Faculty Senate OrientationOctober 10, 2011

Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Orientation

Sharon A. Croisant, PhDChair, Faculty Senate

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Department of Preventive Medicine and Community HealthAssociate Professor

Carol M. Wiggs, RN, PhDChair-Elect, Faculty Senate School of Nursing

Associate ProfessorSON Baccalaureate Program

Carolyn J. Utsey, PT, PhDPast-Chair, Faculty SenateAssociate Professor & Chair, Physical TherapySchool of Health Professions

Faculty Senate

Excerpt from Senate By-laws

According to the Board of Regents Rules, the Faculty shall have the authority to make recommendations concerning matters of general interest and concern to UTMB and its four Faculty bodies (Part 1, Chapter 3, Sections 9.2 and 10.1).  Section 8.3 (Part 1, Chapter 3) states "administration officers are expected to listen with an open and appreciative mind to criticism and suggestions coming to them from members of their staffs".  In that respect, the Senate shall be available for consultation by the Administration during the planning of proposals which affect the overall policies, long-term objectives or use of major resources of UTMB.  The Senate shall consider any matters referred to it by the Administration of UTMB or the Board of Regents.  On its own initiative, the Senate shall submit questions or recommendations on any matter affecting the interest of UTMB to any major Administrators or Academic Leaders of UTMB.

Faculty Senate

Officers

The Chair-Elect serves in the absence of the Chair and as parliamentarian. Serves as a voting member of the School to which he/she belongs

The Chair serves as the official lead of the Faculty Senate, chairs all meetings, and serves to advise UTMB administration of Faculty matters. Does not vote except in cases of a tie.

The immediate Past-Chair serves in an advisory capacity. No voting privileges.

Faculty Senate

Ex-0fficio Members

President of UTMB

Provost

All V.P.’s

Deans of the Schools

Faculty Senate

General Features of Senate ActivitiesMonthly meetings – 2nd Monday 4:30-6

Website (see main UTMB page)

Subcommittees – Executive, Governance, Faculty Quality, Academic and Administrative Affairs, IHOP

Monthly senate leadership meetings with Drs. Callender, Watson, and Cooper

Quarterly senate leadership meetings with Drs. Watson and Cooper

UT System Faculty Advisory CouncilFaculty Senate

Recent & Current Activities

Ombudsman policy was revised this past year to allow for current faculty to apply

Select committees will be involved in creating or finalizing IHOP Policies for Financial Exigency and Abandonment of Programs/Positions as well as Post-Tenure Review

Addressing Chancellor’s Framework

Faculty Compensation Committee

Faculty Senate

Academic and Administrative Affairs Committee

Makes recommendations on issues related to the academic mission and well-being of faculty, including:

1. Academic standards of excellence and professional ethics.

2. Resources for academic infrastructure to deliver academic programs.

3. Relations with students, including instruction, discipline, and ethics.

4. Program initiation, review, and termination.

Faculty Senate

Faculty Quality Committee

Makes recommendations on issues related to the recruitment, retention, and support of the faculty, including:

1. Faculty responsibilities and workload.

2. Faculty compensation, including equity among U.T. System component institutions and with their academic peer universities, and the basis for merit salary increases.

3. Faculty benefits and other quality of life issues, including insurance, retirement programs, educational benefits, sufficient support personnel, and family related issues.

4. A supported professional development leave program. Faculty Senate

Governance Committee

Makes recommendations related to the role, status, and well-being of the faculty, including:

1. Faculty participation in academic decision-making, institutional budgets and planning, and management and administration at the departmental, college, component, and System levels.

2. Faculty governance processes.

3. Hiring, evaluation, continuation, tenure, promotion, and termination of faculty.

4. Selection, evaluation, continuation, and termination of administrators.

Faculty Senate

IHOP Committee

Provide oversight of all new and proposed changes to the UTMB IHOP made by the institutional IHOP committee that directly impacts the faculty. Propose changes to the IHOP on matters relating to the faculty. Provide input to the institutional IHOP committee through the Chair of the Faculty Senate (who serves as Co-Chair of the Senate IHOP Committee).     

Faculty Senate

Senate By-laws Rules

All ranks of faculty are represented from instructor to professor

Maximum of two 2-year terms

Three absences in a row or four total months will mean forfeiture of faculty seat.

Exceptions:

• military service, (need temporary replacement)

• knowledge you will be out for three or more months (forfeiture or temporary replacement)

• Illness or extreme circumstance (written request to Chair of Senate and decision by the Executive Board.)

Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate

You represent the school from which you are elected. Reporting back to the school on activities and reporting to the Senate on concerns is your responsibility.

Welcome to the Faculty Senate!!!

Faculty Senate