Senate Constitution 

• Provide a forum for discussion and the formulation of policy;
• Gather information and opinion for study;
• Take such action as is necessary in cooperation with other sectors of the College community to make policies effective.

PREAMBLE - The Faculty of the William Paterson University of New Jersey, in order to better provide for faculty governance and participation in matters of academic policy, to create a fundamental and equitable structure for the conduct of the University's affairs and responsibilities, to insure the fair and just representation of academic departments and personnel directly associated with academic affairs, and to aid in the promotion of the general welfare of the Faculty and University, do establish this Constitution of the Faculty Senate of The William Paterson University of New Jersey.

ARTICLE I - Membership of the Faculty Senate shall consist of Voting Members and Ex-officio Non-voting Members.

A. Regular Members: No one who has been on the staff of the University for less than one full academic year shall be eligible for regular membership.

1. One Faculty member from each department.
2. Two Librarians elected by the professional staff of the library.
3. Two Professional staff elected by the Professional staff.
4. Eight at large representatives from the Faculty, Librarians and Professional staff.

B. Ex-Officio Members without vote

1. The President of the University.
2. The Provost and Executive Vice President.
3. Immediate past Chairperson of the Faculty Senate (if not a regular member).
4. The Chief official of the legally constituted bargaining agent for the Faculty (if not a regular member).
5. President of the Student Government Association.
6. Vice President of the Student Government Association for Part-time students.
7. Parliamentarian (if not a regular member).

C. A vacancy occurring in any category shall be filled as expeditiously as provided for under "Recall and Vacancies" in the Senate By-Laws.

ARTICLE II - Elections

A. Elections Council: there shall be an Elections Council of the Faculty Senate to formulate and supervise election procedures consistent with Faculty Senate By-Laws to which appeals regarding proper procedures may be made. The Council shall rule on all such appeals.

B. Calendar for Elections. All elections for the succeeding year shall be completed by April 30.

C. Recall and Vacancies of Elected Members: As provided in Senate By-Laws.

ARTICLE III - The Terms of Office

A. Regular Members
The regular members shall serve a two year term of office with one-half of the membership to be elected each year. At large representatives from the same school shall not have concurrent terms. One and two year initial terms are to be determined by lottery conducted by the Faculty Senate at its first meeting.

B. The newly elected members of the Faculty Senate shall assume office in May at the first Senate meeting following their election.

ARTICLE IV - Functions

A. The Faculty Senate shall be the primary body to formulate and recommend University polices. It may formulate and recommend policies on any matter of University-Wide concern other than those that deal with negotiable terms and conditions of employment.

B. In the performance of these functions, the Faculty Senate shall:

1. Recommend policy for degree requirements and the procedures for inaugurating, changing, or terminating programs.
2. Recommend patterns of and responsibilities for self-government by colleges and departments.
3. Recommend policy regarding admissions and academic standards.
4. Recommend policy for intracollegiate and intercollegiate programs and activities.
5. Recommend policy concerning the construction of the Calendar of the University.
6. Participate in the budgetary process by assessing priorities and making recommendations to ensure conformity with goals of the University.
7. Participate in the formulation of long-range master plans and policies for campus buildings, physical facilities, and the allocation of space.
8. Participate in the formulation of long-range master plans and policies of the University.
9. Participate in the selection of policies governing the employment process.
10. Participate in the selection of the principal officers of the University.
11. Participate in the formulation of policies related to the naming of buildings and facilities and the awarding of University prizes and honors, including recommendations for emeritus status, and assist the Board of Trustees in the selection of recipients of such prizes and honors.
12. Participate in the formulation of policies governing the University's relations with outside agencies for research, instruction, services, and related purposes.
13. Participate in the formulation of policies for cooperative and mutually beneficial relations with neighboring communities and with other Colleges and Universities, both domestic and foreign.

ARTICLE V - Officers of the Senate

A. At a special organizational meeting immediately following the annual election, the newly constituted Senate shall elect from among its voting members a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and a Secretary.

B. Chairperson

1. Shall be elected by closed ballot for a one-year term from and by voting members of the Senate.
2. Shall:
a. Call and conduct meetings of the Senate and its Executive Committee.
b. Provide agenda for these meetings.
c. Appoint the convener of Senate committees and councils (unless otherwise provided for in the Senate By-Laws).
d. Perform the duties commonly associated with executive leadership within the jurisdiction and declared policies of the Senate.
e. Supervise necessary correspondence.
f. Distribute to all professional staff the Chairperson's report and a summary of all actions taken by the Senate, together with the agenda for the next meeting.

C. Vice Chairperson

1. Shall be elected by closed ballot for one-year term from and by voting members of the Senate.
2. Shall perform the duties of the Chairperson in the absence or incapacity of the chairperson.
3. Shall serve as liaison officer with Senate Committees and Councils.

D. Secretary

1. Shall be elected by closed ballot for one-year term from and by voting members of the Senate.
2. Shall:
a. Keep minutes of the Senate and the Executive Committee and distribute these minutes to the Board of Trustees, President of the College, all the Vice-Presidents, members of the Senate, the Library, Deans and Directors, Faculty and Professional Staff.
b. Keep the official list of the Senate membership.
c. Keep accurate and cumulative records of attendance at meetings and report absences in the minutes. The Secretary shall send a letter to any Senator who has acquired three or more substituted absences informing the Senator that their "Good Standing" is in jeopardy of being revoked. The Secretary shall send a letter to a Senator who has two unsubstituted absences informing the Senator that his/her "Good Standing" is in jeopardy of being revoked. The Secretary shall report to the Senate members who have been warned and are no longer in "Good Standing." The Secretary shall send a letter to the School Council, Department Chairperson, Library Elections Committee, or Professional Staff Council as appropriate for the constituency informing them that their Senator is no longer in "Good Standing".

E. Recall and Vacancies of Officers: as provided in Senate By-Laws.

ARTICLE VI - The Executive Committee

A. There shall be established within the Senate an Executive Committee of six members: three regular members elected at-large by the voting members of the Senate, the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary.

B. Elected members of the Executive Committee shall be chosen by closed ballot for a term of one year.

C. The Executive Committee, responsible at all times to the Senate, shall meet on the call of the Chairperson in order to conduct the business of the Senate between Senate meetings. The Executive Committee shall aid the other Senate Committees subject to approval by the Senate. The Committee shall aid the Chairperson in preparing the agenda for the Senate meeting.

D. At the request of three members of the Executive Committee, the Chairperson shall call a special meeting of the Executive Committee.

E. The Executive Committee shall speak and act in the name of the Senate in the implementation of Senate policy during the Summer and other times when it is impractical to convene the entire body.

F. Recall and vacancies: as provided in Senate By-Laws.

ARTICLE VII - Meetings and Procedures

A. At least once a month meetings should be scheduled at a regular time, date and place. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson of the Senate, a majority of the Executive Committee, or on a petition by one-half of the Senate voting members, or at the request of the President of the College.

B. All members of the College community may be present at Senate meetings, but shall not be entitled to the floor, to make motions, or to vote. Visitors may, at their request and with the approval of the Senate, be given the privilege of the floor.

C. The parliamentary procedures of the Senate shall be those of Robert's Rules of Order Revised. The quorum shall be established in the By-Laws of the Senate.

ARTICLE VIII - Councils and Committees

A. Councils are standing bodies charged with the general and continued formulation of recommended policy and the review of existing policies under their jurisdiction and consistent with their charges.

B. Ad Hoc committees are bodies with particular charges of a short-range and limited scope.

C. Councils shall be established through the Senate By- Laws, which shall delineate the composition of, and the general charges to, each Council.

D. Standing committees may be established by the Senate to recommend policy in the specific area under their jurisdiction and consistent with their charges. Standing committee representatives may be nominated by the Senate Executive Committee and/or any member of the Senate on the basis of specific expertise and confirmed by the Faculty Senate.

ARTICLE IX - Amendments

A. Proposals to Amend the Constitution

1. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed to the Senate by the Senate Executive Committee.
2. Amendments to this Constitution may be submitted in writing and must be supported by the signatures of at least a quarter of the voting members of the Faculty Senate.
3. Amendments to this Constitution may be submitted via petition to the Faculty Senate supported by the signatures of ten-percent of the full-time Faculty, Librarians, Professional Staff.
4. Proposed amendments to this Constitution may be submitted to the Faculty Senate at any regular meeting.

B. Voting on Proposed Amendments to the Constitution

1. The Secretary shall circulate a written copy of a proposed and properly supported amendment to each member of the Faculty Senate prior to the next scheduled meeting.
2. No proposed amendment shall be voted on prior to thirty days after it has been circulated to the Faculty Senate. Such a vote shall take place not later than thirty days after such circulation.
3. Ratification of a proposed amendment by the Faculty Senate shall require an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of voting membership. In the event the Senate fails to ratify the proposed amendment, it may be submitted to a referendum of Faculty, Librarians and Professional Staff by a majority of senators voting, or by a petition signed by twenty percent of the full-time Faculty, Librarians and Professional Staff who are eligible to vote in the Senate constituencies.

B. Upon passage of an amendment in the Faculty Senate or by referendum, the Chairperson shall submit it to the President of the College and to the Board of Trustees. Following approval, it shall become part of the Constitution.