CONSTITUTION OF THE FACULTY SENATE
HOWARD COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT
ARTICLE I
Name The name of this organization shall be:Faculty Senate of the Howard College. The abbreviation of the name of this organization shall be: FSHC
ARTICLE II Section 1.
Purpose and
Jurisdiction The purpose of the Faculty Senate will be to facilitate participation of faculty members in identifying, defining, and achieving the purposes of the Howard College.
The Faculty Senate will be the official voice of the faculty and as such will make recommendations on academic and professional matters relating to the best interests of the college.
Section 2.
The jurisdiction of the Faculty Senate will be to review and to recommend to the administration in all areas involved with academic and professional policy, including but not limited to:
1. Curriculum
2. Instruction
3. Student evaluation
4. Communication
5. Professional faculty matters.
ARTICLE III Section 1.
Electorate
The electorate of this organization will be persons with full‑time faculty contracts with Howard College.
Section 2.
Each instructional division of the institutions will be considered a voting constituency, and each of the constituencies will be represented as described in Article IV Section 1.
ARTICLE IV Section 1.
Composition
The Faculty Senate will be composed of the following senators:
A. One senator from Big Spring will represent the divisions of General Studies and AEL.
B. One senator from San Angelo will represent the divisions of General Studies and AEL.
C. One senator from Big Spring will represent the divisions of CTE, CE/Workforce.
D. One senator from San Angelo will represent the divisions of CTE, CE/Workforce.
E. One senator from SWCD will represent the divisions (all).
F. One senator from Lamesa will represent the divisions (all).
G. One senator from the Federal Correctional Institution campuses will represent the divisions (all).
H. One senator from Big Spring will represent the division of Health Professions.
I. One senator from San Angelo will represent the division of Health Professions.
Section 2.
The election of each senator will require a simple majority vote by members of each division. The election will be conducted by a secret ballot which lists all members who are interested in representing that division. The division will also elect an alternate senator.
Section 3.
All senators will be elected for three-year terms. No senator may be elected for more than two consecutive terms. Faculty senate membership will be considered the senator’s committee assignment unless the administration deems it necessary for the individual to serve on more than one committee.
Section 4.
If a vacancy occurs in the Senate, the affected division will elect an eligible replacement for the unexpired term. Such election will be conducted within twenty (20) class days following the vacancy.
Section 5.
If no persons with full-time faculty contracts are eligible from an institutional division, a person with a part-time or adjunct faculty position from that institutional division may be elected in their stead.
ARTICLE V Section 1.
Officers
The officers of this organization will be Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary.
Section 2.
The Faculty Senate will elect the officers by majority vote at the September meeting of the senate. Officers serve one-year terms with a three-year consecutive term limit. Newly elected officers assume their duties at the conclusion of the September meeting of the senate.
Section 3.
Other vacancies in senate officer positions will be filled as follows:
In case of the continued disability, resignation, or removal of the Chair, the Vice Chair will become Chair for the remainder of the unexpired term.
In case of the continued disability, resignation, or removal of the Vice Chair, the Senate will elect from its current membership a new Vice Chair for the remainder of the unexpired term.
In case of the continued disability, resignation, or removal of the Secretary, the Senate will elect from its current membership a new Secretary for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Section 4.
A Senate officer may be removed from their elected office by a two-thirds majority vote of the entire Senate. A secret ballot on removal will occur fifteen (15) class days after the Senate’s receipt of written charges of the officer’s failure to perform their duties. The written charges must be accompanied by the signatures of at least one-third of the entire number of Senators. The Senate officer will be given ten (10) class days to respond in writing. The response will be distributed to all of the Senators before voting on removal occurs. The removal of a Senator from their elected officer position does not end their term as Senator for their division.
Section 5.
The duties of the Chair will be:
1. To call Senate meetings,
2. To prepare and distribute an agenda for each meeting,
3. To preside at Senate meetings,
4. To meet with the Howard College president following each Senate meeting
5. To present, in writing, matters for discussion to the Howard College President
6. To appoint a Senate representative to attend each Board of Trustees meeting and to notify Howard College President prior to the meeting who the representative will be.
Section 6.
The duty of the Vice-Chair will be to preside at Senate meetings in the absence of the Chair.
Section 7.
The duties of the Secretary will be:
1. To keep accurate, appropriate, and permanent records of the proceedings and findings of the Faculty Senate.
2. To publish and distribute to the electorate copies of the minutes of all Faculty Senate meetings.
3. To process all routine correspondence and matters of business pertaining to the Senate.
ARTICLE VI Section 1.
Senatorial Duties
The duties of each Senator shall be:
A. To attend a minimum of three Senate meetings per sixteen (16) week semester
B. To communicate with their constituency on a regular basis
C. To participate in the decision-making process by voting on all motions considered by the Senate
ARTICLE VII Section 1.
Quorum Two-thirds of the current membership of the Senate shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VIII Section 1.
Meetings The Senate shall have four (4) meetings per sixteen (16) week semester. Electronic meetings will be authorized at the decision of the Chair. Meetings during the summer semesters or additional meetings during the sixteen (16) week semester may be called as special meetings described in Article VII Section 2.
Section 2.
Special meetings may be called:
1. By the chairperson at his or her discretion
2. Upon the receipt of a written request of either one-third of the senators or ten percent of the electorate.
Section 3.
All Senate meetings will follow Robert’s Rules of Order. All newly elected senators are responsible for familiarizing themselves with this system prior to their first Senate meeting.
Section 4.
All elected Senators share an equal vote on all matters of the Faculty Senate. Senators or their alternate must be present to vote.
The Chair may not break a tie vote. Any motion that results in a tie vote will automatically fail for lack of a simple majority.
Section 5.
Attendance at all Senate meetings will be open to:
1. Elected members of the Senate
2. The Electorate
3. Invited members of the Administration, Student Government, or Student Body. Such invitations must come from a currently serving Faculty Senator.
ARTICLE IX Section 1.
Agenda The agenda for all regular and special meetings will be prepared and distributed to the members of the Senate at least ten (10) class days prior to the particular meeting.
Section 2.
Any member of the Electorate may present in writing to his or her senator items for the agenda. The senator will deliver such items to the chairperson who will place them on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the Senate.
Section 3.
All agenda items listed under the Unfinished Business agenda, shall be considered suspended during the interim period between each sixteen (16) week semester. These agenda items may be considered during special meetings of the Senate as called by the Chair.
ARTICLE X Section 1.
Committees
The Executive Committee will consist of the three (3) officers of the Faculty Senate.
Section 2.
The function of the Executive Committee will be to serve as the Senate’s designated spokesperson to the President and/or appropriate Administrator.
Section 3.
The chairperson may appoint ad hoc committees from the Senate or from the electorate to address specific matters and report to the Senate within the shortest possible time.
ARTICLE XI Section 1.
Amendments
Amendments to the Constitution of the Faculty Senate of Howard College may be initiated by a majority vote of the elected members of the Senate or by a petition of one-fourth of the Electorate.
Section 2.
Amendments to the Constitution become effective immediately upon ratification by a majority vote of the total electorate. The electorate will receive copies of amendments at least ten (10) class days prior to the voting. Voting shall be by written ballot.
Updated May 4, 2020
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