University of Montevallo - Faculty Handbook

Faculty Handbook

APPENDIX A

UNIVERSITY OF MONTEVALLO FACULTY CONSTITUTION

Ratified on April 1, 2009

Preamble

To promote and sustain excellence in higher education, facilitate communication and cooperation among Faculty personnel and between Faculty and the Administration, and to ensure the continuing development of our educational programs and policies, we, the Faculty of the University of Montevallo do hereby adopt this Constitution. It is the intent of the Faculty that this constitution provides a system for participation of the Faculty in the shared governance of the university.

Mission

The mission of the University of Montevallo, unique in higher education in Alabama, is to provide to students from throughout the State an affordable, geographically accessible, “small college” public higher educational experience of high quality with a strong emphasis on undergraduate liberal studies and with professional programs supported by a broad base of arts and sciences, designed for their intellectual growth in the pursuit of meaningful employment and responsible, informed citizenship.

In accordance with this mission, it is the Faculty’s belief that the basic functions of the University of Montevallo are to preserve, augment, criticize and transmit knowledge; to develop skills; to foster creative capacities; and to establish the opportunity for the public at large to be exposed to these functions. These functions are performed by a community of scholars who must be free to exercise independent judgment in the planning and execution of their educational responsibilities. The governance of the Faculty should therefore be designed to allow these individuals to select and carry out their responsibilities with maximum effectiveness and integrity.

Article I. Principles of Participation

The operation of the University of Montevallo is the joint concern of many constituents, including the Board of Trustees, Administrators, Faculty, Staff and Community Members. Because the Faculty performs the primary tasks for which the University is organized, the Faculty is recognized as an essential participant in making and implementing educational policy decisions. We, the Faculty, understand that meaningful input from all constituents is necessary for the success and prosperity of the University.

Therefore, in order to facilitate communication and trust between all constituencies of the university and thereby more effectively promote academic excellence within the university community, we, the Faculty, do hereby subscribe to this document that sets forth Faculty responsibilities in the shared governance of the University of Montevallo. It is a guiding factor in the Principles of Accreditation of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools that the Faculty and the Administration shall collaborate in decisions affecting the academic welfare of the University. The nature of that collaboration, shared as appropriate with students and staff, varies according to the nature of the decisions in question.

The University relies on Faculty to share in decisions concerning the selection of Faculty, educational policy related to teaching, curriculum, research, academic ethics, and other academic matters. In every case, the Faculty participates in the governance and operation of the University as provided by and in accordance with the laws and policies of the Board of Trustees, the law and regulations of the State of Alabama, and the Principles of Accreditation of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The President of the Faculty Senate shall be the designated spokesperson for the Faculty when addressing the President of the University, the Board of Trustees or the Vice President for Academic Affairs on matters of importance to shared governance.

Article II. Responsibilities of the Faculty

Section 1. The Faculty acknowledges that—consistent with recognized standards of academic excellence suggested in applicable principles of accreditation and elsewhere—the University of Montevallo places primary responsibility for the content, quality, and effectiveness of its curriculum with the Faculty. Therefore, in cooperation with the Administration, the Faculty shall determine choices in the content and structure of the University curriculum as well as the pursuit of pedagogical education and instructional methods, all in accordance with policies prescribed by the Board of Trustees and the State of Alabama.

Section 2. In cooperation with the Administration, the Faculty shall approve academic policy and standards, including authorization and direction of all courses, curricula, and degrees offered, admissions criteria, regulation of student academic conduct and activities, and determination of candidates for degrees, all in accordance with policies prescribed by the Board of Trustees and the State of Alabama.

Section 3. In cooperation with the Administration and in accordance with policies prescribed by the Board of Trustees and the State of Alabama, the Faculty shall recommend guidelines governing Faculty appointment, reappointment, promotion, tenure and post-tenure review, dismissal, annual Faculty evaluation, relative apportionment of salary adjustments allocated to the Faculty, granting of sabbaticals, and the appeal of decisions in these areas. The Faculty may at any time recommend to the Administration the adoption of policies, procedures, or actions designed to aid in the recruitment and retention of qualified Faculty.

Section 4. In cooperation with the Administration and in accordance with policies prescribed by the Board of Trustees and the State of Alabama , and as part of the University’s overall budgeting process, the Faculty may make recommendations to the Administration regarding allocations of resources and the delegation and use of University facilities for academic purposes.

Section 5. In cooperation with the Administration and in accordance with policies prescribed by the Board of Trustees and the State of Alabama, the Faculty may make recommendations to the Administration regarding measures designed to ensure Faculty welfare and security, including the promotion of a safe and equitable working environment for all constituencies of the Faculty Senate.

Section 6. The Faculty shall participate in shared governance through its elected representatives in the Faculty Senate.

Article III. Function of the Faculty Senate

The Faculty Senate is the elected representative body of the Faculty, consisting of representatives from the four colleges of the university and the library; Senators are the voice of the Faculty. The Faculty Senate serves as a recognized channel of communication between the Faculty and the Administration, and as such functions as the primary means of Faculty action. The role of the Faculty Senate is to facilitate effective participation by the Faculty in the academic affairs of the University. The Faculty have this responsibility consistent with the Principles of Accreditation of the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (Principle 3.4.12-The institution places primary responsibility for the content, quality, and effectiveness of its curriculum with its Faculty.). The authority of the Faculty Senate derives from the will of the Faculty and exists as a feature of the bond of mutual trust that serves as the basis for the general system of governance for the Faculty, Student Body, and Administration.

The Faculty Senate is authorized by the faculty to act on its behalf on any questions and issues properly brought before it by its own members and committees, Faculty Senate University Committees, Councils, or similar groups, the university Administration, student government, Faculty petition, individual Faculty members, and any other appropriate university body. The Senate provides a means for the Faculty to address Faculty issues that have university-wide application and with more localized Faculty issues when deemed appropriate by Faculty Senate, as set forth in the bylaws.

Article IV. Membership

Section 1. In accordance with section 16-54-6 of the Code of Alabama, the President, Academic Vice-President, Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors, and Instructors shall compose the Faculty of the institution.

Section 2. Members of the Faculty are eligible to vote in matters of Faculty government and to hold offices and to serve on committees established in accordance with this Constitution.

Article V. Amendments

Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by the Faculty Senate or by petition to the Faculty Senate signed by ten percent (10%) or twenty members of the Faculty, whichever is smaller during the Fall or Spring Semester. The Faculty Senate shall send copies of such proposals to all members of the Faculty and shall convene a Faculty Assembly to consider them and vote on their adoption. A majority of the votes cast is necessary for adoption.

Article VI. Ratification

This Constitution and Bylaws shall be submitted to the Faculty for approval at a Faculty Assembly. A majority of the votes cast is necessary for ratification. (Ratified on April 1, 2009 by a vote of 75 to 13.)

UNIVERSITY OF MONTEVALLO FACULTY SENATE BYLAWS

Ratified on April 1, 2009

Article I. Role of the Senate

Section 1. These by-laws set forth the specific mechanisms by which the Senate carries out the tasks assigned to it in the Faculty Constitution.

Section 2. The Faculty Senate is the permanent body representing the Faculty for the expression of the Faculty’s position on university policy and procedures in matters pertaining to institutional purpose, general academic considerations, curricular matters, admission policies, degree requirements, awarding of honors, determining the allocation of resources insofar as they affect teaching, academic research and other creative endeavors, the delegation and use of University facilities for academic purposes, ensuring Faculty welfare and security, including the promotion of a safe and equitable working environment for all constituencies of the Faculty Senate, program development and review, department and college reorganization, those aspects of student life which relate to the educational process, the oversight of policies and procedures for Faculty appointment, reappointment, promotion, tenure and post-tenure review, sabbaticals, dismissal, annual Faculty evaluation, salary increases, and policies and procedures for the appeal of decisions in these areas. All issues pertaining to academic matters and affecting the Faculty at large should go before the full Faculty Senate before implementation. The Faculty Senate is the voice of the Faculty.

Section 3. The authority of the Faculty Senate derives from the will of the Faculty and exists as a feature of the bond of mutual trust that serves as the basis for the general system of governance for the Faculty, Student Body, and Administration. Shared governance is based upon mutual trust and respect for diverse interests and perspectives and is an iterative and consultative process.

Section 4. Issues of the Faculty at large may be presented to the Faculty Senate by its own members and committees, the University Administration, the Student Government, Faculty Senate University Committees or Councils, Faculty petition, individual Faculty members and any other appropriate university body. The President of the University and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (Provost/VPAA) will serve as the primary points of contact and conduits of information between the Faculty Senate and the University Administration. It is expected that the Faculty Senate, where appropriate, may need to engage in direct and open communication with all other officers of the University for consulting purposes in regards to matters defined in Section 2 of this Article.

Section 5. The Faculty Senate will, at its option, delegate initial review of matters to committees of the Faculty Senate. Such committees are subordinate to the Senate. At its option, the Faculty Senate may create such committees as are necessary to facilitate its work. The Senate is self-regulating with respect to its internal structure and purposes (e.g., ad hoc Senate Committees), responding to changes within the University in a manner which it finds appropriate. An annual review of shared governance will be a function of the Governance and Senate Operations Committee as defined in Article VI, Section 7.

Section 6. The Faculty Senate will participate in the selection of academic administrators (via representation on search committees and in the case of administrator higher than dean, participation in a scheduled interview during the candidates visit).

Article II. Membership of the Faculty Senate

Section 1: The Faculty consists of the President, Academic Vice-President, Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors, and Instructors. When the Faculty Senate calls the Faculty as a whole to meet, they constitute the Faculty Assembly. The Faculty Senate may call for special plebiscites to determine the will of the Faculty Assembly at appropriate times.

Section 2: Any tenured or untenured Faculty member, including department chairs, will be eligible to be elected to membership on the Faculty Senate; administrators above the level of department chairs are not eligible to serve.

Section 3. Composition of the Faculty Senate shall be a number no less than 20% of the total number of qualified Faculty from each Department. The Governance and Senate Operation Standing Committee will determine how many members are needed from within each Department and the library such that 20% of the Faculty are elected representatives. Numbers of representatives should be modified when the total number of full-time Faculty lines in a Department changes. In no case shall a Department gain or lose a Senator as a result of one of its members being on leave or as a result of a vacant position.

At present, the representation should be as follows:

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics Department of Communication and Science Disorders Department of English and Foreign Languages	3 Faculty 4 Faculty 1 Faculty 4 Faculty
College of Business	3 Faculty
College of Education
Counseling and Leadership Programs Elementary and Secondary Programs Kinesiology & Family and Consumer Sciences Programs	1 Faculty 3 Faculty 2 Faculty
College of Fine Arts
Department of Art Department of Communication Department of Theatre Department of Music	2 Faculty 1 Faculty 1 Faculty 2 Faculty
Carmichael Library	1 Faculty

The representation, as listed above may be edited yearly by the Senate to reflect current representation without an amendment. The date of the edit should appear here. (Edited to reflect de-merger of Communication Arts and Theatre, one faculty each, August 22, 2011.)

Section 4: The length of service of Senate members shall be three years. Senators may be re-elected. Membership terms within a department should be staggered, if possible. The Governance and Senate Operation Standing Committee will work with Departments to create and sustain a staggered term system.

Section 5: The Faculty Senate is responsible for the management of the election of members of the Faculty Senate and officers of the Faculty Senate.

(A) The elections of representatives to Faculty Senate will be conducted by the department’s Faculty Senator(s) (or a Faculty Senate designate should a department not have a Senator) and should take place within each department before the last scheduled Faculty Senate meeting of the Spring Semester. If a Department does not have a Faculty meeting scheduled the election may be conducted by written ballot.

(B) The election of members of the Faculty Senate shall be conducted by the Faculty of each Department via a method determined to be appropriate by the Faculty Senators of that Department.

(C) An unexpired term shall be filled by special election in the Department involved as soon as is practical by the appropriate College by election. Changes in organization of the University or reduction in the Faculty that causes the Department to have too many Senators to the Faculty Senate shall be cause for the Department to elect from its Senators with continuing terms of office the number of Senators it is entitled to have. Election by the Faculty Senate of a Senate officer that requires longer service on the Senate than the Senator’s term allows will result in an automatic extension of that Senator’s term to the necessary length. Where possible, the length of terms of office of other Senators from the same Department may be staggered to accommodate this change. This should be done in consultation with the Faculty Senate Governance and Senate Operation Standing Committee.

(D) Representation in the Faculty Senate shall be determined on the basis of the Faculty lines during the Spring Semester.

(E) Those who are elected to the Faculty Senate shall assume their duties at the last meeting of the Spring Semester of the Faculty Senate. New Senators are expected to attend this meeting. A discussion of Senate operations and open offices shall be held.

(F) If a member of the Faculty Senate is absent without proxy for two consecutive and regularly scheduled meetings, the President of the Faculty Senate may declare that member’s place vacant and direct the Faculty Senate Secretary to notify the appropriate Department Chair of the vacancy. If a member of the Faculty Senate will be on leave and does not wish to complete his/her duties as a senator for more than one semester, that will be considered a vacancy. Any vacancy will then be filled as soon as practical by the appropriate Department by election using the procedure described above.

Article III. Officers

Section 1: The officers of the Faculty Senate shall be the Senate President (1 year term), the Senate President-Elect (1 year term), the Secretary (1 year term), and an alternate Secretary (1 year term).

Section 2: Election of officers:

The Senate President, Senate President-Elect, the Secretary, and an alternate Secretary shall be elected by a majority vote, provided a quorum is present, at the first meeting of the Fall. Nominations for these officers will be made from the floor. All officers shall assume their duties at the second meeting of the academic year. Recall of the Senate President or the Senate President-Elect can occur at any time in the following manner: a petition from 1/3 of the sitting Senators requesting recall will go to the Secretary who will then call for a vote of the entire Senate. A majority vote of the entire Faculty Senate is required to recall an officer. An election to replace the called officer will occur immediately. Senate Liaisons, as listed in Section 7, and any other necessary appointments will be made at the first meeting of the Fall. Senate Subcommittee appointments will be made at the first meeting of the Fall.

Section 3: Duties of Officers

(A) The Senate President:

shall be a tenured, full-time Faculty;
presides at meetings of the Senate and called meetings of the Faculty Assembly;
declares that a quorum is present at Senate meetings;
receives resolutions or other business from Senators or constituents;
sets agendas for meetings (in consultation with Executive Committee);
acts as a facilitator of discussions and the voting process;
meets with the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs on a weekly basis or as required, including Summer sessions, (this meeting may include the Senate President-Elector or another Senate member if necessary) and may include Senate Secretary as necessary;
meets with the President of the University on a regular basis, including Summer sessions, (this meeting may include the Senate President-Elect; when that is not feasible, another Senate member may be present) and may include Senate Secretary as necessary;
meets with the President of the University and Provost/VPAA of the University together on an as needed basis, including Summer sessions, (this meeting should include the Senate President-Elect; when that is not feasible, another Senate member may be present) and may include Senate Secretary as necessary;
represents the Faculty Senate at all Board of Trustees meetings, or designates an alternate representative,
provides the Board of Trustees with a report Senate business and of all resolutions passed by the Faculty Senate;
calls at least one meeting of the whole Faculty Assembly per year, preferably in the Fall Semester;
sets the time and place of Faculty Senate meetings;
declares a Senate meeting to be closed under certain conditions;
speaks for Senate after due consultation with Senate;
reports on Faculty Senate business at regularly scheduled University-wide Faculty meetings;
invites special guests to Senate meetings as it seems appropriate;
serves as chair of the Executive Committee.
sets Faculty Senate Calendar;
represents Faculty Senate on the University Planning Committee, the Space Utilization Committee, and other committees as necessary;
calls nominations and oversees selection for CASE Professor of the Year and Faculty Senate Service Award.

(B) The Senate President-Elect:

shall be a tenured, full-time Faculty;
performs the duties of the Senate President when he/she is absent or unable to serve;
receives resolutions or other business from Senators or constituents;
assists the Senate President in setting agendas for meetings (in consultation with the Executive Committee);
attends weekly meetings with the President of the Senate and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs as needed;
serves as Senate President after completion of current Senate President’s term.

serves on the Executive Committee;
performs the duties of the Senate President if he/she or the Senate President-Elect is unable to serve;
receives resolutions or other business from Senators or constituents;
assists the Senate President in setting agendas for meetings (in consultation with the Executive Committee);

(D) The Secretary:

may be a tenured or untenured Faculty member;
serves as the recorder for the Senate and the Executive Committee, taking minutes and distributing the approved minutes to the Faculty and other designated persons;
maintains records of minutes of all Faculty Senate meetings;
reviews and manages correspondence of the Senate.
maintains all records of actions on resolutions and other business;
reviews minutes of University Committees and informs the Executive Committee and/or Senate of relevant issues or action items.

(E) The Alternate-Secretary:

may be tenured or untenured Faculty member;
assumes the Secretary’s responsibilities if the Secretary is unable to attend a given meeting.

Section 4. The retiring Senate President of the Faculty Senate shall serve as an ex officio, non-voting member of the incoming Senate except in those circumstances in which the retiring Senate President will, by virtue of an uncompleted term of service on the Senate, already be a member of the incoming Senate.

Section 5: The teaching load of the Senate President should be reduced by the equivalent of a three or four hour course per semester. The election of the Senate President-Elect in the year prior to service as Senate President will allow time for any necessary arrangements needed for this course reduction.

Section 6: The Faculty Senate will appoint a webmaster to serve as the producer and coordinator of the Senate’s web-site or web presence. This person will be a member of the Faculty who may or may not be a senator.

Section 7. The Faculty Senate will appoint the following liaisons whose duties are defined below:

(A) The Senate Liaison to Untenured Faculty:

should be an untenured Faculty member;
is primarily responsible for confidential communication between untenured Faculty and the Faculty Senate;
shall offer to hear reasons for departure of any untenured Faculty member with the goal of passing along information that would improve retention of untenured Faculty.

(B) The Senate Liaison to Office Staff Personnel (OSP):

should attend OSP meetings;
assist in communication between OSP and Faculty Senate.

should only be appointed if no Senator is concurrently serving on USCS;
should attend all UCSC meetings;
assist in communication between UCSC and Faculty Senate.
serves on the Senate Academic Policies Committee.

(D) The Senate Liaison to the Graduate Council:

should only be appointed if no Senator is concurrently serving on the Graduate Council;
should attend all Graduate Council meetings;
assist in communication between Graduate Council and Faculty Senate
serves on the Senate Academic Policies Committee.

(E) The Senate Liaison to the Student Government Association (SGA):

should attend SGA meetings;
assist in communication between the SGA and Faculty Senate.

(F) The Senate Liaison to the City of Montevallo:

should represent the Faculty in matters related to the City of Montevallo.

Article IV. Duties of Senators

Section 1. Act as a channel for confidential communication between any Faculty member and the Faculty Senate.

Section 2. Provide information to the Faculty from the Senate, including reporting on Senate business at regularly scheduled department meetings or via other communication such as email. Senators from each College should work together to ensure that all members of the College receive all information, including those Faculty who do not, in the case of special circumstances, have department representatives on the Senate.

Section 3. The senior Senator from each college shall be responsible to report on Senate business at regularly scheduled College Faculty meetings.

Section 4. Participate in the work of the whole Faculty Senate, including regular attendance of Faculty Senate meetings.

Section 5. Participate in the work of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees.

Article V. Functioning of the Faculty Senate

Section 1: Scheduling of Meetings. Full Faculty Senate meetings are to be held regularly, at least every second Friday at 2:00 p.m. during the academic year. A majority of the total number of Senate members shall constitute a quorum. The Senate President has the power to cancel a meeting, provided no Senate member objects. The Senate President has the power to reschedule meetings to accommodate the University calendar. In addition, the first meeting of the Fall Semester will take place on the first Friday of the semester to allow time for elections and appointments.

Section 2: The Faculty Senate will conduct all business according to Robert's Rules of Order, Revised.

Section 3: The Senate President, in collaboration with the Executive Committee is responsible for setting the agenda, provided that one item on the agenda be designated "New Business" to allow Senate members to bring forward matters of concern from their constituencies.

Section 4: All Faculty Senate members shall have one vote each, including the Senate President. Motions will be passed by a simple majority vote of those present, provided a quorum is present. In the event of a tie vote the procedures listed in Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, must be followed.

Section 5: The use of proxies shall be strictly regulated to ensure proper representation. Any Senator unable to attend either a regular Senate meeting or a Senate committee meeting may send a substitute with a written proxy or may provide their written proxy to the Senate President.

Section 6: All Faculty Senate meetings are normally open to all Faculty members. Visitors to the Senate may take part in discussion at the discretion of the Senate President.

Section 7: Special meetings may be called by the Senate President or at the written request of one-fifth of all Senators. Such meetings shall be scheduled at times that will ensure maximum attendance. Senators must receive notice of such meetings at least two days in advance.

Section 8. The Executive Committee will meet the first Friday of every month at 2:00 p.m. and other times as needed, and Faculty Senate Standing Committees will meet on the third Friday at 2:00 p.m. and other times as needed.

Article VI. Faculty Senate Standing Committees

Section 1. The Standing Committees of the Faculty Senate are:

(A) The Executive Committee

(B) The Governance and Senate Operations Committee

(D) Finance, Benefits and Resources Committee

(E) The Academic Policies Committee

Section 2. The Faculty Senate and/or the Executive Committee may at any time create an ad hoc Faculty Senate Committee for any purpose or inquiry it deems necessary. The charge and membership of these committees will be identified and voted on by the Faculty Senate. In addition, the Faculty Senate will specify a target date for the committee to dissolve. Alternatively, the committee can dissolve at the completion of a predefined task. Ad hoc Committees can become permanent committees if deemed necessary by the Governance and Senate Operations Committee.

Section 3. The members of the standing committees and ad hoc committees are Senators and are chosen by the Senate at the first meeting of the Fall by newly-elected members together with those members remaining on the Senate for the next year. A chair for each subcommittee will be appointed by the Faculty Senate President, with the exception of the Executive Committee whose chair will be the Faculty Senate President.

Section 4. Recommendations to the Faculty Senate for addition, deletion, or change of the standing committees of the Senate will be a part of the annual review done by the Governance and Senate Operations Committee.

Section 5. Minimum attendance requirements of the committee members will be determined by each committee at the first meeting of the Senate year. The elected chair of a committee may request of the Senate President the replacement of any committee member when minimum attendance requirements are not met. In the case of a vacancy for any other reason, or in case of the need for an additional committee member, the Senate President shall appoint the new committee member provided that the Senate consents by a majority vote of those in attendance at a regular Senate meeting. The replacement of a committee member will not be in violation of Senate By-laws or required composition of any committee.

Section 6. Committees shall elect a chair for the upcoming academic year from among their membership during the first Senate meeting of the academic.

Section 7. Faculty Senate Standing Committees:

Executive Committee

Membership

The Faculty Senate President, Senate President-Elect, Secretary, and, Past-Senate President shall comprise the membership.
The Senate President shall call and chair the meetings.
A quorum shall consist of two officers.

Charge

Receive all resolutions and other business from the Senate President, President-Elect, and Past-President. In the case of a proposed resolution, the Executive Committee will conduct the first reading of the bill, determining if the bill has been properly submitted and if it is ready for presentation to the Senate. Bills and/or business originating outside the Senate or University Committees may be sent to the appropriate committee for consideration and/or revision.
Prepare the agenda for Senate Meetings including but not limited to any resolutions ready for presentation to the Senate, reports of Standing Committees as needed, reports of University Committees (each committee must post minutes following each meeting, if they do not meet in a given semester they must report to Faculty Senate at least once per semester), and new business.
Coordinate activities of Senate Standing Committees.
Disseminate Senate business to appropriate Senate Standing Committees or University Committees.
Advise and consult with the on those matters requiring attention during periods in which the full Senate cannot be called into regular session, this includes meeting during Summer Session at least once a month or more frequently as needed.
Call for a full Senate Meeting during the summer sessions if critical issues need to be addressed, however due to logistical constraints and professional consideration, any issue that can be held until the Fall Semester should be tabled until that time.
Invite the President of the University and/or Provost/VPAA for consultation with the Senate as needed.
Call for nominations and oversee selection of recipients of the Faculty Senate Service Award and CASE award annually.

Governance and Senate Operations Committee

Membership:

Four elected Senators including Senate President.

Charge:

Review annually the Senate bylaws and prepare recommendations (resolutions) for revisions of and additions to the bylaws.
Ensure that Faculty Senate elections occur each Spring in all departments and the library. This will include but is not limited to determining the number of Faculty who should be elected from each department and the library. The department chairs and the head of the library should be informed well in advance of the election.
Conduct Faculty Senate Officer elections at the first meeting of the Fall semester via secret ballot.
The Faculty Senate serves as a Committee on University Committees. The Governance and Senate Operations Committee will serve as nominating committee (to the Senate) for Faculty membership on all University Faculty Committees as listed in the Faculty Handbook. This work must be completed by April 1 of each year. Following Senate approval these nominations will be forwarded to the President of University by the end of the Spring Semester.
Maintain an updated roster of all University Committees and distribute to all Faculty in the university. This may be done in conjunction with the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Office.
Conduct an annual review of the shared governance system of the University and make recommendations for needed change including recommendations for changes as describe in Article IX, Section III.

Personnel and Handbook Committee

Membership:

Four elected Senators.

Charge:

Monitor the quality of the academic and professional environment in regard to its impact on Faculty morale and the successful completion of Faculty duties. Conduct the annual Faculty survey, preferably during the Fall Semester.
Monitor policies and procedures for Faculty appointments, promotions, award of tenure, sabbatical and other leaves, retirements, terminations due to financial exigency and discontinuation of an educational program, Faculty evaluations, Faculty grievances, and salary adjustments.
Monitor and make recommendations about the contents of the Faculty Handbook through annual review, updating and editing.
Collect and disseminate information pertaining to Faculty personnel policies and procedures. This committee shall recommend modifications and changes where necessary.

Finance, Benefits and Resources Committee

Membership:

Four elected Senators.

Charge:

Study the University’s current operating budget as it compares to the budgets from at least the two preceding fiscal years.
Report this information to the Faculty Senate and disseminate this information to the Faculty at large.
Conduct a cost-benefit analysis every 3 years for the following benefits for Faculty: (a) life insurance; (b) healthcare insurance; (c) disability insurance; (d) retirement plans and benefits; (e) DROP program, (f) other relevant items.
Review work of Faculty/Staff Salary Committee, including but not limited to, reviewing annually Faculty/Staff Salary report.
Review matters pertaining to campus planning and allocations of space and funding where they pertain to academic needs.

Academic Policies Committee

Membership:

One Senator from each College for a total of four elected Senators, including, if possible, a Senator who also serves on the Undergraduate Curriculum and Policies Committee (UCSC). If there is not a Senator currently serving on UCSC, then a Senator from this Standing Committee shall be appointed liaison (see Article III, Section 7) and a Senator who also serves on the Graduate Council. If there is not a Senator currently serving on UCSC, then a Senator from this Standing Committee shall be appointed liaison (see Article III, Section 7).

Charge:

Serve as a liaison between the Undergraduate Curriculum and Policies Committee (UCSC), the Graduate Council and the Faculty Senate.
Provide a mechanism for dialogue concerning proposed changes in academic policies within each college.
Assess the impact of proposed changes in academic policies and programs by the various colleges on the entire university.

Article VII. Submission of Business to the Senate

Section 1. Formal (in the form of resolutions) or informal new business may be submitted for consideration to the Executive Committee prior to regular meetings of the Full Senate or during regular meetings of the Full Senate by Senators, Senate committees, Faculty Senate University Committees, Councils or other similar bodies, student government, university Administration, Faculty petition, individual Faculty members, or any other appropriate university body. All formal business shall be submitted in the form of resolutions which state clearly and in detail all actions to be taken and the agencies intended to take these actions. Items which do not conform to this format shall be returned to their originators. The Faculty Senate will, at its option, delegate initial review of matters to Standing Committees of the Faculty Senate or to University Committees.

Section 2. Senate committees shall submit written reports of actions taken, and shall submit their recommendations, if any, in the form of resolutions, or other official communication.

Section 3. All resolutions shall be submitted electronically to the Senate President.

Section 4. Once the Senate President, in consultation with the Executive Committee, has set the agenda, it shall be sent electronically along with copies of all resolutions on the agenda for the next regular Senate meeting to each Senator at least 48 hours prior to the upcoming Faculty Senate Meeting.

Section 5. Following receipt of agenda and prior to Faculty Senate meeting, all Senators shall review the agenda, all resolutions, and other materials so as to be informed of issues to be discussed and for the purposes of any necessary consultation with concerned constituents.

Section 6. Following discussion, all resolutions and other business on the agenda will be either submitted for a vote or sent to committee for further consideration or revision.

Section 7. During “new business” a Senator may move that the Senate proceed immediately to emergency floor consideration of a resolution not on the agenda, nor before committee. This motion is in order only if the proponent of the motion has on hand copies of the resolution for all Senators. The Senator must present ample evidence of the urgency of the matter, of the need for immediate action, and of the likelihood that delay would seriously impair the effectiveness of the Senate’s response.

Section 8. When a Senate resolution is passed, the Senate President-Elect of the Senate will forward the resolution to the President, the Provost/VPAA of the University, and when appropriate to the Board of Trustees.

Section 9. The Senate Executive Committee by majority vote of the Committee, after determining that the matter is of an emergency nature and should be acted on prior to the next regularly scheduled Senate meeting, may order that a motion be presented to the Senate by e-mail or other electronic communication. The communication containing the motion shall specify the deadline for voting on the motion, which deadline shall be at least 3 calendar days after the e-mail is sent. Deliberation of the issue may occur via an electronic discussion board maintained by the Senate Executive Committee. Members of the Senate may vote either by e-mail, in writing, or by an anonymous survey in the event of a closed ballot, but votes must be received by the deadline to be counted. The usual rules shall apply in determining a quorum and the vote required for adoption.

Article VIII. Records of the Senate

Section 1. The file of resolutions, written responses from the Provost/VPAA and/or President’s office and written minutes of the Senate are the only official records of Senate proceedings. These records are exclusive. All resolutions are complete as recorded. No debate or testimony of intent may be construed as modifying or expanding the actions of the Senate.

Section 2. These documents shall be posted electronically and backed up . It is the responsibility of the Senate President-Elect to maintain the records of file of resolutions, written responses from the President’s office. It is the responsibility of the Secretary to maintain the records of the written minutes.

Section 3. It is the right of each Faculty member to review these records on a regular basis. The Faculty Senate President will report on Faculty Senate business at regularly scheduled University-wide Faculty meetings. The senior Senator from each college shall be responsible to report on Senate business at regularly scheduled College meetings and at other times as necessary and the senior Senator from each Department shall be responsible to report on Senate business at regularly scheduled Department meetings and at other times as necessary.

Article IX. University Faculty Committees

Section 1. The members of the University Faculty Committees are full-time tenured or tenure-track Faculty members and are nominated by the Faculty Senate each Spring.

Section 2. Each committee chair shall provide a report to the Senate of that committee’s activities no less than once per semester prior to the last regularly scheduled Faculty Senate meeting of that semester.

Section 3. Recommendations for addition, deletion, or change of membership composition on the University Faculty Committees will be part of the annual Faculty Senate Governance and Senate Operations Committee annual review of shared governance. The Faculty Senate Governance and Senate Operations Committee will determine if any changes in the mechanism for and the extent of Faculty/student/staff/Administration participation (as listed in the Faculty Handbook should be recommended.

Section 4. The chair of a committee may request of the Senate President the replacement of any committee member when minimum attendance requirements (as defined by each committee) are not met.

Section 5. The replacement of a committee member will not violate Senate by-laws or required composition of any committee.

Section 6. The University Faculty Committees of the Senate are listed in the University of Montevallo Faculty Handbook.

Article X. Amendments to these By-laws

Section 1: Any Faculty Senate member may propose amendments to these by-laws to the Governance and Senate Operations Committee during the Fall or Spring Semester.

Section 2: Upon recommendation of the Governance and Senate Operations Committee

these By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of those present at a meeting of the Faculty Senate at which a quorum is present.

Section 3: No amendment to these By-Laws may be construed as altering the basic University Faculty Constitution.