CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS VOTE
FALL 2008
(Two issues)
Preamble:
The Constitution of the Faculty of Sonoma State University provides that it can be amended by
1) the Academic Senate endorsing any proposed amendment by a 2/3 vote; AND
2) the faculty approving such a proposed amendment by a 2/3 vote in which at least 50% of the eligible faculty participate.
Two proposed amendments passed the Academic Senate during the Spring 2008 term and are now presented to the full faculty for ratification. The complete SSU Senate Constitution is online at http://www.sonoma.edu/Senate/. This vote is being held via paper ballot only. Please read the following carefully before voting.
In the proposed amendments below, italics are used to denote proposed new language, and strike-out text is used to denote text proposed for deletion.
1. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
(New Item) ARTICLE III, SECTION 3 – ALL CAMPUS ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUM
3.5 Referenda
After being approved by the Academic Senate, the Senate election process shall be made available for faculty referenda on critical issues. Referenda shall include pro and con statements and resource implications statements. Only referenda that emerge from the Senatorial process shall be recognized by the Senate as reflecting faculty opinion.
Background:
Derived from complaints about the voting procedures in some Schools regarding the Schools to Colleges issue, the Academic Planning Committee of the Senate requested that the Structure and Functions subcommittee create language for the Senate Constitution in general for referenda that faculty may use if desired. The language above represents what was brought to the Senate by S&F and was also amended by the Senate and then approved for a vote of all faculty at its meeting of May 8th.
2. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Article II: ORGANIZATION AND POWERS OF THE ACADEMIC SENATE OF SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
Section 1. Senate Membership:
1.5 - UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS
The President, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, and the Vice President for Administration and Finance of the University shall each serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Senate.
1.8 – The Chapter President from California Faculty Association, or designee, as a non-voting member
Section 2. - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
2.1 - The Executive Committee of the Senate shall consist of the Chair of the Senate, the Vice-Chair of the Senate, the Secretary-Treasurer of the Senate, the Immediate Past-Chair of the Senate, two Senators elected by and from the Senate, one Statewide Senator, the Chairs of the Standing Committees, and ex officio and non-voting -- the President, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, the Vice President for Administration and Finance andtheChapter President from California Faculty Association, or designee.
Background:
The Senate amended the original proposal from S&F and approved the above amendments for a vote of all faculty at its May 22nd meeting.
Rationale for inclusion of CFA: These changes allow for representation from and exchange of information with the CFA at important faculty bodies. This allows for consultation with the CFA on matters of policy that relate to faculty rights and contractual information. Supporting information was sent out on Senate-Announce at the end of the Spring semester.
Rationale for inclusion of VP of SAEM: These changes are dictated by changes in the administrative structure of the university. This allows for the Vice President in charge of enrollment management, which has a direct bearing upon the instructional mission and practice of instruction, to be in frequent communication and consultation with the Academic Senate and its Executive Committee.
Paper ballots will be available at the Convocation. If you do not attend Convocation to pick up your ballot, it will be delivered to your campus mailbox. All ballots will be due in the Senate office by 5:00pm August 29th. We need a 50% turnout of all eligible faculty for a constitutional vote, so please vote and vote early!
Here again, is a link to the entire Constitution for your reference.
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