Amendments to the Constitution
AS-2276-95/TFCR - March 9-10, 1995
Amendments to the Constitution
RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University recommend
to the faculty of the CSU the following amendments to:
The Constitution
of the
Academic Senate of the
California State University
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.
Section 2. Relation to Campus Senates
(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.
The immediate past chair of the Academic Senate if not an elected member
shall not be counted as a campus representative.
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 SeptemberJune
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.
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