Appendix C
Constitution of the Faculty California State University, Los Angeles
(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, 2/13/18)
(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, 3/21/18 )
(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, 3/22/18)
(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 version of the constitution:
- There shall be established an Academic Senate elected by, and representative of, the faculty body.
- 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.
- There shall be established an Executive Committee composed of representatives of the Academic Senate.
- 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
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
The purpose of this organization of the faculty is to provide procedures for the orderly cooperation of the administration and 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
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.
Lecturer faculty (this includes coaches, counselors, librarians and any other faculty who are not tenured or in tenure-track positions) are members of the faculty, but can only vote in election of lecturers to serve in the Academic Senate and as otherwise specified in the Cal State LA Faculty Handbook.
Section 2. Meetings of All Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty
A. Calling meetings of all tenured and tenure-track faculty
Meetings of the tenured and tenure-track 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 tenured and tenure-track faculty currently in residence.
B. The Presiding Officer at Meetings of All Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty
The President of the University shall preside over meetings of the tenured and tenure-track faculty. In the absence of the President, a person appointed by the President shall preside.
C. The Agenda for Meetings of All Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty
The agenda for meetings of the tenured and tenure-track 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 tenured and tenure-track faculty currently in residence. The agenda shall be in the hands of the tenured and tenure-track faculty at least two days prior to the meetings.
D. The Quorum at Meetings of All Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty
A quorum shall consist of 25 per cent of the members of the tenured and tenure-track faculty currently in residence.
E. Rules of Procedure at Meetings of All Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty
In the absence of any provision to the contrary in this Constitution, all meetings of the tenured and tenure-track faculty shall be governed by the parliamentary rules and usages contained in the current edition of Roberts' Rules of Order (Newly Revised).
Section 3. Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty Voting Procedures
A. Voting at Meetings of All Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty
All matters put to a vote at a meeting of all tenured and tenure-track faculty will be decided by a majority of those present, provided that a quorum is present.
B. Voting by Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty as Directed by a Majority at a Meeting of All Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty
The Executive Committee of the Academic Senate is responsible for submitting substantive matters to a vote of the entire tenured and tenure-track faculty if a majority of those present at any meeting of all tenured and tenure-track faculty, with or without a quorum, so directs. 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; a faculty member with the responsibility for preparing the adverse argument shall be nominated by the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate from among those who opposed the motion and approved by the Senate.
C. Other Voting by All Tenured ad Tenure-Track Faculty
1. Calling for a vote by all tenured and tenure-track faculty
University-wide voted of the tenured and tenure-track faculty may be called at the request of the President or at the request of the Academic Senate.
2. Voting by all tenured and tenure-track faculty
A. All tenured and tenure-track faculty are eligible to vote if called upon by the President or the Academic Senate.
B. Faculty members serving in positions in The Management Personnel Plan (MPP) 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 tenured and tenure-track faculty. They will cast their vote in the department or college in which they have academic rank.
C. Faculty members on leave are permitted to vote in voted by all tenured and tenure-track faculty.
ARTICLE IV. THE ACADEMIC SENATE
The Academic Senate is the official representative body of the faculty.
A. All tenure- track and tenured members of the faculty are eligible for election to the Senate (with the exception noted in Article IV, section 3, subsection 3) and shall be chosen on the proportionate basis as described in section 3 below.
1. Thirty-five tenure-track or tenured faculty shall serve as representatives of the academic colleges (an academic college is distinct from any other college that may exist in the academic colleges grant degrees) and the library and counseling services. The college tenured and tenure-track faculty representatives shall serve as voting members of the Academic Senate.
2. Five at-large tenure-track and tenured faculty shall serve as representatives of the tenured and tenure-track faculty. The at-large tenured and tenure-track faculty shall be voting members of the Academic Senate.
B. The faculty representatives to the Academic Senate of the California State University shall serve as ex officio voting 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 temporarily vacant and filled by the appropriate alternate.
C. For the year following service, the immediate past chair of the Academic Senate (the person who served as chair of the campus Senate just prior to the current chair) shall serve as an ex-officio voting member of the Senate. If the immediate past chair is not available, this position on the Senate shall not be filled.
D. Lecturer faculty representatives, one per academic college, shall serve as voting members of the Senate. For the purpose of serving on the Senate, coaches, counselors, and librarians holding lecturer rank shall be considered a college.
E. Two emeriti faculty members shall serve as voting members of the Academic Senate.
F. Six students, three undergraduates, two graduates and one at-large, shall serve as voting members of the Academic Senate.
G. Two staff members shall serve as voting members of the Academic Senate.
H. The Academic College Deans and the Dean of the Library shall serve as voting members of the Academic Senate.
I. The President and the vice presidents of the University, and the President of the Cal State LA Chapter of the California Faculty Association shall be honorary members of the Academic Senate and shall have the right to participate in debate, but may not introduce motions or to vote.
Section 3. Election or Appointment to the Senate.
A. In the spring semester, tenured and tenure-track faculty of each academic college and the library shall elect the proportion of 35 members that shall represent the college's proportion of the total tenured, tenure-track faculty at the University. No college shall have fewer than two members. The proportions shall be presented by the Executive Committee to the Senate no later than ten weeks prior to the end of the spring semester. For the purpose of election to the Senate, tenured and tenure-track faculty members in coaching, counseling and the library, (excepting those covered in subsection 3 below), shall be construed to be a college. The University Librarian shall conduct elections among the eligible coaches, counselors, and librarians as indicated in subsection 4 below.
1. To provide replacements for elected members during leaves or other absences of one or more semesters, each college shall also elect a number of alternates equal to at least 50 percent of the number of regularly elected members.
2. In the event that a senator's office becomes vacant, and there are not alternates, the college shall hold a special election to elect a replacement to serve until the next regular election.
3. 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.
4. Upon approval of the proportions by the Senate, the Chair of the Senate or designee shall promptly transmit this information to the appropriate colleges indicating the number of representatives to be elected for the coming year. Not later than five weeks prior to the end of the spring semester, 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 ensure tenured and tenure-track 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.
B. Five members-at-large and at least three alternates will be elected to the Senate by the entire tenured and tenure-track faculty. Each college will provide at least two nominees for each vacant position. All of these nominees will be placed on a ballot for a faculty-wide election of all tenured and tenure-track faculty 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.
C. Lecturer faculty members, one per academic college, shall be elected to the Academic Senate by the lecturer faculty within their college. In addition, one additional lecturer senator shall be elected by those lecturer coach, counselor, and librarian faculty who are not housed within any particular academic college. Lecturer faculty members shall serve staggered three-year terms. A lecturer's membership on the Senate is voluntary. It does not constitute employment entitlement. An alternate shall also be elected to serve whenever an elected representative will be absent for one or more semesters. In the event that a lecturer faculty senator's office becomes vacant, and there are no alternates, the college shall hold a special election to elect a replacement to serve until the next regular election.
D. Two emeriti faculty members shall be elected to the Academic Senate by the members of the California State University Los Angeles Emeriti Association for a term of one year. An alternate shall also be elected to serve whenever an elected representative will be absent. 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.
E. Three undergraduate students, two graduate students, and one at-large student shall be elected by the student body, or appointed by the Board of Directors of the Associated Students, INC., to the Academic Senate. Students elected or appointed to the Academic Senate shall serve one-year terms. In the event that a student senator's office becomes vacant the Board of Directors of the Associated Students, INC. may appoint a replacement to serve until the next regular election.
1. Undergraduate student senators must have been enrolled at Cal State LA prior to the semester in which they are elected or appointed, have earned no fewer than six semester units of academic credit at Cal State LA during the previous semester, and be in good standing. Undergraduate student senators must also earn a minimum of six semester units of academic credit at Cal State LA during the semester(s) in which they serve 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 nomination and appointment.
2. Graduate student senators must have been enrolled at Cal State LA prior to the semester in which they are elected or appointed, have earned no fewer than six units of academic credit at Cal State LA during the previous semester, and have achieved good standing. Graduate student senators must also earn a minimum of three semester units of academic credit at Cal State LA during the semester in which they serve, and retain good standing 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 nomination and appointment.
F. Two staff members shall be elected to the Academic Senate by the staff according to procedures established by the staff. The Vice President for Finance and Administration will provide support and assistance. Staff members shall serve staggered two-year terms. No more than one staff member can be elected to serve from the same department. Staff senators are limited to two consecutive terms, but may be elected after two years of not serving. An alternate shall also be elected to serve whenever an elected representative will be absent one or more semesters. In the event that a staff senator's office becomes vacant, and there are no alternates, the staff shall hold a special election to elect a replacement to serve until the next regular election.
G. By virtue of their positions, the academic college deans and the dean of the University Library shall serve on the Academic Senate.
Section 4. Membership in the Academic Senate of The California State University.
A. All faculty members are eligible to be elected to serve on the Academic Senate of the California State University (The Statewide Senate). Nominations can be made by members of the Cal State LA Academic Senate or through a petition process. Additional nominations may be made by a petition of 15 members of the faculty provided such petition is submitted to the Chair of the Academic Senate within five working days following the presentation to the faculty of the slate nominated by the Academic Senate. To be nominated, a faculty member must have prior experience serving on the Cal State LA 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.
A. Each elected member of the Senate or alternate shall take office at the first Senate meeting of the fall semester. Except as specified below (see Election of the Academic Senate Chair), each elected member shall serve for three years.
B. For replacement during a leave or other absence of an elected member, that member shall notify the office of the dean concerned at least six weeks before such an absence. The dean will notify the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate of the need for a replacement.
Section 6. Officers of the Academic Senate.
The officers shall consist of a chair, vice chair, and secretary. The following members of the Senate are eligible to hold these offices or to serve on the Executive Committee: tenured and tenure-track faculty, lecturer faculty, the immediate past chair, the Emeriti members, and the members of the Academic Senate CSU. After election of the faculty members to the following year's Senate an organizational meeting of this new Senate shall be held during the spring semester 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 session.
(A). The Academic Senate Chair
1. Election of the Academic Senate Chair
The Senate shall elect a chair from the entire Senate membership, who shall take office on the day following the close of the summer session. The chair shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast by secret ballot.
2. 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. The chair may confer with the president, the provost and vice president for academic affairs, and other members of the administration and initiate such conferences whenever such action seems desirable. The chair represents the faculty and serves as the voice of the faculty. The chair serves on Cal State LA boards as called upon and shall review administrative procedures on behalf of the faculty.
(B). The Academic Senate Vice Chair.
1. Election of the Academic Senate Chair
The vice chair shall be elected in the same manner as the chair.
2. Duties of the Vice Chair
The vice chair shall act in the absence of the chair and shall perform other duties as assigned by the chair or the Executive Committee.
(C). The Academic Senate Secretary.
1. Election of the Secretary
The secretary shall be elected in the same manner as the chair.
2. Duties of the Secretary
The secretary shall ensure the keeping of a permanent record of minutes of all meetings of the Senate and shall see that copies of such minutes are provided to the President of the University, the Senate members, the faculty (lecturers and tenured and tenure-track 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 and shall perform other duties as assigned by the chair or the Executive Committee.
(D). Filling Short-Term Vacancies
1. Filling the position of Academic Senate Chair
If the Chair position becomes vacant, the Vice Chair shall become Chair of the Senate.
2. Filling the position of Academic Senate Vice Chair
If the Vice Chair position becomes vacant, the Secretary shall fill the office of the Vice Chair for the remainder of that term of office.
3. Filling the position of Secretary
If the office of Secretary becomes vacant, the Senate shall elect a Secretary from among the at-large members of the Executive Committee for the remainder of that term of office.
(E). Filling Year-Long Vacancies
If any officer of the Executive Committee is to be on leave or absent for the academic year, the position shall be declared vacant and a new officer elected by the Senate.
Section 7. Standing Committees.
- The Executive Committee shall consist of the chair, the vice chair, the secretary of the Academic Senate, the immediate past chair as a nonvoting member (if the immediate past chair is not available, this position shall not be filled), the senior member of the Academic Senate CSU as a non-voting member (defined as the longest serving member of the Statewide Academic Senate) and the four other at-large 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.
- The Executive Committee shall plan the actions of the Senate including the agenda and meeting schedule of the Academic Senate and its standing committees and subcommittees.
- The Executive Committee shall respond to requests for information or specific action not deemed appropriate for current standing and special committees, and in assisting in the appointment of academic and administrative ad hoc committees for such special tasks as the Executive Committee shall designate.
- The Executive Committee shall assist the chair to respond to requests from the administration to recommend faculty to serve on university-wide task forces and committees that are not part of the established Senate committee structure and to which the nominating committee has not been requested to make a recommendation for appointment.
- The Executive Committee shall confer with the President, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and other members of the administration (at the invitation of the administration or of the Executive Committee), and initiate such conferences whenever such action seems desirable.
- 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.
- 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 Executive Committee of the Academic Senate, or the tenured and tenure-track 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.
A. Regular Meetings.
There shall be at least three meetings of the Senate in each semester of the year at a time and place designated by the Executive Committee.
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 announced within one week after the request or petition, and notice thereof shall be given to all members of the Senate at least two week days prior to the meeting. Such notice shall contain a general statement of the business to be brought before the meeting.
C. Visitors.
Meetings of the Academic Senate shall be open to members of the faculty, administration, 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
- 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.
- Members of the faculty may submit agenda items to the Executive Committee at any time in writing.
- 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 tenured and tenure-track faculty at a general meeting of tenured and tenure-track faculty as described in Article III, section 6, or by the President. Petitions proposed for constitutional amendments signed by fifty tenured or tenure-track 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 tenured and tenure-track faculty elections (see Article III, section 8) provided that tenured and tenure-track faculty members are given notification of the proposed amendments at least ten working days in advance, and provided further that the deadline for the balloting is open for not less than ten working 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 nominated by the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate from among those who opposed the motion and approved by the Senate. Approval of the proposed amendments requires a two-thirds majority of the votes cast by the tenured and tenure-track faculty and approval by the President.
Proposals shall be accompanied by a clause specifying the effective date of implementation.