Article 1 Name
The name of this organization is Life University Faculty Senate (FS, Senate, or Faculty Senate)
Article 2 Purpose and Authority
The Faculty Senate shall create, maintain, and protect a university environment conducive to the growth of scholarship, learning, teaching, research, service, and respect for human dignity and rights following the vitalistic tenets set forth in the Life University Mission. Refer to the Constitution-Appendix 1A for a complete statement of the Purpose and Authority of the Faculty Senate. These Bylaws are intended to complement the Constitution and provide process needed for Faculty Senate to function.
The Faculty Senate shall elect or nominate individuals to represent the interests of the entire faculty to University committees adhering to the adopted statement on Shared Governance (Faculty Handbook Appendix 7). University committees are not committees of the Faculty Senate, may change periodically at the discretion of administration, and are therefore not listed herein. To provide the faculty of Life University the opportunity to actively participate in both the collaboration and interdependence that exist between and among the Board of Trustees, the President and administration, members of faculty who participate in University committees are expected to adhere to the same reporting standards as stipulated herein for Faculty Senate standing committees.
Article 7 lists the Faculty Senate standing committees.
Article 3 Memberships
1. Definition
2. Voting members
a. Shall be all full-time and adjunct members of the faculty including:
i. classroom faculty
ii. clinic faculty
iii. library faculty
iv. research faculty
b. Adjunct faculty members are eligible to vote but may not serve as a Senator on the Faculty Senate.
3. Non-voting members a. Non-voting members who may elect to attend meetings of the Faculty Senate and have voice; but who will have no vote in the Senate include:
i. The President of the University or his/her representative
ii. The Chief Academic Officer of the University or his/her representative
iii. A student selected by the Student Council or its equivalent
4. Voting members include the Faculty Senate President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer and twelve (12) additional Senators. The twelve (12) additional Senators will be elected by and represent the following groups of faculty members:
a. Three representing the College of Chiropractic faculty, including:
i. One elected by and representing the Division of Basic Sciences faculty
ii. One elected by and representing the Division of Chiropractic Sciences faculty
iii. One elected by and representing the Division of Clinical Sciences faculty
b. Three representing the Clinics faculty, including:
i. One elected by and representing the Center for Health and Optimum Performance (C-HOP) faculty
ii. One elected by and representing the Campus Center for Health and Optimum Performance (CC-HOP) faculty
iii. One at large, elected by the combined Clinics faculty not otherwise represented
c. Four representing the faculty of the College of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies faculty.
i. One elected by and representing the Division of Natural Sciences
ii. One elected by and representing the Division of Sports Health Sciences
iii. One elected by and representing the Division of Social Sciences
iv. One elected by and representing the Division of Liberal Studies
v. One representing the faculty of the Library
vi. One representing the faculty of the College of Online Education
5. Election of Members & Officers
a. Senate seats with terms expiring are subject to nomination and election during the Spring quarter with elected members beginning their terms the first day of the following Fall quarter.
b. Officers (executive committee positions) are elected by a majority of the full faculty and represent the faculty at large.
i. Each executive committee position is elected for a term of two years.
ii. Each executive committee officer is limited to two consecutive terms in the same position.
iii. The twelve (12) additional Senators are elected by a majority of those faculty members they represent.
iv. Each Senator is elected for a term of two years, with half the terms staggered from the other half.
v. There are no term limits for Senators.
Article 4 Officers
The Officers (Executive Committee) of the Faculty Senate are the President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer, elected as in Article 3.
• The President is the presiding officer of the Faculty Senate. He/she is the primary spokesperson for the Faculty Senate to the President of the University and Board of Trustees and is also responsible for conveying information and recommendations from the President and Board of Trustees to the faculty. After completing the term of office, the President will serve for one year as an ex-officio member of the Faculty Senate.
• The Vice President assists the President in his/her administrative functions and, when necessary, acts as President of the Faculty Senate.
• The Secretary/Treasurer maintains minutes of all meetings of the Faculty Senate, informs faculty members of dates, times, and general content of upcoming Faculty Senate and Faculty meetings, and maintains all financial records.
• If there is a vacancy in the position of President, the Vice-President will assume the position. If the Vice President chooses not to fill the vacancy, the Senate will elect an interim President until elections can be held at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the full faculty. Vacancies in the Vice-President, or Secretary/Treasurer office, will be filled by elections at the next full faculty meeting to serve the remainder of the term.
• If vacancy occurs with 50% or less of the term remaining, the officer assuming the vacant position is eligible for two more terms.
• Following Spring elections, newly elected Officers will serve in “elect” positions, participating in all functions of their new role to ease the transition.
Removal of Officers
A petition submitted to the Faculty Senate by two-thirds of the voting faculty members will be necessary and sufficient to remove any duly elected Officer or Senator. Removal is effective immediately upon receipt of the petition.
Article 5 Responsibilities
The Faculty Senate is responsible for leading the faculty of Life University in fulfilling the purpose set forth above.
• The Senate collaboratively sets the Faculty Senate agenda at the beginning of the fall term for the academic year and modifies that agenda as required throughout the year.
• The Senate also consults with its standing committees as they set their agendas for the year.
• Committee Chairs are required to provide a written report to the Senate (Secretary/Treasurer) at least once each quarter. The report will include meeting minutes, progress to date on the proposed committee agenda, remaining items to address, and changes to the committee’s agenda. The Secretary/Treasurer will make the reports available to the full faculty.
Article 6 Meetings
The Faculty Senate meets as needed at least monthly on a regular schedule established by the President in consultation with other Senate members. The Senate President may call a special meeting. Upon petition of forty percent of the voting faculty, he/she will call a special meeting.
The President convenes a meeting of the full faculty, and the Secretary/Treasurer will announce the meeting time, which will regularly be during Week Zero (0) of Winter and Summer quarters.
Article 7 Committees
Standing committees of the Faculty Senate include:
• Faculty Affairs
• Faculty Development
• Admissions Committees of the colleges
• Curriculum Committees of the colleges
• Committee on Committees
• Rank & Promotion Procedural Review Committee
There may also be Ad hoc committees formed for special needs.
Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of each committee to meet at least once per quarter, conduct their business and, in the interest of transparency, provide written minutes to the Faculty Senate for the purposes of distribution to the rest of the faculty as stated in Article 4.
The following governs membership:
• All voting members of standing committees must be voting members of the faculty (see Article 3).
• Selection of committee members is through appointment by the Faculty Senate.
• Committee members are appointed for staggered two-year terms. To ensure continuity, no more than 50% of the voting membership may be altered within a given year.
• Standing Committee Chairs are elected by committee members of each committee and approved by the Senate.
• Committee Chairs are elected for a two-year term and are limited to no more than two consecutive terms.
• No faculty member may serve on more than two standing committees without approval of his/her Division Chair, Assistant Dean, or Clinic Director, and under no conditions will a faculty member serve on more than three standing committees at a time.
• Committee Chairs are to regularly (no less than quarterly) provide a report including a copy of all meeting minutes, and any and all proposals, reports, etc. made to the administration and others, to the Faculty Senate (Secretary/Treasurer); advise the Senate of the committee’s action goals (agenda) and accomplishments quarterly, and report to the full faculty at each of its semi-annual meetings.
1. Faculty Affairs Committee
a. Reports to: Faculty Senate
b. Membership:
i. Voting: The committee will be composed of seven members of faculty appointed by the Faculty Senate.
c. Responsibilities:
i. Review and recommend policies related to the faculty
ii. Recommend changes to the Faculty Handbook
iii. Make recommendations regarding Faculty Evaluations
iv. Review and make recommendations concerning faculty grievances that have not been resolved satisfactorily at the Dean’s level
d. The Chair shall be elected biannually by the Committee from among the voting committee membership.
e. The Vice Chair and Secretary shall be appointed by the Chair from among the remaining faculty committee members. The Vice Chair serves to assist the Chair in his/her duties, presiding over regular meetings of the committee in the absence ofthe Chair.
f. The Secretary is responsible for recording detailed minutes of all meetings, transmitting copies of minutes, proposals, recommendations and other communications on behalf of the committee, and for providing copy of all communications to Faculty Senate
g. Meets: As needed to fulfill its responsibilities, or as called by the Chair, but never less than quarterly.
2. Faculty Development Committee
a. Reports to: Faculty Senate
b. Membership:
i. Voting: The committee will be composed of seven members of faculty appointed by the Faculty Senate.
c. Responsibilities:
i. Assess the needs of the University, in conjunction with the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), in terms of developing a comprehensive faculty development program
ii. Cultivate and assist in administration of a faculty development program to meet the needs of the faculty
iii. Make recommendations to provide training programs and incentives for faculty to continue their professional development
iv. Facilitate faculty development activities
v. Oversee the Faculty Peer Review Process
d. The Chair shall be elected biannually by the Committee from among the voting committee membership.
e. The Vice Chair and Secretary shall be appointed by the Chair from among the remaining faculty committee members. The Vice Chair serves to assist the Chair in his/her duties, presiding over regular meetings of the committee in the absence ofthe Chair.
f. The Secretary is responsible for recording detailed minutes of all meetings, transmitting copies of minutes, proposals, recommendations and other communications on behalf of the committee, and for providing copy of all communications to Faculty Senate
g. Meets: As needed to fulfill its responsibilities, or as called by the Chair, but never less than quarterly.
College Admissions Committees
1. Admissions Committee (College of Chiropractic)
a. Reports to: Dean of the College of Chiropractic
b. Membership:
i. Voting: One faculty representative from each division within the College:
1. Basic Sciences
2. Clinical Sciences
3. Chiropractic Sciences
4. Clinics
ii. Non-Voting:
1. Director of Admissions, or their representative
2. Alternative Admission Track Coordinator
3. Office of the Registrar representative
4. Faculty Senate representative or faculty member appointed by Senate
5. Student representative recommended by the Student Council
6. Dean of the College of Chiropractic (or their representative)
c. Responsibilities:
i. Recommend admissions policy to the dean consistent with the appropriate accrediting agencies.
ii. Annually review the University admissions policy and recommend changesto the dean if needed.
iii. Monitor admissions procedures, identify issues, and make recommendations for changes to the dean.
iv. Review all regular and Alternative Admissions Track Plan (AATP) applicants to ensure eligibility.
v. Make recommendations to the dean relative to the acceptance/denial of AAT applicants for admission.
vi. Review and make recommendations regarding items referred to the committee by the administration)
d. The Chair shall be elected biannually by the Committee from among the voting Faculty membership.
e. The Vice Chair and Secretary shall be appointed by the Chair from among the remaining faculty committee members. The Vice Chair serves to assist the Chair in his/her duties, presiding over regular meetings of the committee in the absence of the Chair.
f. The Secretary is responsible for recording detailed minutes of all meetings, transmitting copies of minutes, proposals, recommendations, and other communications on behalf of the committee, and for providing copy of all communications to Faculty Senate.
g. Meets: As needed to support the Admissions office, or as called by the Chair, but never less than quarterly.
2. Graduate Admissions Committee (CGUS)
a. Reports to: Dean of the CGUS
b. Membership:
i. Voting: One faculty representative from each division within the CGUS:
1. Natural Science
2. Liberal Studies
3. Social Sciences
4. Sport Health Science
ii. Non-Voting:
1. Assistant Dean of each division within the CGUS
2. Director of Admissions, or their representative
3. Office of the Registrar representative
4. Faculty Senate representative or faculty member appointed by Senate
5. Student representative recommended by the Student Council
6. Dean of the CGUS (or their representative)
c. Responsibilities:
i. Recommend admissions policy to the dean consistent with the appropriate accrediting agencies.
ii. Annually review the University admissions policy and recommend changes to the dean if needed.
iii. Monitor admissions procedures, identify issues, and make recommendations for changes to the dean.
iv. Review all applicants to ensure eligibility.
v. Make recommendations to the dean relative to the acceptance/denial of applicants for admission.
vi. Review and make recommendations to the dean regarding items referred to the committee by the Administration.
d. The Chair shall be elected biannually by the Committee from among the voting Faculty membership.
e. The Vice Chair and Secretary shall be appointed by the Chair from among the remaining faculty committee members. The Vice Chair serves to assist the Chair in his/her duties, presiding over regular meetings of the committee in the absence of the Chair.
f. The Secretary is responsible for recording detailed minutes of all meetings, transmitting copies of minutes, proposals, recommendations and other communications on behalf of the committee, and for providing copy of all communications to Faculty Senate.
g. Meets: As needed to support the Admissions office, or as called by the Chair, but never less than quarterly.
3. Undergraduate Admissions Committee (CGUS)
a. Reports to: Dean of the CGUS
b. Membership:
i. Voting: Seven (7) Representatives from the varied undergraduate departments within CGUS as outlined below:
1. Social Sciences
2. Transitional Studies (reading specialization)
3. Transitional Studies (math specialization)
4. Sports Health Science
5. Natural Science
6. Nutrition
7. Liberal Studies
ii. Non-Voting:
1. Assistant Dean of each department within the CGUS
2. Provisional Student Coordinator
3. Director of Admissions, or their representative
4. Representative of the PASS advisors
5. Office of the Registrar representative
6. Faculty Senate representative or faculty member appointed by Senate
7. Student representative recommended by the Student Council
8. Student Services representative, as needed.
9. Dean of the CGUS (or their representative)
c. Responsibilities:
i. Recommend admissions policy to the dean consistent with the appropriate accrediting agencies.
ii. Annually review the University admissions policy and recommend changesto the dean, if needed.
iii. Monitor admissions procedures, identify issues, and make recommendations for changes to the dean.
iv. Review all applicants who do not meet stated admission standards.
v. Make recommendations to the dean relative to the acceptance/denial of provisional applicants for admission.
vi. Review and make recommendations to the dean regarding items referred to the committee by the Administration.
d. The Chair shall be elected biannually by the Committee from among the voting Faculty membership
e. The Vice Chair and Secretary shall be appointed by the Chair from among the remaining faculty committee members. The Vice Chair serves to assist the Chairin his/her duties, presiding over regular meetings of the committee in the absence of the Chair.
f. The Secretary is responsible for recording detailed minutes of all meetings, transmitting copies of minutes, proposals, recommendations and other communications on behalf of the committee, and for providing copy of all communications to Faculty Senate.
g. Meets: As needed to support the Admissions office, or as called by the Chair, but never less than quarterly
College Curriculum Committees
1. Curriculum Committee (College of Chiropractic)
a. Reports to: Dean of the College of Chiropractic
b. Membership:
i. Voting:
1. One CGUS representative
2. One faculty representative from each clinic within the College
a. C-HOP
b. CC-HOP
c. Outreach or at large
3. One academic faculty representative from each division within the College
a. Basic Sciences
b. Clinical Sciences
c. Chiropractic Sciences
ii. Non-Voting:
1. Office of the Registrar representative
2. Faculty Senate representative or faculty member appointed by Senate
3. Dean of the College of Chiropractic (or their representative)
4. Student representative recommended by the Student Council
c. Responsibilities:
i. Review CCE and SACS standards and make recommendations to the dean, as applicable to the curricular needs of the Doctor of Chiropractic Program.
ii. Assess and identify needs and make recommendations to the dean in the areas of the curriculum and course delivery.
iii. Review elective course offerings annually, assessing the curricular need for additional or fewer elective offerings.
iv. Facilitate curriculum development.
d. The Chair shall be elected biannually by the Committee from among the voting Faculty membership
e. The Vice Chair and Secretary shall be appointed by the Chair from among the remaining faculty committee members. The Vice Chair serves to assist the Chair in his/her duties, presiding over regular meetings of the committee in the absence ofthe Chair.
f. The Secretary is responsible for recording detailed minutes of all meetings, transmitting copies of minutes, proposals, recommendations and other communications on behalf of the committee, and for providing copy of all communications to Faculty Senate.
g. Meets: As needed to support the responsibilities of the committee, or as called by the Chair, but never less than quarterly.
2. Graduate Curriculum Committee (CGUS)
a. Reports to: Dean of the CGUS
b. Membership:
i. Voting:
1. Program Coordinators (faculty) for each of the graduate degree programs
2. Faculty representative from COC, recommended by the COC Dean
ii. Non-Voting:
1. Assistant Deans of each department within the CGUS
2. Office of the Registrar representative
3. Graduate Student representative recommended by the Student Council
4. Faculty Senate representative or faculty member appointed by Senate
5. Dean of the CGUS (or their representative)
c. Responsibilities:
i. Review programmatic and SACS standards and make recommendations to the dean, as applicable, to assure curricular needs of each accredited program.
ii. Recommend the minimum requirements for all graduate degrees.
iii. Propose changes in graduate degree requirements and curricula.
iv. Evaluate all proposals for graduate courses and degree programs and make recommendations to the dean.
v. Recommend guidelines to Program Coordinators that encourages a high standard for student research activities that are supportive of the graduate programs of the University.
vi. Review cross listed course offerings annually, in association with COC curricular committee, and make recommendation to the deans, as appropriate.
vii. Develop policy for thesis research.
d. The Chair shall be elected biannually by the Committee from among the voting Faculty membership
e. The Vice Chair and Secretary shall be appointed by the Chair from among the remaining faculty committee members. The Vice Chair serves to assist the Chair in his/her duties, presiding over regular meetings of the committee in the absence of the Chair.
f. The Secretary is responsible for recording detailed minutes of all meetings transmitting copies of minutes, proposals, recommendations and other communications on behalf of the committee, and for providing copy of all communications to Faculty Senate.
g. Meets: As needed to support the responsibilities of the committee, or as called by the Chair, but never less than quarterly
3. Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (CGUS)
a. Reports to: Dean of the CGUS
b. Membership:
i. Voting: Eight (8) Academic Faculty Representatives chosen from the established Program Coordinators (faculty) of the varied undergraduate departments within CGUS as outlined below:
1. Biology or Human Ecology
2. Biopsychology or Psychology
3. Business Administration or Computer Information Management
4. Nutrition, Dietetics, or Culinary Nutrition
5. Interdisciplinary Studies
6. Positive Human Development and Social Change
7. Exercise Science
8. Faculty representative from COC, recommended by the COC dean.
ii. Non-Voting:
1. Assistant Deans of each department within the CGUS
2. Office of the Registrar representative
3. Student representative recommended by the Student Council
4. Faculty Senate representative or faculty member appointed by Senate
5. Dean of the CGUS (or their representative)
c. Responsibilities:
i. Review programmatic and SACS standards and make recommendations to the dean, as applicable, to assure curricular needs of each accredited program.
ii. Recommend the minimum requirements for all undergraduate degrees.
iii. Propose changes in undergraduate degree requirements and curricula.
iv. Evaluate all proposals for undergraduate courses and degree programs and make recommendations to the dean.
v. Recommend guidelines to Program Coordinators that encourages a high standard for student research activities that are supportive of the undergraduate programs.
vi. Review cross listed course offerings annually, in association with COC curricular committee, and make recommendation to the deans, as appropriate.
d. The Chair shall be elected biannually by the Committee from among the voting Faculty membership
e. The Vice Chair and Secretary shall be appointed by the Chair from among the remaining faculty committee members. The Vice Chair serves to assist the Chair in his/her duties, presiding over regular meetings of the committee in the absence ofthe Chair.
f. The Secretary is responsible for recording detailed minutes of all meetings, transmitting copies of minutes, proposals, recommendations and other communications on behalf of the committee, and for providing copy of all communications to Faculty Senate.
g. Meets: As needed to fulfill its responsibilities, or as called by the Chair, but never less than quarterly.
Additional Committees
1. Committee on Committees
a. Reports to: Faculty Senate
b. Membership
i. Voting:
1. Two faculty members from CGUS appointed by the Faculty Senate
2. Two faculty members from COC appointed by the Faculty Senate
3. Two faculty members from Clinics appointed by the Faculty Senate
4. One faculty member from the Library appointed by the Faculty Senate
c. Responsibilities
i. Monitors and regularly reports to Faculty Senate on the membership status of all standing committees of the Faculty Senate
ii. Coordinate initial seating of committee memberships
iii. Coordinate the nomination, election and/or appointment process of standing committee members on behalf of Faculty Senate
d. The Chair shall be elected biannually by the Committee from among the voting Faculty membership
e. The Vice Chair and Secretary shall be appointed by the Chair from among the remaining faculty committee members. The Vice Chair serves to assist the Chair in his/her duties, presiding over regular meetings of the committee in the absence ofthe Chair.
f. The Secretary is responsible for recording detailed minutes of all meetings, transmitting copies of minutes, proposals, recommendations and other communications on behalf of the committee, and for providing copy of all communications to Faculty Senate
g. Meets: As needed to fulfill its responsibilities, or as called by the Chair, but never less than bimonthly.
2. Rank and Promotion Procedural Review Committee
a. Reports to: Faculty Senate
b. Membership
i. Voting:
1. Two faculty members from CGUS appointed by the Faculty Senate
2. Two faculty members from COC appointed by the Faculty Senate
3. Two faculty members from Clinics appointed by the Faculty Senate
4. One faculty member from the Library appointed by the Faculty Senate
c. Responsibilities:
i. Evaluate all proposals and petitions submitted for review by the Faculty Senate, or faculty at large, requesting modification to the Rank and Promotion process and/or documentation
ii. Recommend any changes or modifications to the Rank and Promotion process to the Faculty Senate which will then submit any changes meeting its approval for administrative review
iii. Maintain a detailed record of all accepted changes and modification to the published Rank and Promotion procedural documents
d. The Chair shall be elected biannually by the Committee from among the voting Faculty membership
e. The Vice Chair and Secretary shall be appointed by the Chair from among the remaining faculty committee members. The Vice Chair serves to assist the Chair in his/her duties, presiding over regular meetings of the committee in the absence ofthe Chair.
f. The Secretary is responsible for recording detailed minutes of all meetings, transmitting copies of minutes, proposals, recommendations and other communications on behalf of the committee, and for providing copy of all communications to Faculty Senate
g. Meets: As needed to fulfill its responsibilities, or as called by the Chair, but never less than quarterly.
Article 8 Amendments and Major Changes
Amendments to this Constitution-Appendix 1A or Bylaws-Appendix 1B may be proposed by a member of the faculty, the Faculty Senate, or a Faculty Senate committee.
• The proposed amendment must be reviewed and approved by the Faculty Senate and shared with academic administration.
• If approved, the Faculty Senate will place the amendment on the agenda for the next general meeting of the full faculty. The entire text of the amendment in its final form must be distributed to the full faculty for review at least two weeks prior to that meeting.
• A two-thirds vote of the full faculty attending the general meeting will be required for acceptance of the amendment.
• Upon ratification, the proposed amendment will be submitted to the University President for approval.
• If approved, the amendment will become effective immediately and a university announcement will be sent out.
When the Constitution and/or Bylaws is reviewed for major changes from time to time, these major changes will follow the process above, beginning with submission
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