Bylaws 2007 version
University Faculty Senate Bylaws and Procedures 2007BylawsIntroduction Guidelines of the University Faculty Senate Committee Reports and Resolutions Appendix University Faculty Senate State University of New York Website: www.suny.edu/facultysenate University Faculty Senate Governance Committee Ron Sarner, Chair - SUNY IT Handbook design by Carol Donato Much of the work on the revision of this publication was done by Professor Joe Hildreth (Potsdam) and Ms. Carol Donato, Executive Assistant to the Senate. The Governance Committee expresses its gratitude for their contributions. Table of Contents I) Foreword 5 Please note that throughout this Handbook, all references to the Policies of the Board of Trustees refer to the 2006 Edition (July 26, 2006) and are cited as the Policies and appear in bold type. I. Foreword The Bylaws and Procedures Handbook of the State University of New York University Faculty Senate (UFS) is meant to be a reference and repository of policies, procedures, rules and regulations and precedent’s of behavior which are foundational to the structure and operation of the State-wide faculty governance body of the State-operated colleges/universities legally referred to as the SUNY University Faculty Senate. It is the hope of the leadership of the University Senate that you will find this document to be helpful to your understanding of our governance body and your functioning as a Senator, Alternate Senator, Campus Governance Leader or committee member or member of the faculty/staff. History The first Bylaws and Procedures Handbook of the UFS was developed by Senator Ron Sarner of SUNYIT in 1991. This first edition was an exceptional effort by Professor Sarner and his colleagues to organize the documents, procedures and practices of the University Faculty Senate into a central volume, easily available to faculty interested in UFS activities and responsibilities. This first document served the Senate well until 1994, when the Task Force on Bylaws Revisions presented its report for adoption in 1994. After the adoption of those Bylaws the Senate Executive Committee decided to appoint a Senate Procedures Taskforce to codify and update the procedures and practices that had evolved over the years into a new and enlarged Bylaws and Procedures Handbook. Karen Markoe (Maritime College) and Carl Wiezalis (Upstate Medical University) were asked to Co-chair the 1994-95 Senate Procedures Task Force. This Task Force spent the academic year bringing together a disparate body of information to the University Faculty Senate that extended beyond procedures and Bylaws to include a brief history of the Senate; guidelines for officers, member and committee chairs; lists of former officers; publication; and recipients of Senate awards. For the first time we had a single publication that provided a thorough introduction and overview to the University Faculty Senate. Much of the work of this Task Force was accomplished by several very dedicated Task Force members who spent countless hours, days and months probing the dusty archives of SUNY to organize the evolutional benchmarks which characterize the University Faculty Senate. The members of the 1994 Task Force deserve our grateful appreciation for making a significant contribution to the organization, vitality and institutional memory of the University Faculty Senate. The 1994 edition of the UFS Bylaws and Procedures Handbook served the organization very well for over a decade. But in 2005 the Executive Committee of the Senate decided it was time to revisit the Handbook with an eye on correcting weakness and omissions. Consequently, the Governance Committee under Chair Ron Sarner, was asked to undertake a complete review, modification and updating of the document. After 1.5 years of assiduous effort the current edition, the third edition, is now complete (Spring 2007). I offer my sincere thanks to the Governance Committee for diligently carrying this revision to completion. The Executive Committee decided to segregate the Bylaws review aspect of the Handbook from the work of the Governance Committee and charge a separate committee to address that complex and time-consuming effort. While Parliamentarian Edward Alfonsin (Emeritus-Potsdam) was initially appointed Chair of the Bylaws Committee in 2005, Ed insisted that all three members on the committee shared the work and responsibilities associated with the Bylaws revisions. Therefore, we concede and sincerely thank all three of the Bylaws Committee Tri-chairs, Edward Alfonsin, Robert Fluck (Upstate Medical University) and William Baumer (University at Buffalo). The 2007 Bylaws were ratified after a second reading a the Winter Plenary of the UFS at Stony Brook University in January 2007. We would be remiss if we did not recognize and thank Carol Donato, Executive Assistant of the University Faculty Senate who provides exceptional support for all of the organizational and committee work of the UFS. She is a full partner in the day-to-day work of the Senate. The UFS would be diminished without her loyal and dedicated investment in our work and in our aspirations. The Governance Committee, the Bylaws Committee and the Executive Committee hope that the faculty and staff will find the Bylaws and Procedures Handbook to be a valuable reference for the operation of the Senate and a useful template for consideration at the campus level as well. I would like to add my personal appreciation to the many hands and minds that came together over the last several months to refine an already excellent reference volume. Organizational effectiveness begins with guiding documents which illuminate our pathway to successful governance performance. The new Bylaws and Procedures Handbook (3rd edition) will help to make that pathway more clear then ever. Carl P. Wiezalis, President
The University Faculty Senate held its first meeting in Albany on December 15, 1953, five years after SUNY was founded. The idea for a university-wide faculty governance organization was raised in 1950 at the State Teachers College Faculties Association and a committee chaired by Professor J. Murdock Dawley from the Fredonia campus was given the task of exploring the possibility of forming such an organization. The following year, on December 7, 1951, at the Paris Hotel in New York City, representatives from 29 SUNY units formed a committee to write a constitution. On March 19, 1953, the document was completed and submitted to the SUNY campuses for ratification. After three-quarters of the campuses ratified the constitution, the SUNY Board of Trustees approved the creation of the University Faculty Senate on October 8, 1953, and shortly thereafter, the Senate met. The original language called for the President of SUNY (now the Chancellor) to be the presiding officer of the Senate, with the body electing its own Vice Chair and Secretary. At this historic first meeting, the President of SUNY, William Carlson, presided; J. Murdock Dawley was elected Vice Chair, and Loren Petty (Cornell Agriculture) was elected Secretary. Each campus had equal representation and one vote in the Senate's formative stage, but in short order a proportional system of representation was adopted. A committee structure was utilized, with the number of committees changing over the years. Currently there are six standing committees. The Faculty Senate serves as a resource on governance for the University. It serves as a deliberative body on educational policies for the SUNY system. In this capacity it issues publications including proceedings, directories, and handbooks on matters such as budget, program revision, and presidential searches. It serves as a repository for documents and for tapes of Plenary Sessions. The Policies of the Board of Trustees (Article VII. Title A §1, 2) state: § 1. Name. There shall be a University Faculty Senate of State University of New York. §2. Purposes. The senate shall be the official agency through which the University Faculty engages in the governance of the University. The Senate shall he concerned with effective educational policies and other professional matters within the University. 1. Organization of the Senate Representation on the Senate is by elected Senators and alternates from the four University Centers, the five Health Science Centers and Colleges, the thirteen Colleges of Arts and Science, the five upstate Colleges of Technology, and the nine Specialized and Statutory Colleges. The number of Senators from each campus is determined by a weighted formula. As of 2006 there were 48 Senators. The term is for three years with a two term maximum; after an intervening term, one may seek additional term(s). Alternate Senators are also elected to substitute for the elected Senator when the need arises. The Chancellor appoints two Senators, plus Alternates, from System Administration. Senate seats are on a cycle with approximately one-third of the seats up for election each year. The Senate also includes designated observers from principal SUNY constituent groups. 2. Standing Committee Structure The charges of the Standing committees are reviewed annually at the Fall Planning Meeting. Members of standing committees (except the Executive Committee), including the Chairs, are selected by the Executive Committee and serve one-year terms. Reappointment is a common practice, with three years being the usual period of service. a. Executive Committee The Senate's Executive Committee is chaired by the President of the Senate. Other members include the Vice-President/Secretary and five elected Senators, chosen in accord with Article VIII, Section B of the Senate's By-Laws, and one Senator from System Administration chosen by the Chancellor. The Immediate Past President and Vice-President/Secretary serve as ex-officio, non-voting members for one term of two years. The Executive Committee prepares the Senate's agenda, acts for the Senate (whenever possible) if the Senate is not in session, reacts to items submitted by the Chancellor, individual campuses and such other responsibilities that are in the best interests of the Senate, It meets approximately seven times a year. b. Governance Committee The Committee shall concern itself with University-wide governance and shall provide guidance on matters of campus governance. The Committee shall interact with local governance leaders of the University. c. Graduate Academic Programs and Research Committee The Committee serves as a source of professional advice and guidance to the Senate on matters relating to the quality, operation, and encouragement of graduate programs and research. To these ends, the Committee may be concerned with the procedures, criteria, and support of existing and new graduate programs within the University. The Committee may review and recommend policies and procedures relating to moral and ethical concerns of research and graduate studies and other matters involving the furtherance of research and graduate studies within the University. d. Student Life Committee The Committee will he concerned with significant educational, developmental, social, cultural, and recreational policies, programs, issues and services that affect the quality of student life and the campus environment of the State University of New York. e. Undergraduate Academic Programs and Policies Committee The Committee provides advice and guidance to the Senate on matters relating to undergraduate programs and policies throughout the University. To these ends, the Committee may review such areas as existing and proposed curricula, standards for academic degrees, teaching techniques and evaluation, special undergraduate programs, articulation among units of the State University of New York, and the various aspects of international education and development. f. University Operations Committee The Committee shall be concerned with the effective participation of the professional staff in University personnel policies including equal employment practices and affirmative action, The Committee shall also be concerned with the development and administration of the budgetary and planning activities of the University, and to provide advice and guidance on matters related to libraries, computing, and telecommunications. g. University Programs and Awards Committee The Committee will concern itself with the enhancement of intercampus educational and scholarly interests of the faculty through the development and strengthening of University-wide programs, grants and awards. The Senate Office is currently located at System Administration, State University Plaza in Albany. It serves as the Albany office for the Senate President. The complete address and phone numbers are: University Faculty Senate Office Phones: (518) 443-5326 Website: www.suny.edu/facultysenate Each September the University Faculty Senate holds a planning meeting attended by members of the Executive Committee, and members of standing committees. The Planning Meeting provides new committee members with an opportunity to be initiated into the policies, procedures, and operations of the Senate and its Committees. Whenever possible, the Chancellor of the University attends the meeting and provides an overview of issues of current concern to the University. The agenda for the meeting also includes meetings between the Executive Committee and each of the Standing Committees. The purpose is to review the activities of the Senate planned for the year. The Committees plan their activities for the year according to a set of priorities determined in consultation with the Executive Committee. Prior to adjournment, all committees meet together for a summary session with the Executive Committee. The chair of each committee reports on its major activities and priorities for the year. Three Plenary Sessions of the University Faculty Senate each lasting two days, are held each academic year, in the fall, winter, and spring. Rotation among the campuses as sites for these meetings with each campus hosting a meeting approximately every ten years, provides an opportunity to visit other campuses. Senators receive electronic and/or paper materials approximately one month prior to each Plenary session. The host institution also provides information about the campus and surrounding area. The Faculty Senate office provides information on accommodations, directions, parking, etc. The host campus also makes provision for taping the entire Plenary. Senate meetings include a session with the Chancellor with a question and answer period. The Plenary Session agenda usually includes:
The Fall Plenary typically includes reports on the Fall Planning Meeting, At the Winter Plenary, the Chair and other members of the Board of Trustees often engage in a formal exchange with the Senate. The Executive committee shall be responsible for the Faculty Senate Bulletin and shall be its editorial board. The Senate budget is derived from assessments made against the campuses. Each campus assessment is based upon the number of senators from that campus. The Senate budget supports the Senate office, the committee structure, Senate Plenary Meetings, and the Fall Planning Meeting. The President receives full released time from campus responsibilities and the Vice President/Secretary half-time release. Expenses of Senators to attend plenary sessions are the responsibility of their respective home campuses. The Policies of the Board of Trustees (Article VII.A,2) denotes the Senate as the official agency through which the University Faculty engages in the governance of the University. In addition to its own deliberations and discussions of matters concerning governance, the Senate recognizes the need to communicate effectively with other constituencies and representatives of other governance bodies within SUNY. The Senate also enjoys an ongoing reciprocal relationship with the leadership of the community colleges and the Faculty Council of Community Colleges and the City University of New York Faculty Senate and the SUNY Student Assembly. The chairs of all three organizations are often invited guests at Senate functions. The University Faculty Senate officially recognizes the following Official Observers:
These Official Observers are welcome to attend all sessions of the Senate Plenarv meetings and to participate as fully as they wish. As Official Observers they have full parliamentary privileges with the exception of voting rights. III. Guidelines of the University Faculty Senate A. Senators and Alternate Senators In accordance with Article VI of the By-Laws the Senator shall attend all Plenary Meetings of the University Faculty Senate and shall make oral and written reports to the campus governance body. Senators should have established local campus lists to post copies of reports to. The University Faculty Senate has recommended that a University Faculty Senator be a member of the local campus governance executive committee. The Alternate shall perform all duties of the Senator in the Senator's absence. In addition, Senators serving as sector representatives to the Executive Committee (see By-Laws Article VIII, Section B) shall have the following responsibilities;
1. General
2. Date Lines
3. Presidential Initiatives
C. Vice-President/Secretary of the Senate The Vice President/Secretary is a part-time position with primary responsibility for the official records of the Senate. 1. Vice-Presidential Duties The Vice President/Secretary serves as President in the absence of the President at the Fall Planning Meeting, Senate Plenaries, or Executive Committee meetings.
2. Secretarial Duties a. Executive Committee
b. Plenaries
1. Summer Orientation Meeting The summer orientation meeting for Committee Chairs is open to members of the Executive Committee. The Chancellor is also invited. The orientation is a conversation about the relations and activities in which the Chairs will engage throughout their tenure. For example, some issues such as the relationship of the Standing Committees to the Executive committee, relations external to the Senate, and with the Chancellors office, the Trustees or the collective bargaining agent are complex matters requiring ongoing discussion and consultation with the Senate President and the Executive Committee. 2. Operating Procedures for Committees and Committee Chairs a. Committee Organization and Functions
b. Committee Meetings
c. Fall Planning Meeting
d. Relations with the Executive Committee
e. Chair's Roles
f. Plenary Sessions
Responsibilities and procedures of the Executive Committee include:
F. Committee Reports and Resolutions Communications and committee deliberations normally take the form of written reports and resolutions. A report summarizes the work of a committee and indicates the direction of further deliberation. Apart from acceptance, the report requires no action on the part of the Senate. A resolution represents recommended action by the SUNY Faculty Senate, To be considered by the Senate, resolutions should address University-wide concerns within the scope of Faculty Senate activities as defined by the Policies (Article VII, Title A, Section 2), and the By-Laws of the Senate. The text of the resolution is preceded by a rationale which lists the reasons for the concern over the issues at hand, the problems involved, and the particular solution sought. All resolutions must clearly state the specific action the Senate or other entities are expected to take, as well as the individuals or groups who should be informed of this action (usually the Chancellor). Resolutions should be presented on behalf of the Senate, and each resolution, together with its supporting rationale, must be submitted separately from the committee report or any other materials. Resolutions are directed to:
Resolutions that originate on a campus must be passed by the campus governance body. Each campus resolution should be transmitted to the President of the Senate, The Senator from that campus should try to have the resolution passed by the governance body early enough to reach the Senate Office at least four weeks before a scheduled Plenary, allowing it to be placed on the agenda and distributed in the Meeting packets. Resolutions received in time for the Executive Committee meeting the night before the Senate Plenary session may be incorporated into the New Business section of the Agenda. See Form of a Resolution Page 58 The disposition of each resolution brought to the Plenary will be recorded as follows: The first number in the code indicates the meeting number; the second indicates the resolution number; the third represents the disposition. The numbers are followed by the source of the resolution. An example: 116-01-1 Executive means: At the 116th regular meeting of the Faculty Senate the first resolution introduced was adopted, and it was submitted by the Executive Committee. The third number showing the disposition of the resolution is as follows: 1. indicates adoption of a resolution; a resolution passed unanimously has the word without dissent added to the code; Travel expenses of Senators to the three Plenary Sessions are provided through local campus budgets; therefore Senators must adhere to campus budget procedures to secure reimbursement for travel and lodging. Senators who simultaneously serve as Committee Chairs have their travel to the Plenary Sessions funded through their local campus. Travel to Plenary Sessions by Executive Committee members and Committee Chairs who are not Senators, and Campus Governance Leaders is supported by the Senate. Those requiring air travel for Plenary Sessions need to contact the Senate office. Necessary approvals will be obtained and arrangements made by the Senate secretary. Expenses for travel in connection with meetings of Senate Committees or the Fall Planning Meeting are paid for by the Senate. Travel must be in a cost-effective manner consistent with state policies, rules, and regulations. Travelers need to keep all receipts, including those for lodging, meals, transportation, and tolls. Reimbursement rates and travel restrictions change frequently; Campus business offices have information on current rates. Travelers must provide original receipts, not copies. Use of rental cars is encouraged for travel supported by the Senate. The State of New York has a contract with Enterprise Rent A Car. Contact the Senate office for more information. At the completion of the trip, a New York Stare Travel Voucher and a Statement of Automobile Travel (if applicable), are filed with the Senate Office. These forms are available on the Faculty Senate website and usually at meetings. When filling in forms, please note that the Agency is SUNY System Administration, not the local campus. Please see instructions on the Faculty Senate website and complete the forms accordingly. Contact the Senate office with questions and concerns about travel. Other travel expenses for those committee members who are appointed by the Executive Committee of the University Faculty Senate are funded through the Senate's budget and will be reimbursed by the Senate office. Likewise, expenses of persons invited as consultants to committees shall be paid by the Senate. The Senate will also assume responsibility for funding the travel expenses of its representatives who are observers at meetings or committees of other agencies or constituencies if approved by the President of the Senate. Travel expenses of observers at meetings of the University Faculty Senate or its committees shall be funded by the agencies or constituencies that the observers represent.
IV. University Faculty Senate Bylaws ARTICLE I: ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSES Section A. Establishment. The University Faculty Senate, hereafter called the Senate, is established by the Policies of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York, hereafter called the Policies, in Article VII, Title A as: § 1. Name. There shall be a University Faculty Senate of the State University of New York. § 2. Purposes. The Senate shall be the official agency through which the University Faculty engages in the governance of the University. The Senate shall be concerned with effective educational policies and other professional matters within the University. ARTICLE II: SENATE MEMBERSHIP AND ELECTIONS Section A. Membership. The Senate is composed of the President; Vice-President/Secretary; and Senators as specified in Article VII, Title B of the Policies. The immediate past President and immediate past Vice-President/Secretary shall be nonvoting Members of the Senate for one term of two years by reason of office. Committee Chairpersons who are not Senators shall be nonvoting Members of the Senate by reason of office. Members of the Senate, elected or appointed, fulfill the purpose of the body, but no Member has the authority to speak in its name, other than the President or designee specified in these Bylaws. Section B. Appointment and Election of Senators. The appointment and election of Senators shall conform to Article VII, Title B of the Policies. § 1. Composition. The Senate shall consist of the Chancellor of the University, two representatives having University-wide responsibilities, and representatives from each State-operated unit and contract college in numbers determined as follows: a) One representative from each unit, independent of the size of the professional staff. b) Additional representatives shall be authorized from units on the basis of the number of full-time professional staff according to the following: a second representative for units whose full-time professional staff is greater than or equal to 600 but less than 1,100; a third representative for units whose professional staff is greater than or equal to 1,100 but less than 1,600; and a fourth representative for units whose professional staff is greater or equal to 1,600. § 2. Election and Appointment. The Chancellor of the University shall appoint the two University representatives and the two alternate University representatives having University-wide responsibility. The professional staff of each State-operated unit and contract college shall, by secret ballot and majority of those voting, elect their own representatives and alternates in a manner that shall be further specified in the bylaws of each unit's faculty, provided that the alternate representatives shall serve for the same term as the representatives for whom they are alternates. Alternate representatives shall serve in the absence or inability to act for the representative for whom they are alternates and, in that event, such alternate representatives shall exercise all the powers and duties of the representatives for whom they are alternates. § 3. Terms. The University representatives shall serve at the pleasure of the Chancellor of the University. Each representative of a State-operated unit or contract college shall serve for a term of three years; provided however, that no such representative shall serve as a member of the Senate after termination of employment in the unit which the representative was elected. § 4. Reelection. An elected representative who has served a full three-year term or major fraction thereof shall be eligible to serve a second consecutive three-year term. Representatives shall not be eligible to serve again as members of the Senate until the expiration of one year from the end of their last preceding term. Representatives who have served only a minor fraction of one three-year term may serve for two additional three-year terms. § 5. Vacancies. If a leave of absence or other reason will prevent a Senator or alternate from performing the duties of the office for a period of one academic year or longer, the position will be declared vacant and a new election will be held to fill the remainder of the unexpired term. An individual currently serving as an alternate may run in the election for a Senate seat that has been vacated in this manner. In the event that both the Senator and the alternate are simultaneously unable to represent the campus for a period in excess of four months during the academic year, both offices will be declared vacant and the unexpired term will be filled by a new election. Section C. Notice of Vacancies. By February 1st of each year, the President of the Senate shall send to the Senators and administrative heads of those units for which vacancies will occur on July 1 a notice to this effect, with a request that the election of a Senator and alternate be held, and the results of the election transmitted to the President of the Senate by April 1st. Section D. Membership by Reason of Office. § 1. Immediate Past President and Immediate Past Vice-President/Secretary. The immediate past President and immediate past Vice President/Secretary shall serve as nonvoting Members of the Senate by reason of office for one term of two years. § 2. Chairpersons of Standing Committees. Those Chairpersons of Standing Committees who are not elected Senators shall serve as nonvoting Members of the Senate by reason of office. ARTICLE III: OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS Section A. Election of Senate Officers. In accordance with Policies, Article VII, Title C: § 1. President of the Senate. Before July 1 of each odd-numbered year, the Senate shall elect one of its elected members as President of the Senate for a term of two years. Upon election as President to the Senate, the elected member shall vacate the position as the representative of his or her unit in the Senate. The President of the Senate shall preside at all meetings of the Senate and shall exercise such other powers and duties as may be vested in the President by this Article and the bylaws of the Senate. The President shall be an ex officio member of all Senate committees. The President of the Senate may be reelected for a second term but may not thereafter be eligible for a successive term. § 2. Vice-President/Secretary. Before July 1 of each even-numbered year, the Senate shall elect one of its elected members to serve as Vice-President/Secretary for a term of two years. The Vice-President/Secretary shall take and keep minutes of the Senate and shall exercise such other powers and duties as the Senate shall provide in its bylaws. The Vice-President/Secretary shall serve as the President of the Senate during that officer's absence or inability to act. Any regular member of the Senate is eligible to serve as Vice-President/Secretary for one year beyond the expiration of his or her three-year term as a Senate member. In such case the Vice-President/Secretary shall become a nonvoting member of the Senate and the unit shall be represented by a regularly elected successor. § 3. Vacancies. A vacancy in the office of President or Vice-President/Secretary shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original election, at the next succeeding meeting of the Senate following the occurrence of the vacancy. In the interim, the Executive Committee shall elect one of its members to serve in an acting capacity until the vacancy is filled. Section B. Elections. Election to the offices of the Senate and its Executive Committee for terms beginning July 1 shall be held during the Spring Meeting of the Senate. The order of elections shall be: officer positions, then elected members of the Executive Committee. Section C. Nominating Committee. § 1. Annual Nominations. All Senators in the last year of their terms shall constitute the Nominating Committee. The President shall designate the Chairperson of this committee from among those eligible to serve on the committee. The committee shall include at least one member from an institution in each of the groups specified in Article VIII, Section B of these Bylaws. The committee shall meet at the Winter Meeting of the Senate and shall seek to nominate at least two candidates for the appropriate officer's position. The Chairperson of the Nominating Committee shall request that each candidate prepare and submit for distribution to Members of the Senate a vita and statement of candidacy, each not to exceed one page. These shall arrive at the Senate office at least four weeks prior to the spring meeting of the Senate. § 2. Nominations for Vacancies. When an Officer of the Senate vacates his or her position during a term, the Executive Committee shall appoint an Intraterm Nominating Committee composed of members of the immediately previous nominating committee who continue to serve as elected Members of the Senate or who are elected Members of the Senate serving the final year of their terms, and appoint one as chairperson. The committee shall include at least one member from an institution in each of the groups specified in Article VIII, Section B of these Bylaws. The intraterm committee shall have the duties specified in § 1. of this Section C. Section D. Conduct of Elections. It shall be the responsibility of the Nominating Committee or Intraterm Nominating Committee to conduct all elections for Officers of the Senate and Members of the Executive Committee at meetings of the Senate. Section E. Method of Elections. Elections shall be by secret ballot of the Senate as a whole, and a majority of the votes cast shall be required for election. If no candidate for an office or position receives a majority of the votes cast, then the candidate who received the lowest number of votes shall be removed from the slate, and the election repeated until a candidate receives a majority of the votes cast. If there is only one candidate for a position as Member of the Executive Committee, and if there is no objection from the floor, the Senate may authorize the Vice President/Secretary to cast a single ballot for that candidate. Section F. Nominations for Members of the Executive Committee. §1. Nominations. Candidates for the elected positions on the Executive Committee shall be nominated by their respective groups of institutions specified in Article VIII, Section B, of these Bylaws. Additional nominations from the floor for each position to be filled shall then be accepted. §2. Vacancies. An intraterm vacancy on the Executive Committee shall be filled by the Executive Committee following a call for nominations by the Senators from the group of institutions represented by the position. The Senators of that group shall consult and propose one or more nominees for consideration by the Executive Committee, and may do so by electronic means. The Executive Committee shall elect such a nominee to serve until the next regular meeting of the Senate, at which meeting an election shall be held to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term. ARTICLE IV: REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE SENATE Section A. Meetings. In accordance with Article VII, Title D, Section 1 of the Policies: The Senate shall meet at least twice a year at such times and places as shall be determined by the Executive Committee. Special meetings of the Senate may be called in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws. Section B. Meetings Agenda. At least ten calendar days prior to a regular meeting of the Senate, the President shall send the proposed agenda to the Members of the Senate. The agenda for all Senate meetings shall provide, as a priority order of business, an opportunity for the Chancellor to report to the Senate. The agenda shall be approved by the Executive Committee prior to the opening of the Senate meeting; the committee may modify the proposed agenda by adding or deleting items. Requests for changes may be submitted to the Executive Committee in writing or electronic text by any Member of the Senate no later than three days before a meeting of the Senate. The Senate may, by two-thirds vote, modify the agenda approved by the Executive Committee. Floor resolutions arising out of discussion during the normal course of business shall require only a majority vote to be considered. ARTICLE V: SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE SENATE Section A. Calling Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Senate may be called by the Executive Committee and shall be called by the President when petitioned by at least one-fourth of the Members of the Senate. The petition shall state the matters to be addressed by the special meeting. Special meetings may also be called by the Chancellor. Special meetings shall be held at times and places designated by the Executive Committee. Section B. Agenda for Special Meetings. The agenda for a special meeting of the Senate shall be contained in the call for the meeting. Additional items may be added to the agenda by the vote of three-fourths of the voting Members present. ARTICLE VI: DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SENATORS The duties and responsibilities of Senators shall include representation of their constituents, bringing to the Senate matters of concern from their constituent campuses, and reporting fully and regularly to their constituents on the activities of the Senate. ARTICLE VII: DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SENATE OFFICERS Section A. President. The President is the Presiding Officer of the Senate, shall preside at all the meetings of the Senate, and shall exercise such other powers and duties as may be vested by this Article and the Bylaws of the Senate. The President shall be an ex officio member of all Senate committees, shall serve as the Chairperson of the Executive Committee, and have such other duties as the Senate or Executive Committee shall assign. The President shall communicate the resolutions of the Senate to the persons or bodies to whom those resolutions are directed and shall monitor the disposition and implementation of its actions. Section B. Vice-President/Secretary. The Vice-President/Secretary shall make and keep the minutes of the Senate, shall exercise such powers and duties as the Senate shall provide in its Bylaws, and shall serve as President of the Senate during that officer's absence or inability to act. The Vice-President/Secretary shall preside over the Executive Committee in the absence of the President. ARTICLE VIII: MEMBERSHIP, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND DUTIES OF SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES Section A. Committees. In accordance with Article VII, Title D, Section 2 of the Policies: The Senate may establish such standing committees as it deems advisable and shall prescribe the functions of such committees. One such committee shall be the Executive Committee. The chairpersons and members of all other standing committees shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and shall serve for terms of one year commencing July 1st of each year. Committee members shall be eligible for reappointment. Section B. Executive Committee. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Senate which shall be comprised of the President of the Senate; the Vice-President/Secretary; one of the two University-wide Representatives whom the Chancellor shall designate to serve; and one Senator representing each of the groups of institutions specified in §1 of this Section B, who shall be elected by the Senate. The President shall serve as Chairperson of the Executive Committee. The elected Senators shall serve one year terms commencing July 1 of each year. They shall be eligible for reelection as Members of the Executive Committee. The immediate past President and immediate past Vice-President/Secretary shall serve as nonvoting Members of the Executive Committee for one term of two years by reason of office. §1. Elected Representatives. To determine the elected representative Members of the Executive Committee, the institutions comprising the state-operated and statutory colleges of the State University of New York shall be organized into the following groups, each of which shall be represented by one Member of the Executive Committee (See Article III, Sections B, D, E and F for election procedures): Group 1. University Colleges Group 2. Health Science Centers Group 3. Colleges of Technology/Agriculture Group 4. Specialized and Statutory Colleges Group 5. University Centers §2. Responsibilities and Duties. It shall be the responsibility of the Executive Committee to conduct business when the Senate is not in session. In addition, the Executive Committee shall have the responsibility: (a) To appoint members of such standing committees as may be established by the Senate and to direct the activities of such committees. The incoming and continuing officers of the Senate (President or Vice-President/Secretary) and the incoming members of the Executive Committee, in consultation with the outgoing members of the Executive Committee, shall select the Chairpersons and members of the Standing Committees. Committee members shall be eligible for reappointment. ARTICLE IX: AD HOC COMMITTEES Ad Hoc Committees shall be created by either of the following procedures: 1. The President in consultation with the Executive Committee shall appoint and charge ad hoc committees. ARTICLE X: REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS Section A. Reports. All committee reports shall be presented in writing to the Senate at regular meetings and be received by majority vote. Apart from reception by majority vote, committee reports require no action by the Senate. Section B. Resolutions. Resolutions are actions adopted by majority vote of the Senate or by larger majority vote when required by these Bylaws or the parliamentary authority. Proposed resolutions shall be submitted separately from committee reports or any other materials. The President shall communicate the resolutions of the Senate to the persons or bodies to whom those resolutions are directed and shall monitor the disposition and implementation by those persons or bodies of its resolutions. ARTICLE XI: QUORUMS AND ACTIONS Section A. Quorums for Meetings. A quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Senate, its Executive Committee, and of any committee of the Senate shall be a majority of the voting members of the body. Section B. Actions. Unless specified otherwise in these Bylaws, the act of a majority of the members present and eligible to vote at any meeting of the Senate, the Executive Committee, or committees of the Senate, shall be the act of that body. Section C. Electronic Meetings. Committees of the Senate may conduct meetings and distribute materials to be considered by electronic means. Members of a committee may similarly participate in meetings they are unable to attend in person. Committees may conduct discussions of and with the consent of two-thirds of their members vote on reports or proposed Senate resolutions by electronic means. ARTICLE XII: RULES OF PROCEDURE Procedures at meetings of the Senate and Senate committees shall be governed by the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, except as otherwise provided by these Bylaws. The Senate shall have a parliamentarian selected by the President in consultation with the Executive Committee. ARTICLE XIII: AMENDMENTS Section A. Procedures for Changes of Bylaws. In accordance with Article VII, Title E, Section 1 of the Policies: The Senate may adopt, amend, or repeal such bylaws as it deems advisable, consistent with this Article VII, governing its activities and procedures. 1. Proposed changes shall be submitted to the Executive Committee not later than one month in advance of any regular meeting of the Senate. Amendments so submitted shall be introduced at one meeting of the Senate and voted on at the following Senate meeting. Section B. Procedure for Changes to Article VII of the Policies of the Board of Trustees. In accordance with Article VII, Title F of the Policies: Proposed amendments to this Article may be recommended to the Board of Trustees by a majority vote of the Senate. The Chancellor shall transmit proposed amendments to the Board of Trustees with recommendations. Amendments, in such form as approved by the Board, shall become effective if ratified by the professional staff of a majority of State-operated units and contract colleges, by secret ballot, within such time period not in excess of one year as may be fixed by the Board of Trustees.
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University Faculty Senate Bylaws Appendix This appendix lists the sections of the University Faculty Senate Bylaws that replicate sections of Article VII, "University Faculty Senate", of the Policies of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York. Each replication is identified by the Article, Section and Subsection of the Bylaws and the Title and Section of Article VII of the Policies. The several replications combined incorporate the entirety of Article VII of the Policies in the Bylaws. Article I § 1 replicates Title A § 1. Article I § 2 replicates Title A § 2. [The Senate represents faculty at the institutions listed in Article VIII.B.1, but does not represent faculty at the SUNY Community Colleges.] Article II B § 1 replicates Title B § 1. Article II B § 2 replicates Title B § 2. Article II B § 3 replicates Title B § 3. Article II B § 4 replicates Title B § 4. Article II B § 5 replicates Title B § 5. Article III A § 1 replicates Title C § 1. Article III A § 2 replicates Title C § 2. Article III A § 3 replicates Title C § 3. Article IV A replicates Title D § 1. Article VIII A virtually replicates Title D § 2, but the third sentence of VIII A is: The chairpersons and members of all other standing committees shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and shall serve for terms of one year commencing July 1st of each year. modifying the third sentence from Title D § 2: The chairperson and members of the standing committee shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and shall serve for terms of one year commencing July 1st of each year. The Bylaws would otherwise require the Executive Committee, specified as a standing committee previously in both Bylaws VIII.A and Policies D.2, to appoint itself and its chair, contravening several other provisions of the Bylaws. This meets the Policies VII.E requirement that the Bylaws be consistent with the Policies [cf. the first sentence of Bylaws XIII.A]. Article XIII A, 1st sentence only, replicates Title E § 1. Article XIII B replicates Title F § 1. These Bylaws incorporate all amendments adopted by the University Faculty Senate at its January 2007 Plenary Meeting.
Past Senate Presidents Past Senate Vice President/Secretaries Awards Senate Publications Form of a Resolution
Past Senate Presidents Joseph Hildreth Potsdam 2001-2005 John Sherwig New Paltz 1966-1969 Past Vice Presidents/Secretaries Achim Koeddermann Oneonta 2005-2006 Friend of the Senate Award Theodore Summers
Chugh/University Faculty Senate Outstanding Service Award Brij Mullick, April 2005 Senator Emeritus Award Joe Flynn, April 2002 University Faculty Senate Fellow Award Norman Goodman, October 2007 (see Senate website for up-to-date information) Faculty Development Implementation Plan, Aug 2006 Faculty Development Report, July 2006 Faculty Evaluation of Administrators, January 2005 Budget Handbook, May 2004 Guide to Faculty Orientation Programs, April 2002 A Longitudinal Profile of the Faculty By Gender 1980-1999, 2001, April 2002 The Changing Face of Diversity: Minority Enrollment Trends in the State-Operated Campuses of SUNY, 2000 Full-time, Part-time Faculty Utilization in SUNY Trends, 1982-1997, 1999 Student Learning Symposium - The Integration of Academic and Student Life, November 1998 Income Fund Reimbursable Program, January 1998 Final Report of SUNY UFS and FCCC, January 1998 Joint Task Force on General Education SUNY - UFS - Bylaws and Procedures, April 1998 A longitudinal Profile of Faculty By Gender 1980-1996, April 1998 Outstanding Student Life Programs of SUNY, Spring 1997 Public Higher Education and Productivity: A Faculty Voice, Mar 1997 Faculty Participation in the Campus & SUNY Budget Process, Jan 1997 Longitudinal Faculty Profile by Gender 1980-1994, Jan 1996 Distance learning Report, April 1995 Governance Handbook, April 1995 Sharing Ideas on Assessment, May 1994 Adjunct Teaching Faculty in SUNY: A Survey of Department Chairs on Status and Impact, Jan 1994 Trends in Instruction Class Sizes, Course Offerings, Methods of Instruction: An Analysis of CASA Data, April 1993 Longitudinal Profile of the Faculty by Gender and Ethnicity, April 1993 Enhancing the Spirit of Campus Community, Fall 1992 Assessment at SUNY, Sept 1992 Faculty Senate Handbook and Bylaws, April 1991 Status of Fees in the Committee, Apri1 1990 Outstanding Student Life Programs of the State University of New York, 1990 Guide for the Evaluation Reissued of Undergraduate Academic Programs, February 1990 The Senate Poems, October 1986 An example of a resolution in an appropriate form follows: TO: SUNY University Faculty Senate FROM: Executive Committee RE: Resolution: Dates for Election of Senators and Alternate Senators DATE: April 25, 1997 RATIONALE: WHEREAS to be most useful the Faculty Senate Direction and the SUNY Campus Directory needs to include timely and accurate information about University Faculty Senators and Alternate Senators; and WHEREAS determination of representatives from each sector type to Faculty Senate Executive Committee occurs at the Spring plenary; and WHEREAS Senators need to know who among them is eligible for selection: RESOLUTION: THEREFORE BE It RESOLVED that the University Faculty Senate directs the Campus Governance leaders to change their local senate/assembly bylaws, if necessary, so that local dates for election of Senators and Alternate Senators comply with SUNY Faculty Senate Bylaws’ date, April 1, for receiving results of the election of Senators and Alternate Senators (Article III, Section 3). Faculty Senate Website www.suny.edu/facultysenate Committee lists Expanded Executive Committee ufsecxp@ls.sysadm.suny.edu Senators ufssen-l@ls.sysadm.suny.edu Alternate Senators ufsalt-l@sysadm.suny.edu Campus Governance Leaders ufscgls@ls.sysadm.suny.edu Awards Committee ufsawr-l@ls.sysadm.suny.edu Governance Committee ufsgov-l@ls.sysadm.suny.edu Graduate Committee ufsgr-l@ls.sysadm.suny.edu Operations Committee ufsopr-l@sysadm.suny.edu Student Life Committee ufsstl-l@ls.sysadm.suny.edu Undergraduate Committee ufsugr-l@ls.sysadm.suny.edu Ad Hoc Committee Lists Diversity and Cultural Competency ufsdcc-l@ls.sysadm.suny.edu Ethics Committee ufsethics-l@ls.sysadm.suny.edu Carol Donato carol.donato@suny.edu
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