Faculty Senate Constitution

Article I - NAME

The name of the organization will be the Faculty Senate of Odessa College

Article II - PURPOSE AND JURISDICTION

Section 1.

The purpose of the Faculty Senate will be to represent the electorate in the formulation of policy concerning academic and professional matters.

Section 2.

The jurisdiction of the Faculty Senate will be to review and to recommend to the administration in all areas involved with academic and professional policy, including but not limited to:

     Curriculum
     Instruction
     Student Evaluation
     Communication
     Professional Faculty Matters

Article III - THE ELECTORATE

Section 1.

The electorate of this organization will be limited to the full-time faculty of Odessa College.

Section 2.

The full-time faculty will be apportioned into constituencies of nearly equal size, each constituency to be represented by one senator. At least every three years, the Senate acting as the committee of the whole will review and, if necessary, reapportion the faculty constituencies in order to maintain equal representation.

Article IV - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.

The Faculty Senate will be composed of 11 voting members, one elected from within each constituency, and an elected President.

Section 2.

Each Senator will be elected for a three-year term.  One-third of the Senate will be elected each year.

Section 3.

A Senator may be removed from the Senate by a two-thirds majority vote of their entire constituency. Written charges, accompanied by the signatures of one-third of the Senator's constituency, will be presented to the President of the Senate and the charged Senator.  Only a charge of a Senator's failure to perform his duties will be considered appropriate. The Senator will be given ten (10) class days to respond in writing to the charges brought against him. The written response will be distributed to all of the Senator's constituents.  The vote on removal, to be called by the President of the Senate, will occur five (5) class days after the response is submitted.  The vote on removal will be by secret ballot to be judged by the President of the Senate and two (2) impartial tellers appointed by the President.

Section 4.

If a vacancy occurs in the Senate, the affected constituency will elect an eligible replacement for the unexpired term.  Such election will be conducted in accordance with the Bylaws of the Faculty Senate. The special election must be held within ten (10) class days following the vacancy

Article V - OFFICERS

Section 1.

The officers of this organization will be a President, Vice President, and Secretary.

Section 2.

The Faculty Senate will elect the officers by majority vote at the May meeting.  The officers will serve one-year terms.

Section 3.

Vacancies in offices will be filled in the following manner:

In case of the continued disability, resignation, or removal of the President, the Vice President will become President for the unexpired term. In case of the continued disability, resignation, or removal of the Vice President or the Secretary, the Senate will elect from its membership a new Vice President or Secretary for the respective unexpired term.

Section 4.

A Senate officer may be removed from office, but not from their Senate seat, by a two-thirds majority vote of the entire Senate.  A secret ballot on removal will occur fifteen (15) class days after the Senate's receipt of written charges of the officer's failure to perform his duties.

The written charges must be accompanied by the signatures of a least one-third of the entire number of Senators.  The Senate officer will be given ten (10) class days to respond in writing.  The response will be distributed to all of the Senators before voting on removal occurs.

Article VI - QUORUM

Two-thirds of the Senate will constitute a quorum during the September through May academic year. One-half of the Senate will constitute a quorum for called meetings.

Article VII - MEETINGS

Section 1.

Regular meetings will be held eight (8) times each academic year, with one each in the months of August, September, October, November, February, March, April, and May.

Section 2.

Special meetings shall be called by the President at his discretion or upon the receipt of a written request from either one-third of the Senators of ten percent of the electorate.

Section 3.

Attendance at all Senate meetings will be open to the elected members of the Senate and to the electorate.

Article VIII - AUTHORITY IN PARLIAMENTARY

This organization will be governed by the rules of parliamentary procedure as found in the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order.

Article IX - AMENDMENTS

Section 1.

Amendments to the constitution of the Faculty Senate of Odessa College may be initiated by a majority vote of the entire number of Senators or by a petition of one-fourth of the electorate.

Section 2.

Amendments to the Constitution of the Faculty Senate of Odessa College will become effective immediately upon ratification by a majority vote of the electorate.  The Electorate will receive copies of amendments at least five (5) class days prior to the voting.

Amended 5/3/2012

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