1. One-half of all elected Senators or elected Alternates shall constitute a quorum to transact Senate business requiring action of all Senators. One-half of all elected faculty Senators or Alternates shall constitute a quorum to transact Senate business requiring action of faculty Senators only. One-half of all elected professional staff Senators or Alternates shall constitute a quorum to transact Senate business requiring action of professional staff Senators only.
   
   
2. Elected Senators and Alternates are those persons who have been elected by their constituent academic or professional staff units.
   

 

1. The Executive Committee of the Senate shall consist of the officers of the Senate and the chairs of the standing committees.
   
   
2. The Executive Committee shall function as a steering committee of the Senate. Normally, the Senate officers conduct the daily business of the Senate.
   
   
3. The Executive Committee shall maintain the lists of constituents and representation units. It shall use the Constitution and Bylaws as guidelines in its deliberations. Its recommendations for changes in the lists shall be submitted to the Senate for approval.
   
   
4. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to extend to a maximum of one calendar year the three-month period for presidential approval or veto of proposals. This approval requires a two-thirds majority vote of the Committee.
   
   
   

C. Senate Standing Committees - Organization

1. Normally, each senator or alternate is expected to serve on one standing committee of the Senate.
   
   
2. Only senators or alternates may vote in Senate standing committees.
   
   
3. Each committee shall elect its own chair, who shall be a senator or alternate.
   
   
4. Any member of the university community may serve without vote on any Senate standing committee, subject to the approval of the committee.
   
   
5. The full Senate must approve yearly the membership of each standing committee before it begins to function.
   
   
6. Normally, the Senate officers and officers-elect will draft a preliminary list of committee assignments before the first meeting of the Senate in the fall term.
   
   
7. The Registrar or a representative of the Registrar will serve as a non-voting ex officio member of the Curricular Policy and Instructional Policy Committees.

 

D. Senate Standing Committees - Responsibilities

Authority for responsibilities assigned to the standing committees are derived generally from the Constitution and Bylaws, as noted in the following list. ("III-F-1-a-6" for example, refers to Article III, section F, paragraph 1, part a, item 6 of the Senate Constitution.)

1. Academic Policy Committee
   1. Appointment, promotion, tenure, dismissal, and leaves of the academic faculty (III-F-1-a-6).
   2. Criteria for positions that are to be accorded academic rank (III-F-1-a-7).
   3. Academic freedom: rights and responsibilities (III-F-1-a-8).
   4. Regulations concerning the awarding of honorary degrees (III-F-1-a-9).
      
      
2. Administrative Policy Committee
   1. Selection of the University President, the Provost, and other major university-wide administrators (III-F-4-b-7).
   2. Administrative procedures and organizational structure (III-F-4-b-8).
   3. Evaluation of administrators (III-F-4-b-9).
      
      
3. Board of Control Relations Committee
   1. Represent the Senate at meetings with the Board of Control.
   2. Coordinate interaction between the Senate and the Board of Control.
      
      
4. Computer Committee
   1. Computing facilities (III-F-4-b-4).
      
      
5. Curricular Policy Committee
   1. All curricular matters, including establishment, dissolution, and changes in degree programs (III-F-1-a-1).
   2. Requirements for certificates and academic degrees (III-F-1-a-2).
      
      
6. Elections Committee
   1. Conducting ballot initiatives (VIII-D and Bylaws)
   2. Conducting Senate elections (Bylaws)
   3. Conducting University-wide elections (Bylaws)
   4. Assisting Senate Officers in identifying nominees for Senate representatives to various University standing and ad hoc committees.
   5. Providing a slate of nominees for Senate offices
      
      
7. Finance Committee
   1. Allocation and utilization of the university's fiscal resources (III-F-4-b-3).
   2. Student financial aid (III-F-4-b-6).
      
      
8. Fringe Benefits Committee
   1. Fringe benefits (III-F-4-b-1).
      
      
9. Institutional Planning Committee
   1. Institutional priorities (III-F-4-b-2).
   2. Allocation and utilization of the university's human and physical resources (III-F-4-b-3).
   3. Admission procedures (III-F-4-b-5).
   4. General admission standards (III-F-4-b-5).
      
      
10. Instructional Policy Committee
    1. Regulations regarding attendance, examinations, grading, scholastic standing, probation, and honors (III-F-1-a-3).
    2. Teaching quality and the evaluation of teaching (III-F-1-a-4).
    3. All matters pertaining to the academic calendar (III-F-1-a-5).
       
       
11. Professional Staff Policy Committee
    1. Policy on all issues of concern only to professional staff (III-F-3-a-1).
       
       
12. Research Policy Committee
    1. Policy on all research issues and performance other than the allocation and distribution of resources (III-F-2-a-1).
    2. Policy and procedures on the allocation and distribution of resources (III-F-2-b-1).
       
       
    
    

E. Senate Temporary and Ad Hoc Committees

1. Within the areas of Senate authority but outside the responsibilities of the standing committees, matters may arise requiring committee action. The Senate shall establish temporary or ad hoc committees in such cases.
   
   
2. Membership of temporary or ad hoc committees
   1. In those matters for which the Senate has specific constitutional authority to establish and review policy, membership of temporary or ad hoc committees shall conform to the stipulations for membership in standing committees.
   2. In other matters, the membership of temporary or ad hoc committees shall be approved by the Senate.
      
      
3. After the Senate approves the formation of a temporary or ad hoc committee, the President shall read into the Senate minutes the charge to that committee.

 

F. Election of Officers

1. Following the annual spring election of senators by the representation units, Senate officers shall be elected for the next academic year. The election shall be held at a special meeting of the continuing senators and senators-elect, chaired by the current President.
   
   
2. Before the special meeting the Elections Committee, in consultation with the Executive Committee, shall solicit nominees for Senate officers among the continuing senators and senators-elect.
   
   
3. At the special meeting, the nominations shall be presented, with a call for nominations from the floor. After any additional nominations from the floor, the officers for the next academic year will be elected at the meeting.
   
   
4. A majority vote is needed for the election of an officer. If there are more than two candidates and a majority vote is not obtained, the candidate with the lowest number of votes shall be stricken from the list of candidates and another vote shall be taken until a majority is obtained.
   
   
5. The officers-elect of the Senate shall assume their duties on the Monday before the first week of instruction in the fall term.
   
   
   

G. Qualifications of Officers

1. The President and Secretary shall have tenure.
   
   
2. The Vice President shall be from a unit other than an academic department.

 

H. Duties of Officers

1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Senate and of the Executive Committee.
   
   
2. The Vice President shall preside at meetings of the Senate in the absence of the President of the Senate.
   
   
3. The Secretary shall record and maintain the minutes of meetings of the Senate and the Executive Committee.
   
   
4. The officers shall perform other duties as described in the Constitution and these Bylaws.

 

I. Replacement of Officers

1. In the case of resignation or incapacitation of any officer, an election of a replacement shall be held at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Senate.

 

J. Proposals

1. Definitions
   1. The word "proposal" used in this section shall be construed to comprise only those formally moved Senate actions involving major considerations such as:
      1. establishment of University policy and procedures
      2. recommendations to the University administration,
      3. measures affecting organization or primary procedures of the Senate,
      4. formal definitions of Senate policy, and
      5. establishment of Senate standing committees.
   2. The word "proposal" as used in this section shall be construed to exclude all operative motions and actions pursuant to the normal routines of a deliberative body, such as:
      1. moving appointment of, appointing, approving, or discharging ad hoc committees, or
      2. requesting, hearing, or accepting business and committee reports.
   3. In the event of question the presiding officer of the Senate shall be empowered to rule, subject to usual parliamentary controls, whether or not a motion constitutes a "proposal" within the meaning of these definitions.
   4. In these Bylaws, "full Senate" refers to the entire body of senators, regardless of constituency. The term "whole Senate" refers to the Senate acting as a body, as contrasted with Senate committees.
      
      
2. Proposals shall be submitted in writing to the Senate officers, who shall assign a number to the proposal. Based on an initial determination (subject to amendment by majority vote of the Executive Committee), they shall send the proposal expeditiously to the appropriate body.
   
   
3. A proposal may be submitted by any senator individually or on behalf of any group. Such proposals may be sent to an appropriate Senate committee, or to the whole Senate.
   
   
4. A proposal submitted by a Senate Committee shall go directly to the whole Senate.
   
   
5. The Executive Committee by two-thirds majority vote may send to the whole Senate any proposal that has been previously sent to a Senate Committee.
   
   
6. At least 10 calendar days before the Senate meeting in which any vote is taken on a proposal, the Senate officers shall have provided copies of the proposal to all senators, and shall have placed a copy of it in the J.R. VanPelt Library. (But see "Emergency Proposals" below).
   1. This requirement is intended to allow senators to consult deliberately with their constituents on any proposal.
      
      
7. The Executive Committee may attach recommendations with reasons therefor to any proposal before its distribution to the senators and the Library.
   
   
8. Classification of Proposals
   1. Before any proposal is sent to all senators, the Senate officers will determine its classification, following Article III-F of the Constitution.
   2. This determination will be based on a reasonable interpretation of the Constitution, and may be amended by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.
   3. This classification will be attached to the copies of proposals sent to Senators and to the Library.
   4. All senators may enter the debate on any proposal, without regard to its classification. Regardless of the classification of a proposal being debated, passage of a motion to end debate requires a 2/3 majority vote of the full Senate.
   5. During debate on any proposal any senator may object, on constitutional grounds, to the classification of any proposal.
   6. The classification of a proposal may be altered by a two-thirds majority vote of the full Senate.
      
      
9. Emergency Submission of a Proposal
   1. A proposal which does not meet the distribution requirements set forth above may be submitted from the floor of the Senate at any meeting of the Senate.
   2. A majority vote of the full Senate is required to approve taking up any such proposal.
   3. When the Senate approves taking up such a proposal, the classification of the proposal shall be made by the Senate President.
      
      
10. Amendment of Proposals
    1. A proposal which is not amended by the Senate can be approved by the Senate provided it has met the above 10-day requirement for distribution or is an emergency proposal.
    2. A proposal which is amended by the Senate shall be required to meet the 10-day requirement for distribution.
    3. A proposal that has been changed only editorially may be approved at the meeting during which the change is made.
    4. An "editorial change" shall be construed to be any minor change in wording that clarifies the meaning or improves the grammatical structure of the proposal but that has no effect on the substance, scope or application of the proposal. In the event of question, the presiding officer of the Senate shall be empowered to rule, subject to the usual parliamentary controls.
       
       
11. Administrative Changes of Proposals
    1. When the University President or designated representative suggests changes without veto in a proposal transmitted from the Senate, the proposal and the suggested changes shall be considered by the Senate in the same manner as a newly-submitted proposal, using the number of the old proposal.
       
       
12. A proposal that has not been approved by the Senate within one year of being assigned a number shall expire. An expired proposal may be resubmitted in the same or modified form and will be assigned a new number. An expired proposal submitted in the same form may be assigned its original number with a majority vote of the Executive Committee.
    
    

 

K. Voting Procedures

1. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the terms "majority" or "two-thirds" vote refer to the number of individuals voting.
   
   
2. A request for a secret ballot on the Senate floor shall take precedence over calls for a roll call vote or a voice vote and shall be automatically granted upon request.
   
   
   

L. Ballot Initiatives

1. A Ballot Initiative (or referendum) can be placed before the eligible Senate constituency (Article VIII). A Ballot Initiative is equivalent to action by the Senate and can be used to repeal an action of the Senate.
   
   
2. A Ballot Initiative may be required on some matters such as changes in the promotion and tenure policies that must be approved by the Academic Faculty.
   
   
3. Procedures
   1. If a Ballot Initiative is presented to the Senate by petition of its constituents, then the originators of the initiative shall select a spokesperson who has the authority to represent them on all matters concerning the initiative.
   2. In matters that do not involve an attempt either to repeal a Senate action or to require a vote on an agenda item, appropriate committees of the Senate shall have the opportunity to review and discuss the petition with the originators and/or their spokesperson. The wording of a Ballot Initiative shall be reviewed by the Senate and the originators of the initiative to insure its fairness and consistency.
   3. The vote on the initiative shall be by secret ballot.
   4. The vote on the initiative will not have to take place until after the next regularly scheduled Senate meeting. During an academic year, a Ballot Initiative to repeal an action of the Senate can be submitted during that same academic year up to two regularly scheduled meetings after the action is taken. A petition to require a Ballot Initiative on an Agenda item for a particular Senate meeting can also be submitted at that same meeting. In either of these cases, the initiative shall be held as soon as possible after the meeting where it is submitted or proposed.
      
      
   
   

M. Special Constituency Issues

1. Definition
   Throughout the Constitution and these Bylaws the term "Department" shall apply to and should be read as "School" for the Schools of Business and Economics, Forest Resources and Environmental Science, and Technology. For Senate purposes these three units are considered equivalent to departments.
   
   
2. The following shall not be constituents of the Senate:
   Any Dean or equivalent Director (as determined by the Executive Committee) who reports directly to any of the following: President; Provost; any Vice Provost; any Vice President; Board of Control.
   
   
3. Department Chairs, Associate Deans, and Assistant Deans, despite their additional status as Academic Faculty members, shall not serve as senators or alternates. They are considered constituents of the Senate.
   
   
4. The following individuals may be constituents of the Senate, but may not serve as senators or alternates:
   Any Staff having significant influence (as determined by the Executive Committee) with any of the following: President; Provost, any Vice Provost; any Vice President; Board of Control.
   
   
5. The Senate's professional staff constituency consists of those persons so defined by the Senate Executive Committee in consultation with the Senate Professional Staff Committee and the University's Office of Human Resources. The Senate Professional Staff Committee will recommend the composition of individual professional staff constituencies for approval by the Senate Executive Committee.
   

II. REPRESENTATION UNITS (2007-2008)

A. Academic Departments

1. Army/Air Force ROTC
2. Biological Sciences
3. Biomedical Engineering
4. Chemical Engineering
5. Chemistry
6. Civil and Environmental Engineering
7. Cognitive and Learning Sciences
8. Computer Science
9. Electrical and Computer Engineering
10. Engineering Fundamentals
11. Exercise Science, Health, and Physical Education
12. Geological & Mining Engineering Sciences
13. Humanities
14. Library
15. Materials Science and Engineering
16. Mathematical Sciences
17. Mechanical Engineering - Engineering Mechanics
18. Physics
19. School of Business and Economics
20. School of Forest Resources & Environmental Sciences
21. School of Technology
22. Social Sciences
23. Visual and Performing Arts

 

B. Non Academic Units

1. Academic Services A (Biology; Chem Eng; Chemistry; Electrical Eng; ME-EM; Museum; School of Technology)
2. Academic Services B (Civil/Environ; Coll of Eng; Geology/Mining; IMP; LTAP; Material Sci)
3. Academic Services C (All other non-represented Academic Departments)
4. Auxiliaries (Campus Store; Cultural Enrichment; Golf; MUB; Residential Dining; Rozsa; SDC; Ski Hill; Summer Athletics; Ticket Office; Univ. Images)
5. Admissions; Career Center; Financial Aid; Records & Registration
6. Accounting Services; Affirm Prog; BOC; HR; Institutional Analysis; Internal Audit; OSHA; Provost/VP for Academic Affairs; Purchasing; VP of Administration
7. Advancement; Alumni; Corp Svcs; Mail Svcs; Printing; Univ. Communications
8. Admin Infor Svcs; Building Custodial & Maint; Energy Management; ETS; Facilities Operations & Planning; Grounds; IT; Public Safety
9. Library
10. Exercise Science, Health, and Physical Education
11. Acctng Svcs Research; Grad School; KRC; Mich Tech Research Inst; Research & Sponsored Programs; VP for Research
12. Counseling; Educational Opportunity; International Programs; Residential Facilities; Student Affairs; Tech & Economic Develop
    

 

C. Other Units having Official Non-Voting Liaison Senate Membership

1. Emeritus/Emerita Association
2. Graduate Faculty Council
3. Graduate Student Council
4. Staff Council
5. Undergraduate Student Government