Proposed revisions to the
University Senate/Faculty Assembly Constitution
April 15 2004

Section II
DEFINITION OF FACULTY
For the purposes of this Constitution, the faculty consists of those full-time employees of the university who hold the rank of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor or professor. Academic faculty and administrative faculty are defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

REVISION
For the purposes of this Constitution, the faculty consists of those full-time or part-time tenured and tenure track employees of the university who hold the rank of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor or professor. Academic faculty and administrative faculty are defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Rationale: Currently, tenured and tenure-track part-time faculty members may not serve or vote on Senate matters. This amendment would provide equal representation to these individuals who are committed, contributing members of the faculty.

Section V
Senate
D. Standing Committees
The Standing Committees shall be the Executive Committee, the Academic Affairs Committee, the Academic Planning Committee, the Administrative Affairs and Elections Committee, the Student Affairs and Admissions Committee, the Information Technology Committee and the Library Advisory Committee.

REVISION
Add:
Faculty members may not serve concurrently as an elected member of more than two standing committees.

Rationale: Opportunities to serve on committees are limited and this amendment would allow wider participation.

Section VI
UNIVERSITY SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES
B. Academic Affairs Committee
1. Membership
b. Two members-at-large elected by and from the Assembly. No two faculty members of this committee may be from the same academic discipline.

REVISION
Add: No member of the Academic Affairs Committee may serve concurrently on the Academic Planning Committee.

Rationale: These two committees may consider the same curricular proposals. One individual on both committees could have disproportionate influence.

C. Academic Planning Committee
1. Membership
a. Four tenured faculty members elected by the Assembly from the disciplines. No two faculty members of this committee may be from the same academic discipline.

REVISION
1. Membership
b. Add: No member of the Academic Planning Committee may serve concurrently on the Academic Affairs Committee.

Rationale: See above

2. Duties
a. To provide a broad-based perspective regarding academic change at the University.
b. To consult with the administration and participate in the development of academic aspects of institutional planning documents, and to present academic planning documents to the Senate for recommendations to the President and Council of Trustees.
c. To review, when appropriate, academic aspects of institutional planning documents with the administration.
d. To introduce, monitor, and review proposals for academic program change, and to make recommendations through the Academic Affairs Committee to the Senate regarding new programs, program additions, deletions, and other program changes.
(1) The Committee shall ensure that its agenda, policies and document revisions are distributed in a timely manner to all those affected by the Committee's work.
(2) The Committee shall make its recommendations based upon the written documentation submitted by the Department and/or faculty member(s).
REVISION—replace 2d above with:
d. To review proposals for academic program changes that the Academic Planning Committee deems to have significant impact on the University or on other Departments. Continue on with (1) and (2).

Rationale: To give more latitude to the members of the Academic Planning Committee to decide which matters related to program change warrant their review.

D. Administrative Affairs and Elections Committee

REVISION
3. Election duties shall be performed by the three elected faculty members who shall:
a. Conduct the annual Senate elections and other concurrent elections supervised by the Senate (see Appendix).
b. Prepare a list of nominees for all positions on or about March 15 of each year. A nominee may not be placed on the slate of nominees without his or her consent.
c. Distribute this slate of nominees to all faculties on or about March 20.
d. Provide for additional nominations from the Faculty Assembly.
e. Distribute the official ballots to members of the Faculty Assembly on or about April 1 of each year.
f. Count the ballots and announce the results on or about April 10 of each year.
g. Remains unchanged.
h. Remains unchanged.
4.Remains unchanged.

Rationale: # 3a. Elected members of the committee rather than appointed members should assume the responsibilities of conducting the elections. #s 3 b-f. The new extended spring break makes it difficult to meet the exact deadline dates specified in the current Constitution.

APPENDIX TO THE UNIVERSITY SENATE CONSTITUTION
DEPARTMENTS AND DISCIPLINES as of September 2001

REVISIONS
Change as of September 2001 to as of April 2004
Change Computer Sciences to Computer Information Sciences
Add School Library and Information Technology

APPENDIX
Ad hoc University COMMITTEES and their charges
Revision as of September 2004
Under Student Affairs and Admissions

REVISION
Delete: Wellness Committee: The Wellness Committee is a subcommittee of Student Affairs and Admissions Committee. It is to report and work as a subcommittee of SAAC and report to them.
Rationale: The Wellness Committee has not been meeting and as it was a temporary ad hoc committee, it should be eliminated when it ceases to function.

Proposed amendment to the revisions presented to Senate on April 1
Section III
A. Faculty Assembly
1. The Assembly shall consist of all full-time faculty.
REVISION
1. The assembly shall consist of all full-time faculty and all part-time tenured and tenure-track faculty.

Rationale: To bring language into accord with the definition of faculty proposed in the amendment to Section 11 above.