1. Authority

The committee functions under the authority of the Ê×Ò³| Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Faculty Senate as provided in Section 8 of the Faculty Senate Constitution and Sections 5 and 6 of the Faculty Senate Bylaws.

2. Membership

Membership of the committee is determined by Section 5 of the Faculty Senate Bylaws. Membership of the committee may only be altered by a vote of the Faculty Senate.

3. Operational

  1. Fall semester meetings will be scheduled weekly as required by the volume of faculty candidate applications and other responsibilities as determined by the Chair after consultation with the Faculty Senate and the office of the Executive Vice President and Provost. Spring semester meetings will be scheduled monthly as required to perform its responsibilities.
  2. Members and alternate members of the committee are required to attend all general information meetings.
    1. Members and alternate members must submit completed and signed confidentiality agreements and any other required documentation before they attend the first committee meeting.
    2. As soon as practicable, but no later than the first meeting to review faculty candidates, members and alternate members must submit completed and signed voting disclosure forms as well as any other required documentation to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the tenure and promotion process.
  3. Only members of the committee or in the case of a member’s absence, their alternate member, may attend faculty candidate application review meetings.
    1. If a member of the committee is not able to attend a scheduled committee meeting, they should notify the Chair and their alternate member as soon as possible.
    2. If neither a member nor their alternate member is able to attend a scheduled meeting, the Chair shall determine if the meeting can be rescheduled. If the meeting cannot be rescheduled, the Chair will reschedule any faculty candidate reviews to the extent necessary to accommodate the absences. The meeting will proceed as scheduled noting the absence of the voting member on each committee vote.
    3. Members and any alternate member attending faculty candidate applicant review meetings shall review the scheduled faculty candidate application files before the meeting and vote on any scheduled candidates if and only if they have not voted at a prior level.
  4. A quorum shall be a majority of the voting members.
    1. Voting members include alternate members only when they are serving for a member in accordance with these Bylaws.
  5. A simple majority vote is required for action.

General Functions

The committee’s responsibilities are defined broadly in Section 6 of the Faculty Senate bylaws. Specifically, these functions include:

  1. Members shall review all completed faculty candidate application files received timely for purposes of a vote on tenure and/or promotion.
  2. Members shall vote on each completed faculty candidate application file for tenure and/or promotion after a member or their alternate member presents the file and a committee discussion.
  3. The committee shall prepare and record an analysis of their vote for each faculty candidate applicant.
  4. The committee shall prepare an annual report for the Executive Vice Provost on issues presented and discussed during the committee’s faculty applicant review cycle.
  5. The Chair will host an open forum for faculty and other individuals who are interested in learning more about the tenure and promotion process during each of the Fall and Spring semesters.
  6. The Chair will submit to the Faculty Senate an annual report on the activities of the committee.
  7. The committee shall engage in additional matters required by the Faculty Senate consistent with the committee’s responsibilities.

5. Delegation of the Chair

  1. The Chair shall be elected by the committee members, or in a member’s duly notified absence an alternate member, for one-year term(s).
    1. The Chair is not a voting member of the committee for purposes of faculty application votes for tenure and/or promotion.
    2. Power is given to the Chair to provide prompt response where required.
    3. If an issue for which there is an established policy or precedent is brought to the committee, the Chair or their designee is authorized and instructed to act for the committee.
    4. The Chair may consult with the membership electronically before acting.
    5. If an issue demanding immediate action is not covered by established policy or precedent, the Chair is empowered to call an emergency meeting, securing the participation of those voting members available. Any action taken, and the reason, therefore, will be reported to the full committee at the next regular meeting for discussion, possible changes, and final approval.

6. Amendment of Bylaws

Amendment of these bylaws may be accomplished in the following manner:

  1. Amendments may be proposed by any member of the committee.
  2. The proposed amendment shall be circulated to all committee members one month prior to a properly called and constituted meeting.
  3. Adoption of a bylaw amendment requires a two-third vote of the members.