CHAPTER ONE: 1520

HISTORY, MISSION, GENERAL ORGANIZATION, AND GOVERNANCE

July 2011

1520

 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY

Article I.           General Provisions

Article II.          Faculty Classifications

Article III.        Faculty Meetings

Article IV.         Responsibilities of the University Faculty

Article V.          Faculty Senate

Article VI.         Rules of Order

Article VII.        Amendments

Section 1. Regents.  The regents are vested by article IX, section 10, of the constitution of the state of Idaho with all powers necessary or convenient to govern the university in all its aspects.  The regents are the authority for actions of the university faculty, and policy actions taken by the university faculty are subject to review and approval by the president and by the regents.  [See 1120 A-2 and 1220 A-1.]

Section 2.  President.  The president of the university is both a member of and the president of the university faculty and is also the president of the other faculties referred to in section 4, below, and in article II.  The president is the representative of the regents, the institution’s chief executive officer, and the official leader and voice of the university.  [See also 1420 A.] [ed. 7-00]

Section 3.  Faculty Senate.  This senate is empowered to act for the university faculty in all matters pertaining to the immediate government of the university.  The senate is responsible to and reports to the university faculty and, through the president, to the regents.  The university faculty, president, and regents retain the authority to review policy actions taken by the senate.  [See III-3, V, and 1420 A-1-c.] [ed. 7-00, 7-09]

Section 4. Constituent Faculties.  The university faculty is composed of various constituent faculties, including the faculties of the several colleges and other units of the university

Clause A.  College Faculties.  The constituent faculty of each college or similar unit, meeting regularly and in accordance with bylaws adopted by a majority vote of the members of such faculty, is authorized to establish and to effect its own educational objectives, including matters of student admission and curriculum, and to participate in the selection of its own dean, other executive officers, and faculty members, subject only to the general rules and regulations of the university faculty and the authority of the president and the regents.

Clause B.  Faculties of Subdivisions.  If there are schools, intracollege divisions, departments, or separate disciplines within a college or similar unit, the constituent faculty of each such subdivision participates in decisions concerning its educational objectives, including matters of student admission and curriculum, the selection of its executive officers, and its faculty appointments, subject only to the general rules and regulations of the college faculty and the university faculty and the authority of the president and the regents.

Clause C.  Interim Government.  The Faculty Senate will provide for the establishment of bylaws for any college or similar unit that has not adopted its own bylaws. I[ed. 7-09]

Clause D.  Matters of Mutual Concern.  The Faculty Senate has the responsibility for resolving academic matters that concern more than one college or similar unit. [ed. 7-09]

Section 1.  University Faculty.  The university faculty is comprised of the president, provost, vice presidents, deans, professors, associate professors, assistant professors, senior instructors, instructors (including those professors, associate professors, assistant professors, senior instructors, and instructors whose titles have distinguished, research, extension, clinical or visiting designations, e.g., "assistant clinical professor", "assistant research professor" and "visiting associate professor"), and lecturers who have served at least four semesters on more than half-time appointment [see 1565 G-1].  Those who qualify under this section have the privilege of participation with vote in meetings of the university faculty and the appropriate constituent faculties.  [ed. 7-99, 7-09, rev. 7-01, 7-11]

Section 2. Emeriti. Faculty members emeriti have the privilege of participation without vote in meetings of the university faculty and the appropriate constituent and associated faculties.  Also, they may be appointed to serve with vote on UI committees.  [See also 1565 E.] [ed. 7-00, 7-09]

Section 3.  Associated Faculties.

Clause A.  The adjunct faculty [see 1565 F-1] and the affiliate faculty [see 1565 F-2] are associated faculties.  Other associated faculties may be established as needed with the approval of the university faculty, president, and regents. [ed. 7-00, 7-09]

Clause B.  Members of the adjunct faculty have the privilege of participation without vote in meetings of the university faculty.  Members of the affiliate faculty may participate with vote in meetings of the university faculty if they have status as university faculty in their home unit.  Both adjunct and affiliate faculty members have the privilege of participating in meetings of their respective constituencies of the university faculty, and may participate with vote if the bylaws of their constituent faculty so provide; however, if authorized to vote, they are not counted among the full-time-equivalent faculty members when determining the basis for the constituent faculty's representation on the Faculty Senate. [ed. 7-09, rev. 7-11]

Section 4.  General Faculty.  "General faculty" is a collective description for the combined faculties referred to in sections 1, 2, and 3, above.

Section 1.  Meetings.  The university faculty meets at least once each semester.  Meetings of the university faculty may be called at any time, with due notice, by the president.  Meetings of the university faculty must be called with due notice by the president on the request of the Faculty Senate or on the written petition of 25 members of the university faculty. The president, or a member of the university faculty designated by the president, presides at meetings of the university faculty. [ed. 7-09]

Clause A. Venue.  Faculty may participate and vote in meetings by being physically present at the designated venue on the Moscow campus, or by being physically present at another designated venue in the state that is connected via electronic video and audio link as outlined in Clause B.  Venues will be designated annually by faculty senate as described in FSH 1540 A-1. [add. 7-09]

Clause B. Participation.  To be eligible for meeting participation, venues remote from the Moscow campus must be linked to the Moscow venue via compressed video link or other electronic means that conveys audio and visual signals in both directions between Moscow and the remote venue.  In addition, an authorized delegate of the Secretary of the Faculty must be present at each site to facilitate meeting participation and counting and reporting of votes (see Section 3, Clause C, Secretary's Delegates at remote sites). [add. 7-09]

Section 2.  Secretary.   The president appoints the secretary of the faculty from among the tenured members of the university faculty [see 1570].  The secretary is responsible for recording and distributing the minutes, tallying and recording of votes, and performs such other duties as may be assigned by the president or the university faculty. [rev. 7-09]

Section 3.  Quorum, Recognition of Speakers, Recording of Votes and Delegates. 

Clause A.  Quorum. A quorum consists of one-eighth of the membership of the university faculty, as defined in article II, section 1.  If there is not a quorum at a faculty meeting, Faculty Senate actions reported in the agenda for that meeting have faculty approval and are forwarded to the president and regents.  [rev. 7-97, 7-09]

Clause B.  Recognition of Speakers.  Participants wishing to speak at the Moscow site or at remote sites will be recognized by the presiding officer in Moscow and may obtain the floor with his/her approval. [add. 7-09]

Clause C.  Recording of Votes.  In determining the outcome of motions, the secretary will determine the number of votes for or against.  The Secretary's Delegate at each electronically linked site will convey votes for and against to the Secretary (see FSH 1540 A). [add. 7-09]

Clause D.  Secretary's Delegates.  Delegates at remote sites shall be members of the University Multi-Campus Communications Committee appointed by the Committee on Committees as outlined in 1640. [add. 7-09]

Section 4.  Agenda.  An agenda listing all subjects to be voted on, other than routine matters, must be issued to all members of the university faculty at least one week in advance of each meeting of the university faculty, except as provided in clause E.  Faculty Senate actions that require approval by the university faculty must be published in full in the agenda.  [See also 1420 A-1-c.] [ed. 7-00, 7-09]

Clause A.  Responsibility.  The president is responsible for the agenda and it is issued under the president’s direction.

Clause B.  Agenda Items from Individual Members. Individual members who wish to suggest items for the agenda are to submit them to the president.  No items may be considered under this clause that are presented to the president less than twelve calendar days before the meeting.

Clause C.  Resolutions Requiring Action.  Ten or more members of the university faculty desiring to submit a resolution that requires action at the next meeting are to submit the signed resolution to the president at least twelve calendar days before the meeting.  Such resolutions must be published in full with, and included in, the agenda.  [But see 1540 B.] [ed. 7-00]

Clause D.  Proposed Changes of Written Policies or Regulations.  Any proposed change in a written policy or regulation of the university to be voted on by the university faculty must be published in full in the agenda, or final action on the proposal must be delayed until the next meeting. This provision can be waived only by unanimous consent.

Clause E.  Agenda for Emergency Meetings.  If circumstances require an emergency meeting of the university faculty, the president declares the emergency and calls the meeting.  In such circumstances the agenda may be limited to items approved by the president and must be published not less than three calendar days before the meeting.  Policy actions taken at emergency meetings require an approving vote of two-thirds of the members of the university faculty in attendance at the meeting, a quorum being present.  This constitution cannot be amended at an emergency meeting.

Section 1.  Standards for Admission. The university faculty establishes minimum standards for admission to the university.  Supplementary standards for admission to individual colleges or other units of the university that are recommended by the appropriate constituent faculties are subject to approval by the university faculty.

Section 2.  Academic Standards. The university faculty establishes minimum academic standards to be maintained by all students in the university.  Supplementary academic standards to be maintained by students in individual colleges or other units of the university that are recommended by the appropriate constituent faculties are subject to approval by the university faculty.  [See I-4-D.]

Section 3.  Courses, Curricula, Graduation Requirements, and Degrees.  Courses of instruction, curricula, and degrees to be offered in, and the requirements for graduation from, the individual colleges or other units of the university, as recommended by the appropriate constituent faculties, are subject to approval by the university faculty.  [See I-4-D.]

Section 4.  Scholarships, Honors, Awards, and Financial Aid.  The university faculty recommends general principles in accordance with which privileges such as scholarships, honors, awards, and financial aid are accepted and allocated.  The university faculty may review the standards recommended by the individual constituent faculties for the acceptance and allocation of such privileges at the college or departmental levels.

Section 5.  Conduct of Students.  The faculty’s responsibility for approving student disciplinary regulations and the rights guaranteed to students during disciplinary hearings and proceedings are as provided in the "Statement of Student Rights," the "Student Code of Conduct," and the "Student Judicial System."  [See 2200, 2300, and 2400.]

Section 6.  Student Participation.  The university faculty provides an opportunity for students of the university to be heard in all matters pertaining to their welfare as students.  To this end, the students are entrusted with their own student government organization and are represented on the Faculty Senate.  If students so desire, they are represented on faculty committees that deal with matters affecting them. [ed. 7-09]

Section 7. Selection of Officers. The university faculty assists the regents in the selection of the president and assists the president in the selection of the provost, vice presidents and other administrative officers of the university.

Section 8. Governance of Colleges and Subdivisions. The university faculty promulgates general standards to guarantee the right of faculty members to participate in the meetings of the appropriate constituent faculties and in the governance of their colleges, schools, intracollege divisions, departments, and other units of the university. [See 1540 A.] [ed. 7-06, 7-09]

Section 9.  Faculty Welfare.  The university faculty recommends general policies and procedures concerning the welfare of faculty members, including, but not limited to, appointment, reappointment, nonreappointment, academic freedom, tenure, working conditions, promotions, salaries, leaves, fringe benefits, periodic evaluations, performance reviews, reassignment, layoff, and dismissal or termination.

Section 10.  The Budget.  Members of the university faculty participate in budgetary deliberations, and it is expected that the president will seek faculty advice and counsel on budgetary priorities that could significantly affect existing units of the university.  [See 1640.20, University Budget and Finance Committee.] [ed. 7-05]

Section 11.  Committee Structure.  The university faculty, through the medium of its Faculty Senate, establishes and maintains all university-wide and interdivisional standing and special committees, subcommittees, councils, boards, and similar bodies necessary to the immediate government of the university and provides for the appointment or election of members of such bodies.  This section does not apply to ad hoc advisory committees appointed by the president or committees made up primarily of administrators.  [See 1620 and 1640] [ed. 7-97, 7-09]

Section 12.  Organization of the University.  The university faculty advises and assists the president and the regents in establishing, reorganizing, or discontinuing major academic and administrative units of the university, such as colleges, schools, intracollege divisions, departments, and similar functional organizations.

Section 13.  Bylaws of the Faculty Senate.  The bylaws under which the Faculty Senate discharges its responsibilities as the representative body of the university faculty are subject to review and approval by the university faculty.  [See 1580.] [ed. 7-09]

ARTICLE V--FACULTY SENATE.

Section 1.  Function.  The Faculty Senate functions as provided in this constitution and in accordance with its bylaws as approved by the university faculty.  [See I-3 and 1580.] [ed. 7-09]

Section 2.  Structure.  The senate is constituted as follows: [ed. 7-09]

Clause A.  Elected Members.

(1) College Faculties.  The faculty of each college, except the College of Graduate Studies, elects one senator for each 50, or major fraction thereof, full-time-equivalent faculty members in the college, provided, however, that each college faculty elects at least one senator.  If, because of a reduction in the membership of a college faculty, there is to be a corresponding reduction in the college’s representation in the senate, the reduction does not take place until the expiration of the term of office of an elected senator from the college. [ed. 7-09]

(2) University Centers. The resident faculty of the university centers in Boise, Coeur d'Alene and Idaho Falls each elects one senator from among its number.  Those senators shall have the right to participate and vote in faculty senate meetings by means of telephone or other appropriate technology.  [add. 7-09]

(3) Faculty-at-Large.  Members of the university faculty who are not affiliated with a college faculty constitute the faculty-at-large, and this constituent faculty, in accordance with procedures adopted by the faculty-at-large, elects senators to serve with vote in the senate on the same basis as provided above for college faculties.  [See 1566.] [ren. & ed. 7-09]

(4) Dean.  The academic deans elect one of their number to serve with vote in the senate. [ren. & ed. 7-09]

(5) Staff.  The representative body of the university staff elects one employee who does not have faculty status to serve with vote in the senate. [ren. & ed. 7-09]

(6) Students.  Two undergraduate students and one graduate student serve as voting members of the senate, and the senate provides regulations governing the qualifications, terms of office, and election of student members, and procedures for filling vacancies in the student membership.  [See 1580 VI.] [ren. & ed. 7-09]

Clause B.  Members Ex Officiis.  The president or the president’s designated representative and the secretary of the faculty are members ex officiis of the senate, with voice but without vote. [ed. 7-09]

Section 3.  Officers.  Each year the senate elects a chair and a vice chair from among the elected faculty members of the senate.  Also, each year a secretary is appointed by the chair, subject to confirmation by the senate, from among the members of the senate or from the membership of the university faculty.  The appointment of a person who is not a member of the senate to serve as secretary does not carry with it membership on the senate. [ed. 7-09]

Section 4.  Terms of Office.  Elected faculty members of the senate serve for three years.  The academic dean and the staff representative serve for one year.  The terms of office for student members are as established by the senate.  [See 1580 VI.]  Newly elected members take office each year on September 1 or on the official opening date of the academic year, whichever is earlier.  To carry out the requirement that approximately one-third of the elected faculty members are to take office each year, the senate may shorten the initial term of office of faculty senators elected to fill new positions in the senate to conform to a balanced rotation plan.  When members are elected to fill a vacancy, they take office at the first meeting after the election and serve for the unexpired term of the vacancy.  No elected faculty member of the senate may serve an immediately ensuing term [but see 1580 III-3]. [ed. 7-09]

Section 5.  Eligibility.  Every member of the university faculty is eligible to vote for members of the senate representing his or her college or other unit.  Every member of the university faculty is eligible to serve as an elected member of the Faculty Senate and to hold an elective or appointive office in the senate. [ed. 7-09]

Section 6.  Elections.  Regular elections for senators on the senate are held before April 15 of each year in which an election is to be held.  All elections for members of the senate are by secret ballot.  Appropriate procedures for nominations and elections are developed and approved by a majority vote of the faculty of the college or other unit. [ed. 7-09]

Section 7.  Vacancies.

Clause A.  If it is necessary for a member of the senate to be absent temporarily (more than a month, but less than four months), the candidate who received the next highest number of votes in the most recent election in the college or unit acts as his or her alternate in the senate with full vote.  If it is necessary for a member to be absent for more than four months, but less than one year, a special election is held to fill the temporary vacancy.  When the senate member returns, he or she resumes the position in the senate.  If it is necessary for a member to be absent for more than one year, or if the member is unable to complete the term of office for any reason, a special election is held to fill the unexpired term.  [See 1580 VI for procedures covering student vacancies.] [ed. 7-09]

Clause B.  The chair of the Faculty Senate must declare a position vacant if a member is absent from three consecutive meetings unless the member has informed the chair of the senate in writing that he or she intends to participate fully in the activities of the senate in the future.  When a position is declared vacant, the chair must notify the constituency concerned. [ed. 7-09]

Section 8.  Recall.  The recall of a member of the senate may be initiated by a petition bearing the signatures of at least 10 percent, or five members, whichever is greater, of the membership of the particular constituency represented.  The petition must be delivered to the chair of the senate.  On the receipt of a valid petition, the chair calls a meeting of the faculty of the college or other unit and appoints a chair.  Charges against the member are presented in writing and the member is given adequate opportunity for his or her defense.  A two-thirds majority vote by secret ballot of the members of the college or other unit present at the meeting is necessary for recall, providing the members present constitute a quorum as defined in the bylaws of the college or other unit.  In the event that the vote is to recall the senator, the member may appeal the case to the senate within 10 days.  If the case is appealed and the senate affirms the recall, or if the recall stands for 10 days without appeal, the members of the college or other unit elect another senator.  Regular procedures are followed in replacing the recalled person, except that the chair of the senate appoints the chair of the election committee of the college or other unit.  During the interval between recall and the election of a replacement, the candidate who received the next highest number of votes in the most recent election acts as the alternate in the senate with full vote. [ed. 7-09]

Back to Table of Contents

Forward to 1540