Senators

As elected representatives of the faculty of their campuses or colleges, University Faculty Senators take part in the shared governance of the university though their involvement with the University Faculty Senate. This work involves participation in plenary meetings (meetings of the whole senate) and standing committee meetings. Additionally, there are sometimes sub-committee meetings which augment the work of the committees, as well as various forums which give senators a more informal opportunity to express opinions on critical topics.

Attending the plenary and standing committee meetings is a critical requirement of the UFS. It is in these meetings where the faculty employ the most influence over decision making at the highest levels. Also, at Penn State the faculty have legislative control over the curriculum, curricular policy, and educational policies for undergraduate students. It is in the UFS where the faculty exert this authority.

The time commitment for UFS work is an important consideration. The UFS usually meets in plenary and standing committee meetings approximately eight times a year. These meetings take place on Tuesdays, with committee meetings taking place in the morning and the plenary taking place in the afternoon. Three of these “Senate days” occur in the fall (September, October, and December) and four occur in the spring (January, February, March, and April). The Senate tentatively plans for one summer meeting, as well. Meetings take place either in person or via Zoom. When held in person, participants may still attend via Zoom if necessary.

Senate Committee meetings start as early as 8:30 and last two-three hours. Additionally, sub-committees may meet more often, depending on the nature of their work. The plenary meetings begin at 1:30 unless otherwise specified. The plenary meeting duration times can vary depending on the amount of business on the agenda. Senators should plan for the plenary to be at least three hours in length, but there is no set ending time, so it is advised that you plan to attend the Senate plenary for the entire afternoon. We have had meetings that last as long as five hours. During the plenary meetings, we have an opportunity to hear directly from the President and the Provost and ask questions of them, which is an important benefit of Senate service.

In order to prepare for the Senate meeting days on those Tuesdays, plan in advance, as these are important days for you to represent your academic unit in Senate business. In addition to clearing your calendar for those days, also take time to review and read the committee meeting and plenary meeting agendas. This will prepare you to more actively participate in the meetings.