1. Academic Senate Orientation
2018 – 2019 Academic Year

2. Welcome Senators – New and Veterans!
Why the Academic Senate exists
Structure of the Senate
Officer Responsibilities
Responsibilities of Senators
“Coming Attractions”

3. Interim Provost and Vice-President of Academic Affairs
Dr. Joseph Mosca
Interim Provost and Vice-President of Academic Affairs

4. Senate Charter
Preamble In recognition of the essential role of the faculty in the development of policies concerning the academic functions and activities of the University, it is appropriate for the Senate to have primary responsibility for the development of new policies, or changes in existing policies, integral and essential to the academic functions and activities of the University.

5. The Academic Senate plays a critical role in Shared Governance.
Senate Charter (cont.)
Preamble (cont.)
In further recognition of the responsibilities of the faculty to the University community, the Senate shall have the right to make such studies as it considers necessary, and recommend to the administration changes that said studies indicate are appropriate.
The Academic Senate plays a critical
role in Shared Governance.

6. Senate Structure
Ours is an Academic Senate as opposed to a Faculty Senate
Guided by:
Charter – revised last year and needing faculty approval before being submitted to the Board of Trustees
Bylaws –currently under revision; proposed changes will be presented to Senate this year
All documents and supporting materials can be found on the Senate web page:

7. Senate Structure (cont.)
Composition of YSU’s Academic Senate: 102 Members
70 Faculty representatives (elected)
One for each department
Remaining At-Large
15 Administration appointments
15 Student representatives (elected/appointed by the SGA)
2 Part-time instructors (elected)

8. Senate Structure (cont.)
Faculty senators by college
BCOE: 2 departmental, 5 at-large
CSTEM: 10 departmental, 7 at-large
BCHHS: 7 departmental, 6 at-large
WCBA: 3 departmental, 5 at-large
CCCAC: 4 departmental, 5 at-large
CLASS: 9 departmental, 6 at-large (+ 1 more at-large!)
Graduate Studies not included; Senate focus: undergraduate

9. Senate Structure (cont.)
Terms of service
Departmental faculty – rotating 2-year term; must go off Senate for one year or seek re-election as an at-large representative
At-large faculty – one-year term; can be re-elected ad infinitum
Administration – appointed; no term limit
Students – elected/appointed by SGA Bylaws
Part-time faculty – elected yearly

10. Senate Structure (cont.)
Officers
Chair – Chet Cooper (elected)
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Vice Chair – Carol Lamb (elected)
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Secretary – Amy Flick (appointed)
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Parliamentarian – Max Grubb (appointed)

11. Senate Structure (cont.)
Election of Chair and Vice Chair
At its initial meeting in September, the election of the Chair is first order of Senate business.
Nominations are solicited and elections held by ballot.
The person receiving the most votes is Chair.
The person receiving the second most votes is Vice Chair.
The terms run from January to January.

12. Senate Structure (cont.)
Senate Executive Committee
Bill Vendemia, WCBA ( )
Chet Cooper (Senate Chair)
Tomi Ovaska, CLASS ( )
Carol Lamb (Senate Vice Chair)
Megan List, BCOE ( )
Amy Flick (Senate Secretary)
Bob Kramer, CSTEM ( )
Max Grubb (Parliamentarian)
Ernie Barkett, SGA ( )
Cathy Parrott, BCHHS ( )
Sal Sanders, Admin. ( )
Vacant, CCCAC ( )

13. Senate Structure (cont.)
Other Committees
Academic Research
General Education^
Academic Events
Academic Grievance
Academic Standards
Library
Honors
Elections and Balloting*
Charter and Bylaws*
Integrated Technologies
Academic Programs
Professional Conduct
University Curriculum
*elected ^elected/appointed

14. Officer Responsibilities
Chair
Preside at all Senate meetings
Perform such other duties as are required
Be responsible for the communication of all Senate action to the Administration
Serve as faculty member of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees
Seemingly serve on every university committee every created!!! (regardless if you want to do so or not!!!)

15. Officer Responsibilities (cont.)
Vice Chair
In the event the Chair is temporarily unable to preside, the Vice Chair shall preside.
In the event the Chair resigns or is unable to perform the duties, the Vice Chair shall assume the Chair.

16. Officer Responsibilities (cont.)
Secretary
Be responsible for the circulation of materials
Maintain a permanent file of the results of all balloting. At all Senate meetings, record attendance
Distribute agenda and minutes
Publish proceedings of the Senate
Parliamentarian - advise the chair, upon request, on all matters pertaining to proper parliamentary procedures.

17. Officer Responsibilities (cont.)
Senate Executive Committee
Assign members of the appointed committees
Refer matters to the appropriate chartered committee
May appoint subcommittee/ad hoc committee as deemed appropriate
Prepare the agenda for Senate meetings
Transact ongoing routine business as may be directed to it
Act provisionally for the Senate in matters of liaison with the Administration, and in matters requiring immediate attention

18. A Senator’s Responsibilities
Communicate
Communicate, communicate, communicate!
To your department and other colleagues
To Senate via the Chair, Vice Chair, or Secretary

19. A Senator’s Responsibilities (cont.)
Read and review the Senate agenda and meeting materials
Attend Senate meetings
Senate meets first Wednesday of each month, September through May (except January)
Starts promptly at 4:00 PM; lasts an hour or more
PLEASE be on time; quorum is necessary to act
PLEASE make every effort to remain throughout the meeting
Location – DeBartolo Hall auditorium (room 132)

20. A Senator’s Responsibilities (cont.)
Be actively ENGAGED during Senate meetings
Robert’s Rules of Order (see handout)
Use microphones and clearly state your name
All discourse MUST BE civil, reasonable, and respectful
If you are uncomfortable addressing an issue, before the meeting:
Ask a colleague to raise your concerns
Contact the Senate Chair with your concerns

21. A Senator’s Responsibilities (cont.)
ACTIVELY participate in committee work
Review the committee descriptions in the ByLaws (found on the Senate web page)
FACULTY SENATORS DO THE FOLLOWING:
In priority order, send an to the Senate Chair with your three possible choices. Please use the term “Senate Committee Preferences” in the Subject Line.
ALL FACULTY SENATORS SHALL SERVE ON A COMMITTEE!!!

22. “Coming Attractions” Committee work: New reporting form
No verbal presentation needed if no action is requested
Reminder: recommendations from committees need no second
Minutes of committee meetings are required and need to be submitted to Senate Chair and Secretary
Committees must meet at least once a semester and report to the Senate at least once a semester

23. “Coming Attractions” (cont.)
Presentations to Senate
Only matters that directly pertain to the academic enterprise will be considered for presentation to the Senate.
Union issues not directly related to academics shall not be heard in the Senate.
Informational presentations shall be strictly limited, especially if they are covered in a committee’s written report.

24. “Coming Attractions” (cont.)
Presentations to Senate (cont.)
Any discussion must be conducted with proper decorum.
Senate meetings are open to the public. Anyone may attend provided that proper decorum is maintained.
Only members of the Senate are permitted to address the body. HOWEVER, the Chair has in the past permitted non-members to address the Senate with brief comments upon being recognized. Non-members may seek pre-approval for extended remarks.
ENCOURAGE non-members to attend Senate meetings!

25. “Coming Attractions” (cont.)
Issues requiring Senate attention this academic year
Program review
First Year Experience
Revisioning General Education
Strategic planning process
Continue shared governance efforts
Search for a new provost

26. Questions?