Mar 28, 2024  
Faculty Handbook 
    
Faculty Handbook

Chapter 3 Faculty Governance



Overview of Faculty Governance Responsibilities

Governance within the University of North Carolina and on each of the seventeen constituent campuses is defined by the provisions of The Code of the Board of governors of the University of North Carolina. The Chancellor on each campus must insure that a faculty senate, or other similar body, has been established. Members of that body are to be elected from the faculty by the faculty. The senate may advise the Chancellor on any matters pertaining to the institution that are of interest and concern to the faculty. The Chancellor is to ensure the establishment of appropriate procedures within the institution to provide members of the faculty with the means to give advice with respect to questions of academic policy and institutional governance, especially matters of curriculum, degree requirements, instructional standards, and grading (The Code Section 502.)

Consequently, in order to maintain and protect this right of governance, it is a responsibility of each faculty member to participate actively in faculty governance at UNCP. The Faculty Senate and its committees are the means by which the faculty can voice its concerns, examine problems that arise, and recommend improvements in policies and procedures.

Faculty Senate Structure and General Organization

The Faculty Senate is the primary UNCP faculty governance body. The Senate operates through a series of standing and operations committees as well as a number of subcommittees reporting to the standing committees. The Senate receives reports and recommendations from the standing and operations committees, deliberates appropriate actions, and recommends those as approved to the Chancellor. The Senate, under The Code of the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina, has an advisory role to the Chancellor, who is the executive officer for the University. Details of the Senate organization, responsibilities, and procedures are described in the Constitution of the Faculty and the By-laws of the Faculty Senate.

UNCP Faculty Constitution

Preamble

We, the members of the Faculty of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, desiring to:

  • Provide a democratic form of government for the coordination of faculty activities;
  • Provide a forum for the expression of faculty views and interests;
  • Maintain academic freedom, academic responsibility, and faculty rights;
  • Improve intellectual, cultural, social, and physical welfare;
  • Develop better educational standards, facilities, and teaching methods;
  • Foster the recognition of the rights and responsibilities of the faculty to the school, the community and humanity; do hereby establish this Constitution.

Article I. General Faculty

Section 1. The General Faculty of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke shall consist of the Chancellor, all full-time instructional personnel, those faculty participating in phased retirement and all full-time non-instructional personnel who hold academic rank.

Section 2. Powers

The General Faculty shall have power (or authority):

  1. To receive reports from–and make recommendations to–the Faculty Senate.
  2. To discuss–and pass resolutions on–matters relating to the life of the University.
  3. To take action on the awarding of honorary degrees.
  4. To review and revoke action of the Faculty Senate.
  5. To review and modify the structure of Faculty Government.
  6. To elect Senators-at-Large, members of the Faculty Hearing Committee, members of the Faculty Grievance Committee, and Delegates/Alternates to the UNC Faculty Assembly.

Section 3. Meetings

The General Faculty shall meet three times during the academic year, the exact dates of the meeting to be determined by the Chancellor and the Chair of the Faculty Senate. The first meeting will coincide with the fall opening of the University. The second meeting will be held in late fall. The third meeting will be held in the spring.

  1. Special Meetings of the General Faculty may be called by the Chancellor; the Faculty Senate; or, within thirty days after receiving a petition stating specifically the purpose of the meeting and signed by fifty members of the General Faculty, the Chancellor shall be empowered to call a meeting of the General Faculty.
  2. The Agenda for the regular meetings of the General Faculty shall be determined by the Chancellor and the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate. The Agenda shall contain a report on the business conducted by the Senate since the last meeting of the General Faculty.
  3. The Chair of the Faculty Senate shall notify members of the General Faculty at least one week in advance of the date of each regular meeting of the General Faculty. If practicable, the agenda and any materials to be voted on shall be distributed to the members of the General Faculty one week in advance of each meeting.
  4. A quorum for Meetings of the General Faculty shall consist of a majority of the voting membership as defined above (see Article I, Section 1). A majority vote of members present is sufficient to conduct business, except that when the question of revoking an action of the Faculty Senate is under consideration by the General Faculty, a two-thirds vote of a quorum shall be required to annul.
  5. Voting in General Faculty Meetings shall normally be by voice vote. Vote by ballot shall be taken on motion approved by a majority of members present and voting. Results of voting shall be recorded in the minutes.
  6. Meetings of the General Faculty and its deliberative bodies shall follow Robert’s Rules of Order (Newly Revised). In particular, proxy voting is not permitted.

Section 4. The minutes and records of the General Faculty shall be kept by the Secretary of the Faculty Senate.

  1. Copies of the minutes of General Faculty Meetings shall be sent to each member.
  2. Minutes of the General Faculty Meeting shall be placed on file in the Office of the Chancellor, of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, in the UNCP Archives, and on the website of the Faculty Senate.

Article II. Faculty Senate

Section 1. The General Faculty delegates the responsibility for the conducting of business to a Faculty Senate.

Section 2. The purpose of the Faculty Senate of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke shall be to serve as the principal academic policy-making body of the University, subject to review and approval by the Chancellor; to serve as an advisory and consultative council to the Chancellor and other Administrators; and to receive from Senate Committees or University Departments recommendations concerning educational policies of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke upon which the Senate may deliberate and act.

Section 3. The Senate shall recognize the province within the University of the traditional academic disciplines and the established departments and divisions in setting and implementing rules and regulations directly affecting these areas, but reserves the right to review such rules and regulations as may affect the University as a whole.

Section 4. Actions of the Senate completed

  1. Actions of the Senate shall be in one of three forms:

1. Act. An Act shall have the effect of policy.
2. Resolution. A Resolution shall express the sentiment of the Senate.
3. Recommendation. A Recommendation shall express the advice of the Senate, giving advice only.

  1. No Acts of the Senate shall have the effect of policy unless they have been passed by a majority vote and bear the signature of the Chancellor of the University, indicating his approval.
  2. Upon passage of an action as defined above, the Chair of the Senate shall submit the completed Faculty Senate Routing Form to the Chancellor within three school days of its passage.
  3. The Chancellor may veto an Act. In such case the Senate shall be notified of such action at its next meeting.

Article III. Membership and Elections

Section 1. The Senate shall consist of the following members:

  1. The Chancellor of the University
  2. The Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
  3. Three General Faculty members from each of the five divisions listed below, elected by and from the General Faculty of the division:
    1. Division of Arts
    2. Division of Education
    3. Division of Letters
    4. Division of Natural Science and Mathematics
    5. Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences
  4. Nine General Faculty members elected at-large by the General Faculty.

Section 2. Those eligible to vote for representatives in a division shall be General Faculty who currently hold academic rank at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke in a discipline associated with the division; those eligible to vote for Senators-at-Large shall be General Faculty members.

Section 3. Eligibility for election to Senate membership is restricted to members of the General Faculty

  1. not holding an administrative position above that of Department Chair, and
  2. having a minimum of two consecutive years as members of the General Faculty at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke prior to candidacy and having not broken the current period of employment at UNCP except by virtue of approved leaves of absence.

Section 4. Senators elected by the division shall serve for a term of three years. The Committee on Committees and Elections of the Faculty Senate shall conduct annual elections for division representatives. All votes shall be cast by secret ballot.

Section 5. Senators representing divisions shall normally be elected during the month of October by those holding current academic rank in the division they will represent, to take office at the adjournment of the first General Faculty meeting of the academic year. Faculty members with joint appointments shall be eligible to run and to vote in only one division in the election of Senators representing divisions.

Section 6. Elections for Senators-at-Large shall be conducted immediately following election of division representative, for a term of three years. The election of Senators-at-Large shall be conducted by the Committee on Committees and Elections of the Senate.

Section 7. No elected Senator may serve more than two successive terms; the filling of an unexpired term shall be deemed as one of the two successive terms.

Section 8. The position of an elected Senator whose term is unexpired shall be considered vacant upon:

  1. Notification by the Senator to the Chair of (1) his/her resignation, or (2) a leave-of-absence;
  2. The Senator’s becoming ineligible through change in professorial status, either at this University or elsewhere;
  3. The Senator’s absence from more than two regular meetings of the Senate in an academic year.

Such vacancy shall be filled by special ballot in accordance with Article V, Section 2, A, 3 of the By-Laws for the Faculty Senate. Senators so elected shall serve the unexpired portion of the term.

Section 9. Senators shall take office at the adjournment of the first General Faculty meeting of the academic year.

Article IV. Duties of Senators

Section 1. Senators shall bring to the Senate proposals originating from (or endorsed by) Department Chairs, from academic supportive services, and from other areas of academic concern of the faculty. Proposals shall be in writing and furnished in sufficient copies to facilitate review and action of the Senate.

Section 2. Each elected Senator (except the Chair and Secretary) shall serve on one of the Standing Committees or on the Committee on Committees and Elections.

Article V. Officers

Section 1. The Chancellor of the University shall have the right to preside over the deliberations of any legislative bodies of the Faculties of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Section 2. The Senate shall elect from its voting membership a Chair of the General Faculty who shall also serve as Chair of the Faculty Senate, to serve for one year. The Chair shall serve as Chair of the Executive Committee, and shall preside at meetings of the Faculty Senate and of the General Faculty subject to the right of the Chancellor to preside over such deliberations as provided in Article V. Section 1, above. The Chair shall not serve for more than two successive years; the filling of an unexpired term shall be deemed as one of the two successive years. The Chair of the Faculty Senate is entitled to a course load reduction (six hours per semester) while serving as Chair.

Section 3. The Senate shall elect from its voting membership a Secretary to serve for a period of one year. The Secretary shall serve as the Secretary of the General Faculty.

Article VI. Committees

Section 1. The consideration of matters within its jurisdiction may be delegated by the Senate to Committees, which shall be responsible to and report to the Senate.

Section 2. The Senate shall have the following types of committees: Operations Committees, Standing Committees, Subcommittees of the Standing Committees, and Continuing and Special Committees. The terms of the Standing Committees, and Continuing Committees, shall end with the convening of a new Senate at the first regular meeting of the academic year; the Committee on Faculty Governance will be appointed for three-year staggered terms and other Operations Committees’ terms shall be the same as the Standing and continuing Committees; members of Subcommittees of Standing Committees will be appointed for two-year staggered terms; and the term of any Special Committee will be ended upon completion of its designated assignment.

Section 3. There shall be three Operations Committees:

  1. The Committee on Committees and Elections shall consist of four Senators appointed by the Senate Chair. The Chair of the Committee shall be appointed by the Senate Chair. The Committee shall conduct elections for Divisional and At-Large Senators, members of the Promotion and Tenure Committee, the Faculty Awards Committee, the Faculty Grievance Committee, the Faculty Hearing Committee, and Delegates and Alternates to the UNC Faculty Assembly. The Committee shall nominate all members of Faculty Senate Subcommittees, the Faculty Governance Committee, the three non-Senate faculty members on the Student Affairs and Campus Life Committee, and one member of the Student Publications Board. The Committee shall select four nominees for the position of Faculty Conciliator for Undergraduate Grade Appeals.
  2. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chair of the Senate, who shall serve as its Chair; the Secretary of the Senate; the Chairs of the three major Standing Committees as provided for in Article VI, Section 4 of this Constitution; and the Chair of the Committee on Committees and Elections. This committee shall prepare an Agenda and publish the Agenda to the Senate five days prior to each regular meeting. The Agenda for regular meetings of the General Faculty shall be determined by the Senate Executive Committee consisting of the Chancellor and the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate. The General Faculty shall be notified of all regular meeting dates of the Senate. The committee shall also assist in the annual publication of the Faculty Handbook. The Senate Executive Committee shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Senate between its regular meetings. This includes the implementation of Senate-approved policies and procedures. None of these implementing actions shall conflict with actions taken by the Senate.
  3. The Committee on Faculty Governance shall consist of not more than nine members, a majority of whom must be Senators or former Senators. They are to be nominated by the Committee on Committees and Elections and confirmed by the Senate.

Section 4. The Senate members of the three major Standing Committees and their Chairs shall be appointed by the Chair of the Senate. Standing Committees will consist of members of the Senate, Chairs of the Subcommittees reporting to them, and various administrators whose University roles make them appropriate members. The Standing Committees shall be:

  1. Academic Affairs
  2. Student Affairs and Campus Life
  3. Faculty and Institutional Affairs

Section 5. Standing Committees may, with the approval of the Senate, set up Subcommittees; the tenure of the Subcommittee shall be coincident with that of the parent Standing Committee.

Section 6. Persons eligible to serve on Subcommittees are members of the General Faculty and staff members appropriate to the function of the subcommittee. When one or more of the three Standing Committees request Subcommittee formation, the Committee on Committees and Elections shall determine the size of the Subcommittee and make nominations to the Senate, to be confirmed by the Senate.

Section 7. All Subcommittees shall report directly to the parent Standing Committee, of which each subcommittee’s Chair will be a voting member.

Section 8. The Chair of each Standing Committee shall speak for the Committee. He/she may present an oral or written report, but in every case the presentation must give sufficient information on which the Senate can act.

Section 9. Continuing and Special Committees may be constituted, with appropriate membership, at any time by the Senate.

Section 10. The Faculty Research Advisory Board shall be a Continuing Committee of the Faculty Senate. It shall consist of not more than seven members to serve three-year staggered terms. The members will be nominated by the Chair of the Faculty Senate and confirmed by the Senate. The Board shall elect a Chair from its membership.

Article VII. Meetings

Section 1. The Senate shall regularly meet at least once each month during the academic year. Regular meeting dates shall be established by the Senate; however, these dates may be altered when deemed necessary.

Section 2. A Special Meeting may be called by the Chancellor, the Chair of the Faculty, or at the request of a majority of the voting members of the Senate.

Section 3. Written notices of Regular Meetings of the Senate shall be sent to each Senator five business days prior to the meeting and shall contain an agenda. Special Meetings, when practicable, shall require a three-day notice. Special Meetings may be arranged by telephone or email. The General Faculty will be notified.

Section 4. All Meetings of the Senate shall be open meetings unless, consistent with the requirements of State Law, a meeting is closed to the public by majority vote of a quorum of the Senate membership.

Section 5. Fifteen elected members of the Senate present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum.

Section 6. Minutes of all meetings shall be posted on the faculty Senate website within ten days after approval.

Article VIII. Right of Faculty Appeal

Section 1. Any action or resolution of the Senate may be appealed to the Senate by a petition containing not fewer than fifteen faculty signatures. In the event of failure of the Senate to produce agreement with the petitioners, fifty members of the faculty signing a petition may call for a General Faculty Meeting. A two-thirds vote of a quorum of the faculty in a General Faculty Meeting shall be required to revoke Senate action.

Section 2. Written notice of a full Faculty Meeting for deliberation of Senate action appealed by petition shall be distributed to the faculty one week prior to the meeting. Such notice shall include a statement of the action to be discussed.

Article IX. Review of the Constitution, By-Laws, Procedures

Section 1. The Senate shall have the authority to make by-laws and rules of order for the conduct of its business.

Article X. Amendment of the Constitution

Section 1. A recommendation to amend the Faculty Constitution may be made in one of two ways: at a regular meeting of the Senate preceding that at which the vote on such recommendation is taken, or at a meeting of the General Faculty at least thirty days preceding that at which the vote on such recommendation is taken.

Section 2. A two-thirds vote of a quorum of the Senate present and voting shall be necessary in order to recommend the amendment of the Constitution or any of its provisions.

Section 3. Ratification of the recommendation of the Senate or General Faculty for the amendment of the Constitution or any of its provisions shall require a two-thirds vote of the faculty.

Section 4. The Board of Trustees of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke and the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina shall be properly informed by the Chancellor of changes in faculty organization and operating procedures.

By-Laws for the Faculty Senate

Article I. Meetings

Section 1. The Faculty Senate shall meet regularly on the first Wednesday of each month of the academic year consistent with the University academic calendar.

Section 2. Special meetings and alterations of the prescribed schedule shall require a three-day notice when practicable.

Section 3. Meetings shall not exceed 90 minutes without a vote to extend the time.

Section 4. Absences from Meetings. Faculty members who desire to run for a Senate seat are obligated to check professional responsibilities against the Senate’s meeting schedule for potential conflicts. When a Senator cannot be present at a regular meeting and requests to be excused, such request must be addressed to the Chair of the Senate in writing.

Section 5. The minutes and all official documents of the Senate and its committees and subcommittees will be filed by the Secretary of the Senate. The Secretary will post the completed Faculty Senate Routing Form and attachments, official agendas, and minutes on the Faculty Senate web site. It will be the responsibility of each committee and subcommittee Chair to see that agendas and minutes are delivered to the Secretary in advance of meeting dates.

Article II. Rules of Order

Section 1. The Senate shall determine the rules of order for the conduct of its business meetings.

Section 2. Robert’s Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall be followed, except that proxy voting shall be not be permitted.

Article III. Order of Business

Section 1. The order of business at meetings of the Senate shall be as follows:

  1. Roll Call
  2. Approval of Minutes
  3. Adoption of Agenda
  4. Reports from Administrators
    1. The Chancellor
    2. The Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
  5. Reports of Committees
    1. Operations Committees
    2. Standing Committees
    3. Special Committees
  6. UNC Faculty Assembly Report
  7. Teacher Education Committee
  8. Graduate Council
  9. Other Committees
  10. Unfinished Business
  11. New Business
  12. Announcements

Section 2. All business brought before the Senate must have appeared on an approved Agenda before action on it can be completed.

Article IV. Proposals to be Acted Upon by the Senate

Section 1. Proposals to the Senate may come from any Faculty member, and any administrator eligible for membership in the Senate.

Section 2. Proposals germane to the curriculum of a department must be approved and forwarded to the Department Chair.

Section 3. Endorsement does not imply consent or concurrence but an awareness of a proposal.

Section 4. Proposals originating through individual Senators, from committees or Special Committees, or from any other source shall be routinely referred to the Executive Committee for inclusion on the next agenda.

Article V. Duties of the Senate Chair and Function and Scope of Operations Committees

Section 1. The Duties of the Faculty Senate Chair shall include:

  1. Attend the Board of Trustee Meetings when invited.
  2. Communicate or meet with the Chancellor and Provost monthly regarding Senate activities.
  3. Chair the Executive Committee of the Senate, which meets at least one week prior to each Senate meeting to set the Senate agenda.
  4. Email the Senate and the General Faculty with Senate meeting announcements and agendas.
  5. Arrange and moderate three General Faculty meetings per year (start and end of the fall semester, and end of the spring semester) and at each of these meetings give a report of recent Senate activities.
  6. Reserve rooms for Senate meetings, General Faculty meetings, Executive Committee meetings, and Campus Appeal Board meetings.
  7. Attend at least one Faculty Assembly meeting per academic year (optional).
  8. Appoint all members and Chairs of the Standing Committees: Academic Affairs, Faculty and Institutional Affairs Committee, Student Affairs and Campus Life Committee, and the Committee on Committees and Elections. Each Senator must serve on one of these four.
  9. Appoint faculty to the Student Grievance Panel for one-year terms.
  10. Forward each year four faculty names to the Director of Student Life, one of which will be chosen by the Student Government Association to serve as Faculty Conciliator.
  11. Serve as Chair of the Campus Appeal Board.
  12. Deliver comments at Convocation in the Fall Semester.
  13. Deliver greetings and comments at fall and Spring Commencements.
  14. Deliver comments at the Spring Faculty Appreciation Dinner.
  15. Select when requested a designee from the General Faculty to serve on special committees formed by the administration.
  16. Conduct end-of-year faculty reviews of administration. The Chair and Executive Committee receive, and the Chair compiles, the faculty responses for delivery to the Chancellor.
  17. Revise each summer the Faculty Handbook to reflect changes made during the academic year.
  18. And other duties as needed or directed by the Senate.

Section 2. Executive Committee

  1. The Executive Committee shall prepare the agenda and publish it five days prior to each regular meeting of the Senate. The following procedure will be adhered to with respect to submitting items for the agenda as long as the Senate meetings are held on Wednesday:
    1. Agenda items are to be submitted to the Chair of the Executive Committee no later than 12:30 on Monday of the week preceding the meeting of the Senate.
    2. The Executive Committee will meet at least a week prior to the Senate meeting to organize the agenda.
  2. The Executive Committee will refer to appropriate Standing Committees or Special Committees’ proposals and/or recommendations which it considers should be sent to these committees prior to the Senate. The Committee will note in its report receipt of such items and the disposition made of them.
  3. The Secretary of the Senate shall maintain a Motion Log of all Senate actions indicating date and status of each.
  4. The Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate shall proof-read the Faculty Handbook prior to printing.
  5. The Senate Executive Committee shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Senate between its regular meetings. This includes the implementation of Senate-approved policies and procedures. None of these implementing actions shall conflict with actions taken by the Senate. The Executive Committee shall appoint a Chair pro tem of the Faculty Senate from within the Executive Committee to serve as pro tem Chair of the Senate in the absence of the elected Chair.

Section 3. Committee on Committees and Elections

  1. The Committee on Committees and Elections shall conduct elections to fill positions that will expire in August, except for UNC Faculty Delegates and Alternates, whose terms expire on July 1.
    1. Starting in October, ballots will be distributed by email to elect:
      1. Divisional Senators (See Article III of the UNCP Faculty Constitution for nomination guidelines for these positions);
      2. Senators-at-Large, immediately following the completion of the election for Divisional Senators; (See Article III of the UNCP Faculty Constitution for nomination guidelines);
    2. Starting in February, ballots will be distributed by email to elect:
      1. Members of the Promotion and Tenure Committee, divisional members of the Faculty Awards Committee, and the Delegate and then the Alternate to the UNC Faculty Assembly (See Article III of the UNCP Faculty Constitution and Article V, Section 5 and Article VII of the Bylaws of the Faculty Senate for nomination guidelines for these positions);
      2. At-large members of the Faculty Awards Committee immediately following completion of the election for divisional members;
      3. Faculty Hearing Committee immediately following the completion of the election of members of the Promotion and Tenure Committee (See “Faculty Hearing Committee ” in Section II, Chapter I on Faculty Personnel Policies in the UNCP Faculty Handbook for nomination guidelines);
      4. Faculty Grievance Committee immediately following the completion of the election of the Faculty Hearing Committee (See “Faculty Grievance Procedure ” in Section II, Chapter I on Faculty Personnel Policies in the UNCP Faculty Handbook for nomination guidelines);
    3. The Committee on Committees and Elections shall conduct elections for unexpired terms of office as the need arises to fill any such vacancy.
    4. The Committee on Committees and Elections shall conduct elections in accordance with the following procedures:
      1. Poll faculty during the fall semester to determine individual preferences for elected faculty governance positions and poll faculty during the spring semester to determine individual preferences for appointed faculty governance positions;
      2. Determine eligibility of candidates (See Article III, Sections 3 through 8 of the UNCP Faculty Constitution);
      3. One week before distributing ballots for any election, post a notice on the faculty email listserv to inform faculty of ballots that will be distributed in one week. Additions and deletions will be accepted up to one day before ballots are due to be emailed.
      4. Prepare and email ballots to members of the General Faculty (See Article I, Section 1 of the UNCP Faculty Constitution);
      5. Allow three (3) business days for return of ballots, by email, to committee members for tallying;
      6. Determine winners of elections to fill one vacancy (each faculty member has one vote) as follows:
        1. The winner is that candidate who receives the greatest number of the votes cast, except that 33% of the votes cast is necessary for election. If the election with only two candidates on the ballot results in a tie, the election will be rerun.
        2. Run-off elections will include all candidates who received at least 20% of the votes cast in the previous balloting, except that the ballot must include those who ranked first and second. If all candidates on the previous ballot received at least 20% of the votes, the last-place candidate will be dropped in the run off election.
      7. Determine winners of elections to fill more than one vacancy (each faculty member has as many votes as there are vacancies) as follows:
        1. The winners are those candidates who are selected on the greatest number of ballots and who receive at least 33% of the ballots cast.
        2. Run-off elections will include all candidates who are selected on at least 20% of the ballots cast in the previous balloting, except that the ballot must include at least one more candidate than the number of vacancies to be filled. If all candidates on the previous ballot received at least 20% of the votes, the last-place candidate will be dropped in the run-off election.
  2. The Committee on Committees and Elections shall nominate the following:
    1. All members of Faculty Senate Subcommittees, the Faculty Governance Committee, the faculty members of the Health, Safety, and Environment Committee, the three non-Senate faculty members on the Student Affairs and Campus Life Committee, and one member of the Student Publications Board. The Committee shall select four nominees for the position of Faculty Conciliator for Undergraduate Grade Appeals, which will be forwarded to the SGA for selection of one. (See Article VI, Section 4 of the Faculty Senate Bylaws and Article VI, Section 3C of the Faculty Senate Constitution.) At the Senate’s last meeting of the academic year, the Committee will recommend for confirmation by the Faculty Senate all the foregoing nominations. Within one week of the last meeting of the Faculty Senate, the Committee will notify the General Faculty of the confirmed nominations by email.
    2. At least one Faculty Senator as Chair-Elect of the Senate and at least one Faculty Senator as Secretary-Elect. The Faculty Senate will elect these officers at its first meeting of the Spring Semester. The newly elected officers will take office immediately following the first General Faculty meeting of the next academic year. (See Article V, Sections 2 and 3 of the UNCP Faculty Constitution for nomination guidelines.)
  3. The Committee on Committees and Elections shall act on requests by Standing Committees for formation of any new Senate-approved subcommittees (See Article VI, Section 6 of the UNCP Faculty Constitution).

Section 4. Committee on Faculty Governance

The Committee on Faculty Governance shall review and interpret the Faculty Constitution, the By-laws of the Faculty Senate, and rules of order for the conduct of Senate business. Changes in any of these areas that are approved by this committee will be brought, by the Committee Chair, directly to the Senate for its action.

Section 5. Divisions by Departments or Areas

  1. Division of Arts:

Art
Drama
Music
Librarians

  1. Division of Education

Education
Health, Physical Education, and Recreation

  1. Division of Letters

American Indian Studies
English and Theatre
Foreign Languages
History
Mass Communications
Philosophy and Religion

  1. Division of Natural Science and Mathematics

Biology
Geology and Geography
Mathematics and Computer Science
Nursing
Chemistry and Physics

  1. Division of Social and Behavioral Science

Business Administration
Public Management
Political Science and Public Administration
Psychology and Counseling
Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice

Article VI. Function and Scope of Standing Committees, Subcommittees, Continuing Committees and Other Committees

The three Standing Committees will be:

Academic Affairs
Student Affairs and Campus Life
Faculty and Institutional Affairs.

Although the Standing Committee memberships are reconstituted each Academic year, the subcommittee memberships will be for two-year, staggered terms allowing for continuity of activity.

Section 1. Academic Affairs Committee

  1. The Academic Affairs Committee shall consider the following matters: all matters relating to curriculum; policies and standards relating to the admission and retention of students; and recommendations concerning learning resource materials and services. Specifically regarding Senate vote on curriculum matters, the Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee is immediately to present to the Registrar all information pertaining to each individual course which is necessary for the computer data bank. In anticipation of this, the required course description presented to the Subcommittee on Curriculum should be the exact catalog wording desired by the department. The Committee shall regularly inform the Senate of its actions and recommendations.
  2. The Academic Affairs Committee will be composed of thirteen voting members:
    1. Eight Senators,
    2. The Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs,
    3. The four Chairs of Subcommittees of the Academic Affairs Committee.
  3. The Committee shall have four subcommittees:
    1. The Subcommittee on Curriculum shall examine all proposals and policies relating to curriculum. This subcommittee is responsible for sending to the Academic Affairs Committee all information pertaining to each individual course which is necessary for the computer data bank. The Curriculum Committee shall make recommendations to the Academic Affairs Committee on their adoption based upon policies disseminated in the Faculty Handbook , Section II, Chapter 5 on Faculty Participation in Academic Policy and Curriculum Development.
    2. The function of the Enrollment Management Subcommittee shall be to consider policies and standards related to admissions and recruitment, financial aid, retention, advising, graduation, and related areas. The Subcommittee shall also be charged with receiving expressions of concern or interest regarding any of the areas listed above from faculty, staff, administration, or students. The Subcommittee shall, as it deems necessary, make recommendations to the Academic Affairs Committee on these matters.
    3. The Subcommittee on Academic Support Services shall examine proposals and policies relating to the operations and development of the Library, the Center for Academic Excellence, the Division of Information Technology, and the University Writing Center and shall make appropriate recommendations/proposals to the Academic Affairs Committee.

      The Subcommittee shall also conduct, with the assistance of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, a regular, usually biennial survey of the University community to assess perceptions of facilities and services of each academic support service area. The Subcommittee will report the information from the survey to the Academic Affairs Committee, director of the appropriate academic support service area, the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
    4. The General Education Subcommittee shall review the established/published goals of the General Education Program to ensure their concurrence with the University mission; review proposed changes in the General Education requirements for policies to ensure their concurrence with established program goals; and consider other matters referred to it.

      The Subcommittee shall submit all matters of policy pertaining to the General Education Program and all curriculum proposals directly to the Academic Affairs Committee for its consideration.

Section 2. Faculty and Institutional Affairs Committee

  1. The Faculty and Institutional Affairs Committee will consider the following matters: all matters relating to faculty, economic aspects of matters of concern to the Senate and its other committees; recommendations in areas of University business affairs as they affect educational policies, and of long-range projections and planning for the total development of the University; issues of environmental concern for the campus community including those related to health and sustainability.
  2. The Faculty and Institutional Affairs Committee will be composed of thirteen voting members:
    1. Seven Senators,
    2. The Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration,
    3. The Vice Chancellor for Advancement,
    4. Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs,
    5. Chair of the Faculty Development and Welfare Subcommittee,
    6. Chair of the Faculty Evaluation Review Subcommittee.
    7. Chair of the Health, Safety and Environment Committee
  3. The Committee shall have three subcommittees:
    1. The Subcommittee on Faculty Development and Welfare shall examine all proposals and policies relating to faculty, and shall, as necessary, make recommendations to the Faculty and Institutional Affairs Committee on such matters. Among the areas of concern of the Faculty Development and Welfare Subcommittee will be the following: Faculty development, evaluation, and criteria governing appointment and retention procedures; salary scale, leaves of absence, sabbaticals, fringe benefits, resignations, recognition of retirees, grievances, and collegiality. The Subcommittee also administers the James F. Hubbard Faculty Leave Fund.
    2. The Faculty Evaluation Review Subcommittee shall review the Faculty Evaluation Model regularly and strive to clarify the existing document. The subcommittee shall make recommendations to the Faculty and Institutional Affairs Committee regarding any changes in the written document and shall respond to all requests for alteration of the document or its underlying philosophy.
    3. The Health, Safety, and Environment Committee will discuss and investigate issues related to the health concerns of students, staff and faculty due to environmental conditions on campus in addition to issues related to environmental sustainability. Members of the Faculty, Staff or Student body may attend and make known concerns they have related to health, safety and environment issues. The committee may meet more often when needed to investigate specific issues that may arise.

Section 3. Student Affairs and Campus Life Committee

  1. The Student Affairs and Campus Life Committee will study and make recommendations about areas of student affairs or campus life, either those referred to it or initiated by it.
  2. The Student Affairs and Campus Life Committee will consist of ten voting members or thirteen:
    1. Three Senators one of whom will be selected by the Chair of the Senate to represent this committee on the Executive Committee,
    2. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs,
    3. Three additional faculty members,
    4. Two students, the President of the SGA, one additional student to be selected by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs,
    5. The Chair of the Student Publications Board.
  3. The Committee shall be responsible for one Board:
    1. The Student Publications Board will serve as the selection committee for the newspaper editor, the yearbook editor and the literary magazine editor, will serve as the arbitrator in the event that censorship pressures arise, and will develop other roles which the Board deems proper. The Board will not, however, attempt to provide active oversight of the day-to-day workings of student publications.

Section 4. The Composition of Subcommittees and Boards The Subcommittees and Boards shall be composed as follows, with each member having one vote:

  1. Academic Affairs Committee
     
    1. The Subcommittee on Curriculum:

Two Representatives from each Division,
One Representative from the Office for Academic Affairs, Registrar,
SGA Secretary,
SGA Senator.

  1. The Enrollment Management Subcommittee

One faculty member from each division, one of whom shall Chair the subcommittee,
Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment
One SGA representative. 

  1. The Subcommittee on Academic Support Services:

One Representative from each Division, one of whom shall Chair the subcommittee
Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment,
Associate Vice Chancellor for Information Resources,
Dean of Library Services,
Director of the Accessibility Resource Center,
One Graduate Student,
One SGA Senator. 

  1. The General Education Subcommittee

One faculty member representing each of the following General Education areas (one of whom will Chair the subcommittee):
Arts
Business/Economics
Education/Physical Education
Humanities
Natural Science/Mathematics
Social Sciences
A Representative of the Office of Academic Affairs 

Each of the faculty representatives will serve a two-year term, three beginning on even numbered years and three on odd numbered years. Selection will be by appointment by the Committee on Committees and Elections as with other subcommittees.

  1. Faculty and Institutional Affairs Committee
    1. The Subcommittee on Faculty Development and Welfare:

Two representatives from each Division,
The Director of Human Resources.

  1. The Faculty Evaluation Review Subcommittee

The subcommittee shall consist of seven members. Each division will be represented on the subcommittee and there will be two at-large members. At least two of the faculty appointed each year must be tenure. At-large members must come from departments not already represented.

  1. Student Affairs and Campus Life Committee
    1. The Student Publications Board will be composed of:

The Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs,
The faculty advisor of the student newspaper,
The faculty advisor of the student yearbook,
The faculty advisor of the student literary magazine,
One faculty member who is not actively involved in student publications, to be nominated by the Committee on Committees and Elections,
The editor of the student newspaper, 
The editor of the student yearbook,
The editor of the student literary magazine,
The SGA president or her/his designee.

  1. The Chair of the Standing committee or parent committee shall appoint, or conduct an election for, subcommittee Chairs.

Section 5. Meetings.

Upon organization by the Senate each committee and subcommittee shall meet, establish and publish a list of its scheduled meetings according to the following calendar:

A. FACULTY SENATE
The first Wednesday of each month

COMMITTEE ON ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
The third Wednesday of each month

SUBCOMMITTEE ON CURRICULUM
The first Thursday of each month

SUBCOMMITTEE ON GENERAL EDUCATION
The fourth Thursday of each month

SUBCOMMITTEE ON ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES
The second Tuesday of each month

SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
The second Wednesday of each month

COMMITTEE ON FACULTY AND INSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
The third Thursday of each month

SUBCOMMITTEE ON FACULTY DEVELOPMENT AND WELFARE
The second Thursday of each month

SUBCOMMITTEE ON FACULTY EVALUATION REVIEW
The first Tuesday of each Month

SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH, SAFETY, AND ENVIRONMENT
The first Monday in October, November, February, and April

COMMITTEE ON STUDENT AFFAIRS AND CAMPUS LIFE
The third Monday of each month

SENATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Always on a Monday or Tuesday, of the week preceding the Senate meeting

COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES AND ELECTIONS
Always available for required tasks
Special meetings may be called as the need arises.

FACULTY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
The third Tuesday of each month

B. Calendar
The Senate Chair and Executive Committee will publish, at the start of the fall semester, a calendar for the academic year of meeting dates and times for each Standing Committee and related Subcommittees of the Senate. The Chair and Executive Committee will also solicit meeting information from other Committees that are related to the Senate. This information will be summarized and published as early as possible in the fall semester.

C. Absences from Meetings
When a member of either a Committee or Subcommittee cannot be present for a meeting, the member will notify the Chair of the Committee or Subcommittee in writing.

When a member of a Committee or Subcommittee misses more than two regular meetings, that member will be dismissed from the committee. A replacement will be chosen in accordance with Article VI, Section 3. A of the Faculty Constitution (for a subcommittee member) and Article VI, Section 4 (for a committee member).

Section 6. Faculty Research Advisory Board

  1. The Faculty Research Board, a Continuing Committee of the Faculty Senate, shall advise the Faculty Senate and the Chancellor with respect to issues affecting faculty research, scholarly and creative activity. It shall propose initiatives that support faculty research, scholarship and creative activity; consider issues related to these activities submitted to it by the faculty; and monitor the general campus climate for such efforts.
  2. The members of the Faculty Research Advisory Board shall be selected on the basis of demonstrated experience in research, scholarly or creative activity and be reflective of a diversity of disciplines. The Board shall meet at least once a semester and more frequently if needed.

Section 7. Teacher Education

All teacher education undergraduate curriculum proposals originating in the Teacher Education committee shall be referred to the Subcommittee on Curriculum. Graduate curriculum matters shall be referred to the Graduate Council.

Section 8. Graduate Council

The Graduate Council (not a committee of the Senate but a committee of the University) shall submit directly to the Senate for its approval all matters of policy pertaining to the graduate program. All curriculum proposals from the Graduate Council shall be referred to the Subcommittee on Curriculum.

Section 9. The Chairs of the Faculty Hearing Committee and the Faculty Grievance Committee will report to the Faculty Senate early in the fall semester on the number of cases heard during the previous academic year (and/or summer).

Section 10. Other University Committees

University Committees (not committees of the Faculty Senate, but Committees appointed by the Chancellor or the Vice Chancellors) shall report to the Faculty Senate at the last meeting of each semester. The reporting committee should be represented by a member of the Faculty who is also a member of that committee. The Senate, which should expect a written and oral report of the committee’s activities during the past semester, should feel free to ask questions and to send requests to the committee.

The Committees include:

Faculty Research and Development Committee
Honors College Council
Institutional Review Board for Research Involving Human Subjects
Insurance Committee
Planning Council
Traffic Control Board
University Athletics Committee
University Technology Committee

Article VII. Elections of Delegates to the Faculty Assembly of the University of North Carolina

Any faculty member who is eligible to serve on the Senate is also eligible to serve as a Delegate or Alternate to the Faculty Assembly of The University of North Carolina. A delegate may serve no more than six of the preceding nine years; the terms of Alternates shall correspond to the terms of Delegates. Regular terms, three years in length, shall begin and end on July 1 of each year. Election of one Delegate and one Alternate shall be held in the spring when needed. Should either a Delegate or an Alternate at some time during his/her term find it impossible to continue serving, an election to replace him/her shall be held as soon as possible after the vacancy occurs; and the faculty member shall complete the unexpired term.

Faculty Senate and Related Committee Memberships for the Current Year

It is the responsibility of the Chair of the Committee on Committees and Elections to provide the Secretary of the Senate a list of the current membership of the Faculty Senate, its Committees, Subcommittees, and other appointed and elected Committees for posting to the website for the Faculty Senate at http://www.uncp.edu/senate.

Faculty Committees and Governance Responsibilities

Faculty members serve on a wide variety of University/Administrative committees, both continuing and ad hoc, instituted to advise with regard to campus issues. Membership on such committees may be by election or by appointment. Most operate independently from the formal faculty governance structure and may report to the Faculty Senate annually/bi-annually. Membership may last from one to three years.

The Faculty Senate’s Committee on Committees and Elections polls the faculty each year for committee preferences for those committees on which membership is both elective and appointed. Appointments to other committees are typically the province of the Chancellor, the Provost, or another administrator. On some occasions, the Faculty Senate Chair will suggest the names of prospective members to the respective administrator. Faculty members who may wish to serve on a particular committee of which the Faculty Senate conducts elections/appointments should make their desires known on the preference poll when it comes out. Faculty interested in serving on administrative committees may notify the person making the appointments to the body in question.

Graduate Council

The Graduate Council is the University-wide body responsible for approving all policy and curriculum matters affecting graduate programs. It formulates and recommends policies and standards for graduate programs to the Faculty Senate. The Council reviews, formulates, and recommends curriculum changes, new programs and changes in existing programs to the Faculty Senate’s Subcommittee on Curriculum. The Council approves all teaching personnel for graduate courses.

The Dean of the School of Graduate Studies serves as the Chair of the Graduate Council and is responsible for bringing all policy and curriculum matters relative to all graduate programs to the Council for its action. In consultation with the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs appoints the members of the Graduate Council. They include the graduate program directors, the Dean of the School of Education, and three graduate faculty members (at-large).

Teacher Education Committee

The Teacher Education Committee is the University-wide committee responsible for all Teacher Education Programs at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Its specific functions include establishing teacher education policies, reviewing all proposed changes to teacher education curricula, reviewing proposed Teacher Education Programs, reviewing the professional studies component of the program, approving applicants to the Teacher Education Program, approving applicants for the professional semester, assuring compliance with state and national accreditation standards, and considering other matters related to Teacher Education.

The Teacher Education Committee is comprised of a faculty member from each of the Teacher Education Program areas and components, two undergraduate student representatives, one graduate student representative, and three representatives from the area schools, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Dean of the School of Education, and the Associate Dean of the School of Education. The following personnel from the Teacher Education Program also save on the Committee: Director of Assessment, Director of Instructional Technology, Director of Recruitment and Retention, Director of University School Programs, and the Licensure Officer.

The Dean of the School of Education serves as the Chair of the Committee and designates a representative from the School of Education or College of Arts and Sciences to officiate at the Committee meetings. The Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, in consultation with the Dean of the School of Education, appoints committee members for terms of one academic year.

The Teacher Education Committee is a University-wide committee appointed annually by the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, in consultation with the Dean of the School of Education. A representative of the committee is provided the opportunity to report committee actions at each meeting of the Faculty Senate.

Proposed changes to the undergraduate Teacher Education curriculum approved by the Teacher Education Committee are forwarded to the Faculty Senate’s Subcommittee on Curriculum for processing through the Senate structure. Proposed changes to the graduate Teacher Education curriculum approved by the Teacher Education Committee are forwarded to the Graduate Council for its consideration, approval and processing through the Senate structure.

UNC Faculty Assembly

The UNC Faculty Assembly is a system-wide advisory body that meets regularly to discuss issues of concern to faculty and to advise the Office of the President with respect to those issues. The Faculty Assembly is the elected body of representatives of the faculty of the seventeen campuses of the University of North Carolina. Its objectives are set forth in the Assembly Charter. The Assembly is dedicated to upholding and exercising the principles of academic freedom, shared governance, tenure, and the faculty’s primary responsibility for the University’s curriculum. The UNCP faculty sends three representatives (or alternates), elected by the general faculty, to represent its interests and to express its views to the Assembly. For more information on the UNC Faculty Assembly, see the website for the UNC General Administration at http://www.northcarolina.edu/facultyassembly/index.htm and the website for the UNC Faculty Assembly at http://www.uncfacultyassembly.org/.

State Open Meetings Regulations

Under the statutes of the State of North Carolina, with limited exceptions, meetings of regularly constituted committees of public bodies such as the University are open to any interested person. In general, conveners have a responsibility to publicize the time and location of meetings in a timely way, so that interested persons have an opportunity to attend. Standing committees (for example, those established by the Bylaws of the UNCP Faculty Senate) meet at times defined in published documents. Deviations from those times should be announced in a public and timely fashion. For details of the open meetings regulations, or for specific questions, please consult the University Counsel. For more information on the State Open Meetings Regulations, see the website for the University Counsel at http://www.uncp.edu/legal/faqs/open_meetings.htm.