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CONSITUTION Table of Contents: Click on Section to Access It ARTICLE V. UNIVERSITY COMMITTEES ARTICLE I. NAME AND PURPOSE The name of this body shall be the Faculty Senate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. As the only authorized, representative body of the faculty under the administration of the University of Louisiana Lafayette, this Faculty Senate is constituted to promote and implement, consistent with the purposes of the University, maximum participation of the faculty in university governance. In this capacity, the Faculty Senate will assist the administration in such matters of particular faculty concern as academic standards, student affairs, faculty welfare, selection of university-wide administrators, and membership of specified university committees. The Faculty Senate will advise the administration in the formulation and execution of policy with respect to the broadly defined goals, priorities, and financial needs of the University. The Faculty Senate will also communicate faculty interests to the public and public officials as deemed appropriate in furthering the purpose of the organization. ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP Section 1. Faculty Units For the purposes of the Faculty Senate, the faculty units of the University are taken to be the College of Applied Life Sciences, the College of Arts, the College of Business Administration, the College of Education, the College of Engineering, the College of Liberal Arts, the Library, the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions, and the College of Sciences. Faculty members of the College of General Studies are considered members of the College of Education for purposes of representation in the Senate. Section 2. Members The Faculty Senate shall be constituted as follows: A. Permanent Members. All faculty members with the rank of professor shall be permanent members. Appointment or promotion to the rank of professor confers permanent membership in the Faculty Senate. Permanent members shall be polled prior to the first meeting of each academic year to determine if they wish to be active members (one who states the intention to attend at least one-half of the regularly scheduled Senate meetings) during the year. B. Elective Members. (1) Elective members of the Faculty Senate must be associate professors, assistant professors, or instructors of the general faculty who have completed no less than one academic year of full-time employment at the University at the time of taking office. (2) Associate professors shall be elected in the proportion of one member per five associate professors or fraction thereof in each faculty unit of the University. Associate professor Senate members shall be elected for three-year terms and shall take office at the first meeting following election. (3) Assistant professors and instructors shall be elected in the proportion of one member per ten assistant professors and instructors or fraction thereof in each faculty unit of the University. Such members shall be elected for two-year terms and shall take office at the first meeting following election. Section 3. Election of members. A. Elections shall be held at least two weeks prior to the first Senate meeting of each academic year. In an election to choose elective Senate members, the following persons shall be eligible to vote: (1) Full-time associate professors, who shall choose representatives of the associate professor rank from the faculty of their respective faculty units. (2) Full-time assistant professors and instructors, who shall choose representatives of these ranks from among the faculty of their respective faculty units. B. Prior to the elections, and after the commencement of the academic year, each faculty member eligible for elective membership shall be polled to determine if he or she is willing to serve in the Senate as an active member (one who states the intention of attending at least one-half of the regularly scheduled Senate meetings). Only the names of those who indicate such a willingness shall appear on the election ballot. C. The Senate Secretary shall notify each faculty unit of the number of vacancies to be filled by election. Each faculty unit shall fill its vacancies through election by secret preferential ballot. Two types of ballots are required-- one for associate professor elections and one for assistant 3 professor and instuctor elections. D. All academic departments shall have the right to ask for Senate representation. Following the annual Senate elections, departments without either elective representation or active participation by a full professor from the department may petition the Executive Officer for relief. If a department is not represented, the Executive Officer shall have the authority to appoint a representative from the eligible elective ranks of the department making the petition. The term of appointment shall be for one (1) year. In no case shall the Executive Officer appoint more than one such representative per department. These appointments shall supersede the representation formula in Article II. The appointments shall conform to the membership eligibility requirements as set forth in Article II. E. The Secretary of the Senate, with the aid of the deans and directors of the faculty units, shall be responsible for ascertaining that the representation called for in this article is maintained. F. Election irregularities or challenges shall be referred to the Faculty Senate for arbitration. Section 4. Vacancies The Executive Officer of the Senate shall fill the unexpired term of an elective Senator by appointment of a faculty member of the faculty unit in which the vacancy occurs. ARTICLE III. OFFICERS Section 1. President The President the Faculty Senate shall be the President of the University of Louisiana Lafayette, who shall preside at all meetings of the Faculty Senate except when delegating that authority to the Executive Officer. Section 2. Executive Officer The Executive Officer shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President or when delegated the presiding authority by the President. Between meetings of the Senate, the Executive Officer shall serve the Senate as its chief administrative officer. The Executive Officer or an appointed representative shall enter into whatever negotiations or take whatever action is possible to implement the resolutions of the Senate and shall report the outcome of these activities to the Senate. Section 3. Secretary The Secretary shall keep all records, reports, and minutes of the meetings. One week prior to each meeting, the Secretary shall distribute to each member the minutes of the previous meeting and the new agenda. The Secretary shall also distribute the minutes of each meeting to each Department Head, the Editor of the Faculty Forum, and, upon written request, to any other faculty members or officer of the administration. The Secretary will keep the constitution and update it as directed by the Senate. Section 4. Election of Officers A. The Executive Officer shall be elected for a two-year term by the entire membership of the Faculty Senate from among members who hold an academic rank above that of assistant professor. If the elected Executive Officer's term in the Senate should expire during the Executive Officer's term of office, membership in the Senate shall be extended to coincide with the term of office without abrogating the right of the Executive Officer's faculty unit to reelect the Executive Officer to Senate membership or to elect a replacement. B. The Secretary shall be elected for a two-year term by the entire membership of the Senate. If the Secretary's membership in the Senate should expire during the Secretary's term of office, membership in the Senate shall be extended to coincide with the term of office without abrogating the right of the Secretary's faculty unit to reelect the Secretary to Senate membership or to elect a replacement. C. At the January meeting of the Senate in each odd-numbered year, a nominating committee of five members shall be elected. It shall be the duty of this committee to prepare a slate of at least two candidates from different faculty units for the position of Executive Officer and at least two candidates from different faculty units for the position of Secretary. The slate shall be presented to the Senate at the April meeting, and, after other nominations have been called for from the floor, the vote shall be taken by secret ballot. The newly elected officers shall assume their duties immediately after the adjournment of the April meeting. Section 5. Vacancies A Special Electoral Committee to elect an eligible member of the Senate to fill the unexpired term of the Executive Officer or Secretary shall be composed of the chairpersons of the permanent Senate committees. Upon notification of a vacancy in the office of Executive Officer or 5 Secretary, the chairperson of the Committee on Committees shall forthwith convene the Special Electoral Committee and shall preside. ARTICLE IV. SENATE COMMITTEES Section 1. Committees A. The following shall be the permanent committees of the Senate: the Committee on Committees, the Ways and Means Committee, the Academic Planning and Development Committee, the Governmental Concerns Committee, the Faculty Senate-University Council Committee, and the Faculty Senate-Faculty Advisory Council Committee. B. Special committees are temporary committees to serve the Senate in matters of a special nature or in any other way desired by the Senate for information or action. Such committees and their chairpersons shall be appointed by the Executive Officer. These special committees shall be dissolved immediately upon completion of their charge. Section 2. Committee on Committees A. In the event of a vacancy on a permanent Senate committee, the Committee on Committees shall present to the Senators of the unrepresented faculty unit at least two candidates from the respective unit for election to the committee. The Committee on Committees shall prepare slates of nominees for membership on certain University committees as specified in Article V of this constitution and for membership on other University committees as requested by the President. B. The Committee on Committees shall consist of one permanent member of the Senate from each faculty unit and three additional members from the elective members of the Senate. Permanent members shall be elected by the permanent members of the respective faculty units and shall serve three-year staggered terms. Elective members shall be elected by the elective members of the Senate and shall serve one-year terms. No member of the Committee on Committees may serve on another permanent committee of the Senate. C. The chairperson shall be elected by the Committee from among those permanent members who have served on the committee at least one year. Section 3. Ways and Means Committee A. The Ways and Means Committee of the Senate shall serve the Senate as liaison committee to University committees. Its function is that of mediator in differences of opinion in policy between the Senate and the University committees. It shall present to the Senate recommendations for solutions of policy differences. Twice each year (at the January and April meetings) the committee shall report to the Senate on the status of University actions in response to resolutions passed by the Senate during the previous half year or, when appropriate, during the previous year. The committee shall also be assigned those tasks which the Executive Officer deems advisable. B. The committee shall consist of one Senate member from each academic unit. Members shall be elected by the Senators from the respective unit. Members shall serve staggered three-year terms. C. The chairperson shall be elected by committee members from among those members who have served on the committee for at least one year. Section 4. Academic Planning and Development Committee A. The Academic Planning and Development Committee shall present to the Senate for recommendation to the President plans for the development of the academic stature, the areas of emphasis, and the direction of the University. These plans should include immediate goals as well as long-range goals. B. The committee shall consist of one member from each academic unit. Members shall be elected by the Senators from the respective unit. Members shall serve staggered three-year terms. In addition, the Director of Faculty Development and Academic Planning shall serve as a permanent member of the committee; in the event of a vacancy in the position, the Vice President for Academic Affairs shall serve until a new director has assumed office. No member of the Academic Planning and Development Committee shall serve on another permanent committee of the Senate. C. The chairperson shall be elected by the committee from among those members who have served on the committee for at least one year. Section 5. Governmental Concerns Committee A. The Governmental Concerns Committee shall call to the attention of the Senate issues pending before governmental bodies which affect higher education and shall furnish the Senate with information necessary to understanding such issues. B. The committee shall consist of one member from each faculty unit. Members shall be elected by the Senators from the respective unit and shall serve staggered three- year terms. C. The chairperson shall be elected by the committee from among its members. Section 6. Faculty Senate-University Council Committee A. The Faculty Senate-University Council Committee shall meet with the University Council in order to candidly discuss matters of University and faculty concern. Such meetings will not determine University policy nor shall they undermine the regular processes through which the faculty has input into University affairs. The meetings shall be designed to complement the input through existing channels and to provide an exchange of ideas on broad areas of concern. The committee shall meet whenever either group feels that such a meeting would be beneficial. B. The committee shall consist of the Executive Officer, the Secretary, the Senate Representative and the Alternate Representative to the Faculty Advisory Council of the University of Louisiana System Board of Trustees, the Editor of the Faculty Forum, and two members-at-large from different faculty units not represented by the members designated above. The members-at-large shall be elected by the Senate as soon as possible after the election of Senators in September of each odd-numbered year from a slate of eligible nominees prepared by the Committee on Committees; members-at-large serve two-year terms. C. The Executive Officer shall chair the comittee and shall report to the Senate on each meeting of the committee. Whenever possible, the Executive Officer will inform the Senate in advance of the main topics to be discussed at future meetings. Section 7. Faculty Senate-Faculty Advisory Council Committee A. The Faculty Senate-Faculty Advisory Council Committee 8 shall represent the Senate at the Faculty Advisory Council of the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors and shall report to the Senate on the activities of the Council. B. The committee shall consist of two members. One of the members shall be the Senate's official representative to the Council; the other, the alternative representative. The representative shall serve a two-year term in that capacity, at the end of which period the alternate shall become the representative. Thus membership on the committee is for a total term of four years. The alternate representative shall be elected by the Senate at the April meeting of each odd-numbered year from a slate of nominees prepared by the Committee on Committees and take office at the beginning of September. ARTICLE V. UNIVERSITY COMMITTEES Section 1. Senate Interest A. The Faculty Senate has a special interest in the University committees listed in this article and shall therefore take part in selecting their membership. Annually the Committee on Committees shall prepare a slate of nominees for this purpose and shall submit it to the Senate for approval. The slate for each committee shall contain twice as many names as there are vacancies on the committee. Following Senate approval, the slate of nominees shall be forwarded to the President, by the end of April. The President shall make the appointments from the slate of nominees provided. B. The chairperson of each of these committees shall be appointed by the President from the committee membership for the coming year. C. Each committee shall meet regularly as required in the performance of its duties. At its first meeting each academic year, each committee shall, in concert with the administration, review its duties and responsibilities and record them with the Secretary of the Senate, who shall then distribute the statement to the members of the Senate. Each of these committees shall, at the April meeting of the Senate, present a comprehensive report of its activities during the previous calendar year. Section 2. Curriculum Committee A. The Curriculum Committee shall coordinate the efforts of the several departments and faculty units in implementing the philosophy and objectives of the University with respect to the curriculum. B. The membership shall consist of one faculty member from each faculty unit appointed by the President for staggered three-year terms and three upperclass undergraduates (junior or senior classification) with a grade point average of at least 3.2 selected by the Student Government Association. C. The Curriculum Committee shall normally meet once a month during the academic year and at such other times as required in the performance of its duties. Section 3. Faculty Grievance Committee A. The Faculty Grievance Committee has as its primary purpose the provision of a fair investigation of a faculty grievance for the purpose of ascertaining the facts of the complaint and making a recommendation to the President. Also, the committee shall hold a preliminary hearing when charges have been brought by a University Administrator against a faculty member which might result in dismissal or any other major sanction. The committee shall attempt to effect a mutual settlement and, failing that, shall recommend to the Academic Vice President whether or not sufficient reasons exist for a formal hearing. B. The membership shall consist of one faculty member from each faculty unit appointed by the President for staggered three-year terms. C. In any given academic year if cases have not reached resolution the chairperson shall continue to serve as chairperson with regard to such cases until resolution has been achieved, even if that person has not been reappointed for the coming academic year. Section 4. Faculty Benefits and Welfare Committee A. The Faculty Benefits and Welfare Committee shall study and make recommendations with regard to faculty retirement, insurance, other fringe benefits, safety, health, and other matters relating to faculty welfare. B. The membership shall consist of one faculty member from each faculty unit appointed by the President for staggered three-year terms, plus the chair of the University Insurance Committee (who shall be an ex officio member). Section 5. Library Committee A. The Library Committee shall serve as an advisory body to the Director of Libraries especially in regard to the establishment of policy in all matters affecting the usefulness and overall operation of the library. B. The membership shall consist of one faculty member from each faculty unit appointed by the President for staggered three-year terms, two undergraduates selected by the Student Government Association, and one graduate student selected by the Graduate Student Organization. Section 6. Committee on Academic Affairs and Standards A. The Committee on Academic Affairs and Standards shall initiate and consider recommendations to the administration concerning the academic standards of the University, study regulations adopted by the various agencies which affect the academic policies of the University and bring them into conformity with such regulations, hear routine appeals for waiver of academic regulations in cases of individual students, and act as a final court of appeal in cases concerning accusations of unfair and capricious grading. B. The membership shall consist of: (1) One faculty member from each faculty unit, appointed by the President for staggered three-year terms; (2) One student member from each faculty unit, appointed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs on the recommendation of the Student Government Association; (3) Three faculty or staff members appointed by the President; (4) The undergraduate deans and directors, ex officio; (5) The Registrar, ex officio, and serving as the secretary to the committee; (6) The Director of Academic Planning and Faculty Development, ex officio; and (7) The Vice President for Academic Affairs, ex officio. Section 7. Parking Planning A. The purpose of the Parking Planning Committee is to review and make recommendations to change regulations in the "Traffic Code," to serve as an advisory board for any changes in the University Parking Plan, and to review any request for changes to the "Traffic Code." B. The membership shall consist of eleven members: four regular faculty or staff members appointed by the President, two students appointed by the President, and two faculty or staff and three students recommended by the SGA President to the President of the University. Faculty will be appointed to staggered four-year terms. The President will select the committee chair. C. The Director of Parking and Transit and Identification Systems will serve as an ex officio chair of the committee. Section 8. Student Evaluation of Instruction A. The purpose of the Student Evaluation of Instruction Committee is to provide effective and efficient means for periodic evaluation of instruction by students of the University. Primarily, the committee is concerned with the review and revision, when necessary, of the evaluation form, but can make recommendations for changes in the mechanism of the student evaluation such as who should review the evaluation, when they should be done, etc. B. The membership shall consist of one faculty member from each faculty unit appointed by the President for staggered three-year terms and one student selected by the Student Government Association. ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS Section 1. Regular Meetings A regular meeting of the Senate shall be held each month of the year from September through April, with the exception of December; meetings shall be held at the hour and place designated by the Executive Officer. Before the September meeting of each academic year, the Executive Officer shall prepare a schedule of tentative dates for the regular meetings of that year. This schedule shall be included on the agenda circulated before the September meeting and shall become 12 effective after it is accepted by a majority vote of those voting at the September meeting. Section 2. Special Meetings Special meetings of the Senate shall be called by the Senate Secretary (a) at the direction of the President or the Executive Officer, (b) on the order of the Senate, or (c) on the written request of ten per cent of the members of the Senate. Section 3. Quorum One-quarter of the active membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of the Senate. Section 4. Order of Business The order of business to be followed at the meetings of the Senate shall be as follows: A. Call to Order B. Approval of Published Minutes C. Report of Executive Officer D. Reports of Senate Committees (1) Permanent Committees (2) Special Committees E. Reports of University Committees F. Unfinished Business G. New Business H. Adjournment Section 5. Parliamentary Authority. The conduct of Senate business shall be according to the procedures outlined in the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised unless otherwise provided for in this constitution. Section 6. Voting Voting in the following cases shall be by secret written ballot: when requested by at least fifteen members, when requested by the President or the Executive Officer, when two or more members have been nominated for the same position, when the existence or composition of a Senate committee is involved. Voting in other situations shall be by voice or show of hands. The President and the Executive Officer, being members of the Senate, may vote on all measures. Section 7. Visitors The President or the Executive Officer may invite any person to attend a meeting of the Senate. Such guests shall have the privilege of the floor but shall not have the right to vote. Faculty members who are not members of the Senate may attend any meetings but shall not have voice unless invited by the President or Executive Officer; they shall not have the right to vote. ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS Section 1. Initiation Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by any member of the Senate. Section 2. Procedure A proposed amendment must be submitted in writing to the Senate at a regular meeting. Section 3. Action The proposed amendment shall not be acted upon until the next regular meeing of the Senate, and then only if all members have been sent the text of the proposed amendment and special notification that action may be taken at the next meeting. The Secretary shall send this information to all members at least one week prior to the meeting. Section 4. Adoption Amendments may be adopted only by action taken at a regular meeting by at least a two-thirds majority of those present and voting. Revised and Adopted: October 1987 Amended: March 1992 Amended: March and April 1995 Amended: February 1997 Amended: April 1998 Amended: February 1999 Amended: November 1999 |