Faculty Senate Bylaws

Article I - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.

The faculty Senate shall be composed of eleven (11) faculty representatives and one (1) elected President.

Section 2.

The eleven (11) faculty representatives will be elected from representative constituencies of the faculty as defined in Article I Section 4 of the Bylaws.

Section 3.

Upon the election of officers of the Faculty Senate, the constituency represented by the President will elect another representative for the tenure of one (1) academic year.

Section 4.

The faculty electorate is divided into the constituencies in accordance with Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution. The constituencies will be designated by the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate and presented to the entire Senate for approval.

Article II - ELECTION OF SENATORS

Section 1.

At least fifteen (15) class days prior to the May meeting of the Faculty Senate the Secretary shall begin the annual election cycle for the one-third (1/3) annual vacancies of Senate seats.  Elections for other vacancies will be initiated as soon as the vacancy occurs.

Section 2.

The Secretary will provide written notice to the faculty constituencies, either by paper or electronically, designating a five (5) class day period in which eligible members of each constituency may announce their candidacy to the Secretary.  At the end of this period, the Secretary will create and distribute a ballot for each constituency including the names of all eligible candidates.

Section 3.

Once ballots are distributed, constituents will have five (5) class days in which to submit their completed ballot to the Secretary. 

Section 4.

Voting will be by secret ballot. 

Section 5.

Only members of the electing constituency may vote in any given race. 

Section 6.

Each Senator will be elected by a plurality of votes cast by his constituents. 

Section 7.

At the end of the voting period the President will appoint three (3) Senators from constituencies not holding elections to count all ballots and submit a teller's report for each election to the Secretary.

Section 8.

Notice of election results will be given to the respective faculty constituency and the elected Senator, either by paper or electronically, by the Secretary on the class day following the counting of the ballots.

Article III - DUTIES OF SENATORS

Section 1.

Each Senator will have the following duties:

1. To attend a minimum of three Senate meetings during each fall and spring semester (6 meetings each year).
2. To communicate with his constituency on a regular basis.
3. To participate in the decision-making process by voting on all motions considered by the Senate.

Article IV - DUTIES AND TERM OF OFFICERS

Section 1.

The President will have the following duties:

1. To call Senate meetings at his discretion and prepare and distribute the agenda.
2. To preside at all Senate meetings.
3. To appoint all Senate ad hoc committees and the respective chairpersons.
4. To call executive Senate meetings at their discretion.
5. To attend all meetings of the Odessa College Board of Trustees and President's Council.

Section 2.

The Vice President will have the following duties:

1. To preside in the absence of the President.
2. To coordinate the activities of the Senate committees.

Section 3.

The Secretary will have the following duties:

1. To keep appropriate records.
2. To publish the minutes of meetings of the Senate.
3. To furnish sufficient copies of the minutes of all Senate meetings to all members of the electorate, the administration, and the Board of Trustees.
4. To prepare and process all routine correspondence pertaining to the Senate.
5. To process all matters of business pertaining to the Senate.
6. To conduct elections of Senators.

Section 4.

The officers shall be elected at the May meeting of the Senate for a term of one (1) year.

Section 5.

New officers will assume duties at the conclusion of the May meeting.

Article V - AGENDA

Section 1.

The agenda for all regular and special meetings will be prepared and distributed to the members of the Senate at least three (3) class days prior to the particular meeting.

Section 2.

Any member of the electorate may present items for the agenda in writing to his Senator. The Senators will deliver such items to the President, who will place them on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the Senate.

Section 3.

All agenda items, including committee deliberations and reports that are under the unfinished business agenda shall be suspended during the interim between the May and September meetings.  Those unfinished business items shall appear as new business on the September agenda.

Section 4.

Special meetings of the Senate may be called by the President for consideration of business during the interval between May and September.

Article VI - VOTING

Section 1.

All elected Senators share an equal vote on all matters of the Faculty Senate. Duly elected Senators must be present to vote.

Section 2.

To preclude double representation, the President will not break a tie vote.  A motion which results in a tie vote will automatically fail for lack of a simple majority.

Article VII - COMMITTEES

Section 1.

The Executive Committee will consist of the three (3) officers of the Faculty Senate.

1. The function of the Executive Committee will be to serve as the Senate's designated spokesperson to the President and Vice President for Instruction of Odessa College.


2. The Executive Committee will meet with the President and Vice President for Instruction as needed.

Section 2.

The Tenure Committee shall be composed of five tenured faculty members appointed by the faculty senate.

1. The appointed members shall be representative of the various areas of the College and have staggered three-year terms.


2. A quorum of at least three members is necessary for any meeting or hearing by the tenure committee.


3. The Tenure Committee shall advise the OC Board of Trustees which faculty members it recommends for tenure, according to Board Policy.


4. The Tenure Committee shall conduct hearings at the request of tenured faculty who have been dismissed for the purpose of determining whether adequate cause has been shown by administration for the dismissal, according to Board Policy. Findings of such hearings shall be presented in writing to the OC Board of Trustees.

Additional Senate committees will be ad hoc.

Section 4.

Chairpersons of the Senate committees will have authority to appoint subcommittees and to call special meetings of their committees at their discretion.

Section 5.

Each committee will maintain accurate, permanent records of its proceedings and findings.  Following presentation of committee reports to the Senate, a copy of these reports will be submitted to the Secretary of the Senate.

Article VIII - SUSPENSION

Suspension of any part of the Bylaws will require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senators present.

Article IX - AMENDMENT

These Bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Senate by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senators present.  Written notice of the proposed amendments will be given to all Senators three (3) class days prior to the meeting.

Amended 5/3/2012

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