Faculty Handbook Revision: Bylaws

The Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Handbook Revision is working to update and consolidate the Faculty Handbook and nine appendices into one document. Specifically, it has developed a draft proposal combining the materials into one handbook, deleting all but three appendices, and referring to policies that exist elsewhere.

At the May 6 Senate meeting, President Dupont briefed Senators on the draft proposed changes to bylaws one through five. Key changes include:

• Adds language stipulating that secret ballots are to be used when there are multiple candidates for an office (BL 2)
• Clarifies that Faculty Senate vacancies are to be filled by nominations from college governance bodies, not through Senate Executive Council (BL 3)
• Adds Senate Election timeline (BL 4)
• Clarifies that only new and continuing Senators vote for new Exec members at last meeting of the year (BL  4) 
• Adds language stipulating that Senators are expected to regularly attend Senate meetings (BL 5)
• Refers to AIP Standard Code for Parliamentary Procedure for other conduct issues and how they will be addressed (BL 5)

The Faculty Senate will vote on each section of the revised handbook separately, with a final vote on the omnibus document before it is submitted to the Board of Trustees for final adoption.

The Senate unanimously approved a motion by Ron Helms and seconded to adopt the proposed changes on May 20, 2024.