Faculty Senate Meeting Agenda
21 March 2000
3:30pm --- Ferguson Forum

Planning and Operations Diversity Resolution

Whereas, The University of Alabama Faculty is dedicated to the creation and maintenance of a learning environment which respects and enhances the potential of all members of its community, and

Whereas, the creation of this environment is central to The University of Alabama's mission to achieve excellence in research, teaching and service, and

Whereas both increasing international emphasis and increasing diversity are part of The University of Alabama's strategic plan, and

Whereas, The University of Alabama bears a special moral and ethical responsibility to promote diversity and inclusiveness, and

Whereas, acceptance of diversity in terms of race, ethnicity, religion, culture, gender, sexual orientation, or physical challenges are critical to responsible leadership and citizenship, and

Whereas, silence in response to individual and institutional racism, sexism, and bigotry, facilitates their perpetuation if not contagious expansion, and

Whereas, all faculty at The University of Alabama have an ethical obligation to promote a positive learning environment in their roles as educators and mentors and to act in ways that develop mutual trust, shared power, equitable benefits, and positive results for all, and

Whereas race exclusive units and departments still exist at The University of Alabama,

Be it resolved, that The University of Alabama Faculty Senate reaffirms its commitment to the promotion of tolerance of or respect for, if not celebration of, diversity in all aspects of University life, and to the dismantling of racism in all its forms, and

Strongly urges all faculty to redouble their efforts towards these ends, including

Direct challenges to all instances of prejudice, racism, sexism and bigotry, and

The promotion of a healthy, inclusive and welcoming university community which attracts a diverse student body, faculty and staff representative of our increasingly multi-cultural society, and

Endorsement and active support for all other initiatives towards these ends.

Proposed Revisions to Bylaws

Article I. Senate Officers

In all elections of Senate Officers-President, Vice President, and Secretary-elections will be by the vote of the majority of the senators voting, in a meeting at which a quorum of the Senate is present. Nominations and election of the Senate President will be completed before the floor is opened for nominations for Vice President, and the election of the Vice President will be made before nominations are received for the Office of Secretary. Any senator interested in serving in one or more of these offices may submit a written statement of intention, with any supporting argument, not to exceed one page in length, to the Secretary of the Senate by March 14 of the year in which he or she hopes to commence office. The Secretary will distribute each such statement and supporting argument with the agenda for the March meeting of the Senate. Persons may also be nominated for these offices from the floor at the March meeting. A motion to close nominations, or the equivalent, is out of order. Each candidate will have an opportunity to speak to the Senate about his or her candidacy, and the Senate will have an opportunity to ask questions of each candidate.

Article II. Organization

Section 1. Senate Orientation.

There will be an orientation session for all new Senators and Alternates on the first Tuesday in April that the University is in session. This will be an occasion for discussion of the history and the place of the Senate in the governance of the University, of the role and function of the Senate's officers, of the charge and function of the Senate's standing committees, and of other aspects of the Senate Constitution and Bylaws. Before the first regular meeting of the new Senate, there will also be a social function at which Senators and Alternates may become more fully acquainted with each other.

Section 2. Steering Committee.

The Steering Committee is authorized to make representations in its own name in regard to any matter within the scope of the Senate's responsibilities and functions (as defined in Article II of the Constitution) when, in the Committee's judgment, circumstances require action before it is possible to convene a meeting of the Senate. In such instances, the Committee will be guided by its best judgment regarding the intention of the Senate if such intention is known.

Section 3. Standing Committees.

  1. There shall be standing committees on:
  1. Subject to reasonable exceptions to accommodate the needs of the Senate and the interests of senators, each senator ordinarily will have one standing committee assignment. The number of members shall be approximately that indicated in parentheses for the respective committees.
  2. After the orientation session and social occasion described in Section 1, the Secretary will ask each Senator to list preferences for assignment to the Senate's standing committees. After consultation with those who served as chairs of standing committees the previous year, the Secretary will assign each Senator to his or her first choice, if possible, and using second or third preferences where first preferences are unavailable. Senators who have indicated no preference by the second Tuesday in April shall be assigned to committees by the Secretary. All such assignments are subject to the approval of the Senate. The Secretary will distribute the tentative assignment of Senators to committees with the agenda for the regular April meeting. The first order of business for the regular April meeting will be to debate the assignment of Senators to committees, to reassign if necessary, and to confirm the final assignment by vote of the Senate. The President of the Senate will thereupon name convenors for each of the standing committees, and following the close of the regular April meeting each convenor will hold a brief meeting of each standing committee for purposes of establishing a place for meeting, if necessary, before the next scheduled meeting of the Senate steering committee. By the end of April, each standing committee will elect a chair or co-chairs from among its membership; if a chair is selected it may elect a vice-chair. Each chair or co-chair of a standing committee serves as a full member of the steering committee. Each standing committee will normally meet on the first Tuesday of each month from September through November and January through March, and at other times as desirable.
  3. Standing committees will inform themselves, on their own initiative or pursuant to specific instructions from the Senate, concerning matters of current concern within their respective jurisdictions. Standing committees, directly or through their chairs are expected to seek and maintain continual dialogues with the vice presidents in charge of the areas of University affairs in which the respective committees have jurisdiction. Monthly meetings are an example of a mechanism for such dialogues. The committees shall make such reports and recommendations to the Senate as they deem appropriate or as the Senate requires.
  4. Senators are expected to attend meetings of their standing committees. The absence of a Senator from a regularly scheduled committee meeting may be referred by the chair or co-chair of the committee to the Senate Operations Committee. Senators who regularly fail to attend committee meetings and do not provide for the attendance of alternates may be replaced on the committee.
  5. Committee on Academic Affairs. The Academic Affairs Committee is responsible for considering issues which relate to instruction, curriculum, academic standards, academic freedom, collegiality, tenure and promotion, and other issues which directly affect the learning environment of the University and the quality of its intellectual life. Questions relating directly to research and service, financial issues, and student issues will, however, normally be referred to the appropriate committee of the Faculty Senate.
  6. Committee on Financial Affairs. The Financial Affairs Committee reviews financial issues that are pertinent to the University community and makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate concerning these issues.
  7. Committee on Student Affairs. The Student Affairs Committee advises the Faculty Senate on issues related to the social and academic development of students.
  8. Committee on Research and Service. The Research and Service Committee is charged with studying and making recommendations on matters that affect the research and service component of faculty life.
  9. Committee on Planning and Operations. The Planning and Operations Committee studies the allocation of resources within the University and works to ensure communication between faculty and administration in relation to resource policies and allocations, advances proposals consistent with Faculty Senate initiatives and priorities, and makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate pertaining to resource policies and allocations.
  10. Committee on Senate Operations.

A. The Committee on Senate Operations is responsible for continuous review of the Senate's organization and procedures and for recommending changes it deems desirable in either the Constitution or the Bylaws.

B. The Senate Operations Committee will consider the reasonableness of all absences in excess of two by a senator from Senate meetings in which the senator is not represented by a duly elected alternate and will make a recommendation to the Senate whether the position should be declared vacant. The Operations Committee also will be responsible for determining if a Senate seat is vacant for reasons other than absence and will make appropriate recommendations to the Senate.

C. The Senate Operations Committee is responsible for interpreting the Constitution and Bylaws and may receive requests for interpretation from the Senate or the Senate President or may initiate action by itself. All such interpretations must be reported to the Senate and are subject to Senate concurrence.

D. The Senate Operations Committee is charged with responsibility for determining the constitutionality of the Senate Bylaws. Such determinations must be reported to the Senate and are subject to Senate concurrence.

Section 4. Special Committees.

Special committees may be created by the Senate as needed. Unless the Senate directs otherwise, special committee members and chairpersons shall be designated by the same methods as for standing committees. Persons eligible to vote in Senate elections who are not members of the Senate may be appointed by special committees as their consultants.

Section 5. Subcommittees.

Standing and special committees may establish such standing or special subcommittees as they deem useful. Persons eligible to vote in Senate elections who are not members of the Senate may be appointed by subcommittees as their consultants.

Section 6. Parliamentarian.

The Senate President will nominate a parliamentarian, subject to Senate confirmation, to serve as recommended in the most recent revision of Robert's Rules of Order except where these Rules are contravened by a rule adopted by the Senate. This person will be a member of the Faculty, as defined in the Constitution, who is not a senator; or a member of the retired faculty. It shall be the duty of the Parliamentarian to attend all meetings of the Senate and of the Steering Committee.

Section 7. Webmaster.

The Senate President will nominate a webmaster, subject to Senate confirmation, to serve as the producer and coordinator of the Senate's web site. This person will be a member of the faculty, who may be but need not be a senator.

Section 8. Offices.

The Senate shall maintain offices, in a room or rooms in the University assigned by the President of the University. The Senate offices shall be the location of the files of the Senate.

Article III. Procedures

Section 1. Meeting (Senate and Steering Committee).

  1. The Senate will meet on the third Tuesday, August through November and January through April, and the second Tuesday of December, at 3:30 p.m. in locations to be determined by the Steering Committee. If the third Tuesday falls during a time when the University is not in session, the Senate will meet on the second or fourth Tuesday, as the Steering Committee determines, and the meetings of Senate committees may have to be adjusted appropriately. The Senate may meet also on the fourth Tuesday, August through November and January through April, and the third Tuesday in December, in order to finish the business of the month, and Senators should keep this date free on their calendars. The Senate will also meet at other times, including the summer months, and at locations, as decided by the Senate or the Steering Committee. The regular meeting times and locations shall be decided for the upcoming year by the Steering Committee at its August meeting, Senators will be appropriately notified, and the information will be published in Dialog and/or other publications deemed useful.
  2. Regular Senate meetings normally last until 5:00 and may last longer. Senators should clear their calendars until 5:15 on regular Senate meeting days upon such an expectation. Senators are expected to maintain their attendance until 5:00, or until the meeting is adjourned prior thereto.
  3. The Steering Committee will hold a regular meeting one week before each regularly scheduled meeting of the Senate. Special meetings of the Steering Committee may be called by the President of the Senate, by the written request of three members of the Steering Committee or of five members of the Senate, by vote of the Steering committee, or by vote of the Senate.
  4. All resolutions and original motions to be presented to the Senate must be in writing and should be mailed by the Senate Secretary with the agenda for the meeting.
  5. A majority of members shall constitute a quorum. A quorum must be present before any vote can be taken.

Section 2. Agenda.

  1. Except when the Steering Committee or the Senate orders otherwise, the customary order of business as described in Robert's Rules of Order will be followed.
  2. The agenda will be distributed to members during the week in advance of the meetings by the Senate Secretary except when exigent circumstances make it necessary, in the judgment of the Steering Committee, to prepare or change an agenda so soon before the meeting that advance circulation is impractical.
  3. The Steering Committee will employ whatever means are feasible and appropriate to give notice of pending agenda items to all members of the Senate.
  4. The agenda will be placed on the Senate’s web page and will contain sufficient information, both in summary or "bullet" form and in detail, so that the issues to be debated in the Senate are clear. Each person or committee that propounds a motion or submits a report to be included in or with the agenda is responsible for providing a succinct summary of the issue(s) involved. The President's Report, reports from the standing committees, and reports from Senators about the activity of University committees should be included with the agenda if at all possible, so as to reduce the time used in Senate meetings for explanation and summary. The minutes of each meeting also will be placed on-line in "bullet" form, and in detail on the Senate's web page. Other documents of interest to faculty and/or pertinent to issues being debated in the Senate may also be placed on the Senate's web page.

Section 3. Access to Senate Meetings.

  1. Any person may attend Senate meetings during other-than-executive sessions for the purpose of observing its proceedings.
  2. Anyone other than a senator may address the Senate only on invitation by vote of the Senate or on invitation by the President of the Senate after an opportunity for the Senate to object and, in case there is objection, alter approval of the invitation by the Senate.
  3. An executive session, from which all persons except senators are excluded, may be held by vote of the Senate. Motions to hold executive sessions will take precedence over other regular business.
  4. The privilege of the floor, including the right to address the Senate on any pending question subject to applicable rules or parliamentary procedure, and non-voting membership on the Steering Committee, are extended to one delegate representing the Retired Faculty Association of The University of Alabama, one delegate representing the Professional Staff Committee one delegate representing the Office/Clerical/Technical Staff Committee, one delegate representing the Maintenance personnel Committee, one delegate representing the Student Government Association and one delegate representing the Office of Alumni Affairs.

Section 4. Minutes of Senate Meetings.

  1. Minutes of all Senate meetings shall be furnished to all senators as early as possible.
  2. Copies of minutes of open Senate meetings are to be freely available to anyone within or without the University of Alabama: first, within the University; second, outside the University on request and if available.
  3. Divisional delegations are expected to adopt measures for effective and expeditious reporting of Senate actions to their constituencies.
  4. The official minutes of all open Senate meetings shall be available for inspection by all persons eligible to vote in the election of senators. The official minutes of executive sessions of the Senate shall be made available for this purpose only to the extent as the Senate may approve.
  5. Minutes of executive sessions of the Senate are confidential and are not to be released.
  6. Minutes of the Steering Committee may be made available outside the University of Alabama only by a majority vote of the Steering Committee that is asked for such material.
  7. Reports submitted to the Senate become part of the open-meeting minutes or executive-session minutes and are to be treated as those minutes.

Section 5. Committee Records.

  1. All Senate committees shall keep records of their meetings and proceedings, describing in summary form all noteworthy matters considered and noting all committee and actions.

Section 6. Additional Responsibilities of the Senate Secretary.

  1. The Secretary has responsibility for conducting all University-wide referenda regarding proposed amendments to the Constitution.
  2. The Secretary is charged with keeping the official, up-to-date copies of the Constitution and Bylaws, and with assuring that a signed and dated notification of official approval by the Secretary is affixed to all copies of the Constitution and Bylaws.
  3. The Secretary will call the roll of senators at each meeting of the Senate. Any absences in excess of two by a senator will be reported by the Secretary to the Senate Operations Committee.
  4. It shall be a duty of the Senate Secretary to notify the deans of the divisions of the University of the need for regular and special elections of senators. In so doing, the Secretary will note the name of the Senator who previously held the position or of the need to elect additional senators.
  5. It shall be the duty of the Senate Secretary to publish a calendar of Senate meetings for the academic year at the beginning of each fall semester. It shall contain the times and locations of Senate meetings and the listing of the dates upon which the Senate must take actions such as the naming of members of official bodies of the University or the appointment of committees to nominate award recipients.

Section 7. Senate Appointments to University Committees.

The following procedures apply to the appointments made under authority given to the Faculty Senate by the University's Faculty Handbook, or by the President of the University, or by other University authority:

  1. Senators shall be asked in the spring by the Secretary for their preferences of service on University standing committees. The President, assisted by the Vice President and the Secretary, shall tentatively assign Senators to University standing committees, giving as much weight as possible to the preferences they have communicated. Such tentative assignments shall be discussed, and modified if necessary, by the Steering Committee, and shall be submitted to the whole Senate for discussion, modification if necessary, and approval, before the list is timely transmitted to the President of the University.
  2. All other University committee or task force appointments in the gift of the Faculty Senate, including appointments to search committees or review committees, shall be made by the President of the Senate in consultation, if possible, with the Steering Committee, and shall be communicated to the Senate at its next meeting. if time does not allow for such consultation at a regular meeting of the Steering Committee, the President may call a meeting of that Committee or, in an emergency, poll the Committee by telephone, by e-mail, in person, or in other available ways; at least two-thirds of the Committee must be polled. In the latter instance, the whole Steering Committee may, at its next meeting, refuse to confirm the appointee, in which situation another appointment must be made, subject to consultation with the Steering Committee.

Article IV. Amendments of Bylaws

The Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the members of the Senate at a meeting subsequent to the meeting at which the amendment was proposed.

I certify that this is a correct and accurate copy of the Bylaws of the Faculty Senate of the University of Alabama.

Marcus Brown, Secretary

April 9, 1997