From:

ad hoc Committee on Faculty Roles and Rewards

Re:

Proposal to Create a Faculty Senate at NDSU

It is the recommendation of the Committee that the current University Senate be replaced with a Faculty Senate composed only of nonadministrative faculty, with concurrent reconfiguration of the Executive Committee.

Justification:

1. Results of the 1995 Faculty Morale Survey - There was general agreement, although not a clear mandate, that NDSU faculty desire a separate Faculty Senate (3.9 agreement rating, with "3" indicating a neutral position and "4" indicating "agree"). The item to which faculty responded was the following: "Nonadministrative faculty at NDSU should be represented by a separate faculty senate."

2. Symmetry - At NDSU, students and staff have separate senates, while also having representation (albeit minority representation) on the University Senate.

3. Community of Peers - All members of the Faculty Senate would have equal status with respect to their faculty roles. Since no member would be subject to administrative evaluation by another with regard to position security or advancement, discussion could proceed free of actual or perceived intimidation. Issues could first be aired within a forum of peers, while the input of administrators, students, or staff could then be invited at the discretion of the faculty.

4. Timing - With a new president and several administrative positions filled on an interim basis, this may represent an opportune time to explore alternative forms of faculty governance.

Substantive Changes from Present System*

1. Name Change - The University Senate would become the Faculty Senate.

2. Definition of Faculty - Faculty would be defined as those individuals on the Fargo campus holding a full-time, nonadministrative position in resident instruction, research, or extension, with a rank of instructor or higher.

3. Membership - Members would be nonadministrative faculty. There would be no permanent members, administrators, students, or staff.

4. Elected Officers - Elected officers of the Faculty Senate would be the Presiding Officer, Presiding Officer-Elect, and Secretary.

5. Executive Council - The current Executive Committee would be replaced by an Executive Council composed of representative membership from administration and the three senates. Minimally, the Presiding Officer and Presiding Officer-Elect of the Faculty Senate would represent the faculty on the Council.

6. Committees - Two categories of committees would be established: 1) those attending to faculty issues and reporting directly to the Faculty Senate, and 2) those addressing issues affecting all University constituents and reporting to the Executive Council.

   Committees of the Faculty Senate:

   • Standing Committee on Faculty Rights
   • Faculty Personnel Committee
   • Teaching and Professional Service Committee
   • Faculty Development Committee
   • Research and Consulting Committee
   • Academic Integrity Committee
   • Nominating Committee (new)
   • Budget Advisory Committee (new)
   • Administrative Evaluation Committee (new)
   • Faculty Roles and Rewards Committee (new)

   Committees of the Executive Council:

   • Academic Affairs Committee
   • Library Committee
   • Campus Space and Facilities Committee
   • Computer Planning and Goals Committee
   • Scheduling and Registration Committee
   • University Athletics Committee
   • Student Affairs Committee
   • Public Events and University Affairs Committee
   • Program Review Committee
   • General Education Committee

   *Details of the proposed changes may be found in the revised Constitution and Bylaws.

Actions of Faculty Senate committees would be subject to approval by the Senate, with such actions then reported to the President or the President's designee.

Actions of the Executive Council would be reported to the Senate and may be subject to approval by any or all of the Council's constituents.

Implications for Faculty

Possible implications include:
• increased faculty voice
• increased faculty autonomy
• increased faculty accountability
• increased faculty workload
• increased opportunity for interdisciplinary communication among faculty
• decreased immediacy of administrative, student, and staff input on issues