Constitution of the Faculty Senate

Appendix  

CONSTITUTION OF THE FACULTY SENATE

HOWARD COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT

Revised: November 17, 2025

In the 2025 89th Texas Legislative Session, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 37, which was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025, which contained specific guidelines for a Faculty Senate that had to be created and approved by the Board of Trustees.  On August 25, 2025, the Howard County Junior College District Board of Trustees ratified the continuation of a Faculty Senate following the regulations of Senate Bill 37 as required by Texas Education Code, Section 51.3522, effectively establishing a Faculty Senate.  Members of the pre-existing Faculty Senate, Executive Vice President, Campus Provosts and the President then collaborated to adapt the previous Faculty Senate Constitution to align with new state law.  The Howard County Junior College District Board of Trustees approved the revised constitution on November 17, 2025, effective immediately to begin the establishment of the new Faculty Senate.  Specifically following the law, the resolution stated that policies could not be construed to limit a faculty member’s right to freedom of association protected by the United States Constitution or the Texas Constitution. 

The Faculty Senate constitution follows as revised and approved. 

ARTICLE I: Name

The name of this organization shall be: The Howard County Junior College District Faculty Senate The abbreviation of the name of this organization shall be: HCJCDFS.

ARTICLE II: Purpose and Jurisdiction         

Section 1

The Faculty Senate is a representative faculty organization.  It is advisory only and may not be delegated the final decision-making authority on any matter.  It shall represent the entire faculty of the Howard County Junior College District but cannot be more than 60 in number.

Section 2

The jurisdiction of the Faculty Senate will be to advise the administration regarding matters related to the general welfare of the institution.  The Faculty Senate may not issue any statement or publish a report using the institution’s official seal, trademark, or resources funded by the institution on any matter not directly related to the Faculty Senate’s duties to advise the institution’s administration. 

ARTICLE III: Electorate        

Section 1

The electorate of this organization will be persons with full‑time faculty contracts with Howard College or part-time faculty as addressed in Article IV, Section 5. 

Section 2

Each campus and respective instructional divisions will be considered a voting constituency, and each of the constituencies will be represented as described in Article IV Section 1. 

ARTICLE IV: Composition            

Section 1

The Faculty Senate will be composed of the following senators:

• One senator from the Big Spring campus will represent the divisions of Arts and Sciences.
• One senator from the Big Spring campus will represent the divisions of CTE, CE/Workforce.
• One senator from the Big Spring campus will represent the division of Health Professions.
• One senator from the Lamesa campus will represent the divisions (all).
• One senator from the San Angelo campus will represent the divisions of Arts and Sciences.
• One senator from the San Angelo campus will represent the divisions of CTE, CE/Workforce.
• One senator from the San Angelo campus will represent the division of Health Professions.
• One senator from the SWCD campus will represent the divisions (all).
• One senator from the Federal Correctional Institution will represent the divisions (all).
• One senator from the district AEL faculty will represent all.
• One senator appointed by the president for each category listed above. 

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 appointment of each additional senator will be by the president and will align with the divisions as outlined in Article IV, Section 1.   

Section 3

All senators will be elected for two-year terms. Terms will be staggered in a manner that allows approximately one-half of the elected members to be elected each year and may only be reelected after the second anniversary of the last day of the member’s most recent term.             

All senators appointed by the president may serve up to six consecutive one-year terms and then may only be reappointed after the second anniversary of the last day of the member’s most recent term.   

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. Service on the Faculty Senate is an additional duty of the faculty member’s employment and members are not entitled to compensation or reimbursement of expenses for their role as members of the Faculty Senate unless the expense is on behalf of and approved by the institution.  

Section 4

An elected or appointed faculty member serving on the Faculty Senate may be immediately removed from the Faculty Senate for failing to conduct the member’s responsibilities within the Faculty Senate’s parameters, failing to attend Faculty Senate meetings, or engaging in other similar misconduct.  A member of Faculty Senate may be removed on recommendation of the campus provost and approval by the president. 

If a vacancy occurs in the Faculty 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.  If an appointed senator vacancy occurs for an unexpired term, the president will appoint the replacement within twenty (20) class days following the vacancy. 

Section 5

If no persons with full-time faculty contracts are eligible, willing, or available from an institutional division, a person with a part-time or adjunct faculty position to include dual credit from that institutional division may be elected or appointed in their stead.

ARTICLE V: Officers      

Section 1

The president shall appoint a presiding officer, associate presiding officer, and secretary from the members of the Faculty Senate. 

Section 2

Officers serve one-year terms with a three-year consecutive term limit. Newly appointed officers assume their duties at the conclusion of the annual meeting of the Faculty Senate.

Section 3

Other vacancies in Faculty Senate officer positions will be filled as follows:

• In case of the continued disability, resignation, or removal of the presiding officer, the associate presiding officer will become presiding officer for the remainder of the unexpired term.
• In case of the continued disability, resignation, or removal of the associate presiding officer, the president will appoint from current membership a new associate presiding officer for the remainder of the unexpired term.
• In case of the continued disability, resignation, or removal of the Secretary, the president will appoint from current membership a new Secretary for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Section 4

An appointed officer may be removed from office by the president when removed from the Faculty Senate by the procedures listed above in Article IV, Section 4, or not fulfilling the role of the appointed position as outlined below. 

Section 5

The duties of the presiding officer will be:

1. Represent the Faculty Senate in official communications with the administration, to include representation at HCJCD Board of Trustees meetings,
2. To call Faculty Senate meetings at which a quorum is present in a manner that is open to the public and in accordance with procedures prescribed by the president such as agenda and method of meeting operations prior to release to the public,
3. If more than 50 percent of the members of the Faculty Senate are in attendance, the presiding officer will ensure that the meeting is broadcast over the Internet live video and audio, as applicable, of each open meeting of the Faculty Senate,
4. To prepare and distribute an agenda available to the public on the internet website not later than the seventh day before a meeting of the Faculty Senate with sufficient detail to indicate the items that are to be discussed or that will be subject to a vote as well as any curriculum proposals to be reviewed by the Faculty Senate for discussion or vote for each meeting,
5. To preside at Faculty Senate meetings,
6. To ensure that the names of the members in attendance are recorded at a meeting in which the Faculty Senate conducts business related to a vote of no confidence regarding an institution administrator or policies related to curriculum and academic standards,
7. To meet with the Howard County Junior College District President following each Faculty Senate meeting and share any minutes or appropriate information related to the meeting,
8. To present, in writing, matters for discussion to the Howard County Junior College District President.

Section 6

The duty of the associate presiding officer will be to preside at Faculty Senate meetings in the absence of the presiding officer or to fulfill other duties of the presiding officer if unable to fulfill duties.

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 according to guidelines outlined in the duties of the presiding officer.
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 Faculty Senate.

ARTICLE VI: Senatorial Duties            

Section 1

The duties of each senator shall be:

1. To attend Faculty Senate meetings.
2. To communicate with their constituency on a regular basis
3. To participate in the decision-making process by voting on all motions considered by the Faculty Senate. 

ARTICLE VII: Quorum             

Section 1

50% of the current membership of the Faculty Senate shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VIII: Meetings              

Section 1

The Faculty Senate shall have one meeting annually in either August before the academic year ensues and after the 9-month contract begins, the fall semester, spring semester or prior to the 9-month contract conclusion.  Electronic meetings will be authorized at the decision of the presiding officer. Additional meetings at any time during the academic year may be called as special meetings described in Article VIII, Section 2.

Section 2

Special meetings may be called:

1. By the presiding officer at his or her discretion.
2. Upon the receipt of a written request of either one-half of the senators or ten percent of the electorate.

Section 3

All Faculty 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 Faculty Senate meeting.

Section 4

All senators share an equal vote on all matters of the Faculty Senate. Senators must be present to vote.

The presiding officer 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 in-person or electronically at all Faculty Senate meetings will be open to:

1. Elected and appointed members of the Faculty Senate
2. The Electorate
3. Members of the Administration, Student Government, or Student Body.
4. Any member of the public wishing to attend.  

ARTICLE IX: Agenda                

Section 1

The agenda for all regular and special meetings will be prepared and distributed to the public on the institution’s website not later than the seventh day before the particular meeting.

Section 2

Any member of the Electorate may present in writing to his or her elected or appointed senator items for the agenda. The senator will deliver such items to the presiding officer who will place them on the agenda for the next regular or special meeting of the Faculty Senate.

Section 3

All agenda items listed under the Unfinished Business agenda, shall be considered suspended during the interim period between each annual meeting. These agenda items may be considered during special meetings of the Faculty Senate as called by the presiding officer.

ARTICLE X: Committees               

Section 1

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 Faculty Senate’s designated representatives for presentation of certain matters under discussion to the president and/or appropriate administrator as appropriate with the presiding officer being the official officer.

Section 3

The presiding officer may appoint ad hoc committees from the Faculty Senate or from the electorate to address specific matters and report to the Faculty Senate within the shortest possible time.

ARTICLE XI: Amendments             

Section 1

Amendments to the Constitution of the Faculty Senate of Howard College may be initiated by a majority vote of the members of the Faculty Senate or by a petition of one-fourth of the Electorate.

Section 2

Amendments to the Constitution that are in alignment with state law 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.