WHEREAS, it now seems desirable that the faculties, staff, and students of the University form a coordinated governmental structure;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Board of Regents of the State of Kansas hereby (1) approves the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SENATE CODE duly adopted by the appropriate constituencies of the University and recommended to it by the Chancellor; (2) charters the various governmental bodies provided for in said Code as it may be amended from time to time with the approval of the Chancellor; and (3) decrees that this charter supersedes the Charter of the Senate of the University of Kansas of March 21, 1968.
Back to TopB.2.a. All-University, University, Faculty, and Student Senates
The All-University Senate is composed of the conjoined membership of the University Senates on the Lawrence and Medical Center campuses. Subject to and in accordance with the control of the Chancellor and the Board of Regents as prescribed by law, the All-University Senate is empowered to formulate regulations concerning such affairs as directly affect both campuses. The president of the All-University Senate is the Chancellor or the Chancellor's designate. The All-University Senate is not required to meet regularly; it assembles only when called by the Chancellor, by the University Senate on either campus, or by petition of at least 100 of its members to the Provost of the Lawrence campus.
The Lawrence campus University Senate combines the memberships of the faculty and student senates and includes the Unclassified Professional Staff Association Executive Board and the Classified Senate Executive Council. The president of the University Council also presides over the University Senate. The University Senate meets at least once each semester of the academic year. An agenda is sent to all members before each regular meeting, and minutes are made available to members within 30 days after each meeting.
Subject to and in accordance with the authority granted to the Chancellor and the Board of Regents, the University Senate is empowered to formulate rules and regulations for the control and governance of those University affairs that affect the entire campus community. These include, but are not limited to, organization and administration, the framing and execution of long-range plans, decisions regarding existing or prospective resources, fiscal affairs, academic policies and procedures common to all schools, class and examination schedules, the University calendar, the libraries, financial aid to students, campus-wide activities and events, human relations, and the role of the University in public affairs.
The Faculty Senate consists of the Chancellor; the Provost, the vice chancellors, and the Associate Provost for Academic Services; the deans of the schools and the College, the Libraries, Continuing Education, the Graduate School and International Programs, the Regents Center, and Students; tenured faculty and library staff; non-tenured faculty of the rank of assistant professor, associate professor, or professor, or with full-time appointments as instructor or lecturer; library staff of equivalent rank; adjunct members of the faculty who perform full-time duties; unclassified academic staff who possess the terminal degree appropriate to their discipline; the directors of Minority Affairs, Equal Opportunity, International Student Services, Admissions, Institutional Research and Planning, and the University Registrar. Visiting faculty with a position equivalent to a full, associate, or assistant professorship may participate in Faculty Senate meetings but are not entitled to vote. Members of the faculty who have retired to emeritus status may participate and are entitled to vote if they have annually requested that the Secretary of the Faculty Senate enroll them in the membership. The Faculty Senate meets at least once each academic year. An agenda is sent to all members before regular meetings and is made available at special meetings, and minutes are made available within 30 days of a meeting.
Within the controls provided by law, the Faculty Senate deals with such affairs as directly and primarily affect the faculty. These affairs include, but are not limited to, faculty rights, privileges, and responsibilities; research; scholarly publications; admission and transfer requirements; credit for resident and nonresident study; and cooperation with other institutions.
The Student Senate consists of the president and vice president of the student body; the three holdover senators who are special representatives to the University Council; 57 representatives of the student body, with representatives from each school; one representative each from the All Scholarship Hall Council (ASHC), Association of University Residence Halls (AURH), the Interfraternity Council (IFC), Panhellenic Association, and Black Panhellenic Council; one representative elected at large by the students living in any building operated under the auspices of the Department of Student Housing; two non-traditional students to be elected by non-traditional students; one representative from the International Council; and five representatives from off campus elected by the students who live off campus but are not members of a residential fraternity or sorority. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the Dean of Students may attend and participate in Student Senate meetings as ex officio, non-voting members. Apportionment of Senate seats to the various schools shall be made on the basis of official 20th day headcount enrollment figures as determined by the Elections Commission of the Student Senate, with the approval of the Student Executive Committee. No school shall receive fewer than two representatives. The Student Senate is required to meet prior to the end of the spring semester following the election of its new members and at least three more times in each academic year.
Within the controls provided by law, the Student Senate deals with such affairs as directly and primarily affect the students of the University. These include, but are not limited to, student rights, privileges, and responsibilities; the non-academic conduct of students; student organizations and activities; student publications; and student housing and health.
Back to TopB.2.b. University and Faculty Councils
The University Council consists of 39 members elected from the Faculty Senate and 12 members elected from the Student Senate; three representatives of the Classified Senate, and three representatives of the Unclassified Professional Staff Association. The Chancellor, the Provost and the President of the student body serve ex officio. At all times, the Council must include at least one faculty member from each school and from the Libraries. The Council normally convenes at least once a month during the academic year; its meetings may be closed to non-members by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting. Such closure must be done in conformity with state law. In the absence of such closure, any member of Council may move to permit a non-member to speak for a specified time on the issue under consideration, with a two-thirds majority of those present and voting required for approval. The president-elect (a faculty member) and a vice president (a student member) of the Council are elected by and from among the members by ballot at the Council's organizational meeting each April. The president (who served as president-elect the preceding year) and the vice president serve until successors are elected the following year. If both the president and the vice president are absent from a Council meeting, the Senate Executive Committee designates another Council member to preside. Minutes are sent within 30 days of a meeting.
The University Council is empowered by the Senate Code to act on behalf of the University Senate, subject to the limitations the Senate may impose. The Council may formulate and enact rules and regulations on behalf of the Senate, and such enactments are effective on the twentieth academic calendar day following Council action unless a review by the Senate is requested. A Senate review of Council decisions is required if requested by one-third of the Council members present and voting or by 50 members of the University Senate by petition to the Senate Executive Committee.
The Faculty Council consists of the 39 faculty members of the University Council and the Chancellor and the Provost, who serve ex officio. It normally convenes in April and September. The Faculty Executive Committee may set Faculty Council meetings to follow any of the other monthly meetings of the University Council. Meetings may be closed to non-members by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting. Such closure must be done in conformity with state law. The president of the University Council also presides over the Faculty Council and the Faculty Senate. When the president is absent, the Faculty Executive Committee designates another Council member to preside. The Faculty Council acts on behalf of the Faculty Senate; however, the decisions of the Faculty Council are subject to review by the Faculty Senate under procedures parallel to those established for the review of actions taken by the University Council on behalf of the University Senate.
The secretary of the University Senate Executive Committee is also secretary to the University Senate, the Faculty Senate, the University Council, and the Faculty Council.
Back to TopB.2.c. Senate, Faculty, and Student Executive Committees
Eleven members of the University Council are elected annually to serve as the University Senate Executive Committee (SenEx). The term begins the day after commencement of the election year and continues until commencement the following year. By ballot, at the University Council's organizational meeting in April, six are elected by and from among the Faculty Senate members of the Council. Faculty from at least three schools or two schools and the Libraries shall be represented. One member representing the Classified Senate and one member representing the Unclassified Professional Staff Association are elected by their respective groups. At the annual joint meeting of the newly elected and outgoing Student Senates, the members of the incoming Student Senate shall elect two undergraduate students and one graduate student from among the student members of the University Council. If the president of the University Council and the President of the student body are not elected to SenEx, they serve, ex officio, as nonvoting members.
Upon its election, the University Senate Executive Committee elects by ballot from among its members, subject to University Council approval, a faculty member as chairperson. SenEx also elects by ballot a student member as vice chairperson and appoints a secretary from the membership of the Faculty Senate. The secretary may be an elected member of SenEx. The chairperson of SenEx, in consultation with the Chancellor, the Provost, and the president of the University Council, prepares the agenda of the meetings of the University Council and regularly reports to the Council on the activities of SenEx. The function of SenEx is, in brief, to ensure that all functions of the University Senate and the University Council are carried out expeditiously and in conformity with the provisions of the Senate Code. SenEx usually meets weekly and is required to meet at least once a month.
The Faculty Executive Committee consists of the six members of the Faculty Senate elected to SenEx. If the president of the Faculty Council is not elected to FacEx, he or she serves, ex officio, as a nonvoting member. The chairperson of SenEx serves as FacEx chairperson. The secretary of SenEx also is secretary of FacEx, but with no vote unless he or she is an elected member of FacEx. The function of FacEx is to ensure that all functions of the Faculty Senate and the Faculty Council are carried out expeditiously. FacEx meets when summoned by the chairperson.
The Student Executive Committee includes as voting members the President and Vice President of the student body and the Chair of the Graduate Executive Committee, (all ex officio), the chairpersons of the five Student Senate standing committees or the StudEx delegates elected by the committees, the three student members on SenEx, and one student senator who will serve as chairperson, appointed by the President of the student body with Student Senate approval. The chairperson votes in case of or to make a tie vote. Non-voting, ex officio members are the Student Senate treasurer, the Student Senate executive secretary, and the Executive Director of the Graduate and Professional Association or his/her designee. StudEx meets when summoned by the chairperson.
Back to TopB.2.d. University Governance, Chancellor's, and other committees
The University Senate has standing committees on academic computing and telecommunications, athletics, calendar, financial aid to students, human relations, international affairs, libraries, and planning and resources. The two standing committees of the University Council are Organization and Administration of the University and Academic Policies and Procedures. There are also five University boards: the Parking Board, the Court of Parking Appeals, the Discrimination Hearing Board, the Judicial Board, and the Library Appeals Board. The Faculty Senate has standing committees on faculty rights, privileges and responsibilities; research; faculty compensation; and tenure and related problems. The standing committees of the Student Senate include finance, multicultural affairs, graduate affairs, student rights, and university affairs. There are also standing committees appointed by the Chancellor, or the Provost, or the appropriate vice chancellor.
Included on the Athletic Board of the KU Athletic Corporation are the six faculty and three student members who comprise the University Senate Committee known as the Athletic Committee. The six faculty members are elected by mail ballot of the Faculty Senate; the three student members are selected by the student body President and the Student Senate.
Among the Chancellor's committees, two of major importance to the faculty and academic staff are the University Committee on Promotion and Tenure and the University Committee on Sabbatical Leaves. Each is composed of nine members who are nominated for membership by the Faculty Executive Committee to the Chancellor for three-year, overlapping terms. In addition, one member of FacEx serves a one-year term on each committee. The Provost is ex officio chairperson of both committees and votes only in case of a tie. (See Faculty Senate Rules and Regulations, 6.1.10 and 8.2.4.)
The University Senate Code, Article XVII, provides for student representation on all policy-making committees and at all full meetings of schools, departments, or programs. Student representation is to be no less than 20 per cent of faculty representation at the rank of instructor or above.
Back to TopB.2.e. Procedures
The rules contained in the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order Revised govern the Senate, the Councils, and their committees in all applicable cases not inconsistent with the Senate Code or the special rules of these bodies. A member of the Faculty Senate is annually appointed by SenEx to serve as parliamentarian of the University and Faculty Senates and Councils.
Copies of the University Senate Code, the University Senate Rules and Regulations, and the Faculty Senate Rules and Regulations may be obtained from the Governance Office in 33 Strong Hall.
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