This memo is intended to provide information regarding the Faculty Senate and its roles and responsibilities in the governance structure of the University.
Duties of the Faculty Senate – The Faculty Senate has the responsibility and authority to review and discuss all matters which it shall deem as within its legitimate concern, may initiate recommendations or take other appropriate action on matters, subject to review by the president and/or the Board of Trustees, and has primary responsibility for recommending policy in such fundamental areas as curriculum, standards, research, faculty status, and those aspects of student activity which relate directly to the educational process.
Faculty Senate Membership — As outlined in the Faculty Senate Constitution (OM 2.8.0), the elected membership of the Senate comprises two at-large members (who are elected by the full Faculty Senate constituency), three members representing the Coulter School of Engineering, three members representing the Reh School of Business, five members representing the School of Arts and Sciences, and one member representing the Combined group (e.g., faculty with Institute appointments and faculty in the ROTC programs). In addition to the elected members, the Chair of the Administrative Council, the President, and the Provost hold ex-officio membership.
Faculty Senate Roster – The current roster of the Faculty Senate is posted on the University website (Senate membership). As you will note, there are a number of vacant seats including two representing the School of Arts and Sciences and one representing the Combined group. In order to stand for election, a faculty member will need a written nominating petition signed by 10% of the respective constituency. In the case of A&S seats, the petition will need 12 signatures. For the Combined seat, the petition will need 3 signatures. Please consider the opportunity to support your constituency by serving as a member of the Senate or by nominating suitable colleagues to serve. Your assistance in filling open seats is appreciated.
FACULTY SENATE 8 Clarkson Avenue Potsdam, New York 13699
Memo to Clarkson University Faculty 16 October 2019 Page 2
Meetings of the Faculty Senate – Regular meetings of the Faculty Senate occur on the first and third Mondays of each month of the academic year. These meetings take place at 4 pm in the Peterson Board Room. The agenda packet for upcoming meetings is distributed the week prior to a Senate meeting (typically on Wednesday). The packet includes the agenda, minutes from the prior meeting, and all new communication items. Agenda packets are posted on the S:drive (S:\Organizations\Faculty Senate\Senate Agenda Packets). In addition, other Senate documents are also posted on the S:drive, categorized by academic year (S:\Organizations\Faculty Senate\Senate Official Documents). Meetings of the Faculty Senate are open to any faculty members interested in attending, and interested parties are encouraged to do so. The only case for which attendance is limited to Senate members is during an executive session, which typically only occurs when discussing nominations of honorary degree recipients.
Standing Committees of the Faculty Senate – As detailed in the Operations Manual (OM 2.10.1), the Senate has eleven University committees under its charge: Academic Integrity, Academic Standards, Awards, Curriculum and Academic Policy, Research and Intellectual Property, Honorary Degrees, Information Technology, Library, Teaching Excellence, Promotions, and Tenure. Members of the Tenure Committee and Promotions Committee are elected members that serve three-year terms. Faculty membership on the other Faculty Senate committees are by appointment. Should you have specific interest in a particular committee’s charge and have the willingness to serve, please let us know.
If additional information is needed, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or one of the other Senate members.
Sincerely,
Kevin B. Fite Associate Professor and Chair of the Faculty Senate
