Purpose | History | Governance at other Institutions | Statement of Basic Principles

Purpose:  
The recent reorganization of the college unintentionally removed or altered important structures that had been used for faculty governance and administrative-faculty interactions.  Some faculty began to suggest that we address faculty governance in the light of these changes, and the change in administration.  

Under direction of Faculty Council in Spring 2003, the Academic and Professional Affairs Committee drew up several basic models of faculty governance.   A Faculty Meeting held on April 22, 2003 discussed these models and suggested further action on several points.  

In May 2003 the Board of Directors approved the document Preparing Students for Satisfying and Purposeful Lives: A Strategic Plan for King’s College 2003-2008.  The complete text of the December mid-year report is accessible at www.kings.edu/plan2003 (password access only).  ENVISIONING STATEMENT II is "The College will STRENGTHEN THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY that flows from its Mission by promoting initiatives that foster collegial relationships throughout the institution and by encouraging active engagement with the wider civic, cultural, and religious communities."  That statement's Strategic Goal II.E is "Review the faculty governance system and implement appropriate changes that reconcile the differences with the reorganization."  

A Faculty Meeting held on September 26, 2003 discussed concepts of faculty governance, beginning with faculty responsibilities.  The meeting ended with requests for proposals of revision of faculty governance, perhaps based on a suggestion for governance without a Faculty Council, but instead centered on the C&T and A&P Committees.  A&P has taken up the issue in its deliberations for the 2003-2004 academic year, and offered some tentative revisions in faculty governance to the Faculty Council, which were discussed at the Faculty Meeting on November 21, 2003.  Faculty at that meeting encouraged the committee to continue working along the proposed lines.  

The Middle States Self-Study 2004 (http://departments.kings.edu/selfstudy2004/#4) in Chapter 4, Leadership and Governance, RECOMMENDATION #1 (in priority order) states: "The faculty and administration should conduct a thorough discussion and review of the existing faculty governance structures and should recommend appropriate changes that ensure effective faculty roles and voice in institutional decision-making."

On April 2, 2004 a Faculty Meeting discussed a reform proposed by A&P.  It was decided to hold further discussions within Voting Groups during September 2004.  

The April 26 Final Report of the Middle States Evaluation Team (http://departments.kings.edu/selfstudy2004/evaluation.htm#4) states:  

• Suggestions for improvement
• The team supports the recommendations of the Self-Study to 1) review existing faculty governance structures and recommend appropriate changes and 2) enhance professional development opportunities for administrators and staff, including workshops for supervisors. All groups in the college concur that internal communication has improved significantly over the past few years, but the feeling of community might be further enhanced through identifying means (governance orientations, ongoing faculty mentoring, etc.) to invite increased participation in the life of the community.
• The team encourages the institution to use a review of its governance structures to support its mission-driven agenda and obtain increased input across faculty, staff, and student groups. The team also suggests that input across as well as within constituent bodies be considered as governance structures are reviewed.
• To allow the College to assess the efficacy of the governance system, the team suggests that benchmarks be identified and ongoing reviews occur in light of those benchmarks at specified and regular intervals, with the results communicated to the campus community.

After further feedback from the Voting Groups in September 2004, A&P continued to revise the constitution in October and November.  

A&P's proposed constitution for faculty governance was accepted as a provisional working document by Faculty Council in December 2004.  For that version, click here.  

Compared to the previous practice and constitution, the following were the significant changes:

The new constitution...

1. Makes the Faculty Meeting an essential part of governance.

2. Builds in support for leadership and succession with the Chairs-elect for Faculty Chair and Chairs of C&T, A&P and Faculty Benefits.

3. Provides compensation for more faculty involved in governance, as a concrete validation of priority and value to this kind of service.

4. Revives the old four Divisions with their meetings. 

5. Changes membership of Faculty Council to strengthen representational leadership by heads of C&T and A&P.

6. Consolidates some committees into sub-committees (Academic Grievance, Procedural Review, Summer Grant). 

7. Strengthens the role of Faculty Benefits.

At its first meeting of the semester in January 2005 Faculty Council used feedback to revise the constitution, and accepted it as the current working proposal.  For that version, click here.  That version was submitted for review by  the Board of Directors at their meeting in February 2005.  At a Faculty Meeting on 16 February 2005 more changes were incorporated.  In a ballot on 28 February 2005 the faculty ratified the constitution.  For the constitution as accepted by faculty, click here.  

In January 2007, Faculty Council approved a revised version of that constitution, based on discussions with the administration and two years experience.  The Board of Directors approved that constitution on February 3, 2007.  For the King's College Faculty Constitution, click here. 

Some examples of faculty governance and handbooks at other institutions: 

College Misericordia: URL: <http://www.misericordia.edu/templates/alltemps.cfm?cat_id=271&pg=1>

Drew University: URL: <http://www.depts.drew.edu/universityfaculty/>;  URL: <http://depts.drew.edu/senate/>

Duquesne University: URL: <http://www.duq.edu/frontpages/academics/faculty/>

Juniata College: URL: <http://services.juniata.edu/provost/handbook/1_5.html>

LaSalle University: URL: <http://www.lasalle.edu/admin/senate.htm>

Marywood University: URL: <http://www.marywood.edu/www2/faculty-senate/senate.html>

Saint Vincent College: URL: <http://facweb.stvincent.edu/academics/physics/EPC/home.htm>

Susquehanna University: URL: <http://www.susqu.edu/president/Presearch/specification.doc>

The University of Arizona: URL: <http://w3fp.arizona.edu/senate/function.htm>

University of Michigan:  URL: <http://www.umich.edu/~sacua/>

University of Scranton: URL: <http://academic.uofs.edu/organization/fac/handbooks.htm>

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay: URL: <http://www.uwgb.edu/secfac/handbook.htm>

Villanova University: URL: <http://facultysenate.villanova.edu/fsenate.htm>

 Purpose | History | Faculty Committees | Governance at other Institutions | Statement of Basic Principles

Faculty Constitution