Faculty Governance

Origins, Development, and Current Structure

OriginsPresident Swain’s weekly faculty meetings

Student absences and misbehavior discussed Trial of students charged with serious misconduct General discussion

“As a rule [President Swain] consulted the faculty before acting but was annoyed when they differed from him. By adroit management he generally carried his point without causing dissatisfaction.” Battle, History of the University, v. 1, p. 532

Board of Governors CodeThe Chancellor must see that there is

an elected faculty councila chair of the faculty elected by the general

faculty or the faculty council appropriate procedures “to provide the faculty

the means to give advice with respect to questions of academic policy and institutional governance, with particular emphasis upon matters of curriculum, degree requirements, instructional standards, and grading criteria.”

Board of Governors CodeThe Chancellor

“shall define the scope of authority of faculties, councils, committees, and officers of the institution”

“shall have the right to preside over the deliberations of any legislative bodies of the faculties”

Board of Governors Code“The council or senate may advise the

Chancellor on any matters pertaining to the institution that are of interest and concern to the faculty.”

Faculty CodeEstablished by General Faculty in 1947

with tacit consent of Chancellor R. B. House

Amendments require passage by the General Faculty at two successive meetings

Embodies permanent legislation of the General Faculty

Derives its formal legal standing from the Board of Governors Code directives to the chancellor concerning faculty governance

The General FacultyMembership

All persons holding full-time faculty appointments

All librariansRegistrar, Director of Student Aid, and Director

of Undergraduate Admissions

The General FacultyVoting Privileges

All tenure-track facultyAll librariansFull-time (75% FTE) fixed-term faculty with at

least 3-year tenure

The General FacultyPowers

Establish educational policiesEstablish and amend the Faculty CodeAdvise the chancellor and administrationMake recommendations to faculty committees

and academic unitsDiscuss and resolve upon matters of general

concern

The General FacultyMeetings

Regular meetings in September and AprilSpecial meetings on callQuorum is conclusively presumed if 10-days

notice of meeting is given; otherwise quorum is 125.

Faculty CommitteesCreated by and responsible to General

FacultyAdvisory Committee established ca. 1915 by

President Edward Kidder GrahamFaculty Committee list first formalized in

1950

Faculty Committees1950 Committee List

AdvisoryAthleticsBuildings & GroundsEstablished LecturesFaculty WelfareHonorary DegreesInstructional PersonnelUniversity GovernmentScholarshipsExecutive (Student Discipline)

Faculty CommitteesElective Committees

Advisory Administrative Board of the Library Educational Policy Faculty Executive Committee Athletics Faculty Grievance Faculty Hearings Financial Exigency and Program Change Honorary Degrees and Special Awards Faculty Assembly Delegation

Faculty CommitteesAppointed by the Chancellor

Buildings & GroundsCopyrightResearchScholarships, Awards & Student AidUndergraduate AdmissionsUniversity Government

Faculty CommitteesAppointed by Chair of the Faculty

AgendaCommunity & Diversity (dormant)Faculty Information & Technology Advisory

Comm.Faculty Welfare (dormant)Status of Women

Faculty CommitteesChancellor and other officers of

administration often appoint task forces, search committees, and and other ad hoc faculty committees

Faculty members are often appointed to administrative committees

Faculty CommitteesCommittees established by formal action of

the General Faculty make annual reports to the Faculty Council

General Faculty enacts charge of most faculty committees

Faculty Council and General Faculty may refer specific matters to faculty committees

The Faculty CouncilEstablished in 1951

General Faculty had become too large to function effectively

First Council had 52 members representing 327 members of the Voting Faculty

The Faculty Council2009-10 Council has 88 members

representing over 3,000 members of the Voting Faculty

73 members elected from 17 electoral divisions12 FEC members not otherwise elected3 Faculty Assembly membersRatio of representation is 1:45Members are apportioned among divisions

according to tenure status

The Faculty CouncilTerm of office is three yearsMembers not eligible for election more than

twice in any period of 7 yearsElections conducted among nominees chosen

by divisional nominating committees

The Faculty CouncilMeetings held monthly September through

AprilDuty to attend

Excused absences granted on requestSeat may be declared vacant after two

successive unexcused absences

The Faculty CouncilLegislative Powers

Educational policies, rules, and regulationsUndergraduate curriculumRecommendations for honorary degrees and

special awardsRegulations governing student conduct that

affect academic standards or performanceEstablish committees of the Council

The Faculty CouncilAdvisory Powers

Recommendations to academic unitsAdvice to the chancellorDiscuss and resolve upon matters relating to

the life of the University

Faculty Executive Committee12 members elected by the Voting Faculty Three-year term; limit of two successive

termsChair and Secretary of the Faculty are ex

officio members

Faculty Executive CommitteePowers

Exercises consultative powers of Faculty Council

Exercises Council’s legislative powers when prompt action required

Acts as advisory committee for Chair of the Faculty

Represents Council and General Faculty in advising the administration with respect to planning and setting priorities

Works to accomplish Council’s goals

Officers of the FacultyChair of the Faculty

Office created in 1951 Three-year non-renewable term Elected by General Faculty from nominees

chosen by Advisory Committee Presides over business sessions of Faculty

Council upon Chancellor’s request Represents the faculty to the administration

and the general public

Officers of the FacultySecretary of the Faculty

Office has existed at least since 1878Five-year renewable termElected by Faculty Council; Advisory

Committee submits one nomineeMaintains minutes of General Faculty and

Faculty CouncilConducts faculty elections and serves as

administrative arm of faculty governance

Officers of the Faculty

Faculty MarshalAppointed by chancellor for renewable 5-

year termAssists in planning academic ceremonies

and leads academic processions

Officers of the FacultyFaculty Athletics Representative

Appointed by chancellor for indefinite term, subject to 5-year review

Acts as voting delegate to ACC and representative to NCAA