Who We Are and What We Do (from the Faculty Senate Constitution)
The Faculty Senate of Black Hills State University is an elected body which expresses the faculty’s concerns for the welfare and improvement of the university through stimulating communications, formulating general university policy, and performing those duties and functions especially allocated to or assumed by the faculty.
The Faculty Senate constitutes the proper forum for faculty participation in policy and procedural determination with regard to those academic matters in which the faculty have expertise and responsibility and in all other areas that affect the faculty.
The Faculty Senate’s responsibilities will include but are not limited to making recommendations:
Standing Committees:
Ad hoc Committees and Sub-committees will be appointed as needed.
Senate-appointed liaisons to other campus committees (Done at the request of the non-Senate campus committee.)
Curriculum Handbook Committee bylaws and the curriculum process
ARTICLE I - PREAMBLE AND PURPOSE
Black Hills State University, under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents of the State of South Dakota, is a self-governing community of scholars in which faculty, staff, administration, and students all have legitimate and meaningful roles to play in the achievement of their common goals.
The actions taken by the Faculty Senate are subject to the limitations imposed by the laws of the State of South Dakota, the President of the University, and the Council of Higher Education’s (COHE)/Board of Regents’ (BOR) contract.
The Faculty Senate subscribes to and promotes the American Association of University Professors’ Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom.
ARTICLE II - NATURE, AUTHORITY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND DUTIES
Section 1
The Faculty Senate shall be the delegate assembly of the faculty through which the faculty members shall normally exercise their powers. “Faculty member” is defined as an employee of the Board of Regents included in the collective bargaining unit as defined in Appendix A of the BOR/COHE contract. Administrators, as defined by the BOR/COHE contract, shall neither participate in nor serve on the Faculty Senate.
Section 2
The Faculty Senate shall work toward the orderly development of the educational programs and policies of the university; facilitate communication and cooperation among officers of the administration and the university faculty; promote the continued improvement of higher education in the state of South Dakota; and strive to procure the best conditions possible for faculty instruction, research, and service.
Section 3
The Faculty Senate shall have the power to review, consider, recommend and in some cases determine policies pertaining to the general welfare of the university, the faculty, and the students. The Faculty Senate will present faculty positions on academic and other issues of university concern and examine and recommend to the President and/or the Board of Regents any action taken by a committee, council, college, school, department, or other administrative office of the university. Senate Constitution 2011—Page 2 of 4
a. for entrance requirements for students;
b. for the general education requirements for the university;
c. for the registration procedure;
d. for the academic catalog contents;
e. on requested courses and curriculum changes;
f. for graduation requirements;
g. for rules and regulations for the granting of honorary degrees by the institution;
h. for rules and regulations for the government and discipline of the students;
i. for rules and regulations for the organization, operation, and control of student organizations and group activities;
j. for rules and regulations to govern the conduct of all intercollegiate activities, including athletics;
k. for approval of degree, diploma, and certificate candidates;
l. for committees and committee members to function on behalf of the faculty.
Section 4
The Faculty Senate shall have the power to advise the University President on general budgetary policy and financial problems directly affecting the university.
Section 5
The Faculty Senate shall foster open and free communication between faculty and the administration. Any member of the faculty may request the Senate to consider, for discussion and possible action, topics of concern for the welfare and improvement of the university and higher education in South Dakota under the jurisdiction of the Senate.
Section 6
The Faculty Senate shall consider questions referred to it by the University President, the Provost and/or the President of the Faculty Senate.
Section 7
The Faculty Senate shall have the power to establish ad hoc and standing committees; establish rules, memberships and procedures for its committees; and review, approve, or veto the actions of the committees under its jurisdiction.
Section 8
Nothing in this article shall be construed as prohibiting consultation at all levels of the student, faculty, or administrative organization.
Section 9
Upon a written request, signed by twenty-five percent (25%) of the faculty, any action of the Faculty Senate may be reviewed at a general faculty meeting called within two weeks of the receipt of the request.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP AND ELECTIONS
Members of the Senate will be elected from their respective college. Each college will elect members as follows:
The length of a senator’s term shall be three (3) years. Terms will be staggered Senate Constitution 2011—Page 3 of 4
and no college shall choose senators with terms of equal length.
a. College of Business and Natural Sciences (Schools of Business and of Natural Sciences): Three (3) members: one (1) from each School and one (1) from the College at large.
b. College of Education and Behavioral Sciences (Schools of Education and of Behavioral Sciences): Three (3) members: one (1) from each School and one (1) from the College at large.
c. College of Liberal Arts (Schools of Arts and Humanities and of Math and Social Sciences): Three (3) members: one (1) from each School and one (1) from the College at large.
In the event a member is unable to assume or complete his/her term, a special election shall be held within the unit (School or College) from which the member was elected and the elected individual will complete the unexpired term.
Election of members shall be held each year no earlier than April 1 nor later than April 30.
Members elected in April will be seated at the first meeting held after April 30. In April the President shall solicit nominations for vacancies on the Senate caused by the expiration of terms or unexpected vacancies and oversee the election of the new members.
The Vice-president of the Faculty Senate shall act as chair of the election committee. The
President of the Faculty Senate shall appoint by March 1 two Senate members to serve on the election committee.
ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS
The officers of the Faculty Senate shall consist of a president, vice-president, and secretary. These officers shall constitute the executive committee of the Senate. The executive committee will coordinate and monitor the activities and actions of the Senate.
The President, Vice-president, and Secretary of the Senate shall be elected from the voting members of the Senate at the first meeting in May. The persons elected will assume office on
August 1. The college or school represented by the President shall elect an additional member to the Senate for the duration of the President’s service.
ARTICLE V - MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES
The Faculty Senate shall meet a minimum of once a month at the time and place determined by
the Senate. The Bylaws may provide for meetings more than once a month. (Bylaws, Article III,
Section 1)
Special meetings of the Senate shall be called by the President of the Faculty Senate or upon written request to the President of the Senate by one-half of the voting membership of the Senate. Senate Constitution 2011—Page 4 of 4
Senate meetings are open to all members of the faculty. Other university personnel besides the
Senate may participate in Senate discussions upon recognition by and notification to the
President of their intent. Other non-university persons may address the Senate if a quorum of the
senators vote to allow them to speak.
A majority of the members of the Faculty Senate shall constitute a quorum.
Two-thirds (2/3) of votes cast, provided a quorum is present, shall be sufficient in the Faculty
Senate to determine an issue or an election.
A proxy shall be recognized only if a senator notifies a Faculty Senate officer of the name of the
proxy holder before the scheduled meeting of the Senate. A proxy holder must be a member of
the same college as the absent senator. (See Bylaws, Article V, Section 1)
The definitive authority governing the Faculty Senate shall be Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised.
Within ten (10) days of approval of the minutes, the Faculty Senate shall distribute its minutes to the members of the faculty. The secretary shall record and report in the minutes the results of all
votes.
ARTICLE VI - SCHEDULE, AMENDMENTS, AND BYLAWS
This constitution shall go into effect immediately upon the affirmative vote of the two-thirds of
the voting membership of the Faculty Senate and the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the faculty
voting on the issue by written ballot.
Amendments to this constitution shall be proposed by a two-thirds vote of the voting
membership of the Faculty Senate and ratified by a two-thirds vote of the faculty voting on the
issue. The faculty vote will be by a written ballot.
The Faculty Senate may establish the initial bylaws by a vote of two-thirds of the faculty
members voting on the issue.
Adopted by the faculty on December 10, 1970
(Amended February 8, 1973)
(Amended November 1, 1989)
(Amended ________________, 1995)
(Amended September 10, 1998)
(Amended April 5, 2006)
IMPLEMENTATION CLAUSE: this Constitution and Bylaws will go into effect immediately after ratification by two-thirds (2/3) of the voting faculty in April 2008. (Amended April 16, 2008)
Amended in November 2011unanimously by the voting faculty.
BHSU FACULTY SENATE BYLAWS
ARTICLE I – BYLAWS
Bylaws may be adopted, repealed or amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members of the Senate. Proposed changes or additions must be submitted to the Senate President for distribution to Senate members one meeting prior to the meeting during which the vote is taken and must be placed on the printed agenda for the meeting.
ARTICLE II -- Officers and Duties
Section 1 - Office of President
A. The term of office of the Faculty Senate President shall be one year.
B. The Faculty Senate President will be elected from the body of the Faculty Senate.
C. The Faculty Senate President shall not serve more than two consecutive terms.
D. The Faculty Senate President will vote only when his or her vote will change the results of the vote.
Section 2 - Duties of the President
A. The President shall preside at the Faculty Senate meetings.
B. The President shall serve as a liaison between the faculty and the administration with the responsibility of presenting the faculty’s “point of view” on those issues considered by the administration that are of direct concern to the faculty of
Black Hills State University.
C. The Senate President shall transmit to the President of the University reports of the Secretary of the Senate concerning all recommendations approved (arrived at) by the Faculty Senate. The President of the University shall have thirty days after the receipt of such reports to exercise the privilege to veto. The Faculty Senate by a two-thirds vote may then return the issue to the President of the University for reconsideration.
D. The President and/or the Vice President shall ensure that Senate committees are meeting, chairs, and other officers have been elected, minutes are kept, and annual reports to the Senate are filed yearly in April. Annual reports will be kept by the University Archives.
Section 3 – Office and Duties of the Vice-President of the Faculty Senate
A. The term of office of the Vice-President shall be one year with no term limit.
B. The Vice-President will be elected from the body of the Faculty Senate. C. The Vice-President shall be a voting member of the Faculty Senate.
D. The Vice-President shall assume the office of the President of the Faculty Senate in the absence of the President.
E. The Vice-President will complete the term of the President when the President is unable to do so.
F. The Vice-President will be the Chair of the Distinguished Faculty Awards Committee and the Appointments Committee.
G. Upon leaving office, the (now former) Vice-President will become a one-year additional member on the Appointments Committee. Faculty Senate Bylaws April 2012—Page 2 of 4
Section 4 – Office and Duties of the Secretary of the Faculty Senate
A. The term of office of the Secretary will be one year, with no term limit.
B. The Secretary will be elected from the body of the Faculty Senate.
C. The Secretary of the Faculty Senate shall be a voting member.
D. The Secretary of the Faculty Senate will record all deliberations and actions of the Faculty Senate.
E. The Secretary will distribute the record of the proceedings to the Senate for approval by its next meeting.
F. The Secretary will distribute the record of the proceedings to the general faculty and administration.
ARTICLE III -- Schedule of Senate Meetings
The Faculty Senate shall schedule meetings for the afternoon of the first and third Wednesdays of each month from September to May, with the exception that there will be only one meeting scheduled in May.
The second meeting of the month will be held if there are any agenda items.
The Senate President, University Provost and/or University President may call special meetings for specific and clearly stated purposes.
ARTICLE IV -- Agenda Items
Agenda items will be printed and submitted to the Senate members at least one day before the Senate meetings.
Any faculty member may request in writing an item to be added to the official agenda of the
Faculty Senate by submitting the item to a Senate representative before a scheduled meeting
ARTICLE V -- Proxies
In the event a Senate member is unable to attend any regular or special meeting, the Senate member may:
A. Designate another faculty member from the member’s elective unit (school or college) to attend in their place by notifying a Faculty Senate officer.
B. The proxy shall have the same right and privileges as the regular member, with the exception that the regular member shall have the right to instruct the proxy on their voting preference on any specific issue on the Senate agenda and the proxy must honor the preference. Faculty Senate Bylaws April 2012—Page 3 of 4
ARTICLE VI – Committees
The Faculty Senate will establish the following committees if they are not already in existence.
Standing Committees
a. Appointments Committee (AC)
b. University Curriculum Committee (UCC)
c. Distinguished Faculty Awards Committee (DFAC)
d. General Education Committee (GEC)
e. Library/Education Media Committee (LEMC)
f. Ad hoc Committees and Sub-committees as Needed
The Faculty Senate will coordinate committee activities and assignments with COHE and the administration.
Each standing committee will elect a chair and other officers as needed.
All committees will meet in September. Other meetings may be scheduled during the year as needed.
Each committee will keep minutes of its meetings and file an annual report with the Faculty Senate in April.
The membership of the committees will be determined by the Faculty Senate through the
Appointments Committee or directly by the Faculty Senate. All members of the committees will be chosen by the last meeting in May.
Section 6 - Standing Committees Functions
A. Appointments Committee (AC)
The Appointments Committee will supervise the filling of vacancies all Senate committees, except where the Senate appoints members directly. They will keep appropriate records of the terms of office and they will be in charge of keeping a file of the official records of all committee minutes. At the end of every year the committee will file a copy of all official records with BHSU Library Archives. The Vice President of the Faculty Senate chairs this committee and is a non-voting member. The membership of the committee shall include one member from each college. Regular terms will be three (3) years, staggered at one-year intervals, with terms expiring in the spring. Upon leaving office, the (now former) Vice-President will become a one-year additional member on the Appointments Committee.
B. University Curriculum Committee (UCC)
The Curriculum Committee will be responsible for studying, approving, and making recommendations to the Senate concerning any changes made in the curriculum in any area of the University. This will include course and program request changes. The membership of the committee shall include three members from each college. Regular terms for members from each college will be three Faculty Senate Bylaws April 2012—Page 4 of 4
(3) years, staggered at one-year intervals so terms of one member from each college will expire each spring.
C. Distinguished Faculty Awards Committee (FAC)
The Distinguished Faculty Awards Committee will be responsible for recommending a nominee for the award to the Senate and the Provost, as established in the policy approved in 2011. They may establish other faculty awards as they deem appropriate.
The Vice President of the Faculty Senate chairs the committee and is non-voting member. The committee is composed of all those who have previously received this award, who serve until they retire or leave the university.
D. General Education Committee (GEC)
The General Education Committee will be responsible for studying, approving, and making recommendations to the Senate concerning the general education requirements for BHSU students; and for preparing and writing the General Education assessment report for the Assessment Committee. The committee is composed of at least nine (9) faculty members, chosen for their contributions to, knowledge of, and interest in general education. There must be at least one member from each college. Terms are for three (3) years and are staggered.
E. Library/Educational Media Committee (LEMC)
The Library/Educational Media Committee will make recommendations to the Director of the Library and the Coordinator of the Educational Media Center for the acquisition and distribution of materials and the implementation of procedures and policies relating to the Library and the Educational Media Center. The committee is composed of at least eight (8) members, chosen for their interest in and use of the library. There must be at least one member from each of the colleges. Terms are for three years and are staggered.
Bylaws adopted __________________, 1995
Approved by Senate: February 15, 1995
Amended September 10, 1998
Amended April 5, 2006
Amended April 16, 2008
IMPLEMENTATION CLAUSE: this Constitution and Bylaws will go into effect immediately after ratification by two-thirds (2/3) of the faculty in April 2008.
Bylaws Article III amended May 4, 2011.
Bylaws amended April 18, 2012.
BHSU Faculty Senate.