U.7 University Governance

A system of councils and committees was established to promote internal communication and administrative teamwork. The active involvement of committee members, representing a broad cross section of the campus, provides a high level of involvement in decision-making and is recognized as a strength in the decision-making process. The system allows faculty, staff, administrators, and students to be involved in matters that affect them. Faculty - except those with adjunct, provisional, or visiting appointments or those whose teaching load is less than 50 percent of their workload - are eligible to vote on the Faculty Council. Staff - except those with temporary appointments - are eligible to participate in the University Staff Council. Vice chancellors, deans, and some academic administrators are assigned to either the Chancellor’s Cabinet or the Deans Council. Students are eligible to participate in the Student Government Association.

All university governance shall operate within UA Board Policy 100.4. 

Additional information about the Faculty Council, Faculty Senate, and University Staff Council is available online at My.UAFS.

U.7.1 Deans Council.

The Deans Council advances the educational mission of the university and addresses issues of concern related to academic programs including adding and sunsetting programs, program delivery, program review, quality of programs, and advising. The Council also provides a conduit for discussion of issues within the colleges to ensure uniformity in implementing university policies and procedures. For Deans Council minutes see Deans Council at My.UAFS.

^{U.7.1 Added January 2022}

U.7.2 University Staff Council & Staff Senate.

The purpose of the University Staff Council (USC) is to facilitate participation in university governance, thus fostering staff development and commitment to university goals. The USC and its committees operate in an official capacity with authority delegated by the chancellor. USC membership shall be comprised of all UAFS regular full and part-time employees who are not Deans, members of the Chancellor’s Cabinet, or the Faculty Council. 

Staff Senate is the executive committee of the USC and shall be comprised of elected representatives from each administration area of the University that reports directly to the Chancellor. 

For more information, see Staff Senate Membership (uafs.edu).

^{U.7.2 Updated June 2024}

U.7.3 Student Government Association.

The Student Government Association (SGA) is the recognized voice of the student body. They represent student issues and concerns before university administration and actively work to improve the student experience for every UAFS student.

^{U.7.3 Updated January 2021}

U.7.4 Faculty Council.

Voting members of the Faculty Council shall be (1) those full-time employees of the university with teaching included as 50 percent or more of their appointment and (2) professional librarians. Adjunct faculty and visiting faculty are considered non-voting members of the Faculty Council. All questions concerning membership in the Faculty Council shall be resolved by the elected officers of the Faculty Senate, subject to appeal to the Faculty Senate. For more information on Faculty Council constitution, meetings, and voting procedures, see the Faculty Governance homepage at My.UAFS.

^{U.7.4 Adopted by Faculty Council 7 April 2003; Updated February 2017, Added January 2021, Updated June 2024}

U.7.5 Faculty Senate

U.7.5.1 Vision and Mission.

The Faculty Senate and its constituent committees will serve as the faculty voice of the university. The Faculty Senate, an elected and representative body of the Faculty Council, functions to:

1. provide a forum wherein any matter associated with academic policy can be openly discussed by any faculty member;
2. enable the faculty to reach informed collective recommendations on academic matters;
3. advise the administration on academic matters including new and existing academic programs; 
4. provide advice to the administration on fiscal, personnel, and long-range planning matters; and
5. provide the faculty a representative voice in issues relating to the exercise of academic freedom, professional rights, general welfare, working conditions, and professional responsibilities in the university community.

The Faculty Senate and its component committees operate in an official capacity with authority delegated by the chancellor.

U.7.5.2 Membership.

1. The Faculty Senate shall be elected by and from voting members of the Faculty Council of UAFS.
2. A faculty member becomes eligible to serve on the Senate after being a voting member of the Faculty Council for two (2) years.

U.7.5.3 Academic Component Representation.

Each academic component shall be entitled to at least one (1) senator elected by the voting members of that academic component. Each academic component is also entitled to one (1) senator for each additional 15 voting members of that component. Apportionment will be based on the following scale:

U.7.5.4 Apportionment and Terms of Office.

All elected members of the Faculty Senate shall normally serve a two-year term with approximately one-half of the Senate terms expiring each year. In the event of a vacancy or reapportionment (see Article IV Election Guidelines), some positions may be designated as one-year terms by the Elections Committee in order to keep one-half of the Senate terms expiring each year.

The term of a member of the Faculty Senate shall expire upon the seating of their successor in the fall semester after the elections in March.

U.7.5.5 Senator Duties.

Each senator shall be responsible to their respective academic component for expressing its views on issues before the Senate and for conveying the actions and rationale of the Senate to that component.

U.7.5.6 Officers.

Officers of the Faculty Senate shall be the chairperson, the chairperson-elect, and the secretary. For information see the bylaws.

U.7.5.7 Meetings.

1. Initial Annual Meeting. The chairperson of the Faculty Senate shall call a meeting of the Faculty Senate within two (2) weeks after the beginning of each fall semester to chair the election of the secretary and to establish the schedule for faculty.
2. Regular Business Meetings. The Faculty Senate shall meet monthly during the academic year and at the call of the chancellor of the university, the chairperson of the Faculty Senate, or a majority of the Faculty Senate members. Meetings are open to all faculty members.

U.7.5.8 Unseating a Senator or Senate Officer.

If the chair, chair-elect, or any senator fails to fulfill their duties; is habitually absent; or routinely demonstrates behavior that obstructs normal parliamentary procedures, then that faculty member may be removed from their elected position by one of the following methods. For more information on unseating a senator or Senate officer, see page 6 of the Bylaws for Faculty Governance on the Faculty Governance homepage at My.UAFS.

U.7.5.9 Vacancies in the Faculty Senate.

If a vacancy in the Senate or one of its standing committees occurs for any reason during the course of the academic year, the Faculty Senate will refer the matter to the particular college or academic component to elect a substitute to complete the designated term of the senator.

U.7.5.10 Elections.

The Elections Committee shall oversee and carry out all elections. If a member of the Elections Committee is running for election to the Senate or a standing committee, then the election for that position will be overseen by another member of the Elections Committee. For more information on elections, see the Bylaws for Faculty Governance on the Faculty Governance homepage at My.UAFS.

U.7.5.11 Senate Committees.

Faculty committees facilitate the orderly governance of the university by using the collective talents of the faculty and administration working together. Committees address areas and issues that require continuing review, study, and action. There are two types of university-level standing committees: elected and appointed. Both types give reports to the Faculty Senate. For more information on minutes and reports, quorum, and proxies, please see page 7 of the Bylaws for Faculty Governance on the Faculty Governance homepage at My.UAFS.

U.7.5.11.1 Elected Standing Committees.

U.7.5.11.1.1 Organization.

1. These committees are directly responsible to the Faculty Senate.
2. All faculty members have the right to submit topics or information directly to the committee having jurisdiction over that topic or to their Faculty Senate representatives. The Faculty Senate may refer topics to standing committees as well.
3. All Faculty Council members may attend committee meetings.
4. Any change in a committee’s composition or scope, including number of representatives or distribution of representatives, must be approved through amendment of these bylaws.
5. Standing committees will present a written set of minutes and requests for action to the Faculty Senate. For more on minutes, requests for actions, and proposals see page 8 of the Bylaws for Faculty Governance on the Faculty Governance homepage at My.UAFS.

U.7.5.11.1.2 Membership.

1. To be eligible for election to a standing committee of the Faculty Senate, the faculty member must be a voting member of the Faculty Council.
2. Elections and Terms
   1. Faculty are elected to standing committees by their respective academic component or at large by the faculty as outlined by committee below for a term of two (2) academic years, serving staggered terms.
   2. Elections will follow procedures outlined for the members of the Faculty Senate in Article IV Election Guidelines of the Bylaws for Faculty Governance on the Faculty Governance homepage at My.UAFS.
   3. The term of a member of a standing committee shall expire upon the seating of their successor in the fall after the elections are held in April.

U.7.5.11.1.3 Standing Committees List.

1. Curriculum Committee
   1. General Education Subcommittee
   2. Screening Committee
2. Policy and Procedure Review Committee
3. Library Committee
4. Election Committee
5. Academic Integrity Committee
6. Campus Climate and Traditions Committee
7. Faculty Development Committee
8. University Awards Committee
9. University Promotions Committee

For more information on each standing committee, see the Bylaws for Faculty Governance on the Faculty Governance homepage at My.UAFS.

U.7.5.11.2 Ad Hoc Senate Committees.

Special committees (ad hoc committees) may be formed by the Senate. These committees shall have such powers and perform such duties and shall act for such time as are designated in the resolution calling for their appointment, but no special committee shall be appointed or formed to perform any regular duties already specifically assigned to a standing committee. Ad hoc committees may be formed within standing committees by the chairperson of that committee.

1. Faculty Success Committee
2. Student Evaluation Committee

U.7.5.12 Appointed Committees.

Appointed university-level standing or ad hoc committees concerned with academic matters may be appointed by the administration in consultation with the Faculty Senate. The Senate will annually review the status of these committees and make recommendations.

U.7.5.12.1 Current Appointed Committees List.

1. Budget Council
2. Committee for Assessment of Learning Outcomes (CALO)
   1. ULO Rubric Committee
3. Graduate Faculty Council
   1. Committee on Curriculum
   2. Committee on Faculty
   3. Committee on Student Academic Appeals
   4. Committee on Assessment
4. Grants Committee
5. Technology Support of Instruction Committee (TSI)
   1. Quality Assurance
   2. Accessibility
6. Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
   1. Academic Standing Appeals Committee
   2. Campus Activities Board (students only)
   3. Case Management or Care Team
   4. Retention Committee
      1. Policy and Process
      2. Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Business
      3. Students Support, Services, and Programs
   5. UAFS Students Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC)
   6. Strategic Enrollment Management
   7. Student Government Association (see U7.3)
      1. Freshman Council
      2. Campus Affairs
      3. External Affairs
      4. Elections and Research
      5. Public Relations/Marketing
      6. Finance and Allocations
      7. Programming
   8. UAFS Athletics Compliance Committee
   9. Yield Committee
7. Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration Committees
   1. Bond Covenant Compliance
   2. Course and Lab Fees
   3. Endowment and Investment Policy Advisory
   4. Facilities Planning
   5. Financial Appeals
   6. Health and Safety
   7. Information Security
   8. Parking Appeals
8. Commencement Committee
9. UAFS Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Committee
10. University Strategic Planning Steering Committee

^{U.7.5 Adopted by Faculty Council 7 April 2003; updated February 2017, January 2021, August 2022, June 2024}

U.7.6 College and Departmental Committees.

In the regular course of business, colleges, departments, and programs may establish standing and ad hoc committees concerned with academic matters. These committees are not expected to report to the Faculty Senate, although they may petition the Senate for action.

^{U.7.6 Adopted by Faculty Council 7 April 2003; Updated February 2017, Added January 2021}