FACULTY SENATE CONSTITUTION
2005-2006
Edition
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FACULTY SENATE CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I PREAMBLE
ARTICLE I I THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY
SECTION I RESPONSIBILITIES
SECTION II MEMBERSHIP
ARTICLE II THE ACADEMIC SENATE
SECTION II PURPOSE
SECTION III MEMBERSHIP
SECTION IV OFFICERS
ARTICLE III COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE
SECTION I STANDING COMMITTEES
SECTION II MEMBERSHIP OF STANDING COMMITTEES
ARTICLE IV STANDING COMMITTEES
SECTION I EXECUTIVE
SECTION II ACADEMIC I, II & III
SECTION III BASIC SKILLS
SECTION IV BUDGET AND FINANCE
SECTION V COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES
SECTION VI CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
SECTION VII CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
SECTION VIII FACULTY WELFARE/RELATIONS
SECTION IX LIBRARY
SECTION X NOMINATING
SECTION XI RESEARCH
SECTION XII FACULTY RECOGNITION AND AWARDS
SECTION XII STUDENTS AFFAIRS
ARTICLE V RULES AND PROCEDURES
ARTICLE VI AMENDMENTS
THE FACULTY SENATE CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I
Preamble
Whereas,
ARTICLE II
THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY
Section I Responsibilities The University Faculty shall have the following responsibilities:
A. Elect representatives to the Faculty Senate, voting by and within all academic units.
B. Consider actions of the Faculty Senate that may be submitted by that body.
C. Pass on proposed amendments to the Faculty Senate Constitution.
D. Present to the Faculty Senate any concerns that it may deem pertinent to the welfare of the faculty and wellbeing of the University.
Section II Membership The Official Tennessee State University Faculty shall be referred to throughout this document as THE FACULTY. The Academic Faculty of the University shall include those members of the faculty: who hold full-time/part-time academic appointments with the rank of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, or full professor; and, whose primary duties are teaching, research, department chair, dean or administration.
ARTICLE III
Section I Officers The officers of the University Faculty Senate shall be as follows:
Executive Council of the Faculty Senate.
(1) Membership shall consist of Officers of the Executive Committee; Chairpersons of the Senate Standing Committees; the Immediate Past Chair of the Senate; four at-large faculty members, and one administrator who is an elected Senator. The Chairperson of the Executive Committee shall be the Chair of the Senate.
This committee shall represent the Senate as needed in meetings with the administration and other groups, shall handle necessary business on an emergency and interim basis between Senate meetings, shall recommend and review assignments to other committees, and shall establish ad hoc committees on behalf of itself or as directed by the Senate.
This committee shall concern itself with the formulation and review of the long and short range educational policies of the University as represented by the monetary allocations made in the budget.
This committee shall not concern itself with individual salaries or with college or departmental allocations, except as they may relate to the aforementioned educational policy decisions.
When campus or system administrative appointments are to be filed and where it is appropriate for faculty to be of assistance in the recruitment and screening of candidates, the Executive Committee will assist in the selection of the faculty members of such screening committees and lend its counsel to the development of procedures for recruitment and screening of such candidates.
This committee shall annually review the Bylaws and make appropriate recommendations to the Senate for amendments. It shall also review any revisions suggested by members or committees of the Senate. (This latter duty shall in no way prevent members or committees from bringing amendments directly to the Senate for consideration). It is the responsibility of the Chair-Elect to make sure that revisions to the bylaws are accurately communicated to the Information Officer.
2) The Executive Committee of the Executive Council. Membership shall consist of the Chair, the Chair-Elect, the immediate Past Chair, the Secretary, and at least four other members of the Executive Committee. The Chairperson of the Executive Council shall be the Chair of the Senate.
The Executive Council shall be empowered to represent the Senate in all urgent matters that may arise after the last scheduled Senate meeting in the spring and before the first scheduled Senate meeting in the fall. The Executive Council shall prepare annually a Statement of Objectives for the Senate, based on consultations with the Standing Committees and with appropriate administration officers, and shall present the Statement of Objectives for review and approval by the Executive Committee and the Senate at their first meetings in the Fall. Any activities of the Executive Council shall be reported to the Executive Committee and the Senate at the earliest scheduled opportunity.
This committee shall annually review the Bylaws and make appropriate recommendations to the Senate for amendments. It shall also review any revisions suggested.
ARTICLE IV. Officers: Duties, Qualifications, and Resources.
Section 1. The Chair. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Faculty Senate, where he/she shall be bound by the Bylaws and Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised. The Chair shall prepare an Agenda for meetings of the Senate. The Chair shall include as new business at the next regular meeting of the Faculty Senate any items proposed by a Senator in accordance with Article II, Section 3. The Chair shall represent the Faculty and on all occasions and serve as the (be considered) the chief spokesperson of the Faculty Senate and the University Faculty. The Chair shall be the Chair-Elect chosen during the previous year. The Chair shall be granted release time from an appropriate amount of faculty duties as determined in conjunction with his/her supervisors and receive other support such as an assigned graduate assistant for the duration of the term.
In addition to serving as the chair of the Senate, the Chair shall represent the Faculty as a member of the President of the University’s Cabinet and a member of the Academic Sub-Council of the
Section 2. The Chair-Elect. The Chair-Elect of the Faculty Senate shall act as Chair of the Faculty Senate in the absence of the Chair. In the event of death or resignation of the Chair after January of the year of term, the Chair-Elect assumes the office of Chair. If such should occur prior to January of the given term, then a special election of a new Chair-Elect shall be held with the new Chair having the option to be nominated and elected to serve a full term. The Chair-Elect shall be the editor of the Faculty Senate Newsletter or shall appoint a Newsletter editor with the approval of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments. The Chair-Elect shall oversee the timely operation of college or division caucuses and be responsible for managing bylaws changes.
Section 3. Secretary. The Secretary of the Faculty Senate shall send to all Senate members and faculty advance notice of the time and place of all meetings together with an agenda; shall keep minutes of all action taken by the Senate (there will be no verbatim reporting of remarks and discussion, nor will professional titles be recorded); shall send summary of actions of the Senate to all faculty; shall send minutes and necessary supporting documents to all Senate members, department heads, deans and directors; and shall make special reports as requested by the faculty, pursuant to Article 1, Section 2 of these Bylaws. The Secretary of the Senate serves as secretary to the Executive Committee and the Committee on Nominations and Appointments. The Secretary shall be nominated by the Executive Committee subject to approval of the Senate membership to serve a one year term. In the event of a vacancy, the Executive Committee shall name a replacement to serve the remainder of the current term.
Secretary-Elect shall serve in the absence, resignation or death of the Secretary.
Section 4. Parliamentarian. There shall be a Parliamentarian of the Faculty Senate each year to assist in the conduct of the business of the Senate. The duties and functions of the Parliamentarian are
a. to attend all Faculty Senate meetings
b. to advise the Chair on application and interpretation of rules of procedure for the Faculty Senate
c. To offer advice, when requested, to any member desiring help on motions or other parliamentary procedures.
d. Make the Faculty Senate aware of Parliamentary Rules and Regulation pertinent to conflicts, issues and business matters during the process of Senate deliberations.
Parliamentarian-Elect shall serve in the absence, resignation or death of the Parliamentarian.
Members-at-Large (2)
Section 5. Information Officer. There shall be an Information Officer appointed by the Chair of the Faculty Senate each year and approved by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments to manage disseminating information and maintaining Senate archives.
Section 6. Ex-Official Members of the Faculty Senate
Ex-officio members of the Senate shall include the University President and Chief Academic Officer (or their designees).
Section IV Meetings Regular meetings and special meetings
A. Regular Meetings Regular meetings of the University Faculty shall be held each semester of the academic year.
B. Special Meetings Special meetings of the University Faculty shall be held at such times as the President may designate. A petition setting forth a proposed agenda and requesting that a special faculty meeting be called, if signed by not less than one- third of the members of the faculty who are privileged to vote or by the majority of the Faculty Senate, shall be honored by the President, and a faculty meeting called at an appropriate time within a thirty-day period after the receipt of the petition. Also, the chairperson of the Faculty Senate, acting on the vote by the Senate, can request that the President have a called meeting of the faculty.
For special meetings, the faculty should be notified not less than seven days prior to the meeting. In case of emergency, this notification requirement may be waived.
C. Quorum Fifty percent of the members of the faculty who are privileged to vote shall constitute a quorum.
D. The Agenda the agenda for faculty meetings shall be prepared and distributed one week prior to the meeting by the President or by an individual or committee designated by him/her and shall include the following:
1. President’s Business
2. Senate Business
3. Committee Reports
Section V Representation
A. Academic Units Academic units shall mean Academic Enrichment, Advisement, and Orientation; College of Agriculture and Consumer Science; College of Arts and Science; College of Business; College of Education; College of Engineering and Computer Science; College of Health Science; Library; Institute of Government; and School of Nursing.
B. Parliamentary Procedures The parliamentary procedures shall be according to Roberts’ Rules of Order.
ARTICLE II
THE ACADEMIC SENATE
Section I
Section II
The Senate is authorized, subject to the approval of the Chief Academic Officer, the President, and the Board of Regents, to formulate policies regarding the general educational objectives of the University, including those policies and regulations related to the overall general requirements for admission, graduation, and honors, of the degree and certificate programs. Among the matters within the legislative jurisdiction of the senate are
(1) educational policy and philosophy;
(2) instructional programs;
(3) courses and programs of study;
(4) academic admission standards;
(5) graduation requirements;
(6) scholarships and honors;
(7) academic standards for intercollegiate and athletic participation;
(8) access to library and information systems for academic purposes;
(9) evaluate and make recommendations on policies associated with conditions of employment;
(10) evaluate and make recommendations on University-wide minimum criteria for faculty appointment, promotion, and tenure;
(11) Help to create, maintain, and protect the University environment conducive to the richest growth of scholarship, learning, teaching, research, service, and respect for human dignity and rights;
(12) Accept and share responsibility with the administration, staff, and students in all efforts to improve the stature and usefulness of the University;
(13) Afford avenues and procedures whereby communication within the University may flow freely, fully, and systematically;
(14) To provide University faculty with a voice in matters of broader concern to faculty across the State;
(15) Evaluate and make recommendations on policies for the academic use and operation of various academic support functions including the Library, Computer Services, University calendar, and other services or functions;
(16) Be responsible for academic freedom and responsibility at the University;
(17) Be the forum for the formulation of faculty opinion;
(18) Review and approve the Faculty Handbook at
(b) To act as an advisory and consultative body, both through its corporate whole and any of its constituent parts, to the University on any matter that may affect the attainment of the educational objectives of the University. Consultation with Senate officers or committees does not constitute formal approval or action by the Senate.
2. Reports. All actions by the Faculty Senate shall be reported to the faculty by (1) distribution of a summary of actions of the Senate to all faculty, (2) distribution of minutes and necessary supporting documents to all Senate members, with instructions to maintain them on file for faculty reference, (3) reports as requested for special meetings of the faculty. Any action shall be subject to revision or alteration by the entire faculty provided that no rights or acts of third parties shall be affected by such revisions or alterations.
Section III
Part 1. Members: Number, Classification, and Terms of Office. The voting membership of the Faculty Senate is divided into three classes: (A) administrative members, (B) elected faculty members, and (C) alternates, elected by the units that elected the faculty member and sent them to replace faculty senators who cannot be present. The elected faculty members and alternatives shall hold bona fide academic rank in order to be eligible.
Elected Faculty Members: Criteria, Election and Term of Office.
Elected members of the Faculty Senate shall be chosen from those members of the Faculty meeting the following criteria at the time of the election: (1) the holding of full-time or continuing part-time appointment with the rank, or equivalent rank, of instructor, assistant professor, or higher; and (2) the performance of academic duties totaling at least half-time teaching, research, service, or departmental administration. The faculty of each college or division of
(1) Duties of a Faculty Senator:
a. Represent the constituency and the broader interests of the faculty.
b. Attend and participate in Senate meetings on a regular basis.
c. Participate actively in the appropriate College or Division caucus.
d. Communicate and interact regularly with constituents.
e. Maintain active membership on at least one Senate standing committee.
f. Serve on other committees and task forces as needed; participate in Senate retreats, training, and information sessions.
Initial Classification. The regular term of office for elected members shall be three years, but the initial representatives of colleges or divisions having three or more seats shall be classified in respect to the time for which they shall severally hold office by dividing them into three classes, each class consisting of one-third of the elected representatives of each college or division. The representatives of the second class shall be elected for a term of two years. The representatives of the third class shall be elected for a term of three years, in order that the term of office of one class of representative shall expire in each year.
Increases in Apportionment. In case of an increase in the number of elected representatives authorized for any college or division by three or any multiple of three, one-third of the additional representatives provided for shall be elected for the term of one year, one-third of the term of two years, and one-third for the term of three years, in order that each class of representatives shall be increased equally. Thereafter, at each annual election, the successors to the representatives whose terms expire that year shall be elected to hold office for a term of three years. In the event one or two additional elected representatives are authorized for any college division, their terms shall be adjusted to obtain the best distribution by years.
Decreases in Apportionment. In the event of a decrease of the base of representation for any college or division, the decrease in representation shall be made at the next expiration of the term of an elected member.
Vacancies and Proxies. In case of any vacancy in the Faculty Senate through death, resignation, promotion (of a member to a position which would make the person ineligible to be an administrative member), or where a representative ceases to be a member of the faculty electing him/her or is absent on leave for more than one semester or is ineligible for other causes, the unit or college or school thus losing its representative shall select a successor to fill the unexpired term.
A proxy may be appointed by the Senate president during a one-semester leave, when a conflict prevents a Senator from attending for an entire semester, or for called meetings during a summer term. The proxy shall have all of the privileges and power of the absentee member.
Part 2. Meetings. The Faculty Senate shall ordinarily meet on the third Thursdays in September, October, and November during the Fall Semester and February, March, and April during the Spring Semester. The Chair-Elect shall review the calendar one year in advance and adjust meeting dates as necessary. The proposed schedule for the following year shall be presented at the October meeting of the Senate and be published as appropriate. The Chair shall have the authority to schedule the meetings on other dates, with timely notice being given to the Senate. In addition, the Senate shall meet at the call of the Chair of the Senate, or in the Chair’s absence, the Chair-Elect of the Senate or pursuant to a petition signed by one-quarter of the members of the Senate. During the Spring Semester, the third Thursday in January shall be reserved for a called meeting, to be used if deemed necessary by the Chair or Executive Committee. Meetings of the Senate shall be conducted according to Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised unless otherwise provided for in these Bylaws. Faculty, staff, and student observers may speak if recognized by the presiding officer. A Senator wishing to place an item on the Agenda of the Faculty Senate shall submit it to the Chair of the Senate, in the form of a written motion to be debated, before the meeting of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee immediately preceding a regular meeting of the Senate. Such an action does not preclude any Senator from offering a motion from the floor.
Part 3. Quorum. A majority (51%) of the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The affirmative vote of the majority of those members shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or motion unless otherwise stated in these Bylaws.
Part 4. Voting. Voting in the Faculty Senate will be by voice or show of hands unless, in particular instances, the majority present desires a secret ballot. All elections shall be conducted by secret ballot.
A motion to table a motion shall not cut off debate on the original motion until (1) opportunity has been given for at least one person besides the mover of the motion to speak in favor of the original motion and two persons against the original motion; and (2) it shall have been indicated by a show of hands that two-thirds of the members present and voting favor the motion to table.
Part 5. Advance Distribution of Committee Reports. Committee chairpersons shall submit reports containing items requiring Senate deliberation (other than receiving of reports) to the Secretary at least ten days in advance of the Senate meeting during which the report is to be considered. The Secretary must have reports to the Senate at least five days in advance of meetings. If the report is not delivered within this schedule, consideration of the issue will require approval by a show of hands of two-thirds of the members present and voting.
Part 6. Order of Business. At the meetings of the Faculty Senate, the order of business shall be as follows:
a. The meetings shall be called to order by the Chair.
b. Previously distributed minutes of the last meeting shall be
approved or amended.
c. Unfinished business.
d. Report of Special Committees.
e. Report of Standing Committees.
f. New business.
g. Adjournment.
Part 7. Election of Committees. At its regular May meeting, the Faculty Senate shall appoint the members of all committees except the Committee on Nominations and Appointments for one-year terms, or as otherwise specified. Recommendations for committees shall be made by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments, as specified below under Article III, Section 1.
Part 8. Election of Officers. In the Spring Semester of each year, the Faculty Senate shall elect a Chair-Elect, subject to qualifications. Nominees shall provide members within two weeks of the nomination written statements regarding their relevant experiences and proposed contributions as Chair. At the next Senate meeting, nominees shall make brief statements to the Senate and respond to questions. Election shall be by a majority vote of all members of the Faculty Senate taken by a printed mail ballot before the third meeting of the Spring Semester. One nomination for Secretary and Webmaster shall be made by the Executive Committee subject to the approval of the Senate membership.
The Chair-Elect shall be chosen for a one year term from among those members of the Faculty meeting the following criteria at the time of election: (1) the holding of full time appointments with the rank, or equivalent rank, of instructor, assistant professor or higher; (2) the performance of academic duties totaling at least half time teaching, research, service, or departmental administration; and (3) prior service as an elected faculty member of the Faculty Senate within the last five years. In the event of death or resignation of the Chair-Elect or early assumption of the Chair’s office, the Nominating Committee shall present to the next meeting of the Senate a new slate of at least two nominees for another election for Chair-Elect. Senators may write in additional nominees. Election shall be by a majority vote of all members of the Faculty Senate taken by a printed mail ballot before the next meeting of the Senate. The current Chair shall remain in office until a successor is elected.
The term of office for Chair, Chair-Elect, Secretary, and Webmaster shall be for one year to begin on August 1. The Chair-Elect becomes the Chair the following year.
ARTICLE III. Committees.
Section 1. General Aspects of Committees. Committee, subcommittee, and council memberships for a given academic year shall be approved by the Senate at the last Senate meeting of the spring term of the preceding year. Chairpersons of all committees and councils shall be elected senators. Chairpersons may be selected by their committee members or by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments in compliance with bylaw subsections for each committee, subcommittee, or council.
Members shall be nominated in consultation with current committee Chairpersons and through regard for preferences shared by each Senator for personal committee membership. To further communication and collaboration throughout the university, the Chairperson of each committee has the discretion to recommend members who may or may not be elected Senators. The committee on Nominations and Appointments shall approve these members when they are recommended. Most committees shall also have ex-officio members of all standing committees.
Prior to or at the beginning of each academic year, the Chairperson of each committee will meet with the Executive Council to share committee goals for the upcoming year, review the bylaws concerning duties for that committee, and discuss information relevant to that committee.
Section 2. Committee on Nominations and Appointments. Membership shall consist of the chairs of each college or division caucus. Membership shall be for a one- year term to begin in June of each academic year. The President of the Faculty Senate shall be the Chairperson of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments. The Chair shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments.
It shall be the duty of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments to nominate faculty members, and in some cases Chairpersons, to the Faculty Senate for all special and standing committees, subcommittees, and councils except the Undergraduate and Graduate Councils. The nominations shall be made in compliance with Article III, Sections 1 and 3. The Senate Chair shall retain responsibility for all nominations of faculty to administrative committees and other bodies. The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall render a report to the Senate at its regular May meeting of each year and at other times as may be required.
Section 3. Other Committees. Such other committees, standing and special, may be established from time to time. The members of all committees shall hold office for one year from the time of their appointment, unless otherwise specified. Membership of these committees may include any faculty unless Senators are designated, as well as students and staff. The Chair of the Senate is an ex-officio member of all standing committees. The Committees of the Faculty Senate are
A. Appeals Committee. Membership shall consist of 18 tenured faculty members appointed to staggered three- year terms by the Faculty Senate Committee on Nominations and Appointments with the advice and consent of the Faculty Senate. At least one member of the committee must have legal expertise. This committee shall have no ex-officio members, and no member shall be an administrator at the level of department head or above. The Chairperson shall be appointed by the Faculty Senate Committee on Nominations and Appointments.
The functions of the Faculty Senate Appeals Committee are to gather evidence and make recommendations to the Chief Academic Officer of the University for the disposition of cases within its jurisdiction. The Faculty Senate Appeals Committee does not replace the role of faculty and administrators in making employment-related decisions. Instead, it is guided by the aim of maximizing the protection of the principles of academic freedom and due process. In all cases, faculty members are entitled to notice regarding grounds on which administrative action has been taken. All matters before the Faculty Senate Appeals Committee are kept in strict confidence, subject to state open records laws.
The jurisdiction of the Faculty Senate Appeals Committee includes complaints regarding violations of due process and fairness in tenure or promotion decisions, annual performance reviews, and violations of provisions contained in the Faculty Handbook and in collegiate and departmental bylaws.
B. Budget Committee. Membership shall consist of eight faculty members. Ex-officio members shall include the Vice President of Budget and Finance and Vice President for Operations for the University. The committee shall elect the Chairperson for a one-year term.
The duties of the committee are (1) to provide for campus-wide faculty input into the University budgeting process; (2) to encourage the use of faculty expertise in budget matters; and (3) to inform the faculty, through the Senate, concerning budget matters. Both long-range and short-term aspects of its role will receive the committee’s attention, including budget priorities and TBR formulas.
The primary concern of the committee will be policy. The committee is not expected to become involved in detailed and comprehensive investigations necessary as a basis for budget decisions.
C. Development and Alumni Relations Committee. Membership shall consist of five faculty members. Ex-officio members shall include the Vice President for Development, President of the Student Government Association. The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall appoint the Chairperson.
The duties of this committee shall include advice and consultation with university officials concerning alumni programs, alumni relations, and development.
D. Educational Policy Committee. Membership shall consist of six faculty members who have served on the Faculty Senate within the previous three years. These six members will serve two-year staggered terms, and the Committee on Nominations and Appointments will select one who is a Senator as Chairperson.
The Educational Policy Committee will concern itself with the review, citation, and implementation of educational policy at the University, referring appropriate issues to the Graduate and Undergraduate Councils and such subcommittees as it may establish, and making recommendations to the Senate regarding changes in educational policy for approval. Changes will be considered in force after approval by the full Senate.
Instruction with Technology Subcommittee
membership shall consist of eight faculty members
with experience in educational technology that are
appointed to three-year staggered terms by the Committee
on Nominations and Appointments and one undergraduate student and one graduate student selected by the Student Government Association. One of the six faculty appointees shall also be an elected Senator who is serving a consecutive term on the Educational Policy Committee. Other committee members need not be drawn from the Educational Policy Committee and need not be currently serving as Senators; Ex-officio members shall include the chief University officer for outreach and continuing education, the chief University officer for education technology, and the chief University officer for institutional technology and engineering services. The Chairperson shall be elected by the members of the committee and shall serve a two-year term.
Duties of the committee include (1) identify, review, and recommend educational technology policies, (2) represent the Senate and the Educational Policy Committee on key university committees that address instruction with technology, and (3) bring key issues on teaching and learning with technology to the attention of the Senate.
F. Faculty Affairs Committee. Membership shall consist of fifteen faculty members appointed for staggered two-year terms. At least one member of the committee should have a degree in law or in a related discipline. This committee shall have no ex-officio members. The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall appoint the Chairperson.
This committee shall concern itself with the development of criteria and procedures for faculty appointment, promotion, the granting of tenure and discharge for cause, and related faculty concerns that the faculty may choose to present to the committee.
G. Faculty and Staff Benefits Committee. Membership shall consist of ten faculty members with three-year staggered terms. Ex-officio members shall include the Director, Office of Retirement Services, and the Executive Director of Human Resources for the University (or their designees). The Chairperson shall be appointed by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments and should have been an active member of the committee prior to serving as Chairperson.
This committee will examine, clarify, and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate on issues and concern on retirement, leave, faculty welfare, insurance, and fringe benefits; cooperate with committees addressing similar concerns on other higher education campuses in Tennessee; and receive representation from and provide representation to any other Faculty Senate or University task force or committee addressing issues directly related to faculty and staff benefits. When appropriate, the Committee will cooperate with other Faculty Senate committees on base salary issues that are related to faculty and staff benefits.
H. Faculty Recognition and Awards Committee
This Committee shall selection candidates for recognition and awards at the Annual Senate Faculty Recognition and Awards Banquet. Faculty shall be recognized in the areas of the arts, humanities, culture, social science, science and technology, research, publications, teaching, professional leadership, civic engagement and public services.
H. Information Technology Committee. Membership shall consist of six faculty members with experience in educational and/or information technology and research that are appointed to three-year staggered terms by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments, one undergraduate student selected by the Student Government Association, and one graduate student selected by the Graduate Student body. The Chairperson shall be elected by the members of the committee and shall serve a two-year term.
Voting ex-officio members shall be the chief information officer of the Office of Information Technology. Non-voting ex-officio members shall include other leaders of the Office of Information Technology, specifically the executives responsible for engineering services and customer technology support, and also a representative of University outreach distance education.
Duties of the committee include (1) identifying, reviewing, and recommending information technology policies, (2) representing the Senate on key university committees that address information technology, and (3) reporting to the Senate on key information technology issues and developments that affect the campus.
I. Library Committee. Membership shall consist of one faculty representative from each college or school, except in the case of Arts and Sciences that shall be represented by three faculty members, one from each of the major divisions of the college. One student representative may be selected by the Graduate Student body and one by the Undergraduate Student government body. Ex-officio members shall include the Director of Libraries and the Associate Director of Libraries (or designees). The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall select the Chairperson.
The Committee's duties include working with the Dean of Libraries to ensure that library services and collections meet the teaching, research, and public service needs of the University community. Particular focus shall be placed on library policies and procedures that facilitate use of resources and technology.
J. Nominating Committee. Membership shall consist of five members of the Senate who serve a one-year term and are appointed by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments. None of the members shall be a member of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments. No ex-officio members will be appointed. The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall appoint the Chairperson. This committee shall nominate two candidates for the Chair-Elect. The committee shall solicit nominations from the University Faculty at large and shall prepare a ballot that includes biographical information on all candidates.
K. Professional Development Committee. The membership of the Committee shall consist of a minimum of nine faculty members serving one-year terms and representing the diversity of programs on the campus. Ex-officio members shall be the chief campus academic officer with primary responsibility for academic affairs and the chief campus academic officer with primary responsibility for graduate education (or their designees). The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall appoint the Chairperson.
Duties of the committee shall include (1) suggesting administrative actions that would permit and encourage professional development; monitoring and evaluating the resulting actions and programs; (2) initiating activities to facilitate the development of faculty members as professionals; monitoring and evaluating these activities and resulting programs; (3) developing a policy of professional leave (sabbatical leave) and monitoring the resulting program; (4) enhancing and expanding international teaching and research opportunities for faculty, and strengthening opportunities for participation of scholars and artists from outside the United States.
L. Research & Publications Committee. Membership shall consist of no fewer than 15 appointed faculty or faculty/administrator representatives chosen by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments for staggered three-year terms. In addition, there shall be three graduate students selected by the Graduate Student body. Ex-officio members shall include the chief academic officer responsible for research, the Associate Vice President of the Office of Research, the Director of Libraries, and college- level administrators with responsibility for research (or their designees). The composition of the Committee shall reflect balance among externally funded and institutionally supported research, between research and other creative activity, and between disciplines. Members must be actively engaged in research or other creative activity and must (1) hold full-time or continuing part-time appointments with the rank of assistant professor or higher and (2) perform academic duties consisting of at least half-time teaching, research, service or departmental administration. Ex-officio members shall be the Dean of Libraries and up to two additional designees. The Committee members shall elect the Chairperson for a one-year term. The Chairperson must have served at least one year on the Committee prior to election. The members of the Committee may elect co- or vice Chairpersons.
The Research Committee acts as an advisory body to the chief university officer for research. The Committee shall promote excellence in research and other creative activity through the study and recommendation of policies. The Committee shall sponsor programs to communicate an understanding and appreciation of research and other creative activity to the University community and the community at large. The Committee co-administers some programs of the Office of Research as requested by the chief university officer for research. Areas of concern include research incentives and support; intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary research activities; compliance with State, Federal, and University regulations governing the conduct of research; rights to and commercialization of intellectual property, the broad range of research infrastructure including all forms of telecommunications and computational support; and other appropriate matters. Further, the Research Committee shall concern itself with institutional policy on research grants and funding, with copyright and patent policy, with protection of investigators, with protection of human subjects of research, with protection of experimental animals, and with policies affecting compliance of research activities with environmental and occupational health and safety requirements. Further, the Research Committee shall encourage publications and the development of specialized research facilities for intercollegiate and/or interdisciplinary uses and with any other policies pertaining to research programs.
M. Student Affairs Committee Membership shall consist of eight appointed faculty members serving one year terms. The student members of this committee will consist of one graduate and one undergraduate student selected by the governing student body. These students shall act as representatives in matters that concern the student body as a whole.
The Student Affairs Committee exists to address all pertinent matters concerning the student body. These affairs include but are not limited to student and faculty relations as well as student activities that are brought to the Senate.
Section 4. Committee Vacancies. In the event of a vacancy in faculty membership of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments or of any committee, the Faculty Senate shall fill such vacancy by an election at the next regular meeting. The new members shall be elected for the unexpired portion of the term vacated.
Section 5. Committee Reports. Each standing or special committee shall submit a written report to the Senate at least once during the academic year.
ARTICLE IV.
ARTICLE V. Amendments.
Section 1. Constitution and Bylaws. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by the Faculty Senate or by petition to the Chair of Faculty signed by five percent (5%) or approximately ninety members (90) members of the General Faculty, whichever is smaller. The Chair of the Faculty shall send copies of such proposals to all members of the General Faculty and shall convene a special meeting of the General Faculty to consider them for not fewer than twenty days after distribution. The proposed amendment(s) shall then be submitted to a mail ballot of the General Faculty. A two-thirds majority of the votes cast is necessary for adoption. Immediately upon adoption, the amendment shall be transmitted to the President of the University, who will inform the Board of Regents, and shall take effect upon affirmation by that body.
Ratification
This Constitution and Bylaws shall be submitted to the General Faculty for approval by ballot (electronic, mail or voting machine). On approval, it shall be forwarded to the President of the University. The Constitution and Bylaws will become effective when approved by the Tennessee Board of Board of Regents.