AUK

Faculty > Academic Senate > Charter

Article I. Preamble

The task of university governance must be apportioned and delegated among the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, and students of the university. The interdependence of these members of the university community and their delegated responsibilities establishes the basis for effective shared governance.  

It is the faculty's responsibility to lead in the formulation of recommendations relating to academic matters. The academic governance of the university provides for the exercise of the faculty's role in academic decisions, the protection of legitimate faculty aspirations, the implementation and preservation of academic standards, and the promotion of the academic welfare of students. It is the obligation of each member of the faculty to participate in these governance activities to the fullest extent possible. Each department or unit within the university is expected to have its own procedures for shared governance of its internal affairs. For academic issues transcending departmental concerns, the Senate is the forum for determination of faculty recommendations.

The Senate is primarily an instrument for members of the AUK academic staff – the faculty. However, the interests of students and administration shall be considered in the deliberations of the Senate through the participation of non-voting, ex-officio members representing these stakeholders.

The AUK Academic Senate is committed to ensuring the academic integrity of the institution and enhancing the role of the faculty in academic and professional matters.

Article II. The Faculty

1. Faculty: Faculty consists of the President, the Vice-President for AUK-RIT Academic Affairs. Vice-Presidents with teaching rank, and all who teach during the Academic Year.  The Chair of the Senate is the presiding officer.
   
   
2. Voting Members: Voting members for the purpose of electing senators includes all faculty.

Article III. Composition of the Senate

Members:

• President of the University (ex-officio)
• Vice-President for AUK-RIT Academic Affairs (ex-officio).
• President of Student Government (ex-officio)
• 4 faculty members, fulltime
• 1 faculty member, adjunct representative
•  Upon request by the Senate, Other Vice Presidents, with or without teaching rank, shall advise on issues within their purview.

Article IV. Election to the Senate

1. All elections are conducted by secret ballot on Friday of the first week of Fall term. A list of eligible candidates will be submitted to the Senate by the Vice-President for AUK-RIT Academic Affairs. The one year term of office for senators begins on the date of their election and ends on the day of the election of the new senate.
   
   
2. All eligible candidates will be placed on one slate. Voting faculty will choose candidates based on 1st/2nd/3rd/4th choices.  Candidates will receive 4 points for 1st/3 for 2nd/2 for 3rd/1 for 4th.  The top four point receivers will be elected. Ballots will be counted in the presence of the President, Vice-President for AUK-RIT Academic Affairs, and the Presiding Chair of the Senate, as well as the outgoing Academic Senators.  After certification of the results by the outgoing Academic Senate, the results will be published by the end of business on Friday.
   
   
3. Members of the Senate are elected to a one-year term. Senators may be reelected for one additional year.  Senators elected for two consecutive years are again eligible to serve on the Senate twelve months after the expiration of their final term in office.
   
   
4. No Academic unit may have more than one (1) member on the Senate. Only the top point getter from any unit may be elected.
   
   
5. Faculty members who are on probation or under disciplinary action by the university are not eligible candidates. Senators who receive probation or are under some disciplinary action by the university during the time of their appointment will be replaced in a special election after consideration of the issue and a vote by the Senate to replace them. Only the Senate can determine whether a member warrants replacement and this provision should not be used as a pretext by the administration to disrupt the normal operations of the Senate.
   
   
6. Senators who are absent for more than two meetings in any calendar year will be censured by the Senate and replaced by special ballot, except for extenuating circumstances approved by the Senate.

Article V. Responsibility of the Senate

1. Policies: The Senate works in tandem with the President and Vice-President for AUK-RIT Academic Affairs to develop the policies and procedures which govern the academic affairs of the university.
   
2. Advice and Recommendation: The Senate has the responsibility to advise and recommend to the appropriate persons or bodies issues that affect university development and welfare. This advice is offered to the President, Vice-President for AUK-RIT Academic Affairs, Vice-Presidents, and Directors as appropriate. This advice might include setting fund-raising priorities, student discipline, the academic calendar, the formulation of priorities for the annual operating budget of the university, the development and expansion of the campus, and the expression of university views on matters of public concern.

Article VI. Procedures and Actions of the Senate

1. A Chair of the Academic Senate will be elected by majority vote of the senate at the beginning of the term of office. The Chair is responsible for conducting the meetings and publishing the results of the Senate to the faculty and administration.
   
   
2. It is the President’s responsibility to present all business concerning the health and welfare of the university to the Senate. The President may address the Senate at the beginning of each session.  Similarly, the Vice-President for AUK-RIT Academic Affairs.has the responsibility of presenting all business concerning the health and welfare of the academic programs and academic initiatives to the Senate. Likewise, the Vice-President for AUK-RIT Academic Affairs may address the Senate at the opening of each session.
   
   
3. The President, Vice-President for AUK-RIT Academic Affairs, and student government representative have ex-officio status. They may participate in discussion, but they may not cast votes.
   
   
4. All Senate meetings are open to the public. The public is not allowed the floor or voting privileges. The Presiding officer of the Senate will announce this rule at the opening of every meeting.  Sessions may be held in camera when emergency situations exist or where sensitive personnel issues are discussed. In the latter case, student representatives may be asked to withdraw.
   
   
5. The Senate will meet once a month. Alternate meetings may be called by the Chair if deemed necessary.  The regular monthly meeting date will be selected at the beginning of each Senatorial term and placed on the AUK Academic Calendar.
   
   
6. A quorum is established if a majority of the Senators are present. An action of the Senate is approved by majority vote.  Meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Revised Rules of Order.
   
   
7. Any member of the faculty may request, in writing, a speaking slot before the Senate on an issue of concern to that member and/or others.  In the discretion of the Senate, such permission may be granted and limited to a specific time allowance, normally 3 minutes.  

VI. Standing Committees 

The Academic Senate will have three standing committees, each chaired by a Senator, excepting the presiding chair of the senate. Any member of the faculty is eligible to serve on a standing committee. Ad hoc committees may be formed as needed.

1. Curriculum committee: responsible for activities related to the curriculum as determined by the Vice-President for AUK-RIT Academic Affairs Director of Academic Affairs.
   
   
2. Faculty Affairs: responsible for all activities relating to promotion, retention, hiring, as well as issues related to faculty life.
   
   
3. Student Affairs: responsible for all activities related to student welfare.

VII. Reporting

It is the obligation of the Academic Senate to report all actions in a timely manner to members of the AUK community. All approved policies and actions will be posted on the Academic Senate webpage.

Article VIII. Revisions of the Charter

• Any changes, if required to the Academic Senate Charter are to be made and voted on only once per year at the last meeting of the Senate of the Fall term.
  
  
  1. Modifications to the academic senate charter are to be made by a super majority 2/3 vote of the faculty, including eligible full time and adjunct, present at the first meeting of Fall term.
     
     
  2. No provision in this document shall be retroactive.

This Charter was accepted by the AUK Faculty by secret ballot confirmed on November 10, 2011.