Amendments to the Constitution

AS-2276-95/TFCR - March 9-10, 1995

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University recommend to the faculty of the CSU the following amendments to:

In order to provide for participation by the faculties of The California State University in the formulation of systemwide policy relating to the several universities and colleges, there is hereby created the Academic Senate of The California State University.



Preamble

The faculty of the California State University adopts this constitution in order to exercise its rights and fulfill its responsibilities in the shared governance of the University. As the official voice of the faculty in matters of systemwide concern, the Academic Senate of the California State University provides the means for the faculty to participate in the collegial form of governance which is based on historic academic traditions as recognized by California law.



Article 1

Section 1. Purposes

(a) It shall be the purpose of the Academic Senate of The California State University to promote academic excellence in The California State University; to serve as the official voice of the faculties of The California State University in matters of systemwide concern; to be the formal policy-recommending body on systemwide academic, professional and academic personnel matters; to ensure the joint responsibility of the Academic Senate and the Trustees in criteria and standards to be used for the appointment, promotion, evaluation, and tenure of academic employees; to be the primary consultative body on the academic implications of systemwide fiscal decisions; to consider matters concerning systemwide policies and to make recommendations thereon; to endeavor to strengthen the senates and councils of the several universities and colleges; and to assume such other authority and other responsibilities and to perform such functions as may be delegated to it by the Chancellor or the Trustees of The California State University.

(b) The Academic Senate of The California State University shall have no authority over those matters delegated to the individual institutions by the Chancellor or the Trustees; and nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to impair the right of senates and councils of the several universities and colleges to communicate through appropriate channels with the Chancellor and the Trustees;

(c) All recommendations of the Academic Senate of The California State University shall be addressed to or through the Chancellor.



(b) The Academic Senate shall be consulted on the creation of systemwide and intersegmental committees, conferences, or task forces designed to deal with educational, professional, or academically related fiscal matters, including the charge and composition of such bodies. The Academic Senate shall be responsible for the selection of representatives of the faculty to serve on or participate in such bodies.

(a) The term campus senate shall mean the elected representative body established at each campus by its faculty.



(b) The Academic Senate of the California State University shall have no authority over those matters delegated to the individual campuses by the Chancellor or the Trustees; and nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to impair the right of campus senates to communicate with the Chancellor and the Trustees.

 



(c) The campus senates may suggest items for consideration by the Academic Senate and may make recommendations on matters before the Academic Senate, either through the campus representatives or directly to the Academic Senate.



(d) To provide adequate communications with the faculties of the several campuses, the Academic Senate shall circulate to the senate and the president of each campus such materials as agendas for and minutes of its meetings, committee reports, and information on pending matters.

Article II

Section 1. Eligibility to Vote for Representatives

All members of the faculty at each university and college shall be eligible to vote for representatives to serve in the Academic Senate. The term faculty shall mean all personnel at the university or college with full-time assignments in teaching, research, administration, and other activities closely related to the educational program, or a combination of these. The senate or council of each institution shall determine, in a manner consistent with policies adopted by the Trustees, which administrative and other positions are closely related to the educational program at the institution. The term senate or council of each university or college shall mean the elected representative body established at each institution by its faculty.

Section 1. Membership

The Academic Senate shall consist of 51 elected campus representatives as follows:

(a) one senator from each campus with an FTEF of 100 or less



two from each campus with an FTEF of over 100



one extra senator for as many campuses as possible apportioned on the basis of the highest FTEF;

(b) the immediate past chair of the Academic Senate if not an elected member;

(c) the Chancellor or representative as an ex-officio non-voting member.

Section 2. Eligibility to Serve as a Representative

Only those persons eligible to vote for representative shall be eligible to serve as representatives, provided that the faculty of a university or college may, in its discretion, establish additional requirements for eligibility to serve as representative of that institution.

Section 2. Representation of New Campuses



The faculty of each new campus shall elect its first voting representatives in the spring of the first year of instruction. At any time after the establishment of the campus and prior to the time voting representatives take office, the faculty of the campus may send a non-voting representative.

Section 3. Membership

Members of the Academic Senate shall consist of

(a) two members elected from each institution with less than ten-thousand full-time-equivalent enrollment,

(b) three members elected from each institution with more than ten-thousand full-time-equivalent enrollment but less than twenty-thousand full-time-equivalent enrollment,

(c) four members elected from each institution with more than twenty-thousand full-time-equivalent enrollment,

(d) the immediate past chairman of the Academic Senate if he is not an elected member,

(e) the Chancellor or representative as an ex officio member.

For purposes of this section, full-time-equivalent enrollment shall mean the average total full-time-equivalent enrollment reported for the September–June academic year in which an election is held.

Section 3. Eligibility to Serve as a Campus Representative



Only those persons eligible to vote for campus representatives shall be able to serve as campus representatives, provided that the faculty of the campus may, at its discretion, establish additional requirements for service as a campus representative.



Section 4. Representation for New Universities and Colleges

The faculty of each newly established university or college shall elect its first voting representatives in the spring of the first year of instruction. At any time after establishment of the institution and prior to the time voting representatives take office, the faculty of the institution may send a non-voting representative.

Section 4. Eligibility to Vote for Campus Representatives.



All members of the faculty at each campus shall be eligible to vote for campus representatives to serve in the Academic Senate. Each campus shall determine which members of the campus community are considered to be faculty.

Section 5. Elections

Representatives shall be elected at each university and college in a manner to be determined by the faculty of the institution. In any year in which such an election is held, the election results shall be certified to a designated officer of the Academic Senate by the principal elected officer of the faculty of that university or college on or before May 15; representatives so elected shall take office on or before June 15.

Section 5. Elections of Campus Representatives



Campus representatives represent the entire faculty of a campus, and not the campus academic senate and shall be elected at each campus in a campus-wide election. In any year in which such an election is held, the election results shall be certified to a designated officer of the Academic Senate by the principal elected officer of the faculty of that campus on or before May 1 ; representatives so elected shall take office on or before June 15.

Section 6. Terms of Office

Representatives shall serve a term of three years, except as otherwise provided in this section. The Academic Senate at its first meeting shall establish by appropriate procedures the length of terms of its members in such fashion that one-third of the members shall be elected each year. It shall also establish the length of the initial term of each additional voting representative at or prior to the time such a representative takes office.

Section 6. Terms of Office



Campus representatives shall serve a term of three years. The immediate past chair of the Academic Senate shall serve for one year.

Section 7. Substitute Members

In the event that an elected member will be absent for one or more semesters or quarters, the faculty of the affected institution shall replace this member in the same manner as that in which other representatives from that university or college are initially elected or in such other manner as may be determined by the faculty of that institution. In the event that an elected representative is unable to attend a meeting of the Academic Senate, the senate or council of that institution shall name a substitute who shall have the right to attend and vote at that meeting.

Section 7. Substitute Members



In the event that an elected member will be absent for one or more semesters or quarters, the faculty of the affected campus shall replace this member in such manner as may be determined by the faculty of that campus. In the event that an elected representative is unable to attend a meeting of the Academic Senate, the senate of that campus may name a substitute who shall have the right to attend and vote at that meeting.

Section 8. Recall of Representatives

A representative of a university or college may be recalled by majority vote of those voting within the constituency which elected this representative under procedures established by the faculty of that institution..



Section 8. Recall of Representatives



A representative may be recalled by majority vote of those voting within the constituency which elected this representative under procedures established by the constituency.

Article III

Section 1. Names and Duties of Officers

There shall be a chair of the Academic Senate, and such other officers as shall be specified in the Bylaws; and



Section 2. Duties of Officers

T the time and manner of election, the length of terms and the duties and responsibilities of officers shall be specified in the Bylaws.

Article IV

Section 1. Meetings

There shall be at least two meetings The Academic Senate shall meet at least twice during each academic year. Within budgetary limitations, Additional meetings as needed shall be convened by the Chancellor or by procedures which shall be specified in the Bylaws.

Section 2. Voting

A quorum shall consist of a majority of the membership. Action shall require the approval of a majority of those present and voting. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted.

Article V

Section 1. Referendum

Any recommendation adopted by the Academic Senate shall be referred to the faculties of The California State University when resolutions requesting such a referendum are adopted by the senates or councils or of at least one-third of the universities campuses. and colleges, or when forty percent of the membership of the Academic Senate supports a motion for such a referendum. Approval of recommendations so referred shall require a majority of the votes cast at a balloting held for the purpose.

Article VI

Section 1. Communication with the Universities and Colleges

In order to provide adequate communications with the faculties of the several universities and colleges, the Academic Senate shall circulate to the senate or council and to the president of each institution such materials as agendas for and minutes of its meetings, committee reports and information on pending matters.

Article VII VI



Section 1. Bylaws

The Academic Senate may adopt Bylaws not inconsistent with this Constitution, provide for committees, and establish its own rules of procedure.

Section 2. Rules of Order

Unless otherwise provided in this Constitution or in the Bylaws, the rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order Revised, as copyrighted in 1951 by Isabel H. Robert, shall govern the proceedings at and the conduct of the meetings of the Academic Senate and its committees.

In the absence of any provision to the contrary in this Constitution, all meetings of the Academic Senate, its standing committees and their subcommittees, and other subsidiary bodies shall be governed by the parliamentary rules and usages contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order (Newly Revised).



Article VIII VII



Section 1. Amendments

Amendments to this Constitution compatible with the responsibilities assigned by the Trustees may be proposed by a resolution adopted by majority vote of one-third of the campus senates or councils of the several universities and colleges, or by a majority of those present and voting at a meeting of the Academic Senate.

Section 2. Ratification of Amendment

Ratification shall require a majority of the total vote cast in a systemwide referendum and a majority of the votes cast at each of a majority of the universities and colleges campuses.

Section 3. Adoption of Amendments

Amendments shall become effective upon ratification by the faculties of the campuses. several universities and colleges and approval by the Trustees.