CSU Faculty Senate - Constitution and ByLaws

• Members of the Senate shall be elected by ballot at an announced Departmental. Library and Learning Resource, or Counseling Center meeting. Persons receiving the second highest number of votes shall serve as alternates.

• The term of office shall begin in the fall semester. Elections shall be held in the spring semester preceding the beginning of the term of office.

Senators no later than March 15 of the year in which the term expires.

Amendments to the By-Laws may be presented in writing by any member of the Senate with the written support of not less than ten (10) eligible faculty members. The Senate shall act on the proposed amendment at the next regular meeting following the one at which the amendment was presented. Amendments to the By-Laws shall be effective upon approval by at least two-thirds of the total membership of the Senate.

The Faculty Senate may create such standing and special committees and councils, as it deems necessary to the exercise of its powers and responsibilities. The Faculty Senate shall determine the powers, duties and organization of each of such committee and council.

• The general functions of all senate committees shall be to:

• Develop recommendations for consideration by the Senate and review university policies and their administration.

• Serve in an advisory capacity on faculty matters to administrative personnel, including the President, upon request.

• File a complete annual report of all committee activities at the conclusion of the academic year with the Senate and with the Archives of the University.

2. Standing Committees of the Senate are as follows:

a) Admissions and Academic Standards Committee

• Board of Athletic Advisers

• Buildings and Grounds Committee

• Curriculum Coordinating Committee

• Executive Committee

• Library Committee

• Social Committee

• Technology Committee

Membership for the standing committees, except for the executive committee, shall be selected from the faculty at large in the following manner.

• Annually, the Executive Committee shall invite the faculty to request membership on committees.

b) The Executive Committee shall appoint members of the committees observing that:

i Each committee should, ideally, include a representative from each college.

ii Each committee should, ideally, include at least one member of the faculty Senate.

iii Each committee should include the appropriate administrative officer. This officer or designated representative shall serve without voting privileges.

iv Each committee shall elect its own chair and secretary.

v The term of office for members of the standing committees shall be one year with committee members eligible for re-appointment.

• Each committee shall develop and submit to the Senate for approval written policy and procedure statements. It shall recommend policy and procedural changes to the Senate and the President when such changes seem desirable.

• Each committee shall keep written minutes of all meetings.

• Each committee shall submit an annual report to the Senate.

• Proposals and recommendations submitted to the Senate and referred by the Senate to a committee shall be reported in that committee's official minutes. The committee of the Senate shall indicate its approval, rejection, or lack of action on a proposal or recommendation within thirty days after the referral and return the proposal or recommendation within thirty days after the referral and return the proposal or recommendation to the Senate for final consideration. A proposal, which is not returned within thirty (30) days and for which there is no communication from the committee to the originator, shall be regarded as having committee approval and shall be taken up by the Senate for final consideration.

5. Functions of Standing Committees

• Admissions and Academic Standards Committee shall:

i) develop and recommend policies concerning admissions, retention, and graduation standards for the undergraduate programs of the University.

ii) act as an appeals committee for student petitions and make recommendations to the Dean of Admissions and Records.

• The Board of Athletic Advisers shall:

• develop and recommend athletic policies and advise the Director of Athletics regarding the administration of such policies,

ii) monitor compliance with academic and other standards set down by the University or any other governing body as pertains to student athletics,

iii) promote the use of athletic facilities.

• Buildings and Grounds Committee shall:

i) recommend policy concerning construction, maintenance, safety, and space utilization of University structures,

ii) advise the Senate regarding campus development,

• The Curriculum Coordinating Committee shall:

i) make recommendations on proposals regard addition or deletions of academic program majors, options, or minors,

ii) review the minutes of College Curriculum Committees,

iii) monitor new course proposals with particular notice of possible conflicts among the Colleges,

iv) review and approve any policy or procedural changes recommended by the General Education Committee and forward such recommendations to the Senate

e) The Executive Committee shall:

i) plan the work of the Senate by establishing goal, agenda, meeting times, and places,

ii) determine the membership of Senate Committees for approval by the Senate,

iii) act for the Senate between regular meetings and report such actions to the Senate for ratification.

f) The Library Committee shall:

i) promote the use of the Library and Leaning Resources programs and materials,

ii) provide leadership on library and media utilization for students and faculty.

iii) serve in an advisory capacity to the Dean of Library and Learning Resources and as liaison between the university faculty and the Library and Learning Resources unit.

g) The Social Committee shall foster a spirit of collegiality and community through coordination of social activities.

h) The Technology Committee shall:

i) assess faculty technology needs and recommend provisions for those needs

ii) recommend to Deans purchasing decisions involving introduction, integration or upgrade of technology.

Special Committee shall:

Special committee and submitted to the Senate for approval.

There are additional committees, which are not under the sole jurisdiction of the Faculty Senate, but in which the Senate has an interest. Some of these committees function independently, and may contain members other than faculty.

The Budget Committee shall consist of 19 members chosen from the University community. Six of these members are chosen by elections conducted by Faculty Senate. The various shall elect members colleges with Library and Learning Resources and the Counseling Center considered as a college. Representation will be proportional to the number of full - time, tenured/tenure-track faculty who are in at least their second year of full-time employment as such. The Faculty Senate shall review and determine reapportionment every five years. The term of office shall be three years with approximately one - third of the members elected each year.

Members may not succeed themselves.

The Faculty Senate shall conduct elections in the appropriate colleges at the Beginning of each fall term. The Executive Committee shall notify faculty members in a college of any vacancy and allow at least ten days for applications to be submitted. Faculty wishing to serve on the University Budget Committee shall submit petitions signed by ten faculty members as defined by Section III of the Senate Constitution from the college of the members. Election shall be by ballot allowing at least five days after distribution for casting ballots. The person receiving the highest number of votes shall be the representative with the runner - up serving as alternate. Ties shall be broken by run - off elections.

The Budget Committee shall participate in making recommendations with respect to:

• the setting of program priorities in University budget,

• periodic review of the University budget,

• transfers of significant amounts among internal budget items.

The Budget Committee shall give an annual - presentation to the Faculty Senate and solicit suggestions.

• Council on Teacher Education

The Council on Teacher Education (CTE) shall be composed of five faculties representatives from the College of Education , five faculty representatives from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Dean of the College of Education and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The Dean of the College of Education shall be Chair of the CTE. The faculty representatives shall be Appointed by the Deans of the respective colleges. One representative shall be from the Department of Psychology. No two members shall come from the same department and each shall be involved in the teacher education curriculum.

1. The CTE shall have responsibility for making recommendations to the administration regarding curricular matters pertaining to the following programs in Teacher Education:

• New undergraduate or graduate programs designed for the preparation of teachers or other educational personnel.

• Major revisions or modifications of existing University programs.

• Major changes in programs having impact on programs, options, courses, staffing in other Colleges of the University.

2. Recommendations shall be forwarded to the Faculty Senate for approval.

3. Copies of the minutes of the meetings of the CTE shall be distributed to CTE members, the Chair of the Faculty Senate, appropriate administrators, and filed in the University Archives.

• General Education Committee

The General Education Committee shall consist of full - time tenure/tenure-track faculty with one representative from each department in the College of Arts and Sciences, which has, courses used for general education. In addition, all colleges which do not have courses used for general education shall have a representative. The Chair of the University Curriculum Coordinating Committee shall have a representative. The Chair of the University Curriculum Coordinating Committee shall also serve on the committee.

The General Education Committee shall

1. periodically review University general education requirements,

2. approve new courses or categories for University general education.

The General Education Committee refers changes in policy for general Education. requirements to the Curriculum Coordinating Committee and the Faculty Senate for review and approval.

• Graduate Council

The Graduate Council shall be composed of members of the Graduate Faculty representatives, one from each department offering a graduate program. The Dean of Graduate Studies shall be Chair of Graduate Council.

The Graduate Council shall

1. acts as a Curriculum Committee and approves all new graduate courses and all changes in courses or programs after such additions and changes have been approved by the appropriate College Curriculum Committee.

• review unusual student appeals concerning the application or interpretation of graduate policies and make recommendations to the Dean of Graduate Studies.

• act to promote scholarships for graduate students informing both faculty and students of available opportunities.

• set admission standards and other policy pertaining to graduate students. Any changes in policy shall be forwarded to the Faculty Senate for approval.

• approve all new graduate programs after such additions have been approved by the appropriate College Curriculum Committee. After approval, the Graduate Council shall then forward any new graduate program to the Faculty Senate for approval.

5. Policy Monitoring Committee

In accordance with the Board of Trustees (the "Board") policy, a policy monitoring committee consisting of 1 representative from the administration, 1 representative from the civil service, 1 representative from student government and 2 representatives from the faculty shall be selected each by the appropriate governing body. The two representatives from the faculty shall consist of the chairman of the Senate, and another faculty member elected by the Senate,

The purpose of the Policy Monitoring Committee is to submit to the President expressions of concern regarding proper implementation of Board policy on campus. The President shall forward the concerns of the Policy Monitoring Committee to the Board should the committee so request. Each such expression of concern be in the form of a written statement identifying the specific provisions of Board policy in question, with allegations of improper implementation stated in detail with sufficient factual support. Such statements shall be signed by concurring members of the Policy Monitoring Committee and shall contain a proposed remedy for the asserted violation. The President shall respond, in writing, to the statement of the Policy Monitoring Committee, the Board shall communicate its response to the Committee in writing.

The Policy Monitoring Committee shall schedule monthly meetings during the academic year.

6. University Personnel Committee

In accordance with the Agreement establi8shed by the University Professionals of Illinois , the University Personnel Committee shall consist of eleven or fewer members. Members shall be elected by the various colleges with the Library and Learning Resources and the Counseling Center considered as a college.

Representation shall be proportional to the number of full - time, tenured/tenure-track faculty in a college, but all colleges shall have at least one members elected each year. Members may seek re-election.

The Faculty Senate shall conduct elections in the appropriate colleges at the beginning of each fall term. The Executive Committee shall notify faculty members in a college of any vacancy and allow at least ten (10) days for applications to be submitted. Faculty wishing to serve on the University Personnel Committee shall submit petitions signed by ten faculty members the College of said member. Faculty members shall consist of those defined by Article III of the Senate Constitution. Election shall be by ballot allowing at least five (5) days after distribution for casting ballots. The person(s) receiving the highest number of votes shall be the representative with runner(s) up serving as alternate(s). Ties shall be broken by run-off elections.

The University Personnel Committee shall review and make recommendations Concerning all personnel actions for faculty as defined by section III in the Senate Constitution and the University.

The University Personnel Committee shall be responsible for setting its own Rules of operation in accordance with the contract Agreement between the University and the University Professionals of Illinois .

Ratification shall follow the procedure for amendments to the Faculty Constitution in effect.

The By-Laws of the Faculty Senate shall become effective at the start of the Academic Year following the review and approval by the President and submission to the Board of Trustees for review.