Faculty Senate Rules

 rev. 10-8-07

  1.  Meetings of the Faculty Senate generally will be held on the second and fourth Monday of each month during the fall and spring semesters. 

  2.  A quorum is the majority of the membership. 

  3.  The Secretary shall have an assistant who takes notes on the Senate proceedings, and assists the secretary in preparing and submitting the minutes of the meetings.

  4.  The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the Senate in all applicable cases, when they are not inconsistent with the Senate Constitution or Rules.

  5.  The Robert's Rule limiting individuals to speaking only twice on an issue shall not apply to Faculty senators.

  6.  Senate meetings, except for executive sessions, shall be open to all members of the university community.

  7.  The Senate agenda and minutes will be posted on the Senate's Web site -- http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/

  8.  Visitors to Senate meetings generally should be allowed to participate in discussion, but shall not be allowed to vote. The extent of visitor participation in proceedings is left to the chair's discretion.

  9.  Proxy votes will not be permitted. 

 10.  When vacancies occur in the Senate membership, the Rules Committee, in consultation with the senators from that area,  shall nominate an appointee for Senate approval.  The senators at-large will serve as the nominating committee when vacancies occur in at-large positions. 

11. Senate members on leave shall be replaced by an interim appointment.   The Rules Committee, in consultation with the senators from that area,  shall nominate an interim appointee for Senate approval.

 12.  Senate minutes may be restricted to a recording of formal actions and brief descriptions of issues.  Any member of the Senate can submit a written statement to be included in the minutes.

13.  The Senate president shall call an executive session whenever it is requested by the Senate.

14. The Senate shall allow audio and/or video recordings of its proceedings following the "Informal Statement and Proposals."  A privileged motion to suspend this rule may be made during any meeting and shall require a simple majority of those present for passage.

 15. Elected officers of the Senate shall have a term of office of one year, beginning June 1, and shall be eligible for re-election.  [See the Faculty Senate Election Rules for nomination and election procedures; http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/election-rules-rev2-05.html ]

16. The Order of Business of the Senate shall be as follows: 

    A.  Calling the meeting to order.

    B.  Informal statements and proposals

    C.  Approval of the minutes.
    D.  President's Report

    E.  Committee Reports

    F.  Old Business

    G.  New Business

    H.  As May Arise

The agenda will be determined in advance by the Executive Committee, and posted on the Senate Web site -- http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/.

17.  A motion to create a special order may be introduced by any member of the Senate, in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order.

18.  Any member may request a secret ballot. The chair shall treat the request as a unanimous consent motion.  If there is an objection, any member may move that the vote be taken by secret ballot.  Such a motion shall be privileged, non-debatable, and require for adoption an affirmative vote of five or more members.

19.  The Executive Committee may schedule motions to appear for discussion on the agendas of at least two Senate meetings.  The requirement for a second discussion can also be imposed from the floor by a one-third vote of the Senate.  For motions scheduled for a second discussion, no binding vote will be taken until after the second discussion unless the second discussion is waived by a separate motion passed by a two-thirds majority of the Senate.

20. Unless otherwise specified in the rules, a majority shall be construed to mean a majority of those present and voting.  Additionally, unless otherwise specified in the rules, a two-thirds vote for adoption shall be construed to mean two-thirds of those present and voting.

21. Any member of the Faculty may request in writing that a proposal be placed on the Senate's agenda.  Upon receipt of the request, the Executive Committee shall include the proposal on the agenda of either of the next two meetings or refer the proposal to a committee.  It shall be the prerogative of the President of the Senate to create an ad hoc committee when the need arises.  
22.  With respect to the closure of debate, the Senate shall conform to Robert's Rules of Order.

23.  The secretary of the Faculty Senate:    

    A.  Is principally responsible for taking and posting the minutes of the Faculty Senate.  The secretary shall have an assistant who takes notes of the Senate proceedings and assists the secretary in preparing and submitting the minutes.

    B.  Routes policies adopted by the Senate to the proper authorities for signatures and implementation.

    C.  Routes resolutions adopted by the Senate to the proper persons.  

    D.  Facilitates the keeping of records and the implementation of policies. 

    E. Oversees the keeping of the Senate's records.   

24. All standing committees of the Senate will meet in the spring, after vacancies have been filled, to elect chairs for the following year.  

25.  Rules concerning standing committees of the Senate are found in the Handbook for Faculty http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/handbook/FSConstitution-rev-1-05.html).

2.082/ Senate Committee Structure
Much of the work of the Senate is done through its committees.  In addition to the Senate's standing committees, ad hoc committees may be formed to address major issues arising at the University.  The composition, selection procedures, and specific charges of each standing committee are found in the Faculty Senate Rules and on the Faculty Senate Web site: http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/structure.html. 
 

Standard Charges of the Standing Committees:

    1.  Review, modify, and initiate policies and related procedures relevant to their specific charges.
    2.  Forward recommendations and/or motions to the Senate,
    3. Report to the Senate at least once a year, and at any other times they and/or the Senate deem appropriate, the specific recommendations they made, to whom they made them, and what actions have been taken by those responsible for taking action.
    4.Submit  policy proposals  to the Senate in the form of a committee motion. Only the Senate has the authority to make recommendations to, or advise, the University administration or any other party in the name of the Senate.   

Eligibility:
    1. Eligible faculty include those eligible to serve on the Senate.  No faculty shall be a member of more than two standing committees of the Senate, unless by reason of office or election. With the exception of ex officio members and membership determined by general faculty policy, membership of a given person is restricted to two consecutive three year terms. Such faculty may be reelected after a service break of one term.
    2. Eligibility for student membership is established by the Student Government Association. 

Selection Procedures:
     1. Early in the spring semester,  prior to making its nominations to fill vacancies, the Rules Committee shall distribute a Committee Preference Form to all eligible faculty.
     2.  Nominations by the Rules Committee are not limited to those persons who have completed Committee Preference Forms.
     3.  The Rules Committee shall nominate members for standing committees, subject to Senate ratification.
     4.  Chairs of committees shall be elected by their memberships in the spring semester after vacancies have been filled.  Chairs serve for one year, beginning June 1.  One year prior service on the committee is required to be eligible to serve as chair.  If no member meets this criterion, the Rules Committee shall determine selection procedures.  Newly elected chairs shall notify the Office of the Faculty Senate of their election.
     5.  Interim vacancies shall be filled by the Rules Committee, subject to Senate approval.
     6.  In making its nominations, the Rules Committee shall make certain that no individual serves on more than two standing committees unless that membership is the result of office or election.
     7.  In making its nominations, the Rules Committee shall make certain that standing committees shall have an annual change in their membership. The term of office on these committees shall be for three years. Staggered terms of three, two and one years for all selected committee members shall initially be determined by lot.
     8.  With the exception of the Tenure and Promotion Committee, in making nominations the Rules Committee shall make certain that no more than one member of a committee comes from any one of the nine Senate divisions.  All nominations shall reflect the need for continuity, interest, and expertise.
     9.  In the absence of the chair of the Rules Committee, the President of the Senate shall make temporary appointments to committees as needed.
    10. If a member of a standing committee leaves the division from which elected, the member will be considered to have resigned.  If the committees actions would be disrupted by the resignation, the Senate President may specify that the member remain on the committee for the completion of the academic year.
    11.  If a committee member has a poor record of performance, the Rules Committee shall consult with that member and may dismiss him or her from the committee.
    12.  Working with committee chairs and members, the Senate President coordinates the work of standing and ad hoc committees of the Senate.
 
Written Reports:
   Written committee reports to the Senate consist of two kinds, written reports and motions.
    1.  A written annual report shall be submitted to the Senate by each committee chair, containing the following:
        a. Date
        b. Names of members
        c. Approximate meeting schedule
        d. Summary of activities and/or decisions.
    2.  Annual reports will be entered on the Senate agenda, distributed with it, and automatically accepted by the Senate unless a successful motion to the contrary is introduced on the Senate floor. Annual reports will not contain motions except insofar as their presence is a mere accounting of motions submitted to the Executive Committee. Annual reports may contain recommendations concerning questions the Senate should study.
    3.  Committee motions for changes in policy and/or stances on issues, if any, shall take the following written form:
        a.  The motion
        b.  Rationale for the motion.

3. Committee name, date and authors. 

VI. STANDING COMMITTEES

Copy upon request.  http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/structure.html