3.1.4 Academic Governance

The University Academic Senate (UAS) is the highest faculty governance body. It has the authority to deal with any academic issue or faculty concern. It makes recommendations to the Provost and/or the President. Senate membership consists of faculty members elected from and by the faculty of each College and the University Libraries, and students selected by the Student Senate, including the President of the Student Senate. The Provost and designees and the Deans (of any rank) are members ex officio, non-voting.

UAS Faculty Membership: Faculty membership for each college and the library will be determined by the following formula:

1-19 faculty = 1 member
20-39 faculty = 2 members
40-59 faculty = 3 members
60-79 faculty = 4 members
80-99 faculty = 5 members, and so forth

Terms of office are three years, staggered for the University Libraries and Colleges with more than one member. Representatives must have tenure/tenure-track faculty status and will only represent one College. Formal joint appointment equivalency can be counted toward tenure/tenure-track representation totals. Tenure/tenure-track faculty will be counted on the first class day of the winter semester of the preceding academic year.

UAS Student Membership: The Student Senate selects five members, including the Student Senate President and four representatives, one of which shall be a graduate student, in accordance with written Student Senate constitution and bylaws. Student members serve one-year terms.

UAS Administrative Membership: The Provost and designees, and the Deans (of any rank) are members ex-officio, non-voting.

The Executive Committee of the Senate (ECS) serves as the clearing house for matters to be presented to the UAS. Such matters are discussed by ECS before its recommendations are made to the Senate. ECS membership consists of faculty senators from academic colleges and the library, the Student Senate President or designee, and the Provost and designees, ex officio, non-voting.

ECS Faculty Membership: Faculty membership of the ECS consists of seven members from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, two from the Seidman College of Business, one from each of the remaining Colleges, and one from the University libraries. The term of office is three years beginning at the end of the winter semester. ECS members will also serve as UAS senators for their elected term. Terms of those from colleges with two or more members are staggered.

ECS Student Membership: The President of the Student Senate or designee serves on ECS during his/her term of office.

ECS Administration Membership: The Provost and designees are members ex officio, non-voting.

ECS Additional Criteria: If the number of representatives from professional colleges increase, the number of representatives from CLAS will increase to match this number, based on a 50% principle (Brooks College representative is counted in CLAS membership).

Standing committees that report to the Senate via ECS include the Academic Policies and Standards Committee, Faculty Facilities Planning Advisory Committee, Faculty Personnel Policy Committee, Faculty Salary and Budget Committee, Pew Faculty Teaching Learning Center Advisory Committee, General Education Committee, Graduate Council, Equity and Inclusion Committee; University Assessment Committee, and University Curriculum Committee. The composition of each committee is described in the UAS Bylaws and always includes elected college and library representatives.

Copies of agendas and approved minutes of all meetings are posted on the Faculty Governance website. Agendas are sent out electronically to committee members one week prior to meetings, and minutes are usually posted and distributed electronically within two weeks following a meeting. Faculty members may petition for a referendum if there is strong opposition to an action taken by UAS.

Details regarding membership, responsibilities, and rules of procedures are given in the UAS By-laws which are incorporated into the Faculty Handbook.