- Members
- Guidelines for Faculty Governance Organizations
- Guidelines for Review of the Establishment, Reorganization, or Discontinuation of Academic Organizational Units
- Guidelines for Submitting New and Revised Unit Constitutions
- Meeting Dates
- Unit Constitutions
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 paced 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 Uniersity that involve two or more teaching, research, and continuing education functions whether or not delegation of authority exists. Such advise 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 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 External Matters Subcommittee is a standing subcommittee of Senate Council that will be charged to deal with issues external to the University. 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 University Park. The members of the External Matters Subcommittee will serve terms of two years, and may complete the second year of the term even in cases where they are no longer a member of Senate Council.
(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.