Constitution
ARTICLE I. PURPOSE
Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of
the University of Maine Faculty Senate is to represent the faculty
of the University of Maine in the development of University policies
as described in this Constitution.
ARTICLE II. AUTHORITY
Section 1. Authority of the Board.
The Board of Trustees is the legal governing body of the University
and nothing within the Constitution shall be construed as granting
to the faculty or to the University of Maine Faculty Senate the
authority to act outside the policies of the Board of Trustees.
Section 2. Collective bargaining.
Nothing within the Constitution shall be construed as granting to
the faculty or to the University of Maine Faculty Senate the
authority to act in ways that are inconsistent with any collective
bargaining agreement.
Section 3. Degree Requirements. The
responsibility for the determination of the requirements which
students must meet to be eligible for a degree rests with the
faculty of the University of Maine. (Board of Trustees of the
University of Maine System, Policy and Procedures Manual, Section
303.1, "Degree Requirements".)
Section 4. Delegation to the
Senate. The University of Maine Faculty Senate is delegated by the
faculty the authority to act in its behalf in ways specified in this
Constitution.
Section 5. Approval of the
Chancellor. This Constitution has been approved by the Chancellor of
the University of Maine System pursuant to Board of Trustees'
Policies.
ARTICLE III.
JURISDICTION
Section 1. Degree requirements.
Subject to other provisions of this Constitution, the Senate shall
have the authority to act in behalf of the faculty in establishing
University-wide degree requirements.
Section 2. Establishment of policy.
In the following matters a recommendation of the Faculty Senate
shall become University policy except when disapproved by the
President of the University in a written response to the Senate
within thirty days from the date on which such a recommendation is
transmitted to the President: academic freedom, free speech and
assembly policies, student academic standards and performance, the
definition of academic titles and general criteria for ranks,
standards for actions on the academic standing of students, and
curriculum matters involving two or more colleges.
Section 3. Review and
recommendation. The Senate shall have the authority to review and
make recommendations regarding all other academic matters not
specified in Section 2, above, or any matter affecting the academic
environment including such matters as institutional plans and
priorities, the allocation of the University's financial resources,
academic organization, the library, the awarding of honorary
degrees, admissions' policies and standards, the establishment and
elimination of academic programs, and the assessment of academic
outcomes.
Section 4. Resolution of
disagreements. In regard to recommendations disapproved by the
President of the University of Maine under the provisions of Section
2 above, good faith effort shall be made by all parties to resolve
any disagreements.
Section 5. Response of the
President. The President of the University of Maine shall inform the
Faculty Senate routinely of the disposition of its recommendations.
Section 6. Reservation of authority
to the colleges. The individual colleges shall have the authority to
establish degree requirements for the degrees offered by the
colleges and the Faculty Assembly shall have the authority to
establish degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree. For
purposes of this paragraph, the Graduate Faculty shall have the
standing of a college faculty.
Section 7. Reservation of authority
to faculty members. Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed
to deprive individual faculty members of any authority they
otherwise have under any collective bargaining agreement or Board of
Trustees' policies.
Section 8. Participation in
appointment processes. The faculty shall participate in processes
leading to the appointment of academic and administrative officers
including the President and the Vice Presidents.
Section 9. Evaluation of University
of Maine administrators. The Faculty Senate, acting through the
Executive Committee chaired by the President of Faculty Senate,
shall conduct faculty evaluations of UMaine administrators, in
consultation with the President of the University.
ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Faculty members. The
faculty members of the University of Maine shall elect faculty
Senators as follows:
A. Apportionment.
1. Each college shall have at least
four Senators.
2. Faculty senators will be
distributed across the colleges so that one Senator will be elected
for each ten full time faculty members. For purposes of
apportionment full-time members of each college shall be designated
by the dean of that college. The criteria used will be subject to
approval of the Senate. Each February, the deans of various colleges
shall send the Senate Secretary a list of full-time faculty. Using
the above rules, the Secretary, subject to the approval of the
Executive Committee of the Senate, shall determine the number of
faculty representatives to the Senate to which each college is
entitled and shall so inform the deans. Departmental chairpersons
shall be eligible for election as faculty Senators.
3. The Cooperative Extension
faculty, who are not represented as part of a college, shall be
represented by two Senators. These representatives shall be elected
in the manner described in Article IV, Section 1.8.
4. In the event of changes in the
composition of colleges or distribution of faculty across colleges.
the Executive Committee of the Senate shall formulate a plan to
phase in the adjustments to apportionment of Senators resulting from
such changes. Such a plan must include the provision that elected
Senators shall have the option to complete their term even if the
resulting number of total Senators is temporarily greater than
forty.
B. Time and manner of election.
1. Each college shall elect its
Senator during the spring semester of each academic year. Voting
shall be by secret ballot and at least two faculty members shall be
nominated for each vacancy a college has on the Senate.
2. A special election conducted by
the applicable college at a faculty meeting or through a mail ballot
shall be held to fill an un-expired vacant position on the Faculty
Senate. The President of the Faculty Senate shall declare a position
vacant if, in consultation with the faculty Senator, the President
determines that the Senator is unable to continue to fulfill his/her
responsibilities. Senators have the responsibility to inform the
Senate President of any circumstances that may preclude their
continued participation in Senate activities.
3. In order to be eligible to serve
on the Senate, a faculty member must have tenure status or have been
a member of the faculty of the University of Maine for at least two
years.
C. Term of office.
1. The term of office of a Senator
shall be three years, beginning July 1 following election, serving
for not more than two successive terms.
2. If a college is represented by
more than two Senators, their term of office shall be fixed so that
approximately one third of the Senators shall be elected each year.
Section 2. President. The President
of the University of Maine shall be a non-voting member of the
Senate.
Section 3. Administrative members.
Administration membership on the Senate shall consist of the
following persons: Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost,
Vice Provost for Research & Graduate Studies, and one elected
representative of the Deans' Council.
Section 4. Undergraduate student
members. There shall be two undergraduate student members selected
by the Student Government.
Section 5. Graduate student member.
There shall be one graduate student member selected by the
Association of Graduate Students.
Section 6. Un-represented groups
may request liaison status with the Faculty Senate. If the request
is approved by the Senate, the group will select its representative
to attend full Senate meetings. The Liaison will serve with voice
but no vote.
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers. At a meeting
in April of each year, the Senate shall elect, from among the
faculty members, the following two
officers for a term of one year: Vice President/President-elect, and
Secretary. Any tenure-track or continuing appointment faculty
member, who has been on the University of Maine faculty for at least
two years, is eligible for election to these offices. Newly elected
officers shall begin their duties on July 1 following their
election.
Section 2. Succession of officers.
The Vice President/President-elect shall succeed to the office of
President. The President and Vice President/President-elect may not
succeed to the same office but the Secretary may succeed to the same
office.
Section 3. Parliamentarian. The
President shall select a Parliamentarian.
Section 4. Elections. Election of
these officers and their duties shall be as detailed in the bylaws
of the Senate.
ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS
Section 1. Regular meetings. The
Senate shall hold regular monthly meetings during the academic year
at a time and place which it shall determine.
Section 2. Special meetings.
Special meetings of the Senate may be called by the President of The
University of Maine, by the President, or by the Secretary on
request of any ten members of the Senate, provided all members have
been notified at least 24 hours in advance of the time and date of
the special meeting.
Section 3. Special separate
meetings. Nothing in this Constitution shall preclude the calling of
special separate meetings of the administrative members or of the
faculty members or of the student members of the Senate. Such
meetings may be called by the President of the University of Maine,
by the President of the Faculty Senate, by the President of the
General Student Senate, or by the Secretary on the request of any
ten faculty members, provided all members have been notified at
least seven days in advance.
Section 4. Agenda. The complete
agenda for each regular meeting of the Senate shall be established
by the Agenda Committee which shall consist of the President, the
Vice President/ President-elect, and the Secretary. Particularly it
shall designate those proposals which are to be considered by the
Senate under new business.
A. Submission of proposals. Any
member of the Senate may submit proposals, in writing, to the Agenda
Committee. The Agenda Committee shall have the authority to request
additional clarifying or supporting material concerning each
proposal before it is placed on the agenda. However, the committee
may not withhold a proposal from the agenda for more than thirty
days, except by consent of the proposer.
B. Distribution of agenda. At least
seven days prior to each regular meeting, the Secretary shall
distribute the agenda to all members of the Senate.
10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"">C. Referral or automatic
postponement of non-agenda proposals. Except in an emergency, as
determined by a two thirds vote of the members present, any proposal
introduced
under new business which does not
appear on the agenda shall either be referred to an appropriate
committee or automatically postponed until the following meeting.
Section 5. Parliamentary authority.
Robert's Rules of Order, as most recently revised, shall govern
meetings of the Senate, except in cases where such rules are
inconsistent with this Constitution.
Section 6. Substitute members. A
member who must be absent from any meeting of the Senate shall name
an alternate from the same college or administrative office to
attend and to exercise all privileges and powers of the regular
member.
Section 7. Quorum.
A. A quorum of the Senate shall
consist of a majority of its members.
B. Roll call vote. A roll call vote
on any motion can be demanded by one fourth of the present and
voting members of the Senate if a quorum is present.
Section 8. Attendance of
non-members.
A. Administration and faculty
non-members. Any member of the administration or faculty may attend
meetings of the Senate. Such a visitor may speak but not vote.
B. Invited participants. The
President of the University of Maine or the President of the Senate
may invite anyone to participate in the discussions of the Senate.
Section 9. Distribution of minutes.
The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Senate and distribute
them to all of the members of the Senate as well as to the faculties
of the participating colleges and CES at least seven days prior to
the next regular meeting.
ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES
Section 1. Standing committees. The
Senate may create standing committees as provided in its
Bylaw. Such standing committees
shall report to the Senate in writing at least once each academic
year.
Section 2. The Committee on
Committees. Except for the Committee on Committees, in consultation
with the appointed Chair, the Senate President will appoint the
members of each standing committee. In appointing members, the
Senate President will consider the need to balance membership
continuity with new members in a given year. Committee membership is
for one year, with the possibility of reappointment. The Committee
on Committees, elected by the Senate, will consist of one faculty
Senate member from each college, one faculty Senate member from the
University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Graduate Student
Association Representative to the faculty Senate. The Committee on
Committees shall, at the request of the University President or
designee, recommend faculty members to standing and ad hoc
administrative committees or shall provide a list to the President
or designee of faculty members who have agreed to serve on a
specific committee.
Section 3. Ad hoc committees. The
Senate may create ad hoc committees to address specific short term
issues as deemed appropriate and expedient at the time. Such ad hoc
committees will report to the Senate at appropriate intervals and in
writing at the conclusion of their charge. Such ad hoc committees
will disband at the conclusion of their change.
Section 4. Appointment of committee
members. The President of the Senate shall appoint faculty
members to committees except in those instances in which the bylaws
specify election of committee members
from the faculties of the individual colleges.
ARTICLE VIII.
DISPOSITION OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Section 1. Veto by colleges. Any
academic policy recommended by the Senate may be vetoed by a
majority
of the colleges, voting in their separate college meetings, or by a
mail ballot of the college if a regular college
meeting cannot be scheduled during the time limit allowed for a
veto. Each college shall determine which
recommendations of the Senate are subject to its veto, and shall
exercise its right of veto by the 45th day
(vacations excepted) after the recommendation has been acted upon by
the Senate.
Section 2. Referendum on veto. The
veto of a recommendation of the Senate by a majority of colleges
shall become effective only if it is supported by a majority of the
faculties of the colleges voting by mail ballot. Such ballots shall
be mailed by the Secretary to all faculty members of the colleges
within fifteen days following a veto. The Secretary shall count such
ballots fifteen days after the mailing of them.
Section 3. Transmittal of
recommendations. Recommendations passed by the Senate shall be
transmitted to the President of the University of Maine for the
appropriate action.
Section 4. Appeal to the
Chancellor. In the event that a recommendation of the Senate is not
approved by the President of the University of Maine, or in the
event of a serious and prolonged disagreement between the President
of the University of Maine and the Senate on a question of grave
concern to the University of Maine, the Senate, by a majority vote
taken by secret ballot may authorize the President of the Senate to
communicate, in writing, directly with the Chancellor in order to
present its viewpoint. A copy of such a communication shall be
provided the President of the University of Maine.
Section 5. Appeal to the Board of
Trustee. If, after the procedures outlined in Section 4, a serious
and prolonged disagreement exists between the Senate and the
Chancellor, the Senate, by a majority vote through secret ballot,
may authorize the President of the Senate to communicate directly in
writing with the Board of Trustees to present its viewpoint. A copy
of the communication shall be forwarded to the Chancellor.
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENT
Section 1. Proposal of the
amendment. Any member of the Senate may propose an amendment to the
Constitution. The proposed amendment shall be submitted to the
Secretary of the Senate at least forty-five days prior to the vote
on the proposed amendment. Upon receipt of the proposed
constitutional amendment, the Secretary shall forward it to the
Chairperson of the Committee on Constitution and Bylaws. The
Secretary shall notify the membership of the Senate in the next
regular meeting printed agenda that such a proposal has been
received and forwarded to the Committee on Constitution and Bylaws.
This committee shall review the proposed constitutional amendment
and may make recommendations. The proposed constitutional amendment
and the action of the Committee on Constitution and Bylaws shall be
distributed by the Secretary to the membership of the Senate at
least fifteen days prior to the meeting at which action is to be
taken.
Section 2. Adoption of the
amendment. If the proposed amendment received a two thirds majority
of the votes cast in the Senate, it shall be submitted to members of
the faculties of the participating colleges and CES for
ratification. The Secretary shall conduct a suitable referendum by
mail within fifteen days after publication in the minutes of the
Senate indicating a favorable action on the amendment by the Senate.
The Secretary shall count the votes fifteen days after the mailing
of the ballot to all members of the participating colleges and CES.
A two-thirds majority of the ballots cast in the referendum shall be
necessary for adoption of the amendment.
Please contact Ellen Woodhead at 581-1167 or email Faculty Senate
President Bryan Pearce for more information.
