Constitution of the ETSU Faculty Senate
PREAMBLE
To fulfill its mission effectively, the University needs a mechanism for meaningful and continuing cooperation between the faculty and administrative officers of the institution in shared governance. In order to foster mutual trust and respect and to produce cooperative efforts that enhance the stature of the university and its programs, formal and systematic lines of communication are needed to ensure full discussion of important matters and adequate reaction from one constituency to another.
Final authority for implementing the policies of the institution resides with the University president. It is a basic premise of this document that the faculty has the right and obligation to participate fully and actively in the determination of those policies that pertain to academic matters and faculty welfare. The Faculty Senate herein constituted provides, therefore, for meaningful and formal participation by the faculty in matters of University governance that are related to its right and proper concerns.
The Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate of East Tennessee State University shall interpret and/or clarify the Constitution and By-laws of the Faculty Senate as needed.
Revised April 7, 2017 – added ‘shared governance” and 1.3 Revised, May 1995
ARTICLE I: NAME The name of this organization shall be the Faculty Senate of East Tennessee State University.
Revised, May 1995
ARTICLE II: PURPOSES & FUNCTIONS
1. The purposes and functions of the Faculty Senate of East Tennessee State University shall be as follows:
1.1. To serve as the primary vehicle of faculty participation in the shared governance of the University.
1.2. To serve as the forum for the determination and the expression of the representative opinion of the University faculty.
1.3. To serve as a means for reciprocal communication among all segments of the University (administration, faculty, students, and staff) concerning University problems, goals, programs, and policies.
1.4. To serve as a forum for the initiation, formulation, discussion, and implementation of academic and related policies of concern to colleges, schools, or other academic units.
1.5. To make recommendations to the appropriate University administrator on matters of university policy and procedure in areas of concern to the faculty, including the following:
1.5.1. Those matters about which the faculty is expected to take the initiative (e.g. curricula; academic policies; degree programs; faculty appointments; dismissal, retention, promotion and tenure; and academic freedom and responsibility).
1.5.2. Those matters about which the administration is expected to take the initiative (e.g. policies regarding use of University facilities; allocation of financial resources; research administration; student life; and selection of major University academic administrative officers).
2. The Faculty Senate shall expect to receive prompt notice of impending actions or decisions of the University president, or of other administrative officers, which could result in changes in University policy about which the faculty could be expected to have reasonable concern.
3. The Senate shall discuss such actions or decisions and make recommendations to the appropriate administrator before these are put into effect. Similarly, the Senate shall expect to receive prompt notice of actions taken by the University president to implement the Senate's recommendations. If such recommendations are not implemented, the senate should request that the president provide an explanation for the decision.
4. To fulfill the purpose and function of the Faculty Senate, the Senate shall hold at least one regularly scheduled meeting each full month during the fall and spring semesters at such time as specified by the membership of the Senate.
Revised March 21, 2020- added #4- that the Senate shall hold at least one regularly
scheduled meeting each full month of fall and spring semesters
Revised April 7, 2017 – updated language for consistency
Revised: April 6, 2009
ARTICLE III: AMENDMENT PROCEDURES
1. Initiation. This constitution may be altered by a procedure begun in either of the following ways:
1.1. By a petition signed by one-fifth (1/5) of the full-time faculty members.
1.2. Through a proposal supported by one half (1/2) of the Faculty Senate members.
2. Ratification. Any amendments shall be ratified in the following manner:
2.1. An amendment must receive a favorable vote by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of faculty senators voting in an official Senate meeting to be held no sooner than one week after the initiatory procedure has been completed.
2.2. The proposed amendment will then be distributed to the full-time faculty for review and evaluation.
2.3. Any such amendment must receive a favorable vote by a majority of the full-time faculty members voting thereon.
Revised March 21,2020 – changed initiation procedure to a proposal supported by one third (from ½) of the senate members and ratification to a two-thirds majority (from a majority)
Revised March 21, 2020 – removed sections on membership, officers, committees, and meetings – to avoid potential inconsistencies with bylaws. These sections are in the by-laws which is where they should be.