Senate History
“We bring together that knowledge of what’s happening at all the campuses and units across the University, so we can share that information and perspective with the administration in an efficient and productive way. That is shared governance.”
Senate Founding
At the June 13, 1921, meeting of then Pennsylvania State College’s Board of Trustees, a statute was adopted establishing the “College Senate,” and discontinuing the then existing organization of the General Faculty. The College Senate held its first meeting on October 6, 1921, with a total attendance of 56. Prior to that date, the entire faculty met as a general assembly, but as the faculty grew in number, a more efficient means of faculty governance became necessary.
The current Senate dates back to 1966 when the body reorganized itself and adopted a new constitution, which was approved by Penn State’s Board of Trustees on April 30, 1966. The following year, the first Executive Secretary of the Senate was appointed. The Faculty Senate celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2021.