Section 1. Rights and Responsibilities of Senators.

1.1 Elected senators shall have full privileges of the Senate, including the right to introduce, to second motions and to vote. They are obligated to attend all Senate meetings and to take part in committee work assigned by the President. Ex officio senators shall have all the rights and responsibilities of elected senators, including the right to make and second motions, but excepting the right to vote. #20-21-5, #21-22-6

1.2 The President shall declare the places of elected senators vacant when they have been absent from five regular meetings in one academic year. Vacancies shall be filled as provided in 2.9. The Executive Committee may, in cases of urgency, permit absences in excess of five. #20-21-5, #21-22-6

1.3 Because of the responsibility attendant upon membership in the Senate, department chairpersons shall arrange teaching, research and extension schedules to permit attendance of senators at regular meetings of the Senate. If, due to unusual circumstances, this is not possible, and if it is known at the time of election, faculty members involved shall ask that their names be withdrawn from nomination. #21-22-6

Section 2. Election of Senators.

2.1 Senators shall be elected for three-year terms by the faculties of the several colleges, schools and other authorized faculty units participating in elections, but in these elections only persons eligible to elective membership in the Senate shall vote.

2.2 Each faculty or other faculty unit shall elect one senator for each twelve of its full-time faculty members or majority fraction thereof. All colleges or units will have a minimum of two senators. For the purpose of determining the number of senators a college or other authorized faculty unit is entitled to elect, full-time faculty members with part-time appointments resulting from a part-time assignment, a joint appointment in more than one college or unit with Senate representatives, or phased retirement shall be counted according to the fraction of full-time which they serve in a particular college or unit. Terms shall be so arranged as to provide that one-third, or approximately that number of senators, shall be newly elected members each year. No college, school, or other authorized faculty unit shall have a majority of elected senators, and if this should be imminent following the membership apportionment as prescribed elsewhere in the Constitution and By-Laws, the faculty involved shall be entitled to elect no more than one less than a majority of the elected members of the Senate. All full-time faculty members shall be entitled to vote and to be candidates in Senate elections, as set forth in Article III of the Constitution, but none shall vote or be eligible for election in more than one college or other unit. Each college or school, the library and other authorized unit not included in a college or school or in the library is entitled to elect at least one senator, regardless of the number of members in its faculty. The Executive Committee, with the concurrence of the Senate, shall determine how faculty members not included in a college or school or the library shall be grouped for participation in elections and shall designate a leader to organize elections; but the number of units so formed shall be kept to a minimum consistent with adequacy of representation of distinct disciplines. Normally the principle of not more than one unit for 12 faculty members will be applied, so that the total number of senators will not be excessively increased and the ratio of one senator for 12 faculty members will not be unduly disturbed. Faculty units so designated shall be announced at the regular Senate meeting in April of each year, and recorded in the minutes. #15-16-29, #20-21-40

2.3 In April of each year, the Faculty Senate Coordinator shall inform the faculty of each college or school or other authorized faculty unit participating in elections of: (1) the names of senators whose terms will expire during the current academic year, and (2) any changes in apportionment. College and school faculties and other authorized faculty units shall then elect new senators in accordance with such election procedures as they have established. A secret ballot shall be used.

2.4 Deans of colleges or schools and the designated leaders of other faculty units participating in elections shall provide the Faculty Senate Coordinator with a complete description of the election procedures established by their faculty. Any proposed changes in this procedure shall be reported to the Faculty Senate Coordinator before they are put into effect. #21-22-6

2.5 Disputes over election procedure or results of elections shall be adjudicated by the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate.

2.6 No more than two faculty members of any one department shall serve in the Senate at the same time, except that departments with more than 29 faculty members as they are accounted for apportionment may have three.

2.7 A senator may be re-elected to serve a second consecutive term, after which they may not be re-elected until the lapse of one year, except that a senator who has not served for two or more consecutive semesters of a three-year term on account of an officially sanctioned leave (sabbatical, medical, and the like) shall be eligible for re-election without a one-year hiatus. #01-02–29  #22-23-32

2.8 Results of the elections of all new members of the Senate may be made known by the deans of the college faculties and the leaders of the other faculty units as they may see fit, but they shall in any case be announced officially by the President of the Senate not later than the regular meeting of the Senate the date of which is nearest to May 15. Newly elected senators shall assume their duties within two weeks after the official announcement of their election by the President of the Senate, at a Senate meeting designated by the out-going President and Executive Committee for this purpose and for the election of new officers. #20-21-5

2.9 Vacancies created as provided in 1.2 or by resignation or by leaves of absence of more than one semester shall be filled by election by the faculty involved. If the leave or illness is one semester or less in probable duration, determination of a vacancy shall be at the discretion of the faculty represented. Whether a person elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the unexpired portion of the term or for the period of absence of the person regularly elected shall be determined at the time of the election. A person serving a partial term shall be eligible for election to a full term without lapse of time.

Section 3. Powers and Duties of Officers.

3.1 The President of the Senate shall preside at meetings of the Senate. In case of a tie, the President may cast the deciding vote. The President of the Senate shall preside at meetings of the Executive Committee. #20-21-5, #21-22-6

3.2 The President shall serve as the executive officer of the Senate and shall sign the official copies of all Senate actions. On all matters concerning publication or public explanation of Senate actions, the President shall be sole spokesperson and representative of the Senate. #20-21-5

3.4 Except as otherwise specifically provided in the University Manual or in the acts of the Senate creating committees, and excepting committees of college faculties and those whose appointment lies within the province of the President of the University, the President of the Senate shall name the new faculty members and new chairpersons of standing Senate committees and the faculty members and chairpersons of special committees, subject to confirmation by the Senate. #20-21-5, #21-22-6

3.5 The President of the Senate may grant non-Senate members of the faculty, the student body, and the administration privileges of the floor at Senate meetings upon request made prior to the meeting. The President shall upon written request, grant privileges of the floor for an individual meeting to one faculty member representing a department not having a senator. The President shall, without prior request, grant privileges of the floor to all members of a Faculty Senate committee when a report of the committee of which they are members is under consideration by the Senate. Chairpersons of Faculty Senate committees, or their representatives, shall have the right to make motions when a report of their committees are under consideration by the Senate even if they are not a member of the Senate. #20-21-5, #21-22-6

3.6 The Vice President shall arrange for suitable accommodations for meetings, and shall provide for appropriate seating arrangements for observers, separate from the senators. #20-21-5

3.7 The Vice President shall report and explain to the Senate the recommendations of the Executive Committee. #20-21-5

3.8 When the President is absent, the Vice President shall act in place of the President, in which event another member of the Executive Committee shall be designated by the Vice President to perform the Vice President’s usual duties. #20-21-5, #21-22-6

3.9 The Faculty Senate Coordinator shall publish the agenda and relevant committee reports at least 72 hours in advance of regular meetings and as early as practicable before special meetings. (Distribution shall be: agenda, including an outline of all proposed actions, to all academic departments; full committee reports to all members of the Senate and the chairpersons of academic departments. The agenda distributed to all academic departments should be brief, indicating all proposals to be made, and referring to the complete reports in the hands of their senators.) The Coordinator shall keep the minutes of the Senate, including the call to meetings, a record of attendance at meetings, committee reports as adopted and the record of all business transacted. After minutes of meetings have been approved by the President of the Senate, the Coordinator shall have them distributed promptly to all academic departments. The Coordinator shall conduct referendums when directed to do so by the Senate or by the Constitution or By-Laws. #20-21-5, #21-22-6

Section 4. Powers and Duties of Committees.

4.1 The Executive Committee of the Senate shall have such powers and duties as are delegated to it by the Constitution and By-Laws and by acts of the Senate.

4.2 As the steering committee of the Senate, the Executive Committee shall give attention to all matters within the scope of the Senate action, either on its own initiative or upon the request of individual members of the faculty.

4.3 The Executive Committee shall have the power to act for the Senate during the interim between the last Senate meeting in the spring and the first meeting in the fall on such matters urgently requiring action at the time. Before acting, the President shall invite members of the Senate to a hearing concerning the action and its urgency. The provisions for circulating the agenda and minutes for special meetings of the Senate shall apply. The action of the Executive Committee will become effective ten days following the distribution of the minutes unless a necessary Presidential approval is withheld or unless the action is challenged by a petition for delay signed by five percent of the General Faculty. In these cases, the action must await consideration by the Senate. #20-21-5, #21-22-6

4.4 The Executive Committee of the Senate shall appoint an Administrator Evaluation Coordinator from the tenured faculty for a two-year term. The Administrator Evaluation Coordinator shall be responsible for the following: designating which administrators are to be evaluated in a given year; facilitating the election/selection of administrator evaluation committees within each administrator’s constituent group as defined in section 5.76.12 of the University Manual; providing guidance and suggestions to these administrator evaluation committees; and, monitoring the committees’ progress in conducting the evaluations. The Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate shall review and evaluate the process as outlined here and as it evolves in the respective Evaluation Committees after the first three-year round and at least every six years after that. #07-08–8

4.5 The Executive Committee shall advise the President in selecting members for faculty committees. #20-21-5

4.6 The Executive Committee shall present a calendar of regular meetings of the Senate for the ensuing year no later than at the April meeting.  #21-22-36

4.7 The Executive Committee shall establish an agenda in advance of each regular meeting of the Senate. The agenda shall be published and delivered to all faculty members in accordance with By-Laws Section 3.9 at least 72 hours prior to regular Senate meetings. Agenda for special meetings shall be delivered as early as practicable.

4.8 The Executive Committee shall include on the Senate agenda any items requested in writing by at least ten percent of the voting members of the faculty, or requested in writing by the President of the University.

4.9 Through the Vice President, the Executive Committee shall report upon its activities to the Senate at each meeting. The Executive Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings and the minutes shall be open to all senators. #20-21-5

4.10 Committees of the Senate. In addition to the Executive Committee, there shall be two classes of faculty committees created by the Senate: (1) standing committees, and (2) special committees. #21-22-6

4.11 Powers and duties of the standing and special committees shall be stipulated by the Senate at the time of their creation by the Senate.

4.12 In addition to considering matters referred to them by the Senate, standing committees may initiate action on matters clearly within their province and request that they be placed on the agenda of the Senate meeting.

4.13 Each committee shall be comprised of four or more faculty members, one of whom shall serve as chairperson, and two students, one undergraduate and one graduate student. The faculty members of standing committees shall serve for three-year terms on a staggered basis from the time of their approval until the first meeting of the Senate in the fall three years afterwards. Committee chairs shall serve for two years in that capacity. Student members shall serve for one year and shall be eligible for appointment to a second term. Students shall be appointed, respectively, by the Student Senate and by the Graduate Student Association. Committee chairs or the Faculty Senate Executive Committee may request that the University administration make available those administrators and/or staff members whose expertise is aligned with the work of the committees to act as liaisons to committees as needed. Administrator and/or staff liaisons may advise committee members regarding the work of the committee but shall not be considered committee members.  The Executive Committee or committee chairs may also ask faculty who are not Senate members to serve as non-voting advisors to standing committees as needed. #17-18-11, #17-18-17, #20-21-14,   21-22-37     

4.14 Each committee shall meet at least once a semester unless otherwise specified. Carrying out committee work electronically is permissible. #17-18-11

4.15 Committee chairpersons shall be responsible for preparing the agenda and calling the meetings. Another member of the committee shall be responsible for recording minutes and submitting them to the Office of the Faculty Senate upon approval. Unless otherwise specified, chairpersons shall be entitled to have their normal duties reduced by one-third, normal duties being specified in Article IV, paragraph 2, of the Constitution of the Faculty Senate, and entitlement shall follow automatically upon appointment. #17-18-11 #17-18-28, #21-22-6

4.16 Each committee shall provide a brief informational report at the October meeting of the Faculty Senate outlining its goal(s) for the coming year. Each committee shall present a report of its activities to the Faculty Senate at least once a year as indicated in the description of the committee charge. #17-18-11

4.17 Committee reports to be placed on the agenda for a regular Senate meeting must be submitted to the Executive Committee at least seven days in advance of the Executive Committee meeting preceding the Senate meeting at which said reports are to be considered for inclusion on the agenda, and shall be distributed with the agenda to members of the Senate. #17-18-11

4.20 The Curriculum and Standards Committee shall comprise six or more faculty members one of whom serves as the chairperson of the General Education committee. The chair of the General Education Committee shall be appointed from the members of the committee. The committee shall consider and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate on the items specifically assigned to it (see By-laws 4.21 to 4.25). The committee shall meet at least once a month and present reports to the Faculty Senate as often as necessary. Joint meetings of the Curriculum and Standards and General Education curriculum committees shall occur early fall and late spring to review and calibrate standards for course review. #17-18-12, #20-21-14, #21-22-37

4.21 Curricular Matters: The committee shall study and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate (or return the matters unapproved, with comments, to the units from which they originated) on the following matters referred to it by the various colleges, schools, the Faculty Senate or its Executive Committee, the Administration, or from another authoritative source: The establishment, abolition, division or merger of colleges and schools of the University, at the undergraduate and graduate level; the establishment, modification, or abolition of general policies concerning academic requirements such as are included in Chapters 3, 5, and 8 of the University Manual; the establishment or abolition of undergraduate degrees or credit certificates awarded by the University in any of its divisions; the establishment, abolition, division or merger of departments of instruction, or other units or areas affecting instruction; the establishment, at the undergraduate level, of new experimental and interdisciplinary instructional programs not confined to one college; the establishment of interdisciplinary minors; the establishment, modification, or abolition of curriculums or programs of study leading to degrees or credit certificates at the baccalaureate level as well as the offering of existing undergraduate degree programs at the Providence campus, with due regard to requirements for accreditation when applicable; the creation, modification, or abolition of Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies concentrations; consider, in accordance with 8.20.62, options within major fields of study and recommend their establishment to the Faculty Senate if approved by the committee; consider and vote on exceptions to the P/F option for courses that do not fall under this option if this is requested by a college, and recommend the exception to the Faculty Senate if approved by the committee; the introduction, modification or abolition of individual courses intended primarily for undergraduate instruction. No items of this nature (or of the items mentioned below may be approved by the Faculty Senate in the absence of a review by the committee, except for the item mentioned at the end of 4.28. #17-18-12, #20-21-14.  

4.22 Academic Standards: The full committee shall study all matters pertinent to the establishment and maintenance of high academic standards that may be referred to it by the Senate, the Senate Executive Committee, or other agencies; propose improved regulations and practices related to academic standards; observe the effects of rules for dismissal of students for academic reasons; review periodically the academic standards, rules, and procedures in the University Manual and make recommendations concerning them to the Faculty Senate; make policy recommendations to the Faculty Senate on all matters pertaining to the University College for Academic Success other than advising; and review and evaluate standards and policies concerning recruitment, admissions, and yield, except for the establishment of annual admissions targets which is the responsibility of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. #17-18-12

4.23 Expediency: The committee shall recommend procedures that permit matters within its jurisdiction to be handled expeditiously. #17-18-12, #20-21-14.  

4.24 Taking initiative: The committee may also initiate action on matters within its jurisdiction by referring them to the faculties of the colleges and/or schools concerned. #17-18-12, #20-21-14.  

4.25 Liaison: The committee shall maintain liaison with administration offices such as the University College for Academic Success, the School of Professional Studies, and the Online Education division of the Office for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning. #17-18-12, #20-21-14.  

4.26 Workload adjustment: The chair of the committee shall be entitled to a reduction in normal duties of no less than one-third, normal duties being specified in Article IV, paragraph 2, of the Constitution of the Faculty Senate, and entitlement shall follow automatically upon appointment. The faculty member who serves both on the committee and as the chairperson of the General Education committee shall be entitled to a reduction in normal duties of one-third, normal duties being specified in Article IV, paragraph 2, of the Constitution of the Faculty Senate, and entitlement shall follow automatically upon appointment. #17-18-12, #17-18-28, #20-21-14, #21-22-6

4.27 The General Education Committee shall comprise six or more members, one of whom is the chair of the Curriculum and Standards committee. The committee shall study and make recommendations on the establishment, modification or abolition of General Education requirements for graduation to be applicable to degree candidates; consider new and existing courses proposed for general education; evaluate the effectiveness of the general education program; maintain liaison with the University administration for effective implementation of approved recommendations; and cooperate closely with the Director of General Education (see University Manual section 8.20.30). The Curriculum and Standards Committee and the General Education Committee shall maintain consistent standards by which courses are reviewed. #17-18-12, #20-21-14, #21-22-6,  #21-22-37

4.28 The Academic Calendar Committee shall comprise four or more members. The committee shall study the University Calendar for fall, winter, spring, and summer session semesters as prepared by Enrollment Services in accordance with University Manual passages 8.70.10 and 8.70.61, respectively, report it to the Faculty Senate by December 1; study the calendar for the fully-online accelerated program developed in accordance with University Manual passage 8.70.72 and present the calendar to the Faculty Senate by March 1 of the year preceding the one during which the calendar is to become effective; carry out all other functions assigned to it by University Manual passages 8.70.10-75; examine, cooperatively with the Graduate Council, such academic matters as may affect jointly the two committees; consider such calendar matters as may be referred to it by the Senate or its Executive Committee, and study, on its own accord, desirable changes in the University Calendar; review any proposed change in the approved calendar originating outside the committee as well as any amendments attached by the Faculty Senate to a calendar proposal prior to Faculty Senate adoption of the calendar in its final form except that, if the Senate Executive Committee declares an emergency situation prior to the Faculty Senate meeting at which calendar proposals are to be considered, a calendar proposal amended on the Senate floor may be approved at the meeting during which the proposal has first been introduced by the full committee. #17-18-12, #19-20-16, #20-21-14, #21-22-6, #21-22-37

4.30 The Teaching, Advising, and Assessment Committee shall comprise five or more faculty members, and consider and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate on the items specifically assigned to it (see By-laws 4.31-4.34). The Committee shall study and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate (or return the matters unapproved, with comments, to the units from which they originated) on the following matters referred to it by the various colleges, schools, the Faculty Senate or its Executive Committee, the Administration, or from another authoritative source, or taken up by the Committee on its own initiative:  #21-22-37

4.31 The Committee shall promote good teaching, advising, and assessment at the University by conducting and reporting to the Faculty Senate an annual audit of programs, activities, policies, etc., which are available at the University to support good teaching and assessment and undertake each year, in cooperation with other interested parties, an initiative designed to improve teaching and assessment practices at the University. #17-18-12

4.32 Further, the Committee shall assess university-wide advising and make policy recommendations to the Faculty Senate on all advising matters pertaining to the University College for Academic Success. #17-18-12

4.33 Moreover, the Committee, in collaboration with the Director of the Honors Program, shall oversee the Honors Program (see University Manual Chapter 8, Academic Programs, Sections 8.60.10 – 8.65.13) and bring distinguished scholars to the campus for general lectures and/or other public programs. #17-18-12, #18-19-32  

4.34 The Committee shall meet at least once a month and shall prepare and present, in January of each year, a report to the Faculty Senate including a review of current initiatives, policies, and practices as well as recommendations for future improvements. #17-18-12

4.40 The Committee for Research and Creative Activities (henceforth referred to as the “full committee”) shall consist of faculty and students active, experienced, or concerned with various aspects of research, creative, and scholarly efforts at URI. The full committee shall serve as the representative voice of the university community in all matters related to research, creative, and scholarly activities and shall seek to improve the environment for research at URI in all ways possible. The full committee shall also comprise two subcommittees, the Competitive Grants Subcommittee and the Center Review Subcommittee. Each subcommittee shall comprise three faculty members serving on the full committee and three or more additional Senators appointed on a staggered basis. The chairs of the subcommittees shall be appointed from the members of the full committee. The full committee shall meet at least once a month and present reports to the Faculty Senate in December and April and more often as needed. #17-18-18,  #21-22-37

4.41 Advocacy of Research and Creative Activities: The full committee shall promote comprehensive understanding of the notion of research, creative, and scholarly work in order to enhance the well-being of all such work at URI; seek to identify all challenges which hinder research, creative, and scholarly efforts at URI and provide recommendations to correct them; review and recommend policies for the management of research affairs at URI and serve as the advisory committee for the Vice President for Research and Economic Development; upon request, advise all campus groups and offices on matters relating to research, creative, and scholarly work. #17-18-18

4.42 Library and Open Access: The full committee shall act as liaison between the University Library and the faculty as a whole and advise the Library on matters of general faculty concern; consult with the Library faculty on long-range needs of the Library and the adequacy of budget provisions to meet those needs; serve in an advisory capacity to the Faculty Senate regarding the implementation and interpretation of the University of Rhode Island Open-Access Policy, resolving disputes concerning the interpretation and application of the policy and recommending changes of the policy to the Faculty Senate. #17-18-18

4.43 The Competitive Grants Subcommittee shall solicit proposals from the faculty and award, on a competitive basis, financial support for a “Faculty Development” program (using guidelines developed together with the full committee) to support faculty salary and fellowships, student support, operating expenses, travel, and equipment; advise the Vice President for Research and Economic Development concerning the allocation among faculty, on a competitive basis, of financial support for a “Proposal Development” program (using guidelines developed by the Vice President for Research and Economic Development in consultation with the full committee) to support faculty salary and fellowships, student support, operating expenses, travel, and equipment. The Competitive Grants Subcommittee shall meet as needed. #17-18-18

4.44 The Center Review Subcommittee (CRS) shall review applications for new centers and institutes to operate for an initial four-year period. Applications approved by the CRS will be presented to the Faculty Senate for a vote prior to forwarding the application to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for final approval. The CRS will also review applications for continuing authorization of centers and institutes every four years. The review of the center’s and institute’s activities will be included in the RCAC’s report to the Faculty Senate annually.

Centers and institutes that do not meet the review criteria will be dissolved by being removed from the active list of centers and institutes, following a CRS review and recommendation, notice to the Faculty Senate, and final determination by the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Recommendations by the CRS will be made based on program quality, research, outreach, or educational activities, involvement of undergraduate and graduate students, interdepartmental or intercollege connections, and potential for continued external funding, as appropriate for the mission and goals of the center or institute. The Center Review Subcommittee shall meet as needed. #17-18-18  #21-22-42

4.45 Research Overhead Funds: The full committee shall serve on the Committee for Review of the Distribution of Facilities and Administrative (Overhead) Funds (see University Manual Sections 10.72.10 –10.72.14). #17-18-18

4.46 Workload adjustment: The chair of the full committee shall be entitled to a reduction in normal duties of no less than one-third, normal duties being specified in Article IV, paragraph 2, of the Constitution of the Faculty Senate, and entitlement shall follow automatically upon appointment. The faculty members who serve both on the full committee and on one of the subcommittees shall be entitled to have their normal duties reduced by one-third, normal duties being specified in Article IV, paragraph 2, of the Constitution of the Faculty Senate, and entitlement shall follow automatically upon appointment. There shall be no workload reduction for those faculty members who serve only on one of the subcommittees. #17-18-18  #17-18-28, #21-22-6

4.50 The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure shall comprise five or more faculty members and contribute to the development and maintenance of the strategic plan in collaboration with Information Technology Services and review and make policy recommendations regarding the implications on academic and research planning, standards, services, physical facilities, and allocation of resources on all matters pertaining to information technology, infrastructure, computing, communications, and networking. #17-18-12, #20-21-14,  #21-22-37

4.51 The Committee shall meet at least once a month and shall present, in February of each year, a report to the Faculty Senate including a review of current facilities, policies, and practices as well as recommendations for future improvements. #17-18-12

4.60 The Service and Community Life Committee shall comprise five or more faculty members, and aim at supporting the mission of the university by studying and recommending policies to enhance effective faculty governance and oversight; the supportive and diverse nature of the URI community; and URI’s engagement with the broader local, national and international community. #17-18-12, #20-21-14,  #21-22-37

4.61 Faculty governance: The Committee shall study faculty efficiency in legislative decision-making and oversight throughout the university and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate aimed at enhancing this efficiency. To accomplish this, the Committee shall review and report on practices of faculty governance University-wide and within Colleges; offer training on best practices of faculty governance, including facilitating and encouraging best practices for college elections and recruitment; create and administer mentor programs for new faculty senators; monitor the implementation of Senate-approved initiatives and report any issues identified to the Faculty Senate Executive Committee. #17-18-12

4.62 Quality of working environment: The Committee shall study the University work environment and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate which will enhance the quality of this environment. To accomplish this, the Committee shall assist faculty with understanding of promotion and tenure policies; recommend policies that could assist in faculty retention, including matters of work/life balance; consider issues and make recommendations concerning areas affecting the work environment, such as transportation and accessibility. #17-18-12

4.63 Community life and impact: The Committee shall study the University community and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate aimed at enhancing this community and its impact on the broader world. To accomplish this, the Committee shall examine the meaning of a diverse community (including students and faculty interacting online); create, support, and promote events that foster a sense of campus culture, including efforts to foster a greater sense of unity among the university’s different campuses; provide opportunities for interdisciplinary networking across campus; promote efforts to be of service to the wider community as well as to one another and to our students. #17-18-12

4.64 The Committee shall meet at least once a month and shall prepare and present, in March of each year, an annual report to the Faculty Senate including a review of current initiatives, policies, and practices as well as recommendations for future improvements. #17-18-12

4.70 Constitution, By-laws, and University Manual Committee shall comprise four or more members. This committee shall review the operation of University governance and propose changes in the Constitution and By-Laws of the Faculty Senate and in the University Manual; review proposals for changes in University governance from whatever source and make recommendations concerning them to the Faculty Senate and to the other appropriate bodies and individuals; construe the meaning of the Constitution, the By-Laws and the University Manual upon the request of the Senate President or Executive Committee, any senator or member of the General Faculty, or the President; assure that all duly approved changes are incorporated into the Constitution and By-Laws and into the University Manual, and that no unauthorized changes are made in these instruments; and assure that the language of all duly approved changes is consistent with the style, format and arrangement of the Constitution and By-Laws and of the University Manual. #17-18-12, #20-21-5, #20-21-14, #20-21-36, #21-22-37

4.95 Special Committees shall consider matters referred by the Senate. #21-22-6

Section 5. Election of Officers.

5.1 In February of each academic year, the Senate shall elect for the following academic year a Vice President/President-elect who shall serve one year as Vice President/President-elect and a second, consecutive year as President. Senators who are elected to serve this two-year leadership position, as described, shall remain full members of the Faculty Senate as representatives of their colleges for the duration of their service even if the two-year position exceeds the three-year term limit as a Senator (Appendix C, section 2.1). The outgoing President whose term has expired shall continue as an ex officio member of the Executive Committee for a period of one year after expiration of the term as President, and shall be considered ex officio member of the Faculty Senate during the same year. At the organizational meeting of the newly constituted Senate, the Senate shall elect at least one senator for a one-year term on the Executive Committee. In order to ensure continuity, the remaining three members of the Executive Committee shall be elected to serve for two years. To stagger their terms, two of the 2-year term members shall be elected on even numbered years and the other 2-year term member on odd numbered years. #04-05-25, #10-11-29, #14-15–25, #20-21-5, #20-21-41

5.2 At its regular meeting in December of each year the Senate shall elect a nominating committee of three members chosen from the members whose terms expire that May. This committee shall present two nominations for the position of Vice President/President-elect in February. The remaining one or two year positions on the Executive Committee shall be elected at the organizational meeting of the newly constituted Senate. In selecting its nominees for terms on the Executive Committee, the nominating committee shall consider the senators newly elected as well as those who have served for one or two years, shall consider continuity of membership, and shall, moreover, seek to maintain a reasonable distribution and rotation of the positions to be filled among the various colleges and schools. #04-05–25, #10-11–29, #14-15–25, #20-21-5, #20-21-41,  #21-22-38

5.3 At the meeting at which elections are conducted, nominations from the floor, in addition to those presented by the nominating committee, shall be in order. Paper ballots shall be used in the election. A majority of the legal votes cast shall be required to elect.

5.4 The election of officers shall be in accordance with the following procedures:

When more than two candidates are nominated for a single office, a candidate shall be declared elected on the first ballot if a majority of the votes cast are received. If no candidate receives a majority of the first ballot votes, then a run-off election shall be held between the two candidates who have received the highest number of first ballot votes. #21-22-6

For any term of office on the Executive Committee for which two candidates are being elected, a candidate shall be declared elected on the first ballot if a majority of the votes cast are received. If only one candidate is elected on the first ballot, a run-off election shall be held for the other position between the two candidates who have received the highest number of first-ballot votes. If no candidate is elected on the first ballot, a run-off election shall be held among the four candidates who have received the highest number of first-ballot votes. A majority vote is required for election. #04-05–25, #21-22-6

5.5 Should a vacancy occur in the Executive Committee two months or more before the annual election, it shall be filled at the next regular Senate meeting by an election held in the same manner as the regular election of officers, except that the Executive Committee shall act as nominating committee.

5.6 Should a vacancy occur in the Vice President/President-elect, a Vice President/President-elect shall be elected by the Faculty Senate to perform the Vice President’s duties for the remainder of the unexpired term, and to assume the duties of President during the subsequent academic year. The election shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.1, except for the timing of the election and except that the Executive Committee shall serve as Nominating Committee. #14-15–25, #20-21-5

5.7 Should a vacancy occur in the President, the Vice President/President-elect shall succeed to that position for the remainder of the unexpired term as well as for the subsequent academic year. If the vacancy occurs prior to the election of a Vice President/President-elect, a Vice President/President-elect shall be elected by the Faculty Senate in accordance with Section 5.1 of the By-laws, except for the timing of the election and except that the Executive Committee shall serve as Nominating Committee. If the vacancy occurs after the election of a Vice President/President-elect, that person shall assume the duties of that position immediately rather than at the beginning of the subsequent academic year. #14-15–25, #20-21-5

Section 6. Selection of Committees.

6.1 Appointing Committee Members and Committee Chairs. The Executive Committee, with the consent of the Senate, shall appoint for three-year terms faculty members and for two-year terms chairpersons of standing committees and subcommittees to replace those faculty members and chairpersons whose terms are about to expire. These appointments shall be on a staggered basis so that one-third of the members of each committee are replaced each year and so that the chairpersons of half the committees are replaced each year. Besides students (see By-laws 4.13), only elected Faculty Senate members shall be eligible to serve on standing Faculty Senate committees. Within two weeks of adjournment of the organizational meeting of the newly constituted Senate, all newly elected senators shall submit to the Senate President lists of at least three standing committees and/or subcommittees on which they are willing to serve. These committees and/or subcommittees may be listed in an order of priority. The Executive Committee shall use these lists to nominate, during the summer, for Faculty Senate approval (see below), new committee and subcommittee members for three-year terms to replace those committee members whose terms are about to expire. When the term of a committee or subcommittee chair is about to expire, a new chair shall also be nominated for a two-year term (see By-laws 4.13). Ideally, chairs shall be chosen from those committee and/or subcommittee members whose remaining Senate terms are two years; committee chairs may, however, also be chosen from newly elected senators. While efforts will be made to nominate senators for a committee and/or subcommittee included in the list a senator submitted, there is no guarantee that this will be possible. If the only committee slots available for a senator differ from the committees contained in the list the senator has submitted, the Faculty Senate Coordinator shall contact the senator to determine whether the person is willing to serve on a committee on which a slot is not yet filled. When the list of new members and new committee chairs is presented, at the first Fall Semester Senate meeting, to the Senate for approval, the Senate’s action shall be limited to consenting to the nominees for each committee or to referring the matter back to the Executive Committee. Unless stated otherwise in the description of an individual committee, committee chairs shall be entitled to have their normal duties reduced by one-third, normal duties being specified in Article IV, paragraph 2, of the Constitution of the Faculty Senate, and entitlement shall follow automatically upon appointment. Prior to a senator’s nomination for a committee connected with a workload adjustment (committee chair; serving on the Curriculum and Standards Committee or the Committee for Research and Creative Activities and simultaneously on one of its subcommittees) the senator’s department chair shall be consulted about the workload adjustment. #17-18-19, #17-18-28, #20-21-5, #20-21-41, #21-22-6

6.2 Committee Vacancies Due to Resignations or Other Reasons. If a position on a committee or subcommittee becomes vacant (resignation, retirement, or another reason), the Executive Committee shall identify and appoint an elected senator willing to serve on the committee or subcommittee for the remainder of the term of the individual whose position has become vacant. If the committee or subcommittee chair’s position becomes vacant, a current member of the committee or subcommittee in question shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to serve for the remainder of the previous chair’s term; the committee position the new chair occupied shall be filled in accordance with the first sentence of this paragraph. #17-18-19

6.3 The President of the Senate with the advice of the Executive Committee and the consent of the Senate shall recommend faculty members for appointment to those University Standing Committees, Councils and Boards for which faculty representation is stipulated in the University Manual. The Senate’s action shall be limited to consenting to the appointees for each committee or referring the matter back to the President and the Executive Committee. When requested to do so, the Senate shall elect faculty members to represent the general faculty on committees, councils, and boards not stipulated in the University Manual, unless the Senate decides it is inappropriate to do so. The Executive Committee shall present two nominations for each position to be filled by election. At the meeting at which an election is conducted, nominations from the floor shall be in order. #17-18-19, #20-21-5

Section 7. Quorum and Meeting Times.

7.1 A majority of the elected Senate shall constitute a quorum except at special meetings where there shall be no quorum required if actions taken at such special meetings are to be returned to the Senate for final action.

7.2 Regular Senate meetings shall begin at 3:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as a quorum is determined to be present, and shall be adjourned at 5:00 p.m. When the Senate fails to complete its agenda within the time limit, the meeting either (1) shall be recessed and reconvened one week thereafter at the usual time, or (2) shall be adjourned and the unfinished business postponed definitely until the next regular meeting of the Senate.

7.3 Regular Faculty Senate Meetings shall be held at least once each month on Thursdays during the academic year. To facilitate the broadest level possible of engagement with Faculty Senate business, all in-person Faculty Senate meetings shall include an option for remote attendance, with community members, Senators, and ex officio members attending remotely retaining the same rights they enjoy when attending in-person and when attending fully virtual meetings.  #00-01-28   #22-23-36

7.4 At all Senate meetings debate on each main motion, each amendment thereto and discussion subsequent to informational reports shall be limited to fifteen minutes. Debate may be extended in any Senate meeting by one-third vote of the members present.

Section 8. Voting Requirements.

8.1 All actions of the Senate shall be by majority vote of those present and eligible to vote, provided a quorum is present, unless otherwise specified in the Constitution and By-Laws. A vote by roll call shall be mandatory upon a motion made by one senator and seconded by one-fifth of the senators present and eligible to vote.

8.2 Secret mail ballots of the General Faculty shall be conducted either to ratify amendments to the Senate Constitution or to recall Senate actions.

They shall be conducted as follows

The Coordinator of the Faculty Senate shall distribute a ballot to every eligible member of the faculty following a procedure adopted by the Faculty Senate. Mail shall include electronic mail.

At the end of the referendum period the ballots shall be counted and the results certified to the President of the University and to the President of the Senate. #06-07–41, #20-21-5

Section 9. Parliamentary Authority.

9.1 The meetings of the Senate and its committees shall be conducted in accordance with the rules laid down in the latest edition of American Institute of Parliamentarians Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc.) except as may be provided otherwise by the Constitution and By-Laws. The President of the Senate may appoint a parliamentarian to advise on parliamentary procedure. #18-19-31, #20-21-5, #21-22-6

Section 10. Disposition of Senate Action.

10.1 The following actions of the Faculty Senate do not require approval by the President: creation of new course codes, new courses, changes to existing courses, resolutions of the Faculty Senate, the establishment of, and charge to, special Faculty Senate Committees, and the appointment of persons to special committees and those appointed under Section 6. #15-16-5, Editorial Informational Report 22-23-1 

10.2 Actions of the Faculty Senate other than those listed in 10.1 shall be transmitted promptly to the President. The President shall approve or disapprove the Senate action and return it to the Executive Committee within three weeks after passage by the Senate. When the President approves programmatic legislation, administrative officers shall be directed to review promptly resource allocation plans so that the newly legislated program may compete for resources according to the category of approval recommended by the Faculty Senate.

10.3 When an action of the Senate has been disapproved by the President, the Executive Committee shall resubmit the action to the Senate. The Senate shall decide whether to take no further action, to confirm, to suspend, to rescind, to amend, to refer to committee, or to confirm and direct the statement. If, after transmittal to the President of the Senate’s response to the President’s disapproval, agreement between the Senate and the President is not reached, either party may elect to submit the matter to the URI Board of Trustees. Such transmittal from the Senate shall be by way of the President. #15-16-5, #20-21-36, #21-22-6

10.4 If the President neither approves nor disapproves a Senate action within the three weeks stipulated, the Senate action will be deemed to have been approved. However, upon request by the President, together with a statement of reasons for the request, the Executive Committee shall allow a thirty-day extension of time within which the President can approve or disapprove a Senate action. Any additional extension of time beyond the thirty-day extension shall be for specified periods and shall require the approval of the Faculty Senate, except that during the summer the Executive Committee shall have authority to grant such additional extensions of time.

10.5 Senate actions which have been approved by the President and which require action by the URI Board of Trustees, shall be transmitted promptly by the President to the Board and shall become effective upon approval by the Board unless otherwise stipulated. #15-16-5, #20-21-36  #January 27, 2022 Informational Report

10.6 If the URI Board of Trustees requests further information on a matter from the Senate, the President of the Senate or their designated representative, or the Executive Committee of the Senate shall represent the Senate, at the discretion of the URI Board of Trustees. #15-16-5, #20-21-5, #20-21-36, #21-22-6   #January 27, 2022 Informational Report

10.7 Actions of the Senate that do not require action by the URI Board of Trustees shall become effective three weeks after passage unless otherwise stipulated in the legislation, or unless the President requests an extension of time under Section 10.4, or unless a faculty review is duly called for under Article II.6 of the Constitution. If, after requesting an extension of time, the President approves the Senate action, or if, after faculty review, the Senate action stands as voted, the Senate action shall become effective immediately or as stipulated in the legislation. #15-16-5, #20-21-36

Section 11. Budget Reports to the Senate.

11.1 In September of each year, the President shall present a State of the Budget address to the Senate. The address shall include a statement of the President’s priorities for the University for the year. At the same time, a two- and three-year budget statement shall be published jointly by the President and the Vice President for Administration and Finance.

11.2 Each May, the Vice President for Administration and Finance shall report to the Senate on the newly constructed operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year. In January, the Vice President shall present to the Senate a summary report concerning expenditures at the six-month point in the current budget cycle. If, in the judgment of the Executive Committee, significant changes subsequently develop, an additional presentation shall be scheduled.

Section 12. Amendment of By-Laws.

12.1 These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the senators present and eligible to vote at a regular Senate meeting, but a proposed amendment to the By-Laws may not be voted upon at the meeting at which it is first moved.  Proposed changes to the By-Laws deemed editorial by the Constitution, By-Laws and University Manual Committee will be provided as a report to the Faculty Senate and will require no action. Following the report, any Faculty Senator may move that a proposed change should be considered substantive. This motion, when seconded, will then be considered for a vote, and if passed, the matter shall be handled as a substantive change, and will follow By-Laws amendment procedures. #21-22-12