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Academic Senate

Senate Overview

The Academic Senate plays an integral part in the shared governance of the University of Utah. Its status is codified both in the Policy and Procedures Manual and in the history of the University. Strong working relations have developed between the Senate and the Administration in confronting the issues faced by the University. Both Senate and Administration take the initiative in formulating issues and in developing responses to them. Much of the actual Senate work is carried out by the nine senate-elected committees, which work on the central academic issues of the institution. They report to the full Senate, and the Senate often acts on their proposals as well as on issues brought to its attention by the administration.

Scope of Authority

Subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, the "university faculty shall have the authority . . . to legislate on matters of educational policy. . . . The faculty has a right to a meaningful role in the governance of the university; . . . it has a right to participate in decisions relating to the general academic operations of the university including budget decisions and administrative appointments." PPM 8-5 Sec. 1. The legislative power of the faculty is "normally. . . exercised by the faculty in conjunction with duly elected student representative and administrators in the Academic Senate and the college or area councils. . . ." PPM 8-5 Sec. 1.  See also 9-2 and 9-3.

More specifically, the Academic Senate acts for the University faculty "in all matters of educational policy, including requirements for admission, degrees, diplomas, certificates, and curricular matters involving relations between schools and colleges or departments." PPM 8-5, Sec. 2. See generally 9-3. The Senate also:

• "receives and considers reports from all faculty committees, councils, departments, divisions, administrative officers, schools, colleges, faculties and libraries" and takes "appropriate action thereon within the scope of its authority."
• considers "matters of professional interest and faculty welfare" and makes "recommendations to the university president and other administrative officers concerned", and
• proposes to the Board of Trustees "amendments or additions to the University Regulations for the government of the university."

Finally, "the university president may refer to the Senate any matter upon which the president feels it would be useful to have the advice of that body."

Composition

The Academic Senate is comprised of the following elected voting members:

• 79 faculty members, proportionally representing and elected by their respective colleges,
• 2 deans elected by the deans
• 18 students from student government (ASUU), one from each college and the ASUU president

The Senate includes as ex officio members who may debate and present motions, but do not vote:

• university president
• senior vice president for academic affairs
• senior vice president for health sciences
• all deans except the two voting deans

Committees 

The Senate has nine standing committees. The Committees are listed below, along with their general charge. A link to the committee description and roster of current members is also provided.

• Executive Committee -- prepares the Senate's agenda, refers matters to other committees for study, and initiates study on matters not assigned to other university  committees,   To Executive Committee
• Academic Freedom and Faculty Rights -- investigates academic freedom complaints and grievances from faculty members with respect to the academic process of teaching, research, thinking and communication,  To Academic Freedom and Faculty Rights
• Academic Policy Advisory Committee -- considers any matter relating to academic policy, Academic Policy Advisory Committee
• Annuities and Salaries Committee -- advises the Senate and the administration on matters relating to sabbatical leaves, salaries and cost of living, retirement, insurance and other benefit plans, To Annuities and Salaries Committee
• Faculty Budget and Planning Advisory Committee -- consults with university administration regarding long-range budgetary planning, holding confidential budget information in confidence, and urging budgetary policy decisions be made "in as open and public a way as possible," To Faculty Budget and Planning Advisory Committee
• Consolidated Hearing Committee – hearing body for grievances and complaints brought against faculty members (as defined in PPM 8-12.1(3)) at the University of Utah or by faculty members asserting rights including appeals from retention, promotion and tenure decisions, To Consolidated Hearing Committee
• Library Policy Advisory Committee -- advises the libraries concerning library policies and practices and serves as a liaison between the libraries and the faculty and study body, To Library Policy Advisory Committee
• Personnel and Elections Committee -- makes nominations for Senate committees and, if requested, for committees to be appointed by the university administration; reviews all standing committees periodically and recommends necessary changes, To Personnel and Elections Committee
• University Diversity Committee – serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas with the University in promoting diversity in various roles and activities; and identifies issues, projects, and proposals that would further a positive climate of diversity on the campus, enhance relations with diverse elements in the community, and promote appreciation of diversity in the wider community, To University Diversity Committee
• University RPT Standards Committee – reviews and approves department/college retention/promotion/tenure criteria, To University RPT Standards Committee

Members of the above committees are nominated by the Personnel and Elections committee from among any faculty volunteers and deans' nominees and are elected by the Senate. The Executive Committee and Personnel and Elections Committee are elected from sitting senators by the Senate.

Procedures

The Academic Senate meets each month (on a Monday, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.) during the academic year. These are open public meetings and the press is usually in attendance. The Executive Committee meets approximately two weeks before each Senate meeting to prepare the agenda. The Executive Committee meets monthly during the summer, when it is authorized to act on behalf of the Senate.

Each month the Senate is informed of resignations, retirements, leaves, and appointments and is asked to give its consent to forwarding these items to the Board of Trustees. The university administration typically begins the substantive portion of each Senate meeting by delivering an oral report, followed by a report by the president of the Associated Students of the University of Utah. Thereafter items upon which the Senate has a right to decide or advise are presented as "notice of intent" or "debate" items. Matters of educational policy (e.g. approving a new major) come forward for "debate" and a vote. Many administrative policy changes (e.g. driving on sidewalks, animals on campus) come forward as "information items" for the Senate.