(Faculty Council: 5/15/58; Senate: 5/4/67, 4/16/68, 11/4/69, 4/13/71, 1/11/72, 8/1/72, 10/31/72, 7/24/73, 8/14/73, 2/11/76, 1/24/78, 4/18/78, 11/18/80, 5/4/93, 5/11/93, 2/13/01)

(Faculty: 11/6/58, 6/16/67, 5/17/68, 4/7/70, 5/28/71, 2/11/72, 9/1/72, 12/6/72, 8/29/73, 10/26/73, 3/18/76, 3/1/78, 5/18/78, 1/23/81, 11/18/93, 12/3/93, 5/16/01)

(President: 5/15/58, 6/30/67, 5/23/68, 4/9/70, 6/2/71, 2/15/72, 9/6/72, 12/11/72, 9/14/73, 11/5/73, 4/13/76, 3/6/78, 5/24/78, 1/29/81, 1/27/94, 10/15/01)

(Editorial Amendment:  9/00, 9/07)

PREAMBLE

General Principle.

The orderly participation of faculty in policy making, and a clearly defined organizational structure designed to promote such participation contributes to a clearer understanding of the mutual problems and responsibilities of the faculty and the administration of California State University, Los Angeles.

Means of Promoting Orderly Participation.

Effective faculty participation in the formulation of policies requires the establishment of a representative body which acts for the faculty, provides for faculty planning and consideration in the development of policy, and ensures regular communication between faculty and administration in policy matters.

Faculty Constitution.

To meet this need, a constitution for the faculty of The California State University, Los Angeles is recommended. The following proposals are incorporated in this draft of a constitution:

  1. There shall be established an Academic Senate elected by, and representative of, the faculty body.
  2. The Academic Senate shall meet regularly with the President and other members of the administration to represent faculty view points in the determination of policy.
  3. There shall be established an Executive Committee composed of representatives of the Academic Senate.
  4. The success of the program for faculty-administration relationships and the ultimate value of the contributions made by the faculty in policy areas depends on the assumption that Senate recommendations will be accepted whenever there is no compelling reason to reject them.

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of the organization shall be the Faculty of California State University, Los Angeles.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization of the faculty is to provide procedures for the orderly cooperation of the academic administrative and academic faculty in the interests of the University as a whole. To achieve this purpose there are established herein the following recognized bodies: the Faculty; the Academic Senate of California State University, Los Angeles, hereafter referred to as the Academic Senate; the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate; and such other bodies as are described below or as shall be designated from time to time. The Academic Senate is the representative body of the faculty of the University and speaks on behalf of the faculty on matters within the purview of the Senate.

ARTICLE III. THE FACULTY

Section 1.
Membership.

The faculty of California State University, Los Angeles is defined to include all members of the academic staff who hold academic rank in a department or division as designated by California State University personnel regulations, the current agreement between the Board of Trustees of the California State University and the California Faculty Association (The Agreement), The Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act (HEERA), the President, and the Academic Senate.

Section 2.
Presiding Officer.

The President of the University shall preside over meetings of the faculty. In the absence of the President, a person appointed by the President shall preside.

Section 3.
Meetings.

General meetings of the faculty may be called at the request of the President or at the request of the Chair of the Academic Senate, or by a petition signed by ten percent of the members of the faculty currently in residence.

Section 4.
Agenda.

Agenda for meetings of the faculty shall be established by the President and the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate. Items for the agenda may be submitted by the President, by the Chair of the Academic Senate, or by a petition signed by ten per cent of the members of the faculty currently in residence. The agenda shall be in the hands of the faculty at least two days prior to the meetings.

Section 5.
Quorum.

A quorum shall consist of 25 per cent of the members of the faculty currently in residence, but in no event less than 150.

Section 6.
Voting.

All matters put to a vote (except as provided in Article VI) will be decided by a majority of those present, provided that a quorum is present. The Executive Committee of the Academic Senate is responsible for submitting substantive matters to a vote of the entire faculty by mail ballot if a majority of those present at any faculty meeting, with or without a quorum, so directs. Such ballots shall be accompanied by arguments favoring and opposing the proposed action; the responsibility for preparing the favorable argument shall rest with the mover of the proposal; the responsibility for preparing the adverse argument shall be assigned by the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate from among those who opposed the motion.

Section 7.
Rules of Procedure.

In the absence of any provision to the contrary in this Constitution, all meetings of the faculty shall be governed by the parliamentary rules and usages contained in the current edition of Roberts' Rules of Order (Newly Revised).

Section 8.
Eligibility to Participate in Academic Governance and to Vote.

a. All members of the faculty (as defined in Article III, Section I) are eligible to participate in academic governance and to vote in faculty elections and on all matters put to a vote, either written or oral, of the faculty. Probationary faculty members may not vote on appointment, retention, tenure, and promotion of their colleagues. Tenured faculty members, in voting on matters of promotion, may not participate in the evaluation of anyone who holds a rank equal to or higher than their own.*

b. Faculty members serving in positions in The Management Personnel Plan who are tenured or probationary with rank in a department shall have the right to vote on all matters put to a vote of the faculty. They will cast their vote in the department or college in which they have academic rank.

c. Faculty members employed specifically on temporary appointments are not eligible to vote in elections or universitywide meetings, including the Academic Senate and its standing committees, or on personnel matters of any nature. The eligibility of temporary faculty members to vote in college or department meetings on other matters shall be determined by the college or department concerned. Temporary faculty members shall not vote in that determination.

d. Part-time faculty are not eligible to vote in faculty meetings or in faculty elections at any level.

*Faculty members on leave are permitted to vote in university-wide elections. Those faculty members wishing to vote during their absence must furnish the Office of the Academic Senate an address to which they wish ballots sent. A return addressed prestamped envelope will be provided by the Senate Office for the return of the ballot. Only ballots received by the time polls are closed will be counted in the election. (Academic Senate: 2/1/72)

ARTICLE IV. THE ACADEMIC SENATE

Section 1.
Function.

The Academic Senate is the official representative body of the faculty.

Section 2.
Membership.

a. All probationary and tenured members of the faculty are eligible for election to the Senate (with the exception noted in Article IV, section 3, item c) and shall be chosen on the proportionate basis as described in section 3 below. In addition to elected senators, the Academic Senate shall include the deans of the colleges, the University Librarian, the immediate past chair*of the Academic Senate, and the faculty representatives to the Academic Senate of The California State University as ex officio members of the Senate. If a faculty representative to the Academic Senate CSU has been elected to the campus Academic Senate, the Senate seat shall be declared vacant and filled by the appropriate alternate. If the immediate past chair is not available, this position on the Senate shall not be filled.

b. In addition to the membership indicated in Article IV, section 2, subsection a, there shall be one voting emeritus faculty member of the Academic Senate elected as indicated in Article IV, section 3, subsection g, and five student voting members of the Academic Senate, elected as indicated in Article IV, section 3, subsection h.

c. The President and the vice presidents of the University shall be honorary members. The presidents (or their designees) of the professional campus organizations open to all full-time faculty shall be extended the privilege of honorary membership. Honorary members shall have the right to participate in debate, but may not introduce motions or to vote.

*The immediate past chair is the person who served as chair of the campus Senate just prior to the current chair.

Section 3.
Election to the Senate.

a. Each college shall elect the proportion of 35 members which shall represent the college's proportion of the total faculty. No college shall have fewer than two members. The proportions shall be presented by the Executive Committee to the Senate no later than eight weeks prior to the end of the winter quarter. For the purpose of election to the Senate, faculty members in counseling and the library, (excepting those covered in subsection c below), shall be construed to be a college. The University Librarian shall conduct elections among the eligible members in the Library and Student Affairs, as indicated in subsection d below.

b. To provide replacements for elected members during vacation periods or other absences of one or more quarters, each college shall also elect a number of alternates equal to at least 50 percent of the number of regularly elected members.

c. Faculty members serving in positions in The Management Personnel Plan (MPP) are not eligible for election to the Senate either as a representative of a college or as a senator-at-large.

d. Upon approval of the proportions by the Senate, the Chair of the Senate shall promptly transmit this information to the appropriate colleges indicating the number of representatives to be elected for the coming year. Not later than six weeks prior to the end of the winter quarter, each college shall name from among its own members at least twice as many nominees as there are positions allocated by the Senate. Nomination procedures must insure faculty participation in the selection of names for nomination. Not later than two weeks after the nominations have been made, elections by secret written ballot for representatives to the Academic Senate shall be held in each college. No candidate or alternate shall be declared elected unless that person has received a majority of the votes cast.

e. Certification of election procedures and election of Senators shall be made to the Senate by the college election committee.

f. Five members-at-large and at least three alternates will be elected to the Senate by the entire faculty. Each college will provide at least two nominees for each vacant position. All these nominees will be placed on a ballot for a faculty-wide election to be conducted by the Executive Committee after the colleges have conducted their elections of Senators. Additional nominations by petition may be made as indicated in section 4 below.

g. One emeritus faculty member shall be elected to the Academic Senate by the members of the Emeriti Association for a term of one year. An alternate shall also be elected to serve whenever the elected representative will be absent one or more quarters. In the event that an emeritus senator's office becomes vacant, the officers of the Emeriti Association may appoint a replacement to serve until the next regular election of the Association.

h. Three undergraduate and two graduate students shall be elected to the Academic Senate by the student body in a general election. Students elected to the Academic Senate shall serve one-year terms.

1.  Undergraduate student senator.  Undergraduate student candidates or nominees must have been enrolled at CSLA for two quarters prior to the election or nomination, and have earned no fewer than 9 quarter units of academic credit during that year with a 2.0 or better grade point average during the 12 months immediately preceding the quarter in which the election or appointment occurs.  Undergraduate candidates or nominees must also earn a minimum of 9 quarter units of academic credit during the quarter in which the election is held or nomination is made, maintaining a 2.0 grade point average, or they will be automatically disqualified from holding office.  Eligibility to hold office will be verified by the registrar of the University at the time of filing for election, nomination or appointment.

2. Graduate student senator.  Graduate candidates or nominees must earn a minimum of 8 units per quarter of continuous attendance as a new graduate student to be eligible.  Graduate students who receive a bachelor’s degree or credential within the past three years from CSLA must have earned a total of 18 units during their last year as an undergraduate to be eligible.  Graduate candidates or nominees must also earn a minimum of 4 quarter units of academic credit during the quarter in which the election is held or nomination is made, maintaining a 3.0 grade point average, or they will be disqualified from holding office.  Eligibility to hold office will be verified by the Registrar of the University at the time of filing for election, nomination or appointment.

3. Incumbent.    During the term of office or appointment, an undergraduate student senator must maintain a 2.0 or better grade point average and must complete a minimum of nine (9) units of academic credit each quarter.  A graduate student senator must maintain a 3.0 or better grade point average and must complete a minimum of four (4) units of credit each quarter.

In the event that a student Senator's office becomes vacant, the Board of Directors of the Associated Students may appoint a replacement from the appropriate classification to serve until the next general election. Certification of election procedures and election of student Senators shall be made to the Senate by the Student Elections Committee Chair.

Section 4.
Membership in the Academic Senate of The California State University.

a. Faculty representatives to the Academic Senate of The California State University shall be nominated by the Academic Senate of California State University, Los Angeles and elected by the faculty at large. Additional nominations may be made by petition of 25 members of the full-time faculty provided such petition is submitted to the Chair of the Academic Senate within five college days following the presentation to the faculty of the slate nominated by the Academic Senate.

b. Faculty members serving in positions in The Management Personnel Plan are not eligible to serve as a representative of this campus to the Academic Senate of the California State University.

Section 5.
Tenure of Office.

a. Each elected member of the Senate or alternate shall take office at the first Senate meeting after the summer quarter. Each elected member shall serve for three years except that terms of one year or two years may be assigned, by lot, to Senators when necessary to allow one third of the membership to be elected each year.

b. For replacement during the vacation of an elected member, that member shall notify the office of the dean concerned or the University librarian at least six weeks before such a vacation. The dean or librarian will notify the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate of the replacement.

Section 6.
Officers of the Academic Senate.

The officers shall consist of a chair, vice chair, and secretary. Only the elected members of the Senate are eligible to hold these offices or to serve on the Executive Committee. The immediate past chair, the Emeritus member, and the members of the Academic Senate CSU shall be considered elected members for the purpose of this section. After election of the faculty members to the new Senate in the winter quarter, but not before the first week following general student elections in the winter quarter, an organizational meeting of this new Senate shall be held during spring quarter for the purpose of electing officers and other members of the Executive Committee to take office on the day following the close of the summer quarter.

(a). Election of the Chair.
The Senate shall elect a chair from the Senate membership, who shall take office on the day following the close of the summer quarter. The chair shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast by secret ballot.

(b). Duties of the Chair.
The chair shall preside at all meetings of the Senate. If the chair is unable to be present at a meeting, the vice-chair shall act in the chair's behalf. The chair may appoint such committees as are deemed advisable to carry out the business of the Senate. The chair shall be the presiding officer of the Executive Committee of the Senate.

(c). Election of the Vice Chair.
The vice chair shall be elected in the same manner as the chair.

(d). Duties of the Vice Chair.
The vice chair shall act in the absence of the chair. The vice chair shall become chair of the Senate in the event the office of the chair becomes vacant (see Article IV, section 6, item h). In the latter event, the secretary shall fill the office of vice chair for the remainder of that term of office.

(e). Election of the Secretary.
The secretary shall be elected in the same manner as the chair.

(f). Duties of the Secretary.
The secretary shall keep a permanent record of minutes of all meetings of the Senate and shall distribute copies of such minutes to the President of the University, the Senate members, the faculty, and the Board of Directors of the Associated Students as soon as possible after each meeting. The secretary shall act in the absence of the vice chair. The secretary shall become the vice chair in the event the office of the vice chair becomes vacant (see Article IV, section 6, item h). If the office of secretary becomes vacant, the Senate shall elect a secretary from among the other members of the Executive Committee for the remainder of that term of office.

(g). If any member-at-large of the Executive Committee is to be on leave or absent for a quarter, or becomes secretary of the Senate, the Senate at the last meeting in the quarter preceding such leave or absence shall elect an interim member-at-large of the Executive Committee.

(h). If any officer or member-at-large of the Executive Committee is to be on leave or absent for more than two quarters, the position shall be declared vacant.

Section 7.
Standing Committees.

a. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall plan the actions of the Senate including the agenda.

  1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the chair, the vice chair, and the secretary of the Academic Senate, the immediate past chair*(as a nonvoting member), the senior member of the Academic Senate CSU**(as a non-voting member), and the four other members who are elected by secret ballot by the members of the Senate for a one- year term. No more than three voting members of the Executive Committee shall be from any one college.
  2. The Executive Committee is empowered to act in emergency situations for the Academic Senate and at such times as it is impossible to gather a quorum of the Senate. Any action taken by the Executive Committee in this instance must be reported to the Senate at its next meeting. No action may be taken by the Executive Committee, acting on behalf of the Academic Senate, without two-thirds of the voting membership of the Executive Committee being present.
  3. The Executive Committee is empowered to refer any matters not requiring emergency action to appropriate committees. It may also make recommendations to the Senate on items which are not under the jurisdiction of any Senate committee.

b. University-wide Committees. The President, the Senate, or the Faculty by majority vote may request the establishment of university-wide committees. Appropriate university-wide committees shall be established by the Senate to recommend policies and procedures necessary to the orderly functioning of the University. Each university-wide committee is an agent of the Senate and makes its recommendations to the Senate. As the first order of business after announcements, any member of the Senate may give notice of intent to raise questions concerning the actions of any committee. When reports and recommendations of university-wide and ad hoc committees are made to the Senate, committee members shall have the privilege of addressing the Senate throughout the period of the discussion of the report.

* If the immediate past chair is not available, this position shall not be filled.

**The senior statewide Senator is that member of the statewide Academic Senate elected by the faculty of this campus who is in the third year of a three-year term.

Section 8.
Meetings.

    a. Regular Meetings.

    There shall be at least three meetings of the Senate in each quarter of the year except summer at a time and place designated by the Senate. In the event that a regular meeting date falls on a legal holiday, then the meeting shall be held on the same day of the following week at the same time and place.

    b. Special Meetings.

    The chair shall call a special meeting on the request of the President or after petition by ten members of the Senate or at the chair's own discretion. Such a meeting shall be called within one week after the request or petition, and written notice thereof shall be given to all members of the Senate by special delivery to their homes at least two week days prior to the meeting, containing a general statement of the business to be brought before the meeting.

    c. Visitors.

    Meetings of the Academic Senate shall be open to interested members of the faculty, student body, and staff. Upon request of the chair, visitors may be required to identify themselves. The chair of the Senate may at his or her discretion recognize anyone wishing to address the Senate on any agenda item under consideration.

    d. Quorum.

    A majority of the voting members of the Senate shall constitute a quorum.

    e. Conduct of Meetings.

    In the absence of any provision to the contrary in this Constitution, all meetings of the Academic Senate, its standing committees and their subcommittees, its ad hoc committees, and other subsidiary bodies shall be governed by the parliamentary rules and usages contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order (Newly Revised).

    f. Agenda.

    1. The agenda will be prepared by the Executive Committee for each regular or special meeting of the Senate. The agenda will be made available to the President, the Senate, the faculty, and the Board of Directors of the Associated Students at least two days prior to the meeting.
    2. Members of the faculty may submit agenda items to the Executive Committee at any time in writing.
    3. Matters not included on the agenda as adopted shall not come before the meeting until all agenda matters have been disposed of, at which time new business may be proposed for consideration, provided however, that new business may be brought before the meeting out of regular order or may be added to the agenda after its approval with the consent of not less than two-thirds of the members present.

    g. Voting on Substantive Motions. Voting on substantive motions or amendments to such motions shall not take place until the meeting immediately following the introduction of the motion; except that the Academic Senate, by three-fourths vote of those present, may waive this requirement.

    In the event that the President rejects a Senate recommendation, the President shall inform the Senate, in writing to the Chair of the Senate, of the compelling reasons for the rejection.

ARTICLE V. RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to discourage members of the faculty from freely associating in other groups and organizations and through such associations independently presenting their views to the President of the University or the Academic Senate.

ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENTS

Constitutional amendments may be proposed by the Academic Senate in a majority vote, by the faculty at a general faculty meeting as described in Article III, section 6, or by the President. Petitions proposed for constitutional amendments signed by fifty full-time faculty members shall be considered by the Academic Senate at its next regular meeting.

Proposed amendments shall be submitted to a vote of those persons eligible to vote in faculty elections (see Article III, section 8) by mail ballot, provided that faculty members are given notification of the proposed amendments at least ten college days in advance, and provided further that the deadline for the return of the ballot is not less than ten college days after its distribution. Such ballots shall be accompanied by arguments favoring and opposing the proposed action; the responsibility for preparing the favorable argument shall rest with the mover of the proposal; the responsibility for preparing the adverse argument shall be assigned by the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate from among those who opposed the motion. Approval of the proposed amendments requires a two-thirds majority of the votes cast by the faculty and approval by the President.

Proposals shall be accompanied by a clause specifying the effective date of implementation.