CONSTITUTION
OF THE ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY
FACULTY ASSOCIATION
Adopted December 2006
Amended 4/14/09 (Faculty Senate approved)
ARTICLE I: Name
The name of this organization shall be the Faculty Association (FA) of St. Cloud State University (SCSU)
ARTICLE II: Purpose
The purpose of this organization shall be to improve the quality of education at SCSU by promoting those conditions of employment most likely to produce high morale of and high performance by the faculty
ARTICLE III: Membership
The membership in this organization is limited to those members of the SCSU faculty who belong to the Inter-Faculty Organization (IFO), as specified by the IFO Operating Procedures.
ARTICLE IV: Officers
Section 1: The officers of the FA shall be: President, President Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 2: The FA shall elect representatives to the IFO Board of Directors, the IFO Negotiating Team, and the IFO Delegate Assembly in accordance with the IFO Operating Procedures.
ARTICLE V: Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, immediate past President, President Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, the SCSU members of the IFO Board of Directors, the IFO Negotiator, and the six unit (or college) representatives.
ARTICLE VI: Faculty Senate
Section 1: The Faculty Senate shall consist of the President, immediate past President, President Elect, SCSU IFO Board members, Secretary, Treasurer, the six unit (or college) representatives, the IFO negotiator from SCSU, and the elected members from the departments or units. If any of these officers are elected from the Faculty Senate membership, a replacement shall be elected by the affected department or unit. The departments or units included here are those used for retention, promotion and tenure purposes. Every department or unit that has at least one FA member shall be allowed one person on the Faculty Senate. Department representation on the Faculty Senate shall be 1 to 9 members = 1 representative, 10 to 19 members = 2 representatives, 20 to 29 members = 3 representatives, etc. Only FA members shall vote in these elections. Terms of office and election regulations shall conform with provisions included in this Constitution.
Section 2: The Meet and Confer Team shall consist of the FA Executive Committee members, and as many additional members from the FA membership as specified in the Master Agreement and elected by the Faculty Senate.
ARTICLE VII: Recall and Replacement
Section 1: FA officers, members of the Faculty Senate and elected members of standing committees may be recalled prior to the end of the term by a sixty percent (60) favoring vote of those eligible to vote in the unit represented.
Section 2: Committee chairs should report repeated absences (three or more consecutive scheduled meetings or more than 33 percent of the scheduled meetings during an academic year) of a committee member to the absent member's unit representative, who will then communicate with the member in an effort to resolve the problem in an agreeable fashion. Committee members who frequently miss meetings should ask their unit representative to arrange their replacement so that their unit will continue to be represented and a quorum can be attained. If the matter is not resolved, the member's unit representative may then initiate a recall in accordance with the above stated terms. As an alternative to the recall, the unit representative with the approval of the majority of Senators from the affected unit, may appoint a temporary replacement from the member's unit. A permanent replacement will then be selected during the next FA election.
ARTICLE VIII: Meetings
Section 1: The Faculty Senate shall meet at least twice each month during the academic year on Tuesdays between 3:15 and 5:15 p.m. Special meetings may be called by the President or at the written request of the Faculty Senate members. A notice of each meeting, including the agenda, shall be distributed to all members of the bargaining unit at least two duty days in advance of all Faculty Senate meetings.
Section 2: The meetings of the Faculty Senate are open to all members of the Faculty Association. With the approval of the Faculty Senate, non-members of the Senate may speak at its meetings. All the meetings of the FA and its bodies shall be open to the FA members and may be open to others by a 2/3 vote of the respective body. Each body may meet in executive session.
Section 3: The Faculty Senate minutes shall be distributed electronically or otherwise to all members of the bargaining unit within ten days after their approval. Actions taken by the Faculty Senate are considered final unless ten (10) percent of the members of the FA submit a petition for reconsideration within ten duty days of receipt of the minutes. The petition may require a revote by the Faculty Senate, a binding vote by the FA membership, a public hearing, or combination of these alternatives.
Section 4: A quorum for the Faculty Senate shall be forty (40) percent of its members.
Section 5: The parliamentary authority for the FA and its components shall be Roberts Rules of Order (latest edition).
Section 6: The order of business for the Faculty Senate will be: (1) Call to order, (2) Act on minutes, (3) Report of the Treasurer, (4) Consent agenda, (5) Special Elections, (6) Call for additional agenda items, (7) Announcements, (8) Unfinished business, (9) New business, and (10) Adjournment.
ARTICLE IX: Election Procedures for President Elect, Unit (or College) Representatives, IFO Board of Directors, and IFO Negotiating Team members.
Section 1: The President Elect, IFO Board of Directors, and IFO Negotiating Team members shall be elected by the FA membership using a secret ballot. Only FA members may be elected. The Election Committee shall verify the FA membership status of all voters, candidates, and officers. All election periods shall last at least five duty days.
Section 2: The Faculty Senate shall nominate FA members for each vacancy on the IFO Board of Directors and IFO Negotiating Team. A written list of candidates shall be supplied to every FA member.
Section 3: Additional Faculty Association members may be nominated for President Elect, IFO Board of Directors, and IFO Negotiating Team by petitions signed by at least 35 Faculty Association members and delivered to the chair of the Election Committee within five duty days of the distribution of the list of candidates.
Section 4: The President Elect, the IFO Negotiating Team, unit (or college) representatives, and the IFO Board of Directors shall be elected using approval voting ballots. Faculty may vote for as many candidates in each election as they find acceptable. The candidate or candidates receiving the most votes shall be declared elected.
Section 5: The six unit (or college) representatives, one from each of the five colleges and one from Special Services, shall be elected by the FA members of each unit (or college). The terms of the unit (or college) representatives shall be two years beginning June 1st, and staggered such that half are elected each year.
Section 6: Tiebreakers. Elections resulting in a tie vote shall be decided by a majority vote of the Faculty Senate. Only those candidates tied with the highest total vote shall be considered. Ties in the election of unit (or college) representatives shall be decided only by Faculty Senators of the home unit (or College).
ARTICLE X: Vacancies
Section 1: If the FA presidency becomes vacant before completion of the term, the President Elect shall succeed to the presidency to serve the remainder of the year and following year. Additional vacancies occurring in the presidency before the election of the next President Elect shall be filled by following regular procedure for the election of the President Elect. This President Elect shall serve as President during the remainder of the year and following year.
Section 2: Vacancies occurring in any other FA offices shall be filled in the same manner as the positions are regularly filled.
ARTICLE XI: Election of the Faculty Senate
Section 1: The election of department or unit members of the Faculty Senate shall normally be conducted during Spring Term. Only FA members can be candidates and only FA members can vote in these elections. A majority of those voting is required for election. The outgoing Faculty Senate member(s) of the department or unit shall be responsible to (1) conduct the election and (2) notify the outgoing President of the results.
Section 2: The term of office for Faculty Senate members shall be two years, commencing at the beginning of the Fall Semester following their election. Overlapping terms shall be used in departments or units having more than one Faculty Senate member.
ARTICLE XII: Election of Officers
Section 1: FA Officers. The President of the FA shall notify the membership of the Faculty Association during the second week of Spring Term of vacancies among FA officers and committee members.
Subsection 1: The Secretary and the Treasurer shall be nominated by the Faculty Senate and shall be elected by those Faculty Senate members voting in the election at the end of the spring term. The term of the Secretary shall be one year and shall coincide with the term of the President to begin on June 1. The term of the Treasurer shall be one year beginning July 1.
Subsection 2: The Faculty Senate shall nominate members of the FA as candidates for the office of President Elect. The names of these nominees shall be announced in writing by the Elections Committee chairperson on the day following the Faculty Senate meeting when they were nominated.
Subsection 3: The term of the President is one year; the term begins on June 1.
Subsection 4: The President Elect and Vice President is a single office. The Vice President serves in the absence of the President to fulfill the President's duties.
Section 2: IFO Directors. The President Elect shall serve as one member of the IFO Board of Directors representing the SCSU Faculty Association. The Faculty Senate shall nominate candidates for each remaining vacancy among the SCSU Faculty Association’s seats on the IFO Board of Directors during the second week of Spring Term. Members of the IFO Board of Directors shall be elected for overlapping two-year terms, with the terms to begin on September 1, in accordance with IFO Operating Procedures.
Section 3: Delegate Assembly. The elected delegates and alternates to the IFO Delegate Assembly shall be elected by a majority vote of the Faculty Senate. FA members shall be invited in writing to volunteer for this service opportunity; the invitation shall contain information about dates, duties, and expenditure reimbursements for delegates and alternates.
Section 4: IFO Negotiator. The Faculty Senate shall nominate candidates for SCSU representative on the IFO Negotiating Team during the second week of Spring Term in even numbered years. The Negotiating Team member cannot also be a member of the IFO Board of Directors, in accordance with IFO Operating Procedures. The term of office of the IFO Negotiating Team member shall be two years beginning on July 1 of even-numbered years.
Section 5: Announcement: The Faculty Association President shall announce all nominations for President Elect, IFO Negotiator, and IFO Board Member(s) in writing to the FA membership at least two weeks prior to the election.
ARTICLE XIII: Committees
Section 1: The standing committees of the FA shall include those specified herein and any additional committees established by the Faculty Senate.
Subsection 1: Quorum. A quorum for any committee of the Faculty Association shall be one-half (1/2) of the committee membership with any fractional part dropped (e.g. 7/2 = 3.5 or 3).
Subsection 2: Policy on Meetings of Faculty Association Committees with Members of the Administration. Faculty members and faculty committees can meet informally with the Administration as needed without Faculty Association approval. However, no decisions agreed to by any faculty member or faculty committee may be implemented without approval of the Faculty Senate. Committees designated by the Association to work with the Administration on specific tasks (such as the First Year Experience Committee) may meet with the administration as often as needed without notifying the Faculty Association. Committees not created for the purpose of working with the Administration must notify the Faculty Association President in writing of the time, topic and or agenda of the meeting not less than three days before the meeting. All committees must send reports or minutes of their meetings to the Faculty Association as soon as possible after the meeting.
Section 2: Election of Committee Members
Subsection 1: Announcement: At the beginning of Spring Term, the FA President shall (1) announce the vacancies existing in the FA committees and (2) set a deadline for the completion of the elections process to fill those vacancies.
Subsection 2: Vacancies: Vacancies created through the resignation of a member after completion of the election process, or inability of the Elections Committee to fill these positions, shall be filled by appointment by the FA President subject to confirmation by the Faculty Senate, unless the President or the Faculty Senate deems it necessary to hold a special election in accordance with Article XIII, Subsection 16-B-4.
Section 3: Membership: FA membership is required for committee membership and for participation in all elections.
Section 4: Committee Chair duties: In addition to the usual duties of a chairperson, the chairperson of each standing committee shall be responsible to (1) submit timely reports during the academic year, (2) represent SCSU or appoint a designee when there is an IFO counterpart to the committee, (3) make committee recommendations directly to the Faculty Senate in accordance with the committee's standing charges, and (4) submit an annual report of the committee's activities and recommendations to the FA President by the last week of Spring Term.
Section 5: Terms and Temporary Replacements: All elected committee members shall serve staggered three year terms that commence at the beginning of the fall semester after the spring election. Temporary committee replacements of not less than one (1) semester nor more than two (2) semesters may be made from the affected unit through nomination by the FA President and approval by the Faculty Senate. Appointed members shall be nominated by the FA President and are subject to confirmation by the Faculty Senate for terms set by that body. The FA President may replace appointed members by the same process.
Section 6: All committee members elected from units (or colleges) shall be voted on only by members of that unit (or college) in all elections conducted by the Elections Committee.
Section 7: "Unit" shall mean: Business, Education, Fine Arts and Humanities, Science and Engineering, Social Sciences, and Special Services.
Subsection 1: The Elections Committee should develop a means of encouraging representation of protected class faculty on committees.
Subsection 2: The campus representative on the statewide IFO committee shall serve on the local counterpart committee.
Section 8: Standing Committees
Subsection 1: Admission and Retention Committee
A. Membership: Three members elected from each unit (or college)
B. Duties: The committee shall develop admission and retention policies, devise appeal procedures, and make recommendations on admission and retention of individual students on appeal.
Subsection 2: Constitutional Review Committee
A. Membership: One member elected from each unit (or college).
B. Duties: The committee shall have the following responsibilities:
1. Mission: To investigate, analyze, and recommend amendments to the FA Constitution that improve the performance, functioning, and operation of the FA at SCSU.
2. Update and maintain the FA's Constitution.
3. Review the necessity, purpose and duties of all FA standing committees every third year beginning in 1978-1979, report the findings of its reviews to the FA and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate.
4. The Chair will be responsible for seeing that the master copy of the Constitution in the FA office is current and correct.
Subsection 3: Faculty Research Grants Committee
A. Membership: Two members elected from each unit (or college)
B. Duties: The committee shall devise guidelines for and make recommendations concerning the allocation of university research funds that have been set aside for faculty research grants, long-term, improvement grants, and summer special projects.
Subsection 4: General Education Committee
A. Membership: Two members elected from each unit (or college)
B. Duties:
1. Make recommendations to the University Curriculum Committee concerning general education policies.
2. Examine the general education program continually for improvement and make recommendations to the University Curriculum Committee for action.
3. Study, help develop, and make recommendations concerning effective teaching practices, and desirable objectives and educational consequences in the general education program.
4. Help in the planning and development of inter-departmental general education courses and assessment.
Subsection 5: Graduate Committee
A. Membership: Two members elected from each unit (or college)
B. Duties: The Graduate Committee shall have the responsibility and right to make recommendations through the University Curriculum Committee to the Faculty Senate as a result of the Graduate Committee's performance of the following duties:
1. Establish graduate policies, procedures and regulations in relationship to the general purposes and goals of the Graduate Faculty and the University.
2. Advise the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies on graduate curriculum and related matters.
3. Evaluate administrative proposals that have graduate curriculum implications (including the initiation, expansion, discontinuation, or reduction programs or academic units) and make recommendations accordingly.
4. Review the graduate academic and curricular programs, policies, and practices for improvements and change, and make recommendations accordingly.
5. Develop criteria and policy for membership and act on recommended appointments to the graduate faculty.
Subsection 6: International Studies Committee
A. Membership: Two members elected from each unit (or college). If not included among those elected, up to three additional members appointed by the FA President selected from among former directors of overseas centers, one of whom is a former director of a foreign language and culture center.
B. Duties: The committee shall study policies and programs developed for the university's international study opportunities for both students and faculty, and make recommendations through the Faculty Senate to the University President regarding their development and implementation.
Subsection 7: Technology and Pedagogical Resources Committee
A. Membership: Two members elected from each unit (or college)
B. Duties:
1. Promote the development and use of technology and pedagogical resources on campus, e.g., including but not limited to computers, library books, classroom supplies, for academic programs.
2. Review the formulation of the budgetary and general policies for technology and pedagogical resources on campus and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate.
3. Solicit information from faculty regarding campus needs and issues related to technology and pedagogy.
4. Provide information regarding policies and practices related to technology and pedagogical resources to the faculty.
5. Recommend technology and pedagogical resource policies for acquisitions, usage, and repair.
6. Provide feedback to the Learning Resource and Technology Services faculty on policy recommendations and changes.
Subsection 8: Government Relations Committee
A. Membership: Two members elected from each unit (or college). A balance of political philosophies shall be maintained by this committee.
B. Co-chairs: Elected by the Committee representing each major political party in the state. They will represent SCSU FA on the IFO Government Relations Committee.
C. Duties:
1. Develop and maintain, individually and collectively, on-going contact with all area legislators and with the legislative and administrative leadership in the state.
2. Study, notify and advise the faculty of legislation and other governmental actions which will affect faculty employment and the welfare of the university.
3. Recommend to the Faculty Senate on political measures for discussion and action by the FA.
4. Prepare in concert with other Faculty Committees action and activities in support of the passage of legislation related to FA goals and objectives.
5. Participate with other bargaining units and the student representatives in joint campus efforts related to legislation and governmental actions affecting SCSU; consult and cooperate with IFO, SCSU, MSUSA, etc., lobbyists on issues of common concern.
Subsection 9: The Committee on the Institution
A. Membership: Two members elected from each unit (or college)
B. Duties:
1. Develop and recommend calendars for each academic year.
2. Review and recommend plans for the modification, utilization and construction of Campus facilities.
3. Recommend regulations for parking and traffic control.
4. Make recommendations for the aesthetic improvement of the campus.
5. Make recommendations for the naming of campus facilities.
Subsection 10: Delegate Assembly Resolutions Committee
A. Membership: Two members elected from each unit (or college) Members shall be elected in the spring of odd-numbered years and shall serve two-year terms, beginning in the fall of odd numbered years.
B. Duty: Coordinate and assemble resolutions for the IFO Delegate Assembly.
Subsection 11: Membership Committee
A. Membership: Members shall be appointed by the FA president with the approval of the Faculty Senate.
B. Duties:
1. Plan activities and materials for new faculty.
2. Develop and implement membership campaigns.
Subsection 12: Budget Review Committee
A. Membership: One member elected from each unit (or college), the Treasurer of the Association, the President of the Association, the President-Elect of the Association. One representative from each unit (or college) chosen from the senate by the members of the senate from the unit (or college).
B. Duties:
1. Annually review all levels of the university's budgets and expenditures to:
a) Identify any shifts in resource allocation not in accordance with the university's mission, strategic planning, policies, or a specific decision that has gone through the Meet and Confer process;
b) Identify any other possible irregularities with respect to the university's budgets and expenditures.
2. Review campus budgets and funding methods.
3. Study the allocation of positions and resources within the university.
Subsection 13: Grievance Committee
A. Membership: A minimum of one member from each unit (or college) appointed by the FA President with the approval of the Faculty Senate. Two year terms with half being appointed each year. Members may be reappointed to continuing terms.
B. Duties:
1. Elect the chair of the committee each year.
2. Help grievance officers and chairperson of the committee to pursue and process grievance cases in accordance with Article XIV.
3. Review policy and procedures periodically, recommending changes if necessary.
4. Establish and maintain a regular reporting relationship with Faculty Senate.
5. Establish and maintain information on grievances which maintains the confidentiality of the grievant (unless the grievant grants a release of confidentiality) through the entire process of settlement.
6. Provide for grievance officer training.
7. Chair schedules regular grievance committee meetings, coordinates committee activities, serves as a contact person for the IFO, assigns grievances to committee members on an equitable basis, assists new grievance officers with their grievances and provides regular communications to the Faculty Senate.
Subsection 14: University Curriculum Committee
A. Membership: Two representatives from each unit (or college) chosen by each College Curriculum Committee. In addition, the General Education Committee and the Graduate Committee will each choose one representative.
B. Duties: This committee shall make recommendations to the Faculty Senate as a result of its performance of the following duties:
1. Act for the faculty in matters related to curriculum in the manner described in the agreement between MnSCU and the IFO.
2. Establish curriculum policy in relationship to general university purposes and goals.
3. Examine the curriculum continuously for possibilities of improvement and make recommendation accordingly.
4. Review, coordinate and act upon all university curriculum proposals.
5. Establish and act upon academic policies related to curriculum such as evaluation of students and graduation requirements.
6. Aid in establishing guidelines and transmittal procedures for submitting curriculum proposals.
7. Study and evaluate instructional problems and make recommendations accordingly.
8. Hear appeals on any curriculum matter
9. Review and make recommendations on proposals concerning External Studies and Continuing Education.
Subsection 15: College Curriculum Committees
A. Membership: One member elected by each department or curriculum-generating unit within the college for a one-year term at beginning of Fall Semester. Departments must promptly report all changes in their representative to the committee chairperson. A curriculum-generating unit is defined as any unit that creates courses that carry their own rubric.
B. Duties:
1. Review and act upon curriculum proposals submitted to the committee by departments and transmit the proposals to the college dean who will send them to the office of Academic Affairs for publication.
2. Advise and work with originators and departments in preparation and transmission of proposals, including appropriate signatures.
3. Examine the curriculum continuously and make recommendations to departments for improvement.
4. Study and evaluate instructional problems and make recommendations to departments accordingly.
Subsection 16: Elections Committee
A. Membership: Two members elected from each unit (or college)
B. Duties: The committee shall conduct elections for all Faculty Association offices and all committees or other elected positions. The committee shall commence its election duties in accordance with Article IV, Section 1; Article IV, Section 1.2; Article IV, Section 4; Article V, Section 2; and, Article V, Section 6. The committee shall use the following election process:
1. Nominate at least two candidates for each position to be filled.
2. After informing the membership of the committee's nominations, afford the membership the opportunity to add other nominees by petition supported by at least 35 Faculty Association members.
3. Schedule the spring election process to start early enough that the membership participate within a reasonable time frame and yet complete the entire process no later than the last week of Spring Term.
4. Conduct special elections at the request of the Faculty Senate.
5. Develop methods to encourage representation of protected class people to be presented for consideration by Faculty Senate.
6. Notify in writing each of the winners of the election, specifying their terms in office.
Subsection 17: Professional Development Committee
A. Membership: Two members elected from each unit (or college).
B. Duties: Review and make recommendations on faculty applications for sabbatical leaves, Faculty Improvement Grants, Professional Improvement Grants, and Bush Grants.
Subsection 18: Academic Affairs Committee
A. Membership: Two members elected from each unit (or college)
B. Duties: Review all college and university policies related to:
1. Definitions of scholarship/research in order to preserve a broad definition that is consistent with the Master Agreement.
2. SCSU faculty engaging in scholarly activity/research.
3. The use of college/university space and equipment for conducting or teaching scholarly activities/research.
4. Any Academic Affairs related matters not covered by other FA committees.
ARTICLE XIV: Process for Filing Grievances
Section 1: Individual Grievances: Persons interested in pursuing a grievance should be referred to the chair of the grievance committee. The chair will assign the grievance based on grievant and grievance officer preferences. If an individual contacts a grievance officer without contacting the chair, the grievance officer shall review the grievance with the chair, if available, or at least one other grievance committee member before submitting the grievance in writing. A copy of all grievance submissions shall be sent to the chair, including documents submitted at step one, step two and step three in accordance with the Master Agreement. The chair shall log all grievances and be responsible for maintaining records on all grievances in process. The chair shall be responsible for reporting grievance activities to the Faculty Senate maintaining confidentiality through the settlement.
Section 2: Association Grievance: Apart from individual grievances, an association grievance must be approved by the Faculty Senate. If timeliness is an issue, the grievance can be submitted if agreed to by a grievance officer and the grievance chair or the Faculty Association President. If submitted without approval of the Executive Committee, the Executive Committee has the authority to rescind (withdraw) any association grievance. Again, copies of documentation for steps one, two and three shall be submitted to the Grievance Chair for tracking purposes.
Section 3: Confidentiality: It is the responsibility of all FA faculty involved in the grievance process to respect the confidentiality of the grievant unless the grievant has given written permission to use information beyond the grievance committee or the persons processing the grievance. Time lines are to be respected, and all extensions requested/granted should be in writing. Documents submitted for step one, two and three should be hand delivered to the appropriate Administrative Office and date stamped there.
ARTICLE XV: Amendments
Section 1: Proposing Amendments: Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by (10) percent of the FA membership or by a majority vote of the Faculty Senate membership.
Section 2: Amendment Procedures: The decision regarding the method of acting on proposed amendments shall be made by the Faculty Senate.
Subsection 1: Procedure A: A two-thirds affirmative vote of the Faculty Senate taken after (1) the proposed amendment has been announced at two Faculty Senate meetings prior to the vote on the amendment and (2) a copy of the proposed amendment has been sent to all FA members no less than four weeks prior to the vote on the amendment.
Subsection 2: Procedure B: An affirmative vote by no less than sixty (60) percent of those FA members who vote in a mail ballot.
Section 3: Date of Effect: Unless otherwise specified, an amendment shall go into effect as soon as it is adopted.