THIS DOCUMENT WAS SUPERCEDED JULY 1, 2005.
THIS VERSION IS LISTED FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES ONLY.

UNIVERSITY SENATE BYLAWS

Part 2 of 2

ARTICLE III. SENATE COMMITTEES


1. ALL-UNIVERSITY HONORS COMMITTEE

The All-University Honors Committee solicits and reviews nominations for all-University honors.

Membership

The All-University Honors Committee shall be composed of no more than 8 faculty members (including one from each coordinate campus), 2 academic professionals, 3 students, 5 alumni, and ex officio representation as specified by vote of the Senate. Faculty/academic professional and student members shall be nominated by the Committee on Committees and approved by the president. Alumni members shall be appointed by the president in consultation with the director of alumni relations.

Duties and Responsibilities

a. To solicit campuses, institutes, schools, and colleges for nominations for various University honors, naming of buildings, and nominations for outstanding achievement awards.

b. To screen such material and make recommendations to the president, who will refer such matters to the Board of Regents for final selection.

c. To keep all deliberations and votes confidential except where publication is necessary for official purposes.

d. To recommend to the Senate Consultative Committee such actions or policies as it deems appropriate.


2. COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES

Senate Committee on Committees

The Senate Committee on Committees appoints members of certain committees of the Senate and advises the Senate Consultative Committee on the committee structure of the Senate. The faculty/academic professional representatives shall serve as the Faculty Senate Committee on Committees and the student representatives shall serve as the Student Senate Committee on Committees.

Membership

The Senate Committee on Committees shall be composed of at least 13 and no more than 15 elected tenured or tenure-track faculty members, at least 2 and no more than 4 elected academic professional members, 6 elected undergraduate students, and one elected graduate/professional student.

Of the faculty/academic professional members, 12 shall be from the Twin Cities campus. There shall also be one member each from the Crookston, Duluth, and Morris campuses. All faculty/academic professional members shall be elected for three-year terms by the faculty/academic professional members of the Senate from these respective campuses. In case of a faculty/academic professional vacancy, the remaining faculty/academic professional members, by majority vote, shall fill the vacancy by interim appointment until the next general election.

Of the undergraduate student members, 3 shall be elected from the Twin Cities campus, and one each from the Crookston, Duluth, and Morris campuses. The Twin Cities undergraduate members shall be elected by the Twin Cities undergraduate Student Senate members from among their number. The graduate/professional student shall be elected by the graduate and professional Student Senate members from among their number. Crookston, Duluth, and Morris members shall be elected by their campus assemblies. Elections shall be held during spring semester. Terms of membership shall be for one year. Any student committee position that cannot be filled by October 1 will become a Student Senate at-large position and may be filled by the Student Senate Consultative Committee on an interim basis until the next general election. Student vacancies shall be filled in accordance with the preceding procedures for the balance of any unexpired term until the next general election.

The chair of the Faculty Senate Committee on Committees shall serve as the chair of the Senate Committee on Committees.

Duties and Responsibilities

a. To forward annually to the Senate for approval names of faculty members, academic professionals, undergraduate students, graduate/professional students, and chairs it recommends for appointment to those committees of the Senate specified in the Bylaws of the Senate. The committee shall give consideration to 1) representation from the various campuses and units when appropriate; 2) the number of committees on which the faculty/academic professional, undergraduate student or graduate/professional student member currently is serving; 3) the principle of rotation of committee assignments; 4) the recommendations of the respective committee chairs, faculty, academic professional, undergraduate student and graduate/professional student members; and 5) expressions of interest in committee service offered by faculty, academic professionals, undergraduate students and graduate/professional students. In addition, the committee shall select senators for committee membership when appropriate to encourage communication between the Senate and its committees. The committee also shall strive to assure full and adequate representation by race, sex, and academic rank in constituting committees.

b. To review annually the committees of the Senate and recommend to the Senate Consultative Committee any changes in committee structure, charge, or membership which it deems appropriate.


Faculty Senate Committee on Committees

The Faculty Senate Committee on Committees shall elect its chair from amongst its members for a one-year term of office. The chair is eligible for re-election to that position. The chair shall also serve as the chair of the Senate Committee on Committees.

Duties and Responsibilities

a. To furnish the full committee a slate of faculty/academic professional committee nominees for review and recommendations.

b. To solicit annually from each newly elected faculty/academic professional member of the Senate a list of Senate committees on which the senator is serving or has an interest in serving.

c. To conduct a survey, at least every three years, of faculty/academic professional interest in serving on committees of the Senate and make a summary of this study available to the Senate.

d. To request annually from deans, directors, and department heads a list of faculty/academic professional members who they believe have the requisite interest and experience to serve on specific committees.

e. To select an additional voting representative from a non-eligible constituency of the University for placement on the appropriate committee for a term of one year, if the Senate Consultative Committee determines that a committee of the Senate will benefit from such representation.

g. To recommend to the Student Senate Committee on Committees and the Senate Consultative Committee such actions or policies as it deems appropriate.

Student Senate Committee on Committees

The Student Senate Committee on Committees shall elect its chair from amongst its members for a one-year term of office. The chair shall be eligible for re-election to that position.

Duties and Responsibilities

a. To furnish the full committee a slate of student committee nominees for review and recommendations. Consideration shall be given to 1) representation from the various campuses and units when appropriate; 2) the number of committees on which the undergraduate student or graduate/professional student member currently is serving; 3) the recommendations of the respective committee chairs, faculty, academic professional, undergraduate student and graduate/professional student members, and the presidents of the respective student associations; and 4) expressions of interest in committee service offered by undergraduate students and graduate/professional students. In addition, the committee shall select student senators for committee membership when appropriate to encourage communication between the Student Senate and the committees and shall strive to assure full and adequate representation by race, gender, and class rank in constituting committees.

b. To solicit annually from each newly elected member of the Student Senate a list of Senate committees on which the senator is serving or has an interest in serving.

c. To request annually from student association presidents a list of students whom they believe have the requisite interest and experience to serve on specific committees.

d. To recommend to the Faculty Senate Committee on Committees and the Senate Consultative Committee such actions or policies as it deems appropriate.

e. To submit to the Clerk of the Senate an annual budget request for the Student Committee on Committees.


3. CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEES

The Senate Consultative Committee, the Faculty Consultative Committee, and the Student Consultative Committee shall represent the faculty and students at large and not the individual campuses, institutes, colleges, schools, or departments of the University.

The Senate Consultative Committee, the Faculty Consultative Committee, and the Student Consultative Committee meeting separately or together shall serve as consulting bodies to the president, as executive committees of their respective Senates, and as steering committees of their respective Senates. The Twin Cities representatives shall also serve as the Twin Cities Campus Assembly Steering Committee.

Senate Consultative Committee

Membership

The Senate Consultative Committee shall be composed of 10 elected members of the faculty, 9 elected students, 1 academic professional, and the vice chair of the University Senate. [The faculty representatives shall serve as the Faculty Consultative Committee; the 8 elected student representatives and the chair and vice chair of the Student Senate shall serve as the Student Consultative Committee; the 8 elected student representatives and the vice chair of the Student Senate shall constitute the 9 voting student members of the Senate Consultative Committee.] The academic professional member shall be designated by the Council of Academic Professionals and Administrators.

Duties and Responsibilities

Consultative

a. To meet with the president to discuss issues or policies of the University of concern to the faculty or to the students and, as appropriate, to make recommendations concerning such matters to the Senate.

b. To initiate whatever studies it deems necessary and appropriate or to request such studies from the president or senior academic officers or from committees of the Senate.

c. To consult with the president or senior academic officers, in cooperation with the Finance and Planning Committee, on planning and on the annual budget and the biennial request.

d. To advise the president on procedures for making major administrative appointments and to participate in the selection process.

e. To receive from any faculty member, academic professional, or student notification of concerns which may require consultation with the president or senior academic officers.

Steering

a. To superintend and direct all committees of the Senate, which includes the authority to require that any committee of the Senate report on any matter within its jurisdiction within 30 days.

b. To receive recommendations of any faculty member, academic professional, or student who wishes to present a proposal to the Senate and to refer or act upon such recommendations as it deems appropriate.

c. To route to the appropriate body all documents, proposals, or papers on any matter pertaining to the affairs of the Senate.

d. To convene on a regular basis the chairs of the major Senate committees as a coordinating committee to discuss and track agenda items.

e. To serve as a coordinating body between the president and the Senate or a committee of the Senate.

f. To prepare and distribute the agenda for each meeting of the Senate in accordance with the Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules of the Senate.

g. To recommend, with the approval of the Senate, such rules of procedure as are not provided in the Constitution or Bylaws.

h. To keep the published Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules of the Senate up to date.

Executive

a. To serve as a deliberative body of the Senate on all major items it deems necessary and appropriate.

b. To act on behalf of the Senate when a decision is required prior to the next scheduled meeting of the Senate and when a decision is required when it would not be possible to convene a special meeting of the Senate in a timely fashion; such actions will be reported to the Senate at its next meeting and the Senate may then overrule the Consultative Committee.

c. To examine any action taken respecting the University by the Board of Regents, the central administration, or by another individual or body having any relationship with the University.

d. To appoint or assist in appointing, when requested, members of non-Senate committees.

e. To appoint special committees or subcommittees or to employ other devices which it deems necessary and appropriate.

f. To report regularly on any matters which, in its judgment, should be brought to the attention of the University at large or specifically to the attention and consideration of the Senate.

g. To provide for a budget subcommittee of the Senate composed of the vice chair of the Senate as chair, the chairs of the Faculty and Student Consultative Committees, and one faculty member and one student member of the Senate Consultative Committee chosen by the vice chair of the Senate. The Clerk of the Senate shall be an ex officio member of the subcommittee and shall provide staff assistance.

h. To dispose of business which appears to be not germane to the purposes of the Senate.

i. To make editorial changes in Senate policies and documents (including the constitution, bylaws, and rules) to reflect changes in titles of administrative offices or officers; the changes will be reported to the Senate for information.

Faculty Consultative Committee

Membership

The faculty of the Twin Cities campus and those faculty members on the Duluth campus eligible to vote in elections for the Senate shall elect 8 members, and the faculties of the Crookston and Morris campuses shall each elect one faculty member. Faculty members shall be nominated and elected by procedures established by each campus faculty, subject to the following provisions:

- All members of the Faculty Consultative Committee shall hold regular appointment at the rank of professor, associate professor, or assistant professor. Individuals holding, in addition to their professorial title, a University position carrying as any part of its title, for any percentage time, president, vice president, chancellor, provost, dean, executive director, librarian, counsel, attorney, or chief of staff at a collegiate or central administrative level may not serve on the committee. Individuals holding, in addition to their professorial title, an administrative appointment as department chair or department head (or its equivalent, such as center director) are eligible to serve on the committee.

- Each campus faculty shall submit to the clerk of the campus assembly a slate of twice as many candidates as are to be elected from its numbers. These candidates shall be nominated and certified as available according to procedures set forth by each campus assembly, and shall be announced in the campus assembly docket for the first regular meeting of the spring semester. The clerk of the campus assembly shall distribute, by mail, election ballots and slates to all faculty members eligible to vote for members of the Senate and shall receive all returns. The election shall be held and completed by April 5. In case of a tie, the clerk shall choose the successful candidate by lot.

- For the purposes of this section only, the faculty on the Duluth campus who are eligible to vote in Senate elections shall be considered a part of the Twin Cities campus: They shall be eligible (1) to vote in elections for the Faculty Consultative Committee and (2) for nomination and election to the Faculty Consultative Committee in accord with the provisions established by the Twin Cities Campus Assembly. [Note: When a faculty member from the Duluth campus is elected under this provision, that individual shall not be a member of the Twin Cities Campus Faculty Assembly Steering Committee or the Twin Cities Campus Assembly Steering Committee.]

- Terms of office for Faculty Consultative Committee members shall be three years; no member is eligible to serve more than two consecutive full terms. Elections shall be so adjusted that the terms of approximately one third of the members shall expire each year.

In case of a faculty vacancy, the remaining members of the Faculty Consultative Committee by majority vote shall fill the vacancy by interim appointment until the next general election.

The ex officio members of the Faculty Consultative Committee are:

--The vice chair of the Faculty Senate (ex officio voting).

--The chairs of the Educational Policy, Faculty Affairs, Finance and Planning, and Research Committees (ex officio nonvoting). If a non-faculty member is appointed as chair of one of these four committees, then the faculty members of that committee shall elect from among themselves a representative to the Faculty Consultative Committee.

--The past chair of the Faculty Consultative Committee for the year following his or her service as chair, irrespective of the term to which that individual was originally elected (ex officio non-voting).

-- One representative of the faculty on the Duluth campus eligible to vote in Senate elections (ex officio non-voting). This representative shall be elected in accord with procedures established by the eligible Duluth faculty. The ex officio Duluth representative may send an alternate to Faculty Consultative Committee meetings.

--The faculty legislative liaison(s) (ex officio non-voting).

Duties and Responsibilities

a. To meet separately, when necessary, to discuss with the president, or others, matters of concern to the faculty.

b. To serve as the executive committee and steering committee of the Faculty Senate.

c. To act on behalf of the Faculty Senate when a decision is required prior to the next scheduled meeting of the Faculty Senate and when a decision is required when it would not be possible to convene a special meeting of the Faculty Senate in a timely fashion; such actions will be reported to the Faculty Senate at its next meeting and the Faculty Senate may then overrule the Faculty Consultative Committee.

Student Consultative Committee

Membership

The Student Consultative Committee shall be composed of:

- one student from the Crookston campus
- one student from the Duluth campus
- one student from the Morris campus

- five students from the Twin Cities campus, as follows:
In 1998-99, and every other year thereafter, there shall be three undergraduate
students and two graduate/professional students. In 1999-2000, and every other
year thereafter, there shall be four undergraduate students and one
graduate/professional student.

- the chair and vice chair of the Student Senate

Student members, except for the vice chair, shall be elected in accordance with procedures determined by the respective campuses' student constituencies, subject to the following provisions:

- At the time of their election, students shall be members of the University Senate (except for Crookston).

Student vacancies shall be filled in accordance with procedures determined by the respective campuses for the balance of any unexpired term until the next regular election.

The chair of the Student Senate shall also serve as the chair of the Student Consultative Committee. The vice chair of the Student Senate shall also serve as the vice chair of the Student Consultative Committee. Chair and vice chair elections should be subject to the following provisions:

Duties and Responsibilities

a. To meet separately, when necessary, to discuss with the president, or others, matters of concern to the student body.

b. To serve as the executive and steering committee of the Student Senate.

c. To act on behalf of the Student Senate when a decision is required prior to the next scheduled meeting of the Student Senate and when a decision is required when it would not be possible to convene a special meeting of the Student Senate in a timely fashion; such actions will be reported to the Student Senate at its next meeting and the Student Senate may then overrule the Student Senate Consultative Committee.

Chair: The chair of the Faculty Consultative Committee shall be elected by their respective members from among their number for a one-year term of office. Chairs shall be eligible for re-election to that position. The chair of the Faculty Consultative Committee shall serve as chair of the Senate Consultative Committee.


4. DISABILITIES ISSUES COMMITTEE

The Disabilities Issues Committee recommends University policies, procedures, and services concerning faculty/academic professionals, students, and staff with disabilities.

Membership

The Disabilities Issues Committee shall be composed of at least 7 faculty members, 2 academic professional members, 2 students (at least one graduate and one undergraduate), 2 civil service staff members, and ex officio representation as specified by vote of the Senate. Faculty, academic professional, and student members shall be nominated by the Committee on Committees with the approval of the Senate. Civil service members shall be appointed by the Civil Service Committee.


Duties and Responsibilities

a. To advise the president and administrative offices, including the Disability Services Office and the University ADA Coordinator, on policies, programs, and services for students and employees.

b. To promote compliance with laws relating to students and staff with disabilities.

c. To review policies and practices in light of legal compliance aspects, deployment of resources, and effectiveness in meeting the needs of the University community, and to recommend changes.

d. To inform the University community to the special concerns of its members with disabilities and of the available resources.

e. To bring concerns to the Senate, as appropriate.

f. To recommend to the Senate Consultative Committee such actions or policies as it deems appropriate.


5. EDUCATIONAL POLICY COMMITTEE

The Educational Policy Committee is concerned with all matters that influence the quality of education at the University. It deals primarily with those affairs which affect educational policy and procedures on a University-wide basis.

Membership

The Educational Policy Committee shall be composed of 12 faculty/academic professional members, 6 students (including one from a coordinate campus), and ex officio representation as specified by vote of the Senate. Members shall be nominated by the Committee on Committees with the approval of the Senate. The chair of the committee shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member of the Senate Consultative Committee. Academic professional members must also be eligible to serve in the Senate.

Duties and Responsibilities

a. To consult with and advise the president and senior officers it determines appropriate on all matters of educational policy and to recommend to the Senate such policies on educational issues as it deems appropriate and necessary.

b. To recommend to the Senate policies on the extension of the research, teaching, and service resources of the University to the people of the State of Minnesota at large and to advise the president and senior academic officers with respect to these matters.

c. To formulate policies governing calendars, and to set the calendar of the University with the approval of the Senate.

d. To develop policies concerning special and continuing cultural activities in cooperation with appropriate academic units and campus organizations and to foster heightened cultural awareness on campus through such activities and events as it deems appropriate.

e. To consult with the executive vice president and provost on all matters of educational development and on all proposals related thereto.

f. To recommend to the Senate and the president and senior academic officers policies concerning University programs offered for students of especially high ability and achievement.

g. To recommend to the Senate policies on international education and to advise the president and senior academic officers on the operation of international education policies.

h. To make recommendations to the Senate with respect to University College and its relationship to the total academic program of the University and to advise the dean of University College.

i. To review undergraduate group distribution requirements and all proposals related to the core curriculum and to examine issues related to duplication of courses between colleges, the proliferation of courses that meet the group distribution requirements, and cross-collegiate cooperation.

j. To receive reports on the quality and effectiveness of undergraduate education, and to foster improvement of teaching effectiveness and faculty evaluation and recognition of excellent teaching.

k. To advise the executive vice president and provost on the ROTC program and relations between the University and the Department of Defense and to recommend to the Senate policies on University-ROTC relationships.

l. To review campus services with respect to compliance with state and federal laws regarding admissions, records, and financial aid, and to advise administrative offices and, when appropriate, the Senate, on issues concerning the offices dealing with such services.

m. To maintain contact with the coordinate campuses through the exchange of minutes.

n. To recommend to the Senate Consultative Committee such actions or policies as it deems appropriate.


6. EQUITY, ACCESS, AND DIVERSITY COMMITTEE

Membership

The Equity, Access & Diversity Committee shall be composed of at least 7 faculty members, 2 professional and academic staff members, 2 civil service staff members, 6 students, and ex officio representation as specified by vote of the Senate. Civil service members shall be appointed by the Civil Service Committee. Each coordinate campus shall have at least 1 student representative and, where appropriate, 1 faculty or academic professional representative. Members should reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the campus. Campuses are encouraged to maintain or develop campus committees on related issues. The committee may form standing or temporary subcommittees or task forces on specific issues as appropriate.

Duties and Responsibilities

a. To advise the president and administrative offices on the impact of University policies, programs and services on equal opportunity, affirmative action and diversity from a system perspective.

b. To promote compliance among the University community with equal opportunity, affirmative action and diversity laws and policies relating to students and staff.

c. To review policies, programs and services related to equal opportunity for and the diversity of students and employees, and recommend any changes.

d. To bring concerns to the Senate, as appropriate.

e. To recommend to the Senate Consultative Committee such actions or policies as it deems appropriate.

f. The role and performance of the Equity, Access, and Diversity Committee will be reviewed during the 2002-2003 academic year, with a special emphasis on the extent to which the work of the existing Committee on Equal Opportunity for Women has been carried forward.


7. FACULTY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

The Faculty Affairs Committee is concerned with policies and procedures that influence the personal and professional welfare of the faculty.

Membership

The Faculty Affairs Committee shall be composed of at least 10 members of the faculty, two members of the academic professional staff, one graduate assistant and one undergraduate student, and ex officio representation as specified by vote of the Senate. All members shall be nominated by the Committee on Committees with the approval of the Senate. The chair (or his/her designee) shall serve as an ex officio nonvoting member of the Faculty Consultative Committee.

Duties and Responsibilities

a. To examine all policies and procedures of the University which influence the professional and personal welfare of the faculty, and to recommend improvements in the design and implementation of faculty personnel policies, including such matters as tenure and promotion (in cooperation with the Tenure Committee), salary and benefits, faculty development, and hiring and retirement alternatives.

b. To examine and propose University policies and programs associated with faculty development.

c. To examine and propose benefit options and benefit option counseling available for current and retired faculty (with the assistance of the Employee Benefits Department).

d. To review the options, performance, and reporting of the Faculty Retirement Plan, with the assistance of the University's Office of Asset Management and Employee Benefits Offices and recommend appropriate changes.

e. To monitor any legislation and other policies affecting faculty welfare.

f. Interact with the Council of Academic Professionals and Administrators (CAPA) on all items that jointly impact academic staff and faculty, such as benefits and retirement.

g. To recommend to the Faculty Consultative Committee such actions or policies as it deems appropriate.


8. FINANCE AND PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Finance and Planning Committee serves as the consultative body to the president and senior academic officers on all major issues of budget and planning, including the capital request.

The Committee may, from time to time, act as a Twin Cities campus committee, and take up matters exclusively of concern to the Twin Cities, and may appoint subcommittees to deal with issues that pertain only to the Twin Cities campus.

Membership

The Finance and Planning Committee shall be composed of 10 faculty members, 2 academic professional members, 4 students, 2 civil service staff members, and ex officio representation as specified by vote of the Senate. Faculty/academic professional and student members shall be nominated by the Committee on Committees with the approval of the Senate. Civil service members shall be appointed by the Civil Service Committee. All terms (except student terms) shall be for four years. The Committee may, on its own authority, add to its ex officio membership by requesting that faculty or student chairs and/or other members of standing subcommittees serve on the Committee.

Duties and Responsibilities

a. To consult with and advise the president and senior academic officers on the development of the biennial request and the annual budget and to review the implementation of the annual budget.

b. To consult with and advise the president and senior academic officers on the financial aspects of all major proposals and policy initiatives.

c. To consult with and advise the president and senior academic officers on planning.

d. To participate in the development and review of all physical facilities planning.

e. To advise the president and senior academic officers on questions of space allocation not restricted to the internal concerns of individual colleges and to monitor the consistency of physical plant and space allocation decisions with the University mission and educational policy.

f. To recommend to the Senate Consultative Committee such actions or policies as it deems appropriate.


9. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES COMMITTEE

The Information Technologies Committee represents faculty, academic professional, civil service and student interests in the development, implementation, and distribution of information technologies at the University. Information technologies include information systems (including their associated hardware and software) and the electronic exchange of information among faculty, staff and students.

Membership

The Information Technologies Committee shall be composed of 8 faculty members (with at least 7 of these members being regular teaching/research faculty), 4 academic professional members, 1 civil service staff member, and 3 student members (with at least one undergraduate and one graduate student). The membership shall be selected to represent the University broadly, including the colleges, coordinate campuses or research institutes. The Chief Information Officer, or his/her designate, shall serve in an ex-officio capacity. Other designated representatives of University departments or agencies with strong information technology interests are also encouraged to participate. These include equivalent committees at the college or campus level, the University Librarian, and the directors of distance education and administrative systems. Members shall be nominated by the Committee on Committees with the approval of the Senate. Civil service members shall be appointed by the Civil Service Committee. The terms of members shall be staggered so as to provide continuity in the activities of the committee.

Duties and Responsibilities

a. To make recommendations to the Senate on matters concerned with policies and administration of information technologies.

b. To monitor the working of existing policies, advise the president, vice presidents and chief information officer, review major initiatives and propose new initiatives for the deployment and advancement of information technologies.

c. To coordinate recommendations with the appropriate Senate and non-Senate committees, and the Senate Library, Faculty Affairs and Educational Policy Committees.

d. To recommend to the Senate Consultative Committee such actions or policies as it deems appropriate.


10. JUDICIAL COMMITTEE

Membership

The Judicial Committee shall be composed of at least 9 members of the faculty. Members shall be nominated by the Faculty Committee on Committees with the approval of the Faculty Senate.

Duties and Responsibilities

a. The powers, duties, and procedures of the Judicial Committee are set forth in Faculty Tenure and in the Judicial Committee's Rules of Procedure.

b. To hear complaints by faculty members claiming violations to the Tenure Code in the areas of: personnel (promotion) decisions concerning tenured faculty; personnel decisions concerning probationary faculty; improper refusal of a new appointment to a non-regular faculty member; unrequested leave of absence from disability; termination or suspension of a faculty appointment for cause; termination or suspension in instances of fiscal emergency. Faculty members may bring these types of cases directly to the Judicial Committee without first going through other grievance procedures.

c. To hear complaints of faculty members arising within the context of a case properly before the Judicial Committee as described in Section (b) above.

d. To cooperate with the University Grievance Officer and the University Grievance Committee regarding the routing of appeals relating to academic freedom and responsibility and other grievances and to make recommendations regarding them.

e. To recommend to the Faculty Consultative Committee such actions or policies as it deems appropriate.


11. LIBRARY COMMITTEE

The Library Committee represents faculty, academic professional, and student interest in the University libraries.

Membership

The Library Committee shall be composed of 12 faculty/academic professional members, 4 students, and ex officio representation as specified by vote of the Senate. Members shall be nominated by the Committee on Committees with the approval of the Senate. Academic professionals members must also be eligible to serve in the Senate.

Duties and Responsibilities

a. To make recommendations to the Senate on all matters concerned with the policies and administration of University libraries.

b. To advise the directors and other heads of University libraries.

c. To evaluate University-wide library facilities, services, and collections.

d. To recommend to the Senate Consultative Committee such actions or policies as it deems appropriate.


12. RESEARCH COMMITTEE

The Research Committee represents the interests of faculty, academic professionals, students, and civil service staff in research and support for research at the University.

Membership

The Research Committee shall be composed of 15 faculty members, 2 academic professional members, 3 students, one civil service staff member, and ex officio representation as specified by vote of the Senate. Faculty/academic professional and student members shall be nominated by the Committee on Committees with the approval of the Senate. Academic professional members must be eligible to serve in the Senate. Civil service members shall be appointed by the Civil Service Committee.

The faculty/academic professional members shall be selected to represent the range of research and scholarship disciplines at the University, with members drawn from the health sciences, biological/agricultural sciences, physical sciences and engineering, the social sciences, professional schools, and the arts and humanities.

Duties and Responsibilities

a. To recommend to the Senate Consultative Committee such policies as it deems necessary and appropriate with respect to research activities, facilities, personnel, and patents.

b. To consult with and advise the president and senior academic officers on the stimulation of and support for research activities.

c. To assist in the evaluation of research programs within the University.

d. To speak for the faculty on governmental, industrial, and other private sector and foundation support of the research programs of the University.

e. To advise the dean of the Graduate School on matters relating to research.

f. To appoint one of its members to serve on any administrative committee appointed to deal with animal care and one of its members to serve on any administrative committee appointed to deal with the use of human subjects in research. These representatives shall ensure that policy questions generated by these committees shall be referred to the Senate through the Research Committee.


13. SOCIAL CONCERNS COMMITTEE

The Social Concerns Committee is primarily concerned with the interrelationship between the University and the broader social community. It is concerned with the nature and extent of the University's response to social problems.

Membership

The Social Concerns Committee shall be composed of 7 faculty members, 3 academic professional members, 7 students, 3 civil service staff members, 3 alumni representatives, and ex officio representation as specified by vote of the Senate. Faculty/academic professional and student members shall be nominated by the Committee on Committees with the approval of the Senate. Civil service members shall be appointed by the Civil Service Committee. The alumni members shall be appointed by the president in consultation with the director of alumni relations.

Duties and Responsibilities

a. To make recommendations to the Senate for the University's response to social problems and to advise the president and senior academic officers with respect to these matters.

b. To initiate on a regular basis campus fora on current controversial issues.

c. To recommend to the Senate Consultative Committee such actions or policies as it deems appropriate.


14. STUDENT ACADEMIC INTEGRITY COMMITTEE

The Student Academic Integrity Committee is an advisory body to the Executive Vice President and Provost and to the administrative officers responsible for education, outreach, and sanctions related to issues of academic integrity.

Membership

The Student Academic Integrity Committee shall be composed of 8 faculty/academic professional members (including at least one each from Crookston, Morris, and the Twin Cities), at least 4 of whom must be members of the tenured or tenure-track faculty and 5 students (at least one of whom shall be a graduate or professional student and at least one of whom shall be an undergraduate student from each of the Crookston, Duluth, Morris and Twin Cities campuses). The chair of the committee shall be a member of the tenured faculty. Academic professional members must be eligible to serve in the Senate. The Executive Vice President (or a designee) and the academic integrity officer shall be ex officio members. The chair and committee members will be nominated by the Committee on Committees in consultation with the Executive Vice President and with the approval of the Senate.

Duties and Responsibilities

a. To advise the academic integrity officer on all matters the committee deems appropriate, including but not limited to (1) ways to make academic integrity an abiding concern of the University, (2) the development and dissemination of best practices to ensure academic integrity, (3) processes and procedures for considering allegations of student academic misconduct, and (4) the nature of sanctions that should be imposed on those who are found to have violated University rules concerning academic integrity.

b. To determine the form of a standard statement or pledge acknowledging the standards of academic integrity to be made by each student, and the appropriate frequency and means of making such a statement or pledge.

c. To review the appropriateness and adequacy of the mechanisms to deal with academic misconduct cases in the University as a whole, on each of the campuses, and in each of the colleges, and to make recommendations to the Executive Vice President and the Senate for revisions of University policies that are necessary to ensure academic integrity.

d. To advise the academic integrity officer on the maintenance of records of academic misconduct allegations and their disposition and to review these records in order to make policy recommendations to the Executive President and the Senate.

e. To advise the academic integrity officer regarding procedures to be followed and administrative assistance to be given in the investigation of suspected violations of the standards of academic integrity and in proceedings involving such allegations.

f. To advise the Executive Vice President regarding the appointment of the academic integrity officer.

g. To recommend to the Senate and the Executive Vice President such actions or policies relating to academic integrity as it deems appropriate.

h. To confer with the Senate Committee on Educational Policy and the Senate Consultative Committee about its activities.

[Note: this bylaw and references to academic misconduct are not to be construed as conflicting with, or superseding, other bylaws or University policies related to research misconduct, conflict of interest, or the ethical conduct of research and scholarship.]

[Note: individual colleges and campuses may also appoint committees on academic integrity issues, which will review and promote academic integrity issues in the particular unit.]


15. STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

The Student Affairs Committee is concerned with all issues dealing with the social welfare of students at the University of Minnesota, including services such as the operation of student/staff health service facilities, and special needs pertaining to international students.

Membership

The Student Affairs Committee shall be composed of 6 faculty/academic professional members, 9 students, one civil service staff member, one alumni representative, and ex officio representation as specified by vote of the Senate. Student members shall exceed by at least one the total of other voting members.  Faculty/academic professional and student members shall be nominated by the Committee on Committees with the approval of the Senate. Civil service members shall be appointed by the Civil Service Committee. The alumni member shall be appointed by the president in consultation with the director of alumni relations.

Duties and Responsibilities

a. To formulate and recommend to the Senate policies pertaining to all student affairs and all University-registered student organizations that are not within the control or supervision of any other committee of the Senate.

b. To provide a comprehensive link between the University and all University student organizations in accordance with the defined relationship between the student organization and the University as described in the Policy on Registration and Classification of Student Groups for the Twin Cities campus and as defined by coordinate campuses.

c. To be concerned with the general welfare of international students and the services and affairs that pertain to them.

d. To provide a link between Health Service staffs and the University community and to address problems in providing effective and efficient health care.

e. To provide for a Student Services Fee Subcommittee composed of two faculty representatives, five student representatives (one each from Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Twin Cities graduate/professional, and Twin Cities undergraduate), and four voting ex officio staff members (one each from Crookston, Duluth, Morris, and Twin Cities with the coordinate campus representatives appointed by the Vice Chancellor of each campus and the Twin Cities representative appointed by the Office of Student Development). The student and faculty membership of the Subcommittee shall be taken from the membership of the Senate Committee on Student Affairs unless there is no representative meeting the designated criteria. In such case, the seat in question shall be filled by a member of the Senate Consultative Committee, or their designee, meeting the designated criteria. The chair of the Student Affairs Committee shall serve as the chair of the Subcommittee and will fill one of the designated seats as appropriate. Staff support for the Subcommittee will be provided by the Senate Office. Duties and Responsibilities of the Subcommittee include:

  1. To receive and review an annual report from the Chair of the Student Services Fee Committee operating on each campus, as well as any other reports pertaining to fees such as an annual summary of waivers granted permitted in the Regents Policy.
  2. To recommend to the Vice Chancellor or the Office of Student Development (as appropriate), in consultation with the senior administrator of the Student Services Fee process on each campus, any changes in the individual campus policies and/or procedures for the allocation of the Student Services Fee on that campus, as well as to address issues noted in resolutions submitted annually by fees committees on that campus.
  3. To review any changes to the Student Services Fee policies and/or procedures on each of the campuses.
  4. To recommend to the Student Senate Consultative Committee, changes to the Regents Policy on the Student Services Fee.

f. To recommend to the Senate Consultative Committee such actions or policies as it deems appropriate.


16. TENURE COMMITTEE

The Tenure Committee is responsible for all matters of policy related to faculty tenure and the Regents' policy "Faculty Tenure." The Tenure Committee reports to the Faculty Senate. The Tenure Committee does not deal with individual disputes.

Membership

The Tenure Committee shall consist of no fewer than 7 members of faculty, of whom at least 5 must be tenured and at least one of whom must come from a campus other than the Twin Cities. Committee members shall be nominated by the Committee on Committees with the approval of the Senate.

Duties and Responsibilities

a. review periodically the tenure regulations.

b. review periodically the tenure and promotion system for faculty appointments, and any related policies, and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate and to the appropriate senior academic administrators.

c. review proposals from any source for amendment of the Regents Policy on Faculty Tenure and report its views to the Faculty Senate within the time limits provided by the Regents' Policy.

d. review annually the use of contract and non-faculty instructional appointments in all departments and colleges and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate and the appropriate senior academic administrators.

e. provide Interpretations of the tenure policies in accordance with the Regents' Policy.

f. advise senior academic administrators with regard to issues of academic tenure and rank.

g. monitor the post-tenure review process.

Part 1 of University Senate Bylaws

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