ARTICLE I. GENERAL POWERS DELEGATED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS
(Changes to this article are subject to vote only by the Faculty Senate and the
University Senate)Consistent with actions and policies by the
regents of the University of Minnesota, all matters relating to the educational
and administrative affairs of the University are herein committed to the
president, the Faculty Senate, the University Senate, and the several
faculties.
ARTICLE II. PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY –
POSITION AND AUTHORITY (Changes to this article are subject to vote only by the
Faculty Senate and the University Senate)The president of the
University shall be the representative to external constituencies of the
regents, the University Senate, the Faculty Senate, the faculties, and the
students, and shall be the chief executive officer of the University. The
president shall have general administrative authority over University affairs.
The president may suspend action taken by any senate, council, committee, campus
assembly, college faculty, or student constituency and ask for a reconsideration
of such action. If the president and a senate, council, committee, campus
assembly, college faculty, or student constituency do not reach agreement on the
action, the question may be appealed to the regents by the president, or by any
senate, council, committee, campus assembly, college faculty, or student
constituency. The president, as chief executive officer of the University, shall
have final authority to make budgetary recommendations to the regents. However,
in view of the necessary weighing of educational policies and objectives
involved, the president shall consult with and ask for the recommendations of
other academic officers and the Faculty Consultative Committee and the Senate
Consultative Committee concerning such budgetary recommendations as materially
affect the University as a whole.
ARTICLE III. THE UNIVERSITY
SENATE (Changes to this article are subject to vote only by the University
Senate)1. Powersa. The University Senate shall have
general legislative authority over administrative matters concerning more than
one campus or the University as a whole, but not over the internal affairs of a
single campus, institute, college, or school, except where these materially
affect the interests of the University as a whole or the interests of other
campuses, institutes, colleges, or schools. It may also offer advice to the
President on budget, educational policy, and research issues.
b. The
University Senate shall have the power to recognize campus assemblies as
official campus legislative and policy-making bodies and, upon so doing, such
organizations shall have all powers permitted the campus assembly in this
Constitution and Bylaws.
c. The University Senate may delegate authority
and responsibility to campus assemblies in administrative matters concerning
only one campus of the University. Each campus shall determine its own assembly
and shall adopt its own constitution and bylaws, consistent with the
constitution and bylaws of the University Senate.
d. Nothing in this
constitution bars the Senate Consultative Committee, the Faculty Consultative
Committee, the Student Consultative Committee, the Council of Academic
Professionals and Administrators, or the Civil Service Committee from discussing
and expressing views on any matter they deem appropriate, without regard to any
view expressed by any of the other bodies.
e. In case of disagreement
between or among the Senate Consultative Committee, Faculty Consultative
Committee, the Student Consultative Committee, the Council of Academic
Professionals and Administrators, and the Civil Service Committee on a matter,
each body may present its own views to the president.
f. Nothing in this
constitution bars the University Senate, the Faculty Senate, the Student Senate,
the Council of Academic Professionals and Administrators, or the Civil Service
Committee from discussing and expressing views on any matter it deems
appropriate, without regard to any view expressed by any of the other
bodies.
g. In case of disagreement between or among the University
Senate, Faculty Senate, the Student Senate, the Council of Academic
Professionals and Administrators, and the Civil Service Committee on a matter,
each body may present its own views to the president.
2.
Membershipa. The University Senate shall be composed of the
following voting members:
(1) the president of the
University;
(2) the vice chair of the University Senate;
(3) the
10 elected faculty members of the Faculty Consultative Committee, the 10 elected
student members of the Student Consultative Committee, the 2 Council of Academic
Professionals and Administrators, the 2 Civil Service Committee members of the
Senate Consultative Committee, and the past chair of the Faculty Consultative
Committee, who shall serve as ex officio voting members;
(4) the 155
members of the Faculty Senate;
(5) the 50 members of the Student Senate;
(6) 23 elected academic professional and administrative staff members;
and
(7) 23 elected civil service staff members.
Qualified academic
staff members elected to the Faculty Senate will not be counted as part of the
23 academic staff to be elected to the University Senate.
b. Each member
of the University Senate shall represent the University as a whole. The deans,
vice presidents, chancellors, provosts, the University Librarian, and the
General Counsel shall serve as ex officio nonvoting members. Student body
presidents of the Twin Cities, Duluth, Morris, and Crookston student bodies
shall, if not otherwise elected, serve as ex officio nonvoting
members.
3. University Senate OfficersThe officers of the
University Senate shall be the chair, the vice chair, the clerk, and the
parliamentarian. The president of the University shall be the chair and shall
preside at meetings of the University Senate. The vice chair and the clerk
shall be faculty members eligible to be elected to the Faculty Senate. The
selection and duties of the officers shall be set forth in the
bylaws.
4. University Senate Meetings – Call –
Quoruma. The University Senate shall hold regular meetings, at least
twice in each semester of the academic year, at a time and place determined by
the Senate Consultative Committee and approved by the president.
b.
Special meetings of the University Senate may be held upon the call of the
president, the Senate Consultative Committee, or upon written request of ten
members of the University Senate. Senators shall be given notice of any special
session by the clerk of the Senate at the earliest possible date and not less
than two days before the meeting. Only subjects specifically listed on the
proposed agenda for any special session may be considered at that
meeting.
c. At any regular or special meeting of the University Senate, a
majority of its membership (not including vacant seats) shall constitute a
quorum.
d. Any faculty member, student, academic staff member, or civil
service staff member eligible to vote for senators may be admitted to University
Senate meetings and shall be entitled to speak at the discretion of the
University Senate. Only elected University Senate members (or their designated
alternates), Senate Consultative Committee members, and, in the case of a tie,
the presiding officer, shall be entitled to vote. Ex officio members of the
University Senate may speak and make motions but are not entitled to vote.
5. University Senate Agenda and Minutesa. The agenda and
minutes of each University Senate meeting shall be distributed in the manner
specified in the Rules. Matters under Senate jurisdiction, including proposed
amendments to this Constitution or Bylaws, may be submitted by any committee of
the Senate or any Senate member.
b
. Committees and Senate members
shall submit items for action to the clerk of the Senate at least two weeks
before the University Senate meeting.
6. Twin Cities
DelegationThe Twin Cities members of the University Senate shall
constitute the Twin Cities Delegation. The University Senate shall refer to the
Twin Cities Delegation any matters which pertain only to the Twin Cities campus.
Committees which deal only with matters that pertain to the Twin Cities campus
shall report to the Twin Cities Delegation. The Twin Cities Delegation shall
meet as needed to conduct business at the call of the President, the Senate
Consultative Committee, or upon written request of ten members of the Twin
Cities Delegation. The officers of the University Senate shall serve as the
officers of the Twin Cities Delegation and all procedures and rules established
in the constitution, bylaws, and rules for the University Senate shall apply to
the Twin Cities Delegation as appropriate. When questions arise, the Senate
Consultative Committee shall determine the application of the constitution,
bylaws, and rules to the Twin Cities Delegation.
7. Committees of the
University Senate The University Senate may establish standing
committees and may also create special committees. Membership on all University
Senate committees and procedures for electing or appointing members are
described in the Bylaws. Committees may appoint subcommittees. The Committee
on Committees shall serve as a resource for subcommittee nominations and shall,
at the request of the parent committee, appoint members to standing
subcommittees.
ARTICLE IV. THE FACULTY SENATE (Changes to this
article are subject to vote only by the Faculty Senate)
1.
Powers
a. The Faculty Senate shall have general legislative authority
over faculty welfare, educational, and research matters concerning more than one
campus or the University as a whole, but not over the internal affairs of a
single campus, institute, college, or school, except where such affairs
materially affect the interests of the University as a whole or the interests of
other campuses, institutes, colleges, or schools. It shall also have general
advisory responsibilities for matters related to the University budget. The
authority of the Faculty Senate shall include but not be limited to primary
responsibility for educational and research policies, providing advice to the
president concerning the University's budget, accreditation, designation and
granting of University honors, policies concerning faculty appointment and
tenure, and matters within the jurisdiction of the Faculty Affairs and Judicial
Committees. Only those members of the Faculty Senate who hold probationary or
tenured faculty appointments may vote on changes in the Regents' Policy "Faculty
Tenure," any matters related to tenure, or any matters related to the Judicial
Committee.
b. The Faculty Senate may delegate authority and
responsibility to campus or faculty assemblies in educational, research, and
faculty welfare matters concerning only one campus of the
University.
2. Membership
a. The Faculty Senate shall be
composed of the following voting members:
(1) the president of the
University;
(2) the vice chair of the Faculty Senate;
(3) the 155
elected faculty or qualified academic staff members; and
(4) the 10
elected members of the Faculty Consultative Committee and the past chair of the
Faculty Consultative Committee, who shall serve as ex officio voting
members.
b. The deans, vice presidents, chancellors, provosts, the
University Librarian, and the General Counsel shall serve as ex officio
nonvoting members.
c. For the purposes of this constitution, the bylaws, and the rules, the term "faculty" shall include (1) individuals who hold full-time regular appointments as defined in the Regents' Policy "Faculty Tenure," and (2) individuals who hold full-time multi-year or annually renewable term appointments as defined in the Regents' Policy "Faculty Tenure" and who have completed three years of service at the University.
d. For the purposes of this constitution, the bylaws, and the rules, the term "qualified academic staff" shall mean individuals who (1) hold full-time appointments as academic professionals, (2) have faculty-like responsibilities with a primary focus on teaching or research, and (3) have probationary/continuous appointments or have completed five years of service at the University.
e. For the purposes of this constitution, the bylaws, and the rules, "full-time appointments" are defined as requiring at least 67% time.
f. The manner in which faculty and qualified academic staff are elected to the Faculty Senate shall be prescribed in the bylaws.
3. Faculty Senate Officers
The officers of
the Faculty Senate shall be the chair, the vice chair, the clerk, and the
parliamentarian. The president of the University shall be the chair and shall
preside at meetings of the Faculty Senate. The vice chair and the clerk shall
be faculty members eligible to be elected to the Faculty Senate. The selection
and duties of the officers shall be set forth in the bylaws.
4.
Faculty Senate Meetings – Call – Quorum
a. The Faculty
Senate shall hold regular meetings, at least twice in each semester of the
academic year, at a time and place determined by the Faculty Consultative
Committee and approved by the president.
b. Special meetings of the
Faculty Senate may be held upon the call of the president, the Faculty
Consultative Committee, or upon written request of ten members of the Faculty
Senate. Senators shall be given notice of any special session by the clerk of
the Senate at the earliest possible date and not less than two days before the
meeting. Only subjects specifically listed on the proposed agenda for any
special session may be considered at that meeting.
c. At any regular or
special meeting of the Faculty Senate, a majority of its membership (not
including vacant seats) shall constitute a quorum.
d. Only elected
Faculty Senate members (or their designated alternates), Faculty Consultative
Committee members, and, in the case of a tie, the presiding officer, shall be
entitled to vote. All members of the faculty who hold regular appointment as
defined in Faculty Tenure and all qualified academic staff may be
present at Faculty Senate meetings and shall be entitled to speak and to offer
motions for Faculty Senate action.
5. Faculty Senate Agenda and
Minutes
a. The agenda and minutes of each Faculty Senate meeting
shall be distributed in the manner specified in the Rules. Matters under
Faculty Senate jurisdiction, including proposed amendments to this Constitution
or Bylaws, may be submitted by any committee of the Faculty Senate or any
Faculty Senate member.
b. Committees and Faculty Senators shall submit
items for action to the clerk of the Senate at least two weeks before the
Faculty Senate meeting.
6. Twin Cities Faculty
Delegation
The Twin Cities faculty and qualified academic staff
members of the Faculty Senate shall constitute the Twin Cities Faculty
Delegation. The Faculty Senate shall refer to the Twin Cities Faculty
Delegation any matters which pertain only to the Twin Cities campus. Committees
which deal only with matters that pertain to the Twin Cities campus shall report
to the Twin Cities Faculty Delegation. The Twin Cities Faculty Delegation shall
meet as needed to conduct business at the call of the President, the Faculty
Consultative Committee, or upon written request of ten members of the Twin
Cities Faculty Delegation. The officers of the Faculty Senate shall serve as
the officers of the Twin Cities Faculty Delegation and all procedures and rules
established in the constitution, bylaws, and rules for the Faculty Senate shall
apply to the Twin Cities Faculty Delegation as appropriate. When questions
arise, the Faculty Consultative Committee shall determine the application of the
constitution, bylaws, and rules to the Twin Cities Faculty
Delegation.
7. Committees of the Faculty Senate
The Faculty
Senate may establish standing committees and may also create special committees.
Membership on Faculty Senate committees and procedures for electing or
appointing members are described in the Bylaws. Committees may appoint
subcommittees. The Committee on Committees shall serve as a resource for
subcommittee nominations and shall, at the request of the parent committee,
appoint members to standing subcommittees.
ARTICLE V. THE STUDENT
SENATE (Changes to this article are subject to vote only by the Student
Senate)
1. Power
In general, the responsibility of the
Student Senate shall include but not be limited to matters in the area of
student government, student organizations, and student publications. The
Student Senate shall also exercise an advisory role on matters of student
behavior and student academic integrity.
2. Membership
a.
The Student Senate shall be composed of the following voting members:
(1) the 50 elected student members
(2) the 10
elected members of the Student Consultative Committee who shall serve as ex
officio voting members
3. Student Senate Officers
The
officers of the Student Senate shall be a chair and a vice chair.
4.
Student Senate Meetings – Call – Quorum
a. The Student
Senate shall hold regular meetings, at least twice in each semester of the
academic year, at a time and place determined by the chair of the Student
Senate. Special meetings of the Student Senate may be held upon the call of the
chair, the Student Consultative Committee, or upon written request of ten
members of the Student Senate. Senators shall be given notice of any special
session by the clerk of the Senate at the earliest possible date and not less
than two days before the meeting. Only subjects specifically listed on the
proposed agenda for any special session may be considered at that
meeting.
b. At any regular or special meeting of the Student Senate, a
majority of its membership (not including vacant seats) shall constitute a
quorum. Any student eligible to vote for senators may be admitted to Student
Senate meetings and shall be entitled to speak at the discretion of the Student
Senate. Only elected Student Senate members (or their designated alternates),
Student Consultative Committee members, and, in the case of a tie, the presiding
officer, shall be entitled to vote.
5. Student Senate Agenda and
Minutes
a. The agenda and minutes of each Student Senate meeting
shall be distributed in the manner specified in the Rules. Matters under
Student Senate jurisdiction, including proposed amendments to this Constitution
or Bylaws, may be submitted by any committee of the Senate or any Senate
member.
b. Committees and Student Senators shall submit items for
action to the Student Consultative Committee at least two weeks before the
Student Senate meeting.
6. Twin Cities Student
Delegation
The Twin Cities student members of the University Senate
shall constitute the Twin Cities Student Delegation. The Student Senate shall
refer to the Twin Cities Student Delegation any matters which pertain only to
the Twin Cities campus. Committees which deal only with matters that pertain to
the Twin Cities campus shall report to the Twin Cities Student Delegation. The
Twin Cities Student Delegation shall meet as needed to conduct business at the
call of the Chair of the Student Senate, Student Senate Consultative Committee
or upon written request of ten members of the Twin Cities Student Delegation.
The officers of the Student Senate shall serve as the officers of the Twin
Cities Student Delegation and all procedures and rules established in the
constitution, bylaws, and rules for the University Senate shall apply to the
Twin Cities Student Delegation as appropriate. When questions arise, the
Student Senate Consultative Committee shall determine the application of the
constitution, bylaws, and rules to the Twin Cities Student
Delegation.
7. Committees of the Student Senate
The
Student Senate may establish standing committees and may also create special
committees. Membership on all Student Senate committees and procedures for
electing or appointing members are described in the Bylaws. Committees may
appoint subcommittees.
ARTICLE VI. THE COUNCIL OF ACADEMIC
PROFESSIONALS AND ADMINISTRATORS (Changes to this article are subject to vote
only by the Council of Academic Professionals and
Administrators)
1. Powers
The responsibility of the
Council of Academic Professionals and Administrators shall include but not be
limited to matters relating to the work of the professional and administrative
staff.
The Council of Academic Professionals and Administrators may
delegate to campus organizations responsibility for matters concerning only one
campus of the University.
2. Membership
All academic staff
who are Council of Academic Professionals and Administrators representatives or
elected alternates, for six months or more, and hold 50%-time or greater
appointments, are eligible to run for the Senate.
ARTICLE VII. THE
CIVIL SERVICE COMMITTEE (Changes to this article are subject to vote only by the
Civil Service Committee)
1. Power
a. The
responsibility of the Civil Service Committee shall include but not be limited
to matters relating to the employment conditions of the civil service
staff.
b. The Civil Service Committee may delegate to campus
organizations responsibility for matters concerning only one campus of the
University.
2. Membership
All civil service staff covered
by the Civil Service Rules who have held temporary or continuing appointments of
at least 50% time or more for at least two calendar years are eligible to run
for the Senate.
ARTICLE VIII. GOVERNMENT OF THE COLLEGES AND
SCHOOLS (Changes to this article are subject to vote only by the Faculty Senate
and the University Senate)
1. Composition
The
government of each institute, college, or school of collegiate rank shall be
vested in the president, provosts, deans, professors, associate professors,
assistant professors, research associates, instructors, research fellows,
students, and other group representatives, if any. Each department or division
giving instruction in another institute, college, or school may be represented
on the faculty of that institute, college, or school by one or more members.
Each institute, college, or school of collegiate rank shall determine its own
governing rules and policies including methods of selecting faculty, student,
and other group representatives, if any, for its government.
2.
Powers
Such government shall control the internal affairs and
policies of its own institute, college, or school, including entrance
requirements, curricula, instruction, examinations, grading, degrees, and
academic disciplinary matters, except as provided in Article III, Section
1.
ARTICLE IX. JURISDICTIONAL QUESTIONS
1.
Intercollege Controversies (Changes to this section are subject to vote only by
the Faculty Senate)
Controversies arising between institutes,
colleges, and/or schools of collegiate rank may be presented, after mutual
conference, to a special committee appointed by the president and confirmed by
the University Senate. If the special committee is unable to arrange a mutually
agreeable solution to the problem in question, the matter shall be placed on the
agenda of the next regular or special meeting of the University Senate for
decision. The Senate's decision may be appealed to the president.
2.
Controversies Between a Senate and Institutes, Colleges, and Schools (Changes to
this section are subject to vote only by the Faculty and Student
Senates)
Controversies arising between the University, Faculty, or
Student Senate or any of their committees and a campus, institute, college, or
school government or other division of the University shall be resolved by the
president, after conference with representatives of the appropriate Senate and
of the units in question.
ARTICLE X. AMENDING PROCEDURE (Changes
to this article are subject to vote only by the University Senate)
An
amendment to this Constitution shall be approved either by a two-thirds majority
of all voting members of the appropriate Senate, as indicated in each section,
at a regular or special meeting, or by a majority of all voting members of the
appropriate Senate at each of two meetings, the second of which shall be the
next regular meeting; and provided the proposed amendment has been distributed,
in writing, to the persons and in the manner provided in Article III, Section 5,
at least ten days prior to the date of the vote on the approval of the proposed
amendment. An amendment shall be effective following approval by the appropriate
Senate and by the Board of Regents.
If a proposed constitutional
amendment has received affirmative votes of 80% or more of those present and
voting at a meeting of a Senate, but the number of votes cast is insufficient to
adopt the amendment (either a two-thirds majority of all voting members at one
meeting or a majority of all voting members at the second of two meetings), the
amendment may be submitted electronically to all members of that Senate for a
second vote. The votes must be cast no later than three working days from the
time of adjournment of the Senate meeting at which the item was considered. The
number of votes required for electronic approval will be the same as the number
required for approval at the meeting.
ARTICLE XI. BYLAWS
(Changes to this article are subject to vote only by the University
Senate)
The University Senate may enact or amend its Bylaws either by
a majority of all voting members of the University Senate at a regular or
special meeting, or by a majority of all members of the Senate present and
voting at each of two meetings, the second of which shall be the next regular
meeting, provided the proposed change has been submitted, in writing, to each
member of the Senate at least ten days prior to the date of the vote on the
approval of the proposed change.
If a proposed bylaw amendment has
received affirmative votes of 80% or more of those present and voting at a
meeting of the Senate, but the number of votes cast is insufficient to adopt the
amendment (either a majority of all voting members at one meeting or a majority
those present and voting at the second of two meetings), the amendment may be
submitted electronically to all members of the Senate for a second vote. The
votes must be cast no later than three working days from the time of adjournment
of the Senate meeting at which the item was considered. The number of votes
required for electronic approval will be the same as the number required for
approval at the meeting.
ARTICLE XII. EFFECTIVE DATE OF
CONSTITUTION
This Constitution shall take effect following its
approval by the Board of Regents.