What is The Faculty Senate?

The Senate is a recommending body that advises the president of the college on issues that are important to faculty. Typically, items that require Senate support go through the following process:

1. A senator or member of the Executive Committee (the chair, vice-chair, secretary, parliamentarian) requests that an item be added to the upcoming agenda. This is often done as a result of being contacted by a member of the college, requesting that the item be examined by the Senate.
2. During the meeting, the issue is presented as an informational item. If it requires committee consideration, the item is sent to the appropriate group.
3. Once the issue is presented as an informational item, it can be brought back to the Senate in the next meeting for voting.
4. If, after being voted upon, the item still requires administrative approval (i.e. a policy), the chair will present the document to the provost and president for final signatures after Senate endorsement.

Although presenting an issue as an informational item and then voting upon the item is our accepted practice, there are instances when time constraints make may render the practice impractical. In these instances, members of the Executive Committee can present the item as an action item, when necessary.