The Faculty Senate, a body of the College independent of the Administration, provides recommendations to the President and/or Provost. The President and/or Provost consults with the Executive Committee on all major academic policy matters, and all decisions that the President/Provost and the Executive Committee jointly evaluate as significantly impacting the programs of an academic unit of the College, are reviewed with the Senate.

Ranked and Adjunct Faculty have Faculty Senate voting privileges. Lecturers and Emeritus Faculty may attend meetings and contribute their views but do not have Faculty Senate voting privileges. At its discretion, in consultation with the Provost, the Executive Committee may extend voting privileges to other faculty on specific matters.

Matters may be placed before the Senate for a vote by the Executive
Committee. Matters may also be placed before the Senate for a vote by a motion from the floor of the Senate, if the motion receives a simple majority (50% plus one) of voting members in attendance.

Before a matter is voted on by the Senate, it must be brought to a Senate meeting for discussion. At this meeting, amendments may be made by motion from the floor of the Senate, if the motion receives a simple majority of voting members in attendance.

Official balloting may be done electronically or by mail; ballots are returned to the Office of Academic Affairs for confidential counting.

for further information see the Faculty Handbook