Constitution, Bylaws, and
The new
Constitution for the University Faculty Senate was approved by the President of
the University and adopted by Faculty Referendum of March 27, 1971, to become
effective on June 1, 1971. Since that date other major changes were made in May
1975 and April 1993.
All changes in this printing are as approved
by the Senate as of April 24, 2007.
CONTENTS
Article III - Election to the Senate
Article VII - Delegation of Authority
Article IX - Rules of Procedure
Article I - Rules of Procedure
Article II - Senate Committee Structure
a. Committee on
Committees and Rules
b. Committee
on Admissions, Records, Scheduling
c. Committee on
Computing and Information Systems
d. Committee on
Curricular Affairs
e. Committee on Educational Equity and Campus Environment
f. Committee on
Faculty Affairs
g. Committee on
Faculty Benefits
h. Committee on
Intercollegiate Athletics
i. Committee on
Intra-University Relations
k. Committee on
Outreach Activities
n. Committee on
Undergraduate Education
o. Committee on University
Planning
Article III - Other Functions of the Senate
Article I
SECTION 1
The University
Faculty Senate shall have the following functions:
(a) Legislative
To serve as the sole legislative body representing the University Faculty as a whole. Its actions shall be authoritative on all matters that pertain to the educational interests of the University (graduate and undergraduate resident instruction, research, and continuing education) and on all educational matters that concern the faculties of more than one college, subject, after consultation, to revision and orders of the president of the University. Among the matters within the legislative jurisdiction of the Senate are:
(1) instructional
program
(2) courses and
programs of study
(3) academic
admissions standards
(4) retention
and graduation requirements
(5) University-wide unspecified scholarships, honors programs, and honors designation
(6) academic
standards for intercollegiate athletic participation
(7) access to
library and information systems for academic purposes.
(b) Advisory and Consultative
To act as an advisory and consultative body, both through its
corporate whole and any of its constituent parts, to the President on any
matter that may affect the attainment of the educational objectives of the
University, such as:
(1) the
establishment, reorganization, or discontinuation of organizational units and
areas of instruction or research
(2) policies
concerning the planning of physical facilities when these may affect the
attainment of the educational objectives of the University
(3) policies
and administration of the Libraries of the University
(4) policies
affecting University development and utilization of resources
(5) matters
pertaining to the general welfare of the University
(6) overall
educational policy and planning, as they affect instruction, research, and
service
(7) University
calendar
(8) faculty
affairs including academic personnel
(9) regulations
affecting students
(10) general admissions policy
(11) other appropriate matters.
Consultation
with Senate committees or officers does not constitute formal action or
approval by the Senate.
(c) Forensic
To
serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas among the members of the University
Faculty Senate.
(d) Informational
To
receive and disseminate information to the Senate and the University that is
deemed important by the Senate or its committees.
(e) Recognition
To
recognize or honor those individuals, organizations, or institutions the Senate
deems worthy of special recognition by the University Faculty Senate. Such
courtesy actions normally shall originate from Senate Council or the Senate
Officers.
SECTION 2
The Senate shall
interpret its legislation.
SECTION 3
In case of
question of legislative jurisdiction, the power of decision shall rest with the
President of the University in line with the requirement of the Board of
Trustees that the Faculty, as appropriately organized as the University Faculty
Senate, shall have certain authorities.
SECTION 4
The Senate shall
have the authority to redelegate authority in the areas listed in Section 1,
according to such procedures as the Senate may establish.
Senate
committees are authorized to act for and in the name of the Senate as specified
in the Standing Rules. Such actions shall be reported promptly to the Senate
and will stand unless the Senate, upon receiving such a report, takes
jurisdiction of the matter for further consideration.
Senate
committees may serve as advisory bodies to administrative officials. Reports
made by committees shall not be considered to be or identified as reports of
the Senate unless they have been approved by the Senate.
SECTION 5
Guests of the
Senate and members of the University community who are not members of the
Senate shall have the right to attend Senate meetings as observers and may be granted
the privilege of the floor in accordance with rules established by the Senate.
Article
II
SECTION 1
For the purpose of defining the electorate of the Senate, the term “University Faculty” shall mean all persons who hold full-time academic appointments, and who hold one of the following ranks: Lecturer, Instructor, Senior Lecturer, Senior Instructor, Senior Research Assistant, Senior Scientist, Research Associate, Senior Research Associate, Professor of Practice, Assistant Librarian, Associate Librarian, Librarian, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor with the following exclusions:
(a) The President's immediate staff;
(b) The immediate staff of the Executive Vice President and Provost, including Vice Provosts and Associate and Assistant Vice Provosts;
(c) Other Vice Presidents, including Associate and Assistant Vice Presidents, Academic Deans and Chancellors;
(d) Those holding affiliate academic appointments.
(e) Faculty members of the Pennsylvania College of Technology are not included in the electorate of the University Faculty Senate.
The Senate shall
be elected by the University Faculty from among its members, except for ex
officio, student, and appointed members as provided in Section 5. All members of the Senate shall have full
voting rights.
SECTION 3
For the purpose
of electing Senators, the University Faculty shall be divided into the
following groups, hereinafter referred to as academic voting units:
(a)
Each college at University Park
(b)
Penn State Abington
(c)
Penn State Altoona
(d)
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
(e)
(f)
Penn State Harrisburg
(g)
Dickinson School of Law
(h)
(i)
(j) College of Medicine
(m) Such groupings as may be designated, according to such procedures as the Senate may establish.
Each
faculty member shall be counted in one, and only one, academic voting unit.
Members of the University Faculty who are not included in one of the above
units (described in a-m of this section of the Constitution) may petition for
assignment to an academic voting unit, according to procedures as the Senate
may establish.
SECTION 4
The University
Faculty of each unit shall elect one Senator for each twenty-five members
of the electorate (as defined in Section 1) and major fraction thereof in that
unit, except that each unit shall have a minimum of one Senator. The normal
term of elected faculty Senators shall be four years. One-fourth of
the total number, as nearly as practicable, of faculty Senators from each
voting unit shall be elected each year. To balance membership terms in any
unit, the Elections Commission may on request permit the voting unit to elect a
Senator for a term of less than four years.
SECTION
5
(a)
The
following persons shall be ex officio members of the Senate: the President of
the University; the Executive Vice President and Provost of the University; the
Senior Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School; the Chair of the
Academic Leadership Council; the Vice President and Dean for Undergraduate Education; the University Registrar; the Executive Director, Division
of Undergraduate Studies; and any elected member of the Faculty Advisory
Committee who is not an elected faculty Senator.
(b) The
President may appoint other University personnel to membership in the Senate on
an annual basis. The total number of appointed and ex officio members (not
including any member of the Faculty Advisory Committee) shall not exceed a
number equal to ten percent of the elected faculty Senators.
(c) The
full-time, degree-seeking students at the University shall be represented by student
Senators elected by their units and by two ex officio student Senators from
undergraduate student government organizations. Student Senators shall be allocated
as follows:
(1) One
undergraduate student from each of the eleven colleges at
(2)
One
student from each of the following locations or units:
University College
(3)
Two
leaders of undergraduate student government organizations, as follows:
One
representative of the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments
Whenever comparable units are added to the University or created through reorganization, each new unit shall elect one student Senator. The term of a student Senator shall be one year.
(d) The
retired faculty of the University shall be represented by two elected retired
faculty Senators.
SECTION 6
An Executive
Secretary appointed by the Provost of the University after recommendation by
the Senate Officers shall carry out staff functions, manage the Senate Office,
and support and facilitate the Senate in the performance of its duties. The
Executive Secretary shall be responsible to the Senate Chair. A review of the
Executive Secretary will be conducted every five years by the Senate Chair. The
Executive Secretary shall be nonvoting but shall have the privileges of the
floor.
Article III
Amendments of
the Constitution consistent with directives of the Board of Trustees may be
adopted at any meeting of the University Faculty Senate by a two-thirds vote of those Senators present, provided that the amendment shall have been
presented in writing in a preceding regular meeting. Such amendments shall not
be in effect until they have been approved by the President.
Article
I
SECTION 1
(a) The
officers of the Senate shall be a Chair, a Chair-Elect, an Immediate
Past-Chair, and a Secretary.
(b) The
Senate shall elect annually from among its elected faculty mem-bers a
Chair-Elect and a Secretary from among members who will be serving as elected
faculty Senators in the following Senate year. The Secretary shall be eligible
for reelection, but shall serve no more than three consecutive one-year terms.
The Chair-Elect, at the end of one year of service in that office, shall
automatically succeed to the Office of Chair. The Chair, at the end of one year of service in that office, shall automatically succeed to the Office of
Immediate Past-Chair.
(c) If
a Senator’s term as representative of an academic voting unit expires while
serving as Chair or Chair-Elect, and the Senator is not reelected, that Senator
shall be permitted to succeed to the Offices of Chair and/or Immediate
Past-Chair. While completing terms as Chair and Immediate Past-Chair, the
officer will have all the rights and privileges of a regular member of the
Senate.
(d) When
a vacancy occurs in the Office of Immediate Past-Chair, the elected members of
the Senate Council shall elect a faculty member from among Past-Chairs to
complete the unexpired term. If a vacancy occurs in the Office of Chair, the
Chair-Elect will move immediately into the office, complete the unexpired term,
and continue through a full term as Chair. When a vacancy occurs in the Office
of Chair-Elect, the elected Secretary of the University Faculty Senate shall,
within no more than thirty days of notification of the vacancy, convene a
meeting of the Nominating Committee for the purpose of presenting nominees to
fill the unexpired term of the Chair-Elect. The Nominating Committee, acting
under the procedures enumerated in the Standing Rules, Article I, Section 11
(c), shall present at least two nominees to fill the vacancy. These
nominees shall be announced at the next meeting of the Senate. At this time,
additional nominations may be made from the floor of the Senate. The Elections
Commission shall then conduct a special election to fill the vacancy. The
special election shall be conducted in the manner enumerated in the Standing
Rules, Article I, Section 1 (b). The name of the new Chair-Elect shall be
announced at the next Senate meeting. The new Chair-Elect shall complete the
unexpired term and succeed to the Office of Chair. If a vacancy occurs in the
Office of Secretary, the elected members of the Senate Council shall elect a
Senator to complete the unexpired term.
SECTION 2
(a) The
Chair shall be the presiding officer of the Senate and shall appoint a faculty
member as Parliamentarian who shall not vote unless otherwise entitled.
(b) The
Chair, after consultation with the other Senate Officers and the President of
the University, shall have the authority to declare the existence of a
situation of special Senate concern and convene the Senate Council. If the
Senate Council acts on behalf of the Senate, the Chair shall also convene a
special meeting of the Senate within a week following the announcement unless a
regular meeting of the Senate is scheduled within that period. At either the
special or a regular meeting of the Senate, the Chair shall report the actions
taken under authority of Article II, Section 1, below, and the Senate shall
then take appropriate action.
SECTION 3
The Chair-Elect
shall convene the officers and the chairs of the Standing Committees of the
Senate before each Senate meeting for the purpose of exchanging information on
committee activities and advising the officers. The Chair-Elect shall also
assume the duties of the Chair in the absence of
SECTION 4
The Immediate
Past-Chair shall serve on the Faculty Advisory Committee to the President and
shall also assume the duties of the Chair when the Chair and Chair-Elect are
both absent.
SECTION 5
The Secretary
shall keep the official roll, shall prepare and publish notices, agenda, and
minutes of Senate meetings, and shall perform other duties
SECTION 6
Any officer of
the Senate may be removed for neglect of duty or for misconduct in office in
accordance with procedures for removal in the Standing Rules, Article I,
Section 11 (b).
Article II
SENATE COUNCIL
SECTION 1
Duties:
(a) It
shall ensure that the Senate addresses issues of major concern to the faculty
voting units and the faculty as a whole.
(b) It
may initiate Senate legislation in the same manner as a standing committee. In
addition, it may charge a standing committee of the Senate to investigate
matters deemed appropriate by the Council.
(c) It
shall provide a mechanism for Council members’ review of all legislative,
consultative, and informational reports submitted for the Senate Agenda.
Decision on whether an item is to be placed on the Agenda for full Senate
discussion is to be based on whether a report is adequately prepared and
documented.
(d) It
shall advise, upon consultation with appropriate Senate committees, the
President and Executive Vice President and Provost of the University on the
establishment, reorganization, or discontinuation of organizational units and
areas of the University that involve two or more teaching, research, and
continuing education functions (whether or not delegation of authority exists).
Such advice should be given before official action is taken.
(e) It shall recommend
to the Senate the delegation of authority and responsibility to carry out
specific legislative, advisory and consultative functions to properly organized
faculty organizations. It shall maintain criteria and guidelines for such
delegation and review approved organizations at appropriate intervals.
(f) In coordination with
the University administration, it shall represent the Senate in seeking
information from officials and agencies external to the University especially
those who establish policies and control resources affecting University
academic programs. It shall advise the University administration on external
government legislation and other external issues that may have impact on the
University. It shall advise the Senate on the preparation of statements on such
matters. It shall be the Senate advisory body to the University on public and
alumni relations, public information, general publications and private
fundraising. The Chair shall be the spokesperson for the Council in these
matters.
The
Senate Council shall maintain a standing subcommittee to deal with external
matters. The subcommittee will consist of at least five Council members
together with appropriate additional elected faculty Senators and resource
personnel and will be chaired by the Immediate Past-Chair of the Senate. A
majority of the subcommittee will be Councilors with at least two members from
locations other than
(g) It shall serve as an
advisory body to the Senate Officers and the Senate as a whole.
(h) In the event that
the Chair of the Senate declares existence of a situation of special Senate
concern, the Senate Council shall be empowered to act for the Senate in all
matters until this authority is terminated by actions of the Senate.
SECTION 2
The Senate
Council shall include:
(a) The Senate Officers,
with the Chair presiding.
(b) One faculty
Senator elected from and by the elected faculty Senators of each academic unit
entitled to four or more elected faculty Senators. One faculty Senator
elected by and among the elected faculty Senators of other voting units at
(c) In the event of a
vacancy among the elected members of the Council, the electing body shall elect
a replacement.
(d) The elected members
of the Faculty Advisory Committee shall participate, without vote, in Senate
Council deliberations.
(e) The President and
the Executive Vice President and Provost of the University may attend Senate
Council meetings at their own discretion.
SECTION 3
The Senate
Council shall be convened by the Chair of the Senate at least as often per
annum as the Senate.
Article III
SECTION 1
Election to the
Senate by members of the University faculty in each voting unit shall be as
follows:
(a) Nominations shall be
made by members of the University faculty. The procedures shall provide that
every member of the electorate shall have the opportunity to place names in nomination.
(b) While it is recommended that there be at least twice as many nominations as there are senators to be elected, there must be no fewer than one-and-one-half times the number of senators to be elected.
(c) Election shall be by
secret ballot.
SECTION 2
The Elections
Commission shall review annually and adjust, if necessary, the number of
Senators to be elected from each voting unit, based on the distribution of the
University faculty as of the preceding November 1.
SECTION 3
Student Senators
shall be nominated and elected according to such procedures as the Elections
Commission of the Senate may establish.
SECTION 4
The names of
newly elected and newly appointed Senators to serve during
SECTION 5
An elected
Senator who is engaged in any type of professional activity making it
impossible to carry out Senate responsibilities for a period exceeding three consecutive months, excluding June, July and August, may resign if he or
she wishes, but otherwise shall be replaced by an alternate to fill the period
of time that the Senator will be absent from the Senate.
SECTION 6
In case an
elected faculty Senator is unable to complete the elected term, the University
Faculty of the Senator’s voting unit shall identify a replacement in the
following manner: In addition to identifying an elected Senator for each vacant
seat, regular Senate elections shall identify at least the highest ranking
alternate, that is, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes of
those not elected. If more than one alternate is identified, the alternates’
names should be submitted in order of rank, based on the number of votes. The
names of the winner(s) and all of the alternate(s) shall be reported directly
to the Senate Office. First choice for replacement is to be the highest ranking
alternate, as identified in the most recent regular Senate election; if the
highest ranking alternate is not available, then the choice will move to all
remaining alternates, in order of their rank by vote. If no alternates are
available from the most recent regular Senate election, then the University
Faculty of the voting unit shall hold a special election to identify a new
elected Senator, who will complete the unfinished term. This same procedure
shall be
followed in the
replacement of committee members elected at-large by the Senate.
SECTION 7
Senate voting
units have the authority to replace a unit Senator who has three or more absences
from plenary meetings of the University Faculty Senate in any given academic
year. A voting unit should adhere to the
procedures outlined in the Bylaws, Article III, Section 6 for identifying a
replacement Senator.
SECTION 8
All elections of
the Senate shall be supervised by an Elections Commission consisting of the
Secretary of the Senate and four other elected faculty Senators selected by
the Committee on Committees and Rules.
Article IV
SECTION 1
The Senate shall
determine its committee structure and composition with
only the
following stipulations:
(a) Any University
personnel or any student of the University may be appointed to a committee.
(b) Chairs of Standing
Committees must be elected faculty Senators.
(c) A majority of the
membership of a Senate Standing or Special Com-mittee must be elected faculty
Senators.
SECTION 2
Persons who are
appointed to committees and standing subcommittees who are also members of the
University Faculty Senate have full voting privileges on the committee or
subcommittee on which they serve whether elected faculty, ex-officio, student,
or appointed Senators.
SECTION 3
All members of
Standing Committees who are not members of the Senate shall have nonvoting
privileges of the floor when the subject of discussion pertains specifically to
the work of their respective committees.
SECTION 4
Direct
consultation between Senate committees and other instrumentalities of the
Senate and members of the administration, faculty, and student body of the
University is encouraged subject to Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution.
SECTION 5
Any legislative
or non-legislative report approved by a committee at the last meeting of one
Senate year shall be presented to Senate Council and if approved for the Agenda
will be presented to the Senate at the beginning of the next Senate year
without review by the new committee.
Article V
SECTION 1
Regular meetings
of the Senate shall be held at least three times per semester during the
academic year at times and dates decided upon by Senate Council, except as
provided in Section 4 of this Article.
SECTION 2
Upon the request
of the President of the University, the Chair shall convene the Senate.
SECTION 3
The Chair shall
convene the Senate in response to a written petition of at
(a) statement of purpose
of petition and
(b) names of five
faculty members designated to meet with the Senate Council.
The
five designated faculty members will review the issue substantively with the
Senate Council before the special meeting of the Senate.
SECTION 4
Any regular
meeting of the Senate may be cancelled (as long as the provisions of Section 1
are met) or scheduled for a new date in either of the following ways: (a) by a
majority vote of the members present at any Senate meeting (at which a quorum
is present) or (b) by a two-thirds vote of the total voting membership of
the Senate Council. In case of emergency the Senate Chair, after consulting
with the other Senate Officers, may postpone any Senate meeting for no longer
than three weeks unless the Senate Council subsequently acts as specified
earlier in this section.
Article VI
SECTION 1
A quorum for the
transaction of business shall consist of fifty (50) Senators.
Article VII
SECTION 1
Authority for
functions of the Senate as defined in Article I, Section 1, of the Constitution
may be delegated in whole or in part to appropriately organized faculty bodies
upon recommendation of the Senate Council and approval by the Senate in
accordance with Article X, Section 1, of the Bylaws. Such delegation shall be
limited to those functions appropriate to the faculty body concerned, and such
delegations shall be specified in succeeding sections of this Article and shall
be established in accordance with Article X, Section 1, of the Bylaws as
interpreted by Senate Council. Legislative actions and minutes of all bodies to
which authority has been delegated under Article VII shall be forwarded to the
Chair of the Senate. Where appropriate, actions will be
SECTION 2
The faculty of
the
(a) The review process
shall include a report of actions of the Graduate Council to the Senate through
the Senate Council. On special motion of the Senate Council, any of those
actions may be placed on the agenda of the Senate for appropriate action.
(b) The Senate Council
will provide for liaison with the Graduate Council.
(c) The Dean of the
SECTION 3
The faculty of
the
SECTION 4
The faculty of
The Dickinson School of Law is delegated responsibility for the approval and
content of courses taken by law students in the law curriculum (900-level
courses). This delegation of responsibility is subject to review by the
University Faculty Senate. The review process shall include the submission of
all 900-level courses to the Curriculum Coordinator for inclusion on the Senate
Curriculum Report (Blue Sheet) and will be subject to the same
hold and
approval procedures as those listed in The Guide to Curricular Procedures.
Article VIII
SECTION 1
The Senate may
conduct referenda of the University faculty to obtain information concerning
any subject under its purview.
Article IX
SECTION 1
The Senate shall
establish its rules of procedure.
Article X
SECTION 1
Amendments of the
Bylaws may be adopted at any meeting of the Senate by a two-thirds (2/3) vote
of those Senators present, provided that the amendments shall have been
presented in writing at a preceding regular meeting.
Article I
RULES OF PROCEDURE
SECTION 1
(a) The rules of
procedure in the meetings of the University Faculty Senate, except as may be
otherwise specified in the Senate Constitution, Bylaws, and Standing Rules,
shall be those of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised 2000. All motions, except
as may be otherwise specified in these documents, shall be determined by a
majority of the votes cast. Roll-call votes may be initiated only by the
decision of the Chair or by a two-thirds majority of Senators present and
voting. The role of the Parliamentarian is advisory only.
(b) Election of officers
of the Senate shall be by secret preferential ballot, the preferred candidate
being designated by “1,” the next by “2,” and so on. In counting votes the Hare
System of the single transferable ballot shall be used. In the event of a tie,
the results of the election shall be determined by drawing lots among the tied
candidates. (See The Senate Record, March 5, 1974, Vol. 7, No. 8.)
(c) Each academic voting
unit eligible under the provisions of Article II, Section 2, of the Bylaws
shall elect its Senate Council member(s) from among its elected Faculty
Senators.
SECTION 2
The order of
business at each regular meeting of the Senate shall be as follows:
(a) minutes
of the preceding meeting
(b) communications
to the Senate
(c) report
of the Senate Council
(d) announcements
by the Chair
(e) comments
by the President of the University
(f) forensic
business
(g) unfinished
legislative business
(h) legislative
reports
(i) advisory/consultative
reports
(j) informational
reports
(k) new
legislative business
(l) comments
and recommendations for the good of the University.
The order of
business may be changed by the Senate Council prior to any meeting. Any or all
items in this Section may be suspended at any regular meeting of the Senate by
a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present, and at any special meeting by
decision of the Chair.
SECTION 3
The Chair of the
Senate may convene special meetings of the Senate, in addition to those
specified in Article V or Article I, Section 2 of the Bylaws, at such times and
for such purposes as the Chair deems necessary for the effective discharge of
the business of the Senate.
SECTION 4
The order of
business for any special meeting of the Senate shall be determined by the Chair
of the Senate.
SECTION 5
A tentative
agenda (one without appendices) for each regular meeting of the Senate shall be
published in The Senate Record one week following the preceding meeting. The
agenda and appendices shall be distributed no fewer
SECTION 6
The Chair of the
Senate shall appoint Special Committees to consider subjects not already
assigned to Standing Committees of the Senate. These Special Committees shall
be terminated no later than the end of the Senate year unless reappointed by
the new Chair of the Senate. They shall file reports of actions taken with the
Senate Office for inclusion in The Senate Record.
SECTION 7
(a) To introduce new
legislative or advisory and consultative business, a Senator may address a
communication to the Chair of the Senate indicating the item of business that
the Senator wishes to be considered, or to any member of an appropriate
Standing Committee or member of Council. The Senator may also request, on the
Senate floor, referral to committee by the Chair. The above procedures
represent the normal means for introducing new legislation in that they provide
for detailed study by the appropriate Standing Committee or Committees, but a
Senator may introduce, by a direct motion from the floor, new legislation that
the Senator considers to be of exceptional urgency. When such a motion has been
made and seconded, it shall be laid on the table until the next regular meeting
of the Senate unless the Chair calls a special meeting to consider this item
before the next regular meeting.
(b) Forensic business
provides an opportunity for any Senator to discuss any matter of concern to the
University. To introduce forensic business a Senator must present in writing a
title and brief summary of the matter to be discussed at least seven days
before the meeting at which the matter is to be considered. The Senator’s name
will be placed on the agenda together with the title and summary.
(c) Any member of the
University community, not a member of the Senate may request the privilege of
the floor on any item of business already before the Senate. Such a request
must be made to the Chair, through the Executive Secretary of the Senate, at
least four calendar days before the meeting at which the individual wishes
to speak.
(d) Any matter of
forensic business under debate shall become legislative or advisory and
consultative business when it is made the subject of a motion on which a vote
of the Senate is required. When such a motion has been made and seconded, the
matter in question shall be laid on the table until the next regular meeting of
the Senate unless the Chair calls a special meeting of the Senate to consider
this item before the next regular meeting.
(e) Matters of forensic
business shall not be the subject of any motion until the Chair declares the
forensic discussion period to be at an end. Any Senator wishing to make any
matter of forensic business a matter of legislative business may do so under
the provision of Section 7 (a).
(f) Only members of the
Senate may introduce new legislative, advisory and consultative, or forensic
business.
(g) At the discretion of
the Chair of the Senate, any member of the Board of Trustees, University
Faculty, administration, student body, staff, or guest of the University not a
member of the Senate may be granted the privilege of the floor to make comments
and recommendations for the good of the University. Requests shall be made to
the Chair, in writing at least five calendar days before the meeting. The
time period may be waived by the Chair.
(h) The Chair shall have
the authority to place a time limit on the remarks of any nonmember of the
Senate.
(i) The rules of this
Section may be suspended only by a three-fourths vote of the Senators
present.
SECTION 8
New rules for
Policies and Procedures for Students, new Standing Rules of the Senate, and
amendments to these rules may be acted upon only after they have been presented
in writing to all Senators six days before a regular meeting of the Senate,
except that this section may be suspended by unanimous consent of the Senators
present.
SECTION 9
Under the
direction of the Executive Secretary of the Senate, the Senate shall publish an
official record (The Senate Record) of its proceedings within fourteen days after each meeting, and this record shall contain:
(a) agenda of the
meeting;
(b) verbatim minutes of
the meeting except for informational and mandated reports. An executive summary
of informational and mandated reports will be included in The Senate Record
unless a verbatim transcription is requested by the Chair or the Executive
Secretary;
(c) documents
distributed at the door of the meeting;
(d) tentative agenda for
the next meeting;
(e) such other items as
the Chair shall direct.
Copies of The
Senate Record shall be deposited in the University Archives of the University
Library and in the library of each other
SECTION 10
Senators shall
be assigned regular seats in the Senate chamber by the Secretary of the Senate.
A new seating arrangement shall be made each year
immediately
after the names of newly elected Senators shall have been
reported to the
Chair. If a Senator is replaced by another for any reason during the senatorial
year, the new Senator shall occupy the seat until the next annual seating
arrangement is made.
SECTION 11
(a) The elective year of
the Senate and Senate Council shall begin with the installation of the new
officers at the last regularly scheduled meeting, before which meeting the
Senate shall elect a Chair, if necessary, a Chair-Elect, and a Secretary. The
terms of Senate Officers, Council members, and members shall be from this time
until the corresponding time at the last regularly scheduled meeting the
following Senate year. Names of newly elected Senators shall be reported to the
Senate Office no later than four weeks prior to the next-to-last regularly
scheduled meeting of the Senate year.
(b) At any meeting of
Senate Council, a petition may be presented to the Chair requesting that any Senate Officer be
removed from office for neglect of duty or misconduct in office. The petition
must be signed by at least two elected Senate Council members. Senate Council
after appropriate investigation and discussion shall vote whether the Senate
shall be polled to consider the removal of the Officer. A majority vote of the
total number of elected Councilors shall be required. If the Council vote is to
poll the Senate, a ballot or e-mail notification of the election Web site will be sent to all Senators allowing at least 10
working days for voting. A two-thirds majority vote shall be required for
removal of the Officer. In the case of the removal of the Senate Chair, the
Chair-Elect shall succeed immediately to the Chair. If the Chair-Elect is
removed, a new election will be held using regular procedures. If the Secretary
is removed, the Senate Council shall elect a replacement.
(c) The Nominating Committee of the Senate shall develop the slate of nominees for the Offices of Chair-Elect and Secretary, as well as for a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee to the President. It shall also be responsible for developing the slate of nominees for the Committee on Committees and Rules. The Nominating Committee shall consist of the elected members of Senate Council and the Immediate Past Chair of the Senate, who shall chair the committee. The Chair of the Senate shall activate the Nominating Committee at least four weeks prior to the second regularly scheduled meeting of the spring semester. The committee shall meet at the call of the Secretary, who shall charge the committee. The committee shall present at least two nominees for the Offices of Chair-Elect and Secretary. In addition, in the event that the Chair-Elect received a vote of no-confidence or that the Secretary is serving as interim Chair-Elect, the committee shall report a slate of at least two nominees for the Office of Chair. The committee shall also report a slate of at least two nominees for a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee to the President (three-year term). Nominations shall reflect the variety of disciplines, functions, and geographic locations of University units. A report of all the nominations for Senate Offices and the Faculty Advisory Committee to the President shall be submitted to the Chair of the Senate at least fourteen calendar days before the next-to-last regularly scheduled meeting of the Senate year, and the slate shall be published in the agenda for the next-to-last meeting. These nominations shall be announced to the Senate at the next-to-last meeting by the Chair of the Nominating Committee. At this time additional nominations may be