The Constitution and Bylaws of the Faculty Senate
The Constitution and Bylaws of the Faculty Senate
- The Constitution of the Faculty Senate
The Faculty Senate of Jackson State Community College is the representative body elected
by the faculty.
The Faculty Senate of Jackson State Community College facilitates the active participation
of faculty in all matters of academic and administrative governance.
Purpose
The purposes of the Faculty Senate of Jackson State Community College are to:
- serve as a forum for the expression of all matters related to faculty welfare, college
governance, and academic interests;
- advocate on behalf of faculty in all matters related to faculty welfare, college governance,
and academic interests;
- communicate faculty concerns and interests to appropriate administrators or areas
of the college;
- pass resolutions related to faculty welfare, college governance, and academic interests;
- promote camaraderie and morale among the faculty.
Organization
- Representation- The Faculty Senate consists of representatives of the faculty to be elected as indicated
below. The term “Faculty” is defined in the TBR policy No. 5:02:01:00. As per this definition of “Faculty,” adjunct faculty members do not have elected
or appointed representatives on the Faculty Senate.
Representation to the Faculty Senate will be proportional to the number of full-time
faculty serving the institution. Each division will have a minimum of two (2) elected
representatives, and divisions with more than twenty faculty will have a third elected
representative.
In addition to the above, two (2) at-large faculty representatives are elected through
a popular vote by the full-time faculty.
Each person elected to serve as a Senate member serves a term of office for two (2)
years and is eligible for re-election without term limits. Newly elected members begin
their term of service on the day after spring commencement. Once elected, a Senate
member will fulfill their term of service even if the number of constituents in their
respective division drops. Senate membership will never fall below 12 members. If,
for any reason, the total number of representatives to be elected from academic divisions
falls below 10, additional at-large representatives will be elected, such that the
Senate’s total number of representatives equals 12.
The past Senate President will serve in an advisory, non-voting role in an ex-officio
position for the year immediately following their term of office. If the outgoing
Senate President still has a year remaining in their elected term of office, they
will keep their voting privileges and will advise the current Senate President as
needed.
- Election of Senate Members– The following guidelines are observed in the election of Senate members:
- The election for Senate members takes place during the first two weeks of April.
- Representation is on a staggered-term basis.
- Ballots are distributed by and returned to the Senate Vice President who tabulates
the votes and announces election results.
- During the April meeting, the Senate members elect the Executive Committee (Faculty
Senate President, Faculty Senate Vice President, and Faculty Senate Secretary), which
serves throughout the next academic year. Voting eligibility is restricted to Senate
members and members-elect who serve during the upcoming academic year. The Senate
President, Senate Vice President, and Secretary serve one (1) year terms and may be
re-elected.
- In the event that any duly-elected Senate member is unable to fulfill the duties of
office for a semester or more, the Senate initiates the election of a substitute representative
to serve until the original member is able to resume service or until the expiration
of the term. The mode of election of a substitute representative is the same as the
method observed in the election of the original member. Such a substitute is eligible
for re-election to the Senate at the next regular election.
- Any vacancy occurring on the Senate during the academic year with at-large representatives
may be filled, upon recommendation of a qualified candidate, by the affirmative two-thirds
(2/3) vote of Senate members.
- Any Senate member may resign at any time by filing a resignation with the Senate President.
- Any Senate member may be recalled by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of their constituency.
- Senate-elect and officers-elect will begin their official term of service at the end
of Spring Commencement exercises.
- Eligibility: Given the sensitive nature of discussion during Senate meetings and in
order to promote and encourage free discourse, faculty serving as deans are not eligible
for election to the Faculty Senate.
- TBR Faculty Sub-Council Representative– A full-time faculty member is elected to attend the quarterly TBR Faculty Sub-Council
meetings in Nashville. This position serves in an advisory role to the Faculty Senate
and is without voting privileges. The term of office is three (3) years, beginning
on the day after spring commencement, and is eligible for re-election. The election
of this representative follows the process described in section B. This representative
may be recalled by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the faculty.
Meetings
The Faculty Senate meets monthly during the academic year. The Senate President has
the authority to call a meeting of the Senate at any time of the year, including the
summer months.
The Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate meets with the Vice President of Academic
Affairs monthly and as needed.
Officers and Their Responsibilities
The Executive Committee of Faculty Senate includes:
- Faculty Senate President
It is the responsibility of the Senate President to:
- preside over Senate meetings,
- report the proceedings of Senate meetings directly to the Vice President of Academic
Affairs,
- serve as faculty marshal for the commencement exercises,
- attend the President’s Cabinet meetings,
- prepare an end-of-year report of any outstanding business items and submit it to the
Faculty Senate,
- attend the TBR Faculty Sub-Council meetings in Nashville if the elected faculty representative
is unable to attend,
- serve on the Foundation Board of Trustees and all other committee work as assigned.
- Faculty Senate Vice President
It is the responsibility of the Senate Vice President to:
- preside in the absence of the Senate President,
- serve as the liaison to adjunct faculty,
- attend the TBR Faculty Sub-Council meetings in Nashville if both the elected faculty
representative and Senate President are unable to attend.
In the event that the Senate President’s position becomes vacant, the Senate Vice
President will complete the Senate President’s term. An election for Senate Vice President
will be held among the members of the Faculty Senate.
- Faculty Senate Secretary
It is the responsibility of the Senate Secretary to:
- keep accurate and complete minutes of each Senate meeting and post each set of minutes
to jWeb after approval,
- preside over Senate meetings in the absence of the Senate President and Senate Vice
President.
Faculty Senate Duties
The duties of the Faculty Senate are as follows:
- Hold regularly scheduled meetings, which are designated as an open session, closed
session, or an executive session, depending on the nature of the business being transacted.
- Inform both the administration and faculty of action taken by the Faculty Senate.
The Faculty Senate has the power to require either written notice of administrative
action taken or written notice of administrative refusal to act.
- Act in the best interest of the faculty, a principle which governs all Faculty Senate
actions.
- Publish a proposed agenda of topics before each meeting.
- Review and make recommendations for the revision of the Faculty Handbook and college
policies. The Faculty Senate is empowered to oversee and approve any alterations to
the Faculty Handbook.
- Faculty Senate members elected as a division representative are expected to keep their
division constituents aware of Senate proceedings.
- Faculty Senate members elected as at-large members are responsible for representing
and communicating with all faculty.
- In questions of voting, it is the responsibility of each member to act in the best
interests of their constituents.
- Each Senate member is expected to attend all meetings. Any member who is unable to
attend a regularly scheduled or special meeting must designate a proxy for that meeting
and notify the Senate President that a proxy has been designated. In the event that
the Senate member is incapable of appointing a proxy, the Senate President will request
that the faculty in that division nominate a proxy to attend the meeting.
- Senate members participate in college governance by ensuring faculty representation
on all college standing and ad hoc committees.
- The Senate President will appoint a committee to review the Faculty Senate Bylaw and
Constitution for possible revisions/updates on an annual basis.
Faculty Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of each faculty member to:
- contact a Senate representative to express any opinions and wishes concerning matters
under Senate consideration;
- abide by any Senate decision that is based on the majority will of the faculty.
- Bylaws of the Constitution of the Faculty Senate
Purpose
The purpose of these By-Laws is to supplement the Constitution of the Faculty Senate
and to provide procedural guidelines not available in the Constitution.
Meetings
- The time and place of the meetings are designated by the Senate President.
- A quorum to conduct business requires two-thirds (2/3) of the Senate members, with
all recommendations made on the basis of a simple majority. In the summer months,
the necessary quorum may be reduced upon consent of a simple majority of the Senate.
- Faculty members may attend any Senate meeting unless it is designated closed by the
Senate President, but they may not vote and may only address the Senate with the permission
of the Senate President. Non-faculty guests will attend Senate meetings only with
the Senate President’s approval.
- Senate meetings are concerned with matters outlined in the Constitution.
- All Senate meetings are announced, in writing, to Senate members and to the faculty-at-large
at least three (3) days prior to the scheduled time of the meeting.
- An elected member of Faculty Senate who misses three (3) consecutive meetings without
designating a proxy and informing the Senate President of such designation may be
subject to recall by action of the Senate.
Parliamentary Authority
All meetings of the Senate are conducted under the parliamentary procedure as outlined
in Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised. It is the Senate President’s prerogative to appoint an official Senate parliamentarian,
should it be deemed necessary.
Method of Action
- In its transactions with the administration or with the faculty, through the Vice
President of Academic Affairs, the Senate places its recommendations in writing, insofar
as possible, and the Senate may request a written response.
- All questions pertaining to Senate authority are referred to the Vice President of
Academic Affairs for clarification. The Vice President of Academic Affairs may refer
the question to the administration or to the faculty if deemed necessary.
Committees
- Senate members will serve on the college’s standing committees.
- In the event that special committees are selected by the Senate or the administration
has requested Senate representation on a special committee, the Faculty Senate President
will appoint a representative from the Senate to serve on the special committee(s).
- When selected to serve on a committee, the Faculty Senate member will report back
to the Senate, and the report will be recorded in official minutes.
- It is acceptable for a Faculty Senate member to serve on more than one committee.
Every effort will be made to involve every member of the Senate in committee assignments.
- Failure of a Senate member to attend two (2) consecutive meetings on the committee
to which that member is appointed results in that member’s removal, by Senate action,
from that committee.
- Members of standing committees serve for a term of one (1) year, and they are eligible
to succeed themselves.
- The purpose, responsibility, and duration of an ad hoc committee is determined by the Senate.
Constitutionality
- Any faculty member has the right to question the constitutionality of any By-Law.
Objections are presented to the Senate President and to the Vice President of Academic
Affairs.
- Should a question arise pertaining to the constitutionality of the By-Laws, the faculty-at-large
rules on said constitutionality by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those present
at a special faculty meeting called for that purpose.
Additions or Changes of By-Laws and Constitution
Any request for additions or changes to the By-Laws or the Constitution should be
submitted, in writing, to the Senate President by any member of the faculty.
Ratification
Amendments to the By-Laws and Constitution of the Faculty Senate must be ratified
by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of all faculty.
Finance
Faculty Senate expenditures require the same approval as the budget expenditures of
separate divisions and other groups.
This documented was revised in the Spring 2023 semester and was ratified by the faculty
on 7 February 2023.