Article V - Standing Committees of the Senate
Section 1 Composition.
There shall be such standing committees in the Senate as are designated in this ARTICLE.
Section 2 Organization.
The committees shall be organized after each annual election. The President of the Senate shall instruct the person whose name is alphabetically first among members of each committee, who has served on the committee at least one previous year, if possible, to call a meeting within two (2) weeks of the election of the committee. The purpose of the meeting is to elect a chairperson. The elected chairperson of each committee shall compile a list of all committee members and officers and shall present that list to the President of the Senate. A list of all committee rosters shall be distributed to each Senator.
Section 3 Committee Meetings.
Each committee shall schedule regular meetings as necessary to conduct its business. Meetings may be called by the chairperson, by any two elected members, or by the Executive committee. The chairperson shall present reports and recommendations to the Senate. Standing committees have the right to either invite non-members or exclude non-members from committee meetings.
Section 4 Record of Meetings.
Each committee of the Senate and each subcommittee shall maintain a written record of its activities.
Section 5 Committee Reports.
Each committee chairperson or member designated by the chairperson shall report to the Senate at each Senate meeting its actions, if any, during the preceding period. Each committee shall file an annual written report to the Secretary of the Senate.
Section 6 Committee Participation.
Members of the committees shall participate in matters with which committees other than committees of the Senate are concerned as authorized by the Senate.
Section 7 Committees and Subcommittees.
Unless the provisions in these bylaws with reference to the membership in committees provide otherwise, committee members may be selected from the faculty at large, provided that there are no eligible and willing Senators available; however, Chairs of committees shall be members of the Senate. Standing committees have the right to create ad hoc committees and subcommittees which may include members of the faculty at large. These subcommittees shall make recommendations to the committee that created it. Each committee shall notify the Senate of any such creation and present the charge and term of existence given at the first regular Senate meeting following that creation.
Section 8 Term of Office.
Membership shall be for a two-year term except for the Executive Committee. An objective for the composition of every committee shall be to provide for election of half the members each year.
8.1 Limitations on Committee Membership.
No Senate member may serve on more than two standing committees at one time. No Senator may serve on the same standing committee for more than two consecutive committee terms. The Executive Committee shall not be considered a standing committee when applying these rules.
8.2 Vacancies.
In the event of a vacancy on a standing committee, a member shall be selected by the Senators from the principal academic subdivision from which the vacancy occurred to fill the un-expired term. If the vacancy involves a member elected at large, the Senate shall elect a replacement.
Section 9
If any committee member is absent from three consecutive committee meetings, the Chair of the committee shall notify the Senators from the principal academic subdivision from which the absent member was selected. The committee member may be replaced in accordance with Section 8.2 In the case of an at large committee member, the Chair will notify the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, which may replace the committee member in a Senate election.
Section 10 Executive Committee
10.1 Membership.
The Executive Committee shall consist of the Senate President, Vice President, Secretary, the Caucus Chairs, the faculty trustee, the chairpersons of all standing committees or their designees, the Faculty Senate Representative on the Graduate Council, and the elected CFAC representative from MSU Denver. The last person to serve as president of the Senate prior to the incumbent shall be a member of the Executive Committee ex-officio, with vote, for a period of one year following their presidency. (Amended 3/4/2020)
10.2 Term of Office.
One year or until their successors are qualified to replace them.
10.3 Duties.
The Committee shall consider such matters as fall within the jurisdiction of the Senate. The Committee shall set Senate agendas and act for the Senate between Senate meetings. The Committee is empowered to create such subcommittees as necessary to expedite the Committee’s business. They shall charge such issues as are requested to the Senate President for consideration to the appropriate committees of the Senate. (Amended 3/28/2012)
10.4
The Committee shall meet at least once between each regular Senate meetings at the call of the President or at the demand of four (4) members.
Section 11 Rules Committee
11.1 Duties.
The Rules Committee shall:
11.1.1 Examine the Constitution and Bylaws for the purpose of recommending changes which would result in a more effective operation of the Senate.
11.1.2 Consider procedural problems at the written request of a committee of the Senate or President of the Senate.
11.1.3 Examine the staffing pattern at the beginning of the Spring Semester of each department to determine the number of Senators allocated by the Constitution in ARTICLE V and notify each department of the number allocated. This duty may be delegated to the staff working in the office of the Faculty Senate.
11.1.4 Certify the eligibility for the election of Senators to comply with ARTICLE V of the Constitution.
11.1.5 Serve as final authority on interpretation on the Constitution and Bylaws.
11.1.6 Appoint a Parliamentarian for the Senate.
11.1.7 Adjudicate jurisdictional disputes between/among committees, including but not limited to assignment of matters to standing committees.
11.2 Membership.
The Rules Committee shall consist of seven (7) members chosen according to ARTICLE IV, Section 2 of the Bylaws.
Section 12 Elections Committee
Absorbed by the Instructional Resources Committee (March, 2016)
Section 13 Curriculum Committee
13.1 Duties.
The Curriculum Committee shall:
13.1.1 Have jurisdiction over all undergraduate and graduate curriculum proposals and make recommendations to the Senate concerning the undergraduate and graduate curriculum programs of the college, including, but not limited to:
a) degree programs
b) certificates
c) General studies, Multicultural, and Senior Experience requirements. The Curriculum Committee shall refer all proposed changes in the criteria for General Studies or Multicultural designations to the appropriate standing committee for review and that committee will forward its recommendation to the Curriculum Committee.
d) outreach, off-campus, and community instructional programs, and programs granting credit for experiential learning, when such programs are creditable toward a degree. This review may be delegated to the Internship Center.
e) courses granting college credit. Review of new and modified courses, however, may be delegated to the appropriate school or college committee or the Graduate Council, and then to the Associate Vice President for Curriculum and Academic Effectiveness. Review and approval of Omnibus courses may be delegated to appropriate school or college Deans.
e.1) A new or existing course proposed for new General Studies designation will first be reviewed by the Curriculum Committee. After the course is approved by the Curriculum Committee it will be forwarded to the General Studies Committee for review. A modification of an existing course with current General Studies designation will first be reviewed by the Curriculum Committee. After the course is approved and if the Curriculum Committee decides that the modification of the course and /or the documentation for the General Studies designation requires review, the course will be forwarded to the General Studies Committee for review. The General Studies Committee’s recommendation shall be forwarded to the Curriculum Committee for appropriate action.
e.2) A new or existing course proposed for new Multicultural designation will first be reviewed by the Curriculum Committee. After the course is approved by the Curriculum Committee it will be forwarded to the Multicultural Curriculum Review Committee for review. A modification of an existing course with current Multicultural designation will first be reviewed by the Curriculum Committee. After the course is approved and if the Curriculum Committee decides that the modification of the course and/or the documentation for the multicultural designation requires review, the course will be forwarded to the Multicultural Review Committee for review. The Multicultural Curriculum Review Committee’s recommendation shall be forwarded to the Curriculum Committee for appropriate action.(Amended 03/14/2012)
13.1.2 Review and make recommendations to the Senate for approval of all new degree programs, new minors, and new certificates.
13.1.3 Have the right to review all existing degree programs. This review may be delegated to the University Program Review Committee.
13.1.4 Have the right to refer curricular considerations to administrative offices.
13.1.5 Have the authority to resolve disputes over impacts between academic units that have not been resolved at the school or college level or by the Graduate Council. In such cases, the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee will exercise its jurisdiction over curriculum and adjudicate such disputes.
13.1.6 When the members of the Curriculum Committee who do not abstain are unanimous in their approval of a curriculum proposal, such approval will be announced to the Senate and accepted by the Senate as approved, so that the Committee vote may be recorded in the Senate minutes. Any Senator may, however, request a vote on any curriculum matter brought before the Senate.
13.1.7 When the Curriculum Committee is not unanimous in its support of a curriculum proposal, the proposal will be brought before the Senate for a vote. Proposals that are not supported by the majority of those members of the Curriculum Committee who do not abstain will not be forwarded to the Senate, but will be returned to the originating department with reasons for the Committee’s action. Proposals may be withdrawn by the originating department at any time during the process.
13.2 Membership.
The Curriculum Committee shall consist of nine (9) voting members, to be chosen according to ARTICLE IV Section 2 of the Bylaws. It shall also include one non-voting administrative advisor, appointed by the Vice President of Academic Affairs, one non-voting ex-officio member from the Office of Graduate Studies, and one non-voting ex-officio member form then Office of the Registrar. It is recommended that to the extent possible, members should be from different departments. (Amended 04/24/2019)
13.3 Student Representation.
The Chair of the Curriculum Committee shall communicate with the Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee of the Student Government: The Student Advocacy Council as is appropriate.
13.4 Records
The Chair of the Curriculum Committee shall maintain the following records in the Faculty Senate Office: minutes of the meetings, agenda from the meetings, and all the memoranda sent to Academic Affairs. These documents may be sent to the Faculty Senate Office at the end of the academic year or periodically throughout the academic year.
Section 14 Academic Policies Committee
14.1 Duties.
The Academic Policies Committee shall make recommendations to the Senate on all matters related to both undergraduate and graduate academic standards, including, but not limited to:
a) Admissions criteria, awarding of transfer credit, and related practices not established by the State of Colorado or the Colorado Commission on Higher Education
b) Curriculum, including degrees, majors, minors, certificates, general education, and teacher preparation programs
c) Grading practices
d) Course credit and contact hours
e) Graduation requirements
14.2 Membership.
The Academic Policies Committee shall consist of Eight (8) voting members, to be chosen according to ARTICLE IV Section 2 of the Bylaws. The Provost shall appoint five (5) non-voting members, one to represent Academic Advising, one to represent the Office of the Registrar, one to represent Catalog and Curriculum Administration, one to represent the Office of Graduate Studies, and one to represent the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs. The Council of Chairs and Directors shall appoint one (1) non-voting member. The Council of Deans shall appoint one (1) non-voting member. The Student Advocacy Council (TSAC) shall appoint one (1) non-voting member so that the total membership shall number sixteen (16). (Amended TBD)
14.3 Student Representation.
The Chair of the Academic Policies Committee shall periodically meet jointly with representatives from the Student Government: The Student Advocacy Council. The Committee shall have the duty of considering student views with respect to policies relating to academic standards.
14.4 Graduate Academic Policies (Amended 11/12/2020)
The Academic Policies Committee’s jurisdiction shall include university graduate academic policies as they relate to the duties described in Section 14.1 Duties. The APC shall obtain the recommendations for graduate academic policies through the following procedure
14.4.1 Submission of Academic Policy by the Graduate Council: The representative from the Office of Graduate Studies or their designee will introduce new graduate academic policy proposals for the university policy library or the graduate catalog to the Academic Policy Committee for review. The Academic Policies Committee shall then approve or reject the proposal for presentation to the Faculty Senate Executive Committee.
14.5 APC Emergency Procedures (updated 5/10/2021)
14.6.1 Meetings During Summer or Winter Break
The APC Chair may call an emergency APC voting session during the summer semester (or during Winter Break) if all of the following criteria are met:
a) The APC Chair must provide APC members with a minimum of one week’s notice before the start of the meeting.
b) The meeting must have a sufficient number of voting members to consitiute a quorum for a valid vote, And
c) The meeting must be in response to a proposed emergency university policy.
Participation in a Winter or Summer break emergency meeting shall be voluntary for the APC committee members and rules regarding absence from Faculty Senate committee meetings in Article V Section 9 of the Faculty Senate Bylaws shall not apply to such emergency meetings.
14.6.2 Delegation of Voting Authority to APC Chair During the Summer Semester or Winter Break
The APC Chair may vote on behalf of the committee in the following circumstances:
a) The APC Committee has voted to delegate authority to the Chair over the summer semester/winter break, Or
b) The University has declared financial exigency.
Section 15 Budget Committee
15.1 Duties.
The Budget Committee shall:
15.1.1 Inform the Senate on budgetary matters of the University.
15.1.2 See that the faculty views are represented in the budgetary process of the University.
15.1.3 Investigate and report on questions referred to it by the Senate or Executive Committee.
15.1.4 Make recommendations to the Senate concerning the allocation of resources.
15.1.5 Make recommendations to the Senate with regard to distribution of funds relating to salary improvement.
15.2 Membership.
The Budget Committee shall consist of eight (8) members chosen according to ARTICLE IV, Section 2 of the Bylaws.
Section 16 Faculty Welfare Committee
16.1 Duties.
The Faculty Welfare Committee shall make recommendations to the Senate on policies and practices concerning full-time and part-time faculty, including but not limited to:
16.1.1 Fringe Benefits
16.1.2 Retirement
16.1.3 Review the status of hiring, salaries, benefits, promotion and participation in University affairs of faculty employed at the University.
16.1.4 Review the status of faculty rights, including tenure, the prevailing climate for academic freedom, intellectual property rights, and faculty opportunity for participation in policy formation at the University.
16.1.5 Review the status of academic responsibilities of the faculty.
16.1.6 Review, upon written request by a faculty member, restrictions on academic freedom, harassment, breaches of confidentiality and infraction against affirmative action; and prepare a summary report to the Senate.
16.2 Membership.
The Faculty Welfare Committee shall consist of one member from each principal academic subdivision (as defined by Article IV, Section 2 of the Faculty Senate bylaws) and one member-at-large. Members are to be chosen according to Article IV, section 2 of the Senate bylaws. (Amended 10/5/2016)
16.3 Part-Time Faculty.
The Welfare Committee shall have a subcommittee of representatives of the part-time faculty (those faculty teaching on a per credit, per term basis, per Article III of the Constitution) consisting of no less than three member and no more than seven. The subcommittee shall report to the Welfare Committee issues of concern of the part-time faculty. This subcommittee shall meet a minimum of once each semester during the academic year.
Section 17 Reappointment, Tenure and Promotion Committee
17.1 Duties.
The duties of the Reappointment, Tenure and Promotion Committee shall include but not be limited to:
17.1.1 Making recommendations to the Senate concerning the policies, standards, procedures, and criteria for promotions.
17.1.2 Evaluating applications for promotion and making recommendations to the administration on candidates.
17.1.3 Making recommendations to the Senate concerning the policies, standards, procedures, and criteria involved in evaluating probationary faculty.
17.1.4 Evaluating applications for regular faculty status and making recommendations to the administration on whether or not such status should be granted.
17.1.5 Reviewing the system to determine recommendations for or against promotion by the Reappointment, Tenure and Promotion Committee the previous year and bringing to the Senate for its approval any changes that the Committee recommends. If no changes are recommended, the system used the previous year will be used.
17.2.1 Membership.
The Reappointment, Tenure and Promotion Committee shall consist of seven (7) members, to be chosen according to ARTICLE IV Section2 of the Bylaws. Membership is restricted to tenured faculty who are not currently applying for promotion.
17.2.2 If a current member is applying for promotion, the member must resign from the committee by the Friday of the first full week of classes in the Fall semester, per the MSU Denver Handbook for Professional Personnel Section VII.C.3.b (Revised April 2009)
17.2.3.Committee Alternates Three (3) senators: one (1) from each principal academic subdivision will be elected by the Senate to serve as alternates for the Faculty Senate Retention, Tenure & Promotion Committee, with terms of service same as the Membership. Committee alternates will only be expected to review dossiers and vote when called upon to replace a senate committee member who is no longer able to serve. Committee alternates will not be involved in committee deliberations prior to actively serving on the committee. Committee alternates will not participate in department or school retention, tenure & promotion processes. The senate secretary is responsible to determine when it is necessary to replace a member with a committee alternate. (Amended 5/4/2011)
Section 18 Instructional Resources Committee
18.1 Duties.
The Committee shall make recommendations to the Senate concerning issues related to instructional resources including but not limited to:
18.1.1 Instructional resources and services, such as educational technology, online programming, library services, Access Center, Center for Teaching, Learning & Design, etc.
18.1.2 Legal matters relating to instructional resources, online programming, and technology.
18.1.3 Conduct the elections for President, Vice President, Secretary, and all standing committees at the last meeting of the spring semester.
18.1.4 Conduct other elections and voting at regular meeting as directed by the Senate.
18.1.5 Act as tellers.
18.1.6 Monitor the election processes for which there is a specified procedure in each of the principal academic subdivisions and report any and all infractions to the Senate.
18.3 Membership.
The Instructional Resources Committee shall consist of six (6) voting members chosen according to ARTICLE IV, Section 2 of the Bylaws. In addition, the Associate Vice President of Online Learning, or their designee, shall be a non-voting member. (Amended 12/4/2019)
Section 19 Student Affairs Committee
19.1 Duties.
The Student Affairs Committee shall:
19.1.1 make recommendations to the Senate concerning all problems relating to student welfare (except academic standards and policies) including but not limited to:
a) Student Union Facilities
b) Club activities
c) Student rights and responsibilities
d) Student Activities
e) Allocation of student funds
19.1.2 have the sole authority to appoint faculty representation to the Student Affairs Board.
19.1.2.1 The committee shall appoint these representatives, as defined by the by-laws of the Student Affairs Board, from the membership of the committee. If no committee member can serve in this capacity, or if there are an insufficient number of committee members able to serve to fulfill the required representation as defined by the by-laws of the Student Affairs Board, the committee shall recruit from outside the committee in the following order: 1. from the membership of the Faculty Senate at large 2. from the general faculty.
19.2 Membership.
The Student Affairs Committee shall consist of six (6) members chosen according to ARTICLE IV, Section 2 of the Bylaws. (Amended 2/14/2012)
19.3 Student Representation.
Members of this committee shall meet with representatives of student government and representatives of college administration to recommend to the college administration the allocation of Student Affairs Fee monies.
Section 20 General Studies Curriculum Review Committee
20.1 Duties.
The duties of the General Studies Committee shall include but not be limited to:
20.1.1 Review and recommend the approval or disapproval to the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee of courses submitted for designation as a General Studies courses, using program guidelines appropriate to the catalog year for which determination is being made.
20.1.2 Review all General Studies courses on a rotating basis of a maximum of seven years and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee regarding the continued General Studies designation of reviewed courses.
20.1.3 Review any proposed changes in the criteria for conferring General Studies designation and forward a recommendation to the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee.
20.2 Membership.
The Committee shall consist of fourteen members: eleven (11) members to be chosen according to ARTICLE IV Section 2 of the Bylaws; two (2) Faculty Senate Representatives appointed to the Committee by the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate, one of whom is a member of the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee; and one (1) ex-officio member without vote, appointed by the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The Committee Chair must be a tenured member of the Senate.
Section 21 Multicultural Curriculum Review Committee
21.1 Duties.
The duties of the Multicultural Curriculum Review Committee (MCRC) shall include, but not be limited, to the following:
21.1.1 Evaluate each new or existing course proposed to receive Multicultural designation. Evaluate modifications to an existing course with Multicultural designation if forwarded to the MCRC by the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee (FSCC). The evaluation will be based on the proposed syllabus and the multicultural designation for the course using the multicultural course criteria described in the University’s Curriculum Guidelines, Policies and Procedures. The MCRC may recommend changes to the syllabus and/or the multicultural designation form and/or request additional documentation before making a final recommendation of approval or disapproval of the requested Multicultural designation to the FSCC.
21.1.2 Review any proposed changes to the criteria for conferring the Multicultural designation and forward its recommendation of such changes to the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee.
21.1.3 Share expertise and consult when requested by department chairs, the Office of Transfer Services, or other appropriate offices or committees on issues pertaining to the multicultural designation at MSU Denver. (revised Spring 2015)
21.1.4 Review all Multicultural designated courses on a rotating basis of a maximum of seven years and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee regarding the continued Multicultural designation of reviewed courses. (revised 3/4/2020)
21.2 Membership
The Multicultural Curriculum Review Committee shall consist of six (6) senators to be chosen according to Article IV Section 2 of the Bylaws. With an additional one (1) ex-officio member without vote, appointed by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Section 22 Faculty Diversity Committee
22.1 Duties.
The Faculty Diversity Committee shall inform and make recommendations to the Senate concerning questions, issues, policies, and practices related to the recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion, numbers, ratios, and diversity of the faculty. The concerns of this Committee shall include but not be limited to: a) Appropriate numbers and ratios of tenured to tenure track faculty, tenured and tenure track faculty to adjunct faculty, full-time to part-time faculty, temporary to permanent faculty, and faculty to students. b) Under-represented groups within the faculty (including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability) in relation to total faculty, to student populations, and to the greater community served by the University; and c) Projection of future trends related to the issues considered by the Committee.
22.2 Membership.
The Faculty Diversity Committee shall consist of nine (9) members, to be chosen according to ARTICLE IV Section 2 of the Bylaws. To allow greater campus representation, up to three (3) ad hoc members from the greater faculty community, selected by a majority of voting members of the Committee, may serve as non-voting members. The Chair of the Committee shall be a member of the Senate and shall be elected by the voting members of the Committee.
Section 23 Professional Leave Committee
23.1 Duties.
The Professional Leave Committee reviews, evaluates, and prioritizes faculty requests for sabbatical and professional development leave.
23.2 Membership.
The committee will consist of seven (7) members, to be chosen to two year terms according to ARTICLE IV Section 2 of the Bylaws. The President of the Faculty Senate is responsible for ensuring that the membership of the Professional Leave Committee is representative and has the right to correct any perceived imbalance on the committee.
23.2.1 If a current member is applying for leave, the member must resign from the committee by the Friday of the first full week of classes in the Fall semester.
23.2.2 The chair will be chosen by the Professional Leave Committee at its first regular meeting.
23.2.3 A committee member can not vote on a proposal the member has voted at an another level.
23.2.4 The committee may aid applicants by, and only by, an announced workshop, but in no case shall members be advocates for their principal academic subdivision’s applicants.
23.3 Reporting Relationship.
The committee is responsible to the President of Senate and works in conjunction with the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
23.3.1 Faculty members submit their requests to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, who will forward requests to the Professional Leave committee for their review.
23.3.2 The Professional Leave committee will review, evaluate, and prioritize the requests. After the Professional Leave committee has determined their priorities, they will forward their recommendations to the President of Senate and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
23.4. The deadline for submission for all leave proposals is established by the Academic Calendar.
23.5 The committee meets as needed to meet the deadline dates established in the Academic Calendar.