UH BOR Policy  
    last revised 10-3-08   

University of Hawai‘i - West O‘ahu
Faculty Senate

CHARTER

PREAMBLE

In order to provide both an organizational structure and formal procedures by which the faculty of the University of Hawai‘i -West O‘ahu can carry out its collective responsibilities with administrative colleagues in determining, recommending and advising, as appropriate, matters of academic policy for the campus as a unit of the University of Hawaiʻi system, while promoting and improving communications and mutual understanding among faculty, students, administration and community, the University of Hawai‘i - West O‘ahu Faculty Senate is hereby established.

ARTICLE I

Purpose and Functions of the Faculty Senate

SECTION 1. The Faculty Senate shall function as the policy-recommending and advisory body of the West Oʻahu faculty. It has the responsibility on behalf of the faculty of recommending academic policy to the Chancellor of University of Hawai‘i - West O‘ahu.

SECTION 2. "Policy," under this charter, means a general rule for the conduct of the campus, its faculty, student body, or administration as it affects the following areas:

  1. General educational and academic policy that affects the campus and/or its functions as a unit of the University system, including primary responsibility for curriculum content, subject matter, methods of instruction and research.

  2. Policy determining the initiation, review, and evaluation of proposed or authorized research, instructional and academic programs.

  3. Budget planning and implementation policy.

  4. Student-faculty relations policy.

  5. Policy for the evaluation of faculty and campus academic and academic support administrative positions.

  6. Policy concerning evaluation and selection procedures of candidates for campus academic and academic support administrative positions.

  7. The establishment and implementation of a canon of professional ethics and an effective means of professional maintenance of those ethics, including faculty self-discipline.

  8. Other academic matters referred to it by the Chancellor or other appropriate sources.

SECTION 3. The Senate may accept such other responsibilities as the Chancellor, the President and the Board of Regents may delegate to it.

SECTION 4. In exercising the aforementioned functions Senate shall make such rules, regulations, bylaws as it may deem necessary for the fulfillment of its responsibilities.



ARTICLE II

Membership in the Faculty Senate

SECTION 1. The University of Hawai‘i - West O‘ahu Faculty Senate is a representational assembly of the University of Hawai‘i - West O‘ahu Faculty.

SECTION 2. Each voting member of the Faculty Senate, except the Chair and Vice Chair/Recorder, shall be elected by and from one of the following constituencies:

  •     Professional Studies
  •     Social Science
  •     Humanities
  •     Education
  •     Math/Science
  •     CLEAR/Specialists/Librarians

SECTION 3. The Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the Vice Chancellor of Student Services and the Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services shall be ex-officio, nonvoting members of the Senate.

 

ARTICLE III

Elections and Terms of Office.

SECTION 1. Senators.

  1. Faculty within each constituency may elect no more than one senator for every three (or portion thereof) full-time faculty in that constituency.

  2. The term of office for senators shall be two consecutive academic years.

SECTION 2. Chair and Vice Chair/Reorder.

  1. The Chair and Vice Chair must be full-time faculty who shall not represent nor count as representatives of any constituency.

  2. The Chair and Vice Chair shall serve for two consecutive academic years or until their successors are elected, after which they are not eleigible for re-election to the same office for a period of at least one year.

  3. Regular election of the Chair and Vice Chair shall take place at the last senate meeting of the acadmic year in which the current Chair and Vice Chair/Recorder's terms expire.

  4. Vacancies.
    1. A vacancy in the position of Chair shall be filled by the Vice Chair/Recorder.

    2. A vacancy in the position of Vice Chair/Recorder shall be filled by a full-time faculty member appointed by the Senate Chair.

    3. If both the Chair and Vice Chair/Recorder positions become vacant, the Faculty Senate shall hold a special election to fill the two positions for the remainder of the term.


ARTICLE IV

Duties of Senate Members

SECTION 1.

The Chair of the Senate shall:

  1. Prepare the agenda for meetings by securing input from all members of the faculty and administration.

  2. Conduct the meetings.

  3. Report subject conclusions and recommendations of the meetings to the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

  4. Report back to the Senate the outcome of communications with University administration.

 

SECTION 2.

The Vice Chair/Recorder of the Senate shall:

  1. Take minutes of meetings.

  2. In the absence of the Chair, assume the Chair's duties and appoint a senator to take minutes at such meetings.

  3. Keep a file of all minutes, resolutions and memoranda.

  4. Distribute and/or eectronically post minutes of meetings to members of the Senate and its committees as appropriate.

 

ARTICLE V

Meetings

SECTION 1. All regular meetings of the senate must be open to all members of the faculty.

SECTION 2. At the Chair's request or upon a majority motion of the senators present, the Senate may convene in executive session for all or part of a scheduled meeting.



ARTICLE VI

Committee Membership

SECTION 1. All committee recommendations are subject to review and ratification by the Senate. Committees must submit written reports to the Senate of all recommendations and of all actions taken. Committees will be constituted as follows:

  1. All members of the faculty are eligible for standing, special, and subcommittee membership.

  2. Standing and special committees shall have no fewer than three voting members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Chair, representing as many constituencies as possible

  3. Special committees may be appointed by the Faculty Senate Chair.

  4. Standing and special committee chairs may form and appoint subcommittees.

  5. Students may serve on any of the committees, when appropriate, and at the discretion of the committee chairs.

  6. Other individuals may serve on the committees, when appropriate, and at the discretion of the committee chairs.



ARTICLE VII

Standing Committees

SECTION 1. Curriculum Committee

  1. Functions: To review course and program proposals, and recommend their approval, modification or disapproval.

  2. Membership:

    1. No fewer than three voting members of the Senate.

    2. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs may serve as nonvoting member at the discretion of the committee chairperson.

    3. One or two representatives of ASUHWO may serve as nonvoting members at the discretion of the committee chairperson.

    4. Other individuals may serve on the committee as nonvoting members at the discretion of the committee chairperson.

    5. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (ex-officio)

SECTION 2. Academic Affairs and Resources Committee

  1. Functions:

    1. To review and make recommendations concerning student admissions, testing, counseling policies and procedures, retention policies, student grievance procedures, and related matters.

    2. To make recommendations involving faculty and staff positions related to academic programs; to review and make recommendations concerning academic and related programs undertaken outside the traditional framework of classroom activity, including a system of review and evaluation of such activities

    3. To develop policy, suggest methods of implementation, and set out evaluation procedures for academic matters listed under Article I, Sections 2A, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G and 2H. For example, to make recommendations concerning student admissions and activities, to review and recommend policies regarding faculty matters such as ethics, travel, evaluation, team teaching, sabbatical leaves, release time, etc., and to oversee and evaluate faculty programs.

    4. To carry out activities falling under Article I Section 2C. For example, to participate with administration in the development of budgets affecting the academic programs at the campus, and to make recommendations on the distribution of campus fiscal resources.

  2. Membership:

    1. No fewer than three voting members of the Senate.

    2. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs may serve as a nonvoting member at the discretion of the committee chair.

    3. One or two members of the student body may serve as nonvoting members at the discretion of the committee chair.

    4. Other individuals may serve on the committee as nonvoting members at the discretion of the committee chair.


SECTION 3. Educational Effectiveness Committee

  1. Functions: To compile, analyze and make recommendations on various issues related to academic excellence, such as program reviews, assessment, learning outcomes, teaching effectiveness, accreditation, and institutional research.

  2. Membership:

    1. No fewer than three voting members of the Senate.

    2. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (ex-officio).

    3. One or two members of the student body may serve as nonvoting members at the discretion of the committee chair.

    4. Other individuals may serve on the committee as nonvoting members at the discretion of the committee chair.


SECTION 4. General Education Committee

  1. Functions: To recommend policies concerning the general education program, to review course proposals for addressing general education requirements, and to facilitate general education transfer and articulation within the UH system.

  2. Membership:

    1. One representative from each Constituency.

    2. One or two representatives from the community colleges will be invited to serve as advisors. Other individuals may serve on the committee as nonvoting members at the discretion of the committee chairperson.

    3. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs may serve as nonvoting member at the discretion of the committee chairperson.

    4. One or two representatives of ASUHWO may serve as nonvoting members at the discretion of the committee chairperson.

    5. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (ex-officio)


SECTION 5. Writing Committee

  1. Functions:

    1. To formulate and recommend policy regarding university-wide writing requirements which may include entrance examinations, and introductory intermediate, or advanced writing requirements.

    2. To function as the oversight body for UHWO Writing Intensive policies, in accordance with the policies of the system-wide University of Hawaii Standing Committee on Written Communications.

    3. To formulate and recommend policies regarding support programs or services to support the development of writing skills among all students, including the selection and training of tutors in writing skills.

    4. To develop writing curriculum and program implementation that supports delivery of introductory, intermediate, and advanced composition courses.

    5. To provide resources that focus upon various aspects of rhetoric and composition and writing curriculum philosophy/pedagogy.

    6. To assist with writing assessment on an institutional and divisional level.

  2. Membership:

    1. No fewer than three voting members of the Faculty Senate.

    2. No fewer than three members of the English faculty.

    3. One member each from the Social Sciences, Professional Studies, and Education Divisions, provided that each has taught at least one Writing Intensive course at UHWO.

    4. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs or designee (ex officio).

 

ARTICLE VIII

Amendment of Charter

All amendments to this Charter must be approved by two-thirds majority of the Senate members present for the vote and if approved shall be sent to the Chancellor. Amendments shall become effective upon approval by the Chancellor. The Chancellor will notify the Faculty Senate Chair regarding decisions on the amendments.



ARTICLE IX

Relation of This Charter to Collective Bargaining Agreement and Other Legal Decisions

Any agreement negotiated by the Board of Regents with a duly authorized bargaining agent under Act 171, Chapter 89 of the Hawai'i Revised Statutes and policies/statutes/procedures of the State of Hawai'i, BOR, U.H. System, shall supersede any conflicting provisions of this Charter.



BYLAWS

SECTION 1. Parliamentary procedure shall be governed by the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised.

SECTION 2. A quorum of the Faculty Senate shall consist of a majority of the elected members and officers of the senate.

SECTION 3. Voting Procedures.

  1. Any two members of the faculty have the right to introduce motions or resolutions for consideration by the senate.

  2. Though discussion and debate will be open to all members of the faculty attending the meeting, only duly elected senators may vote on pending motions/resolutions.

  3. Those items of an advisory nature voted upon by the Senate shall be presented to the Chancellor and Vice Chanellor for Academic ffairs by the Chair. The Chancellor and or Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs will notify the Faculty Senate Chair regarding decisions on such matters.



SPECIAL RULES OF ORDER

  1. NOTICE: Proposed resolutions affecting academic policy and/or amendments to the Charter & Bylaws must be submitted electronically one week in advance of the meeting scheduled for their consideration to the Chair of the Faculty Senate, who shall circulate the proposals among all UHWO faculty.

  2. VOTING: Since only duly elected senators may vote on pending motions/resolutions (Bylaws §3), voting procedures must ensure that only the votes from duly elected senators are counted. Unless the Senate specifically adopts an order for a ballot or role call vote on a question, voting may be done by one of the following methods as determined by the Chair:
    1. Each duly elected senator will be issued a "voting card" which the senator shall raise when called upon by the chair to express the senator's vote. At the end of each meeting, all voting cards must be returned to the custody of the Faculty Senate Chair; or
    2. Duly elected senators may vote by a show of hands but only while sitting in a separate section of the meeting room, pre-determined by the Chair, such that it is clearly and unambiguously separate from the place where any guest or person not eligible to vote may be present.

  3. DEBATE: Though discussion and debate will be open to all members of the faculty attending the meeting (Bylaws §3), all such speeches will be limited to 3 minutes.