BACKGROUND
A printed copy of the current version of the Academic Senate Constitution was provided to Robert H. Stellwagen by Jean Keene, Director of Senate Faculty Services, in June 1997. This copy was scanned to generate the electronic document below. This Academic Senate Constitution was approved in 1993 and amended in minor ways subsequently. It replaces the earlier Constitution of the body referred to as the Faculty Senate which is printed in the 1987 version of the USC Faculty Handbook. The Academic Senate Bylaws were approved in 1995.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Beginning of Document
ARTICLE I -- Faculty Governance
ARTICLE II -- Purposes
and Rules
ARTICLE III -- The Faculty
Assembly
ARTICLE IV -- The Academic
Senate
ARTICLE V -- School
Faculty Councils
ARTICLE VI -- Officers
and Executive Board
ARTICLE VII -- Committees
ARTICLE VIII -- Communications
ARTICLE IX -- Amendments
ARTICLE X -- Bylaws
ARTICLE XI -- Transition
Constitution
This Constitution was voted upon and approved by a referendum vote of the Faculty of the University of Southern California in the Spring of 1993. The first meeting of the Academic Senate was held Apri1 22, 1993.
ARTICLE I -- Faculty Governance
The University faculty at large constitute the Faculty Assembly, which may act through a General Meeting or a referendum, or through representative bodies. Each school has an elected faculty council or assembly. Presidents of the school councils, additional delegates from the larger schools, and the university-wide faculty officers and Executive Board members make up the Academic Senate. Working committees will be selected from the faculty at large.
ARTICLE II -- Purposes and Roles
Section 1. The primary purpose of the Faculty Assembly, the Academic Senate, and the school faculty councils and assemblies, is to contribute to the intellectual vitality of the University. They are forums for faculty decision-making, and are the voice of the faculty in the making of university policy and in the consideration of academic issues. They strive to safeguard academic freedom, full academic due process, and the tenure system. They also determine positions on faculty status, responsibilities and welfare, and other important institutional issues, and any and all issues pertaining to the well being of the faculty and the University.
Section 2. The Faculty Assembly, the Academic Senate, and the school faculty councils and assemblies, are centers of independent initiative in investigating issues, recommending policies, and disseminating information. They are also fact-finding, deliberative and consultative bodies, with authority to make studies, reports and recommendations on all matters which have a significant bearing upon the work of the faculty.
ARTICLE III -- The Faculty Assembly
Section 1. The membership of the Faculty Assembly consists of all full-time regular faculty members, librarians, special faculty as provided in Article V, Section 6, and those who have retired from those positions.
Section 2. While the Academic Senate is the representative body of the faculty at large for university-wide issues, when the Faculty Assembly is convened it becomes the ultimate decision- making body of the faculty of the University.
Section 3. The President of the Faculty shall convene a General Meeting of the Faculty Assembly at least once annually, and more frequently as requested by the President of the University, the Academic Senate, or the Executive Board, or on petition of 10% of the membership of the Faculty Assembly.
Section 4. Actions of the Faculty Assembly are taken by referendum or by vote at a General Meeting, on condition that at least one-third of the membership of the Faculty Assembly votes in the referendum or is present at the General Meeting. If there is not one-third participation, any vote is advisory and is referred to the Academic Senate for action.
ARTICLE IV -- The Academic Senate
Section 1. The Academic Senate is the representative body of the faculty at large for university-wide issues. The Academic Senate shall assist in carrying out the responsibility the faculty shares to help enhance the University, particularly its academic life. Therefore the Academic Senate, faculty committees under instruction of the Executive Board, and the Board, shall as necessary
A. seek to enhance the University's intellectual vitality, research, teaching, libraries and quality of academic programs;
B. be forums for faculty decision-making, and the voice of the faculty in making university policy and in considering academic issues;
C. carefully monitor University issues involving academic integrity; preservation of academic freedom, faculty rights and responsibilities, full academic due process, and the tenure system; promotion of equality and pluralism; and safeguarding the process for faculty appointment and promotion; and they shall, when necessary, conduct investigations on such issues, make findings or recommendations, and issue confidential (or where necessary public) reports;
D. strengthen faculty participation in governance in each school through the elected faculty councils and assemblies, and faculty participation in governance at the university level through appropriate committees;
E. be concerned with the retired faculty, faculty employment and remuneration, benefits of employment, faculty environment, student life, athletics, institutional advancement, and university public service;
F. be the voice of the faculty in the development of the Faculty Handbook, and in the selection of University administrators; develop guidelines for the review of administrators and conduct evaluations of their performance, issuing confidential (or when appropriate public) reports; monitor and issue regular reports on the status of resolutions of the Academic Senate, showing which have not been implemented or acted upon by the administration.
The Academic Senate of the Faculty is the same body referred to in some University documents as the Faculty Senate.
Section 2. The voting members of the Academic Senate are (a)
the elected president of the faculty council in each school, the College,
and each Division in the College (or the closest equivalent elected faculty
officer, by whatever title); (b) additional delegates from the school faculty
councils, selected as provided in Section 4 below, (c)the executive officers
of the faculty and Members at Large of the Executive Board.
The non-voting members of the Academic Senate are (a) the chairs selected
by the Executive Board of faculty standing committees authorized by the
Academic Senate, and (b), if authorized in the Bylaws, representatives
of other university organizations.
Section 3. The University Libraries and the Retired Faculty Association shall each be represented in the Academic Senate as separate entities.
Section 4. The faculty of each school by referendum will decide how the additional delegates from that school to the Academic Senate will be selected. Unless a school decides otherwise, they will all be selected from among those the faculty elected to the school's faculty council. If a school does not decide otherwise, its additional delegates will be the members of the school's faculty council who received the highest number of votes when elected. Members who decline to serve, or are unable to attend regularly, will be replaced in the same manner.
Section 5. The total size of the Academic Senate will be at least 50 and not more than 90 members. The size, the allocation of additional delegates, and special situations and exceptions shall be specified from time to time in the Bylaws. Apportionment of the additional delegates will have regard to the proportionate size of the faculty in each school.
Section 6. The Academic Senate shall hold meetings on a fixed schedule from September through May, unless the Academic Senate or Executive Board decides otherwise. Special meetings of the Academic Senate will be held on petition of one-third of the members of the Academic Senate or on the call of the Executive Board.
Section 7. The Academic Senate shall elect the executive officers of the faculty and the Members at Large of the Executive Board.
Section 8. The Academic Senate shall ensure it has an active and functioning attendance, by Bylaws establishing a quorum and providing for replacement of members who are unable to attend regularly.
Section 9. A person who has been a member of the Academic Senate for a continuous period of six years shall be ineligible for the two years following, except to complete an elected term as executive officer.
Section 10. Unless a school decides otherwise, the term of office of its Senate members shall be one academic year.
ARTICLE V -- School Faculty Councils
Section 1. The faculty of each school shall have an elected faculty council or assembly to participate in the governance of that unit, whose basic purposes and roles are stated in Article II.
Section 2. The faculty council in each school is established in accordance with the will of the faculty as determined by vote of the faculty by secret ballot, as provided in the Bylaws.
Section 3. If the dean and faculty of any school cannot reach agreement on the establishment and role of the faculty council, either may seek the assistance of the Academic Senate.
Section 4. The elected faculty president of each school's elected faculty council or assembly shall be a member of the Academic Senate. If a school is entitled to additional delegates on the Academic Senate, they shall be chosen as provided in Article IV, Section 4.
Section 5. The Academic Senate through an election committee shall act to ensure that each school has a democratic and fair nomination and election process. There must be opportunity for open nominations; at least two candidates for every seat; and secret, written ballots counted by neutral tellers. If election procedure or results are questioned, the election committee shall investigate and report its findings to the Academic Senate, which may take appropriate action. The Academic Senate may set standards for the manner, time and details of elections. The Bylaws shall provide for reports to the Senate, for each school, of the names of its members of the Faculty Assembly, the members of its school faculty council, and its members in the Academic Senate.
Section 6. Special faculty may participate in governance within
each school as may be decided on from time to time by a vote of the majority
of the full-time regular faculty concurrently with a majority of the full-time
special faculty. The decision may be made by referendum or through the
elected faculty council. The decision may specify which categories of special
faculty shall have what extent of participation.
If there is not a decision concerning participation in governance by special
faculty in a school, the issue may be presented to the Academic Senate.
In the event the Academic Senate decides to authorize participation in
faculty governance by the special faculty of that school or some category
of them, then participatory rights will be extended to full-time special
faculty after completion of three-years of full-time service (or on extended
appointment for three years or longer.) Their participatory rights shall
be to be members of the Faculty Assembly, to vote and hold office in faculty
governance on the school level, to vote for the Academic Senate, and to
be eligible to be members of the Academic Senate up to their proportion
within that school's faculty.
Section 7. Only tenured and tenure-eligible faculty members may vote on Senate recommendations pertaining to University policies and procedures concerning tenure and the tenure system. This includes issues relating to granting of tenure; modification of the tenure system, including establishment or disestablishment of Special Faculty categories; and due process procedures concerning tenured or tenure-eligible faculty members, including procedures for their grievances or dismissal. All Senate members are entitled to vote on, and participate in, all other matters brought before the Academic Senate.
ARTICLE VI -- Officers and Executive Board
Section 1. The university-wide executive officers of the faculty are the President of the Faculty, the Academic Vice President, the Administrative Vice President, and the Secretary General.
Section 2. The President of the Faculty shall be the chief executive
officer of the Academic Senate and preside at meetings of the Faculty Assembly,
Academic Senate, and the Executive Board. In the temporary absence of the
President, the Academic Vice President shall act as President.
The exact duties of each executive officer will be assigned each year by
the President of the Faculty after consultation with the other officers.
In the absence of any other assignment, the Academic Vice President shall
coordinate programs contributing to the intellectual vitality of the University,
the Administrative Vice President shall coordinate programs contributing
to faculty welfare, and the Secretary General shall coordinate the selection
and supervision of committees.
Section 3. Executive officers, and Members at Large of the Executive Board, are elected by the Academic Senate in the spring. The Academic Senate will provide for the nomination and election process by Bylaw.
Section 4. The term of office of the Academic Vice President
shall be one year. The Academic Vice President shall be elected annually.
At the completion-of the term as Academic Vice President, this officer
shall become President of the Faculty. The term of office of the President
of the Faculty is one year; at the completion of this term, this officer
shall then serve a one-year term as Immediate Past-President.
The term for the offices of Administrative Vice President and Secretary
General shall each be two years. These officers shall be elected in alternating
years. The term of office of Members at Large of the Executive Board is
one year (July I through June 30).
Section 5. The voting members of the Executive Board shall be the executive officers and four Members at Large, and the immediate past President of the Faculty. The editor of the Senate newspaper, and other Senate committee chairs as may be designated by the Executive Board shall be non-voting members of the Board.
Section 6. Executive officers and Members at Large of the Executive Board are elected from among the membership of the Faculty Assembly.
Section 7. All voting members of the Executive Board are voting members of the Academic Senate, in addition to the members from the school faculty councils.
Section 8. The Senate, through its Executive Board, may present any of its findings and recommendations to the students and faculty at large, to appropriate administrative officers of the University, to the Board of Trustees, or to the general public.
Section 9. The Executive Board may refer topics to faculty or University committees; will receive copies of their agendas, minutes and reports; may request reports from them, and may make recommendations concerning their reports. It approves the Senate budget, The Board serves as the channel of communication between the Academic Senate and the administrative officers of the university, and may act for the Senate between meetings, if there is urgency.
Section 10. In the event that an executive officer or Executive Board Member at Large resigns or becomes unable or ineligible to serve, the Academic Senate shall elect a successor to serve the unexpired portion of the term.
Section 1. Working committees will be selected from the membership of the Faculty Assembly. Standing committees are established by the Academic Senate; special committees are established by the Academic Senate or the Executive Board. Committee chairs and members are selected by the Executive Board. Individuals who are not members of the Faculty Assembly may also be appointed to committees.
Section 2. The Faculty Handbook provides that faculty members of University Committees are selected by the University President upon nomination by the Faculty Senate. For this purpose the Senate acts through the Executive Board or a committee or process designated by the Executive Board. The Executive Board will seek- to coordinate the faculty and University committees, and may agree with administrative officers of the university for nomination or selection of University or faculty committees in a Joint or coordinated fashion.
Section 3. Committee reports are forwarded through the Executive
Board to the Academic Senate for action or publication, except for committees
which have been delegated special decision-making responsibilities by administrative
officers of the university.
Committees shall report a least semi-annually, and more often at the request
of the Academic Senate, the Executive Board, or the committee itself.
ARTICLE VIII -- Communications
Section 1. Members of the Academic Senate are responsible for informing their units of the Academic Senate's work and informing the Academic Senate of their faculty's views.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall keep the members of the University faculty informed of the current activities of the Academic Senate and the committees.
Section 3. A faculty newspaper will be published as a means of communication of the Academic Senate, a forum for faculty views, a means for polling faculty opinion, and a chronicle of University and national developments important to the faculty.
Section 4. The Faculty Handbook may be revised from time to time through established collegial processes. As provided in the Handbook, consistent with University Bylaws and the delegation of authority to the University President in carrying out policy established by the Board of Trustees, revisions to the Faculty Handbook are based on recommendations from faculty and administration. These recommendations are subject to review and consultation, involving the appropriate faculty committee and the Executive Board, designed to lead to a joint fomiulation by the faculty and the administration. The joint formulation is submitted to the Senate for its discussion and endorsement. The joint formulation, as endorsed by the Senate and adopted by the University President, is published. Copies of the Faculty Handbook are distributed by the administration to the entire faculty.
Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution are proposed by the Academic Senate by majority vote.
Section 2. Amendments may be ratified by the Academic Senate, by two-thirds vote, at a meeting subsequent to the meeting that voted the proposal.
Section 1. The Academic Senate shall adopt such Bylaws as it considers necessary to the conduct of its business.
Section 2. The Bylaws may be adopted or amended by majority vote of the Academic Senate at any meeting, provided that the proposed Bylaws or amendments have been submitted in writing to the Academic Senate at a prior meeting.
The Faculty Senate that proposed this new Constitution, and the initial Academic Senate when elected, have power by resolution to provide for the transition from the previous constitution to this new one.
Posted July 9, 1997