3.04 Bylaws of the Faculty Senate
These bylaws are written by authority of Article II, Section 9.3, of the faculty constitution and under the provisions of Article II. Where the bylaws are in conflict, the constitution will govern.
ARTICLE I Meetings
Section 1. Unless otherwise provided for by Faculty Senate action, procedural questions shall be resolved in accordance with the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order.
Section 2. The number of meetings, dates of meetings, and announcement of meetings shall conform to the provisions of Article II, Section 7, of the faculty constitution.
Section 3. The agenda for each meeting shall be prepared by the Senate Planning Team and sent to each senator together with the meeting notice. 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. Agenda items may be suggested in the Senate. Senate meetings are held each month. One week after each Senate meeting, the Planning Team meets to construct the next agenda. One week later the Planning Team discusses the agenda with the Chancellor or a designee and appropriate administrators and then issues invitations to the Senate meetings. One week later the agenda is finalized and disseminated to the senators. One week later the Senate meets.
Section 4. Minutes of meetings shall be prepared and preserved by the secretary. Copies of the minutes shall be prepared and distributed to senators and others as directed by the Senate in a timely fashion.
Section 5. Any senator absent from any meeting of the Faculty Senate (for official or other reasons valid to the Chair of the Faculty Senate), is allowed to designate another senator as proxy, and a senator so designated can cast the vote of the absent senator. The Chair of the Faculty Senate shall be notified in writing prior to each session of the Faculty Senate of such an arrangement.
ARTICLE II Committees, Councils and other Faculty Groups
Section 1. Senate Planning Team
II.1.1 The Senate Planning Team
The Senate Planning Team serves as a conduit from the General Faculty to the Faculty Senate. The Senate Planning Team sets the monthly Senate agenda based on faculty input, develops a broad perspective and uncovers relevant background information, consults with administration, receives administrative suggestions for agenda items, and issues invitations to appropriate administrators and/or experts to upcoming Senate meetings.
II.1.2 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. The Senate will elect senators at large as members of the Senate Planning Team as needed to ensure representation by at least one person from each of the four undergraduate colleges and the university library.
Section 2. Councils
II.2.1 The major units for faculty participation in the advisory work of the Senate are the three councils.
II.2.2 No college shall have a majority of members on any of the three councils. Council membership will be for three-year staggered terms.
II.2.3 Faculty senators should serve on no more than one of the three councils. The Chair of the Faculty will make appointments based on the interests and abilities of each senator. These appointments will be sent to the Committee on Nominations, Elections, Committees, and Councils, and copied to Senators.
II.2.4 The Committee on Nominations, Elections, Committees, and Councils will complete the faculty nominations for council appointments, using its judgment with respect to rotation, continuity, representation, and efficiency. The Committee on Nominations, Elections, Committees, and Councils' recommendations will be approved by the Faculty Senate at its last regular meeting of the academic year.
II.2.5 After council membership has been approved by the Faculty Senate, the Chair of the Faculty will convene each council prior to the end of the spring term for the purpose of electing council chairs. The chair must be a member of the Faculty Senate, will serve a one-year term, and shall be eligible for re-election for one consecutive term.
II.2.6 The Chair of the Faculty is responsible for orienting the council chairs to the faculty governance system prior to the beginning of the new academic year.
II.2.7 The chair of each council shall receive assignments from the Faculty Senate, assume responsibility for seeing that the council completes the assignments in a timely fashion, and report the work of the council to the Faculty Senate at each meeting.
II.2.8 Councils shall normally meet once monthly during the regular terms of the academic year. A majority of council members shall form a quorum. All standing and ad hoc committees of a particular council shall report at each respective council meeting.
II.2.9 Each council shall provide an annual summary of its work to the Chair of the Faculty by the last regular Faculty Senate meeting of the academic year.
Section 3. Standing Committees
II.3.1 Matters within its jurisdiction are expected to be considered by each council as a committee of the whole in most instances. However, the council may delegate particular assignments to standing committees and may organize additional ad hoc committees as needed. The tenure of the latter shall end upon completion of their assignments.
II.3.2 Some of the specific responsibilities of each council may be handled through delegation to its standing committees or ad hoc committees which it may appoint. All recommended actions concerning any responsibility of the council shall come before and be voted upon by the full council.
II.3.3 All committees of the council will be drawn from the council membership but may be supplemented with additional members as needed. All additional members of standing committees shall have full voting rights. Committee appointments will be made by the chair of the council and submitted to the chancellor for approval by the end of the academic year. The chair of a council shall not serve on any of the councils' standing or ad hoc committees.
Section 4. The Three Councils
II.4.1 Council on Faculty Affairs
II.4.1.1 The domain of the Council on Faculty Affairs is the welfare and development of the faculty not mentioned in II.4.2.1, below.
II.4.1.2 The council shall have thirteen members including: Four senators with one from each college who are appointed annually by faculty chair, four faculty representatives, one from each college's Dean's Advisory Committee who are chosen annually by each Advisory Committee, one faculty representative from the University Librarian's Advisory Committee (a committee of the Library Faculty) who is chosen annually by the committee, and four representatives, elected at large (one non-tenure track full time, one part time, and two tenure or tenure-track).
II.4.1.3 The chair must be a senator and will be elected by council members at the last meeting of each academic year. The chair will be elected to a one-year term and shall be eligible for re-election for one term.
II.4.2 Academic Policy and Review Council
II.4.2.1 The domain of the Academic Policy and Review Council encompasses academic policy and institutional governance. Areas of responsibility include:
(1)undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree curriculum planning and review of the following: 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 modifications of program or major extension of academic program/major to off-campus sites; (2) restructuring of academic administrative units; (3) change of title of academic program, major, minor, concentration, or academic administrative units; (4) changes in admission, graduation, or retention standards; (5) instructional standards; (6) grading criteria; and (7) program review (inactivation, reactivation, and termination of existing academic programs); and (8) outcomes assessment.
II.4.2.2 The membership of the council will include one senator from each undergraduate college, one faculty member from each college chosen by that college, four faculty representatives of college curriculum committees, one library faculty member, one faculty member of the Graduate Council chosen annually by the Graduate Council, one faculty member of the Professional Education Council chosen annually, one faculty member of the Non-credit Education Council, and the Vice Chair of Faculty. The Academic Policy and Review Council Chair will be elected from the council members for a one year term and shall be eligible for re-election for one term.
II.4.2.3 Standing Committees of the Council will be: the University Curriculum Committee, chaired by an Academic and Review Council member; Liberal Studies Committee, chaired by an Academic and Policy and Review Council member, Head Librarian's Faculty Advisory Committee whose Chair will report to Curriculum Policy and Review Council once per semester; and Faculty Center Advisory Committee whose Chair will report to Curriculum Policy and Review Council once per semester. All other committees will be ad hoc.
II.4.2.4 There will be eight monthly meetings during the academic year. The Chair of the council has discretion in calling additional meetings.
II.4.2.5 Instructional Issues: New or deleted courses will continue to be approved by department and college only, then for information to Faculty Senate.
II.4.3 Collegial Review Council
II.4.3.1 The domain of the Collegial Review Council includes annual faculty evaluation; tenure, promotion and reappointment; and post tenure review; and other issues related to faculty performance.
II.4.3.2 The structure and composition of the council will include four senators with one from each college, four faculty representatives with one from each of the four college TPR committees, four faculty representatives with one from each college's departmental TPR committees, to be from a department other than the one represented by the college TPR representative, and one faculty representative from the library TPR committee. The Chair will be elected from the council members each spring by members of the council.
Section 5. Special Committees
II.5.1 Rules Committee
II.5.1.1 Duties: This committee will review the faculty constitution, the bylaws of the general faculty and the bylaws of the Faculty Senate, receiving and evaluating suggestions for amendments. It will report annually and at other appropriate times to the Faculty Senate.
II.5.1.2 Membership: The committee will consist of five senators nominated by the Chair of the Faculty and confirmed by the Faculty Senate at the first meeting of the academic year.
II.5.2 Faculty Advisement Coordinating Committee
II.5.2.1 Duties: This Committee will coordinate and monitor the advisement processes at WCU. It will coordinate all university-wide advisor-training sessions and will develop and provide suggested tools for advisor evaluation. It will report recommendations and information to the Senate Planning Team and provide an annual report to the Faculty Senate at the end of each academic year.
II.5.2.2 Membership: The Committee will consist of one faculty representative from each of the undergraduate colleges, a representative from the Career and Academic Planning Center, a representative from the Office of Academic Affairs who will serve as recording secretary, and a student representative appointed yearly by SGA. Nominations for faculty representatives will be forwarded by each respective Dean to the Senate for confirmation. Faculty will serve three-year staggered terms on the committee. The Chair of the Faculty will convene the committee prior to the end of the spring term for the purpose of electing a Chair. The Chair must be a faculty representative, will serve a one-year term, and shall be eligible for re-election for one consecutive term.
Section 6. Rules for Councils and Committees
II.6.1 The Faculty Senate may name other special committees to make investigations and prepare reports or recommendations relating to matters where, in its judgment, further information is needed in order for the Faculty Senate to carry out its responsibilities. These special committees shall prepare written reports, and acceptance of any such written report by the Faculty Senate will automatically dissolve that particular special committee unless the Faculty Senate directs otherwise.
II.6.2 Unless otherwise specified, whenever nominations of student members are included, such nominations will be made to the chancellor by the Student Government Association. Whenever nominations are made by specific administrative officers, it is expected that such individuals will confer and consult with the chancellor during the nomination process.
ARTICLE III Orientation of New Senators and Council Members
Section 1. During March, the Chair of the Faculty will be responsible for convening a special session of the Faculty Senate to orient the new members. At that meeting or soon after, new senators shall indicate preference for membership on the five councils. The Chair of the Faculty will make council assignments with regard to existing membership of the councils and the stated preferences. The Committee on Nominations, Elections, Committees, and Councils will be responsible for filling the remaining seats.
Section 2. During February, members of the general faculty will indicate preferences for service on councils. The Committee on Nominations, Elections, Committees, and Councils will use these preferences and the needs of the councils in making assignments to be approved by the Faculty Senate and the chancellor. Chairs of the councils and the current members will then be responsible for conducting orientation sessions for the new members during March or April.
ARTICLE IV Procedure for Bringing Business before the Faculty Senate
The procedure by which business is brought before the Faculty Senate is as follows:
Section 1. Any business requiring Senate action may be brought to the Chair of the Faculty by any university constituency, including individual faculty members, colleges, students, administrators, councils or other groups. The chair will then present the item to the Senate Planning Team. The Senate Planning Team will take one of the following actions:
IV.1.1 Report the proposal to the full Faculty Senate for consideration. The Faculty Senate may act on the proposal at the next meeting, move it for immediate action, or refer it to one of the councils for further analysis and later presentation to the Faculty Senate.
IV.1.2 Refer the proposal directly to one of the councils for further analysis before action by the Faculty Senate. In this case, the Senate Planning Team will report such a referral to the Faculty Senate at the next Faculty Senate meeting. To avoid premature extended debate, items in this category will have a time limit placed on discussion. The time limit will be determined in advance by the Senate Planning Team. Discussion will be extended beyond that time limit only by a two-thirds vote of the Faculty Senate.
IV.1.3 Return the proposal to the initiator for additional clarification (and inform the Faculty Senate of this action).
Section 2. Councils will report on their activities at each meeting of the Faculty Senate. Reports will consist of items in three categories.
IV.2.1 Action: Items in this category will be those reported at the previous Faculty Senate meeting for information and subsequent action.
IV.2.2 Information and Subsequent Action: Items in this category will be presented to the Senate Planning Team be entered on the Faculty Senate agenda for the next meeting.
IV.2.3 Information Only: This category will be used to inform the Faculty Senate of the current work of the council. Faculty Senate discussion of items in this category will be subject to the time limit outlined in Section IV.1.2 above.
Section 3. Notification of Planning.
Any department, college, or other body may request brief discussion of proposed programs or projects before the Senate Planning Team. The Senate Planning Team may, in turn, present the item to the full Faculty Senate in the Information Only category, subject to the time limit discussed in Section IV.1.2 or return the item to the initiator for additional clarification or refer it to the Curriculum Committee of the Academic Policy and Review Council. The Senate may choose not to act on such proposals, but may respond.
ARTICLE V AMENDMENTS
Section 1. The bylaws of the Faculty Senate may be altered, amended, or repealed upon a two-thirds majority vote of the senators present at any regular meeting, providing the proposed alteration, amendment, or repeal has been presented in writing, and accepted, at a regular meeting of the Faculty Senate.
ARTICLE VI VOTING PROCEDURES
Section 1. A motion for a roll-call vote shall be carried by an affirmative vote of one third of the Faculty Senate membership present.
ARTICLE VII REPORTS
Section 1. The Chair of the Faculty shall submit an annual report of Senate activities to the Chancellor by June 1 each year.
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