USC Academic Senate - Documents
Academic Senate Standing Rules
1. Choice of
Nominating Committee. The Executive Board elects two of its members to the
Nominating Committee. The Academic Senate elects four of its members to the
Nominating Committee. Candidates for the Academic Senate positions on the Nominating
Committee are nominated by one or more Academic Senate members, either from the floor at
the second Academic Senate meeting of the school year or by a signed, written nomination
delivered to the Academic Senate office two weeks prior to the second meeting. They
are elected at the second meeting.
2. Additional
nominations. The Nominating Committee shall propose a slate of officers of
the Executive Board for the next year. As prescribed in Bylaw 11, additional
nominations are permissible with the signed endorsements of five Academic Senate members
and prior agreement that the nominee will serve if elected. The calendar prepared by
the Academic Senate office shall state the date by which such nominations must be
received.
3. Election
Materials
A. Submission of election
materials. Every candidate is expected to submit a completed “Candidate
Information Statement,” on a form provided by the Academic Senate office. The
Academic Senate election calendar shall state the deadline for the receipt of candidate
statements. Election materials will be duplicated and distributed in the form
received from the candidate. If election materials are not received from an
individual before the deadline, a blank Candidate Information Statement will be circulated
for that person.
B.
Distribution of the election materials. Election materials to be distributed by the
Academic Senate office will include: the official ballot, completed “Candidate
Information Statements,” the election schedule, and instruction for returning the
ballots. Ballots not completed and returned in accord with the instructions will not
be counted.
4. Calendar.
Each year, the Academic Senate office will publish a calendar that will include the dates
for elections for Academic Senate officers and Members at Large.
5. Committees. The Academic Senate officers and the
Executive Board shall choose which standing committees shall be activated in
a given year, from the committees listed in the Faculty Handbook. Task
forces may be authorized by the Executive Board at any time.
6. Initial Committee Consideration of Faculty Handbook Amendments
A. ORIGINATORS: Proposals to amend the Faculty Handbook may be submitted for
Academic Senate consideration by any member of the Senate, the Academic Senate
Executive Board, the Faculty Handbook Committee, another Senate committee, the
University administration, or any faculty member.
B. INITIATION: A proposal initiated by the Handbook Committee, the Executive
Board, or the University administration will receive first review as set out
in paragraph C. Other proposals will initially be communicated to the Executive
Board which will either (l) refer the proposal to the Handbook Committee, or
(2) if it deems the proposal not worthy of further consideration, return it
to the presenter with the rationale for that conclusion.
C. HANDBOOK COMMITTEE, FIRST REVIEW: The Handbook Committee will meet with
the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs (or other designee of the Provost’s
Office) in a process designed to seek joint formulation by the faculty and administration.
The Provost’s representative and the Committee will seek relevant outside
opinions on, and information relevant to, the amendment. After discussion, the
Committee will recommend to the Executive Board either (1) a proposed Senate
Resolution including a joint formulation of Handbook text—together with
a rationale for change, or (2) that the proposal not be considered by the Senate.
D. EXECUTIVE BOARD, DECISION: The Executive Board may choose to (1) accept
the recommendation of the Handbook Committee and send it to the Senate, (2)
return the proposal to the Handbook Committee for further development, or (3)
advise against further development—providing a written rationale to the
motion’s originator.
E. REQUEST FOR RE-INITIATION: If the Executive Board either accepts the Handbook
Committee's recommendation not to go forward with a proposed amendment or advises
against further consideration for such an amendment, any Senator may have the
amendment placed on the Senate agenda under new business. The Senate (by a two-thirds
majority) may reverse the Executive Board's decision and return the proposed
amendment to the Handbook Committee with instructions to review it and submit
a report to the Senate for reconsideration.
7. Senate Process for Faculty Handbook Amendments
A. CIRCULATION: Upon successful completion of the initial phase specified above,
the proposed amendment and its rationale will be circulated in the form of a
resolution to Senate members in advance of the next scheduled Senate meeting.
The resolution, amendment, and rationale will be posted on the Senate Web site.
At a request of the Senate, additional measures may be undertaken for circulation
and publicity.
B. PROCESS: Discussion of, and voting on, proposed Handbook amendments will
usually occur at two consecutive Senate meetings, although the Senate may (as
specified in paragraphs D and E below) shorten or lengthen that schedule.
C. REVISION: Senate members are requested to review the amendment prior to the
meeting at which a first reading and discussion will be held. Revisions to the
amendment from individual Senators are invited. Any revisions, with an accompanying
rationale, should be sent to the Senate Offices in time sufficient for distribution
at the Senate's first reading.
D. FIRST READING: At the initial reading, the Senate considers the proposed
amendment. Previously submitted revisions (as specified in C above) will be
discussed. Further revisions, may be made from the Senate floor, but these should
comply with Bylaw 5 and be submitted in writing. Unless the Senate agrees (by
majority vote or unanimous consent) to suspend the rules, there will not be
a vote on endorsing the proposed amendment at the first reading. All proposed
changes will go to the Handbook Committee which will work as needed to perfect
the text, with guidance from the Executive Board, in a process designed to seek
joint formulation by the faculty and administration. A new version of the amendment
will be drafted and circulated to Senate members, upon approval of the Executive
Board.
E. SECOND READING: At the second Senate reading, the revised proposed amendment
to the Handbook will be discussed and voted on—unless the Senate votes
to continue discussion and the revision process by suspension of the rules (by
majority vote or unanimous consent.) Should the Senate decide to continue the
discussion to a further meeting, the revision process will be repeated (as in
paragraph D above) and the further revised amendment will be distributed for
discussion and vote at a third meeting.
F. FINAL EDITING: The amendment adopted by the Senate will be sent, through
the Provost’s Office, to the President of the University. The Senate President
should be consulted, and notified by the Provost’s representative during
this process. If any further modifications are made to the amendment, the revised
amendment will be distributed for a discussion and vote by the Senate. The final
text of the amendment will be posted on the Senate Web site.”
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