership as provided
in this Constitution.
- One week before each Executive Committee meeting,
the Chair of the Committee shall submit written minutes
or a progress report to the Chair of the Senate who will
forward them to the Secretary of the Senate for permanent
filing. The Chair of the Committee shall submit a written
annual report to the Faculty Senate at the May meeting.
- Committee on Rules
- The Committee on Rules shall consist of five
members elected by the Senate from among its elected membership.
Committee membership shall be for the duration of the elected
senator's current term.
- The Committee Chair shall be elected annually
by the Committee from among its membership.
- The Committee on Rules shall review and recommend
to the Senate rules of procedure for the Senate.
- One week before each Executive Committee meeting,
the Chair of the Committee shall submit written minutes
or a progress report to the Chair of the Senate who will
forward them to the Secretary of the Senate for permanent
filing.
- Rules must be codified by the Committee. It
is the responsibility of the Committee on Rules to distribute
an updated, codified copy of the Rules to the Senate along
with its annual report at the May meeting.
- Committee on the Budget
- The Committee on the Budget shall consist of
the Chair of the Faculty Senate, five members elected by
the Senate from its elected membership, and the administrative
member elected by the Dean's Unit. Elected members shall
serve for the duration of their current term while the administrative
member shall serve a one-year term. The Vice President for
Government Relations and Planning shall serve as a non-voting
member of the Committee.
- The Committee on the Budget shall elect annually
a chair from among its membership.
- The purpose of the Committee on the Budget shall
be to provide a channel of communication between the Faculty
Senate and the Administration on matters relating to the
formulation of the University budget.
- The Committee shall be available as an advisory
agency to the President of the University in those matters
relating to the budget-formulation process. The Committee
shall meet with the President at least once each semester
to receive information about budgetary matters.
- One week before each Executive Committee meeting,
the Chair of the Committee shall submit written minutes
or a progress report to the Chair of the Senate who will
forward them to the Secretary of the Senate for permanent
filing.
The Chair of the Committee shall report to the Senate at
least semiannually. After receiving its report, the Senate
shall, at its discretion, provide suggestions, reactions,
and comments to the Committee for subsequent Committee consideration.
- Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
- The Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
shall consist of five members elected by the Senate from
its elected membership. Committee membership shall be for
the duration of the elected senator's current term.
- The Committee Chair shall be elected annually
from among its membership.
- The Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
shall make recommendations to the Senate on matters including,
but not limited to, promotion, tenure, grievance, and workload.
- One week before each Executive Committee meeting,
the Chair of the Committee shall submit written minutes
or a progress report to the Chair of the Senate who will
forward them to the Secretary of the Senate for permanent
filing. The Chair of the Committee shall submit a written
annual report to the Faculty Senate at the May meeting.
- Committee for Faculty Welfare
- The Committee on Faculty Welfare shall consist
of five members elected by the Senate from its elected members.
Committee membership shall be for the duration of the elected
senator's current term. The Director of Human Resources
shall serve as a non-voting member of the committee.
- The Committee shall elect a chair annually from
among its membership.
- The purpose of the Committee for Faculty Welfare
shall be to:
- Review and make recommendations to the Senate
on matters including but not limited to, merit/pay policies,
faculty salary inequities, health insurance benefits,
market salary issues, compression, as well as other
university benefit policies; and
- Provide a channel of communication between
the Faculty Senate and the Administration on matters
relating to faculty compensation and benefits.
- The Committee shall be available as an advisory
agency to the President of the University and/or Provost
of the University on those matters relating to compensation
and benefits for the faculty-at-large. The Committee shall
meet with the President and/or Provost at least once each
semester to receive information about faculty compensation
and benefits.
- The Chair of the Committee shall report to the
Senate at least semiannually. After receiving it's report,
the Senate shall, at its discretion, provide suggestions,
reactions, and comments to the Committee for subsequent
Committee consideration.
- Ad Hoc Committees
The Faculty Senate may establish such ad hoc committees as are
deemed necessary.
- One week before each Executive Committee meeting,
the Chair of each ad hoc committee shall submit written
minutes or a progress report to the Chair of the Senate
who will forward them to the Secretary of the Senate for
permanent filing.
- The Chair of each ad hoc committee shall submit
a written annual report to the Faculty Senate at the May
meeting.
- Special Rules of Order and Standing Rules
- The Faculty Senate may adopt such Special Rules
of Order and such Standing Rules as are deemed necessary and
proper to carry out its function.
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