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Preamble
Dedicated to the promotion of the highest level of teaching and scholarship,
we the Main Campus faculty and administration of Georgetown University, a
Jesuit and Catholic University, do hereby establish an Executive Faculty for
the Main Campus.
Universities of distinction nationwide consider governance of an institution
of higher education to be a shared responsibility and joint effort. The
Georgetown University Faculty Handbook (Footnote 1) follows this practice,
making the executive faculty or council of each school the ordinary
educational policy-making body for that school in accordance with University
policy. The final institutional authority is the Board of Directors, which
entrusts the conduct of administration to the President, Vice-presidents,
and Deans, and the conduct of teaching and research to the faculty.
To extend this pattern of shared responsibility and joint effort, the Main
Campus Executive Faculty, the Office of the Provost, and the Deans shall
work together in determining, creating, and implementing academic policy for
the Main Campus of the University.
I. Scope and Functions of the Executive Faculty
A. Scope of the Executive Faculty
1. The Main Campus Executive Faculty, in collaboration with the Office of
the Provost and the Deans, shall formulate Main Campus academic policies.
Academic policies are those that concern such fundamental areas as
curriculum, content and methods of instruction, and the conditions of
faculty life in terms of teaching, research, and service. Main Campus
policies are those that are not confined to one school or that affect the
Main Campus as a whole.
2. Nothing in the Constitution is to be construed as at variance with or as
a constraint on the traditional academic freedoms enjoyed by individual
members of the faculty.
3. The Executive Faculty shall not exercise authority over matters properly
dealt with solely by department, program, or school faculties, nor
contravene any policy or course of action involving two or more schools that
has been endorsed by the Deans and Executive Councils of all schools
involved.
4. Except when requested by the University Faculty Senate, the Executive
Faculty shall not exercise authority over matters of general University
interest that are properly subject to Senate consideration, nor perform
functions assigned to the Senate by University Policies.
5. Since the Executive Faculty, the Faculty Senate, and major standing
committees or bodies advisory to the Provost have overlapping mandates,
coordination of interests and agendas shall be established, along with
regular consultation.
B. Functions of the Executive Faculty
1. Initiate Policy
The Executive Faculty may initiate the process for the formulation or review
of academic policies, either by developing its own proposals, which shall
then be reviewed by the appropriate Main Campus advisory committees, or by
asking the Provost to assign tasks to appropriate Main Campus advisory
committees. When the Provost asks advisory committees to consider
policy matters, the Executive Faculty shall be informed in a timely fashion.
2. Approve Policy Proposals
All Main Campus academic policy proposals shall be submitted to the
Executive Faculty for consideration. Such proposals must ordinarily be
approved or the need for their approval waived by the Executive Faculty
before implementation. On these matters, the power of final decision lodged
in the Board of Directors or delegated to the President or Provost should be
exercised adversely only in exceptional circumstances, and for reasons
communicated in writing to the Executive Faculty.
3. Advisory Function
The Executive Faculty may make recommendations to the Provost on academic
aspects of significant fiscal decisions, on the selection of senior academic
administrators, and on matters of University policy that affect the academic
mission of the Main Campus.
II. Composition of the Executive Faculty
A. Members
The Executive Faculty must be members of the ordinary faculty and shall be
composed of the following individuals:
1. One representative from each Main Campus Department, Departmental
Division (Footnote 2), or Departmental Program (Footnote 3), elected by the
faculty of the unit. The representative may be the Chair or Director, but
need not be.
2. One representative of the School of Nursing elected by the School
faculty.
3. One additional representative for Main Campus Departments and
Departmental Divisions with over thirty tenure or tenure-track positions
elected by the faculty of the unit.
4. Five faculty members elected by the Main Campus members of the Faculty
Senate. Faculty Senate appointees may, but need not be, members of the
Senate.
5. The Provost, as an ex officio, nonvoting, member.
B. Alternates
If any elected member is unable to attend a meeting of the Executive
Faculty, he or she may designate in writing another eligible member of the
ordinary faculty from the same constituency to speak and vote in his or her
stead at the meeting.
C. Elections and Term of Office
The members of the Executive Faculty shall ordinarily be elected in May. The
term of office shall be two years beginning with the first day of the
semester following the election. If an individual cannot serve a complete
term, a replacement shall be elected in accordance with Section II A.
D. Representation
No person may represent more than one constituency.
III. Quorum and Voting
A. Quorum
Quorum shall consist of fourty percent of those eligible to vote.
B. Voting
A simple majority vote of all members present and voting shall be required to adopt all
motions except resolutions of no-confidence, and amendments to this
Constitution, which shall require a two-thirds vote of all members present
and voting.
No person shall have more than one vote. All votes and abstentions will be
recorded.
IV. Officers
A. Duties
The Officers of the Executive Faculty shall be the Chair, First Vice-Chair,
and Second Vice Chair. They shall chair key committees as appropriate and
shall have the following duties:
1. Chair
The Chair shall: (a) preside over all meetings of the Executive Faculty and
the Steering Committee; (b) represent the Executive Faculty to other members
of the University Community; (c) serve as an ex officio, nonvoting, member
of the Council of Deans; and (d) perform any other duties requested by the
Executive Faculty.
2. First Vice-Chair
The First Vice-Chair shall: (a) preside over meetings of the Executive
Faculty and the Steering Committee in the absence of the Chair; (b)
represent the Executive Faculty to other members of the University Community
in the absence of the Chair; (c) chair key committees as appropriate; and
(d) perform any other duties requested by the Executive Faculty or the
Chair.
3. Second-Vice Chair
The Second-Vice Chair shall: (a) assume the duties of the Chair in the
absence of both the Chair and the First Vice-Chair; (b) represent the
Executive Faculty to other members of the University Community in the
absence of the Chair; (c) chair key committees as appropriate; and (d)
perform any other duties requested by the Executive Faculty or the Chair.
4. Publicizing and Recording Meetings
The officers shall be responsible for publicizing and recording meetings of
the Executive Faculty in accordance with Section V of this Constitution.
B. Election Procedure
The election shall ordinarily take place at the first meeting of the
Executive Faculty in April of every second year. Only members of the Executive Faculty are
eligible to serve as officers. The vote shall be by secret ballot. Officers
shall be elected by a majority vote of all members present and voting.
C. Term of Office
The officers shall serve a term of two years beginning on July 1 following
the elections. Should new officers not be elected before July 1, the
existing officers will serve until successors are elected. An
officer may be reelected to the same office but may not serve more than two
full terms in succession. An officer who has already served two consecutive
terms in the same office may only hold that office again after a full term
has passed.
D. Vacancy in Office
In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chair, the First Vice-Chair shall
become Acting Chair until the next meeting of the Executive Faculty at which
time an election shall be held to fill the remainder of the term. In the
event of a vacancy in the office of either the First or Second Vice-Chair,
the Chair shall appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the term,
subject to the timely approval of the Executive Faculty.
E. Removal from Office
Any officer, committee chair, or committee member may be removed from office
by a vote of the Executive Faculty. A motion to remove any officer may only
be considered if at least ten days prior notice has been provided to all
members of the Executive Faculty.
V. Meetings
A. Regular Meetings
The Executive Faculty shall have at least one meeting each semester during
the academic year. The first meeting of the year shall normally take place
during the last week of September.
B. Special Meetings
A special meeting may be called at any time by the Chair or by any ten
members of the Executive Faculty who submit a signed notice to the Steering
Committee.
C. Open Meetings
Meetings of the Executive Faculty shall be open to all members of the
University Community.
D. Agendas
Any member of the Executive Faculty may have an item placed on the agenda if
the Chair is notified in writing at least ten calendar days before the
meeting. The agendas for all meetings shall be distributed to all members of
the Main Campus Faculty at least seven calendar days before the meeting.
E. Meeting Notification
Formal notification of all meetings shall be provided to all members of the
Main Campus Faculty at least seven calendar days before the meeting.
F. Minutes of Meetings
Minutes of all meetings of the Executive Faculty shall be taken and
approved. A summary of the approved minutes shall be distributed to all
members of the Main Campus Faculty and Academic Administrators.
G. Meeting Procedures
If any dispute arises over the conduct of a meeting of the Executive
Faculty, the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall be the
authoritative procedural guide.
VI. Committees
A. Steering Committee
1. Composition
The Steering Committee shall consist of the Chair of the Executive Faculty,
the First and Second Vice-Chair, and at least six other members of the
Executive Faculty. In addition, the Vice President of the Faculty Senate for
the Main Campus shall be an ex officio, nonvoting, member of the Steering
Committee.
2. Purpose
The purpose of the Steering Committee shall be to nominate committee
appointments, plan the agendas for meetings of the Executive Faculty, screen
policy proposals, and perform any other activities requested by the
Executive Faculty.
3. Screening Function
The Steering Committee shall review all Main Campus academic policy
proposals, decide which shall be waived and which shall be voted upon, and
inform the Executive Faculty of its decisions in a timely fashion. Proposals
waived by the Steering Committee are waived by the Executive Faculty unless
placed on the agenda in accordance with Section V by a specified date.
4. Selection and Term of Office
The additional six or more members of the Steering Committee shall be
appointed by the Chair and Vice-Chairs, subject to the approval of the
Executive Faculty.
Appointments to the Steering Committee shall be for two years. In the event
of a vacancy, the officers shall appoint a replacement to serve the
remainder of the term, subject to the timely approval of the Executive
Faculty.
5. The Provost
The Provost shall have the right to address the Steering Committee on proper
notification of the Chair.
B. Other Committees
The Chair may establish any standing or special committees as may be
required, subject to the approval of the Steering Committee. All members of
such committees shall be approved by the Executive Faculty. Members need not
be on the Executive Faculty.
VII. Resolution of Conflicts
Any conflicts that might arise over the understanding or application of the
foregoing sections shall be submitted to the President of the University for
resolution.
VIII. Amendments
This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of all members of the Executive Faculty
present and voting. Any member may propose an amendment. Such proposed
amendment must be distributed to all members of the Executive Faculty at
least fourteen calendar days before the vote. After a positive vote of the
Executive Faculty, the amendment shall be distributed to all members of the
Main Campus Faculty for a vote during the Fall or Spring semester. It shall
be adopted unless one-third of the ordinary faculty vote against the
amendment within a specified time period, which in no case shall be less
than fourteen calendar days. Amendments shall become
official when submitted through the Provost to and approved by the President
and Board of Directors.
(Footnote 1): See the current Faculty Handbook.
(Footnote 2): A Departmental Division is a division of the tenure lines of a
School without departments that functions like a department: (I) the
division houses at least two ordinary faculty; (ii) the division is fairly
autonomous with regard to hiring and course listings; (iii) the division has
separate course listings; and (iv) the division's courses are required for
some degrees or degree concentrations.
(Footnote 3): Main Campus Departmental Programs are programs on the Main
Campus that function like departments. To qualify as a Main Campus
Departmental Program, a program must meet all of the following criteria: (I)
the Program is approved by the Main Campus Provost; (ii) the Program has a
Director appointed by the Provost; (iii) the Program has a budget line; (iv)
either (a) the Program houses tenure lines of its own, or (b) the Program
grants certificates or degrees (major, minor, masters, or doctoral) to a
total of at least 20 students per year; (v) the Program has at least two
ordinary faculty regularly teaching or administering the program; (vi) the
Program has a distinct area of study, which means a distinct academic
subject matter. Two or more programs with a common or substantially
overlapping area that differ only with respect to degrees offered,
associated faculty, budget lines, and the like shall be treated jointly as a
single Departmental Program if the individual programs are otherwise
qualified.
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