II. CAMPUS GOVERNANCE

 

The Education Law* established the Board of Trustees and charged it with the responsibility for and the conduct of the University. The Trustees, in turn, have promulgated Policies that represent a constitution providing basic principles of policy and organization. These Policies vest authority in the Chancellor of the University and in campus presidents. The Policies delineate the responsibilities of the President, in general to "administer the college for which he or she serves" and to "promote its development and effectiveness."

 

Article X of the Policies, among its other provisions, empowers and directs the faculty to develop by- laws for the conduct of its affairs. Substantive actions taken in the course of that conduct are advisory upon the President and are a recognition of the President's legal authority. Furthermore, the provisions in those by- laws concerning consultation--how, when, where, and in what form the President consults with the faculty--are subject to the President's approval. It is understood, of course, that by- laws often contain procedures for consultation among faculty in addition to provisions for presidential consultation with faculty. The latter alone is addressed in Article X.

 

When the President accepts provisions of local by- laws concerning consultation, the Trustees, through Article X, as well as the Chancellor, respect this endorsement. These provisions become thereby part of local policy, and provide a framework for campus governance.

 

--------------------

 

*Education Law 354 and 355

 

FACULTY BYLAWS

(Current as of November 2007)

 

PREAMBLE

 

These Bylaws are enacted by the voting faculty of the State University of New York at Binghamton to establish powers, organization, and procedures necessary for the performance of its responsibilities consistent with the Policies of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York.

                               

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Terms. As used in these Bylaws, unless otherwise specified, the following terms shall mean:

 

            a. SUNY.  State University of New York.

 

            b. The President.  The President of the State University of New York at Binghamton.

 

c. The Provost.  The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the State

University of New York at Binghamton.

 

            d. Faculty.

 

1. The Chancellor, the President, and all members of the academic staff of the State University of New York at Binghamton having academic rank or qualified academic rank. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in November 1993)  For the purposes of these Bylaws, a Bartle Professor shall be considered to retain academic rank in the title held at the time of appointment as Bartle Professor. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in April 1997)

 

                        2. Members emeriti.

 

e. Voting Faculty.  The Chancellor, the President, the Provost, and all faculty members having academic rank (Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Instructor, Librarian, Associate Librarian, Senior Assistant Librarian, and Assistant Librarian) and term or continuing appointment; the foregoing includes administrative appointees with concurrent academic rank and Bartle Professors.  There shall be a five-year limit to the voting status of Bartle Professors from the time of their initial appointment as Bartle Professor. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in April 1997)   Persons having temporary academic appointments or qualified academic rank may be included in the Voting Faculty upon the recommendation of the appropriate academic units and with the approval of the Provost.

 

f. Faculty in Residence.  Those members of the faculty whose duty assignments require their presence on campus and those faculty who will be on campus without duty assignments but declare their wish at the beginning of the semester to be listed in residence.

 

g. Academic Year.  For the purposes of these Bylaws, the academic year shall be designated as beginning on September 1 and ending on August 31 of the following calendar year.

 

h. Academic Subdivisions.  Organizational entities below the level of the State University of New York at Binghamton based on academic considerations.  Academic subdivisions include:

 

1. Academic Units.  The constituent schools of the State University of New York at Binghamton; the Library; and the Department of Health, Physical Education and Athletics.*

 

2. Academic Sub-units.  Departments in departmentalized schools; any program with its own personnel berth that is temporarily housed in the Graduate School. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in December 2004)

 

i. Graduate School.  For purposes of Article III, Title B and Article VI, Title A of these Bylaws, the Graduate School is not considered an academic unit but if an academic sub-unit is housed in the Graduate School it will be considered an academic sub-unit for the purpose of representation on the Faculty Senate. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in December 2004)

 

 

 * As of the fall semester of 2006, the constituent schools of the State University of New York at Binghamton include: Decker School of Nursing; School of Education; College of Community and Public Affairs; Harpur College of Arts and Sciences; School of Management; Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science; and the Graduate School.

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Title A.  Legislative Powers

 

The voting faculty shall have the power to legislate as necessary for performance of its responsibilities as determined by the Board of Trustees.

 

The voting faculty is responsible, individually and collectively, for the maintenance of academic standards, including requirements for admission subject to the State University of New York at Binghamton's obligation to SUNY, recommendations for granting degrees, the development of the educational program, and the conduct of the instructional, research, and service programs of the State University of New York at Binghamton.  The faculty shall have the power to review administrative actions affecting matters within the area of its responsibilities.

 

The faculty shall participate in the process of appointment of senior-level academic administrators, such participation normally to be in the form of membership on search committees.

 

In general the Bylaws, policies, and procedures established by the Faculty Senate shall be binding on the legislative bodies of academic subdivisions.  Similarly, the Bylaws, policies and procedures of the legislative bodies of schools and colleges shall be binding on any academic subdivision within them.

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURES

 

Title A.  Faculty Meetings

 

1. Regular and Special Meetings.  The President shall call and preside over a meeting of the faculty once a semester and, at his/her discretion, may call other meetings.  He/she shall call special meetings if petitioned to do so in writing by at least 15 percent of the faculty in residence.

 

2. Agenda.  Agenda for each regular or special faculty meeting must be announced and proposals for action must be distributed to the faculty at least 72 hours before the meeting.

 

3. Quorum.  A quorum for regular or special meetings shall consist of two-fifths of the voting faculty in residence.

 

4. Secretary of the Faculty.  The Secretary of the Senate shall serve as Secretary of the Faculty.

 

5. Procedures Committee.  The Procedures Committee of the Faculty Senate shall also serve as the Procedures Committee of the Faculty and shall assist the President in developing the agenda for meetings of the Faculty.  In general its responsibilities shall be the same as outlined in Article III, Title B. 9. a. of these Bylaws.

 

6. Faculty Minutes.  Under the direction of the Secretary of the Faculty, minutes of each faculty meeting shall be prepared and distributed to the faculty.  In addition, permanent files will be kept by the President, the Director of Libraries (file housed in the University Archives), and the Secretary of the Senate.

 

7. Procedures.  Procedures of the faculty meetings shall conform to the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order and may be amended by the voting faculty.

 

Title B. Faculty Senate

 

1. Powers and Functions.  There shall be a Faculty Senate empowered to act for and to represent the voting faculty of the State University of New York at Binghamton.  The faculty recognizes the Professional Employees Council as the appropriate representative body for the professional employees of the State University of New York at Binghamton. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in March 1993)

 

2. Qualifications of Elected Members.  All voting faculty having at least one year of full-time faculty experience at this institution at any time they take office shall be eligible for election to the Faculty Senate.

 

            3. Representation.  Representation shall be by academic unit and by academic sub-unit.

 

a. The President and the Provost shall be members of the Senate ex officio and shall not be counted as representing an academic unit or sub-unit.

 

b. Election of senators shall be by academic unit in non-departmentalized units, and by academic sub-unit in departmentalized units.  Administrative officers with concurrent academic rank shall be counted as members of the respective academic units or sub-units to which they have been assigned, and are eligible for election as senators.  Units or sub-units having at least 5 and fewer than 11 members shall elect one senator.  Units or sub-units having at least 12 but no more than 19 members shall elect 2 senators.  Units or sub-units having more than 19 but no more than 27 members shall elect 3 senators. Units or sub-units having more than 27 but no more than 35 members shall elect 4 senators. Units or sub-units having more than 35 members shall elect 5 senators. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in November 2007)  Units or sub-units having fewer than 5 members may elect one senator or may, by mutual agreement, combine with another sub-unit for the purpose of representation on the Faculty Senate.  If either option is chosen, the sub-unit must notify the Secretary of the Faculty Senate, in writing, of its decision to exercise this option; this notification must be given prior to the next scheduled election.  (See Article III.B.6.b. below.)  Such sub-units that do not choose one of these options will not be represented on the Faculty Senate.  (See Article I.h. above.) (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in December 2004)

 

c. The Professional Employees Council may designate a professional employee to serve as non-voting liaison with the Faculty Senate with the right of full participation in debates.

           

d. The Graduate Student Organization may designate a graduate student to serve as non-voting liaison with the Faculty Senate with the right of full participation in debates. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in March 2001)

 

e. The Student Association may designate an undergraduate student to serve as non-voting liaison with the Faculty Senate with the right of full participation in debates. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in March 2001)

 

f. The Faculty Senate shall include the faculty member who is the elected representative to the SUNY-wide Faculty Senate, and this representative shall not be counted against the number of representatives allotted to his/her academic unit or sub-unit.

 

4. Presiding Officer.  The presiding officer shall be the Chairperson of the Senate (also serves as Chairperson of the Procedures Committee, see Section 9) or in his/her absence the Vice Chairperson of the Senate.  In the event of the absence of both of the above, the presiding officer pro tem shall be the Chairperson of the Executive Committee or his/her designee.

 

            5. Executive Committee.  There shall be an Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate.

 

                        a. Duties.

 

i. To report to the Faculty Senate on matters of concern to the faculty that have come to its attention.  The Executive Committee shall have the discretion to:

 

(a) Refer questions or requests it may receive for consideration to the appropriate faculty committee.

 

                                    (b) Make recommendations to the Faculty Senate on pending legislation.

 

(c) Consider matters in confidence when appropriate.

 

(d) Establish and maintain communication with appropriate policy making individuals and groups.

 

ii. To present faculty interests and views, and strengthen the role of the faculty in university policy making.

 

b. Composition. The Executive Committee shall consist of seventeen (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in March 2006, May 2007) members of the State University of New York at Binghamton voting faculty.  Administrative officers with concurrent academic rank are not eligible for election to the Executive Committee nor may they serve as an observer on the Executive Committee.  These include but are not limited to:  the president, the provost, vice presidents, vice provosts, the deputy to the president, the deans and associate deans, and the directors of the library and athletics. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in November 2007). Voting faculty will be distributed as follows: 

 

i. Nine from Harpur College of Arts and Sciences, distributed as equally as possible among the divisions of the School; such distribution to be determined by the Committee on Committees.  Each division shall be considered a separate constituency for the purpose of this Article.

                                   

ii. Two from the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in March 2006)

 

iii. Six (Approved by faculty in May 2007), distributed one each from the Library; Health, Physical Education and Athletics; Decker School of Nursing; School of Education; College of Community and Public Affairs; and School of Management.

 

iv. The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Senate and the Faculty Senator representing the faculty to the SUNY Faculty Senate shall be ex officio voting members of the Executive Committee and, if not already a member of the Executive Committee, the size of the Executive Committee shall be (temporarily) increased. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in March 2006)

 

v. If one of the academic units listed in parts B.5.b.i. or B.5.b.ii or B.5.b.iii (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in March 2006) has fewer than 8 voting faculty, that unit will not have a member on the Executive Committee and the size of the Executive Committee will be reduced accordingly.  Such a unit may send a non-voting observer from among its voting faculty to Executive Committee meetings. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in December 2004)

              

c. Officers.  The Executive Committee shall elect its own chairperson, who shall serve for a two-year term. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in May 2000)

 

d. Faculty Senate Membership.  Faculty elected to the Executive Committee need not have been elected to the Faculty Senate prior to their election to the Executive Committee.  Once elected to the Executive Committee one automatically becomes a member of the Faculty Senate.  (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in December 2004)

 

 

            6. Election.

 

a. Executive Committee.  The annual election for members of the Executive Committee shall be in March.

 

i. Nominations for election shall be by petition within each of the constituencies defined in 5. b. above.

 

(a) Each constituency shall nominate candidates from the constituency to a number at least twice as many as the constituency's membership on the Executive Committee. Nominating petitions must be signed by 10 percent of the constituency, or 15 constituents, whichever number is smaller.

 

(b) Should the number of candidates nominated by any constituency be insufficient, the Executive Committee shall nominate from among the entire constituency additional candidates in order to reach the minimum required number.

 

ii. Elections shall be by constituencies.  A written ballot shall be submitted to each faculty member listing all the nominees from the constituency. The faculty member may vote for no more than the number to which the constituency is entitled. When more than one nominee is to be elected from the constituency, voters are to rank order their preferences. In such cases each nominee will receive a total vote based upon rank orders, as follows:  Rank 1 is accorded the weight of 3 votes; Rank 2 is accorded 2 votes; Rank 3 or less is accorded 1 vote.  Within each constituency those nominees receiving the highest number of votes will be elected.

 

b. The annual election for the remaining members of the Faculty Senate shall be in April.

 

i. From a list of those eligible to serve, each department in a school that is organized by departments; Health, Physical Education and Athletics; schools that are not organized by departments, and the Library shall elect the appropriate number of representatives.

 

(a) The appropriate number of representatives shall be obtained by subtracting the number of representatives elected from a department or school to the Executive Committee from the total number of representatives allocated to the department or school.

 

(b) If a department in Harpur College of Arts and Sciences should have a greater number of members elected to the Executive Committee than is apportioned to the department from 3. g. of this Article, all members elected to the Executive Committee will be permitted to serve and the maximum number of Faculty Senators shall be increased accordingly.

 

ii. The method for all regular and special elections shall be determined by the Committee on Committees and approved by the Faculty Senate.

 

iii. If a representative is unable or unwilling to meet regularly with the Senate, the delegation of which he/she is a member may declare the seat vacant. Three unexcused absences during one year shall be considered an unwillingness to meet regularly with the Senate. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in May 2000)

 

iv. If a seat becomes vacant for any reason, the constituency represented shall hold a special election to fill the vacancy. If a seat is vacant because a representative is not in residence, the representative shall, upon returning, reclaim his/her seat for the unexpired portion of his/her term.  An interim replacement will, in this case, be elected by the constituency represented.

 

c. Term of Office.  The term of office of each member of the Faculty Senate (including the Executive Committee) is two years beginning the September l after election.  The terms of the Chairperson of the Faculty Senate and the Chairperson of the Executive Committee shall be automatically extended for a third year upon election to the chairperson position.  Furthermore, a member of the Faculty Senate (including the Executive Committee) may be re-elected to the Senate (including the Executive Committee) for one additional term. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in December 2004)   If a faculty member has served for two consecutive terms, (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in December 2004) he/she may not be re-elected until one year after the expiration of the previous term of office. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in May 2000)

 

            7. Quorum.  A quorum shall consist of one-half of the voting members.

 

8. Power of the Faculty to Rescind, Repeal, or Amend an Action of the Faculty Senate.  Any action of the Faculty Senate may be rescinded, repealed, or amended by the voting faculty provided:

 

a. A motion to consider an action of the Senate carried by a majority vote of the voting faculty present at any faculty meeting.

 

b. Thereafter, a substantive proposal concerning the action being considered is discussed and approved, after which mail ballots and copies of the proposal are distributed to the entire voting faculty.

 

c. A majority of those voting support the proposal, provided that at least two-thirds of the voting faculty vote.

 

d. Nothing in this section abrogates the power of the Faculty Senate to rescind, repeal, or amend its own actions.

 

            9. Procedures and Elected Officers.

 

a. Procedures.  There shall be a Committee on Procedures, consisting of the Chairperson of the Senate as Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson of the Senate, and the Secretary of the Senate.

    

i. This committee shall receive items for the agenda, and shall organize and present the agenda for each Senate meeting.  Copies of the agenda and proposal for action shall be distributed to members of Faculty Senate constituencies in residence at least 72 hours before regular Senate meetings.

 

ii. The Committee shall appoint a Parliamentarian who normally will not be a member of the Senate.  It shall be the duty of the Parliamentarian to meet with the Senate and the faculty and to advise on matters of parliamentary procedure.

 

iii. Procedures shall conform to Robert's Rules of Order, and may be amended by the Senate.

 

iv. Unless otherwise specified in these bylaws, ex officio members of committees and subcommittees are voting members.  Committee and sub-committee chairs have the right to vote or to break tie votes (their choice) but not both. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in December 2004)

 

b.      Elected Officers.  The Senate shall elect during the May meeting of the Senate the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson, and the Secretary of the Senate.

 

i. Chairperson.  The Chairperson shall be elected for a two-year term from among the returning Voting Faculty members of the Senate.  The election shall be held during the second year of the term of the chairperson of the Executive Committee. (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in March 2001) The duties of the Chairperson shall be:

 

                                                (a) To preside over meetings of the Senate.

           

(b) To serve as an ex officio voting (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in March 2006) member of the Executive Committee.

 

(c) To assume such other duties as may be delegated to him/her by the Senate Bylaws.

 

ii. Vice Chairperson of the Senate.  The Vice Chairperson shall be elected from among the returning Voting Faculty members of the Senate. The Vice Chairperson shall perform the duties of the Chairperson during his/her absence and shall be an ex officio voting member of the Executive Committee.  (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in March 2006)

 

iii. Secretary of the Senate.  The Secretary of the Senate shall be elected from among the returning members of the Senate.  The duties of the Secretary of the Senate shall be:

 

(a) To be responsible for the minutes and the records of the Senate.

 

                                                (b) To send out notices of meetings and agenda.

 

                                                (c) To perform such duties as the Senate may prescribe.

 

            10. Nominating Committee.

 

a. The members of the Executive Committee whose terms are expiring will serve as the Nominating Committee of the Senate.

 

b. The Nominating Committee shall prepare, for the succeeding academic year, a slate of nominees for Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Secretary of the Senate.

 

c. The Committee shall submit its slate of nominees in writing to all Senators at least 10 days before the May meeting of the Senate.  Additional nominations may be made by a petition of five members of the Senate and shall be submitted to the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee at least five days before the May meeting. The complete slate shall be circulated with the agenda for the May meeting. If there is more than one nominee for an office, voting for that office shall be by secret ballot.

 

            11. Meetings.

 

a. The Senate shall hold regular meetings in September, December, February, and May of each academic year.  Additional meetings shall be called by the Procedures Committee as agenda items warrant.  Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson of the Senate or Vice Chairperson, or by petition of at least 15 percent of the Senate. Written notice of all Senate meetings shall be given to all members of Faculty Senate constituencies at least 72 hours in advance.  If 72-hour notice has not been given, a waiver of this requirement may be moved and passed by a two-thirds vote at the meeting.

 

b. Members of Faculty Senate constituencies have the right to attend all meetings of the Faculty Senate as observers.  Upon recognition by the Chair, any faculty member may address the Senate.

 

                        c. No provision here abrogates the right of the faculty to meet as a full faculty.

 

12. Minutes.  Under the direction of the Secretary, minutes of each Senate meeting shall be prepared and distributed to members of Faculty Senate constituencies.  In addition, permanent files shall be kept by the President, the Director of Libraries (file housed in the University Archives), and the Secretary of the Senate.

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

FACULTY COMMITTEES

 

Title A.  Scope

 

Nothing in this Article IV shall apply to any of the committees established pursuant to Article VII of these Faculty Bylaws.

 

Title B.  Types of Committees

 

1. Committees of the Faculty Senate.  The Faculty Senate determines the charges and compositions of these committees, which may be either standing or ad hoc and which may be designated as task forces, commissions, or the like.  These committees report to the Senate to provide information or to propose action as appropriate. Changes in the appendix which lists committees and charges are not changes in the Faculty Bylaws and require approval only of the Executive Committee and of the Faculty Senate, subject to normal prerogatives of rescission by the voting faculty (Article III. Title B. 8.). 

 

2. Joint Committees.  These committees are formed through cooperation between or among the President, the Provost, other officials or appropriate bodies, and the Faculty Senate.  Any of the foregoing may initiate the establishment of such a committee.  These committees may be either standing or ad hoc, and may be designated as task forces, commissions, or the like.  The charge and composition of each joint committee are determined cooperatively by the Faculty Senate and the other officials or bodies involved.  Joint committees report to the Faculty Senate and to the other officials or bodies to provide information or to propose action as appropriate.  These committees shall carry out the responsibility of the faculty as stated in The Policies of the Board of Trustees: to participate significantly in the initiation, development and implementation of the educational program.

 

3. University-Wide Committees with Faculty as Members.  The President, the Provost, or other University officials may bring together groups from various University constituencies for special purposes.  The committees may be designated as task forces, committees, commissions, or the like, and may include faculty among their members.  Administrators who convene such University committees shall consult with the Faculty Senate concerning their charge and composition.  Faculty members on such committees who formally represent faculty governance will be chosen from lists provided by the Faculty Senate.  Other faculty members may also be chosen by the committee’s convener to serve on these groups.  The chair of each group will be appointed by its convener.  These committees are responsible to their conveners.  The work of each group should be shared with the Faculty Senate and the University community. 

 

Title C. General Provisions

 

1. Committee Membership.  The Faculty Senate Executive Committee shall select the faculty membership of the committees of the Faculty Senate and of joint committees.  The membership of committees shall be reported to the Faculty Senate in a timely manner, and shall be included in the Minutes of the Senate.

 

2. Ex Officio Members.  The President and the Provost, or their designees, shall be non-voting members of all standing committees of the Faculty Senate, except the Professional Standards Committee.  With the agreement of the President, the Faculty Senate may exempt any committee from this provision.

 

3. Term of Office.  The term of office of members of standing committees shall be two years, unless otherwise specified, and shall begin on the first day of the academic year following the election.  Terms of office may be successive.  Approximately one-half of the membership of each committee shall be elected each year.  If a committee member cannot serve or fails to serve for any reason, the Faculty Senate Executive Committee may designate a replacement.

 

4. Date of Election.  Standing committees are to assume their charges on the first day of the academic year for which they are elected.  The Executive Committee shall elect standing committees by the May 1 prior to the academic year in which such committees are to assume their charges.

 

5. Committee Chairs.  The Faculty Senate Executive Committee shall designate the chairs of the committees of the Faculty Senate.  Chairs of joint committees shall be determined cooperatively by the Faculty Senate and the other officials or bodies involved.  The committee chair of each standing committee shall call a meeting within the first month of the new academic year.

 

6. Reports.  Each committee of the Faculty Senate and each joint committee shall submit an annual report, with a summary of its activities for the academic year, by June 15.  All such reports shall be received by the Faculty Senate and placed on the agenda of the first meeting of the following academic year for purposes of information or proposed action.

 

7. Listing.  The list of standing committees, both of the Faculty Senate and joint, together with their respective charges and compositions, shall be published as an Appendix to the Faculty Bylaws.

 

Title D. Committee on Committees

 

            There shall be a Committee on Committees that shall assist the Executive Committee in the election of standing committees of the faculty and that shall provide advice as appropriate on nominations for ad hoc, joint, and University-wide committees with faculty as members.  The Committee on Committees is not a standing committee of the Faculty Senate, but shall instead report to the Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee shall elect the membership of the Committee on Committees.

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

EXTRAMURAL REPRESENTATION

OF THE VOTING FACULTY

 

Title A. Faculty Senate of SUNY

 

1. Election.  The voting faculty, in conjunction with the professional employees, shall, by secret ballot, elect its representatives to the Faculty Senate for a three-year term.  The faculty representative shall be elected from a slate of two or more candidates nominated by the Committee on Committees.  In like manner, one alternate shall be elected.

 

2. Duties.  The Senator or his/her alternate shall represent the voting faculty of the State University of New York at Binghamton in the SUNY Senate and shall serve as an ex officio voting member of the Executive Committee and the Faculty Senate.  (Approved by faculty in mail ballot in March 2006)

 

 

Title B. Special Representation

 

            The Chairperson of the State University of New York at Binghamton Faculty Senate shall be the official representative of the voting faculty, and in his/her absence, the Vice Chairperson of the Senate.  In the event of the absence of both of the above, the official representative shall be the Chairperson of the Executive Committee or his/her designee.

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

FACULTY ORGANIZATION FOR

INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES

 

Title A. General Organization

 

1. Academic Units and Sub-units.  In order to fulfill its educational and instructional responsibilities as defined in Article II. Title B of these Bylaws, the academic staff shall be organized by academic units and sub-units based on academic function. All academic staff shall be assigned to an academic unit or sub-unit by the President after consultation with the appropriate faculty of that academic unit or sub-unit.

 

2. Deans and Directors.  The Dean or Director of an academic unit shall be appointed by the President in accordance with the following procedures.

 

a. A search committee, consisting of members elected by the unit faculty and such other members whom the President may appoint, shall examine the credentials of prospective candidates and submit recommendations to the President.

 

b. Should the Office of Dean or Director become vacant, or in the Dean's or Director's absence, the President, after consultation with the unit faculty, shall appoint an Acting Dean or Director.

 

            3. Sub-unit Chairpersons or Director of Sub-units.

 

a. Department Chairpersons and Program Directors.  Department Chairpersons and Program Directors shall be appointed by the President in accordance with the Policies of the Board of Trustees.  To assist the President in selecting such officers, the department or program shall institute appropriate consultative procedures.  The term of office shall be three years and renewable.  Whenever such an officer is not in residence or cannot serve for any other reason, an acting Chairperson or Director shall be appointed in accordance with the above procedures.

 

            4. Governance.

 

a. The faculty of each academic unit shall, by a majority vote, establish Bylaws for discharging those functions within its jurisdiction.  The Bylaws and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Faculty Senate for review and appropriate action.

 

b. The faculty of each sub-unit may collectively decide upon procedures for discharging its functions and responsibilities.  These procedures, if approved by a majority of the voting members of the sub-unit, shall be adopted as sub-unit Bylaws.  The Bylaws of the sub-unit are subject to review and approval by the academic unit to which the sub-unit belongs.  If the procedures for the sub-unit are not codified, the sub-unit must operate within the policies and procedures established by the academic unit. 

 

5. Order of Faculty Business. Normally faculty business shall proceed from lower to higher levels of faculty organization, but nothing in this Article shall contravene the right of any individual or academic unit or sub-unit to bring business to any level of faculty organization or to any administrative officer. 

 

Title B.  Establishment and Elimination of Academic Units and Sub-units

 

            Except as mandated by the SUNY Board of Trustees, the establishment of a new academic unit or sub-unit at the State University of New York at Binghamton or the elimination of an academic unit or sub-unit shall require review by the Faculty Senate.  Upon completion of its review, the Faculty Senate shall transmit its recommendation to the President.

 

            A proposal for the establishment of a new academic unit shall be considered by the Educational Policies and Priorities Committee of the Faculty Senate for its review.

 

            A proposal for the establishment of a new academic sub-unit shall be considered by the academic unit to which the sub-unit belongs, and, if recommended, the proposal shall be submitted to the Faculty Senate for its review.

 

Title C.  Establishment and Elimination of Degree Programs

 

            Proposals for new degree programs shall be the responsibility of academic units.  The Faculty Senate shall review such proposals and make appropriate recommendations to the President.  Modifications of existing degree programs shall be the responsibility of the academic units having jurisdiction over them.  The elimination of any program leading to a degree at the State University of New York at Binghamton shall require review by the Faculty Senate.  Upon the completion of the review, the Faculty Senate shall transmit its recommendation to the President.

 

Title D.  Organization of the Graduate School