CSN Faculty Senate Manual

Section III - COMMITTEES

Introduction

The Faculty Senate Manual is presented to assist committee members in the development and understanding of their respective roles in Faculty Senate activities, and give an overview of the direction to all committee activities.

The manual is reviewed and revised each year by the outgoing Chair-elect with the advice of the Chair, Senators, Faculty Senate Committee Chairs, and appropriate administrators. The new edition is distributed to all Faculty Senate personnel at the first meeting during the Fall Semester.

I. Classification

1. Standing Committees
   1. Established by the Community College of Southern Nevada Faculty Senate Bylaws, and continue to exist until the membership acts to terminate them.
   2. Members appointed by Chair with approval of Faculty Senate.
   3. Vacancies--Chair appoints successor with approval of Senate.
2. Ad Hoc Committees
   1. Established by the Chair at the direction of the Faculty Senate--terminate automatically when the task is completed.
   2. Members appointed by Chair.
   3. Vacancies--Chair appoints successor.

Members: Each Senate Standing Committee shall consist of members of faculty units from diversified disciplines as defined by Article 4.1 of the Faculty Senate Bylaws.

1. Term--two years, staggered terms beginning September 1st as defined in Article 6.6 of the Faculty Senate Bylaws.
2. Criteria
   1. The term Faculty as defined in Section I.1.2. CSN Bylaws.
   2. Chair--appointed from the committee membership by the Senate Chair, subject to Senate confirmation.
3. Consultants
   1. At the request of the committee, the Senate Chair may appoint one or more consultants.
   2. Need for special assistance must be demonstrated.
4. Subcommittees or Task Groups
   1. Appointed by committee chair, with approval of the Senate Chair.
   2. Need: as necessary to accomplish the duties of the committee.
   3. Parent committee responsible for subcommittee; committee chair responsible for continuance of the subcommittee until its duties are complete.

1. Committee functions are listed in Article 6.7 of the Faculty Senate Bylaws.
2. In addition, directives of the Faculty Senate requiring completion of a given task, are referred to specific committees.
3. Committee develops a recommendation, policy or document in response to the directive.
4. Recommendation reported to Faculty Senate for action in accordance with the Faculty Senate Bylaws, Articles 6.7.1 and 7.5.
5. Specific Guides for Actions for each Faculty Senate Standing Committee are found on pages 9-16.

1. Annual Report: A written summary of Committee business by May 1 each year.
   1. Purpose
      1. Provide Faculty Senate with an opportunity to examine committee activity and evaluate committee effectiveness.
      2. Provide future committee members with overview of past committee actions.
      3. Facilitate rapid comprehension--must be independent document, references to material from other documents should give enough information so that referral to other document is unnecessary.
   2. Form
      Typed, double-spaced 8 1/2" x 11" paper
   3. Content
      1. Review of year's work, includes disposition of referrals from Faculty Senate.
      2. State of ongoing projects.
      3. Proposed future plans
      4. Recommendations as needed
   4. Committee Chair's Responsibilities
      1. Write report or delegate that duty to member of the committee.
      2. Ensure report is submitted by May 1 to Faculty Senate Chair.
2. Work
    
   1. Standing Committees
      1. Review of Functions--objectives, guides, long range goals
         1. Set priorities from functions and goals.
         2. Changes--due to completion, overlap with other committees, need for additions-submit to Chair-elect for inclusion in new Faculty Senate Manual.
      2. Develop work schedule for year.
         1. Develop and keep up to date a review outline of past activity and future projects.
         2. Committee Chair makes assignments to committee members.
      3. Develop and maintain a mechanism for continuity.
         1. Committee Chair may have served previously as a committee member.
         2. Outgoing committee members provide incoming members with their files.
         3. Committee Chair notifies new members of all ongoing projects and long term programs immediately following their appointment.
      4. Develop procedures for conducting business and file a current copy of such procedures with the Senate Secretary.
      5. Request for consideration of items by other committees--Committee Chair responsible for communication with other committees.
      6. Supervise subcommittee and task groups.

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