SECTION 3 FACULTY GOVERNANCE
3.1 ARTICLES OF GOVERNANCE OF THE COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS FACULTY
Article I - The College of Liberal Arts Faculty
The College of Liberal Arts Faculty shall consist of all full-time teaching faculty members of the College of Liberal Arts plus those administrators who are members of the faculty by virtue of the University Bylaws,* or who have been granted the privilege of voting membership by the College of Liberal Arts faculty upon recommendation of the President of the University.
It shall be the responsibility of the College of Liberal Arts faculty to:
A. Act with respect to any matter of concern that is within the responsibility or authority of the College of Liberal Arts faculty.B. Establish such structures and procedures as it deems necessary and appropriate for its internal governance.
C. Receive and, when appropriate, act upon reports from the President of the University.
The College of Liberal Arts faculty meetings shall be scheduled once a month during the academic year unless otherwise provided by faculty action, and at other times upon the request of the President of the University.
Meetings of the College of Liberal Arts faculty shall be chaired by the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
For purposes of conducting business at regularly scheduled meetings and special meetings of the College of Liberal Arts faculty, a quorum shall consist of the voting members present. Unless provided by faculty action, all meetings shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order.
Regular faculty meetings are those faculty meetings scheduled once a month during the academic year. Written notification of items requiring faculty action at any faculty meeting must be placed in the mail boxes of faculty members at least twenty-four hours prior to the time of convening the faculty meeting. At these meetings, suspension of any rules, including the twenty-four hour prior notice rule requires a majority of the entire voting membership of the faculty.
Special faculty meetings are those faculty meetings other than regular faculty meetings. These special meetings may be called by the President of the University, the Faculty Council, or the Academic Council. Written notification of the special meeting and the full agenda of the special meeting must be placed in the mail boxes of faculty members at least forty-eight hours, not less than two working days, prior to the meeting. Only items given on the agenda may be acted on at the special meeting. Suspension of the forty-eight hour notification of meeting and agenda requires a majority of the voting membership of the faculty.
*Copies of the University Bylaws are available in the office of the President and University Library.
Article II - Responsibilities of the College of Liberal Arts Faculty
It is the responsibility of the faculty member to adhere to the provisions of the Statement of Professional and Ethical Responsibility (see Chapter 2.2 of the Faculty Handbook) and to cooperate with all members of the University in achieving those objectives which are the collective responsibility of the Faculty:
1. Academic standards and policies for the admission, retention, and graduation of students.2. Academic policies and programs necessary to achieve the educational aims of the university.
3. Curricula and methods of instruction necessary to implement academic policies and programs.
4. General policy and regulations for the conduct of intercollegiate athletics and other formalized intercollegiate activities.
5. University policies regarding student privacy and student records - see the complete text of the Education Records Policy in Section 8.4, APPENDIX.
6. Faculty retention, promotions, tenure, salary increases, leaves of absence, sabbaticals, and grants-in-aid for research.
To assist in fulfilling the responsibilities under 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, an Academic Council is hereby created. To assist in fulfilling the responsibilities under 6, a Faculty Council is hereby created. Decisions of the Academic Council and the Faculty Council should be by consensus, but should this not be possible, decisions shall be made by majority vote with the Chair having a vote.
The Academic Council or the Faculty Council may call special meetings of the College of Liberal Arts faculty. When the College of Liberal Arts faculty considers reports from the Academic Council, student members of the Academic Council shall sit with the College of Liberal Arts faculty as voting participants.
Article III - Academic Council
Responsibilities - It shall be the responsibility of the Academic Council to:
A. Provide academic leadership in the College through cooperation with the Administration, Students, and Faculty.B. Make recommendations to the College of Liberal Arts faculty for their deliberation and action with respect to:
1. Academic standards and policies for the admission, retention, and graduation of students.2. Academic policies and programs necessary to achieve the educational aims of the University.
3. Curricula and methods of instruction necessary to implement academic policies and programs.
4. General policy and regulations for the conduct of intercollegiate athletics and other formalized intercollegiate activities.
5. University policies regarding student privacy and student records - see the complete text of the Education Records Policy in Section 8.4, APPENDIX.
C. Constitute its voting members as the Faculty Positions Committee, with the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts as chair, to make recommendations to the Administration on all vacant faculty positions and on requests for additional positions in the College of Liberal Arts.
D. Assume any additional responsibilities or duties delegated to it by the College of Liberal Arts faculty.
Composition - The Academic Council shall consist of eleven (11) members:
A. Six (6) faculty members elected by constituency areas according to the procedures of Article V - five (5) members elected to two (2) year staggered terms, and a Chair elected separately for a two (2) year term. The Chair must be someone who has already served on the Academic Council.B. The Dean of the College of Liberal Arts who shall have no vote.
C. Two (2) undergraduate students selected by a means determined by student government.
The Council shall elect its Vice Chair from among its own members.
Operating Procedures - To facilitate its work, the Academic Council shall establish the following standing committees and assign appropriate responsibilities to each: Academic Programs Committee, Off-Campus Study Committee. Prior to the end of each academic year, standing committees will be reconstituted for the upcoming academic year. The Council may also establish ad hoc committees, as appropriate, to discharge special responsibilities of a short term duration.
Standing committees shall consist of (1) faculty members appointed by the Chair of the Council after consultation with the Council; (2) student members selected by a means determined by student government; and (3) administrators designated by the President of the University. Ad hoc committee membership should be appropriate to the committee charge and should give adequate representation to faculty, student, and administration interests.
It shall be the function of Council committees to study proposals and report their findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the Academic Council. The Academic Council shall submit its recommendation to the Faculty for deliberation and action.
Article IV - Faculty Council
Responsibilities - It shall be the responsibility of the Faculty Council to:
A. Make recommendations to the President of the University with respect to faculty retention, promotions, tenure, salary increases, leaves of absence, sabbaticals, and grants-in-aid for research. Such recommendations shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the Personnel Policies and Procedures statement (see Chapter 2.3 of the Faculty Handbook).Personnel Policies and Procedures may (1) be approved by the College of Liberal Arts faculty, (2) become effective after lying before the College of Liberal Arts faculty for forty (40) school days, or (3) be returned to the Faculty Council by the College of Liberal Arts faculty with instructions to consider specific objections.
B. Establish committees to consider matters pertaining to the professional development and well being of the faculty and make appropriate recommendations to the College of Liberal Arts faculty and/or the President of the University.
C. Nominate the College of Liberal Arts faculty members to special committees, such as budget or Presidential advisory, as established by the President.
Composition - The Faculty Council shall consist of (8) members:
A. Seven (7) members elected by the College of Liberal Arts faculty - six (6) members elected for two (2) year staggered terms, and a Chair elected separately for a two (2) year term. The Chair must be someone who has already served on the Faculty Council.B. The Dean of the College of Liberal Arts who shall have no vote.
The Council shall elect its Vice Chair from among its own faculty members. The Council may invite such administrators or students as it chooses to participate in its deliberations and the deliberations of its committees, but such participation shall not carry with it the right to vote.
Operating Procedures - To facilitate its work, the Council shall establish such other committees as it deems appropriate. The Council shall determine the composition, duties, and procedures of its committees.
Committees shall consist of members of the faculty appointed by the Chair of the Council after consultation with the Council and the Chair of the Academic Council. Committees should be representative of faculty diversity and varied concerns.
Each Committee shall be chaired by a member of the College of Liberal Arts Faculty appointed by the Chair of the Council after consultation with the Council.
Article V - Budget Advisory Committee
A. Responsibilities: Provide information and advice to the dean and the president and report to the Faculty Council and the faculty at-large about budget planning and priorities in the College of Liberal Arts.B. Composition:
1. Chair: Dean of the College of Liberal Arts2. Ex Officio Members: President and Vice President of Financial Affairs
3. Six Faculty members: Elected for two-year staggered terms
a. Three members will be elected from the faculty at-largeb. Three members will be elected from the Academic Council or Faculty Council during the past three years.
4. One Student: Selected annually by student government
The committee will elect annually a reporting secretary from its own membershop whose responsibility it will be to report to the faculty on the work of the committee as appropriate.
Article VI
General - Terms of office for all members of the Faculty Council, Academic Council and the Budget Advisory Committee shall begin following Commencement in May and shall expire two (2) years later or when respective successors qualify. However, after the first election for members of the Faculty Council, two (2) of the members from the College of Liberal Arts shall be selected by lot for one (1) year terms, and after the first election for members of the Academic Council, three (3) of the five (5) members shall be selected by lot for (1) year terms.
Administration of elections is delegated to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
Before the first week in March in years when positions on the Faculty Council on the Academic Council, and on the Budget Advisory Committee need to be filled for the following year, the Dean shall send a notice to every member of the faculty asking the following questions as applicable:
1. Do you wish your name to be withdrawn from consideration for Faculty Council Chair?2. Do you wish your name to be withdrawn from consideration for Academic Council Chair?
3. Do you wish your name to be withdrawn from consideration for membership on the Faculty Council?
4. Do you wish your name to be withdrawn from consideration for membership on the Academic Council?
5. Do you wish your name to be withdrawn from consideration for at-large membership or the former Council member positions on the Budget Committee?
A faculty member who indicates to the Dean within three (3) school days a desire not to be considered for nomination for a position will not be considered for nomination to that position.
Faculty members who would become eligible for tenure consideration during office on the Faculty Council shall not be considered for membership. Members of the Faculty Council shall not be considered for promotion.
Election of Chairs - Within five (5) school days after replies from faculty members indicating their desire not to be nominated are due in the Dean's office, the Dean shall prepare and send a list of members of the faculty who are eligible for selection as Chair of the Faculty Council to every member of the College of Liberal Arts Faculty, and shall prepare and send a list of members of the faculty who are eligible for selection as Chair of the Academic Council to every member of the College of Liberal Arts Faculty.
Each member of the faculty will indicate a nomination for Chair of the Faculty Council and a nomination for Chair of the Academic Council on the appropriate list and return the lists to the Dean within three (3) school days.
The Dean, within three (3) school days, shall compile a ballot with the names of those nominees receiving the three highest number of votes for Faculty Council Chair and send a copy of this ballot to each member of the faculty. Each faculty member will indicate a choice for Chair of the Faculty Council and return the ballot to the Dean within three (3) school days. Ballots will be tallied by the Dean. The candidate with the highest number of votes will be declared elected Chair of the Faculty Council. The Dean shall resolve any tie by lot.
The Dean, within three (3) school days of the election of the Faculty Council Chair, shall compile a ballot with the names of those nominees receiving the three highest number of votes for Academic Council Chair and send a copy of this ballot to each member of the faculty. Each faculty member will indicate a choice for Chair of the Academic Council and return the ballot to the Dean within three (3) school days. Ballots will be tallied by the Dean. The candidate with the highest number of votes will be declared elected Chair of the Academic Council. The Dean shall resolve any tie by lot.
At no time may the same faculty member serve as Chair of the Faculty Council and Chair of the Academic Council. A faculty member elected as Chair of the Faculty Council shall not be eligible for nomination in the subsequent election for Chair of the Academic Council.
Election of Members to the Faculty Council - Within five (5) school days after Chairs of the Faculty Council and the Academic Council are elected, the Dean shall prepare a list of faculty members who are eligible for selection to the Faculty Council and shall send a copy of the applicable list to every faculty member.
Each faculty member will nominate a number of candidates equal to the positions to be filled on the Faculty Council and return the list to the Dean within three (3) school days.
The Dean, within five (5) school days, shall compile a ballot with the names of candidates equal to twice the number of positions to be filled from those receiving the greater number of votes and shall send a copy of the applicable ballot to every faculty member. Should there be ties for the last position, when more than one member is to be elected, all nominees who are tied for that position shall be included on the ballot.
Each faculty member will indicate a number of choices equal to the vacancies to be filled on the Faculty Council and return the ballot to the Dean within three (3) school days. Ballots will be tallied by the Dean and the candidates with the highest number of votes shall be declared elected. The Dean shall resolve any tie votes by lot.
Election of Members to the Academic Council - Within ten (10) school days after the election of members of the Faculty Council, the Dean shall prepare lists of faculty members who are eligible for election to the Academic Council. One representative from each of the following groups shall be elected.
Arts: Art, Music, and TheatreHumanities: Classics, History, Humanities, Philosophy, Religion, and Rhetoric & Media Studies
Languages and Literature: English, French & Italian, German & Russian, Japanese & Chinese, Spanish and Library
Natural Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Science, Exercise Science, Mathematics, and Physics
Social Sciences: Anthropology, Economics, Politics, Psychology, and Sociology
Council members from all groups will be elected by the faculty at large.
Elected members will serve a two-year term. The chair of the Academic Council will be elected prior to the members from faculty groups.
Adopted by:University Faculty, November 11, 1997
Within the ten-day (10) period the appropriate list shall be sent to faculty members in each group where elections are to be held.
Each faculty member will nominate two candidates from the appropriate constituency group and return the list to the Dean within three (3) days.
Within five (5) school days, the Dean shall send to the faculty members in each participating constituency group, a ballot with the names of the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes. Should there be a tie for the second position, all nominees who are tied for that position shall be included on the ballot.
Each faculty member will indicate on the ballot a choice of the person to fill the position, and return the ballot to the Dean within three (3) school days. Ballots will be tallied by the Dean and the candidate with the highest number of votes shall be declared elected. The Dean shall resolve any tie vote by lot.
Election of Members to the Budget Advisory Committee
A. Within ten (10) class days after the election of members of the Academic Council, the Dean shall prepare lists of faculty members who are eligible for election to the at-large seats and former Council member seats on the Budget Advisory Committee and shall send a copy of each list to every faculty member.B. Each faculty member will nominate a number of candidates equal to the positions to be filled in each membership category and return the lists to the Dean within three (3) class days.
C. The Dean, within five (5) class days, shall compile a ballot with the names of candidates equal to twice the number of positions to be filled from thos receiving the greater number of votes and shall send a copy of the applicable ballot to every faculty member. Should there be ties for the last position, when more than one member is to be elected, all nominees who are tied for that position shall be included on the ballot.
D. Each faculty member will vote for candidates in each category equal to the number or vacancies to be filled and return the ballot to the Dean within three (3) class days.
E. The Dean will tally ballots and the candidates with the highest number of votes shall be declared elected. The dean shall resolve any tie vote by lot.
At no time may the same faculty member serve simultaneously on the Academic Council, the Faculty Council, or the Budget Advisory Committee. College of Liberal Arts Faculty members who have been elected to the Faculty Council shall not be eligible for nomination for membership to the Academic Council. Faculty members elected to either the Academic Council or the Faculty Council are not eligible for membership on the Budget Advisory Committee.
Article VI - Amending Procedures
Amendments to Personnel Policies and Procedures of the College of Liberal Arts and Articles of Goverance of the College of Liberal Arts Faculty shall be considered at any regular meeting of the College of Liberal Arts Faculty or at a special meeting called for the specific purpose of considering amendments; provided, however, that no amendment may be adopted unless a written copy of the amendment has been distributed to all faculty members at least five (5) school days prior to the meeting at which the amendment is to be considered.
When proposed amendments are to be considered at a meeting of the College of Liberal Arts Faculty, such amendments shall be made the first order of business.
There are six major standing committees of the undergraduate faculty. Five report to the Academic Council; one reports to the Faculty Council. In addition, there are three all-University committees and various ad hoc committees and task forces. After the first year of service, faculty members normally serve on at least one committee. There are student members on all committees with the exception of the Faculty Council and the Faculty Resource Committee.
I. COMMITTEES OF THE ACADEMIC COUNCIL:
These committees are appointed by the Academic Council each spring after soliciting individual preferences of the faculty:
A. Academic Programs Committee1. Makes recommendations to the Academic Council on proposals for new or revised courses and academic programs or other curricular modifications, graduation requirements, and academic policies.2. Reviews and makes recommendations to the Academic Council on charges referred to the Academic Programs Committee by the Council.
3. Initiates studies and reviews appropriate to the discharge of the Committee's responsibilities.
4. Keeps informed about and works clearly with the Faculty Positions Committee.
B. Academic Status/Admissions Committee
1. Makes decisions regarding student petitions for waivers of academic policies and procedures.2. Administers College of Liberal Arts policies on the academic status of students in areas of warning, probation, and dismissal.
3. Recommends policies about and students for academic honors for graduation, external fellowships, and College Honors List.
4. Advises the Registrar on matters of permanent student records.
5. Reviews and makes recommendations to the Academic Council on decisions referred to the Academic Status Committee by the Council.
6. Initiates studies and reviews appropriate to the discharge of the Committee's responsibilities.
7. Advises the College of Liberal Arts Office of Admissions in formulating standards and policies in the recruitment and admission of students.
8. Assists in articulating the description and image of Willamette, as expressed orally and in publications to prospective students and the public.
9. Promotes a cooperative involvement in student recruitment among faculty, students, and administrative offices in support of the admissions effort.
10. Initiates studies and reviews appropriate to the discharge of the Committee's responsibilities.
C. Faculty Positions Committee (Consists of the Academic Council members; chaired by the Liberal Arts Dean). Responsibilities are:
1. To acquire and maintain a comprehensive view of all faculty positions at Willamette as to type (tenure, non-tenure, part-time, etc.), distribution (subject field), and rationale.2. Every time there is a vacancy in an existing position, to assess the need for its continuance in the light of the total faculty needs and educational aims of the University; and inform the faculty through the Academic Council of its judgment so that it can advise the administration in the process of replacement.
3. Every time there is a proposal to add or drop a faculty position or change the type or distribution of an existing one, to assess its impact upon the curriculum, program, and educational aims of the University as a whole and advise the faculty through the Academic Council and the administration of these impacts.
4. To study the impact upon type and distribution of faculty positions and staffing needs arising from all proposals for changing requirements or initiating new programs, and the like, and to make this knowledge available to the faculty and administration.
D. Off-Campus Study Committee
1. Serves as the primary recommending body to the Academic Council on all academic programs of the College of Liberal Arts which occur off the main Willamette campus in Salem.2. Reviews and makes recommendations to the Academic Council on all proposals for new or revised courses and programs of off-campus study. Such courses and programs include foreign and domestic study programs involving student groups, and off-campus programs such as internships and independent study.
3. Recommends to the administration the staffing of off-campus programs.
4. Reviews and makes recommendations to the Academic Council on charges referred to the Off-Campus Study Committee by the Council.
5. Reviews periodically and makes recommendations in regard to the College Guidelines for Off-Campus Study.
6. Initiates curricular studies and reviews as appropriate to the discharge of the Committee's responsibilities.
II. COMMITTEE OF THE FACULTY COUNCIL
Members are appointed each spring by the Faculty Council after soliciting individual faculty preferences.
A. Faculty Resource Committee:1. Administers the faculty travel program.2. Administers Atkinson Fund support for professional development, summer research, and curriculum enrichment.
3. Coordinates faculty development activities carried out in conjunction with other colleges (e.g., Seven-College Consortium).
4. Coordinates campus workshops and presentations in the area of teaching and learning.
5. Solicits and screens proposals for sabbatical leaves in accordance with Section X of the Personnel Policies and Procedures.
III. ALL-UNIVERSITY COMMITTEES
A. Campus Student Affairs Committee1. Purpose: reviews, initiates, formulates and amends policies, programs, and procedures related to student life beyond academic policies and programs.2. Composition. Fifteen (15) members distributed as follows:
a. Five (5) Faculty. Four to be appointed by the College of Liberal Arts faculty for two-year terms; one to be appointed by the College of Law faculty for one year and by the Graduate School of Management faculty on alternate years.b. Two (2) Administrators. To be appointed by the Student Affairs Staff.
c. Seven (7) Students. Five to be appointed by the A.S.W.U. Senate in the spring to serve the next academic year; one to be appointed by S.B.A. of the Law School in the spring to serve the next academic year; one to be appointed by the A.S. of A.G.S.M. in the spring to serve the next academic year.
Vice President for Student Affairs: who shall preside.
B. Educational Programs Committee1. Purpose: develop a campus-wide educational data base of speakers, concerts, forums, etc., which enhance the educational environment of the University.2. Composition. Thirteen (13) members distributed as follows:
a. Six (6) Faculty. Four to be from the College of Liberal Arts, to be appointed by the Academic Council; one from the Graduate School of Management, to be appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School; one from the College of Law, to be appointed by the Dean of the College of Law.b. Two (2) Administrators. One will be the Director of Student Activities, the other will be appointed by the Vice President of Student Affairs.
c. Seven (7) Students. Five appointed by the A.S.W.U. Senate in the spring to serve the next academic year; one Law School appointed by the S.B.A. in the spring to serve the next academic year; one appointed by the A.S. of G.S.M. in the spring to serve the next academic year.
C. University Review Board
1. Purpose: student disciplinary cases involving violations of the Standards of Conduct and requiring a formal hearing shall fall within the jurisdiction of the University Review Board.The University Review Board shall be authorized to conduct fact-finding hearings, determine whether the Standards of Conduct have been violated, and impose disciplinary penalties as appropriate in the name of Willamette University.
2. Composition. Ten (10) members distributed as follows:
a. Three (3) Faculty. To be appointed by the President of University.b. Seven (7) Students. Five nominated by the President of A.S.W.U. and appointed by the President of the University; one Law School nominated by the S.B.A. and appointed by the President of the University; one nominated by the A.S. of G.S.M. and appointed by the President of the University.
D. Minority Action Committee (MAC)
An ad hoc committee open to any interested student, faculty member, administrator, or staff member who shares concerns about the welfare and well-being of Willamette's minority community.
This Committee seeks to:
1. Provide a forum for the discussion of issues of importance to minority and Third World students;2. Recommend action in any cases of racial and ethnic discrimination that may occur on campus;
3. Promote programs of education about minorities and Third World peoples;
4. Generate ideas about raising the social consciousness of the campus.
Faculty members in the College of Liberal Arts are eligible to apply for funds for travel to professional meetings: up to $1300 for domestic meetings and $1500 for international meetings. The Faculty Resource Committee generally allocates all remaining funds by December of the current budget year. Faculty submitting requests later than this should not expect funding in this fiscal year. Temporary faculty members not in permanent positions are not eligible for travel funds during that year. Other limits and policies apply; contact the CLA Dean’s Office for the application form and details.
Faculty members in the College of Liberal Arts are eligible to apply for funds for research up to $1500. Appropriate uses are research travel, expenses for artistic and research materials and supplies, costs for surveys and services, support for publication and other costs related to scholarly activities. Stipends are not funded. Equipment may be funded, but requires special justification. Other limits and policies apply; contact the CLA Dean’s Office for the application form and details.
3.5 FACULTY STUDY TIME PROGRAM
This program provides individual faculty members with time to complete a major, long-term scholarly or creative project intended for peer review in the form of publication, public performance, or exhibition. Full-time, tenure track faculty with two or more years of full-time teaching at Willamette University may participate in the program. Awards are not made to faculty members within two semesters preceding or following a sabbatical leave. Successful applicants will have their normal teaching load reduced by two-thirds time for one semester..
Other limits and policies apply; contact the CLA Dean’s Office for the application form and details.