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Senate Bylaws

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September 2013

UTC Faculty Senate Bylaws, G. Townsend, DRAFT 6, Sept 2013

ContentsPreface ..........................................................................................................................................................3

ARTICLE I. Powers and Duties of the Faculty Senate. ....................................................................................4

Section 1.Powers and Duties .....................................................................................................................4

Section 2. Reports and Recommendations ...............................................................................................4

ARTICLE II. Faculty Senate Organization .......................................................................................................5

Section 1. Members: Number, Classification, and Terms of Office ...........................................................5

Administrative Ex officio Members .......................................................................................................5

Elected Members ..................................................................................................................................5

Elections of At-Large Members .............................................................................................................5

Elections of Divisional Members ...........................................................................................................6

Apportionment of Divisional Members .................................................................................................6

Elections of the Full-Time, Non-Tenure Track Member ........................................................................6

Elections of the Adjunct Member .........................................................................................................7

Term of Office and Vacancies ................................................................................................................7

Duties of a Faculty Senator ...................................................................................................................7

Section 2. Meetings ..................................................................................................................................8

Scheduling .............................................................................................................................................8

Procedures ............................................................................................................................................8

Section 3. Quorum ....................................................................................................................................9

Section 4. Voting .......................................................................................................................................9

Section 5. Committee Reports ..................................................................................................................9

Section 6. Order of Business .....................................................................................................................9

ARTICLE III. Committees ................................................................................................................................9

Section 1. Committee Appointments ........................................................................................................9

Guidelines for Committee Appointments .............................................................................................9

Section 2. ................................................................................................................................................10

Responsibilities of Chairs and Committee Members ..............................................................................10

Responsibilities of the Chair ................................................................................................................10

Responsibilities of Committee Members ............................................................................................10

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Student Committee Members ............................................................................................................10

Ex officio Members .............................................................................................................................11

Committee Quorum and Voting ..........................................................................................................11

Accountability .....................................................................................................................................11

Dissolution ..........................................................................................................................................11

Section 3. Standing and Special Committees (listed in alphabetical order) ............................................11

Academic Standards (undergraduate) ................................................................................................11

Admissions (undergraduate) ...............................................................................................................12

Athletics ..............................................................................................................................................12

Auxiliary Services ................................................................................................................................12

Budget and Economic Status ..............................................................................................................12

Classroom Technology ........................................................................................................................13

Committee on Committees (senators only) ........................................................................................13

Curriculum (undergraduate) ...............................................................................................................13

Departmental Honors .........................................................................................................................14

Faculty Administrative Relations Committee (elected by the full faculty) ..........................................14

Faculty Development ..........................................................................................................................15

Faculty Handbook Committee (senators only) ....................................................................................15

Faculty Rating of Administration .........................................................................................................16

Faculty Research .................................................................................................................................16

General Education ...............................................................................................................................16

Grade Appeals .....................................................................................................................................17

Graduate Council (members appointed by special elections) .............................................................17

Honor Court ........................................................................................................................................17

Integrated Studies ...............................................................................................................................17

Learning Support Services ...................................................................................................................18

Mediation ...........................................................................................................................................18

Non-Tenure-Track Faculty ...................................................................................................................19

Petitions (undergraduate) ...................................................................................................................19

Scholarships ........................................................................................................................................19

Speakers and Special Events ...............................................................................................................19

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Student Media Board ..........................................................................................................................20

Student Rating of Faculty Instruction ..................................................................................................20

Sustainability .......................................................................................................................................20

Ad hoc Committees .............................................................................................................................20

ARTICLE IV. Officers: Duties, Qualifications, and Resources. .......................................................................20

Section 1. The President .........................................................................................................................20

Election. ..............................................................................................................................................20

Replacement of the President or President-Elect ...............................................................................21

Duties ..................................................................................................................................................21

Section 2. First and Second Vice-Presidents of the Senate .....................................................................22

Election ...............................................................................................................................................22

Duties ..................................................................................................................................................22

Section 3. Secretary ................................................................................................................................22

Selection .............................................................................................................................................22

Duties ..................................................................................................................................................22

Section 4. Parliamentarian ......................................................................................................................23

ARTICLE V. Amendments ............................................................................................................................23

Preface ..........................................................................................................................................................1

ARTICLE I. Powers and Duties of the Faculty Senate. ....................................................................................1

Section 1.Powers and Duties ........................................................................................................................1

Section 2. Reports and Recommendations. ..................................................................................................2

ARTICLE II. Faculty Senate Organization. ......................................................................................................2

Section 1. Members: Number, Classification, and Terms of Office. ..............................................................2

A. Administrative Ex Officio Members. .........................................................................................................2

B. Elected Members ......................................................................................................................................2

Elections of At-Large Members .....................................................................................................................3

Elections of Divisional Members ...................................................................................................................3

Apportionment of Divisional Members ........................................................................................................3

Elections of the Full-Time, Non-Tenure Track Member ................................................................................4

Elections of the Adjunct Member .................................................................................................................4

Term of Office and Vacancies .......................................................................................................................5

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Duties of a Faculty Senator. ..........................................................................................................................5

Section 2. Meetings. .....................................................................................................................................5

Scheduling ....................................................................................................................................................5

Procedures ....................................................................................................................................................6

Section 3. Quorum. .......................................................................................................................................6

Section 4. Voting. ..........................................................................................................................................6

Section 5. Committee Reports ......................................................................................................................7

Section 6. Order of Business. ........................................................................................................................7

Section 7. College or Division Caucuses. .................................................................................................7

ARTICLE III. Committees. ...............................................................................................................................7

Section 1. Committee Appointments. ...........................................................................................................7

Guidelines for Committee Appointments .....................................................................................................8

Section 2. ......................................................................................................................................................8

Responsibilities of Chairs and Committee Members ....................................................................................8

Responsibilities of the Chair .........................................................................................................................8

Responsibilities of Committee Members ......................................................................................................9

Committee members have a responsibility to prepare for and attend all scheduled meetings of their committees. The chair should be notified in advance if a member cannot attend. Excessive absences, upon review by the committee chair and the committee on committees, may result in replacement of the member. .....................................................................................................................9

Student Committee Members ......................................................................................................................9

Ex officio Members .......................................................................................................................................9

Committee Quorum and Voting ....................................................................................................................9

Accountability ...............................................................................................................................................9

Dissolution ....................................................................................................................................................9

Section 3. Standing and Special Committees. (Listed in alphabetical order.) ................................................9

Academic Standards (Undergraduate) ........................................................................................................10

Admissions (Undergraduate) ......................................................................................................................10

Athletics ......................................................................................................................................................10

Auxiliary Services ........................................................................................................................................11

Budget and Economic Status ......................................................................................................................11

Classroom Technology ................................................................................................................................11

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Curriculum (Undergraduate) .......................................................................................................................11

Departmental Honors .................................................................................................................................12

Faculty Administrative Relations Committee (Elected by the Full Faculty) .................................................12

Faculty Development ..................................................................................................................................13

Faculty Rating of Administration .................................................................................................................13

Faculty Research .........................................................................................................................................14

General Education ......................................................................................................................................14

Grade Appeals ............................................................................................................................................14

Graduate Council (members appointed by special elections) .....................................................................15

Honor Court ................................................................................................................................................15

Integrated Studies ......................................................................................................................................15

Learning Support Services ...........................................................................................................................16

Mediation ...................................................................................................................................................16

Non-Tenure-Track Faculty ..........................................................................................................................16

Responsibilities .........................................................................................................................................16

The Non-Tenure-Track Faculty committee addresses the needs of non-tenure-track faculty and brings their concerns to the attention of Faculty Senate and administration. It provides a communication channel between this part of the community and the University. ...........................16

Composition. Three (3) non-tenure-track full-time faculty from three different schools or colleges and three (3) adjunct faculty, inclusive of the member of the Faculty Senate for each category; ex officio: provost or designee. Adjunct faculty members will be appointed no later than the second Faculty Senate meeting of the Fall semester. The committee will select its own chair. .................17

Petitions (Undergraduate) ..................................................................................................................17

Scholarships ........................................................................................................................................17

Speakers and Special Events ...............................................................................................................17

Student Media Board ..........................................................................................................................18

Student Rating of Faculty Instruction ..................................................................................................18

Sustainability .......................................................................................................................................18

Ad hoc Committees .............................................................................................................................18

ARTICLE IV. Officers: Duties, Qualifications, and Resources. .......................................................................18

Section 1. The President. ........................................................................................................................18

Election. ..............................................................................................................................................19

Replacement of the President or President-Elect ...............................................................................19

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Duties. .................................................................................................................................................19

Section 2. First and Second Vice-Presidents of the Faculty Senate .........................................................20

Election. ..............................................................................................................................................20

Duties. .................................................................................................................................................20

Section 3. Secretary. ...............................................................................................................................20

Selection. ............................................................................................................................................20

Duties ..................................................................................................................................................20

Section 4. Parliamentarian. .....................................................................................................................21

ARTICLE V. Amendments. ...........................................................................................................................21

The‍UTC‍Faculty‍Senate‍Bylaws‍

Revised: 2013 Preface

In the summer of 2013 The Office of Academic Affairs of the UT system advised the UTC Senate to remove from the UTC Faculty Handbook text subject to frequent change. The contents of chapter 2, covering faculty organization and governance, were of particular concern. Moving the bulk of that chapter to a separate ‘’bylaws’’ document provides a big advantage: it removes the text from the need to be reviewed by the UT Board of Trustees. A bylaws document can now be altered as necessary by the Senate, and go into immediate effect once approved by the provost and chancellor. While the UT Board of Trustees reserves the right to review all official university paperwork, “bylaws’’ generated by the local campuses are not normally considered by that body.

The structure of the following document closely adheres to the bylaws written for the UTK Senate. Most of the text, though, is taken from the old chapter 2 of the UTC Faculty Handbook. Formatting has been simplified to accommodate electronic distribution and to adhere to official editorial guidelines published by the UTC Office of University Relations.

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ARTICLE I. Powers and Duties of the Faculty SenateSenate.

Section 1.Powers and DutiesThe Faculty Faculty Senate Senate (hereafter the Senate) of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (hereafter UTC) shall have those powers and duties which have been, and which may be, delegated to it by the Board of Trustees of The University of Tennessee and by the fFaculty of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. UTC.

The powers and duties established by a resolution of the Board of Trustees on June 15, 1972, were as follows: The Senate is authorized, subject to the approval of the chief academic officer, the president, and the UT Board of Trustees, to:(a) populate the various committees of the full faculty, to charge those committees with specific responsibilities, and to receive and ratify recommendations from those committees; (b) Is authorized, subject to the approval of the chief academic officer, the President, and the Board of Trustees, to formulate policies and regulations regarding the general educational objectives of the Universityuniversity, including those policies and regulations related to the overall general requirements for admission, graduation and honors for the degree programs and certificates; programs of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. (b) Is authorized to review the actions of the Special Faculties of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, concerningoversee the specific admission and graduation requirements for the programs of the various academic units;.

(cd) In consultation with academic officials may also consider, advise, and recommend to the chief academic officer, or, if appropriate, through the chief academic officer to the Presidentpresident, policies and procedures in other matters which concern the general welfare of the UTCfaculty of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, such as, but not exclusively limited to, criteria for faculty appointment, dismissal, promotions, tenure, and retirement; criteria for the selection of the chief academic officer and other campus administrative officers; criteria, in conjunction with other Faculty Senates or corresponding bodies of other campuses of The University of Tennessee, for the selection of the Presidentpresident of the University System, and other System executive officers; priorities for the University university budget; priorities for the University university development plan; and changes in physical facilities. The Faculty SenateSenate may also consider, advise, and recommend on proposed policies regarding student life, rights, and responsibilities.

The Senate (d) Has has no management or administrative functions, either in itself or through the instrumentality of its committees, administrative matters being expressly reserved to the President president of the UniversityUT system, and delegated by the Board of Trustees and through the President president to the chief academic officer of The University of Tennessee.the chancellor and provost.

Section 2. Reports and Recommendations. All deliberations by the Faculty SenateSenate shall be reported to the faculty through distribution of the minutes of each senateSenate meeting. The minutes of the senateSenate

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(including much of the debate and a record of all votes) will be made available to each voting member of the faculty within seven (7) working days after the SenateSenate meeting. The recommendations of the Faculty SenateSenate will--with the approval of the chancellor--become effective eight (8) working days after the distribution of the minutes unless there is sufficient desire for the consideration of certain items at a general faculty meeting. Upon the written request of fifteen (15) voting faculty members to the secretary of the faculty, an item will be placed on the agenda of the next general faculty meeting. It is the responsibility of the President president of the Faculty SenateSenate to transmit to the chancellor within two working days any SenateSenate or full faculty recommendations requiring the approval of that office. The chancellor's decisions will be communicated to the President president of Faculty SenateSenate within eight (8) working days.

ARTICLE II. Faculty SenateSenate Organization.

Section 1. Members: Number, Classification, and Terms of Office.

The voting membership of the Faculty Senate is divided into three classes: (A) administrative members, (B) elected faculty members, and (C) alternates, elected by the units that elected the faculty member and sent to replace faculty senators who cannot be present. The elected faculty members and alternates shall hold bona fide academic rank in order to be eligible

A. Administrative Ex OfficioEx officio Members. Ex officioEx officio members are the chancellor, provost, associate provost for Academic Affairs, vice chancellor for finance and operations, dean of Libraries and vice-chancellor for Student Development. Changes in the allocation of ex officioEx officio memberships may be made by amending the Faculty Handbook. Ex officioEx officio members are non-voting members of the SenateSenate.

B. Elected Members : Types, Criteria, Election, Term of Office, and Duties. There are two types of senators representing full-time tenure-track faculty: at-large and divisional. The election of each is described below. There is also an adjunct faculty representative and a representative of the full-time non-tenure-track faculty. All of these members have full voting privileges.

At-large and divisional members shall be elected from those members of the faculty who meet the following criteria at the time of election: hold a full-time tenured or tenure-track appointment; and either engage at least half time in teaching and/or academic research, or serve as head of an academic department, or hold rank as a professional member of the library staff, with the exception of the dean of the library, who serves as Ex officio. Any faculty member who is related to more than one of the voting divisions described below will be considered as a member of the voting division in which rank is held unless duties in another voting division exceed a half-time appointment.

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Elections of At-Large Members On or before March 1st of each year, the secretary of the Senate shall issue to each member of the faculty a description of membership criteria and a list of faculty members eligible for nomination. Each full time faculty member holding the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor may nominate not more than one person from each of the following categories: (a) assistant professors; (b) associate professors; and (c) full professors. Nominations must be returned to the faculty secretary (not to be confused with the Senate secretary) within one working week for the nominations to be valid. The nominations will be counted by the Executive Committee of the Senate. The four persons in each category receiving the highest number of nominations will be the nominees, with the following exceptions: if three or fewer persons are nominated, each with two or more nominations, then the names received shall be those on the ballot; and, as many names as necessary shall be included on the ballot in order not to omit the name of a person who has received as many nominations as another whose name is included. No person receiving fewer than two nominations shall be included on the ballot. The final ballot will be sent to the Secretary of the Faculty on or before March 17. Before the list of nominees is forwarded by the Executive Committee to the secretary of the faculty, confirmation of the individuals’ willingness to serve shall have been secured. The secretary of the faculty shall distribute or post the list of confirmed nominees to the full faculty by March 20th. Faculty must submit their vote to the secretary of the Faculty by April 5th. The votes will be counted by the secretary of the faculty and the president of the Senate. The candidate receiving the majority of all votes cast wins the election. Absent a majority, the two candidates in each category receiving the most votes will be reconsidered in a run-off election. The Secretary must announce the results of the election within one week of the election. Each year three at-large members shall be elected, one each from the following faculty-ranks: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor. In any given year, then, six faculty members, two from each rank, serve as at-large senators.

Elections of Divisional MembersEach of the four voting divisions in the college of arts and sciences and the remaining four voting divisions, as described below, shall conduct its own election under the chairmanship of the ranking elected member of the Senate from that voting division. There shall be two constraints placed upon these otherwise autonomous elections; within each voting division, the members elected must be from at least two different faculty-rank categories, and wherever three members represent a given voting division, it is desirable that they come from three different categories; and, these elections must be held after the completion of the University-at-large election and prior to the final full faculty meeting of the spring semester.

Apportionment of Divisional MembersDivisional members shall be elected by the following voting divisions:(a) fine arts (art, music, theatre and speech); (b) humanities (communication, English, foreign languages, history, humanities, philosophy and religion); (c) behavioral science, (criminal justice, economics, military science, political science, psychology, sociology, anthropology, geography); (d) mathematics and sciences, (biology and environmental sciences, chemistry, mathematics, physics, geology and astronomy); (e) College of Engineering and Computer Science;

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(f) College of Business; (g) College of Health, Education, and Professional Studies; and (h) the Library.

The number of Senate members from each of the above divisions will be based on the number of assistant, associate, and full professors in each division. If the size of the division is 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, etc., the number of representatives will be 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., respectively. Only those members of a division eligible to be elected, as described above, will be counted for the purpose of determining the apportionment.

At the time of the spring election, each division will elect representatives based on the apportionment for the academic year ending. At the beginning of the following academic year, the Executive Committee of the Senate will determine any changes in apportionment of the Senate based on the above criteria. Divisions entitled to more representatives will be notified and they will conduct the necessary elections at the earliest feasible time. Divisions entitled to fewer representatives will be notified not to elect a representative the next time a vacancy occurs or a term expires.

Elections of the Full-Time, Non-Tenure Track Member Before the end of the spring semester in odd years, a nominating committee consisting of the current full-time, non-tenure track Senate representative, the associate provost for Academic Affairs, and the president of the Senate will meet to nominate four full-time non-tenure track faculty for the position of full-time, non-tenure track Senate member. The list of nominees (from among the lecturers, clinical and visiting faculty) will be distributed in the first week of the Fall semester to active non-tenure track faculty and votes must be submitted to the Senate Secretary by the end of the third week of the fall semester. The votes will be counted by the Executive Committee of the Senate. The full-time non-tenure track member’s term begins immediately. If the elected member does not return in the fall or has changed rank, the next available candidate receiving the most votes from the list of nominees shall be elected to serve as representative.

Elections of the Adjunct MemberBefore the end of August the Senate president will contact all adjunct faculty by e-mail to call for nominations for the position of the adjunct Senate member. At least five business days will be allowed for nominations. The president will then announce the results of the nomination process and proceed to administer an electronic election in accord with the procedures set forth above. The winner of the election will be announced to both the adjunct and full faculty, and installed on the Senate no later than September 15. Unlike the terms of other senators, the term is one year.

Term of Office and VacanciesThe term of office for elected members, except the adjunct faculty member, shall be two years and will begin on July 1 following the election, except as noted in Vacancies below. A member can be elected to serve only two consecutive full terms. Senate members have a responsibility to attend all scheduled meetings of the Senate. Advance notification should be given to the secretary Senate if a member cannot attend. Absences will be noted in the Senate minutes. After four absences to regularly scheduled Senate meetings in one semester, the president of the Senate, upon consultation with the Executive Committee, shall declare the seat vacant and notify the ranking elected member from that voting division, or the chancellor, in the case of an at-large member, to elect a replacement. In case of unavoidable class conflicts with the regularly

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scheduled Senate meetings, the president shall ask the ranking elected member of the Senate from that voting division, or the chancellor, in the case of an at-large member, for the election of a temporary replacement.

Vacancies may occur on the Senate through death, resignation, election to the presidency of the Senate, or change in appointment resulting in ineligibility as described in the introduction to this section. Representatives may cease to be a member of the voting division electing them, or may be absent on leave for at least one semester, or may be disqualified for other causes. In case of vacancies, the faculty of that voting division which is losing its representative shall elect a successor to fill the unexpired term. The person so elected shall assume office immediately. In the event that an at-large member of the Senate is unable to serve, that vacancy would be filled as follows:

One-year or less - the faculty will elect at the earliest feasible time an interim representative from the same rank as the vacating member when elected to serve until July 1 of that year.

More than one year - the faculty will elect at the earliest feasible time a representative from the same rank as the vacating member when elected to serve out the remainder of the two-year term.

Elected members of the Faculty Senate shall be chosen from those members of the Faculty meeting the following criteria at the time of the election: (1) the holding of full-time or continuing part-time appointment with the rank, or equivalent rank, of assistant professor or higher; and (2) the performance of academic duties totaling at least half-time teaching, research, service, or departmental administration. The faculty of each college or division of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, consisting of full-time or continuing part-time faculty with the rank, or equivalent rank, of assistant professor or higher, shall elect its representatives to the Senate by Spring Break of each year by secret ballot. The term of office is to begin August 1. After completion of a full three-year term, or any partial term of more than one year, an elected member shall be eligible for a second three-year term. A senator who has served two consecutive terms is eligible for nomination only after being off the Senate for a full three years.

Duties of a Faculty Senator.

a. Represent the constituency and the broader interests of the facultyb. Attend and participate in SenateSenate meetings on a regular basisc. Maintain active membership on at least one standing committeed Serve on other committees and task forces as needed, participate in Senate retreats, training and information sessions.

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Apportionment. Elective seats shall be apportioned in January of each year among the respective colleges and units by the clerical secretary of the Faculty Senate under the supervision of the President of the Senate on the following basis: All part-time full-year faculty appointments and continuing part-time faculty at assistant professor level or above of at least 20% FTE shall be combined into full-time equivalents to be added to the full-time eligible staff in determining the basis for representation in the Senate. The following table will be used for determining the number of representatives based on the number of FTEs:

Faculty FTEs Total Senators

1-10 FTEs 1

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11-25 FTEs 2

26-45 FTEs 3

46-65 FTEs 4

Etc.

The colleges and schools are Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (Resident Instruction and Experiment Station); Architecture and Design; Arts and Sciences; Business Administration; Communications and Information Sciences; Education, Health and Human Sciences; Engineering; Law; Libraries; Nursing; ROTC; Social Work; Space Institute; and Veterinary Medicine.

The President, President-Elect, Secretary, Immediate Past President, and Senate Information Officer are considered representatives at large if their terms of membership from their colleges have expired and shall not be counted against the apportionment assigned to particular colleges or schools for the year of office.

(3) Initial Classification. The regular term of office for elected members shall be three years, but the initial representatives of colleges or divisions having three or more seats shall be classified in respect to the time for which they shall severally hold office by dividing them into three classes, each class consisting of one-third of the elected representatives of each college or division. The representatives of the second class shall be elected for a term of two years. The representatives of the third class shall be elected for a term of three years, in order that the term of office of one class of representatives shall expire in each year.

(4) Increases in Apportionment. In case of an increase in the number of elected representatives authorized for any college or division by three or any multiple of three, one-third of the additional representatives provided for shall be elected for the term of one year, one-third for the term of two years, and one-third for the term of three years, on order that each class of representatives shall be increased equally. Thereafter, at each annual election, the successors to the representatives whose terms expire that year shall be elected to hold office for a term of three years. In the event one or two additional elected representatives are authorized for any college division, their term shall be adjusted to obtain the best distribution by years.

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(5) Decreases in Apportionment. In the event of a decrease of the base of representation for any college or division, the decrease in representation shall be made at the next expiration of the term of an elected member

Section 2. Election of Senators. The faculty of each college of division of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, consisting of full-time or continuing part-time faculty with the rank, or equivalent rank, of assistant professor or higher, shall elect its representatives to the Senate by Spring Break of each year.

Nominations. All elections will be administered by the office of the President-Elect of the Senate with assistance from the Office of Institutional Research. Each January, the clerical secretary of the Faculty Senate shall notify the Senate President-Elect of the number of positions to be filled in the forthcoming election. The Senators from each UTK college or division where such exist shall serve as the nominations committee for their respective units. The committee shall call for and receive nominations from faculty in their respective units, providing, however, that in the College of Arts and Sciences there shall be three committees representing the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. The nominations committee shall meet to select from nominees the appropriate number of candidates to stand for election in their college or division. There shall be at least two candidates listed on the ballot for each senate seat available. Nominations will be submitted by February 15. The nominations committee shall set the time and procedures for voting. All elections shall be conducted by secret ballot. The nominations committee shall count the votes and notify the Senate President-Elect and Senate Secretary of the outcome no later than Spring Break.

Vacancies and Proxies. In case of any vacancy in the Faculty Senate through death, resignation, promotion (of a member to a position which would make the person eligible to be an administrative member), or where a representative ceases to be a member of the faculty electing him/her or is absent on leave for more than one semester or is ineligible for other causes, the faculty of the college or school thus losing its representative shall select a successor to fill the unexpired term.

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A proxy may be appointed by the Senate President during a one-semester leave, when a conflict prevents a Senator from attending for an entire semester, or for called meetings during a summer term. The proxy shall have all the privileges and power of the absentee member.

Section 32. Meetings.

SchedulingRegular meetings of the Senate shall normally be held at 3:10 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month during the academic year. In exceptional circumstances, the president may cancel a regular meeting or call a special meeting. A special meeting may also be called by the request of five members of the SenateThe Faculty Senate shall ordinarily meet on the third Monday in September, October, and November during the Fall Semester and on the first Monday in February, March, April, and May during the Spring Semester. The President-Elect shall review the calendar one year in advance and adjust meeting dates as necessary. The proposed schedule for the following year shall be presented at the October meeting of the Senate and be published as appropriate. The President shall have the authority to schedule the meetings on other dates, timely notice being given to the Senate. In addition, the Senate shall meet at the call of the President of the Senate, or in the President’s absence, the President-Elect of the Senate, or pursuant to a petition signed by one-quarter of the members of the Senate.

The organizational meeting of the Senate shall be convened by the president immediately following the last regular Senate meeting of the academic year. All newly elected members will attend and vote with the continuing Senate membership. The first and second vice-presidents of the Senate shall be confirmed and the Committee on Committees, Faculty Handbook Committee, and other Senate committees shall be elected at that time with their official duties beginning on July 1.

ProceduresDuring the Spring Semester the third Monday in January shall be reserved for a called meeting, to be used if deemed necessary by the President or Executive Committee. Meetings of the SenateSenate shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised unless otherwise provided for in these Bylawsbylaws.

Faculty, staff, and student observers may speak if recognized by the presiding officer. A Senator wishing to place an item on the Agenda of the Faculty Senate shall submit it to the President of the Senate, in the form of a written motion to be debated, before the meeting of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee immediately preceding a regular meeting of the Senate. Such an action does not preclude any Senator from offering a motion from the floor. The agenda shall be prepared by the Executive Committee for each meeting of the Senate and should be arranged according to Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised (latest edition). The secretary shall send copies of the agenda, including all proposals to be discussed, to all Senate members and appropriate administrative officials so that these materials are received at least 72 hours prior to the meeting at which they are to be discussed. In addition, the secretary shall make available copies of the agenda to every voting faculty member prior to the Senate meeting.

Members of the University community, individually or in groups, may submit proposals and recommendations to the President or the Secretary of the Senate for placement on the agenda,

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and should be present or represented at meetings when such proposals or recommendations are considered.

The Senate shall act on all matters on the agenda, either by approval, rejection, postponement, referral, or remission to committee.

The minutes (including summaries of the debates and a record of all votes of the Senate) shall be distributed by the secretary to Senate members no later than 48 hours before the next Senate meeting. All other members of the faculty shall have access to the minutes within ten (10) working days after each Senate meeting.

A presentation for action by any committee of the Senate or any standing committee of the faculty shall be the equivalent of a motion, and does not require a second from the floor for consideration. A committee chair may bring formal motions to the Senate on the behalf of his or her committee, even if the chair is not an elected member of the Senate.

Section 43. Quorum. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The affirmative vote of the majority of those members present shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or motion, unless otherwise stated in these Bylaws.

Section 54. Voting. Voting shall normally be by voice or show of hands, though suitable hand-held electronic voting devices (iClickers and the like) may be employed at the discretion of the president. A head count is required for all curriculum proposals. Voting in the Faculty Senate will be by voice or show of hands unless, in particular instances, the majority present desire a secret ballot. All elections shall be conducted by secret ballot. Any motion will be by secret ballot if so requested by more than one senator.

A motion to table a motion shall not cut off debate on the original motion until: (1) opportunity has been given for at least one person besides the mover of the motion to speak in favor of the original motion and two persons against the original motion; and (2) it shall have been indicated by a show of hands that two-thirds of the members present and voting favor the motion to table.

Section 65. Committee ReportsAdvance Distribution of Committee Reports. Committee chairpersons shall submit reports containing items requiring Senate Senate deliberation (other than receiving of reports) to the Senate’s Secretary secretary at least ten days in advance of the Senate Senate meeting during which the report is to be considered. The Secretary secretary must have reports to the Senate Senate at least five days in advance of meetings. If the report is not delivered within this schedule, consideration of the issue will require approval by a show of hands of two-thirds of the members present and voting.

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Section 76. Order of Business. At the meetings of the Faculty SenateSenate the order of business shall be as follows: (a) The meeting shall be called to order by the Presidentpresident. (b) Previously distributed minutes of the last meeting shall be approved or amended. (c) Unfinished business. (d) Report of Special CommitteesAdministrative reports. (e) Report of Standing CommitteesCommittee reports. (f) New business. (g) Faculty concerns(h) Announcements(gi) Adjournment.

Section‍8.‍College or Division Caucuses. Each unit (college or division of the College of Arts and Sciences) will have a caucus comprising all Senators and Alternates. The convening caucus chair will be elected by that caucus during May. The caucus will be responsible for timely communications with the faculty in the unit and will be provided with LISTSERVs for their units by the office of the Senate President. The caucus will call meetings of the faculty as needed. The caucus will be assisted by the dean's office, who will function as a de facto administrative secretary for the caucus, with responsibilities including calling meetings, taking and distributing minutes, etc. The caucus will be responsible for making nominations to the Senate after an appropriate call for nominations. The caucus will be expected to provide nominees, when requested, to the Senate President for Senate and other committees. Section 9. Election of Committees. At its regular May meeting, the Faculty Senate shall appoint the members of all committees except the Committee on Nominations and Appointments for one-year terms, or as otherwise specified. Recommendations for committees shall be made by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments, as specified below under Article III, Section 1. Section 10. Election of Officers. In the Spring Semester of each year, the Faculty Senate shall elect a President-Elect, subject to qualifications. Nominees shall provide members within two weeks of the nomination written statements regarding their relevant experiences and proposed contributions as President. At the next Senate meeting, nominees shall make brief statements to the Senate and respond to questions. Election shall be by a majority vote of all members of the Faculty Senate taken by a printed mail ballot before the third meeting of the Spring Semester. One nomination for Secretary and Senate Information Officer shall be made by the Executive Committee subject to the approval of the Senate membership. The President-Elect shall be chosen for a one-year term from among those members of the Faculty meeting the following criteria at the time of election: (1) the holding of full-time appointment with the rank, or equivalent rank, of assistant professor or higher; (2) the performance of academic duties totaling at least half-time teaching, research, service, or departmental administration; and (3) prior service as an elected faculty member of the Faculty Senate within the last five years. In the event of death or resignation of the President-Elect or early assumption of the President’s office, the Nominating Committee shall present to the next meeting of the Senate a new slate of at least two nominees for another election for President-Elect. Senators may write in additional nominees. Election shall be by a majority vote of all members of the Faculty

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Senate taken by a printed mail ballot before the next meeting of the Senate. The current President shall remain in office until a successor is elected. The term of office for President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Senate Information Officer shall be for one year to begin on July 1. The President-Elect becomes the President the following year.

ARTICLE III. Committees.

Section 1. General Aspects of CommitteesCommittee Appointments. With the exception of the Faculty Administrative Relations Committee and the Graduate Council, all committees of the faculty (also known as standing committees) are populated by the Senate’s Committee on Committees and confirmed by Senate at its organizational meeting. In cases where confirmed members cannot serve, the Committee on Committees shall reserve the right to make substitutions in committees of the faculty throughout the academic year with the confirmation of the Executive Committee of the Senate. At the discretion of the Executive Committee of the Senate, and after consultation with the administration, course releases or their equivalent may be granted for chairs of demanding standing committees and significant ad hoc committeesCommittee, subcommittee, and council memberships for a given academic year shall be approved by the Senate at the last Senate meeting of the spring term of the preceding year. Whenever possible, Chairpersons of all committees and councils shall be elected senators. Chairpersons may be selected by their committee members or by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments in compliance with bylaw subsections for each committee, subcommittee, or council.

Guidelines for Committee Appointments1. To the greatest extent possible, committees will be representative of the faculty at large.2. No faculty member should be appointed to more than two faculty committees.3. Probationary tenure-track faculty members should be appointed to no more than one committee.4. Faculty members should not be appointed to faculty committees during the first year of service at UTC.5. There should be rotation of memberships on committees in order to give faculty more varied experiences.6. Committee members should rotate off at the end of three years’ service.7. Committee chairpersons will be limited to a two-year term. The Committee on Committees will consult with the chairperson at the time of the replacement.8. Every faculty member who requests committee service should be given an assignment. A list of those not selected will be turned over to the new Committee on Committees for the upcoming year's ad hoc and replacement committee assignments.9. Each committee will have an administrative official designated as its liaison.10. Committee members may be removed during the year if they do not attend committee meetings. Attendance will be considered as a factor in making the next year's appointments to committees.11. In cases where committee members are elected, confirmation of the nominated individuals’ willingness to serve must be secured prior to their consideration for election

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Members shall be nominated in consultation with current committee Chairpersons and through regard for preferences shared by each Senator for personal committee membership. To further communication and collaboration throughout the University, the Chairperson of each committee has the discretion to recommend members who may or may not be elected Senators. The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall approve these members when they are recommended. Most committees shall also have ex-officio members who will not be voting members. Most committees shall use some form of staggered membership as designated in committee subsections. The President of the Senate is an ex-officio member of all standing committees. Prior to, or at the beginning of each academic year, the Executive Committee will communicate with the Chairperson chairperson of each committee will meet with the Executive Council to share committee goals for the upcoming year, review the bylaws concerning duties for that committee, and discuss other information relevant to that committee.

Section 2. Committee on Nominations and Appointments. Membership shall consist of the chairs of each college or division caucus. Membership shall be for a one-year term to begin in June of each academic year. The President-Elect of the Faculty Senate shall be the Chairperson of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments.

It shall be the duty of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments to nominate faculty members, and in some cases Chairpersons, to the Faculty Senate for all special and standing committees, subcommittees, and councils except the Undergraduate and Graduate Councils. The nominations shall be made in compliance with Article III, Sections 1 and 3. The Senate President shall retain responsibility for all nominations of faculty to administrative committees and other bodies. The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall render a report to the Senate at its regular May meeting of each year and at other times as may be required. Responsibilities of Chairs and Committee Members

Responsibilities of the ChairResponsibilities of the chairs of faculty standing committees are as follows:1.set the time and place for meetings;2.conduct meetings according to Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised (latest edition);3.where appropriate, distribute the agenda and other materials at least 24 hours in advance;4.see that minutes of all committee meetings are kept which would reflect the members present, the action taken (if any) and a record of votes taken (if any), and see that copies of the minutes are sent to the president and secretary of the Senate within a reasonable time following the meeting;5.submit to the president of Senate by April 1, one copy of the annual written report of the committee's activities. A second copy of the report shall be submitted to the head of the

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reference section of the library for the archives. Such reports shall be duplicated and distributed to the Senate before its last meeting in the spring semester.

Responsibilities of Committee MembersCommittee members have a responsibility to prepare for and attend all scheduled meetings of their committees. The chair should be notified in advance if a member cannot attend. Excessive absences, upon review by the committee chair and the Committee on Committees, may result in replacement of the member.

Student Committee Members1.Students who serve on Senate Committees must meet the following criteria: full-time status, 30 UTC hours, 2.5 GPA (These will not affect the SGA president’s right to serve as an Ex officio member of Faculty Committees).2.SGA students' recommendations for Senate committees for the following year must be submitted by September 1.3. Committee minutes should indicate student attendance and should be submitted to the vice-chancellor for Student Development. Committee chairs should inform the vice-chancellor for Student Development and dean of Students if a student replacement is needed.

Ex officio MembersEx officio members of committees serve as non-voting consultants.

Committee Quorum and VotingA simple majority of voting members shall constitute a quorum unless otherwise specified. The chair is counted in the quorum. Members of the Executive Committee of the Senate may serve as alternate members in order to establish a quorum for any of the faculty standing or ad hoc committees in emergency situations. The Executive Committee may also appoint temporary members during summer months to enable committees to function properly. The summer quorum for all committees will consist of fifty percent of the faculty membership. All faculty and student members are eligible to vote, including a faculty chairperson of a committee.

AccountabilityCommittees are responsible for executing their purpose and duties as described in the bylaws. Committees are accountable to the Senate. The Senate may at any time request reports of activity from any committees which its Committee on Committees has appointed and which it has confirmed.

DissolutionAny standing committee may be dissolved or repurposed by amending these bylaws.

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Section 3. Standing and Special Committees. (listed in alphabetical order)The Committees of the Faculty Senate are:

A. Academic Standards (undergraduate)Responsibilities. The function of the Academic Standards committee is to review and make recommendations to maintain and improve the undergraduate academic standards of the University. It will review matters such as continuation standards, grade requirements for graduation and standards for academic honors for all undergraduate programs. In addition, it will make recommendations for policies involving academic standards in such areas as academic regulations, academic residency and non-traditional credit. The academic standards committee may act on requests for studies, advisory opinions or policy recommendations initiated by the Senate, the administration, standing committees, academic units and individual faculty members, as well as initiating its own studies and recommendations. Its recommendations will be presented to the Senate where appropriate. In other cases, the committee will send its conclusions directly to the initiating agent with an information copy to the Senate. The chair of the academic standards committee is responsible for circulating the agenda for each meeting to the deans and department heads.

Composition. No fewer than nine (9) faculty members (two of whom also serve on the Curriculum Committee); two (2) students; Ex officio: provost and university registrar. No more than two members may be drawn from any voting division of the faculty.

Admissions (undergraduate)Responsibilities. The Admissions committee is responsible for supervising the execution of general admissions policy established by the Board of Trustees and for maintaining the specific academic criteria for approved admission. It ensures that admissions policies are clearly expressed and openly published. It interprets both general and specific policies, and it studies and makes recommendations concerning proposals for new or revised policies. This committee considers entering freshmen who do not meet regular or conditional admissions standards and transfer students in special cases. The committee thus meets frequently during both the academic year and the summer. Members of the committee must be available for at least a portion of the summer.

Composition. No fewer than ten (10) faculty members; one (1) student; Ex officio: assistant vice-chancellor for Enrollment Services, director of Admissions, university registrar.

Athletics Responsibilities. The athletics committee acts as a liaison group between the director of athletics, the athletic staff and the faculty. The committee is charged with making recommendations to the Chancellor in the general field of intercollegiate athletics, placing specific emphasis on eligibility, athletic teams' schedules and disciplinary rules, as well as other areas as indicated in the manual of the National Collegiate Athletics Association.

Composition. No fewer than five (5) faculty members who are committed to summer meetings; two (2) students; Ex officio: chancellor's representative, university registrar, assistant vice-chancellor for Enrollment Services, director of Athletics, senior associate athletic director for Compliance and Administration, senior woman’s administrator, faculty athletics representative, assistant athletic director for Student Support Services, director of Compliance, associate

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provost for Academic Affairs, director of Admissions, Southern Conference faculty representative, head of the Health and Human Performance Department..

Auxiliary ServicesResponsibilities. The purpose of the Auxiliary Services committee is to advise contract service providers (such as the bookstore, food services, etc.) in the making of general policies and to assist in the communication of these policies to students and faculty.

Composition No fewer than four (4) faculty members; four (4) student members; Ex officio: a designee of each contracted service unit, director of the Disability Resource Center or designee.

Budget and Economic Status Responsibilities. The Budget and Economic Status committee has four primary responsibilities: 1) to study and report to the Senate on financial aspects of public higher education in Tennessee and on prospects for faculty salary levels and raises; 2) to examine fringe benefit situations and recommend changes and additions as appropriate; 3) to participate in recommending faculty salary policies; and 4) to participate in broader budgetary matters that impinge on the educational function of the institution.

Composition. No fewer than nine (9) faculty members, one representing each voting division of the faculty; Ex officio: provost.

Classroom Technology Responsibilities. The dual purposes of the Classroom Technology committee are to identify faculty needs for instructional technology/technology training and to advise the director of the Walker Center for Teaching and Learning, Media Resources, the University Technology Committee, the Senate, the Information Technology Advisory Senate, and the Information Technology Division on technological issues that affect classroom instruction. Such issues include but are not limited to the following: classroom facilities such as wiring, lighting, and fiber optic connections; equipment for presenting material to students; software and hardware needed for classroom instruction and student laboratories; distance learning capabilities and other alternative modes of instructional delivery; and coordination with the Walker Center for Teaching and Learning to train faculty to incorporate technology into their teaching.

Composition. No fewer than nine (9) faculty members, at least one representing each voting division of the faculty. Ex officio: director of the Walker Center for Teaching and Learning, Director of the Disability Resource Center or designee, IT designee

Committee on Committees (senators only)Responsibilities. The Committee on Committees shall be responsible for recommending to the Senate the chair, faculty, and student members of standing and ad hoc committees as provided for by the Faculty Handbook and guidelines adopted by the Senate, the recommendations to be confirmed by the Senate after prior notice (standing committees for the following year shall be recommended no later than the last Senate meeting of the year); recommending to the administration faculty members for appointment to administrative committees as appropriate; engaging in periodic reviews of the structure and function of faculty committees and reporting

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findings to the Senate; and proposing revisions to the Faculty Handbook committee and making appropriate recommendations to the Senate. The chair shall maintain an up-to-date list of currently constituted standing and ad hoc committee members.

Composition. The Committee on Committees shall be composed of the first vice-president of the Senate (chair) and five (5) members of the Senate: two (2) from the College of arts and Sciences and not more than one (1) from any other academic area.

Curriculum (undergraduate)Responsibilities. The Curriculum Committee supervises the development of the undergraduate curriculum. Specifically, it is responsible for recommendations for the content of individual courses and the content of the organized total of courses, programs and sequences that form the undergraduate instructional program. It reviews new undergraduate degree programs and changes in the content of departmental major and minor requirements and concentrations. The committee reports its actions to the Senate with recommendations for implementation or appropriate disposition. The chair of the Curriculum Committee is responsible for circulating the agenda for each meeting to the provost, deans and department heads.

Composition. No fewer than fifteen (15) faculty members (two of whom also serve on the Standards committee); two (2) students; Ex officio: associate provost for Academic Affairs, registrar or designee, and the Library’s head of collection development or designee. No more than three members may be drawn from any voting division of the faculty.

Departmental Honors Responsibilities. The primary purpose and function of the departmental honors committee is to serve as a screening body for those students seeking candidacy for departmental honors within the University. The committee recommends departmental honors candidates and recipients to the Senate after reviewing the dossier of each applicant. The committee attempts to identify those students who are capable of superior academic performance and to encourage and stimulate their interest in research in specific areas of study. Members of the committee will serve as liaisons to individual students’ departmental honors examination committees.

Composition. No fewer than fifteen (15) faculty members; two (2) students; Ex officio: dean of the Honors College, director and assistant director of the Brock Scholars Program. No more than three members may be drawn from any voting division of the faculty.

Faculty Administrative Relations Committee (elected by the full faculty)Responsibilities. The Faculty Administrative Relations committee serves in two capacities: 1) advisory, and 2) investigatory. The committee functions in times of personal and professional difficulties among faculty members and administrators when the normal communications lines are not functioning to the satisfaction of any party involved. Grievances, including matters such as academic freedom, tenure, dismissal, suspension, promotion, salary, teaching duties, employment conditions and failure to meet personal and professional responsibilities may originate from either members of the faculty or administration.

Services. 1) Advisory. Any member of the faculty or administration may consult with the committee or any of its members at any time to seek advice and/or help with the proper procedure to follow in order to resolve a grievance. The meeting may be on an informal basis at

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the option of the aggrieved party. Such meetings are strictly between the persons involved, and no notification of such meetings to any other party is necessary. Only the regular membership of three faculty members is involved in this capacity and constitutes a quorum. 2) Investigatory. Normal communication channels through department heads, directors, deans and the provost must be used whenever possible. The administrative appeal phase through all channels on the campus of UTC up to and including the provost must be completed before the investigatory phase begins. When such channels have been exhausted and the grievance still exists, the grievance shall be submitted to the committee chair in writing and to the individual or individuals against whom the grievance is filed. Grievances should be forwarded in a timely manner, and in every case, within one year. In retention cases, due to University reporting deadlines, the aggrieved faculty should submit grievances as soon as possible. The committee, having determined that normal channels have indeed been exhausted, will initiate an investigation and will notify the chancellor and all other parties who may become involved. Documents on individual cases will be handled in accordance with Tennessee law. Reports on the findings of the committee will be given to the person requesting the investigation and to the chancellor who may distribute it through the various levels of administration as deemed necessary. Ultimate responsibility for the disposal of all cases of an investigatory nature resides with the chancellor who shall be provided with recommendations from the Faculty Administrative Relations Committee. The regular membership of three faculty members which constitutes the committee's quorum is involved in this investigatory capacity in all situations except academic freedom, tenure, or dismissal, or suspension of a faculty member with a special or probationary term before the end of the specified term. In those cases, the special membership (as described below) becomes involved. In all cases, advisory and investigatory, the chair votes.

An annual report of the activities of the committee, stating only the number and types of cases considered, will be given to the Senate.

Composition. 1) Regular. The committee shall consist of three (3) full-time members of the faculty, one of whom is elected each year for a three-year term. Qualifications include at least one year's service at UTC, rank of assistant professor or higher and at least three years to retirement. Department heads or others with EDO review responsibilities shall be ineligible. Election is held at the first full faculty meeting in the fall. The member serving a third year on the committee serves as chair. If for any reason any member is not able to serve, that position will be filled by a past chair of the committee, first inviting the most recent chair and proceeding in that order until the replacement is made. The past chair will function as acting chair only if the current chair is not available.2) Special. If the grievance concerns academic freedom, tenure, suspension or dismissal, the faculty administrative relations committee membership will be expanded to include an associate provost designated by the provost, and these four (4) members will constitute its quorum. Such grievances involving tenure would include non-reappointment, dismissal or suspension of a faculty member with a special or probationary term before the end of the specified term, or a notice of non-reappointment that is alleged to constitute a violation of academic freedom.

Faculty Development Responsibilities: The faculty development grant committee considers proposals for grants submitted under its guidelines. The committee will evaluate the applications and make recommendations for funding to the chancellor and the chancellor’s staff. Proposals are evaluated on the basis of over-all merit. The potential of the proposed activity for the professional development of the individual within the mission and needs of the university is the basic criterion.

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Composition: No fewer than seventeen (17) faculty members; Ex officio: the provost, director of the Walker Center for Teaching and Learning or designee.

Faculty Handbook Committee (senators only)Responsibilities. The Faculty Handbook committee shall be responsible for consulting with administration on Faculty Handbook content affected by university/system policies; recommending to the Senate any revisions in the Faculty Handbook deemed appropriate and necessary; consulting with the Committee on Committees concerning proposed revisions to this document, examining proposed changes to the Faculty Handbook for consistency and reporting back revisions as appropriate; bringing handbook revisions recommended by Senate to the full faculty where appropriate and necessary, and reviewing and proofreading Faculty Handbook copy prior to publishing. Adoption of the committee’s resolutions by the Senate constitutes a recommendation of the Senate to the chancellor for revision of the Faculty Handbook.

The Board of Trustees’ Policy on Faculty Handbook revisions, adopted in 1992, and any subsequent amendments, governs the revision of the Faculty Handbook. In the event of any inconsistency between the Board’s policy and the Faculty Handbook, the Board’s policy will control. The Senate and the chancellor accept the provisions of the Faculty Handbook. All have responsibility for revision.

Composition. The Faculty Handbook Committee shall be composed of the second vice-president of the Senate (chair) and five (5) members of the Senate: two (2) from the College of Arts and Sciences and not more than one (1) from any other academic area; Ex officio: provost or designee.

Faculty Rating of Administration Responsibilities. The committee is responsible for recommending policies, procedures, and instrumentation to the Senate for the rating of administration by faculty and for using rating results to improve administration.

Composition. No fewer than eight (8) faculty members; two (2) students; Ex officio: director of the Office of Institutional Research.

Faculty Research Responsibilities. The faculty research committee considers proposals for grants funded by the University of Chattanooga Foundation endowment. A description of these grants, along with the deadlines and criteria for evaluation, are found in the Faculty Handbook, Chapter VII. Proposals are evaluated on the basis of overall merit. The potential contribution of the research or creative activity to the University or to the researcher's discipline is a basic criterion. The committee encourages the applicant to seek funds from other sources when needs so indicate; it sometimes recommends small seed-money grants with this end in view. The committee recommends awards for grant proposals to the associate provost for Graduate Studies, Research and Program Evaluation. The chair reports the grants awarded to the Senate.

Composition. No fewer than seventeen (17) faculty members; Ex officio: associate provost for Research and Engagement, director of the Walker Center for Teaching and Learning or designee.

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General Education Responsibilities. The evaluation of the effectiveness of general education demands a responsive and evolving philosophy of general education. The General Education Committee will serve a continuous role as facilitator for discussion regarding this philosophy, and as a clearing house for ideas that may keep the philosophy responsive to the needs of the students and the institutional program. The committee will also act in the following areas:1. Certify new courses for general education.2. Monitor existing general education courses.3. Make recommendations concerning the content and structure of general education.4. Review practices regarding the transferability of general education credit for all post-

baccalaureate students, additional degree seeking students, and transfer students.5. Receive appeals from students concerning transferability of general education credit after

review by the appropriate department.

Composition. No fewer than ten (10) faculty members, one (1) student; Ex officio: associate provost for Academic Affairs, director of the Walker Center for Teaching and Learning or designee.

Grade Appeals Responsibilities. The responsibility of the grade appeals committee is to hear undergraduate student appeals whenever a student feels that the student’s rights have been seriously jeopardized by way of unfair, arbitrary, or malicious exercise of faculty grading prerogatives and desires to appeal the grade. The committee reviews grades after a student who is appealing has followed the current published procedures for grade appeals in the Faculty Handbook.

Composition. Three (3) faculty members and two (2) alternate faculty members. In addition, two (2) non-voting faculty members shall be selected at the time of an appeal by the head of the department (or dean of the school if appropriate) in which the appealed course is offered. The chair shall be the dean of the academic unit involved. Should the dean be the course professor involved in the appeal, the provost will serve as chair. The chair shall not vote on an appeal except in case of a tie vote, and will be responsible for reporting the findings of the committee to the Office of the Provost. A quorum for this committee will consist of three (3) voting members and the chair.

Graduate Council (members appointed by special elections)Responsibilities. The Graduate Council is responsible for providing and periodically revising basic educational philosophy for graduate programs, for ensuring the maintenance of high standards in the graduate programs offered and for proposing and recommending to the Senate new graduate programs. The Graduate Council reviews new courses to be offered for graduate credit as well as other changes in the content and sequence of individual graduate programs. The Graduate Council is responsible for ensuring that general admission policies as established by the Board of Trustees and specific policies approved for individual graduate programs are maintained. The Graduate Council hears graduate students' petitions and grade appeals. The Graduate Council reports its curriculum and standards actions to the Senate Executive Committee with recommendations for implementation or appropriate disposition. Members of Graduate Council serve two-year terms, are elected, and select their chair in accordance with the policies contained in the Graduate Council’s handbook.

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Composition. One (1) elected representative from each graduate degree program plus one (1) at-large representative elected by the Senate representative from a department that does not offer a graduate degrees. Ex officio: dean of the Graduate School, the dean of the Library, dean of Lifelong Learning, registrar or designee, and the president of the Graduate Student Association.

Honor Court Responsibilities. This committee administers the honor code as set forth in the Student Handbook.

Composition. Chair; and three (3) other faculty members; three (3) alternate faculty members appointed by the Senate; eight (8) students; Ex officio: vice-chancellor for Student Development and dean of students.

Integrated StudiesResponsibilities. The administration of the Bachelor of Integrated Studies program will be accomplished through a program coordinator. Faculty members comprising the Integrated Studies committee will have authority over functions related to the curriculum. The committee will review and approve the course of study developed by the student and the advisor.The primary purpose of the committee is to evaluate the degree plans and portfolios for those students seeking the Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree. The committee will assign appropriate individuals from its membership or appoint appropriate faculty to evaluate each proposed degree plan and final portfolio as they reach the committee. The portfolio reviewers will receive portfolio assessment training through the Teaching Resource Center.

Composition. Twelve (12) or more from academic departments as deemed necessary by the committee in consultation with the coordinator of Integrated Studies. At least two members should come from each of the following colleges: Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Computer Science, and Health, Education, and Professional Studies; Ex officio: dean of the Library or designee, coordinator of Integrated Studies, dean of Lifelong Learning or designee, and registrar or designee.

Learning Support ServicesResponsibilities. The Learning Support Services committee functions as a liaison between the faculty, students, and the offices on campus which provide support for classroom and experiential learning. It acts as an advisory body to the University administration and to such units as, e.g., the Center for Advising and Student Success, the Library, and the Office of Partnerships and Sponsored Programs, and Records, making recommendations and suggestions with respect to policies, programs, and procedures which are of concern to students and faculty. The committee’s advisory capacity includes, but is not restricted to, the following: 1) requests for funds from the general University budget, the University of Chattanooga Foundation, and other sources, 2) allocation of funds from the state and other sources to the various departments and programs, 3) general policy and procedural aspects of support services’ operation which affect the nature and type of services available to faculty and students, and 4) provision and utilization of physical facilities ; the committee will have an especial responsibility to ensure the development of a balanced library collection which will meet current and projected teaching and resources needs within available resources.

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Composition. No fewer than ten (10) faculty members; four (4) students [one {1} of whom shall be a graduate student]; Ex officio: provost, associate provost for Academic Affairs, assistant provost for Student Retention and Success, dean of the Library, director of the Disability Resource Center or designee, and designees from each academic support service unit.

Mediation Responsibilities. The Mediation Committee provides a low-confrontational setting for settling disputes between faculty and administrators; it does not take the place of the Faculty Administrative Relations Committee. Such disputes might involve faculty in conflict with other faculty, faculty and administrators, or administrators only. All disputants must agree to mediation and to one or more mediators to resolve the dispute. If, during mediation, either disputant wishes to end the process, that is done without prejudice. All information discussed in mediation is strictly confidential. Mediation is not arbitration; no coercion is involved. Any attempt to resolve problems through mediation does not preclude appeal to the Faculty Administrative Relations Committee.

Composition. Mediators are full time faculty, adjunct faculty, and administrators who are State of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 listed mediators. They are appointed annually by the Senate. There is no term limit to their appointment; they can be reappointed at the pleasure of the Senate.

Non-Tenure-Track FacultyResponsibilitiesThe Non-Tenure-Track Faculty Committee addresses the needs of non-tenure-track faculty and brings their concerns to the attention of Senate and administration. It provides a communication channel between this part of the community and the university.

Composition. Three (3) non-tenure-track full-time faculty from three different schools or colleges and three (3) adjunct faculty, inclusive of the member of the Senate for each category; Ex officio: provost or designee. Adjunct faculty members will be appointed no later than the second Senate meeting of the Fall semester. The committee will select its own chair.

Petitions (undergraduate)Responsibilities. The Petitions Committee considers undergraduate student petitions for exceptions to academic regulations. The Petitions Committee takes extenuating circumstances into account and may make exceptions to academic regulations in individual cases.

Composition. No fewer than eight (8) faculty members; one (1) student; Ex officio: vice chancellor for student development, and dean of students, registrar or designee.

Scholarships Responsibilities. The scholarships committee, acting upon the recommendation of the financial aid office and upon the basis of other information at its disposal, oversees the administration of all scholarships and grants-in-aid provided by endowments and other private funds. Recipients are selected upon the basis of academic performance, financial need and the terms of specific scholarships. (The committee is not charged with any responsibility in connection with federal financial aid programs.)

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Composition. No fewer than eight (8) faculty members; one (1) student; Ex officio: a member of the Office of Development as designated by the associate vice-chancellor for Development, assistant vice-chancellor for Enrollment Services, financial aid counselor, director of the Honors Program.

Speakers and Special Events Responsibilities. The speakers and special events committee is allocated funds annually, from the activities fee, for the purpose of paying honoraria, travel expenses, and other expenses for non-university related speakers or special events presented on campus for students and other members of the University community. Depending on available resources, programs may be approved for the next academic year, allocating no more than one-third of the current budget. This committee may cooperate with other University organizations in the scheduling of speakers and special events. It shall be the responsibility of this committee to ensure a balanced program of speakers and special events. A final report of the projects funded shall be forwarded to the Senate by April 1 of each year. The committee may also organize faculty retirement dinners.

Composition. No fewer than eight (8) faculty members; one (1) graduate student; the president and vice-president of SGA; the presidents of two (2) additional student organizations designated by the SGA; the assistant to the chancellor; Ex officio: representative for the chancellor.

Student Media BoardResponsibilities. The Student Media board is charged with supervision and policy making for student publications and media and is directly responsible to the Chancellor. A detailed description of the board and its work is set forth in the Manual for Student Publications, as revised.

Composition. Three (3) faculty members ; three (3) students; vice-chancellor for Student Development , dean of students; associate vice-chancellor for Development; director of University Relations; two (2) alumni; Ex officio: editors and advisers.

Student Rating of Faculty Instruction Responsibilities. The committee is responsible for recommending policies and procedures for evaluation of faculty instruction and for using evaluation results to improve instruction. The composition of the committee should reflect the various instructional styles of the disciplines and should include at least one faculty member familiar with measurement techniques.

Composition. No fewer than eight (8) faculty members; two (2) students; Ex officio: director of the Office of Institutional Research and the director of the Walker Center for Teaching and Learning.

SustainabilityResponsibilities. The function of the Sustainability committee is to serve as a resource for advancement of sustainability in the curriculum, determine criteria for selection of courses that focus on sustainability (both interdisciplinary courses and courses within disciplines), and contribute to conversations and initiatives on campus sustainability.

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Composition. No fewer than eight (8) faculty members from a broad range of disciplines; Ex officio: chancellor or designee.

Ad hoc CommitteesAd hoc committees may be created by the Senate or by the full faculty. Unless the description of an ad hoc committee directs otherwise, faculty members of the committee shall be recommended by the Committee on Committees and confirmed by the Senate. Prospective committee members should be contacted by the nominating party prior to their recommendation

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Appeals Committee. Membership shall consist of 18 tenured faculty members appointed to staggered three-year terms by the Faculty Senate Committee on Nominations and Appointments with the advice and consent of the Faculty Senate. At least one member of the committee must have legal expertise. This committee shall have no ex-officio members, and no member shall be an administrator at the level of department head or above. The Chairperson shall be appointed by the Faculty Senate Committee on Nominations and Appointments.

The function of the Faculty Senate Appeals Committee is to gather evidence and make recommendations to the Chief Academic Officer of the University for the disposition of cases within its jurisdiction. The Faculty Senate Appeals Committee does not replace the role of faculty and administrators in making employment-related decisions. Instead, it is guided by the aim of maximizing the protection of the principles of academic freedom and due process. In all cases, faculty members are entitled to notice regarding grounds on which administrative action has been taken. All matters before the Faculty Senate Appeals Committee are kept in strict confidence, subject to state open records laws.

The jurisdiction of the Faculty Senate Appeals Committee includes complaints regarding violations of due process and fairness in tenure or promotion decisions, annual performance reviews, and violations of provisions contained in the Faculty Handbook and in collegiate and departmental bylaws.

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B. Athletics Committee. Membership shall consist of twelve faculty members appointed to two-year staggered terms. Ex-officio members shall include the chief campus administrative officer charged with academic affairs (or designee), the Director of Athletics, the Director of Women’s Athletics, the faculty chairperson of the UT Athletics Board, the Director of Student Recreation, two student athletes appointed by the Athletics Department, and two students elected by the Student Senate. The Committee will also include the following non-voting ex-officio members: the Director of the Thornton Advising Center, the Associate Director of Women’s Athletics Compliance, the Associate Director of Men’s Athletics Compliance. The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall appoint the Chairperson of the Athletics Committee for a one-year term.

This committee shall concern itself with academic aspects of intercollegiate athletics as well as the intramural athletics program. It may also concern itself with any other athletics matters which the committee deems appropriate and which lie within the purview of the Faculty Senate.

C. Budget and Planning Committee. Membership shall consist of ten faculty members appointed to two-year staggered terms. Ex-officio members shall include the Vice Chancellor for Budget and Finance and Vice President for Operations for the University. The committee shall elect the Chairperson for a one-year term at the last meeting of the Spring semester.

The duties of the committee are: (1) to provide for campus-wide faculty input into the University budgeting process;

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(2) to encourage the use of faculty expertise in budget matters; (3) to inform the faculty, through the Senate, concerning budget matters. Both long-range and short-term aspects of its role will receive the committee’s attention, including budget priorities, and THEC formulas.

The primary concern of the committee will be policy. The committee is not expected to become involved in detail and comprehensive investigations necessary as a basis for budget decisions.

D. Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate.

(1) Membership shall consist of the Chairpersons of the Standing Committees of the Senate; the officers of the Senate, including the Immediate Past President; two at-large faculty members, and one administrator who is an elected Senator. Ex-officio members shall include the Chief Academic Officer and the chief officer in charge of business and finance. The Chairperson of the Executive Committee shall be the President of the Senate.

This committee shall represent the Senate as needed in meetings with the administration and other groups, shall handle necessary business on an emergency and interim basis between Senate meetings, shall recommend and review assignments to other committees, and shall establish ad hoc committees on behalf of itself or as directed by the Senate.

This committee shall concern itself with the formulation and review of the long and short range educational policies of the University as represented by the monetary allocations made in the budget.

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This committee shall not concern itself with individual salaries nor with college or departmental allocations, except as they may relate to the aforementioned educational policy decisions.

When campus or system administrative appointments are to be filled and where it is appropriate for faculty to be of assistance in the recruitment and screening of candidates, the Executive Committee will assist in the selection of the faculty members of such screening committees and lend its counsel to the development of procedures for recruitment and screening of such candidates.

This committee shall annually review the Bylaws and make appropriate recommendations to the Senate for amendments. It shall also review any revisions suggested by members or committees of the Senate. (This latter duty shall in no way prevent members or committees from bringing amendments directly to the Senate for consideration.) It is the responsibility of the President-Elect to make sure that revisions to the bylaws are accurately communicated to the Information Officer.

(2) The Executive Council of the Executive Committee. Membership shall consist of the President, the President-Elect, the immediate Past President, the Secretary, and at least four other members of the Executive Committee. The Chairperson of the Executive Council shall be the President of the Senate.

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The Executive Council shall be empowered to represent the Senate in all urgent matters that may arise after the last scheduled Senate meeting in the spring and before the first scheduled Senate meeting in the fall. The Executive Council shall prepare annually a Statement of Objectives for the Senate, based on consultations with the Standing Committees and with appropriate administration officers, and shall present the Statement of Objectives for review and approval by the Executive Committee and the Senate at their first meetings in the Fall. Any activities of the Executive Council shall be reported to the Executive Committee and the Senate at the earliest scheduled opportunity.

E. Faculty Affairs Committee. Membership shall consist of nine faculty members with three-year staggered terms. The Chairperson shall be appointed by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments.

This committee shall concern itself with the development of criteria and procedures for faculty appointment, promotion, evaluation, the granting of tenure, and discharge for cause. It will check college, school, and department bylaws for compliance with the Faculty Handbook. The committee is responsible for reviewing proposed revisions and recommending changes to the Faculty Handbook following review provisions as set forth in the Faculty Handbook, and for reviewing the Manual for Faculty Evaluation.

F. Faculty and Staff Benefits Committee. Membership shall consist of ten faculty members with three-year staggered terms. Ex-officio members shall include the University Treasurer, Director, Office of Retirement Services, and the Executive Director of Human Resources for the University (or their designees). The Chairperson shall be appointed by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments and should have been an active member of the committee prior to serving as Chairperson.)

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This committee will examine, clarify, and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate on issues and concern on retirement, leave, faculty welfare, insurance, and fringe benefits; cooperate with committees addressing similar concerns on other higher education campuses in Tennessee; receive representation from and provide representation to any other Faculty Senate or University task force or committee addressing issues directly related to faculty and staff benefits. When appropriate, the Committee will cooperate with other Faculty Senate committees on base salary issues that are related to faculty and staff benefits.

G. Graduate Council. Membership shall consist of faculty representatives chosen for three-year terms from the schools and colleges of the University engaged in graduate work, and two graduate students appointed by the Graduate Student Senate. Members shall be chosen in the spring term for terms to commence at the start of the next fall term.

Representatives shall be apportioned among the schools and colleges according to the number of graduate students enrolled in the college or school in the previous fall term, using the following table:

Representatives must regularly teach graduate courses or supervise graduate study and must

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(1) hold full-time or continuing part-time appointment with the rank of assistant professor or higher, and (2) perform academic duties consisting of at least half-time teaching, research, service or departmental administration. Ex-officio members (without vote) shall be the Dean of Libraries, the Dean of Outreach and Continuing Education, the Director of the Center for International Education, and the Chair of the Research Council or their designees. In addition, the administrative officer having primary responsibility for graduate curriculum in each college or school shall serve as ex-officio member (without vote) of the Graduate Council if that person is not a college or school representative. The Chair of the Graduate Council shall be a faculty member from the Graduate Council elected for a two-year term by voting members of the Graduate Council. The election of the Chair will take place at the last meeting of the Spring semester. The Graduate Council shall report its actions to the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate. The agenda and minutes of the Graduate Council meetings will be distributed electronically to all senators at least five business days prior to the next senate meeting. Implementation follows approval of the changes at that meeting. Any curricular change may be reopened for review and its implementation delayed at the will of the Executive Committee, or the full Senate.

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H. Information Technology Committee. Membership shall consist of six faculty members with experience in educational and/or information technology and research that are appointed to three-year staggered terms by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments, one undergraduate student selected by the Student Government Association and one graduate student selected by the Graduate Student Senate. The Chairperson shall be elected by the members of the committee and shall serve a two-year term. Voting ex-officio members shall be the chief information officer of the Office of Information Technology, the chief information officer for the Knoxville campus, and the director of the Innovative Technology Center. Non-voting ex-officio members shall include other leaders of the Office of Information Technology, specifically the executives responsible for engineering services, and customer technology support, and also a representative of University outreach distance education.

Duties of the committee include: (1) identifying, reviewing, and recommending information technology policies, (2) representing the Senate on key university committees that address information technology, and (3) reporting to the Senate on key information technology issues and developments that affect the campus.

I. Library Committee. Membership shall consist of one faculty representative from each college or school, except in the case of Arts and Sciences that shall be represented by three faculty members, one from each of the major divisions of the college. One student representative may be selected by the Graduate Student Senate and one by the Undergraduate Academic Council. Ex-officio members shall include the Dean of Libraries and the Associate Dean of Libraries (or designees). The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall select the Chairperson.

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The Committee’s duties include working with the Dean of Libraries to ensure that library services and collections meet the teaching, research, and public service needs of the University community. Particular focus shall be placed on library policies and procedures that facilitate use of resources.

J. Nominating Committee. Membership shall consist of five members of the Senate who serve a one-year term and are appointed by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments. None of the members shall be a member of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments. No ex-officio members will be appointed. The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall appoint the Chairperson. This committee shall nominate two candidates for the President-Elect. The committee shall solicit nominations from the University Faculty at large and shall prepare a ballot that includes biographical information on all candidates.

K. Professional Development Committee. The membership of the Committee shall consist of a minimum of nine faculty members serving one-year terms and representing the diversity of programs on the campus. Ex-officio members shall be the chief campus academic officer with primary responsibility for academic affairs and the chief campus academic officer with primary responsibility for graduate education (or their designees). The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall appoint the Chairperson.

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Duties of the committee shall include (1) suggesting administrative actions that would permit and encourage professional development; monitoring and evaluating the resulting actions and programs; (2) initiating activities to facilitate the development of faculty members as professionals; monitoring and evaluating these activities and resulting programs; (3) developing a policy of professional leave (sabbatical leave) and monitoring the resulting program; (4) enhancing and expanding international teaching and research opportunities for faculty, and strengthening opportunities for participation of scholars and artists from outside the U. S.

L. Research Council. Membership shall consist of no fewer than 15 appointed faculty or faculty/administrator representatives chosen by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments for staggered three-year terms. In addition, there shall be three graduate students selected by the Graduate Student Senate. Ex-officio members shall include the chief academic officer responsible for research, the Associate Vice President of the Office of Research, the Dean of Libraries and college level administrators with responsibility for research (or their designees). The composition of the Council shall reflect balance among externally funded and institutionally supported research, between research and other creative activity, and between disciplines. Members must be actively engaged in research or other creative activity and must (1) hold full-time or continuing part-time appointment with the rank of assistant professor or higher, and (2) perform academic duties consisting of at least half-time teaching, research, service or departmental administration. Ex-officio members shall be the Dean of Libraries and up to two additional designees. The Council members shall elect the Chairperson for a one-year term. The Chairperson must have served at least one year on the Council prior to election. The members of the Council may elect co- or vice Chairpersons.

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The Research Council acts as an advisory body to the chief university officer for research. The Council shall promote excellence in research and other creative activity through the study and recommendation of policies. The Council shall sponsor programs to communicate an understanding and appreciation of research and other creative activity to the University community and the community at large. The Council co administers some programs of the Office of Research as requested by the chief university officer for research. Areas of concern include research incentives and support, intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary research activities, compliance with State, Federal and University regulations governing the conduct of research, rights to and commercialization of intellectual property, the broad range of research infrastructure including all forms of telecommunications and computational support, and other appropriate matters. Further, the Research Council shall concern itself with the institutional policy on research grants and funding, with copyright and patent policy, with protection of investigators, with the protection of human subjects of research, with the protection of experimental animals, and with policies affecting compliance of research activities with environmental and occupational health and safety requirements. Further, the Research Council shall encourage publications and the development of specialized research facilities for intercollegiate and/or interdisciplinary uses and with any other policies pertaining to research programs. The Council shall also encourage the advertisement of research successes of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga researchers. When appropriate, the Council shall report its actions for approval to the Faculty Senate.

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M. Student Affairs Committee. Membership shall consist of eight faculty members, two students appointed by the Student Government Association, and as ex-officio members shall include the President of the Student Government Association, the Chairperson of the Student Government Association Senate, the President of the Graduate Student Senate, a representative from the Dean of Students’ Office, and the chief campus academic officer with primary responsibility for student affairs. The chairperson shall be a faculty member appointed by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments.

This committee shall concern itself with student life, rights, privileges, and responsibilities; and with social disciplinary matters, student government, and organizations. It shall make recommendations to the Faculty Senate on these matters.

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N. Teaching Council. Membership shall consist of fifteen faculty members nominated to the Senate by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments, as well as three graduate students, three undergraduate students, selected by the Student Government Association. The faculty members should have currently active teaching/advising responsibilities. Members shall serve for three-year staggered terms with 1/3 of the terms expiring each year. All colleges offering instruction at the graduate or undergraduate level will have at least one representative. Attempts will be made to distribute the other representatives among the colleges of the university. The three graduate students are elected to serve on the Council by the Graduate Student Senate in consultation with the Chairperson. The three undergraduate students are elected to serve on the Council by the Student Government in consultation with the Chairperson. Ex-officio members shall include the Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs and the Associate Dean of the Graduate School. The Teaching Council shall elect the Chairperson for a one-year term at the last meeting of the spring semester; the Chairperson takes office at the first meeting of the fall semester. Should the Teaching Council so decide, the Council may have co-Chairpersons who operate within the same procedures as a single Chairperson.

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The Teaching Council is a committee of the Faculty Senate that works to advance excellence in teaching and academic advising at UTK. Areas of concern for the Teaching Council include incentives for recognizing quality instruction and advising, methods for improving instruction at a campus and departmental level, guidelines for routine and disciplinary evaluation of teaching, academic advising, and curriculum. For example, the Teaching Council examines policy issues related to teaching on the UTK campus and works with the chief academic officer to recognize excellence in teaching and advising. The Teaching Council works with the Center for Undergraduate Excellence to run a yearly campus-wide program that involves faculty and staff in addressing issues central to improving instruction and advising. The Teaching Council works with both the Graduate School and the Center for Undergraduate Excellence to develop practical means of improving and rewarding instruction and advising on campus.

O. Undergraduate Council. Voting membership shall consist of representatives chosen for three-year terms from the schools and colleges of the University granting baccalaureate degrees, one member of the ROTC faculty, and four students designated by the Undergraduate Academic Council. Members shall be chosen in the spring term for terms to commence at the start of the next fall term. Representatives shall be apportioned among the baccalaureate degree-granting units according to the number of degrees granted during the prior academic year, using the following table:

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In the College of Arts and Sciences, representatives shall be apportioned among the Divisions of Social Sciences, Humanities and Natural Sciences. Members must (1) hold full-time or continuing part-time appointment with the rank of assistant professor or higher, and (2) perform academic duties consisting of at least half-time teaching, research, service or departmental administration. Ex-officio members (without vote) shall be the Dean of Admissions and Records, the Dean of Outreach and Continuing Education, the Dean of Libraries, the Director of the Center for International Education, and the Chair of the Standing Committee on Advising (or their designees). In addition, the administrative officer having primary responsibility for undergraduate curriculum in each college or school shall serve as an ex-officio member (without vote) of the Undergraduate Council if that person is not a college or school representative. The Chair of the Undergraduate Council shall be a faculty member from the Undergraduate Council elected for a two-year term by voting members of the Undergraduate Council. The election of the Chair will take place at the last meeting of the Spring semester.

The Undergraduate Council shall concern itself with standards for admission, retention, and graduation; with curricular matters in the undergraduate programs; with the development of interdisciplinary programs; with the approval of new programs and any other matters of educational policy pertaining to undergraduate programs. The Council shall report its actions for approval to the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate. The agenda and minutes of the Undergraduate Council meetings will be distributed electronically to all senators at least five business days prior to the next senate meeting. Implementation follows approval of the changes at that meeting. Any curricular change may be reopened for review and its implementation delayed at the will of the Executive Committee, or the full Senate.

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Section 4. Other Committees. Such other committees, standing and special, as may be established from time to time. The members of all committees shall hold office for one year from the time of their appointment, unless otherwise specified. Membership of these committees may include any faculty unless Senators are designated, as well as students and staff. The President of the Senate is an ex-officio member of all standing committees.

Section 5. Committee Vacancies. In the event of a vacancy in faculty membership of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments or of any committee, the Faculty Senate shall fill such vacancy by an election at the next regular meeting. The new members shall be elected for the unexpired portion of the term vacated.

Section 6. Committee Reports. Each standing or special committee shall submit a written report to the Senate at least once during the academic year.

ARTICLE IV. Officers: Duties, Qualifications, and Resources.

Section 1. The PresidentPresident.

Election. Nomination for Senate president shall be solicited by written form from the entire faculty by the Friday of the second full week in January. Nominations shall be sent to the faculty secretary who shall formulate a slate via the same procedure as is used for nomination of the at-large candidates. At the first January meeting of the entire faculty, a president-elect shall be elected. Election shall be by simple majority of the ballots as determined by a counting committee appointed by the presiding officer.

The president-elect shall serve as a voting member of the Senate from January until July 1, at which time the full duties of president of the Senate will be assumed. The term of office for the president is two years. The president may not serve consecutive terms. After retirement, the immediate past president shall sit as a voting member of the Senate until the next president is no longer president.

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Replacement of the President or President-ElectShould the president resign, go on leave, or become unable to serve for other reasons, the Senate Executive Committee shall effect a replacement. Should the vacancy occur after the election of the president-elect, the president-elect shall serve out the remainder of the incomplete term and the term to which he or she was elected. Should the vacancy occur prior to the election of the president-elect, a new president shall be elected at the next faculty meeting for which a fifteen-day nomination period is available. Prior to this election, the first vice-president shall perform the duties and responsibilities of the president. The completion of a vacated term is not considered a full term for determination of eligibility to be elected to two successive terms.

Should the president-elect resign, go on leave, or become unable to serve for other reasons, a replacement shall be elected at the first faculty meeting for which a fifteen-day nomination period is available. If an election cannot be held prior to July 1, the outgoing president shall continue to serve until the election.

Duties As an elected spokesperson of the faculty, the president shall:1. preside at all meetings of the Senate and the full faculty, and shall be bound by the Faculty Handbook, these bylaws, and Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised (latest edition);2. prepare the agenda in cooperation with the Senate Executive Committee and others as appropriate;3. meet with the chancellor at the earliest opportunity following Senate meetings to report on deliberations by the Senate;4. receive on April 1 the annual written reports from chairs of Senate standing committees;5. preside at the faculty retirement dinner sponsored by the Senate;6. serve as counselor to the president of The University of Tennessee;7. serve as a non-voting representative of the faculty to the academic affairs committee of the Board of Trustees;8. carry the University mace at all official functions;9. receive three hours released time from teaching in the fall and spring semesters; and10. appoint, in case of the death of a current or previous faculty member, an individual to contact the family and arrange for a campus memorial service should the family desire it. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Faculty Senate, where he/she shall be bound by the Bylaws and Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised. The President shall prepare an Agenda for meetings of the Senate. The President shall include as new business at the next regular meeting of the Faculty Senate any items proposed by a Senator in accordance with Article II, Section 3. The President shall represent the Faculty and on all occasions be considered the chief spokesperson of the Faculty Senate and the University Faculty. The President shall be the President-Elect chosen during the previous year. The President shall be granted release time from an appropriate amount of faculty duties as determined in conjunction with his/her supervisors and receive other support such as an assigned graduate assistant for the duration of the term.

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Section 2. The President-Elect. The President-Elect of the Faculty Senate shall act as President of the Faculty Senate in the absence of the President. In the event of death or resignation of the President after January of the year of term, the President-Elect assumes the office of President. If such should occur prior to January of the given term, then a special election of a new President-Elect shall be held with the new President having the option to be nominated and elected to serve a full term. The President-Elect shall be the editor of the Faculty Senate Newsletter or shall appoint a Newsletter editor with the approval of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments. The President-Elect shall oversee the timely operation of college or division caucuses and be responsible for managing bylaws changes. Section 2. First and Second Vice-Presidents of the Senate

Election The president of the Senate will choose the first and second vice presidents from among members of the Senate. They will be subject to confirmation by the full Senate at the organizational meeting of the Senate. If a vice president is not confirmed, the Senate president will entertain nominations for the position from the floor, and the Senate will vote on any candidates nominated.

DutiesThe first and second vice presidents shall serve as chairs of the Committee on Committees and the Handbook Committee respectively. If the president is unable to preside at a Senate meeting, the first available officer, selected in the following order, shall preside: first vice-president, second vice-president, past president. The first and second vice-presidents shall serve as voting members of the Executive Committee of the Senate.

The second vice-president, as chair of the faculty handbook committee, with the concurrence of the Executive Committee of the Senate, and the chancellor, may make recommendations on editorial, technical, and other housekeeping changes, including but not limited to changes to the university’s mission, titles of administrative offices, academic units, other descriptive material, or other positions and units named in the Faculty Handbook, followed by appropriate action on these changes by the university and its officers, the chief academic officer for the system, the UT system president, or the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees. The chancellor shall submit these recommendations to the appropriate officer for the system, who will forward them, with his or her recommendation, to appropriate vice presidents, the General Counsel, and the UT system president. Final approval lies with the UT system president.

Section 33. Secretary.

SelectionThe president of the Senate will nominate the Senate secretary from among members of the full faculty for confirmation at the organizational meeting of the Senate. If the candidate is not confirmed, then nominations for the position will be accepted from the floor of the Senate.

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DutiesThe duties of the secretary shall include:1. distributing the agenda of Senate meetings; 2. keeping the minutes of Senate and Executive Committee meetings, including summaries of the debates and a record of all votes;3. distributing Senate minutes no later than 48 hours before the next meeting;4. maintaining an ongoing record of Senate representatives and division apportionments;5. coordinating the nomination process for the adjunct faculty member of the Senate;6. maintaining the Senate’s webpage which includes posting agendas, minutes, related documents, list of senators, and committee assignments.

The secretary shall have 3-hours of release time or equivalent per semester for these duties. If the Secretary is an elected member of the Senate then he or she will be a voting member of the Executive Committee of the Senate. If the secretary is not an elected member of the Senate, then he or she shall serve as an ex-officio member on the Executive Committee of the Senate.

The Secretary of the Faculty Senate shall send to all Senate members and faculty advance notice of the time and place of all meetings together with an agenda; shall keep minutes of all action taken by the Senate (there will be no verbatim reporting of remarks and discussion, nor will professional titles be recorded); shall send summary of actions of the Senate to all faculty; shall send minutes and necessary supporting documents to all Senate members, department heads, deans and directors; shall make special reports as requested by The University of Tennessee Faculty, pursuant to Article I, Section 2 of these Bylaws. The Secretary of the Senate serves as secretary to the Executive Committee and the Committee on Nominations and Appointments. The Secretary shall be nominated by the Executive Committee subject to approval of the Senate membership to serve a one-year term. In the event of a vacancy, the Executive Committee shall name a replacement to serve the remainder of the current term.

Section 4. Parliamentarian. There shall be a Parliamentarian parliamentarian appointed by the President president of the Faculty SenateSenate each year to assist in the conduct of the business of the SenateSenate.

Section 5. Information Officer. There shall be an Information Officer appointed by the President of the Faculty Senate each year and approved by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments to manage disseminating information and maintaining Senate archives.

ARTICLE V. Amendments.

The Faculty SenateSenate shall have the power to make, amend and repeal these Bylaws bylaws by a vote of two-thirds majority of those members present at regular or special meetings of the SenateSenate, provided that any proposed changes shall have been submitted to the members of the Faculty SenateSenate at least twenty-eight (28) days before the meeting at which the vote on them shall be taken. CHANGES TO THE SENATE BYLAWS

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