I200 - USM

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I-2.00-CONSTITUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF UNIVERSITY SYSTEM FACULTY
(Approved by the Board of Regents, February 1, 1989; Amended June 11, 1993; Amended July 10, 2002)

Basic to the effective operation of any system of higher education is the acceptance of the concept of shared governance. It is the faculty, whose careers are dedicated to the advancement of learning, who provide the thrust and direction of any academic institution. Therefore, the faculty shall have wide powers in determining professional and academic matters, an informed advisory role in areas of administrative responsibility, and a voice in basic decisions which affect the welfare of the system as a whole.

ARTICLE I

Section 1. Purpose. The Council of University System Faculty advises the Chancellor and reports regularly to the Board of Regents. Its responsibility will be to consider and make recommendations on matters of System-wide professional and educational concern to the faculty and matters to which faculty bring special expertise.

ARTICLE II

Section 1. Membership. The Council will consist of faculty representatives elected by the faculties of the constituent institutions of the University System of Maryland. The faculty of each campus will determine the qualifications for, and procedures for selection of, its representatives.

Section 2. Constituent Institutions. For purposes of representation on the Council, constituent institutions of the University System of Maryland are: Bowie State University (BSU), Coppin State College (CSC), Frostburg State University (FSU), Salisbury University (SU), Towson University (TU), University of Baltimore (UB), University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), University of Maryland University College (UMUC), University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), and University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI).

Section 3. Apportionment of Membership. Initial membership on the Council will be apportioned in the following manner: UMCP- 6; TU-3; UMB-3; UMBC-3; BSU-2; CSC-2; FSU-2; SU-2; UB-2; UMES-2; UMUC-1; UMCES-1; and UMBI-1. An institution newly incorporated into the University System of Maryland will receive representation on the Council commensurate with the size of its full-time faculty.

Section 4. Terms of Members. Members of the Council will serve three-year terms, with a staggering of the election of the membership at each constituent institution. The length of the terms of members initially elected will be determined by the Council.

ARTICLE III

Section 1. Officers. The Council will elect annually a chair, a vice chair, a secretary, and two at large members of an executive committee. No more than one elected member of the executive committee will be from a single institution. The executive committee will set the agenda for meetings of the Council and monitor and bring matters of interest to the attention of the Council.

Section 2. Meetings. The Council will meet as specified in its bylaws, but no less than twice during each academic year. Additional meetings may be convened by the chair of the Council or by procedures specified in the bylaws.

Section 3. Bylaws. The Council will develop bylaws consistent with this constitution, will provide for committees, and will establish its own rules of procedure. At a minimum, there will be standing committees of the Council with responsibility for the following areas: academic affairs, faculty rights and welfare, research, and rules and organization.

ARTICLE IV

Section 1. Amendment. Amendments to this constitution may be proposed either by a constituent institution or by a member of the Council. Adoption of amendments will occur according to the following procedures: (1) initial approval by a two-thirds vote of the Council; (2) referral of the proposed amendment to the faculty governing bodies of the constituent institutions for consideration and comment; (3) final approval by a two-thirds vote of the Council; and (4) acceptance by the Board of Regents.

ARTICLE V

Section 1. Adoption. This constitution will become effective following review by the faculties of the constituent institutions and approval by a two-thirds vote of the interim Faculty Council, and upon its acceptance by the Board of Regents.

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