Article II. Faculty Senate Elections   

Section 1. Nominations
Each faculty member may nominate, by secret ballot, one person for each vacancy in his/her voting unit. All qualified faculty receiving two or more nominations for the Faculty Senate positions of their respective instructional groups will constitute the nominees. If there are less than two nominees by the originally specified deadline, the University Elections Committee will issue a second call for nominations with a deadline four weeks following the original deadline. If there is only one nominee by the second deadline, the election ballot shall be issued with the name of the single nominee and a space for a write-in candidate. If a write-in candidate receives a majority of votes in the election, but is unwilling or unqualified to serve, the single nominee will be declared the winner of the election. Otherwise, the standard election and runoff procedures provided for in these Faculty Senate Charter and Bylaws will be followed. An exception will be made to this nominating process if, after two rounds of nominations, at least one qualified nominee willing to serve has not been selected. In this case a third round of nominations will be called and all qualified individuals willing to serve who receive at least one nomination will now be considered the nominees. Notice of this exception should be included in the third call for nominations. For the election including such nominees, all other standard procedures will be followed.


Section 2. Elections
The nominees will be listed as candidates on the primary ballot. If no candidate listed on the primary ballot receives a majority of the votes cast in the primary, then there shall be a run-off between the two candidates that receive the most votes in the primary elections. In case of a tie vote among two or more candidates for second place, all candidates tied for second place will be listed on the runoff ballot. In the run-off election, the candidate receiving the most votes cast will be declared the winner. In case of a tie vote in the runoff, the winner will be determined by lot. The election will be by secret ballot.
    

Section 3. Tabulating Votes
The University Election Committee shall announce to each departmental election judge the time and place in which the votes will be counted. The counting of the votes cast may be observed by those departmental election judges who desire to do so.


Section 4. Retention of Ballots
Ballots must be kept for a period of 30 days after the announcement of the voting results.


Section 5. Separate Elections
Separate elections will be held for senators elected by voting groups and senators elected by the faculty members of the university at large. The same procedures will be used for senators elected by voting groups and senators elected at large.


Section 6. Elections for Vacancies

a. If a senator is on a one-semester leave of absence, it shall be the responsibility of the remaining senators of the voting group of which this senator was a member to caucus (in the case of an at-large senator, the at-large senators shall caucus) at the first Faculty Senate meeting of the semester to determine if there is a need to recommend a temporary replacement and to recommend a replacement if they determine a need.
b. If a committee member is on a one semester leave of absence, the chair of the Committee on Committees shall check with the chair of the committee on which the faculty member serves to determine if there is a need for a replacement. If the chair of the committee recommends a replacement, the chair of the Committee on Committees shall notify the chair of the Faculty Senate to declare a vacancy in the membership of the committee. The Committee on Committees shall nominate a replacement in accordance with nominating procedures of the Senate.
c. When a vacancy occurs for reasons other than a one semester leave of absence, it shall be the responsibility of the remaining senators of the voting group of which this senator was a member to caucus (in the case of an at-large senator, the at-large senators shall caucus) and recommend to the senate a temporary replacement to serve until the following September meeting. A person selected to fill such a vacancy shall be eligible for election to two consecutive three-year terms in the Senate. The election of the permanent replacement to fill the vacancy shall follow the procedures as specified in Article III, Section 7 of the Charter of the Faculty Senate. If the vacancy occurs in the last semester of a senator's term, a permanent replacement will be elected to fulfill the end of that term and serve through the end of the next three-year term. The person is eligible for a second three-year term.

Article III. Officers and Committees of the Faculty Senate  

Section 1. Officers

a. Chair: In addition to presiding at meetings of the senate, the chair of the senate is a member of the Executive Committee and the Committee on Committees.
b. Vice Chair: In addition to presiding in the absence of the chair, the vice chair of the senate shall serve as chair of the Executive Committee and is a member of the Committee on Committees.
c. Secretary: The Faculty Senate shall elect from among its members a secretary and it is the secretary's duty to write the official minutes of the Faculty Senate. The secretary is also a member of the Committee on Committees and serves as a member of and secretary to the Executive Committee.

Section 2.General Provisions on the Committees of the Faculty Senate

a. Standing committees shall be those named in the charter and bylaws. If a standing committee of the Faculty Senate does not receive a charge from the Executive Committee within a two-year period, the need for that standing committee shall be reviewed by the Committee on Committees. The Committee on Committees shall make a recommendation to the Executive Committee regarding the standing committee.

b. Temporary committees may be created by the senate to deal with specific issues. Each temporary committee shall terminate at the beginning of the following September meeting of the Faculty Senate unless another termination date is specified.

c. There shall be at least one faculty senator on each standing committee of the Faculty Senate.

d. Wherever terms of faculty or student members of standing committees are specified only as a certain number of years, such terms shall begin with the September meeting of the Faculty Senate or other time of initial appointment and end at the beginning of the September meeting the specified number of years later. The term of a member appointed to fill a vacancy shall end at the same time that the term of the member being replaced would have ended.

e. The Executive Committee shall provide the charge for each Faculty Senate Committee, and the chair of each Faculty Senate Committee shall report at least once each semester to the chair of the Executive Committee regarding the business conducted by the Faculty Senate Committee.

f. Unless otherwise provided for in the bylaws, each Faculty Senate committee shall elect a chair at the first committee meeting following the September meeting of the Faculty Senate. The chair of each Faculty Senate committee shall serve a one-year term, ending at the beginning of the following September meeting of the Faculty Senate. Note: The provision listed above specifying the terms of committee chairs would not apply in the following circumstances. Executive Committee Chair - Vice Chair of Faculty Senate. Curriculum Committee Chair - Vice President for Academic Affairs designee. Graduate Council Chair - Graduate Dean University Elections Committee Chair - Appointed. Faculty Handbook Committee Chair appointed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs Faculty Research Committee Chair - Vice Provost for Research. Fine Arts Committee Chair - Union Director. Scholarship Committee Chair - Director, Scholarship Office.

g. Committee quorums and vacancies. To conduct business, a Faculty Senate committee must have at least a majority of its full nominal membership, excluding ex officio members, (that is, vacancies on the committee must not exceed fifty percent of the nominal membership). For meetings of Faculty Senate committees, a quorum shall consist of at least half of the filled committee seats (that is, of the committee seats without vacancies), so long as that number is not less than half of the full committee’s nominal seats. It shall be the responsibility of committee chairs to monitor their committee membership’s status and any vacancies (whether occurring by repeated absence, leave of absence, resignation or retirement), and promptly to report any occurring vacancies to the Senate leadership. It shall be the responsibility of a Senate committee member promptly to advise the committee chair and Senate leadership of his/her resignation from the committee or inability to serve as a working member

   h. Electronic Meetings. If a committee of the Faculty Senate (other than the Senate Executive Committee) finds it necessary or convenient to conduct its business by electronic correspondence, its reports and actions can contain only what is agreed to by a majority of the members. In the case of such electronically conducted meetings, it shall be the responsibility of the committee’s chair to consult with all members on business, to verify that a majority concurs with decisions and recommendations, and to keep appropriate records of votes and decisions conducted electronically. The conduct of business by electronic correspondence shall be minuted according to the committee’s normal practices, and shall be reported in the committee’s reports to the Faculty Senate.

 

Section 3.Committee on Committees

a. Functions. The committee shall nominate members of other Faculty Senate committees and shall appoint members of administrative committees when requested by the university administration, subject to the approval of the senate. The Committee on Committees shall nominate representatives of the Faculty Senate to administrative councils of the university that may include the Graduate Council, the University Planning Council and the Student Life Council. Such appointments shall meet the following criteria: each shall be a member of the Faculty Senate at the time of the appointment and each appointment shall be at-large for a three-year term, contingent upon remaining a member of the full-time faculty. Nominations to senate committees may also be suggested for consideration to the Committee on Committees by senators who are not themselves members of the Committee on Committees. In addition to nominees brought forward by the Committee on Committees, other nominations to senate committees and for appointment to administrative committees may be made from the floor of the senate during its meetings.

b. Composition. The Committee on Committees shall consist of one senator from each of the nine constituency groups of the senate, elected by fellow senators in that group, plus the chair, vice chair and the secretary of the senate. Each May following the election of new senate officers, the committee shall elect a chair from among its continuing members to serve a one-year term that begins immediately upon election.

c. Terms. The term of each elected member of the Committee on Committees shall be two years from their election to the committee in September and shall continue until the beginning of the September meeting two years later. The members’ terms should be staggered so that no more than half the members rotate off at a given time. Upon first (or subsequent) implementation of the staggering of committee members' terms, the allocation of one year and two year terms shall be conducted by lot .


Section 4. Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate (Formerly known as the University Committee)
a. Functions. The Executive Committee shall perform the following functions: serve as an advisory board and meet regularly with the president to discuss matters of mutual concern and to propose resolution of problems and differences with the university administration; prepare an agenda for Faculty Senate meetings as provided in Article IV, Section 2 of these bylaws; and serve as an Executive Committee for the Faculty Senate. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to speak for the senate in emergency matters that are limited to: (1) the approval of members of a committee recommended to it by the Committee on Committees, when that committee has need to begin functioning immediately or needs new members to continue to function; (2) the drafting and release of public statements or positions on matters involving breaking news; and (3) the consideration of requests for immediate and emergency action made in writing by the president of the university. Action on all of the above matters must be approved by the senate at the following senate meeting. All actions of the Executive Committee in the role of Executive Committee must be by votes of at least two-thirds of the members of the committee. The Executive Committee shall provide the charge for each Faculty Senate committee and shall receive at least one report each semester from the chair of each Faculty Senate committee regarding the business conducted by the Faculty Senate committee.

b. Composition. The Executive Committee shall consist of one senator nominated by the Committee on Committees from each of the eight voting groups and elected by the senate. The chair, the vice chair and the secretary of the senate and the immediate past chair of the senate shall also serve as members of the Executive Committee. The vice chair of the Senate shall serve as chair of the Executive Committee.

c. Terms. The terms of each elected senator will end at the completion of his/her present three-year senate term. The past senate chair shall serve a single one-year term that shall end at the beginning of the September meeting of the Senate one year after his or her term as Senate Chair shall have expired

d. Meetings. All meetings or sessions of the Executive Committee shall normally be open to the public for all business. Executive session (closure of the proceedings to persons not members of the Executive Committee) may be invoked only for discussions and business related to the consideration of candidates for honorary degrees by the university, and/or matters related to Senate administrative personnel (staff).

Section 5. Academic Affairs Committee

a. Functions. The Academic Affairs Committee shall study and make recommendations to the senate on university policy concerning admission standards of entering undergraduate students, admission standards of transfer undergraduate students, suspension, probation and dismissal of students for academic reasons, standards for graduation, the awarding of honors to graduates, and any other academic concerns that may be assigned by the senate.

b. Composition. The Academic Affairs Committee shall consist of 12 members: eight faculty members elected by the senate,

one academic dean elected by the academic deans, and one student appointed by the Student Association and the vice president for academic affairs or his/her designee, and the registrar. The chair of the committee shall be elected by the members of the committee. c. Terms. The term for a faculty member of the committee shall be three years. The term of the student member and academic dean shall be one year.

Section 6.Curriculum Committee (3013-02)

a. Functions. The Curriculum Committee shall maintain a continual surveillance of the curriculum of all undergraduate degree programs in the university. It shall study and make recommendations to the senate regarding the approval/disapproval of the modification or addition of any undergraduate course, modified or creation of undergraduate degree programs and academic reorganization with a unit that affects degree programs and/or faculty assignments. The Curriculum Committee shall make use of standard assessment guidelines in the review and approval of core curriculum courses. In presenting material to the Faculty Senate for action, the Curriculum Committee shall provide full documentation for new undergraduate degree programs, new undergraduate certificate programs, new courses to be added to the core curricula, substantive changes in existing core curriculum courses that could influence their eligibility to remain in the core, and academic reorganization within a unit that affects degree programs and/or faculty assignments. In presenting new undergraduate courses or changes in undergraduate degree programs affecting the number of credit hours or the required courses, the Curriculum Committee shall provide a list of such courses or changes to the Faculty Senate and bring full supporting documentation to the Senate meeting. The following items do not require Senate approval: addition of electronic or distributed components for existing courses, editorial modifications of course descriptions in the catalog, and changes in title or content of courses not included in the core curriculum.

b. Composition. The Curriculum Committee shall consist of the following: 18 faculty members elected by the Faculty Senate: two faculty members representing each senate voting group plus two at-large faculty members; five students selected by the Student Association; the deans of those colleges and schools that offer an undergraduate degree; the registrar; and the provost and vice president for academic affairs or his/her designee as chair. The following restrictions shall apply to the selection of committee members: (1) no more than one faculty member may be elected

from any sub-unit within a senate voting group; and (2) the five student members shall represent different areas of study. c. Terms. The term of a faculty member of the committee shall be three years. The term of student members shall be one year.

Section 7. Graduate Council

a. Functions. The Graduate Council shall formulate all policies and regulations affecting graduate programs, graduate faculty, and graduate curricula at the University of North Texas. The Graduate Council shall monitor all graduate programs in the university to ensure that they are periodically reviewed and reevaluated. The Graduate Council shall report, in writing, to the Faculty Senate all recommendations affecting graduate programs, graduate faculty, and graduate curricula at the University of North Texas, including but not limited to curricula modifications, program monitoring and evaluations, and program publicity.

b. Composition. The Graduate Council shall consist of the following members: The dean of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies, the associate dean of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies, the vice president for academic affairs or his/her designee, the academic deans of the colleges and schools, the registrar, the dean of libraries, one member of the Category III graduate faculty elected from each of the eight Faculty Senate voting groups by graduate faculty within the group, two members of the Category III graduate faculty selected at large by the Faculty Senate, two members of the graduate faculty selected at-large by the Faculty Senate, and two graduate students selected by the Graduate Student Council. The Faculty Senate shall endeavor to select at-large members that represent disciplines not already represented on the Graduate Council. The dean of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies shall serve as chair of the Graduate Council.

c. Terms. Faculty members shall serve three-year terms. Student members shall serve one-year terms. Other members shall serve during the period they hold their respective offices.

Section 8. Charter and Bylaws Committee
a. Functions. The Charter and Bylaws Committee shall review the charter and bylaws of the Faculty Senate, propose additions, modifications and deletions to the charter and bylaws that the committee thinks are needed and make recommendations to the senate concerning proposed changes in the charter and bylaws introduced by senators. The committee shall make changes in titles of offices and of academic units in the bylaws as they occur. All such changes shall be reported to the senate at the next regular meeting, and such changes shall become final when so reported unless the senate shall vote to treat the report as a first reading of a proposed change in the bylaws.

b. Composition. The Charter and Bylaws Committee shall consist of three senators elected by the Faculty Senate. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members.

c. Terms. The term of each member shall end the day before the September meeting following the expiration of his/her senate term.

Section 9. University Election Committee

a. Functions. The University Election Committee shall conduct and supervise the election of senators and any other election assigned to it by the senate.

b. Composition. The University Election Committee shall consist of eight faculty elected by the Faculty Senate. At the time of election, the Executive Committee shall designate the chair of the committee from among the committee members.

c. Terms. Terms of office for the University Elections Committee shall begin on September 1 and expire on August 31 of the appropriate year. 

Section 10. Committee on Evaluation of University Administrators

a. Functions. The Committee on Evaluation of University Administrators shall develop policies and procedures, including evaluative instruments, pertaining to the evaluation of university administrators for the improvement of administrative functioning. No administrator (including chairs) shall be involved in opening faculty responses to questionnaires for the evaluation of administrators.

b. Composition. This committee shall consist of 12 persons: eight tenured faculty members or librarians on five-year contracts elected by the senate (one from each Faculty Senate voting group) and four university administrators appointed by the provost and executive vice president. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members.

c. Terms. The term of each member shall be three years. The terms of the faculty members shall be staggered so that no more than three expire in any given year.

Section 11. Faculty Awards Committee
a. Functions. The Faculty Awards Committee shall select outstanding faculty members as candidates for citations and awards in recognition of distinguished teaching, scholarly/creative activity or service. The committee also shall seek information on awards, post-doctoral fellowships, foreign study opportunities and similar off-campus activities that are designed to reward or improve scholarly effectiveness. The committee shall have the responsibility of keeping the faculty informed of such opportunities.

b. Composition. This committee shall consist of 10 members: one faculty from each of the eight senate voting groups, and two at-large members, all elected by the Faculty Senate. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members.

c. Terms. The term of the elected members shall be three years.

Section 12. Faculty Handbook Committee

a. Functions. The Faculty Handbook Committee is charged with reviewing the information contained in the Faculty Handbook, receiving suggested changes in the Faculty Handbook from the faculty and other appropriate sources and suggesting alterations in the Faculty Handbook to the Faculty Senate and other appropriate bodies.

b. Composition. This committee shall consist of five members: four faculty members elected by the senate and one member appointed by the vice president for academic affairs to serve as chair of the committee.

c. Terms. The term of each faculty member shall be three years. The members appointed by the vice president for academic affairs shall serve at the pleasure of the vice president for academic affairs.

Section 13. Faculty Load Committee

a. Functions. The Committee to Study Faculty Load shall study all aspects of faculty responsibility and make recommendations to the vice president for academic affairs for establishment of guidelines to be used in determining equitable loads in terms of teaching, scholarly/creative activity, administrative responsibility, etc.

b. Composition. The Committee to Study Faculty Load shall consist of 10 members: eight faculty members elected by the Faculty Senate and two ex officio members. Each faculty member of the committee shall represent one of the eight senate voting groups. The two ex officio members shall be designated by the vice president for academic affairs. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members.

c. Terms. The term of each faculty member shall be three years.

Section 14. Committee on Faculty Participation in Governance

a. Functions. The Committee on Faculty Participation in Governance shall function to ensure that all academic units have a faculty-approved charter for the purpose of governance within the unit. Each academic unit shall file a copy of its charter with this committee for review. The committee shall be responsible for reporting to the Faculty Senate any cases where governance charters are not being followed and shall be responsible for carrying out charges made by the Faculty Senate regarding such cases.

b. Composition. The committee shall consist of 10 members: eight senators (one elected from each of the eight senate voting groups), a faculty member selected by the University Review Committee, and one faculty member selected by the University Tenure Committee. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members.

c. Terms. Each senator's term on this committee shall coincide with his/her Faculty Senate term at the time of election. No faculty member shall serve more than three consecutive years on this committee.

Section 15. Faculty Research Committee

a. Functions. The Faculty Research Committee shall study policy governing faculty research and make recommendations to the senate; implement policy developed by the committee and approved by the senate in the allocation of state appropriated funds for faculty research; and in the coordination of the university's research effort, carry on diligent efforts to locate and secure non-appropriated funds to support faculty research and keep all of the faculty informed about funds available for research.

b. Composition. This committee shall consist of 10 members: eight tenured faculty members elected by the senate (one from each senate voting group), the dean of the Toulouse Graduate School, and the vice provost for research, who will serve as chair of the committee. The chair of the committee has the authority to appoint up to two additional non-voting members, subject to majority approval of the Faculty Research Committee, for the purpose of advising on proposals. No more than one faculty member may be elected from any sub-unit within a senate voting group.

c. Terms. The term of each faculty member on the committee shall be three years.

Section 16. Faculty Salary Study Committee. a. Functions. The Faculty Salary Study Committee shall (1) study, on a continuing basis, the salary structure for all faculty employed by the university; (2) compare the faculty salary structure of the university with other comparable universities in the state and nation; (3) investigate and determine the criteria used by the university administration in awarding salary increases based on market adjustment and the correction of existing inequities; (4) recommend to the senate general criteria to be used in establishing salaries for all faculty; and (5) publish the findings of the committee. The published findings shall show for each rank in each of the various divisions, departments and schools of the university, the highest, the lowest, the median and the mean salary. The findings also shall show differences in salary between men and women on the faculty who have the same degree qualifications and experiences. b. Composition. This committee shall consist of 11 faculty members elected by the Faculty Senate according to the following: one member from each of the eight senate voting groups and three members elected at large. Elections shall be such that no single subunit is represented by more than one member. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members. c. Terms. The regular term of a member shall be three years.

Section 17. Fine Arts Committee

a. Functions. The Fine Arts Committee shall be responsible for developing and sponsoring a program of cultural and performing arts, featuring nationally prominent artists, for presentation on the campus.

b. Composition. The Fine Arts Committee shall be composed as follows: Five faculty members appointed by the Faculty Senate; five staff members appointed by the UNT Staff Council; two ex officio faculty or staff members appointed by the Vice President for Student Development; and 6 student representatives appointed by President of the UNT Student Government Association. The term of service of committee members shall be three years, with the exception of student members whose terms shall be one year. The Vice President for Student Development shall designate one of the two ex officio members he/she names to the committee to serve as co-chairperson of the committee. The student co-chairperson of the committee shall be appointed by the President of the Student Government Association. 

c. Terms. The term of each faculty member shall be three years. The terms of the faculty members shall be staggered so that the terms of no more than three members expire in any given year. The term of each student member shall be one year.

Section 18. Committee on Benefits
a. Functions. The Committee on Benefits shall (1) study all possibilities for improving benefits for the faculty of the university and make recommendations regarding such benefits and the relationship between such benefits and faculty salaries to the appropriate university agency or official; (2) receive and evaluate all suggestions of possible benefits made by individuals or groups; and (3) consult with existing committees working on benefits and compensation within the framework of local chapters of professional organizations.

b. Composition. This committee shall consist of 10 members: eight faculty members elected by the senate and two ex officio members. The eight faculty members shall represent the eight senate voting groups. All four academic ranks shall be represented on the committee. Ex officio members of the committee are the vice president for finance and business affairs and the human resources director. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members.

c. Terms. Each faculty member shall serve three-year terms.

Section 19. University Library Committee

a. Functions. The University Library Committee shall function as an advisory body with respect to library policies, programs, resources and facilities; act as a liaison between the library staff and the academic community including university administration, faculty, students and other clienteles; and function in support and promotion of library needs and usage.

b. Composition. This committee shall be composed of 15 members: eight faculty members, one from each senate voting group elected by the Faculty Senate; one undergraduate student selected by the Student Association; one graduate student appointed by the Graduate Student Council; one alumnus appointed by the vice president for development, the dean of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies (ex officio); the provost and vice president for academic affairs (ex officio) or a designee; the associate vice president for university planning (ex officio); and the dean of libraries (ex officio). The committee shall elect a chair from among the members of the committee.

c. Terms. Each faculty member shall serve a three-year term. Terms of faculty members will be staggered so that the terms of no more than three faculty members expire in any given year. Students shall serve one-year terms. Alumni shall serve two-year terms.

Section 20. Scholarship Committee

a. Functions. The Scholarship Committee shall be responsible for determining and interpreting policy relating to university scholarships and grants-in-aid; screening of candidates and awarding of university scholarships; and exploring possibilities for increasing scholarship funds.

b.Composition. This committee shall consist of 13 members: eight faculty members (one from each of the senate voting groups) elected by the Faculty Senate; one member appointed by the director of the Office of Development; one member appointed by the director of the Office of Financial Aid; two students selected by the Student Association; and the director of the University Scholarship Office, ex officio, who shall serve as chair of the committee.

c. Terms. Faculty members, the member appointed by the vice president for development and the member appointed by the director of the Office of Financial Aid shall serve three-year terms. The student members shall serve one-year terms.

Section 21. Committee on the Status of Women

a. Functions. The Committee on the Status of Women shall study university, state and federal civil rights and equal-employment laws and regulations regarding the status of women in the university community. The Faculty Senate authorizes the committee to request information on all alleged abuses of said laws and regulations including requesting evidence from any person in the university who has been responsible for recruitment, promotion and establishment of salary of other faculty members or employees. The committee may also request information on any other alleged discriminatory policy affecting the status of women in the university community. The committee may give information and evidence to the University Review Committee on its own volition or when requested to do so and reports to the Faculty Senate.

b. Composition. The Committee on the Status of Women shall consist of eight faculty members representing a variety of academic disciplines nominated by the Committee on Committees and approved by the Faculty Senate.

c. Terms. The regular term of a member of the committee shall be three years. The chair of the committee shall be elected from and by the members of the committee.

Section 22. Faculty Mentor Committee
a. Functions. The Faculty Mentor Committee shall serve as an advisory committee that meets once each semester for the purpose of promoting the mentoring concept among faculty members and making recommendations for the mentor program. The committee shall disseminate information about mentoring to encourage participation by faculty and staff. The committee shall also set guidelines and criteria for mentor service, forwarding appropriate information to the personnel affairs committee regarding such service.

b. Composition. The committee shall consist of eleven members: nine faculty members elected by the senate (one from each senate voting group and one at-large), the staff member from the Dean of Students Office responsible for the Mentoring Program, and one student selected by the Student Association. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members.

c. Terms. The term of each faculty and staff member shall be three years. The term of the student member shall be one year.

Section 23. Faculty Senate Budget Committee

a. Functions. The Faculty Senate Budget Committee is designed to keep the faculty abreast of university budget issues and assist university administrators in deciding budgetary allocations. Accordingly, this committee shall (1) acquire complete information from appropriate administrative units regarding historical, current, and proposed university budgets; (2) study university budget information to interpret historical and current trends of the budget and budget allocations; (3) provide input to the Faculty Senate on university budget matters; (4) work with the vice president for academic affairs to devise systematic procedures for allocating the academic budget to colleges, schools and other appropriate units, and monitor such allocations; and (5) provide information and advice to the chancellor, provost, vice president for academic affairs, and vice president for finance and business affairs regarding budgetary matters.

b. Composition. The committee shall consist of eight faculty members elected by the senate (one from each of the senate voting groups, with preference for at least three senators on the committee at all times). The committee will elect a chair from among its members.

c. Terms. The term of each member is three years. Terms shall be staggered so that the terms of no more than three members expire in any given year.

Section 24. Oversight Committee of the Core Curriculum (3-1302)

a. Functions. The Oversight Committee of the Core Curriculum shall be responsible for overseeing changes in the core curriculum according to procedures authorized by the Faculty Senate. The committee shall review and evaluate all changes to the core as recommended by the appropriate school or college. The committee shall also review documentation on staffing plans and program evaluations as defined by the Faculty Senate and provided by departments to ensure that they are consistent with the spirit of the Core Curriculum.

b. Composition. The committee shall consist of eleven members: eight tenured faculty members appointed by the Executive Committee (one from each of the eight senate voting groups) and three tenured faculty appointed by the chair of the University Curriculum Assessment Committee from among its members. No more than one faculty member may be appointed from any sub-unit within a senate voting group. The chair shall be appointed by the Executive Committee.

c. Terms. The term of each member is three years. Terms shall be staggered so that the terms of no more than four members expire in any given year.

Section 25. Faculty Development Leave Committee

a. Functions. The Faculty Development Leave Committee shall review applications for development leave and make recommendations to the vice president for academic affairs concerning the granting of such leaves in accordance with the provisions and procedures published in the Faculty Handbook.

b. Composition. The Faculty Development Leave Committee shall be composed of eight members. Each of the eight Faculty Senate voting groups shall elect one tenured faculty member or librarian on five-year contract. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members.

c.Terms. The terms of each member of the committee will be three years. Terms should be staggered so that the terms of no more than three members expire in a single year. If a member of the Faculty Development Leave Committee resigns, goes on leave, or is otherwise unable to serve during any semester of his or her service on the committee, the chair of the Faculty Development Leave Committee will notify the Faculty Senate to direct the election of a replacement member to serve during the period that the regularly elected member is unable to serve.

26. Teaching Fellows/Teaching Assistants Committee.

a. Functions. The Teaching Fellows/Teaching Assistants Committee shall develop recommended procedures for the selection of outstanding teaching fellows and teaching assistants and shall recommend an appropriate number of awards. The committee shall also select the recipients of the awards.

b. Composition. The Teaching Fellows/Teaching Assistants Committee shall be composed of eight members elected by the senate from each of the senate voting groups. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members.

c. Terms. The regular term of a member of the committee shall be three years, with the terms staggered so that no more than

three vacancies are created in any one year.

27. University Writing Committee.

a. Functions. The University Writing Committee shall review policies and procedures for the University Writing Awards and select recipients of the awards in accordance with established policies and guidelines.

b. Composition. The committee shall consist of twelve members, one faculty member nominated by the dean of each school and college, with the additional members to be the director of the University Writing Center, the director of the writing program in the English Department and one faculty senator chosen by the Senate. The committee shall elect its own chair from among the membership.

c. Terms. The terms of faculty members of the committee shall be three years, staggered so that no more than three vacancies are created in any one year. The terms of the administrative members are not limited.

Article IV. Meetings and Procedures of the Faculty Senate

Section 1. Meetings

a.The regular meeting of the Faculty Senate shall be held at 2 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month from September through June of each year.

b.A special meeting of the Faculty Senate may be called by the chair or by petition to the chair of at least one-third of the membership of the Faculty Senate. Written notice must be given the senators at least three class days in advance of any special meeting of the Faculty Senate.

Section 2. The Agenda The Executive Committee shall prepare an agenda for each regular meeting of the Faculty Senate. The agenda shall consist of the following segments: Chair's report; Vice chair's report (if any); Reports from university administrators (if any); Committee reports (if any); Old business (items that have previously appeared on the agenda on which final action has not been taken); New business (new items to be considered); Provost and Academic Vice President's report; and Committee of the whole (announcements, etc.). Within each segment, items shall be taken up in the order listed by the Executive Committee unless the senate shall, by majority vote, change the order. The agenda shall be distributed to all senators and the chair at least five days in advance of each regular meeting. The agenda for any special meeting shall be given in the notice of the meeting.

Section 3. Recognition Faculty members attending Faculty Senate meetings may seek recognition by the chair to be heard upon matters and issues pertinent to the senate's discussions and debates. The chair may recognize such faculty members at a time that is consistent with the senate's published agenda.

Section 4. Quorum The Faculty Senate shall not transact official business without the presence of a quorum. A quorum shall consist of two-thirds of the voting senators. When the absence of a quorum is suggested by a member of the senate, the secretary of the senate shall call the roll and announce to the chair the presence or absence of a quorum.

Section 5. Parliamentary Procedures The meetings of the Faculty Senate shall be conducted according to Roberts Rules of Order.

Section 6. Senate Voting

a.All matters brought before the Faculty Senate that require a vote, with the exception of the elections of officers, shall be decided by open vote, i.e., voice vote, show of hands or roll call, as determined by the presiding officer.

b.A roll call vote may be ordered upon the vote of at least one-fifth of the senators present.

c.In the election or removal of Senate officers, a secret ballot shall be conducted upon the request of any Senator.