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*Formerly part of the University Handbook
Faculty Code and Governance

Faculty Code

Chapter 29


Amendment of the Faculty Code




Section 29–31   Provisions Subject to Amendment


A. Provisions of the Faculty Code, other than those which are statutes of the state, resolutions of the Board of Regents, or executive orders of the President, may be amended as provided in this chapter.
B. Subsection A of this section applies to all regularly enacted sections in Chapters 21 through 28 of this edition of the Faculty Code. Such sections are those properly numbered –31 through –99, as specified in the Introduction to the Faculty Code and Governance.

Section 13–31, April 16, 1956; S–A 73, May 24, 1985: both with Presidential approval.

Section 29–32   Introduction of Amendments

A. A proposal for amendment of the Faculty Code may be introduced in writing at any meeting of the Faculty Senate by a member of the Senate or by the Senate Executive Committee.
B. When requested in writing to do so by 1% or more voting members of the faculty, the Executive Committee shall introduce a proposed amendment of the Faculty Code which has been submitted to it in appropriate written form.
C. A proposal for amendment of the Faculty Code shall be in the form of a resolution by the Senate to submit the proposal to the faculty for approval or rejection. It shall be filed in triplicate with the Secretary of the Faculty.

Section 13–31, April 16, 1956; S–A 35, June 17, 1970; S–A 73, May 24, 1985: all with Presidential approval.

Section 29–33   Initial Senate Action on Amendments

A. Upon introduction of a proposal to amend the Faculty Code, the question before the Senate shall be whether the amendment shall be submitted to the faculty for approval or rejection.
B. When such a proposal is introduced, Senate procedure shall be as follows:
  1. Unless the proposal is printed in the Senate agenda, it shall be read in full;
  2. The proposal shall be subject to amendment by the Senate and to any subsidiary motion;

  3. If, after consideration of amendments and disposition of subsidiary motions, the proposal is still before the Senate, final action upon the question of referral to the faculty shall not be taken. Instead, the Chair shall refer the proposal, as amended, to the Executive Committee.

C. When a proposal for amendment has been so referred to the Executive Committee, the Secretary shall immediately deliver a copy of it to the President and to the Advisory Committee on Faculty Code and Regulations.
D. The President shall consider the proposed amendment and within 14 days shall notify the Executive Committee of his or her approval or disapproval of the proposal. If the President disapproves it, reasons for so doing shall be stated.
E. The Advisory Committee on Faculty Code and Regulations shall:
  1. Examine the proposed amendment, with reference only to its form and its consistency with other provisions of the Faculty Code, relevant statutes, resolutions, and executive orders; and
  2. Report to the Executive Committee at its next regular meeting any suggestions which may arise from its examination of the proposal.

Section 13–31, April 16, 1956; S–A 29, June 8, 1964; S–A 73, May 24, 1985: all with Presidential approval.

Section 29–34   Executive Committee and Senate Consideration of Amendments

A. After a proposal for amendment of the Faculty Code has been referred to it by the Senate, the Executive Committee at its next meeting:
  1. Shall consider any statement of the President concerning the proposal;
  2. Shall consider suggestions of the Advisory Committee on Faculty Code and Regulations;
  3. May make such changes in the form and substance of the proposal as it deems necessary:
    a. To make the proposal conform with the organization and style of the Faculty Code, and
    b. To avoid conflict with statutes, resolutions of the Regents, and executive orders, or with other provisions of the Faculty Code, and
    c. To avoid disapproval of the proposal by the President.
B. The Executive Committee may submit to the Senate either:
  1. The proposal for amendment in the form in which the committee received it, or
  2. Both:
    a. The proposal in the form in which the committee received it, and
    b. An alternate proposal embodying changes authorized by Subsection A.3 of this section.
C. The Executive Committee shall place the proposal or proposals for amendment on the agenda either of a special Senate meeting or of the next regular Senate meeting.
D. If the Executive Committee submits an alternate proposal under the provisions of Subsection B.2 of this section, the first question before the Senate shall be whether it approves or disapproves submission to the faculty of the alternate proposal. If the Senate rejects the alternate proposal, it shall then consider the proposal originally referred by it to the Executive Committee.

Section 13–31, April 16, 1956; S–A 29, June 8, 1964; S–A 70, December 1, 1984; S–A 73, May 24, 1985: all with Presidential approval.

Section 29-35   Senate Vote on Amendments

An affirmative majority vote of those present and voting at the meeting of the Senate is required to submit a proposed amendment of the Faculty Code to the University faculty.

Section 13–31, April 16, 1956; S–A 70, December 1, 1984; S–A 73, May 24, 1985: all with Presidential approval.

Section 29–36   Faculty Vote on Amendments

A. Within 14 days after the Senate approves a proposed amendment to the Faculty Code, the Secretary shall send to each voting member of the faculty:
  1. A statement:
    a. Setting forth the text of the proposed amendment;
    b. Presenting the arguments for the amendment and, if any, the arguments against it; and
    c. Specifying the final date upon which ballots may be cast; and
  2. A ballot upon which a vote may be cast either for or against the proposal.
B. Following the voting instructions provided by the Secretary, eligible faculty shall vote on the proposed amendment. In order to be counted, the vote shall be submitted no later than the 21st calendar day after the date on which the Secretary distributed ballots to the faculty.
C. To become effective, a proposed amendment to the Faculty Code shall require either an affirmative majority vote of the eligible voting members of the faculty, or a two-thirds majority vote of those casting ballots.

Section 13–31, April 16, 1956; S–A 70, December 1, 1984; S–A 73, May 24, 1985; S–A 88, May 25, 1993; S–A 110, July 9, 2003: all with Presidential approval.

Section 29–37   President's Action on Amendments

A. When a proposal for amendment has been approved by the faculty under the provisions of Section 29-36:
  1. The Chair shall immediately certify on a copy of the proposed amendment that a majority of the voting members of the faculty have approved it, and
  2. The Secretary shall then deliver this copy to the President with a notation upon it of the date of delivery, and
  3. The Secretary shall retain a copy and shall note upon it the date of delivery to the President.
B. Within 14 days of delivery of a certified copy of the proposed amendment, the President, if he or she approves or disapproves the proposal shall:
  1. Endorse approval or disapproval upon it;
  2. Note upon it the date of action; and
  3. Deliver the certified copy so endorsed to the Secretary, who shall file it as a permanent record.
C. If the President disapproves the proposed amendment:
  1. It is inoperative and of no effect, and
  2. He or she shall present to the Executive Committee, for the information of the Senate at its next regular meeting, a statement of the reasons for disapproval.
D. If the President neither approves nor disapproves the proposed amendment within the 14-day period:
  1. The amendment is effective as provided in Section 29-38, Subsection A; unless
  2. The President determines that the amendment requires additional consideration and, before expiration of the 14-day period, so notifies the Chair and the Secretary of the Faculty.

Section 13–31, April 16, 1956; S–A 73, May 24, 1985: both with Presidential approval.

Section 29–38   Effective Date of Amendments

A. An amendment of the Faculty Code which has been approved by the faculty is effective either:
  1. On the date of its approval by the President; or
  2. If the President neither approves nor disapproves it and does not give notice of additional consideration under the provisions of Section 29–37, Subsection D.2, on the 15th day following delivery of the certified copy prescribed in Section 29–37, Subsection A.2.
B. An amendment of the Faculty Code is operative upon its effective date unless it is expressly made operative upon another date by a provision contained in the amendment.
C. At the next regular meeting of the Senate the Chair shall announce the vote of the faculty and the action, if any, of the President upon the proposed amendment. If the amendment is effective the Chair shall announce the date upon which it became or will become operative.

Section 13–31, April 16, 1956; S–A 73, May 24, 1985: both with Presidential approval.