A set of by-laws governing Faculty Senate procedure is to be distributed by the secretary at the first September meeting each year.

1. Duties of the secretary of the Faculty Senate

   The secretary performs the following duties:

   1. Serves as secretary at all meetings of Faculty Senate and at all faculty meetings.
   2. Codifies all rules and legislation adopted by the Faculty Senate and distributes a complete and up-to-date copy to all faculty.
2. Rules of Faculty Senate procedure

   In addition to all Senate procedural matters explicit in the CBA, the following rules for Faculty Senate procedure shall be followed:

   1. Authority for rules
      1. The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, govern the Faculty Senate in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not incompatible with these rules of procedure.
      2. These rules may be suspended by a majority vote of the Faculty Senate at any session, provided that the safeguards of rights as explained in Robert's Rules of Order, Revised under the heading "Suspension of the Rules" are adhered to.
   2. Establishing the order of the day
      1. All items are placed on the agenda in order of receipt by the secretary. This shall be the order of the day unless altered by action of the Faculty Senate.
      2. The agenda and a brief description of each agenda item and its sponsor's name are circulated to the members of the Faculty Senate three instructional days before each session.
      3. Any item received by the secretary less than five instructional days before any session of the Faculty Senate may be placed on the agenda only at the discretion of the Faculty Senate.
      4. Any item presented to the secretary by the Joint Senate Conference Committee or by any member of the Faculty Senate is placed on the agenda.
      5. The agenda includes the exact status in the process of approval of all courses under the two meeting rule.
   3. Voting procedure
      1. The usual method of voting on motions is by viva voce.
      2. After a voice vote any member may call for division; this call requires that the vote be registered by a show of hands and that the count be recorded.
      3. Voting by other methods:
         1. Roll call: requires a motion, second, and a majority vote.
         2. Ballot: requires a motion, second, and a majority vote.
      4. A plurality never elects anyone to office unless by virtue of a special rule previously adopted.
      5. All elections are by ballot, except that when there is only one candidate, and in the absence of any objection, election may be by motion and voice vote. The preferential voting method is used.
      6. Any member may request the secretary to record his/her vote in any voice vote or division.
   4. Open meeting practices

      The meetings of the standing and ad hoc committees of this University are open to all members of the University community. Exceptions to this policy are the Sabbatical Leave Committee, the Promotion and Tenure Committee, the Faculty Judicial Committee , the University Judicial Board, Meet-and-Discuss, and committees composed solely of University managers. The open meeting policy also is not applicable to other committees when dealing with personnel matters.

      The chairpersons of those committees whose meetings are open shall take reasonable steps to make available upon request to all interested individuals or groups on campus the agenda, minutes and relevant documents of all regularly scheduled meetings of their committees.

      Any interested individuals or groups wishing to present their views to any committee on any issue under consideration by these committees may do so either in writing or by appearing at the meeting and notifying the committee chairperson of the request, at least twenty-four hours in advance.

   5. Senatorial terms of office

      To insure a relatively equal balance of membership in the Faculty Senate, terms of office are considered on a departmental rather than an individual basis according to the following sequence:

      Group I
      To be elected in 1998, 2001, 2004
      Business Administration
      Computer Science
      Earth Sciences
      Economics
      Health & Physical Education
      Nursing
      Physics
      Psychology
      Special Education
      Group II
      To be elected in 1999, 2002, 2005
      Chemistry
      Developmental Studies
      Foreign Languages
      History
      Mathematics
      Music
      Philosophy
      Political Science
      Social Work
      Sociology/Anthropology
      Group III
      To be elected in 1997, 2000, 2003
      Art
      Biology
      Counseling and Human Development
      Educational Foundations
      Elementary & Early Childhood Education
      English
      Geography
      Industry and Technology
      Library
      Communication and Theatre
      

Go Back to the Governance Manual Table of Contents

Go Back to Section 1 Table of Contents