Bylaws of the University Senate

In the conduct of meetings of the University Senate, Robert’s Rules of Order shall prevail except as otherwise provided in the Constitution or by these By-Laws.

Section 1

The usual order of business to be followed at the meetings of the University Senate shall be as follows:
1. Signing of Attendance Roster
2. Approval of Minutes
3. Elections
4. President’s Report
5. Unfinished Business
6. Reports of Committees
7. New Business

Section 2

The order of business for a meeting may be changed by unanimous consent or, lacking that, by a two-thirds affirmative vote of those members present and voting.

Section 1: Committee Functions and Membership

(a) In its Executive functions a standing committee shall be empowered to act for the Senate indirectly advising an officer of the Administration on current policy. In its Advisory functions a committee shall submit recommendations to the Senate unless otherwise specified below. The following shall be standing committees of the Senate, each with the functions and powers indicated.

(b) Chairs, Executive Secretaries, and other personnel of the following standing committees shall be appointed as herein indicated, with the President (in consultation with the Chair of the relevant committee) having the power to appoint other persons ex officio and non-voting as his/her representatives only in replacement of those specified below, except with respect to the Committee on Student Affairs.

Committee on Academic Freedom and Responsibility of Students
Executive: to consider appeals of students related to their academic freedom and responsibility and financial aid in accordance with policies and procedures approved by the Senate. [Secretary’s Note, 9/24/04: procedures regarding Honor Board appeals were approved by the Senate on 2/2/04.]

Advisory: to recommend to the Senate policies describing rights and responsibilities of students.

Membership: two undergraduate and one graduate student; three faculty members, each from a different academic constituency (one of which will be Law), to serve for a term of two years; and one representative from the Academic Administration, who shall be appointed by the Committee on Committees. The Chair of this Committee shall be a faculty member.

Committee on Assessment
Executive: to review and make recommendations to the Director of Institutional Assessment regarding the

• exchange of assessment information and assessment strategies among academic programs and administrative units;
• planning, development, and implementation of institution-wide assessment efforts;
• fostering a campus culture of assessment and institutional effectiveness;
• implementation of student outcomes assessment;
• accreditation-related assessment procedures at all levels in the university;
• appropriate and legitimate use of surveys to collect data; and
• review of and response to unit assessment plans and reports.

Advisory: to make recommendations to the Senate on policies relating to assessment.

Membership: voting members include one faculty member from each of the School of Architecture, the A.B. Freeman School of Business, the School of Law, the School of Liberal Arts, the School of Medicine, the School of Professional Advancement, the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, the School of Science and Engineering, and the School of Social Work, one of whom shall serve as chair; the chair of the Newcomb-Tulane College curriculum committee (ex officio); one member of the administration from each of the offices of Institutional Research, Student Affairs, Library, Technology Services, and University Communications; the Director of Institutional Assessment (ex officio), and two student representatives: one undergraduate student and one graduate student. The Director of Institutional Assessment will be included on the committee as an ex officio non-voting member.

Committee on Athletics
Advisory: on policies and appeals concerned with athletic programs.

Membership: six full-time faculty members, one from the School of Liberal Arts and one from the School of Science and Engineering, one from the School of Professional Advancement, and one each from three other academic constituencies; two students; the Director of Athletics, ex officio and non-voting; the Assistant Provost for NCAA Compliance, ex officio and non-voting; the Head of the Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Program, ex officio and non-voting; two Associate Deans, one from the Newcomb-Tulane College and one from the School of Continuing Studies, ex officio and non-voting; and the Faculty Intercollegiate Athletic Representative to the NCAA appointed by the President who shall be an ex officio non-voting member of the Committee, but shall not serve as Chair.

Committee on Budget Review
Advisory:
1) To review the conformity of the annual University budget with short-range and long-range priorities of the University and expressions of policy by the Senate.

2) The Chair of the Committee shall sit with the appropriate committees of the Administration as they formulate budget-policy guidelines for the coming year and when categories of the budget are discussed and adopted.

3) The Committee on Budget Review shall bring to the attention of the Senate any instances of purported inconsistencies of the budget with priorities or policies as well as any other allocations which, in the committee’s opinion, are not in the best interests of the University.

4) Each academic year, the Committee shall review, prior to their adoption, the budget assumptions proposed by the Administration upon which a budget for the following academic year shall be built.

5) Each academic year, the Committee shall review, prior to its adoption, the budget proposed by the Administration for the following academic year.

6) The Committee may respond to requests from the President, or offer advice directly to the President. Concurrently, the Committee shall report such advice to the Senate.

7) To review regularly with the Executive Vice President for University Relations and Development matters pertaining to the development activities of the University and to make recommendations to the Senate in the area of development.

Membership: The Budget Review Committee shall be composed of seventeen voting members: twelve faculty members, three students, and two staff members (one from the Uptown campus, and the other from Downtown or elsewhere.

1) The Committee on Committees, with the President’s advice, shall select one Faculty member from each of the following academic constituencies: Architecture, Business, Law, Liberal Arts, Medicine, Newcomb-Tulane College, Professional Advancement, Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Science and Engineering, and Social Work.

2) The ten faculty members, the two staff members, and the three student members shall select two additional Faculty members, at least one of whom shall have a background in economics or business.

3) In addition, (i) the Senior Vice President for Operations and Chief Financial Officer, the Budget Officer, the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the Senior Vice President and Dean, School of Medicine, the Executive Vice President for University Relations and Development, and the Vice President for Enrollment Management or their designees shall serve as resource personnel for the Committee and shall meet with the Committee regularly, and (ii) the President, in consultation with the Committee Chair, may designate additional representatives of the University’s central administration to meet with the Committee regularly.

Committee on Committees
Executive:
1) to appoint members of Senate standing committees except where otherwise provided.

2) to nominate prior to the first Senate meeting each year a slate of full-time faculty members who are not elected senators, preferably from among Senate committee chairs, for positions as Senate Members-at-Large.

3) to appoint, with the concurrence of the President, the chairs (and deputy chairs as needed) of Senate standing committees except where otherwise provided.

4) to form ad hoc committees at the direction of the Senate.

5) to review Senate committee structure and function every six years. [Secretary’s Note: Begun in academic year 2001-02]

6) to replace committee members who it has appointed to other committees and who are not fulfilling their duties to those committees.

Advisory: to the Secretary of the Senate on matters specified in Article III, Section (c) of the Constitution.

Membership: Chair, the Vice Chair of the Senate; the past Vice Chair of the Senate; one ex officio Senator, and one faculty senator for each academic constituency of the University other than those to which the Vice-Chair and the past Vice-Chair belong, to be elected by the Senate for 2-year terms during the last regularly scheduled Senate meeting of the year; and the following ex officio members: the Chair of the Staff Advisory Council, a Co-chair of the Tulane Undergraduate Assembly and the President of the Graduate and Professional Student Association.

Committee on Educational Policy
Executive:
i. University-wide: to review and make recommendations to the faculties and deans regarding (a) policies and procedures that affect teaching; (b) the quality of support services relevant to teaching quality.

ii. Undergraduate programs:
(a) to review admission policies to assure acceptable minimum standards. [This function excludes review of interdivisional transfers and review of advance standing determinations for transfer students seeking admission from outside the University.]

(b) to review the admission and academic performance of student athletes according to current Senate policy.

Advisory to the Senate:
1. on questions related to academic policy and planning, admission, and student financial aid within the University which may either have been referred to, or have originated with, the Committee;

2. in recommending a satisfactory calendar for University operations;

3. in recommending the initiation of new or the termination of existing undergraduate degree programs, new undergraduate majors involving two or more units, and the initiation of new or the termination of existing joint undergraduate degrees or joint undergraduate/graduate degree programs.

Membership: Chair, the Vice Chair of the Senate; two faculty members from the School of Liberal Arts; two faculty members from the School of Science and Engineering; two faculty members from the School of Medicine; one faculty member from each of the remaining academic constituencies excepting the Newcomb-Tulane College; two members from the Administration; and three students, each from a different academic constituency. Ex officio (non-voting) – the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the Dean of Newcomb-Tulane College, the Chief Technology Officer or the CTO’s designee, and the Director of the Educational Resource Center. Either the Committee on Committees or the Educational Policy Committee may designate other representatives of the administration as non-voting members.

Committee on Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination Grievances Against Faculty

Executive: To consider grievances alleging faculty violations of Tulane University’s Equal Opportunity/Anti-Discrimination policies and make findings and recommend remedial actions and/or sanctions to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. This process does not apply to faculty on appointments of less than a year or on the first year of appointment. Those grievances are handled directly by the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) and Human Resources.

Advisory: To provide a yearly report to the Senate identifying the number of grievances received, the number that led to hearings and the time to resolution in each case.

Membership: Two full-time tenured faculty members from each of the larger schools (Law, Liberal Arts, Business, Science and Engineering, and Public Health), two senior faculty members from the School of Medicine, one senior full-time faculty member from each of the Schools of Architecture, Social Work, and Professional Advancement of the University.  Faculty members shall elect members in competitive elections for non-renewable three-year staggered terms. Faculty who hold administrative appointments with dean or provost in the title are not eligible to serve.  The committee shall elect its own chair. 

Committee on Equal Opportunity and Institutional Equity
Advisory: To advise the Senate on the development and implementation of polices, procedures and practices pertaining to
(a) recruiting and retaining a more diverse faculty, staff and student body;

(b) enhancing the implementation of diversity policies;

(c) improving the climate for under-represented faculty, staff and students. In fulfilling its advisory functions, the Committee is expected to work closely with the Office of Institutional Equity and other responsible parties with roles in improving affirmative action, institutional equity, and diversity at the University.

Membership: Chair, a faculty member; six additional faculty members; four students; three exempt staff; three non-exempt staff; and the following ex officio (non-voting) members: the General Counsel, the Institutional Equity Officer, the Associate Vice President for Workforce Management, a representative from the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and a representative from Disability Services. This group of 22 should include representatives of different genders, minority groups and persons with disabilities.

In addition, up to two additional faculty members may be chosen by the Committee each year in consultation with the Vice President for Institutional Equity, with substantive expertise relevant to the Committee's anticipated agenda for the year. [Oct. 6, 2008]

Committee on Faculty and Staff Benefits
Advisory: on the study and development of benefit plans including, but not limited to, educational benefits for dependents, insurance, housing, retirement programs, sabbaticals, and leaves.

Membership: Chair, a faculty member; two faculty members from the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences; one faculty member from each of the other academic constituencies of the University excepting the Newcomb-Tulane College; three exempt staff; three non-exempt staff; one at-large staff member (the Chair of the Staff Advisory Committee); the Associate Vice-President for Workforce Management and the Chief Financial Officer as ex officio non-voting members.

Committee on Faculty Handbook
Executive:
1) To review and make recommendations to the Provost's Office regarding the Faculty Handbook.

Advisory:
2) To consider, review, and develop any proposed changes, amendments, or revisions to the Tulane Faculty handbook and recommend these to the University Senate.
3) To circulate/post proposed revisions to all faculty for comment before bringing them to the University Senate.
4) To provide a yearly report to the University Senate.

Membership: One senior full-time faculty member from each School: Architecture, Business, Law, Liberal Arts, Medicine, Professional Advancement, Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Science and Engineering, and Social Work; the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs (ex officio); and General Counsel (ex officio and non-voting) shall be members.

Schools shall elect members in competitive elections for three-year staggered terms. Faculty who serve on this committee must also be eligible to serve as a Faculty Senator, which means voting members of the faculties of their academic constituencies for at least three years. Faculty who hold administrative appointments with dean or provost in their titles are not eligible to be elected.

The Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs will be the Chair.

Committee on Faculty Tenure, Freedom and Responsibility
Executive:
1) To entertain an appeal by a faculty member of the following (in accordance with procedures set forth below):
(a) a decision not to grant tenure, reappoint, or promote that faculty member if that faculty member alleges that considerations violative of academic freedom contributed significantly to the decision (in accordance with Article XI of the Statement on Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Responsibilities);

(b) a grievance alleging discrimination in employment, including denial of promotion or tenure, based on race, sex, color, religion, national/ethnic origin, age, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, handicap, or veteran status (in accordance with Part III-Q of the Faculty Handbook);

(c) a termination of an appointment with tenure or of a special or probationary regular appointment before the end of the specified term based upon financial exigency, bona fide discontinuance of a program or department, or incapacity for medical reasons (in accordance with Article V of the Statement on Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Responsibilities);

(d) proceedings with respect to a student grade or other academic complaint that the faculty member alleges affects that faculty member’s academic freedom or responsibilities (in accordance with Section 6 of the Procedures on Grade and Other Academic Complaints);

(e) a decision not to grant tenure, reappoint, or promote that faculty member if that faculty member alleges that such decision was based on inadequate consideration in light of the procedural standards that govern the decision-making body; and

(f) a grievance in any matter that is subject to the grievance provisions that must be established by each academic constituency (other than the Newcomb-Tulane College) where that faculty member is dissatisfied with the decision of the elected standing grievance committee

2) to entertain an appeal to an Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination violation against faculty by any party to the grievance as specified in the Faculty Handbook, Chapter 8 section 8.5, and Chapter 6, Section XX, “Policies for the Committee on Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination Grievances Against Faculty.”  FTFR has the sole discretion to determine whether an appellant has standing before the committee.

3) to conduct, upon written request of a faculty member, a hearing and prepare findings, conclusions, and statement of reasons on that faculty member’s dismissal for cause (in accordance with Article VI of the Statement on Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Responsibilities) and

4) to be consulted by the President or the President’s representative prior to suspension of a faculty member. In entertaining an appeal under this paragraph, the Committee shall apply the following procedures:
(a) When an appeal is filed by a faculty member, the Committee shall notify the other party(ies) to the appeal of its existence and allow seven days (“days” refers to calendar) for other party(ies) to object to the Committee’s exercise of jurisdiction in the matter. If such an objection is not raised or if an objection is taken to the President’s Faculty Advisory Committee and resolved in favor of the Committee’s jurisdiction, the Committee shall request complete records of all previous proceedings/findings in the case under appeal, which records shall be transmitted to it. As soon as practicable, after the matter of jurisdiction is resolved and in any event within twenty days, the Committee shall set dates and places for the hearing which are mutually acceptable to the faculty member and other party(ies) to the appeal, which dates shall not be sooner than twenty days nor later than forty days after the delivery of the notice. When the Committee notifies the faculty member and other party(ies) to the appeal of the hearing, it shall also provide all parties a statement of the issues presented by the appeal with as much detail as is practicable.

(b) The hearing shall be private, unless the Committee, the faculty member, and the other party(ies) to the appeal all agree that the hearing shall be public.

(c) No member of the Committee shall participate in an appeal who has been directly involved as a committee member or administrator or in any other capacity other than the one specified in the subsequent sentence with the complaint preceding the appeal, or who has been identified, initially or subsequently, as a party to the complaint. Any member of the Committee is free to provide information concerning appeals procedures of the FTFR Committee to any individual with faculty status requesting same, or to advise on options for possible redress of the grievance alternative to, or prior to, a formal appeal to the FTFR Committee. However, no member of the committee may indicate his/her judgment on the merits of the complaint in the course of such inquiry.

(d) The burden of proof in challenging the decision or proceedings from which the appeal is taken shall rest upon the faculty member making the appeal.

(e) The Committee shall not be bound by strict rules of legal evidence and may admit any evidence that is of probative value in determining the issues involved, but shall afford all parties to the appeal opportunity to present witnesses, documentary or other evidence, and arguments on their behalf.

(f) As soon as practicable following the date of the hearing, and in any event not later than fifteen days thereafter, the Committee shall make explicit findings of fact and arrive at conclusions and reasons therefor with respect to the appeal and transmit them to the faculty member, the President or the President’s representative and/or the other party(ies) to the appeal.

(g) In entertaining an appeal concerning inadequate consideration, the Committee shall determine whether the decision was a result of adequate consideration in light of the procedural standards that govern the decision-making body and the University as a whole and shall not substitute its judgment on the academic merits for that of the decision-making body. If the Committee determines that adequate consideration was not given, it shall report its findings to the Provost or Senior Vice-President for Health Sciences and the claimant and remand the matter to the decision-making body for reconsideration with reference to the specific respects in which the Committee finds consideration to have been inadequate; e.g., failure to seek out and consider all available evidence bearing on the performance of the candidate in all relevant respects, inadequate deliberation on the import of the evidence in the light of relevant standards, inclusion of irrelevant or improper standards, and any other indications that the decision was not conscientiously arrived at or that it was not a bona fide exercise of professional academic judgment. Following reconsideration by the decision-making body, the Committee may conclude that the procedural inadequacies found in its original investigation require some form of correction or redress by the University. Should the Committee consider recommending redress, it shall first meet with the appropriate decision- making body and then with the Provost or Senior Vice-President for Health Sciences before making its recommendation. The Committee shall not recommend the nature of the correction or redress, nor shall it recommend damages. The final recommendation of the Committee shall be communicated to the claimants, the Provost or Senior Vice-President for Health Sciences, and to the other faculty committees involved in the decision.

(h) As soon as practicable and in any event within fifteen days following receipt of the Committee’s findings, conclusions, and statement of reasons, the President or the President’s representative shall either agree or disagree with all or any portion of the Committee’s report and notify the Committee, the faculty member involved and the other party/parties to the appeal of any disagreement with all or any portion of the Committee’s report, stating reasons for such disagreement in writing. The President or the President’s representative shall allow fifteen days for the response of the Committee before making a final decision in the case.

Advisory: on issues affecting faculty tenure, freedom, and responsibility. The Committee shall review the written procedures of each academic constituency with respect to the reappointment of, promotion of, and the granting of tenure to the members of the faculty of the constituency and with respect to the constituency’s handling of faculty grievances and make suggestions, where necessary, to the constituency for changes in those procedures to comport with academic due process.

Membership: One tenured Faculty member from each of the academic constituencies excepting the Newcomb-Tulane College. Each member shall be elected for a term of three years by the faculty of his or her academic constituency. The committee shall elect its own Chair and Secretary at the beginning of each academic year.

Committee on University Honors
Advisory: nomination of candidates for honorary degrees. It is expected that the Committee on University Honors will give careful study to the selection of candidates for honorary degrees and will attempt to select the most appropriate candidates, keeping in mind the present interests and functions of the University, the place of the University in higher education, and the anticipated development of the University. Suggestions of candidates for honorary degrees may originate in the Committee, may be made to the Committee by any individuals, or may originate in faculty action which would be transmitted to the Committee.

Membership: One Faculty member from each of the academic constituencies excepting the Newcomb-Tulane College

Committee on Information Technology
Executive: to review, evaluate, and recommend strategies, plans, and policies that will lead to optimal use and development of information technology. This will include: (i) reviewing technology infrastructure needs of the University community to support teaching, administration and research; (ii) evaluating strategic directions, current and future capabilities, and objectives for campus IT support, including learning technologies; (iii) recommending methods for coordinated implementation of campus IT projects and initiatives; and (iv) reviewing the annual budget proposals for centralized IT facilities and services.

Advisory: to make recommendations to the Senate in this area.

Membership: Faculty - two from the School of Liberal Arts, three from the School of Science and Engineering, one each from Architecture, Business, Law, Medicine, Professional Advancement, Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and Social Work. Students - one undergraduate and one graduate. Staff- one from uptown, one from downtown or elsewhere. Administration – (voting) – one academic dean and one of the Directors of Admissions; (non- voting) – Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Technology Officer, Director of the Innovative Learning Center, Director of Administrative Computing, Director of Networking, Dean of Libraries, Representative of the Health Sciences Center.

Committee on Libraries
Executive: to develop policy recommendations for operating the Libraries.

Advisory: To advise the Dean of Libraries and Academic Information Resources and other Library Directors in the formulation of policies concerning the character, use, and development of library collections and facilities; to receive regular reports from library administrators on the condition and status of university libraries; to offer a forum for discussion of library-related matters deemed to be of interest to the university community; to review and evaluate library policy; and to report regularly to the Senate on the condition of the libraries.

Membership: Seven faculty members: three from the School of Liberal Arts, two from the School of Science and Engineering, one from the remaining uptown professional schools, and one from the Health Sciences Center; three students (two undergraduate and one graduate); and a professional librarian. Ex officio (non-voting) members to include the Dean of Libraries and the Directors of the Medical, Law and Business School Libraries.

Committee on Physical Facilities
Advisory: on the development of plans for the physical facilities of the University, including general policies on allocations of space and physical plant. There shall be at least one standing sub-committee, The Sub-committee on Traffic and Security, having the following functions:

• Executive: pertaining to reserved space for parking.
• Judicial: for assessment of fines or appeals for traffic violations.
• Advisory: to make recommendations to the Administration.

Membership: Twelve faculty members; three from the School of Liberal Arts (one in social sciences, one in humanities, one in fine arts), two from the School of Science and Engineering (one in science, one in engineering); one each from the remaining academic constituencies of the University excepting the Newcomb-Tulane College; two members of the Administration; four students (two from the Newcomb-Tulane College, one from the uptown professional schools and one from the Health Sciences Center); and one staff member, appointed by the Staff Advisory Committee. Ex officio and non-voting members to include the Chief Financial Officer, the Vice-President for Facilities Management, the University Architect, and the Director of Security.

Committee on Research
Executive:
(1) To review and make recommendations to the Vice President for Research concerning:
(a) the efficacy of new policies and procedures that affect research, development or training;

(b) the extent to which ongoing policies and practices enhance the acquisition and management of grants and contracts;

(c) the quality of support services provided to faculty who are attempting to acquire or have acquired external funding.

(2) To coordinate and monitor the activities of subcommittee(s).

(3) To review grant/contract proposals submitted by the Sponsored Projects Administration that raise important research issues for the institution, such as involvement in classified research, restrictions on publications, use of research personnel, etc., and determine the final disposition of such matters.

(4) To review grant/contract proposals that raise important patent issues.

Advisory:
(1) To recommend policies relating to research.

(2) To review the activities of the Institutional Review Boards, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees, the Institutional Biosafety Committee, and the Environmental Health Science Operations Committee.

(3) To review and make recommendations regarding University patent policies and procedures.

Subcommittee(s) and function(s):

• (1) Research Fellowships: to conduct an annual, merit-based competition to award research fellowships to faculty; to recommend names of the candidates for awards directly to the Vice President for Research, who shall be a member of the subcommittee.

Membership: voting members of the Research Committee will include the Vice President for Research as chair, one faculty member each from the School of Liberal Arts, School of Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and School of Science and Engineering, one additional faculty member from the uptown faculty, and one additional faculty member from the downtown faculty. Ex officio non-voting members include the senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, the dean of libraries, the director of sponsored projects administration, the university research compliance officer, and the executive director for technology transfer and intellectual property development.

Committee on Social Issues
Executive:
(1) To review, in response to petitions brought forth from the faculty, staff, and/or students of the university, university policies and practices that do not fall within the purview of other Standing Senate Committees, or aspects of such policies and practices, that may be inconsistent with fundamental human values.

(2) To review regularly with the President of the University matters pertaining to social issues affecting the university.

Advisory: To make recommendations to the Senate concerning matters pertaining to social issues affecting the University. Membership: Chair, a faculty member; three additional faculty members, each from a different academic constituency; three students, each from a different academic constituency; one staff member; and one representative of the Administration, to be appointed.

Committee on Student Affairs
Executive:
(1) to advise the Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students and the University Senate on all matters affecting student life. The Committee will consider student organizations, student publications, housing of students, student health, student conduct and discipline, diversity and multicultural affairs, co-curricular activities, auxiliary and student services, and similar social and cultural aspects of student life.

Advisory: to the Senate on basic policies governing student affairs; founding of student organizations; housing, bookstore, food services, and health services.

Membership: The Committee shall be composed of voting members appointed as follows: 9 faculty members: one from the School of Liberal Arts, one from the School of Science and Engineering, one from Architecture, one from Business, one from Medical School, one from Law, one from Public Health and Tropical Medicine, one from the School of Professional Advancement, one from Social Work. 7 student members: three ex officio student members including a co-chair of the Tulane Undergraduate Assembly or designee, the President of GAPSA or designee, and the President of Multicultural Council or designee; and four at-Large student members, including two graduate students nominated by GAPSA and two undergraduate students nominated by TUA. Non-voting members will include the Vice President of Student Affairs. Guests may be invited dependent on the focus of the work.

(1) The elected Senators and their alternates must be of the full-time faculty of the rank of assistant professor or above, or full-time students.

(2) The faculty Senators and their alternates shall have been voting members of the faculties of their academic constituencies for at least three years prior to the beginning of their service as Senators. The student Senators and their alternates shall have been full-time students for at least one year prior to the beginning of their service as Senators.

These Bylaws may be amended or repealed in the following manner:
(a) The proposal to amend or repeal the Bylaws must be made at the regular meeting preceding that at which the vote is taken on such proposal.

(b) The proposal to amend or repeal the Bylaws must be approved by two thirds of those senators present and voting at the second reading during which a quorum is present.

(1) Nominations of candidates shall be made to the Senate by the Senate Committee on University Honors and the Board Committee on University Honors, sitting together, with the exception that under special circumstances the privilege of nominating from the floor can be extended if there is a two-thirds majority of the voting membership in favor of receiving the nomination in this manner. [Oct. 6, 2008]

(2) Voting on such candidates shall be by written ballot in a session of the Senate attended only by voting members or their proxies. The proceedings of this session shall be kept confidential. No candidate shall be recommended by the University Senate to the President for review before recommendation to the Administrators for an honorary degree unless the candidate receives an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting members who are present.

(3) Any candidate thus presented to the Senate and failing to receive a recommending vote shall not be reconsidered within that current session.

(1) The President’s Faculty Advisory Committee shall consist of six faculty Senators, no more than two from any one academic constituency of the University. The nominating committee shall consist of all faculty Senators who shall propose each year two faculty Senators to be elected by the Senate to serve for three-year terms on this committee. The Committee shall elect its chairman annually. Its purpose shall be to advise the President of the University upon matters of University policy, particularly when subjects of great urgency or delicacy require immediate consultation. The Vice Chair of the Senate, the Secretary of the Senate, and the Chair of the Senate Budget Review Committee shall be ex officio members.

(2) The Committee shall have the authority to decide disputes brought to its attention by a faculty member, student, or member of the administration over which standing committee referred to in Article III has jurisdiction over a particular matter. The Committee may refer the matter to two or more existing committees by dividing it into parts for consideration in sequence or concurrently or may ask the Senate to create a special ad hoc committee to deal with the matter. Any member of the Committee who is on another standing committee whose jurisdiction is in dispute in a particular matter shall recuse him/herself from all discussion and votes in that jurisdictional dispute.

Amendments other than of a purely editorial nature to Sections III and IV of the Faculty Handbook must be approved by the Tulane University Senate.

(a) Amendments must first be introduced as a first reading at a Senate meeting prior to that in which enaction is decided.

(b) The vote necessary for adoption of amendments to Section III of the Faculty Handbook shall require a 2/3 majority of those present and voting at the second reading.

(c) The vote necessary for adoption of amendments to Section IV of the Faculty Handbook shall require a simple majority of those present and voting at the second reading.

A. Election of Senators-At-Large
1. The process for electing Senators-At-Large is outlined in the Constitution Article II: Membership

2. Faculty-elected senators will convene prior to the first full Senate meeting each year. Faculty- elected senators will elect a slate of eight faculty for the senator-at-large positions.

3. The full senate will vote to approve, or approve with modifications, the slate of faculty for senator-at-large positions.

B. Election of Honorary Degree(s)
1. The process for electing honors degrees is outlined in By-Law VI: Honorary Degrees

2. Voting for honorary degrees shall be by written ballot in a session of the Senate attended only by voting members or their proxies.

C. Elected representatives to the Tulane Board of Administrators
1. The senate shall elect three faculty senators to serve as representatives to the Tulane Board of Administrators.

2. Representatives must be faculty senators currently elected to the University Senate.

3. Faculty senators are eligible to complete their three-year term to the Tulane Board of Administrators even after completing their term on the Tulane Senate.

4. Elected representatives will serve a three-year term without eligibility for re-election in successive terms.

5. Elected representatives will attend the regular [bi-monthly] meetings of the Board of Administrators and have privileges of the floor, but not of voting.

D. Election to the President's Faculty Advisory Committee
1. The procedure for election of senators to the President's Faculty Advisory Committee is outlined in Bylaw VII: President's Faculty Advisory Committee

E. Election to Senate Officers
1. The procedure for election of the Vice-Chair of the Senate and the Secretary of the Senate are outlined in the Constitution, Article III.

Note: Over the years, there have been many standing rules. Most have been incorporated into the Constitution and By-Laws during major amendment efforts. The following are what appear to remain outstanding.

1. “Privilege of the floor but not of voting” in the Constitution is construed to include all Parliamentary privileges except that of casting votes. (November 5, 1979)

2. Senate minutes are to be posted to the public website within one week after approval by the Senate.
 

Subcommittee on Research Fellowships

Members chosen by Committee on Committees

Chair: Associate Provost

Members:
1. VP of Research, ex officio
2. SSE faculty
3. SSE faculty
4. SLA faculty
5. SLA faculty
6. SOM faculty
7. SOM faculty
8. SPHTM faculty
9. SPHTM faculty
10. Uptown faculty at-large