The Faculty Senate Constitution
The Faculty Senate is the body empowered to act as agent for the University Faculty with the delegated power to formulate policies in regard to all academic matters and other matters of faculty concern except those that are related to the Graduate School as set forth in the Bylaws and Statutes of the Board of Trustees.
ARTICLE I.
The University Faculty shall consist of the Chancellor, all professors, associate professors, and assistant professors, and those instructors on continuing appointment. (Bylaws and Statutes of the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, Part III, Article IV, Section A, October 1, 1973.)
ARTICLE II.
The Faculty Senate shall have direct access to the Chancellor of the University.
ARTICLE III.
- The Faculty Senate members shall be elected by and from the combined membership of the University Faculty, full-time Clinical and Research Professors, full-time Clinical and Research Associate Professors, full-time Clinical and Research Assistant Professors, and full-time non-tenure track Instructors.
- The Officers of the Faculty Senate shall be elected by the combined membership of the University Faculty, full-time Clinical and Research Professors, full-time Clinical and Research Associate Professors, full-time Clinical and Research Assistant Professors, and full-time, non-tenure track Instructors from the membership of the Faculty Senate and shall remain members of the Faculty Senate during their terms of office.
- Each elected Faculty Senate member shall designate an alternate to attend and vote at Faculty Senate meetings.
ARTICLE IV.
The officers of the Faculty Senate shall be President, President-Elect, and Past-President.
ARTICLE V.
- The combined membership of the University Faculty, full-time Clinical and Research Professors, full-time Clinical and Research Associate Professors, full-time Clinical and Research Assistant Professors, and full-time, non-tenure track Instructors may, at a general faculty meeting or by written or electronic ballot, direct the Faculty Senate to represent it or act for it on any matter of faculty concern.
- The Faculty Senate shall have the power to act for the University Faculty, full-time Clinical and Research Professors, full-time Clinical and Research Associate Professors, full-time Clinical and Research Assistant Professors, and full-time, non-tenure track Instructors on all matters of faculty concern except as its autonomy is limited by correct academic and administrative relations with other units and representative bodies.
- The Graduate Council, representing the Graduate Faculty, shall be the legislative body to determine the university policy on all matters relating to graduate instruction and research except as its autonomy is limited by correct academic and administrative relations with other units or representative bodies. On policy matters without budgetary or organizational implications the Graduate Council shall report directly to the Provost and Vice Chancellor; on policy matters with budgetary or organizational implications the Graduate Council shall report to the Faculty Senate.
- The President of the Faculty Senate shall have the power to call general faculty meetings.
- The Faculty Senate shall be responsible for continuing evaluation of the performance of the Chancellor and the Provost and Vice Chancellor.
ARTICLE VI.
Legislative action of the Faculty Senate not approved by the President may be referred to the Board of Trustees by a 2/3 vote of the combined membership of the University Faculty, full-time Clinical and Research Professors, full-time Clinical and Research Associate Professors, full-time Clinical and Research Assistant Professors, and full-time, non-tenure track Instructors.
ARTICLE VII.
- The Faculty Senate shall implement the provisions of this Constitution by Bylaws as it may choose to adopt.
- The Faculty Senate shall have the authority to stipulate its own governance structure, define terms of office, direct election of officers, remove officers and members for cause, control agendas and meetings, and create and abolish committees, in accord with procedures described in its Bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII.
- Articles of the Constitution of the Faculty Senate may be amended by a majority of ballots cast by the combined membership of the University Faculty, full-time Clinical and Research Professors, full-time Clinical and Research Associate Professors, full-time Clinical and Research Assistant Professors, and full-time, non-tenure track Instructors voting by secret ballot in a general referendum.
- Ratification of this document will be by a majority of ballots cast by the combined membership of the University Faculty, full-time Clinical and Research Professors, full-time Clinical and Research Associate Professors, full-time Clinical and Research Assistant Professors, and full-time, non-tenure track Instructors voting by secret ballot in a general referendum.
Addition of Research Professors and Full-Time, Non-Tenure Track Instructors approved by Faculty Senate December 2, 2021.
Revision on election process was approved by the Faculty Senate April 2, 2009
Approved by the Office of the Chancellor August 11, 2011
Approved by Faculty Senate 4/2/2015, University Faculty 5/2015 and Office of the Chancellor 7/23/2015 (clinical faculty language)
