Faculty Governance Origins Development and Current Structure

Faculty Governance Origins, Development, and Current Structure

Origins President Swain’s weekly faculty meetings l l l Student absences and misbehavior discussed Trial of students charged with serious misconduct General discussion “As a rule [President Swain] consulted the faculty before acting but was annoyed when they differed from him. By adroit management he generally carried his point without causing dissatisfaction. ” Battle, History of the University, v. 1, p. 532

Board of Governors Code Ø The Chancellor must see that there is Ø an elected faculty council Ø a chair of the faculty elected by the general faculty or the faculty council Ø appropriate procedures “to provide the faculty the means to give advice with respect to questions of academic policy and institutional governance, with particular emphasis upon matters of curriculum, degree requirements, instructional standards, and grading criteria. ”

Board of Governors Code Ø The Chancellor Ø “shall define the scope of authority of faculties, councils, committees, and officers of the institution” Ø “shall have the right to preside over the deliberations of any legislative bodies of the faculties”

Board of Governors Code “The council or senate may advise the Chancellor on any matters pertaining to the institution that are of interest and concern to the faculty. ”

Faculty Code ØEstablished by General Faculty in 1947 with tacit consent of Chancellor R. B. House ØAmendments require passage by the General Faculty at two successive meetings ØEmbodies permanent legislation of the General Faculty ØDerives its formal legal standing from the Board of Governors Code directives to the chancellor concerning faculty governance

The General Faculty Ø Membership Ø All persons holding full-time faculty appointments Ø All librarians Ø Registrar, Director of Student Aid, and Director of Undergraduate Admissions

The General Faculty Ø Voting Privileges Ø All tenure-track faculty Ø All librarians Ø Full-time (75% FTE) fixed-term faculty with at least 3 year tenure

The General Faculty Ø Powers Ø Establish educational policies Ø Establish and amend the Faculty Code Ø Advise the chancellor and administration Ø Make recommendations to faculty committees and academic units Ø Discuss and resolve upon matters of general concern

The General Faculty Ø Meetings Ø Regular meetings in September and April Ø Special meetings on call Ø Quorum is conclusively presumed if 10 -days notice of meeting is given; otherwise quorum is 125.

Faculty Committees Ø Created by and responsible to General Faculty Ø Advisory Committee established ca. 1915 by President Edward Kidder Graham Ø Faculty Committee list first formalized in 1950

Faculty Committees 1950 Committee List Ø Advisory Ø Athletics Ø Buildings & Grounds Ø Established Lectures Ø Faculty Welfare Ø Honorary Degrees Ø Instructional Personnel Ø University Government Ø Scholarships Ø Executive (Student Discipline)

Faculty Committees Elective Committees Ø Advisory Ø Administrative Board of the Library Ø Educational Policy Ø Faculty Executive Committee Ø Athletics Ø Faculty Grievance Ø Faculty Hearings Ø Financial Exigency and Program Change Ø Honorary Degrees and Special Awards Ø Faculty Assembly Delegation

Faculty Committees Appointed by the Chancellor Ø Buildings & Grounds Ø Copyright Ø Research Ø Scholarships, Awards & Student Aid Ø Undergraduate Admissions Ø University Government

Faculty Committees Appointed by Chair of the Faculty Ø Agenda Ø Community & Diversity (dormant) Ø Faculty Information & Technology Advisory Comm. Ø Faculty Welfare (dormant) Ø Status of Women

Faculty Committees Ø Chancellor and other officers of administration often appoint task forces, search committees, and other ad hoc faculty committees Ø Faculty members are often appointed to administrative committees

Faculty Committees Ø Committees established by formal action of the General Faculty make annual reports to the Faculty Council Ø General Faculty enacts charge of most faculty committees Ø Faculty Council and General Faculty may refer specific matters to faculty committees

The Faculty Council Ø Established in 1951 Ø General Faculty had become too large to function effectively Ø First Council had 52 members representing 327 members of the Voting Faculty

The Faculty Council Ø 2009 -10 Council has 88 members representing over 3, 000 members of the Voting Faculty Ø 73 members elected from 17 electoral divisions Ø 12 FEC members not otherwise elected Ø 3 Faculty Assembly members Ø Ratio of representation is 1: 45 Ø Members are apportioned among divisions according to tenure status

The Faculty Council Term of office is three years Members not eligible for election more than twice in any period of 7 years Elections conducted among nominees chosen by divisional nominating committees

The Faculty Council Meetings held monthly September through April Duty to attend Excused absences granted on request Seat may be declared vacant after two successive unexcused absences

The Faculty Council Ø Legislative Powers Ø Educational policies, rules, and regulations Ø Undergraduate curriculum Ø Recommendations for honorary degrees and special awards Ø Regulations governing student conduct that affect academic standards or performance Ø Establish committees of the Council

The Faculty Council Ø Advisory Powers Ø Recommendations to academic units Ø Advice to the chancellor Ø Discuss and resolve upon matters relating to the life of the University

Faculty Executive Committee Ø 12 members elected by the Voting Faculty Ø Three-year term; limit of two successive terms Ø Chair and Secretary of the Faculty are ex officio members

Faculty Executive Committee Ø Powers Ø Exercises consultative powers of Faculty Council Ø Exercises Council’s legislative powers when prompt action required Ø Acts as advisory committee for Chair of the Faculty Ø Represents Council and General Faculty in advising the administration with respect to planning and setting priorities Ø Works to accomplish Council’s goals

Officers of the Faculty Chair of the Faculty Ø Office created in 1951 Ø Three-year non-renewable term Ø Elected by General Faculty from nominees chosen by Advisory Committee Ø Presides over business sessions of Faculty Council upon Chancellor’s request Ø Represents the faculty to the administration and the general public

Officers of the Faculty Secretary of the Faculty Ø Office has existed at least since 1878 Ø Five-year renewable term Ø Elected by Faculty Council; Advisory Committee submits one nominee Ø Maintains minutes of General Faculty and Faculty Council Ø Conducts faculty elections and serves as administrative arm of faculty governance

Officers of the Faculty Marshal ØAppointed by chancellor for renewable 5 -year term ØAssists in planning academic ceremonies and leads academic processions

Officers of the Faculty Athletics Representative ØAppointed by chancellor for indefinite term, subject to 5 -year review ØActs as voting delegate to ACC and representative to NCAA