Faculty Senate Meeting
February 10, 2015, 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Butler Board Room
1) Chairs Report - Larry Engel (2:30)
a) January 13, 2016 minutes approval
b) Terry Davidson Speaker for Spring Emeriti Luncheon
c) Diversity and Inclusion Working Group
2) Provost’s Report – Scott Bass (2:50)
3) Jim McCabe Resolution Larry Engel & Todd Eisenstadt (3:10)
4) Senate Vice Chair Election – Larry Engel (3:30)
5) Senate By-Law Changes – Lacey Wootton (3:30)
6) RiSE Update – “How to engage faculty” – Larry Engel (4:00)
Minutes
Faculty Senate Meeting
*** The complete recording for this meeting can be January 13, 2016 found
at http://www.american.edu./facultysenate/agendas-minutes.cfm
Present: Professors: Larry Engel, Todd Eisenstadt, Lacey Wootton, Karen Baehler, Kyle
Brannon, Rachel Borchardt, Olivia Ivey, Kelly Joiner, Billie Jo Kaufman, Despina Kakoudaki,
Gwanhoo Lee, Mary Mintz, John Nolan, Steve Silvia, Chris Simpson, Kate Wilson, Brian Yates,
Provost Scott Bass, DAA Mary Clark.
Professor Engel called the meeting to order at 2:35 PM
Chair’s Report – Larry Engel
December 9, 2015 Minutes Approval – Professor Engel opened the floor for discussion and
approval of the December 9, 2015 minutes. The Senate VOTED and the minutes were approved
14-0-2.
Jim McCabe Permission to Come on Campus - Professor Engel informed the senators that
President Kerwin had approved Jim McCabe to come to campus and attend the Senate meeting.
Both Phillip Morris and Jim McCabe would be speaking later at this meeting and were given 15
minutes each to speak and answer any questions.
Diversity and Inclusion Working Group - Professor Engel stated that at the Senate Deans
Roundtable meeting, a discussion was had on how to approach students in the classroom on
topics that might be uncomfortable for both professors and students such as diversity, inclusion
and race. He asked if the Senate might recommend and support the Senate Executive Committee
to work via email to pull together a small working group of faculty with advice from CTRL, CDI
and student government members to address these issues. The senators VOTED and approved
the motion 17-0-0.
Resignation of Senators – Professor Engel stated that he was notified that Professors David
Banks, Chair of COLA and Professor Joshua Lansky, one of four representatives from CAS have
had to resign. The Senate leadership will be seeking replacements as soon as possible.
Provost’s Report – Scott Bass
Provost Bass gave a short update on the status of the following:
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The RiSE committee will be having a retreat in January with the steering committee and
task force members. The assessment and data collection has been completed and they are
Faculty Senate • February 23 Minutes
Page 1 of 3
•
•
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now at the brain storming stage. The committee is considering making a visit to the
Cleveland Clinic.
A reminder to consider the budget for 2016-2017 and the 1% reduction to balance.
Graduate enrollments are “OK.” A number of units have made their numbers and a few
units have fallen short. The online KSB MBA has done very well. SOC online numbers
are strong and SIS online numbers continue to grow. Undergraduate numbers have
exceeded projection. SPExS is still weak. Programs and faculty are making a difference.
Colleen Jennings has been selected as the keynote speaker at the American Association
of Colleges and Universities. She will be presenting her presentation using hands to
demonstrate the struggle for African Americans both historically and contemporary.
Dean Mary L. Clark will also be a conversational participant in the program. This is the
type of visibility that needs to be a focus of all faculty.
RiSE Update –Sharon Alston
Vice Provost Alston stated that the RiSE task force will be having a retreat in January and stated
this will be “where the rubber meets the road.” The task force benchmarked against
approximately 20 other institutions to look at best practices in the areas of student assessment
and service. The retreat will look at all the information that was collected and then the group will
begin the creation of a new model for delivery of service to students.
Student Input on Teaching (SIT) –Doug McKenna
University Registrar Doug McKenna stated that in the fall of 2015 a pilot was run using the
online replacement to the old paper Student Evaluation of Teaching instrument. Registrar
McKenna stated that 857 students were surveyed with a 56.3% response rate. The spring 2016
classes will be moved into the online delivery and those surveys will include the current
questions. In the summer/fall another pilot with new questions will be used.
McCabe Update – Phillip Morris and Jim McCabe
Executive Director of University Police and Emergency Management Phillip Morris stated that
the incident involving Jim McCabe on October 15, 2015 that occurred in the Terrace Dining
Room (TDR) happened because the manager of the dining hall requested that Mr. McCabe leave
and he did not. Mr. McCabe was answering questions about the poster he had displayed and was
passing out pamphlets on the working conditions of the service workers. When approached and
asked to leave Mr. McCabe refused, which ultimately resulted in his arrest. The arrest was
handled professionally and without physical harm.
Jim McCabe stated that he was arrested for trespassing in the TDR while he sat at a table and
answered questions from students on the issue of the working conditions of the service contract
workers in TDR as well other dining and cleaning services throughout the university. He was
also distributing pamphlets. He noted that many elderly workers are unable to retire due to low
wages and small social security benefits. He informed the senators that contract workers no
Faculty Senate • February 23 Minutes
Page 2 of 3
longer are given academic benefits or retirement plans, nor do they have freedom of speech on
campus.
The senators continued discussion and agreed to draft a resolution to express their concerns and
expectations on these issues. A resolution will be returned to the Senate for a vote.
Undergraduate Regulation Changes – VP Lyn Stallings
VP Stallings presented to the Senate three changes to the Undergraduate Regulations that
included the following:
•
•
•
•
Regulation 5.8 Academic Probation and Dismissal – Current language was change to
clarify that when students are dismissed from the university they are not allowed to enroll
as non-degree at any time. The Senate VOTED 15-0-1 in favor.
Regulation 6.2 Nondegree Students – Language changed to clarify that applicants who
are not accepted into the university may not reapply or enroll in non degree classes until
the following year.
Regulation 12.5 – Withdrawal from a Course or from All Courses – requested change
to the title of this section to reflect accuracy of any university requirements. Title
changed to “Withdrawal from All Courses” The Senate VOTED in favor 14-1-2 for 12.5
and 12.6.
Regulation 12.6 – Reduction of Course Load Due to Medical Reasons - requested
change to clarify the title of this section to “Withdrawal from All Courses Due to
Medical Reasons.” Due to moving the last week to withdrawal from classes to the 10th
week of the semester, this change allows a student withdrawing for medical reasons the
option to request an incomplete if they are passing the class.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 PM
Faculty Senate • February 23 Minutes
Page 3 of 3
Faculty Senate Motion in Support of Improved University Service Worker Conditions
February 10, 2016 Meeting
The arrest of former AU staff member Jim McCabe while pamphleting in October 2015 at the
Terrace Dining Room, and his presentation in January 2016 before the Senate, brought attention to
adverse working conditions faced by Aramark’s contract workers in housing and dining
facilities. The Social Responsibility Project team is reviewing these issues. The Faculty Senate
would like to be updated on contract discussions and negotiations between these workers' union,
Aramark, and the university, and we support the workers’ rights to more reasonable wages, benefits,
and working conditions. We also would ask the university to consider offering AU scholarships or
tuition remission for dependents of contract workers.
Faculty Senate By-laws, proposed revisions to selected sections (Dec. 2015Spring 2016)
Article II, Membership
B. The university faculty shall elect, annually, in the spring, approximately one half of
senators to fill vacancies in the faculty membership of the Senate for terms of two years.
Commented [LW1]: Changed to reflect practice; already
reviewed by Senate at October meeting (no vote).
Faculty Senate By-laws, proposed revisions to selected sections (Dec. 2015Spring 2016)
IX. A. Executive Committee
A. Executive Committee
At the final meeting of each academic year, the Senate shall constitute an Executive
Committee for the following academic year. The Senate Executive Committee shall have
eight voting members: the Senate Past Chair, the Senate Chair, the Senate Vice Chair, the
Academic Budget and Benefits Committee Chair, the Chair of the Undergraduate Curriculum
Committee, the Chair of the Graduate Curriculum Committee, an at-large senator, and an
additional senator from among its number. The at-large senator and additional senator
should be nominated by the Executive Committee and elected each academic year at the first
Senate meeting by the new Senate body. When seeking to fill the at-large and general seats on the
Executive Committee, the Senate will strive for representation from as many colleges and schools
as possible. Nominations may also be submitted from the floor of the Senate. In instances when
more than one senator has been nominated for either the at-large or general seat on the Executive
Committee, the Senate shall use a secret ballot to decide who will serve. The Provost and the
Dean of Academic Affairs are ex officio non-voting members of the Senate Executive Committee.
Commented [LW2]: New change: Standard practice for
governing bodies and should be emphasized here. (Mary Mintz)
The Senate Chair has the discretion to invite any person to attend an Executive Committee
meeting and to speak within limits set by the committee. Guests may n ot vote. The Senate
Executive Committee has the right by majority vote to go into executive session. When an
executive session is voted, all non-voting Committee members and guests must leave the
meeting place unless invited to stay by majority vote.
The Executive Committee will meet with university administrators or their designees at least
once every three yearsas needed to receive a report on activities, plans, and/or changes in
policies with attention to how those activities, plans, and/or changes in policies affect academic
life at the university. Such university administrators may include, but are not limited to, the
Vice Provost of Undergraduate Studies, Dean of Graduate Studies and Vice Provost for Research,
Vice President of Campus Life, Vice President of Finance and Treasurer, University Registrar,
and Director of the Center for Teaching, Research, and Learning.
If the need arises, the Executive Committee will make recommendations to the Provost based
on each report and/or invite the university administrator to report to the Faculty Senate.
The duties of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee include but are not limited to the
following:
 setting the Senate’s agenda,
 bringing motions to the Senate on its own initiative,
 informing the faculty when nominations are due for Senate elections and making
reasonable efforts to ensure that there is an appropriate number of nominees for each
election,
 nominating faculty subject to Senate ratification to serve as faculty
representatives on committees of the Board of Trustees,
Commented [A3]: Changed to reflect practice. Reviewed at
November Senate meeting; not voted on.
Faculty Senate By-laws, proposed revisions to selected sections (Dec. 2015Spring 2016)
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maintaining liaison with all Senate committees,
reviewing accreditation reports,
reviewing Academic Unit/Program Review reports,
voting on changes to the bylaws and academic regulations that are editorial, corrections,
or matters of consistency and reporting these changes to the Senate,
providing a copy of the Executive Committee agenda (except for confidential business) to
the Faculty Senate, with the outcome for each item designated and with brief explanations
for those items that the Executive Committee has decided not to bring to the full Senate,
providing keeping minutes for of Executive Committee meetings,
selecting Hearing hearing Panel panel members from the elected Hearing Committee as
charged in the Faculty Manual,
filling vacancies on the Senate between annual elections: For at-large positions, the
Executive Committee will first approach candidates who stood for election in the most
recent election; should those candidates be unwilling or ineligible, the Executive
Committee will nominate someone for ratification by the Senate. For other positions, the
Executive Committee will ask the deans to provide candidates.
Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt
Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt
Commented [LW4]: This has been the practice in order to
avoid inundating the Senate with, for example, proofreading
changes.
Commented [LW5]: New change
Commented [A6]: New change
Commented [LW7]: New change. (Mary Mintz)
Faculty Senate By-laws, proposed revisions to selected sections (Dec. 2015Spring 2016)
IX.B Standing Committees
1. The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC) is an elected body of the university
faculty. The UCC is composed of eight full-time faculty members: two from CAS, and one
from each of KSB, SIS, SOC, SPA, SPExS, and the University Library; all to be elected by
secret ballot within each unit. UCC members serve staggered three-year terms. The
membership will also include one undergraduate student designated by the Student
Government. The chair of the Committee on General Education and the Vice Provost for
Undergraduate Studies will serve as ex officio non-voting members of the committee, and the
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies will provide staff assistance for the committee. The
chair, elected by the faculty representatives of the committee, receives one course release and is
a member of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee. The chair or his designee will serve as
an ex officio non-voting member of the Committee on General Education and the Honors
Advisory Committee.
The committee makes recommendations to the appropriate unit(s) and/or administrator(s)
regarding:
 the existing undergraduate curriculum and course offerings, including those in General
Education and the Honors Program, and the living-learning programs of the University,
including University College and AU Scholars,
 new programs and major curricular changes,
 new courses for academic quality, redundancy of material across teaching
units/academic units, and outcomes assessment,
 all changes and terminations in courses or programs that affect more than one teaching
unit, and
 general curricular policies affecting undergraduate academic programs.
Commented [A8]: New change: Reflects practice. (Mary
Mintz)
The committee does not review temporary or experimental courses offered by any unit, though it
continues to exercise jurisdiction through its ex officio presence on the General Education and
Honors Advisory Committees.
While all proposals require the support of the relevant teaching unit(s) and/or academic
unit(s), the committee is directly responsible for the Faculty Senate’s commitment to
academic excellence as reflected by curriculum and course offerings; therefore, every effort
must be made to address the committee’s recommendations. After the unit has responded to
the committee’s recommendations, the committee may recommend that the Provostforwards
its recommendations to approve, modify, or reject the proposal to the next level of review.
In order for the committee to have time to complete its review, all changes targeted for approval
by the Board of Trustees for the next academic year must be submitted to the Faculty Senate by
the first Monday in March of the current academic year. The committee’s work will continue
over the summer months if necessary.
2. Graduate Curriculum Committee
Commented [LW9]: New change, based on discussion in
Nov. Senate meeting.
Faculty Senate By-laws, proposed revisions to selected sections (Dec. 2015Spring 2016)
While all proposals require the support of the relevant teaching unit(s) and/or academic
unit(s), the committee is directly responsible for the Faculty Senate’s commitment to
academic excellence as reflected by curriculum and course offerings; therefore, every effort
must be made to address the committee’s recommendations. After the unit has responded to
the committee’s recommendations, the committee forwards its recommendations to approve,
modify, or reject the proposal to the next level of review.the committee may recommend to
the Provost to approve or not approve the proposal.
Commented [A10]: New change, based on discussion at Nov.
Senate meeting.
Faculty Senate By-laws, proposed revisions to selected sections (Dec. 2015Spring 2016)
3. Committee on Faculty Actions
The CFA has the following responsibilities:
 to make recommendations to the Faculty Senate and the Provost on all matters and
policies relating to full-time and part-time faculty appointments, reappointments,
tenure, and promotions;
 to evaluate and review, in accordance with the criteria set forth in the Faculty
Manual, all faculty actions involving the reappointment, tenure, and promotion of
tenure-line faculty and to make recommendations on all such actions to the Dean of
Academic Affairs;
 to evaluate and review, in accordance with the criteria set forth in the Manual, all
faculty actions involving the reappointment with promotion to Assistant Professor,
Associate Professor, or Full Professor of term faculty and to make recommendations on
all such actions to the Dean of Academic Affairs;
 to make recommendations for senior hires in accordance with the subsection
“Appointment of Faculty with Tenure” of the section “Provisions for Faculty
Appointments in Tenure-Line Positions” in the Faculty Manual;
 to conduct a review at least every five years of all published criteria from each
academic unit and its teaching units that pertain to the appointment, reappointment,
tenure, and promotion of full-time and part-time faculty members. The reviews will
assist the CFA as they prepare recommendations on faculty actions and ensure that
consistently high standards are maintained throughout the university;
 to evaluate and review the file of a term-faculty member, in the event of a disagreement
between a teaching unit and its dean, and the file of a library faculty member with
continuing appointment in the event of a disagreement between a teaching unit and the
University Librarian; and
 to review and make recommendations on matters and policies as requested by the
Faculty Senate, including proposed changes to the Manual.
4. The Committee on Academic Budget and Benefits is an elected body of the university
faculty. Its function is to consider all financial matters pertaining to the academic programs and
faculty of the university and is authorized by the Senate to request financial data. As appropriate,
the committee shall report to the Executive Committee if matters need Senate action or oversight
attention.
Commented [A11]: New change: Revised because of union
contract.
Commented [A12]: New change: Revised because of union
contract.
Commented [LW13]: New change: The library faculty voted
to give the same protection that term faculty have to our new
category of continuing appointment faculty, and the DAA
approved that change. It’s preferable to have it recorded here as
well as in our Manual (already approved). (Mary Mintz)
Commented [A14]: New change: redundant phrase.
Faculty Senate By-laws, proposed revisions to selected sections (Dec. 2015Spring 2016)
5. The Committee on Information Services is an elected body of the university faculty. Its
function is to assess the varying computer needs of undergraduate students, graduate students,
and faculty. In exercising its oversight functions, the committee shall examine the adequacy of
the delivery of information services to students and faculty, in particular facilities, budget
support, and staff.
The committee is composed of eleven full-time faculty members: four from CAS and one each
from KSB, SIS, SOC, SPA, SPExS, WCL, and the University Library; all to be elected by
secret ballot within each unit. Information Services committee members serve staggered twoyear terms. The membership will also include one graduate student designated by the
Graduate Leadership Council and, one undergraduate designated by the Student Government,
and two ex officio members, the University Librarian and the Chief Information Officer (or
designee), and a representative from the Center for Teaching, Research, and Learning. . The
committee elects, from among its faculty members, its own chair.
The committee has the following responsibilities:
 to maintain liaison with the Director of the Center for Teaching, Research, and
Learning;
 to maintain liaison with the University Librarian concerning plans and programs, and,
in cooperation with the library, to assess the varying library needs of undergraduate
students, graduate students, and faculty and examine the adequacy of the delivery of
library services to students and faculty, in particular facilities, budget support, staff,
and cooperation with the Washington Research Library Consortium;
 to maintain a liaison with the Office of Technology (OIT) concerning plans and
programs, and in cooperation with OIT to assess the varying technology needs of
the university and to make recommendations on those needs;
 to maintain a liaison with the Center for Teaching, Research, and Learning to
assess and make recommendations on technology needs related to the teaching and
research support and services provided by that office; and
Consortium of University Libraries; and
 as appropriate, to report its findings and recommendations to the Committee on
Academic Budget and Benefits, including recommendations about long-range
financial planning.
Commented [A15]: New change: For your consideration. . . .
When this committee was established, it replaced both the
library committee and another committee which maintained
some oversight for academic computing. Except for the
Research Support Center (Assen Assenov and Jim Lee and their
lab), much of academic computing has left CTRL (as far as I
know). The library now has responsibility for all or most
computer labs on campus, Blackboard, classroom technology,
on-call support for teaching with technology, event support, and
taping of events. That means most other IT is supported by OIT
which can make significant changes that affect faculty and other
academic users. For instance, the changeover to Google email
for students was brought to the Senate for discussion not that
many years ago. If we want a more limited role for OIT, it could
at least be informational, especially given that the CIO does not
report to the Provost, but the faculty probably should be
informed about significant developoments. [Note: Under
former University Librarian Bill Mayer’s purview, a somewhat
parallel process was established with a new committee that
reported to ?????, and that may have undermined the faculty
involvement. Or perhaps a formal change was made at some
point? ] (Mary Mintz)
Commented [LW16]: New change: name corrected. (Mary
Mintz)
Commented [A17]: New change: For this bullet and the next
one, see explanation above from Mary Mintz.
Faculty Senate By-laws, proposed revisions to selected sections (Dec. 2015Spring 2016)
6. Committee on Learning Assessment
The committee has the following responsibilities:
 to provide guidance and assistance to the colleges and schools in developing and
implementing academic program assessment plans;
 to analyze and interpret assessment results, which are reported to the appropriate unit
leader;
 to interact with other stakeholders, such as the Vice-Provost for Undergraduate Studies;
Dean of Graduate Studies and Vice Provost for Research; Center for Teaching, Research,
and Learning; and Campus Life; and
 to submit a written report to the Faculty Senate each December.
Commented [A18]: New change: to reflect practice.
Faculty Senate By-laws, proposed revisions to selected sections (Dec. 2015Spring 2016)
C. Special and Advisory Committees
1. The Committee on Faculty Grievances is an elected body of the university faculty. Its
function, as stipulated in the Faculty Manual, is to investigate and evaluate all formal
grievances filed by members of the faculty and to issue a report specifying its conclusions and
recommendations, which is then sent to the grievant and to either the university president or
provost.Its function is to hear and make a determination concerning all grievances filed by
members of the faculty. As appropriate, the committee shall report to the Executive Committee
if matters need Senate action or oversight attention. The committee is also charged with
overseeing university policies and programs to make certain that all faculty are accorded
equitable treatment and allocated resources equitably within the university in accordance with
the university's statement on non-discrimination. The committee shall propose Senate action, as
needed, and recommend oversight review, as needed, to the Executive Committee of the Senate.
The committee is composed of seven tenured members of the university faculty, one from each
of the following academic units: KSB, SOC, SIS, SPA, and the University Library; and two
from the College of Arts and Sciences. Tenure-line faculty and term faculty on multi-year
contracts from each academic unit elect the unit’s member(s) of this committee for staggered
three-year terms, with no more than three to be elected in any one year, except to fill vacancies
in unexpired terms. The chair is to be elected by and from the membership of the committee.
Commented [A19]: New change: Clarification and
correction of language from CFG.
Commented [A20]: New change: unnecessary phrase.
Faculty Senate By-laws, proposed revisions to selected sections (Dec. 2015Spring 2016)
2. The Faculty Hearing Committee is an elected body of the university faculty. Its function
is to hear cases referred to it by the Provost involving termination of continuous tenure
appointments or probationary or special termfull-time faculty appointments before the end of
the specified term due to incompetence, misconduct, or other cases involving major disciplinary
sanctions against a faculty member. It reviews cases presented to it and makes
recommendations in accordance with the procedures specified in the section on “Disciplinary
Actions, Investigations, and Formal Faculty Hearings” in the Faculty Manual. The Senate
Executive Committee draws individual hearing panels from the elected members of the
Committee to hear cases. Individual panels are drawn from the elected members of the
Committee to hear cases. The committee will meet on an as-needed basis, including during the
summer break.
Commented [LW21]: New change for clarity and accuracy.
Commented [A22]: New change for accuracy (Mary Mintz).
The committee is composed of 15 tenured members of the teaching faculty elected by the fulltime university faculty, including term faculty on multi-year contracts. Members of the Hearing
Committee shall be elected for staggered three-year terms.
3. Committee on General Education
The committee is composed of sixteen voting members: three faculty members from each of
the five general education areas of study and a chair. All members and the chair are selected by
the Faculty Senate Executive Committee and the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies in
collaboration with the current or outgoing Chair of the General Education Committee.
Selection of the members and the chair will be made from a list of nominees presented by the
Associate Deans. All nominees will confirm their willingness to serve the three-year term.
Serving as ex officio non-voting members will be the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies,
the chair (or designee) of the Faculty Senate Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, and the
General Education Librarian. The Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies serves as an ex
officio non-voting member of the committee. The committee will communicate with the
Faculty Senate Undergraduate Curriculum Committee through its ex officio member on that
committee.
Commented [A23]: New change: Reflects practice (Mary
Mintz)
Faculty Senate By-laws, proposed revisions to selected sections (Dec. 2015Spring 2016)
4. The Honors Advisory Committee is charged with developing guidelines and procedures for
all honors programs at AU; recommending to the Provost to accept, alter, or reject proposals for
new honors Honors in the Major or Field programs at AU; engaging with students; and
overseeing and monitoring all honors programs at AUthe AU Honors Program. The committee
consults with the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Enrollment on applications to the AU
evaluates student applications to the University Honors Program, monitors students’ progress,
participates in annual assessment of the program,conducts annual assessment, and provides
support and advice as needed.
Commented [LW24]: Already discussed at Nov. Senate
meeting; not voted on.
In curricular review, the committee reviews and approves all temporary honors courses,
including courses offered on a three-year basis in the University AU Honors Program.
Temporary honors courses do not require full university-wide review. Proposals for all
permanent honors courses require full university-wide review, and the proposals must include
the Honors Advisory Committee recommendation to accept, alter, or reject such courses as
permanent honors courses. When a proposal for a permanent honors course originates from the
Office ofAU Honors Programs, the Honors Advisory Committee serves as the academic EPC
before going to university-wide review. When a proposal for a permanent honors course
originates from the academic unit, the academic unit will use its own EPC before going to
university-wide review.
The committee is composed of eight voting members: one faculty member each from Kogod,
SIS, SOC, and SPA; one faculty member from each of the three clusters in CAS; and a student
representative from an the AU Hhonors Pprogram. All faculty members of the Honors Advisory
Committee will be selected by the Senate Executive Committee and the Vice Provost for
Undergraduate Studies, in collaboration with the current or outgoing chair of the Honors
Advisory Committee. Selections will be made from a list of nominees presented by the
Associate Deans. All nominees will confirm their willingness to serve the full three-year term.
The student representative, who will serve a one-year term, will be designated by the students in
the AU Honors ProgramStudent Honors Board, an elected body that represents students in all
honors programs. Serving as ex officio non-voting members will be the Vice Provost for
Undergraduate Studies, the Director of the Office of Honors Programs, the chair (or designee) of
the Faculty Senate Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, and the Honors Librarian. The
Faculty Director of the AU Honors Program will serve as The committee elects a chair from
among its members, and it will communicate with the Faculty Senate Undergraduate Curriculum
Committee through its ex officio member on that committeeof the Honors Advisory Committee.
Nominees for the Faculty Director of the AU Honors Program will be submitted by the associate
deans. The Senate Executive Committee and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies will
review the nominees and make their recommendations to the Provost, who will make the final
selection. The Faculty Director serves for a three-year term beginning June 1.
Commented [LW25]: Already discussed in Nov. Senate
meeting; not voted on.
Commented [LW26]: New change, based on discussion at
Nov. Senate meeting.
Faculty Senate By-laws, proposed revisions to selected sections (Dec. 2015Spring 2016)
D. Board of Trustees Representatives of the Faculty Senate
The Immediate Past Chair and the Chair of the Faculty Senate serve as non-voting Faculty
Trustees of the Board of Trustees. The Vice Chair provides a report of the Senate for each
meeting of the Board of Trustees and attends its general meeting as the Faculty Senate
representative. The Chair serves on the Trusteeship Committee and selects one other
committeethe Academic Affairs Committee on which to serve as a Faculty Trustee. The Past
Chair of the Faculty Senate selects two other committees of the Board of Trustees on which to
serve as a Faculty Trustee. The Vice Chair of the Senate serves on the Trusteeship Committee
as the faculty representative on that committee. At the beginning of each academic year, the
Faculty Senate Executive Committee will nominate faculty to serve as faculty representatives
on the remaining committees of the Board of Trustees:
Commented [A27]: New change to reflect practice.
Article X. Eligibility for and Nominations and Elections to the Senate and Its Committees
A. Eligibility
All full-time faculty are eligible to be elected to the Senate and its committees except for the
Committee on Faculty Actions, the Faculty Hearing Committee, and the Committee on Faculty
Grievances, all of whose members must be tenured faculty and elected by tenured and tenuretrack faculty and term faculty on multi-year contracts. Emeriti faculty are eligible to be elected to
the Benefits Subcommittee of the Committee on Academic Budget and Benefits. WCL faculty
are not eligible for membership on the Committee on Faculty Actions nor may WCL faculty
vote for the membership of that committee. WCL faculty may not have representation on any
other Senate committees except for the Committee on Academic Budget and Benefits, the
Committee on Information Systems, and the Executive Committee.
Commented [A28]: New change for accuracy.
Faculty Senate By-laws, proposed revisions to selected sections (Dec. 2015Spring 2016)
B. Nominations and Elections for Campus-Wide Positions
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Self-nominations of eligible faculty willing to serve as at-large members on the Senate,
the Committee on Faculty Grievances\, or the Faculty Hearing Committee should be
sent to the Senate office by the Friday before the spring semester vacation in March.
All eligible individuals who are nominated and who agree to run will be placed on the
appropriate ballots.
Balloting to fill at-large vacancies on the Senate and to fill vacancies on the Committee
on Faculty Grievances and the Faculty Hearing Committee shall be conducted in the
week immediately following the spring semester vacation in March. If such scheduling
would not result in a termination of balloting by March 30, the Vice Chair of the Senate
will specify a period in March for which balloting would end by the date specified.
The Senate is empowered to conduct on-line balloting if it is satisfied this can be
done in a reasonably secure manner.
Ballots will also be mailed to emeriti faculty and to any other full-time faculty who have
requested this in writing. These ballots may be returned by U.S. mail or through campus
mail, or may be delivered in person to the Senate office and must be in the Senate office
by the termination-of-balloting deadline. If the Senate conducts on-line balloting, it may
also authorize the use of this for emeriti faculty and others covered by this paragraph.
Faculty members will be allowed to vote for as many persons as there are vacancies in
the membership to be filled, and those receiving the greatest number of votes shall be
declared elected according to the regulation on Senate membership.
Ballots shall be electronically tallied, and the results will be sent to the Senate Chair and
Vice Chair Ballots shall be counted by the Vice Chair of the Senate and by persons
designated by the Vice Chair of the Senate on the business day following the termination
of the balloting period. If the election is by electronic balloting, the results will be sent to
the Vice Chair of the Senate and to at least one other person designated by the Vice
Chair on the business day following the termination of the balloting period. No
candidate for any of the offices or positions being balloted will be a part of this group.
Ties shall be immediately resolved by the group counting the ballots by lot.
The results of the election shall be certified by the group counting the ballotsSenate
Chair and announced to the campus community.
Commented [A29]: New change: CFG now elected by units.
Commented [A30]: New change: CFG now elected by units.
Commented [A31]: New change: balloting now done online.
Commented [LW32]: Query from Mary Mintz: Can we
discuss in the Senate? Larger numbers of baby boom faculty are
becoming emeriti now, but emeriti can sometimes be less active
and engaged with their former units and the campus. With all
due respect to them, should they be participating in elections
where many of the candidates will be unfamiliar to them?
Commented [A33]: New change: online balloting is now
standard.
Commented [A34]: New change to reflect practice.
Commented [A35]: New change to reflect practice.
Commented [A36]: New change to reflect practice.
E. Vacancies
1. In the event of a vacancy in the Senate, the Executive Committee will fill the seat per Article
IX.A. of the By-laws. In the event of a vacancy on a committee, the vacant seat shall be filled for
the remainder of the vacated term by vote of the faculty of the unit represented, by vote of the
members of the committee when appropriate, or, for those on the Committee on Faculty
Grievances and the Faculty Hearing Committee, by the eligible person, not a member of the
Senate or that committee, who received the greatest number of votes in the most recent general
election for the Senate.
Commented [A37]: New change: CFG elected by units.