College Constitution

1. Faculty
   The regular faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences shall consist of all faculty members appointed to the College under the rules of tenure and holding the rank of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, or instructor. Regular faculty members have the right and responsibility to participate in the establishing of general policies and procedures affecting academic programs, curricula, faculty status and privileges, and all other matters where their interests are involved. To carry out these functions, faculty members, through the Faculty Council, shall have access to all data, records, and other information held by the College that are not of a confidential nature. Regular faculty members also have the right and responsibility to participate in the selection, evaluation, and retention of all academic administrative officers of the college.
2. Non-Tenure Track Faculty
   Faculty members who are not on tenure track shall have access to appropriate information in order to share in shaping general policies and procedures in matters where their interests are involved. They shall have the right to participate in college matters as appropriate, and the right to bring their concerns to the Faculty Council for consideration.
3. Staff
   The staff of the College consists of all persons with secretarial, technical, and other non-faculty appointments. They will have access to appropriate information in order to share in shaping staff-related policies and procedures. Staff members also have the right to participate in college matters as appropriate, and the right to bring their concerns to the Faculty Council for consideration.
4. Students
   The student body of the College will have access to appropriate information in order to share in shaping student-related policies and procedures. Students also have the right to participate in college matters as appropriate, and the right to bring their concerns to the Faculty Council for consideration.
5. Meetings of the College
   The Dean shall call a college meeting at least once each semester during the regular academic year. Additional meetings of the college may be called by the Dean or the Faculty Council. A quorum shall consist of 20% of the regular faculty.
6. Administration of the College:
   
   Dean of the College
   The Dean is the chief administrative officer of the college and shall be responsible for the orderly and efficient academic operation of the College. The Dean shall be responsible for communications to faculty, staff, and students on matters affecting the College as a unit of the University and for carrying out policies adopted by the College within its policy responsibility.
   Department Chairperson
   The Department Chairperson is the chief administrative officer of the department and shall be responsible for the orderly and efficient academic operation of the department and for communications pertinent to the department as a subdivision of the College and the University. The Department Chairperson shall hold regular meetings of the department. Members may submit items to be included on any meeting agenda. The Chairperson shall receive and transmit expressions of concern on policies or actions not directly within the area of the department's responsibility.

Faculty Council
The College of Arts and Sciences shall have a Faculty Council to represent the faculty and to assist the Dean in the orderly management of the College.

Membership
The Faculty Council shall consist of twelve members elected by and from the regular faculty of the College. Members shall be elected for two-year terms on a rotating basis, six members being elected each year. The Dean of the College shall be an ex officio member of the Faculty Council.

Elections
Elections to the Faculty Council shall be held each September according to a procedure determined by the Faculty Council.

Meetings
Regular meetings of the Faculty Council shall be held monthly during the academic year. Special meetings may be called by the Chair of the Faculty Council, or by the Dean of the College.

Authority
The Faculty Council shall serve as the Screening and Steering Committee of the Faculty for the consideration of all matters of academic policy. It shall have the responsibility to advise the Dean on all academic and budgetary matters. The Council shall maintain communication with all standing committees and ad hoc committees appointed by the Council.

Council of Chairs
The Council of Chairs shall consist of the chair of every department and directors of Centers of Excellence of the College of Arts & Sciences or their designated representative. It shall also include a member from the Faculty Council.

Educational Affairs Committee
The Educational Affairs Committee shall maintain oversight of all policies concerning new courses, academic programs, curricular changes, or other educational affairs within the College and make recommendations to the Dean. The Committee shall be composed of the Dean or his/her designee and nine members elected by and from the regular faculty. Members from the faculty shall serve two-year terms on a rotating basis, with five being elected in one year, and four the next. Ideally, this committee will consist of 3 representatives from each of the following areas: natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. Questions of policy may be referred to the Faculty Council.

Promotion and Tenure Committee
The Promotion and Tenure Committee shall consist of ten members, selected within the terms of the University promotion and tenure policies. Five members shall be elected. The other five members will be appointed by the Dean. No two members, elected or appointed, shall serve from any one department. Staggered terms shall be of two years duration, with five members chosen one year, five the next. One year, the faculty will elect three, the dean appoint two. The next year, this ratio will be reversed. All members, both elected and appointed, shall be tenured. No person who will be a candidate for promotion may serve on the committee. Individuals who have completed a term on the Committee are not eligible to serve for two years thereafter, whether by election or appointment.

Evaluation Committee for Non-instructional Assignments
The Evaluation Committee for NIAs shall consist of three members, selected by the Dean subject to review by the Faculty Council. If possible, at least one member will have received an NIA within the past two years, and at least one member will remain with the committee for two straight years, serving as committee chair during the second year of membership.

Advisory Committee on Faculty Awards
The Faculty Awards Advisory Committee shall consist of six members. Members shall serve two-year terms on a rotating basis. One year, two will be elected and one appointed by the Dean. The next year, one will be elected and two appointed.

Basler Chair Selection Committee
The committee shall consist of six faculty members; three new members shall be elected each year for a two-year term. There shall be at least one representative from the natural sciences, one from the social sciences, and one from the arts and humanities.

Academic Dishonesty and Grade Appeal Committee
This committee shall consist of faculty members and students to form a pool for individual appeals in the College chosen in a manner selected by the Dean, subject to review by the Faculty Council. Individual committees shall consist of three faculty members and three students.

1. Amendments to this Constitution
   Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in writing to the Chair of the Faculty Council by any of the following:
2. A recommendation of the Faculty Council of the College of Arts and Sciences
3. A recommendation of any standing or ad hoc committee of the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences
4. A request by any group of faculty members of the College of Arts and Sciences which includes at least ten percent (10%) of the voting faculty of the College.
5. Presentation
   Amendments may be proposed only during the regular semester and not during the summer, vacation periods, or the last two weeks of a semester. Such proposals will be considered at a regularly scheduled meeting of the College Faculty or at a meeting called for that purpose. Copies of any proposed amendment shall accompany the announcement of the meeting in which the amendment is to be considered.
   
   

6. Voting and Certification

   Amendments presented for consideration at a faculty meeting shall be revised, modified or approved by a majority of the eligible members of the faculty present and voting. Summaries of both pro and con arguments shall be distributed by the Secretary to the faculty with a mail ballot for adoption. Amendments shall be effective after adoption by a positive vote of at least two-thirds of the eligible members of the faculty who cast ballots. At least one week shall be allowed for return of the ballots before counting is concluded. The Faculty Council shall certify the results of the voting and inform the faculty.

Amended originally April 6, 1995
Revised for approval January 26, 2005
Revised again March 9, 2005.