Revisions
Presented to the Faculty Senate on March 19, 2003 for
Consideration
Purpose
The Faculty Senate created the Senate Restructuring
Task Force to examine alternatives to the current Faculty
Senate structure. After considering other models used
in other universities and identifying the needs and
interests of the WCU faculty, including the current
Faculty Senate, over a multi-year period, the Senate
Restructuring Task Force determined the following goals:
1. The attention of the Faculty Senate should be on
those governance issues that impact all faculty and
exist at the institutional level. Hence, while college,
departmental, and/or discipline frames of reference
will be relevant and contribute to the quality of decision
making, the dialogue of the Senate should invariably
keep the best interest of Western Carolina University
at heart at all times.
2. The Senate should focus its attention on those faculty
domains (curriculum, degree requirements, instructional
standards, and grading criteria) defined as faculty
domains by The Code: Board of Governors, The University
of North Carolina as well as other areas affecting faculty
concerns and responsibilities in order to provide a
strong and clear voice to the Chancellor.
3. The Senate is to be the forum where the faculty conversations
and deep concerns expressed in our halls and offices
are addressed. These range from matters that impact
faculty on a day-to-day basis to issues that will impact
Western Carolina University faculties in the future.
4. The membership of the Faculty Senate should be limited
to the Chancellor or a designee and faculty representatives
from across campus in order to have a clear faculty
voice.
5. The Senate should have a structure that will allow
a voice, a vote, and influence on issues directly related
to University-level domains of the faculty.
6. The Senate should limit the number of councils and
standing committees to an essential few that deal directly
with faculty domains.
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Recommendation and Motion
I. The members of the Faculty Senate shall consist of
the Chancellor or a designee, two senators from each
College and the Library, plus one senator for the first
20 faculty members and an additional senator for each
additional 20 members or major fraction thereof (except
that no College shall have a majority of senators),
the Chair of the Faculty, the Vice Chair, and the Secretary.
II. Representatives on the Faculty Senate will be elected
for a three year term. Representation from each College
and the Library will be determined by the College or
Library through election procedures specified in their
by-laws.
CONECC will oversee the election process.
III. The Senate will establish a Senate Planning Team
that will replace the former Senate Steering Committee.
It will determine the agenda of all Faculty Senate meetings
and activities.
Membership: Planning team members are the Chair of the
Faculty, Vice Chair, Secretary, Council Chairs, and
Chairs of Task Forces. The Chair of the Faculty is the
team facilitator.
Purposes: The Planning Team
1. serves as a conduit from the General Faculty to the
Faculty Senate
2. sets the monthly Senate agenda based on faculty input
3. develops a broad perspective and uncovers relevant
background information
4. consults with administration
5. receives administrative suggestions for agenda items
6. issues invitations to appropriate administrators
and/or experts to upcoming Senate meetings.
Cycle for setting Senate agendas:
1. The annual Senate agenda is developed through faculty
dialogue in General Faculty assemblies and meetings.
General Faculty meetings for this purpose are held at
least twice a year.
2. Senate meetings are held each month. (Future agenda
items are sometimes suggested in the Senate.)
3. One week after each Senate meeting, the Planning
Team meets to construct the next agenda.
4. One week later the Planning Teams discusses the agenda
with the Chancellor or a designee and appropriate administrators
and then issues invitations to the Senate meetings.
5. One week later the agenda is finalized and disseminated
to the senators.
6. One week later the Senate meets, and the cycle starts
over. IV. Officers of the Faculty
Senate shall consist of the Chair of the Faculty, elected
for a two-year term; the Vice Chair, elected for a two-year
term; and the Secretary, elected for a three-year term.
V. The Chair of the Faculty will continue to execute
the duties currently described in the Faculty Handbook.
In addition the Chair of the Faculty will be designated
as a delegate to the UNC General Faculty Assembly along
with the other delegates.
VI. The Vice Chair will execute functions as designated
by the Chair of the Faculty and will be an ex-officio
member of the Council on Curriculum and Academic Issues.
The Vice Chair may serve two years as Vice Chair and
two years as Chair of the Faculty.
VII. The Councils of the Senate shall consist
of the following:
Academic Policy and Review Council
i. Domains & Responsibilities:
* Academic Issues in general* Undergraduate, graduate,
and non-degree curriculum planning and review including:
* Establishment of academic program/major or certification
program or minor or concentration within an existing
major.
* Consolidation of existing programs/majors.
* Substantive revision or curricular modification of
program or major extension of academic program/major
to off-campus site.
* Restructuring of academic administrative unit.
* Change of title of academic program, major, minor,
concentration, or academic administrative unit.
* Changes in admission, graduation, or retention standards.
* Program review: inactivation, reactivation, and termination
of existing academic program.
* Outcomes assessment.
ii. Meetings
* Monthly meetings (8) during the academic year
* The Chair of the Council has discretion in calling
additional meetings.
iii. Prior consultation with Administration monthly
to include:
* Faculty representatives: Chair of the Council, Vice
Chair, Secretary, and Council Heads
* Administrative representatives: Chancellor, VCAA,
Deans (4) of Academic Colleges
iv. Instructional Issues:
New or deleted courses will continue to be approved
by department and college only, then for information
only to Faculty Senate.
v. Structure & Composition
* 2 senators per undergraduate college (8)
* Faculty representatives of college curriculum committees
(4)* 1 library faculty member
* 1 faculty member of Graduate Council
* 1 faculty member of the Teacher Education Council
* 1 faculty member of the Non-credit Education Council
* Ex-officio: Vice Chair of Faculty
* Curriculum Policy and Review Council Chair - elected
from the council members each spring by previous council
members
* Standing Committees:
* Liberal Studies, chaired by a Curriculum Policy and
Review Council member.
* Head Librarianís Faculty Advisory Committee
- Chair will report to Curriculum Policy and Review
Council once per semester.
* Faculty Center Advisor Committee-Chair will report
to Curriculum Policy and Review Council once per semester.
* All other committees will be ad hoc.
b. Collegial Review Council
i. Domain: Annual Faculty Evaluation, Tenure Promotion
and Reappointment, and Post Tenure Review
ii. Structure & Composition
* 4 senators, one from each college
* 4 faculty representatives, one from each of the 4
college TPR committees.
* 4 faculty representatives, one from each collegeís
departmental TPR committees, to be from a department
other than the one represented by the college TPR representative.
* 1 faculty representative from the library TPR committee.
* Chair will be elected from the council members each
spring by members of the council.
c. Council on Faculty Affairs
i. Domain: the welfare and development of the faculty
ii. Structure & Composition
* 4 senators, one from each college,
* 4 faculty representatives, one from each collegeís
Deanís Advisory Committee.
* 1 faculty representative from the University Librarianís
Advisory Committee (a committee of the Library Faculty).
* 4 faculty representatives, elected at large:
* One non-tenure track, full-time
* One part time
* Two tenure or tenure-track |
