Faculty Senate Policy

Purpose

The Faculty Senate, as the representative body for the faculty of McNeese State University, exercises responsibility for advising administration in matters of academic freedom and standards, curriculum, long-range planning, budgetary planning, University organization and administration, and general faculty welfare. The Senate shall promote the academic and ancillary affairs of the institution and shall improve communications throughout the University while at the same time seeking to further the professional, scholarly, and financial interests of the faculty. In order to promote maximum participation of the faculty in University governance, the Faculty Senate will be empowered to have a representative on all University-wide standing committees.

The Faculty Senate consists of faculty members elected by the faculty of the College of Agricultural Sciences; College of Business; Burton College of Education; College of Liberal Arts; College of Nursing and Health Professions; College of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics; and Frazar Memorial Library. Each college shall select the appropriate number of members as designated by the Senate bylaws.

The officers of the Faculty Senate are the president, vice president, secretary, record keeper, and two at-large members who are elected by the Senate for one-year terms. The Senate also has an executive committee composed of the president, vice president, secretary, record keeper, two at-large members, and the immediate past president.
Meetings of the Senate are held each month except in January, June, July, and August, but special meetings may be called at any time. The Faculty Senate has the following standing committees:

• Academic Affairs: deals with all matters pertaining to academic policies, faculty competence, promotions, admissions, academic standards, grading standards, and related matters.
• Faculty and Teaching Affairs: deals with all matters pertaining to faculty development, faculty scholarship, teaching and teaching resources, working conditions, class sizes, and related matters.
• Committee on Committees: each year recommends to the Senate president members of the general faculty to serve on University standing committees and which University standing committees should be subject to expansion.
• Student Relations: deals with all matters pertaining to students and facilitates communication among faculty and student organizations.
• Community Partnership: deals with all matters pertaining to community outreach in an effort to advocate for higher education.
• Rules: deals with all matters pertaining to the Senate’s procedures and may make periodic studies of the Senate to determine its role in the University.

The president of the Senate also has the authority to create special ad hoc committees to deal with matters that do not fall within the jurisdiction of the standing committees.

Communication

This policy is distributed via the Academic Advisory Council and the University Policies web page.