Constitution of the Faculty Senate
The Faculty Senate Constitution provides the governing principle under which the Senate and its committees operate.
PDF Version: Faculty Senate Constitution
(Adopted May 1961, and amended Dec. 6, 1961; Jan. 10, March 21, 1962; Dec. 16, 1964; Jan 13, April 14, Sept. 22, Nov. 17, 1965; Feb. 16, 1966; April 16, Sept. 24, 1969; April 16, 1975; Nov. 17, 1976; Nov. 16, 1977; April 19, 1978; Dec. 12, 1979; June 6, 1980; Nov. 18, 1981; reviewed Oct. 3, 1983; amended Feb. 19, 1986; Sept. 16, 1987; Jan. 18, 1989; August 28, 1991; May 13, 1992; Dec. 14, 1994; January 25,1995; March 29,1995; May 7, 1997; Dec. 9, 1998; April 21, 1999; April 18, 2001; April 16, 2003; Sept. 1, 2004; Dec. 8, 2004; March 25, 2009; April 21, 2010; April 20, 2011; Dec. 14, 2011; Jan. 23, 2013; Dec. 11, 2013; May 5, 2014; June 30, 2014; October 18, 2017, January 23, 2019, May 8, 2019, November 20, 2019, and December 9, 2020, June 6, 2022, April 6, 2023, January 17, 2024.)
The members of the faculty at the University of Houston established this constitution to provide an instrument for cooperative action in attaining such ends as the members may select.
Preamble
Principles. Shared governance is the collective commitment of the faculty and administration at the University of Houston to work cooperatively, together with other University constituencies, to achieve a common vision of excellence for the University. Successful shared governance requires an active partnership at all levels of the enterprise, from individual programs to the overall University, to provide a basis for joint participation in setting priorities and formulating policy. Effective implementation of shared governance depends on mutual trust, shared confidence, and on-going communication between faculty and administrators, informed by an appreciation of their interdependent roles and responsibilities.
Faculty Role in Shared Governance. The faculty provides the excellence in teaching and research that determines the quality and reputation of the University. The faculty has a major role in devising academic policies, establishing performance standards, and in protecting academic freedom. Therefore, the faculty has the primary responsibility for curricular matters and degree programs. Recommendations about appointments, retention, and post-tenure review are a central faculty responsibility. The faculty has significant input in the formulation of budget priorities, including compensation policies. The faculty has a major role in the selection and review of administrators at all levels of the University. The faculty assists in setting goals to improve the quality of campus life, the surrounding community and the national academic standing of the institution.