1.621/ Constitution of the Faculty Senate
The Constitution of the Faculty Senate determines the selection and
composition of the Senate, its organization, and rules, and procedures for
amending the Constitution. The full text of the Constitution follows.
ARTICLE I
Composition and Selection
Section 1. The Faculty Senate shall be composed of elected members of the teaching/research faculty, department chairs, and university libraries as described under (a), (b), and (c), below, and ex officio members as described under (d) and (e), below.
(a) The teaching/research faculty is defined as all full-time (1.0 EFT) university personnel who are tenured, temporary, probationary or instructors with faculty status at least 50 percent of whose University duties include teaching, research, and/or library service. Eligible members of the faculty also serve as the electorate. Administrators are ineligible for the Faculty Senate electorate. Administrators include those persons holding the title of President, Provost, Associate Provost, Vice President, Associate Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Dean, Associate Dean, Assistant Dean, and Directors of all non-academic programs including, but not limited to, the Director of the Computer Center, Director of the Office of Institutional Research, Director of Physical Plant, the Registrar, and Director of Cooperative Education.
(b) For purposes of representation, faculty senators shall be allotted on the basis of a proportional system, with one senator for every twelve faculty members, rounded up to the nearest integer. It is the responsibility of the Senate Rules Committee to determine the number of representatives from each area prior to the elections.
Senators will be elected from the following areas: the W. Frank Barton School of Business; the Colleges of Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, and Health Professions; Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and the University Libraries. Each area will determine the distribution of its representation on the basis of subdivisions or departments.
(c) Four faculty senators will be elected at-large, but not more than two from any one Faculty Senate division. The nine Faculty Senate Divisions are the Barton School of Business; the Colleges of Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, and Health Professions; the divisions of Humanities, Math/Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences in the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and the University Libraries.
(d) The President of the University, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research, and the President of the Student Government Association are ex officio, non-voting members of the Faculty Senate.
(e) Upon assuming office, the President of the Senate begins a two-year term as an at-large senator. If the President's previous elected term has not expired it will be filled by election.
Section 2. Elections shall be held annually to replace approximately one-half the membership of the Senate. The Senate also will elect two at-large members each year.
Section 3. Regular election to the Senate shall be for a term of two years. Senators are eligible for re-election.
Section 4. During the spring semester of each academic year, the Vice President of the Senate shall circulate to each eligible faculty member a list of those ineligible for Senate election by reason of continuing Senate membership and solicit nominations for senators at-large. A total of six nominations is required to place a nominee on the at-large ballot. The Vice President will conduct an election to fill the senator at-large positions.
Section 5. Each year, subsequent to the at-large election described in Section 4, the Vice President will distribute to the members of each area mentioned in Article I, Section I, paragraph (b), a list of its members ineligible for Senate election by reason of continuing Senate membership or election as senator at-large. Nominations for senator from each area will be solicited and the Vice President will distribute ballots to the appropriate faculty members. The Vice President will determine the need for run-off elections.
Section 6. Senate members elected in the spring semester shall take office June 1, except that the newly elected members of the Senate, and those members of the Senate with one year remaining in their terms, shall meet in May for the purpose of electing Senate officers for the forthcoming academic year.
Section 7. Vacancies on the Senate shall be filled by vote of the Senate for unexpired terms with the provision that the selected member shall be of the appropriate area (see Faculty Senate Rules, # 9 & 10 -- http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/FSRules-2005rev.htm)
Section 8. A senator who leaves the area from which he or she was elected will be considered to have resigned. However, the term may be completed if the change occurs during the spring semester of the last year of the member's term.
Section 9. The Executive Committee of the Senate has the
responsibility of consulting with any senator who has a record of poor
attendance at Senate meetings. After consultation with the senator, the
Executive Committee may recommend to the Senate dismissal of the senator.
A two-thirds vote of the Senate is required for dismissal.
ARTICLE II
Organization of the Senate
Section 1. The Senate shall elect its own President-elect, Vice President,
and Secretary from among its membership. Following service as President-elect,
that officer becomes President of the Senate. In the year after serving as
President, that officer becomes Past President.
Section 2. Meetings generally shall be held on the
second and fourth Mondays of each month during the fall and spring semester.
The time and place shall be set by the Executive Committee.
Section 3 The Senate shall determine its own rules.
ARTICLE III
Authority of the Senate
Section 1. The President of the Senate will consult with the President of the
University regarding the scheduling of General Faculty Meetings. Matters that
shall be submitted to the General Faculty for ratification include fundamental
principles of academic policy, substantive issues associated with faculty
welfare, and significant changes in the governmental structure or organization
of the faculty.
Section 2. The Senate may deliberate and take action on all matters related to the faculty.
Section 3. The Standing Committees shall report in the manner specified by the Faculty Senate Rules. http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/FSRules-2005rev.htm
Section 4. The Senate shall create and delete faculty standing committees and shall select their membership.
Section 5. Action of the Faculty Senate is final, unless twelve or more faculty members, representing at least three departments and two college/school/University Libraries, request the Executive Committee to place a topic on the agenda for the next General Faculty Meeting. Such requests must be filed at least twenty-one days in advance of the scheduled meeting.
ARTICLE IV
Amendments
Section 1. An amendment to the Constitution may be introduced to the Senate
by any faculty member. If the amendment is proposed by no fewer than twelve
faculty members, representing at least three departments and two
college/school/University Libraries, the Executive Committee shall place it on
the agenda of one of the next two Senate meetings.
Section 2. If the amendment was proposed by a member of the
Senate or by a Senate committee, a negative Senate vote is final. If, however,
the amendment was proposed by no fewer than twelve faculty members, representing
at least three departments and two college/school/University Libraries, the
proposed amendment together with the Senate recommendation shall be placed on
the agenda of the next general Faculty Meeting.
1.622/
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 charges of each standing committee are listed below and
on the Faculty Senate Web site:
http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/structure.html.
The nine Faculty Senate Divisions are the W. Frank Barton School of Business;
the Colleges of Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, and Health Professions; the
divisions of Humanities, Math/Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences in the
Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and the University Libraries.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE FACULTY SENATE
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE
Composition: 10
9 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions
1 Student
Selection: Standard
Charges:
1. Review and make recommendations on proposals for new undergraduate degrees
and academic programs.
2. Review existing policies governing academic affairs and proposals for
curricular change or development.
3. Recommend new or changed policies concerning academic affairs to the Senate.
This includes, but is not limited to, reviewing and making appropriate
recommendations regarding college/school/University Libraries proposals for
curricular change or development, university-wide academic standards and
practices, and administrative practices and policies likely to have an impact on
existing academic programs and practices.
4. The Academic Affairs Committee shall have the power to interpret existing
academic policy and resolve disputes over diverse interpretations of the policy.
COURT OF ACADEMIC
APPEALS
Composition: 5
3 Faculty chosen from among the Senate divisions
2 Students (one must be a graduate student)
Alternates: 3 faculty, 2 students (one must be a graduate student)
Committee may use former members if necessary
Selection: Standard; faculty justices must be tenured and must be members of the graduate faculty. They shall serve three-year staggered terms and shall represent different Senate divisions. The Committee shall also have two student members plus four student alternate members. Two of the alternates must be graduate students. Cases involving graduate students must be heard by graduate students.
Charges:
1. Operate according to the Procedures of the Court of Student Academic
Appeals, a copy of which is available in the Office of the Faculty Senate.
2. Make the final decision on cases appealed to it regarding students' requests
for a change of grade, or other matters regarding academic requirements which a
student can challenge.
EXCEPTIONS COMMITTEE
Composition: 12
9 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions,
with the understanding that six faculty members are serving at any given time
throughout the year.
1 Student
1 Representative of the Admissions Office (non-voting)
Vice President for Campus Life and University Relations
(non-voting)
b. Selection: Standard
c. Charges:
1. Review policies and related procedures regarding admission to the University
and exceptions to existing University rules.
2. Consider applications for admission of students who do not meet University
standards for admissions, and exceptions to existing rules for students
requesting them.
3. Reports to the Senate, as required under the Standard Charge to all Policy
Committees, shall include recommendations made to appropriate administrative
persons and actions taken by those persons.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Composition: 8 members
President of the Senate (chair)
President-elect of the Senate
Past President of the Senate
Vice President of the Senate
Secretary of the Senate
2 Senators elected by the Senate
1 Senator appointed by the Senate President
Charges:
1. Set the agenda for all Senate meetings. An item shall appear on the agenda
for the next meeting upon written request of five or more senators representing
at least three Senate divisions.
2. Review proposed changes to the Handbook for Faculty, other than those
recommended by the Senate.
3. Receive policy recommendations from appropriate Senate committees and decide
which policy recommendations require full Senate review.
4. Any faculty member may request that the Executive Committee consider a
matter for inclusion on the Senate agenda. The Executive Committee may decide to
include such matters on the Senate agenda, to refer such matters to a Senate
committee for consideration, to establish ad hoc committees to consider such
matters, to dismiss such matters, or take other appropriate action. In all
cases, the Executive Committee will notify petitioners of the disposition of
their petitions.
FACULTY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Composition: 9
9 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions
Selection: Standard
Charges: The Faculty Affairs Committee deals with
the relationship between WSU faculty and the University and the State of
Kansas. Specific areas of responsibility include:
1. Terms of employment, tenure policies, tenure and promotion guidelines,
salary, fringe benefits, retirement, life insurance, health insurance, leave
procedure, faculty benefits and responsibilities, dismissal policies, conflict
of interest policies.
2. Issues of faculty status within the University.
3. Academic freedom policies of the University and the State of Kansas,
including review of current policies, recommendations for changes, and review of
any changes proposed by the University or the Board of Regents.
FACULTY SUPPORT
COMMITTEE
Composition: 10
9 Faculty who are members in full standing of the Graduate
Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions (department chairs are
ineligible)
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research (ex officio, non
-voting)
Selection: Standard
Charges:
1. Review requests for institutional support of
individual, departmental, and college/school/University Libraries research
proposals, and forward recommendations to the Associate Vice President for
Research
2. Assist the Associate Vice President for Research and Dean of Graduate
Studies in the consideration of overall institutional policy governing the award
criteria and management of University research grants, including the supervision
of policies relating to the right of human subjects, patents, and publications.
3. Review applications for sabbatical leave and forward recommendations on the
applications to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and
Research.
4. Periodically review the University guidelines on sabbatical leaves and make
recommendations for changes as appropriate.
5. Review and act upon requests for institutional support of teaching and
allocate resources available for this purpose.
6. Assist the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research in
planning new faculty orientation. The structure and organization of the
orientation shall be reviewed by the Committee at least once every three years.
7. Identify faculty who are willing to help other faculty who wish assistance
with teaching or research.
8. Recommend to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and
Research ways to recognize excellence in teaching and research.
GENERAL EDUCATION
COMMITTEE
Composition: 12
9 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions
1 Basic Skills faculty representative
1 Student
General Education Coordinator (ex officio, non-voting)
Selection: Standard
Coordinator of General Education: The Coordinator of General Education will
be appointed by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research
for a three-year term and may serve no more than six consecutive years. The
VPAAR will select the Coordinator from a list of three nominees recommended by
the General Education Committee. The search process for the Coordinator of
General Education will be directed by the VPAAR in consultation with the General
Education Committee.
Charges:
1. Oversee the operation of General Education as adopted by the faculty,
advise the General Education Coordinator, and participate in the annual
evaluation of the General Education Coordinator.
2. Enforce the provisions of the General Education. These include:
a. Determining the number of core courses offered by departments
b. Developing guidelines for selection of Further Studies courses, subject
to Senate approval and approve courses for Further Studies credit
c. Developing the concept of Issues and Perspectives courses, according
to the guidelines approved by the faculty
d. Soliciting proposals for Issues and Perspectives Courses
e. Approving proposed Issues and Perspectives Courses.
3. Develop and implement, in concert with the Coordinator of General Education,
the assessment process for General Education.
4. Develop, implement, and assess, in concert with the Coordinator, the
across-the-curriculum component of General Education.
5. Recommend changes to the program when necessary. Proposed changes will be
considered by the Faculty Senate; major changes shall be considered at a general
Faculty Meeting.
6. Develop and coordinate the General Education advising process.
7. Work with the Coordinator to develop the annual report on the assessment of
General Education.
8. Report at least annually to the Faculty Senate regarding:
a. The current core course offerings, including lists of courses and
enrollments.
b. The current Issues and Perspectives course offerings, including
lists of courses and enrollments
c. Any changes in the list of core courses and Issues and
Perspectives courses.
d. Results of assessment of general education courses.
e. The extent of implementation of Issues and Perspectives courses.
f. Any problems or difficulties regarding the program, with
recommendations for
improvement.
HONORS COMMITTEE
Composition: 11
9 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions
1 Student
Director of the Honors Program (ex officio, non-voting)
Selection: Standard
Charges:
1. Counsel the director and review the director's
activities.
2. Review and recommend changes as needed to the Honors Program.
3. Consult with the director regarding students who want to undertake
independent study leading to a degree with departmental honors
4. Annual reports to the Senate shall include recommendations made to and
actions taken by the Honors Director.
LIBRARY COMMITTEE
Composition: 16
8 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions,
except University Libraries
1 Representative appointed by the Graduate Council
2 Students -- one graduate and one undergraduate
5 University Libraries staff (ex officio, non-voting): Dean, Coordinator for
Collection Development, Associate Dean for Access Services, Head of Reference,
Associate Dean of Administration
Selection: Standard
Charges:
1. Advise and make recommendations to the Dean of University
Libraries concerning all aspects of long-range development of library services
and facilities in support of Wichita State University.
2. Advise the Dean of University Libraries in identifying and articulating
long-term institutional priorities in library services and facilities, including
collection development and in updating of collection development planning
statements, and information systems development as related to hardware, software
and systems support.
3. Advise and make recommendations to the Dean of University Libraries on
library policies and procedures.
4. Advise the Dean of University Libraries on the organization of library
services.
5. Consult and coordinate with the Computing and Telecommunications Strategic
Planning committee with respect to information services and infrastructure, as
well as support for library facilities and systems.
6. Annual reports to the Faculty Senate should treat the status of the
University Libraries long-range plan; noting what has been accomplished; as well
as, if applicable, how and why the plan has been revised. Reports should
summarize for the Senate new policies or revisions to existing policies,
including the expected consequences for faculty and students.
PLANNING AND BUDGET COMMITTEE
Composition: 12
Faculty Senate President (chair)
Faculty Senate President-elect
Faculty Senate Past President
9 Faculty, elected as sitting senators, one from each of the Senate divisions
Selection: Standard for the nine members elected from the Faculty Senate, three to be elected by the Senate each year to serve a three-year-term.
Charges:
1. Provide the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate with reports as tasks
are completed from their annual written charge of specific topics and projects
to the Faculty Senate Planning & Budget committee.
2. Identify and define the most appropriate avenues for faculty participations
in the planning and budget process.
3. Advise the faculty representative to university budget committee (President
of the Faculty Senate) and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
and Research, (the administrative representative of the faculty),
on faculty concerns and priorities related to budget policies.
4. Review all matters relating to university planning and budgets, and
expenditures including budget policies and assumptions.
5. Develop for faculty perspective on strategic issues and direction of the
University, through direct participation with the Provost and Vice President for
Academic Affairs and Research, college/school/University Libraries deans,
department chairs, Faculty Senate and appropriate university-level planning
groups.
6. Participate in the development of the legislative request budget.
7. Meet and confer with representatives of the Board of Regents and state
agencies as they may request.
8. Review the revisions/reallocation process that occurs after the legislature
determines the actual budget allocations to the University, including the
allocation of salary increase funds held by the Provost and Vice President for
Academic Affairs and Research.
9. Provide the faculty senate with regular reports on the activities of the
committee regarding developments in the planning and budget preparation process.
10. Make recommendations to the Faculty Senate and to the Administration in
matters related to university planning and budgets.
11. Advise and consult with the President of the Faculty Senate and the
President-Elect of the Faculty Senate on budget matters before their scheduled
meeting with the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research.
RETRENCHMENT ADVISORY AND APPEALS COMMITTEE
Composition: 9
7 Chairs of the Advisory and Appeals Committee for
Retrenchment, from the W. Frank Barton School of Business, the degree-granting
College/Schools, and the University Libraries
1 Student
University Affirmative Action Officer (ex officio, non-voting)
Selection: Chairs of Advisory and Appeals Committee for Retrenchment are chosen according to the same procedures used in selecting Tenure and Promotion Committee chairs or by other procedures adopted by the faculty of the college/school/University Libraries staff.
If a college/school/University Libraries elects the membership of its Tenure and Promotion Committee and of its Retrenchment Committee, separate elections must be held for each committee. Overlapping membership will be permitted, if it arises out of separate elections.
If some portion of the membership of the Tenure and Promotion Committee of a college/school/University Libraries is appointed, and/or if some portion of the membership of the college/school/University Libraries Retrenchment Committee is appointed, then no more than half of the members of either committee may simultaneously be members of the other. The Rules Committee has the authority to grant an exception to this regulation for a particular college/school/University Libraries, if such a request for exception can be justified.
Charges:
1. Review regularly the status of the University and its component parts in
relation to those aspects relevant to possible financial exigency.
2. Participate in preventive planning for the University prior to a declared
exigency.
3. Review and consider policies that could help avoid a declaration of
financial exigency, including early retirement or semi-retirement, shared
positions, faculty retraining and faculty reassignment. .
4. Review University and college/school/University Libraries plans for
retrenchment should a declaration of financial exigency be necessary.
5. Serve as an appeals committee, and otherwise function during periods of
financial exigency as described in the Policies and Procedures for the Reduction
of Unclassified Staff for Reasons of Financial Exigency, a copy of which is
available in the Office of the Faculty Senate.
.
RULES COMMITTEE
Composition: 11
9 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions
President-elect of the Senate (chair)
Vice President of the Senate
Selection: Standard
Charges:
1. Recommend changes to the Senate rules and constitution
to the Senate and update the rules and constitution to reflect changes passed by
the Senate.
2. Recommend changes to the bylaws of the University Faculty and updates the
bylaws to reflect any changes made.
3. Recommend to the Senate procedures and policies for the Senate elections.
The Vice President of the Senate conducts the elections.
4. Recommend to the Senate changes to the Senate committee structure and
changes in the procedures for appointing faculty, administrators, and staff to
these committees, and nominate candidates for the committees to the Senate for
its approval. In making nominations the committee is not restricted to
nominations from Senate categories or committee preference forms, but should
strive to create the strongest and most effective committees.
5. Review and suggest changes in the Faculty Grievance Procedure and coordinate
its implementation.
6. Interpret the Rules and Constitution of the Faculty Senate.
SCHOLARSHIP AND STUDENT AID COMMITTEE
Composition: 12
9 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions
1 Student
1 Representative from the Admissions Office (non-voting)
Director of Financial Aid, or designated replacement (non-voting)
Selection: Standard
Charges:
1. Review the actions of the Financial Aids Office and the Admission Office as
they relate to scholarships and student aid.
2. Recommend and review procedures for selection and termination of
scholarships and financial aid administered by the Financial Aid Office and the
Admission Office.
3. Conduct a periodic review of the policies and related procedures for
awarding of scholarship and financial aid administered by the Financial Aid
Office and the Admissions office.
4. Participate in the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational (DSI) competition
and send observes to the selection committee.
5. Act as a final appeals board for students with scholarship grievances.
6. Annual reports to the Senate shall include recommendations to and actions
taken by appropriate administrators.
TENURE AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE
Composition: 12
6 Chairs of Tenure and Promotion Committees for the
degree-granting college/schools
1 Chair of the Tenure and Promotion Committee for University Libraries
2 Faculty at-large
1 Student (non-voting)
President and President-Elect of the Senate (ex officio, non-voting)
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research (ex officio,
non-voting)
Dean of the Graduate School (ex officio, non-voting).
(Ex officio members shall not be present at the meeting when final votes are
taken.)
Selection: Chairs of Tenure and Promotion committees in the degree-granting college/school/University Libraries are chosen according to procedures established in their respective college/school/University Libraries, or unit. They are elected to two-year staggered terms. Faculty at-large are selected according to standard procedures for naming members to Faculty Senate committees, except that they shall be from different Faculty Senate divisions, and shall be full-time, tenured faculty members with the rank of associate professor or higher. Faculty at-large members serve for three years. Ex officio and faculty at-large members may not serve while a candidate for promotion or incentive review, or while on sabbatical leave. Replacement appointments shall be made as needed, following standard procedures.
Charges:
1. Implement university-wide policies and procedures for awarding tenure and
promotion.
2. Coordinate the Tenure and Promotion Calendar.
3. Specify the format for documentation in support of Tenure and Promotion
Review, with a view to developing comparable standards throughout the University
while recognizing essential college/school/University Libraries differences.
4. Formulate transmittal, reporting, and appeals procedures for awarding tenure
and promotion.
5. Ensure that there are university-wide procedures for notifying the
relevant administrators and those faculty members for whom tenure decisions must
be made before reappointment.
6. Review tenure and promotion cases in accordance with the University Tenure,
Promotion, and Appeals Procedure.
7. Review college/school/University Libraries guidelines for tenure and
promotion according to the schedule in the Handbook for Faculty, 3.62, ensuring
the guidelines are consistent with university guidelines.
8. Report to the Faculty Affairs Committee for review issues of concern in
tenure policies and tenure and promotion guidelines.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH COMMITTEE
Composition: 12
9 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions
1 Student
1 Representative of the Office of Research Administration (non-voting)
Director of the Honors Program
Selection: standard
Charge: Administer and review the Undergraduate Research
Forum.
UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Composition: 12
9 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions
1 Student
1 Representative of the Admissions Office (ex officio, non-voting)
1 Representative from the University advisors (ex officio, non-voting)
Selection: Standard
Charges:
1. Review and recommend changes to the University Admissions policy, and
coordinate with the Admissions Office the implementation of the University
Admissions procedures.
2. Annual reports to the Senate shall include recommendations made to and
actions taken by the Admissions Office.
UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Composition: 11 members
9 Faculty, one chosen from each of the Senate divisions
1 Student
1 Representative of the Office of Academic Affairs and Research
(ex officio, non-voting)
Selection: Standard
Charges:
1. Serve as the curriculum committee for programs and other units that are
not administered by a curriculum committee in one of the degree-granting
college/schools.
2. Resolve curriculum issues involving two or more college/school/University
Libraries, or units. These matters may be referred to the Committee by
college/school/University Libraries curriculum committees or the Office of
Academic Affairs and Research.
UNIVERSITY TUITION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Composition: 9 members
3 Faculty selected by the Executive Committee
3 Students selected by S.G.A.
President of the Unclassified Professional Senate, or designated representative
President of the Classified Senate, or designated representative
Director of Budgets (ex officio, non-voting)
Charges:
1. Review budgetary needs and present to the President of the University
recommendations concerning tuition.
2. Annual reports to the Senate shall include recommendations made to and
actions taken by the President of University
concerning tuition.
Article I section 1(a) rev. 5-7-07