Faculty Senate Orientation

E-mail this page

How Does Faculty Senate Work?

Composition of The Faculty Senate

(37) Academic Governance Units
( 7) Professional Governance Units
(10) Ex-Officio Members

The term "Faculty" in the Campus Handbook is:

Used for both academic faculty and professional employees
Senators are elected for three-year terms
A senator may miss only three meetings before being replaced

The Faculty Senate Consultation Role

Consults and/or makes recommendations to the College President regarding any matters affecting Faculty or the College except matters exclusive to UUP
All items passed by the Faculty Senate are recommendations to the College President and not in effect until approved by the President
Formulates or reviews all major statements (existing or proposed) of philosophy and objectives of the College
Receives and/or approves/rejects reports
Formulates and reviews all academic policies
Participates significantly in initiation, development and implementation of the College's instructional, research and service programs
Approves changes to existing academic programs and approves new academic programs
Through Senate committees, reviews and approves courses submitted for General Education and Writing Across the Curriculum
Consults with College Council on appointment of the College President
Meets once a month during the academic year

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Composition

FS Chair
Vice-Chair
Senate Secretary
Chairs of the Five Standing Committees
Two Additional Senators
Supervisor of Faculty Elections
University Faculty Senator
Ex-Officio: Presiding Officer of the Faculty

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Duties

All proposed business for the Senate must be submitted to the FS Executive Committee via the Senate Chair
Academic items would normally have been approved by faculty committees, the appropriate Dean, Provost/VPAA prior to submission
Business may originate in the Senate or its committees, but must be referred to the Executive Committee for routing assignment
Reviews general functioning of the FS and recommends ways to improve its operation
Prepares the agenda for meetings of the Faculty Senate and provides reports of all official actions
Refers requested agenda items to standing committees or forms an ad-hoc committee to review as appropriate
Agenda items may be for information, discussion, and/or for Senate action
Agenda is to be distributed at least one week prior to the FS meeting
Items not included on agenda maybe placed on agenda by two-thirds vote of the Faculty Senate
Meets with President
Appoints faculty to standing or ad-hoc committees
Appoints individuals for faculty representation on non-senate committees when requested
Acts for Faculty Senate when senate is not in session
May call emergency Faculty Senate meetings

Faculty Senate Standing Committees are:

Responsible to Senate and bring their recommendations to Senate
Composition: Chair elected annually by Faculty Senate
Members of Committees appointed by Faculty Senate Executive Committee
Agenda items referred to committee by Faculty Senate Executive Committee
All committees submit written reports to the Faculty Senate

Academic Policies Standing Committee

Composition: Chair, plus 12 members (selected for three-year terms), one student member appointed by the Student Association, and one ex-officio non-voting member (the Chief Academic Officer or designated representative of the Chief Academic Officer)
Formulates: Reviews and makes recommendations concerning College-wide academic policies

Curricula and Programs Standing Committee

Composition: Chair, plus 10 members (selected for three-year terms), one student member appointed by the Student Association, the Registrar or designee, and one ex-officio non-voting member (the Chief Academic Officer or designated representative of the Chief Academic Officer)
Reviews new or revised academic programs in conjunction with Budget & Resources
If Chair of Budget & Resources and Curriculum & Planning determine if revisions are minor, they are approved, sent to Academic Advising, and reported to the Faculty Senate
If a new program or major revisions, proposal must be reviewed by both Budget & Resources and Curriculum & Planning Committees and forwarded to the Faculty Senate for approval

General Education Committee

Composition: Chair, plus 12 faculty members (selected for three-year terms), one student member appointed by the Student Association, and one ex-officio non-voting member (the Chief Academic Officier or designated representative of the Chief Academic Officer)
Responsible for leadership in developing or revising General Education Program (curriculum, policies, etc.)
Responsible for approving courses for General Education

Resources and Planning Standing Committee

Composition: Chair, and 18 members (selected for three-year terms), one student member appointed by the Student Association, and the following ex-officio non-voting members Provost and VP for Academics, VP Student Affairs, VP Administration, VP Institutional Advancement, Assistant to the Provost, Campus Budget officer, Director of Facilities, and Classified Staff member

Consults with appropriate college administration on:

Budget preparations and long range planning
Distribution of funds and other resources including personnel within the College
Administration organization or reorganization
College's philosophy and mission
Development and utilization of the College's physical plant
Budgetary implication of proposed new or revised academic programs and services/support programs
Provide requested information and advice concerning the College's resources, objectives or plans to appropriate committees

Writing Across the Curriculum Standing Committee

Composition: Chair plus 12 faculty members (selected for three-year terms), one student member appointed by the Student Association, and one ex-officio non-voting member (the Chief Academic Officer or designated representative of the Chief Academic Officer)
Reviews and approves existing and new courses for Writing Across the Curriculum

Faculty Senate Supervisor of Elections

Principles followed for elections:

All representation is to be organized by appropriate units, with one senator per unit
Academic faculty members are to be in Academic Governance Units; Professional faculty member are to be in Professional Governance Units
Academic departments or programs with at least three voting faculty members are entitled to be a governance unit
Professional governance units are to be as small and cohesive as possible to ensure genuine representation
Faculty have the right to elect senators by secret ballot
Elections of senators are to be overseen by the Supervisor of Faculty Elections elected for that express purpose Rpbilities of Supervisor

Responsibilities of Supervisor of Elections:

Determine who is elected by each governance unit
Contact voting faculty in departments or programs with fewer than three members to organize their election of a collective senator
Conduct secret ballot elections for any governance unit at the request of any voting faculty member in that governance unit
Announce the annual election results to the campus

Contact Information

For more information about SUNY Plattsburgh Faculty Senate, please contact:

Sandra Rezac, Ph.D.
Associate Professor/Chair of Sociology & Criminal Justice
Supervisor of Faculty Elections
(518) 564-4218
rezacsj@plattsburgh.edu