Administration

Bylaws

CSN Faculty Senate Bylaws Spring 1999

NAME
The organization functioning under these Bylaws is the Faculty Senate of the College of Southern Nevada, hereinafter referred to as the Senate.
PHILOSOPHY
The purpose of the Senate is to assure faculty participation in the formulation of institutional policies and goals, in the implementation of those policies and goals, and in their evaluation.
FACULTY
The constituency of the Senate shall be all members of the College faculty holding professional contracts as authorized by the Board of Regents.
SENATORS
4.1 Apportionment
4.1.1 Each academic division shall be allotted three senators. Academic divisions with at least fifty full-time faculty shall be allotted one additional senator. For each additional twenty-five faculty an additional senator shall be elected by the academic division. Academic faculty who are not assigned to a division shall be allotted one senator unless their number exceeds twenty, in which case they will elect two senators.
4.1.2 Members of non-supervisory Administrative Faculty who do not hold positions at the Director level or above will elect two Senators from among themselves.
4.1.3 Faculty Senate Chairperson, Chairperson-Elect and Immediate Past Chairperson shall be voting members of the Senate.

4.2 Election
Each year elections will begin in March to fill each expiring Senate position as well as any new positions which apportionment dictates. Academic faculty units will conduct Senator elections and notify the Senate Standing Committee on Procedures of the Senators’ names. The Senate Standing Committee on Procedures will conduct the election of Senators from administrative faculty.

4.3 Term of Office
Each Senator shall serve a two-year term commencing at the first Senate meeting of the academic year.

4.4 Recall of Senators
If a petition with the signatures of at least 30% of the eligible members of a faculty unit is submitted to the Senate Chairperson requesting the recall of a Senator representing that unit, the Standing Committee on Procedures shall hold such a ballot within 30 days of receiving the petition. A majority vote of the faculty unit shall be required to remove a Senator from office.

4.5 Vacancies
In the event a Senate position is vacated prior to the expiration of the term, the Standing Committee on Procedures shall conduct an election in the appropriate unit within 30 days for an interim Senator to fill the unexpired term.

4.6 Duties of the Senator
4.6.1 It shall be the responsibility of each Senator to regularly attend Senate meetings or arrange a proxy. If a Senator is absent from more than two regularly scheduled meetings per year without a proxy, the Senator shall be automatically dismissed from the Senate.
4.6.2 A member of the Senate who is unable to attend a regularly scheduled meeting of the Senate may designate a proxy for that meeting. A proxy must be a member of the faculty unit represented by the designating Senator. The absent Senator must inform an officer of the Senate in person, by phone or in writing, when a proxy is being designated. Designated proxies shall have all rights and duties of elected Senators.
4.6.3 At the end of each semester, the Secretary shall include in the minutes the attendance record of each Senator including the use of proxies.
4.6.4 Senators shall be expected to keep their constituents informed of Senate proceedings.
4.6.5 In questions of voting, it is the responsibility of each Senator to act in the best interest of his/her constituents.
OFFICERS OF THE SENATE
The officers of the Senate shall consist of a Chairperson, Chairperson-Elect and Past Chairperson. All officers must be academic faculty.

5.1 Chairperson
The Chairperson shall be the chief executive officer of the Senate. The Chairperson shall serve a one-year term commencing on June 1.

5.2 Chairperson-Elect
The Chairperson-Elect shall assume the duties of the Chairperson in the case of absence of incapacity of the Chairperson. The Chairperson-Elect shall be elected by a majority of votes cast by full-time academic faculty during the month of March. The Chairperson-Elect shall serve a one-year term commencing on June 1.

5.3 Immediate Past Chairperson
The Immediate Past Chairperson shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Senate. The Immediate Past Chairperson shall serve a one-year term commencing on June 1. If the Immediate Past Chair is unavailable, the Chair shall recommend a Past Chair to fill this position pending Senate approval.

5.4 Secretary
The Secretary shall maintain minutes of the activities of the Senate and distribute minutes of the meetings of the Senate to the Senate membership within fourteen days following the meeting. The Secretary shall be elected from among the Senators at the first meeting of the Senate after July 1 each year and shall serve a one-year term at the pleasure of the Senate.

5.5 Recall of Elected Officers
If a petition with the signatures of at least 30% of the faculty is submitted to the Senate Secretary requesting the recall of the Chairperson, the Chairperson-Elect or the Secretary, the Standing Committee on Procedures shall hold such a ballot within 30 days of receiving the petition. A majority vote of the faculty is required to remove a Chairperson, Chairperson- Elect, or a Secretary from office.

5.6 Vacancies
In the event the position of Chairperson-Elect becomes vacant, the Standing Committee on Procedures shall conduct, within 30 days, an election to replace that office.
COMMITTEES
6.1 Appointment
6.1.1 Members of all Senate committees shall be appointed from among the academic faculty and from among those administrative faculty who do not hold positions at the Assistant Dean level or above. An attempt shall be made to provide representation from each campus. Committee members will represent diversified interests.
6.1.2 At the request of the Senate, Senate Committees may include administrators (recommended by the College President), students (recommended by Student Government), and/or classified staff (recommended by Classified Council). These members shall be non-voting, ex-officio members of the committees to which they have been appointed.
6.1.3 Any member of any Senate committee who is absent without a proxy from more than two scheduled meetings of the committee shall be dismissed from the committee by the Senate Chairperson.

6.2 UCSN Committees
Faculty representatives to UCSN Committees, when required, shall be appointed from among the faculty by the Senate Chairperson, subject to Senate confirmation.

6.3 Ad Hoc Committees
Ad Hoc Committees may be established by the Senate as required. An attempt shall be made to provide representation from each campus. Committee members will represent diversified interests.

6.4 Committee Chairpersons
The Chairperson of each Senate committee shall be appointed from the committee’s membership by the Senate Chairperson, subject to Senate confirmation, unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws.

6.5 Standing Committee Membership
Each Senate Standing Committee shall consist of members of faculty units from diversified disciplines, as defined by Article 4.1 of these Bylaws.

6.6 Standing Committee Term of Office
Each member of a Senate Standing Committee shall serve a two-year term. Terms shall be staggered, ensuring that each year approximately half of the positions of a committee shall fall vacant.

6.7 Standing Committee Procedures
6.7.1 Any Senate Standing Committee may submit an item to the Senate for action according to prescribed procedures for agenda items.
6.7.2 Each Senate Standing Committee shall submit, for the record, an annual written summary of committee business by May 1 each year.
6.7.3 All Senate Standing committees shall establish procedures for conducting business and file a current copy of such procedures with the Senate Secretary by October 1 of each year. Any changes in committee procedures must be approved by the Senate before implementation.

6.8 Standing Committees
6.8.1 Committee on Faculty Welfare
It shall be the duty of this committee to review the formulation and implementation of workload policy, faculty evaluation policy, staff development policy and other related issues as directed by the Senate. This committee shall also regularly review the UCSN Code and compare the Code to the Faculty Handbook to ensure that the faculty is aware of all matters in the Code that affect the members of the faculty.
6.8.2 Committee on Salary and Benefits
It shall be the duty of this committee to review salary and fringe benefits and make recommendations for adjustments to the Senate. The Chairperson of this committee shall be recommended to serve on the UCSN Salary and Benefits Committee. If not appointed to the UCSN committee, the Chairperson of this committee will act as a liaison to the CSN member of the UCSN committee.
6.8.3 Committee on Academic Standards
6.8.3.1 The Academic Standards Committee (ASC) shall receive from the appropriate administrator, faculty member, or committee, recommendations for changes in policies or procedures which impact the instruction of credit courses. Policies or procedures shall include such items as modifications of course meeting matrix and modifications of the length of the academic year, a semester or summer sessions. The ASC shall review and make recommendations in these matters to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and/or the Faculty Senate.
6.8.3.2 At least once annually, the ASC shall solicit a report from the Director of Libraries or his/her designee regarding the library’s capacity to serve the needs of faculty and students. The ASC shall make recommendations to the Director of Libraries regarding library acquisitions.
6.8.3.3 At least once annually, the ASC shall discuss the state of academic standards in the College and make such recommendations as it may deem proper to the Faculty Senate Chairperson and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
6.8.3.4 The ASC shall consider other matters at the request of the Faculty Senate Chairperson or the Vice Presidents.
6.8.3.5 The ASC shall develop an ASC Procedures Manual and review it annually.
6.8.3.6 The ASC shall serve as a review/recommendation body for students affected by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
6.8.4 Committee on Procedures
It shall be the duty of this committee to advise the Senate in matters involving the interpretation of the Senate Bylaws, College Bylaws and the UCSN Code. This committee shall also review these Bylaws for relevance and completeness and shall make recommendations to the Senate concerning possible revisions. This committee shall be responsible for the supervision of elections; they will conduct the election of administrative faculty Senators and the Faculty Senate Chairperson-Elect.
6.8.5 Committee on Travel
It shall be the duty of this committee to review out-of-state travel requests and to make recommendations to the College President.
6.8.6 Committee on College Budget
The Budget Committee shall solicit financial information from the appropriate administrator. The Budget Committee shall review budget and resource allocations made by the College and shall serve as a representative of the faculty as a whole in making recommendations to the administration. These recommendations shall include such items as prioritization of new professional and classified positions, filling of vacated positions, prioritization of capital equipment requests, allocation of existing equipment, purchase of new equipment, establishment and control of revenue accounts, utilization of year-end funds and utilization of revenue in excess of direct expenditures during summer sessions. Such recommendations must be made to the President or appropriate administrators. In addition, such recommendations may be made to Faculty Senate. The Faculty Senate Chairperson-Elect will serve on this committee in an ex-officio capacity.
6.8.7 Committee on Sabbatical Leave
The Sabbatical Leave Committee members shall evaluate sabbatical leave applications. They shall then submit a ranked list of the applicants accompanied by appropriate commentary to the President of the College. The Committee members may also make recommendations for changes in the application forms, application process, or evaluation process to the Faculty Senate.
6.8.8 Committee on Curriculum
6.8.8.1 The Curriculum Committee (CC) shall receive new course proposals, new program proposals, new certificate proposals, and all related revisions. The Curriculum Committee shall recommend to the Dean of Scheduling and Curriculum the acceptance, revision or rejection of proposals and revisions.
6.8.8.2 The Curriculum Committee (CC) shall develop a curriculum approval procedures guide and revise it annually.
6.8.9 Executive Committee
An Executive Committee of seven members shall be appointed by the incoming Senate Chair at the last scheduled meeting of the spring semester. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the Faculty Senate Chairperson, Chairperson-Elect, Immediate Past Chairperson plus four (4) Senators (available during the summer) from diversified disciplines. The Executive Committee shall deal with questions or issues brought before it by the Faculty or administration. The Executive Committee is authorized to take appropriate action that is not in conflict with these Bylaws.
6.9.0 Variance Committee
The Executive Committee shall also function as the Variance Committee. This committee will serve to recommend approval or disapproval of any proposed faculty contracts that would hire faculty at a higher step on the community college salary schedule than one defined by their degrees and experience as per the UCSN Code.
PROCEDURES
7.1 Meetings The Senate shall hold meetings at least once each month during the academic year. The date, time and place of each of these meetings shall be made known to each Senator and members of the faculty at least three full working days in advance of the meeting. The Senate shall not hold regularly scheduled meetings during the summer. The minutes of each meeting shall be made available to the faculty within 14 days following the meeting.

7.2 Voting All motions shall require a simple majority of voting members present. Each Senator or proxy is entitled to one vote.

7.3 Agenda The Faculty Senate Chairperson shall prepare an agenda for each Senate meeting and post that agenda in compliance with Open Meeting Regulations. All initial agenda items shall be labeled "discussion" or "information." A simple majority of the voting Senators shall be required to move items from "discussion/information" to "action." The Chairperson shall include any item submitted in writing by a faculty member no later than five days prior to a meeting.

7.4 Quorum A simple majority of the voting members of the Senate shall constitute a quorum. No official action may be taken by the Senate without a quorum present.

7.5 Parliamentary Procedure The latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the Senate in all cases not covered by these Bylaws.

7.6 Summer Operations The Executive Committee or Variance Committee is authorized to take appropriate actions during the summer, that are not in conflict with these Bylaws.
BYLAWS
8.1 Amendment
8.1.1 An amendment to these Bylaws may be proposed by: 1) Any member of the Faculty, 2) a Faculty Senate Committee or 3) the Faculty Senate. The following procedures shall be followed in amending these Bylaws.
8.1.2 A written copy of the proposed Amendment shall be submitted to the Senate as a discussion item no later than one week prior to a regularly scheduled Senate meeting. The proposed amendment shall become an "action" item at the next Senate meeting.
8.1.3 Changes in the administrative organization or titles of Units of the College, as specified in Article 4.1 of these Bylaws are not considered amendments to this document. Such changes become effective by ratification by the Board of Regents in accordance with established procedures.
8.1.4 Upon a two-thirds majority vote of the elected Senators, the proposed amendment shall be submitted to the faculty for approval within 30 days. 8.1.5 The proposed amendment shall be submitted to the College President for approval upon a vote for approval by a simple majority of the voting academic and administrative faculty.
8.1.6 The proposed amendment shall be incorporated into these Bylaws upon approval of the College President.

8.2 Approval These Bylaws shall be in effect upon a vote for approval by a simple majority of the voting academic and administrative faculty, and approval of the college President. On approval, these Bylaws shall replace any previous Bylaws of the CSN Faculty Senate.

Approved by Faculty Senate ~ March 19, 1999
Approved by President Richard Moore ~ April 15, 1999