ARTICLE I. PREAMBLE

A university is formed around a community of scholars dedicated to the pursuit and transmission of knowledge and understanding. Each member of the community must bring to the common endeavor a high degree of commitment, including the obligation to participate in its governance activities. Faculty governance is an essential right and responsibility of a scholarly community. It is a means of self-determination and self-regulation; through duly constituted legislative processes, it provides for the exercise of the faculty’s fundamental role in decisions that affect the academic life of the institution, the protection of legitimate faculty aspirations, the implementation and preservation of academic standards, and the promotion of the welfare of students. Because a university is a complex entity, the tasks of governance must be diversely apportioned and delegated, but the interdependence and cooperation of administration, faculty, and governing board are essential to legitimate and effective governance. This document establishes the framework for faculty participation in the governance of Drexel University.

ARTICLE II. THE FACULTY

2.1 The faculty of the University (collectively, the “University Faculty”) consists of the President, the Provost, the Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, and other administrators holding professorial appointments, the academic Deans, the professors, the associate professors, the assistant professors, and the instructors, whether serving in teaching, research, clinical or administrative appointments, whether tenured, tenure-track, or non-tenure-track, whether serving part-time (including adjunct faculty presently serving) or full-time, and whether in an active or an emeritus capacity. The President of the University is the presiding officer of the University.

2.2 The voting members of the University Faculty are those tenured and tenure-track faculty members or full-time faculty members who: (1) hold the rank of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, senior instructor, or instructor (including teaching, research, and clinical appointments) (2) serve full-time in their appointments at Drexel University and (3) devote at least half-time to teaching, research, clinical education, or other academically-related duties. Faculty members with less-than-annual appointments (including adjunct faculty members) are not voting members of the University.

The faculty of each college or school (hereafter referred to as “academic unit”) shall determine, in a duly constituted meeting, which faculty members are eligible to vote in that academic unit. Voting members of an academic unit must hold at least half-time appointments in that academic unit. A voting member of the University who holds half-time appointments in two academic units shall designate in writing one academic unit in which to exercise his/her voting privileges. 2.3 . In July 2002, the Philadelphia Health & Education Corporation began operating as the Drexel University College of Medicine (“DUCOM”), an affiliate of Drexel University, providing education in the medical sciences to University students. While legally separate from Drexel University, DUCOM provides an integral part of the educational and scholarly life of the University. Accordingly, this Charter recognizes the faculty of the College of Medicine, deems them to be members of the University community, and intends them to be included as fully as legally possible as members of the University Faculty.

ARTICLE III. RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FACULTY

3.1 The University Faculty is authorized by the Board of Trustees to formulate rules and regulations directly governing such matters as the establishment or dissolution of all colleges, schools, departments, or any entity which offers courses and degrees (either on-campus or offcampus), or any change in mode or venue of offering courses and degrees, and the establishment or dissolution of all degree programs (See “Rules and Regulations for Program Initiation, Review, Change, and Termination.”); curriculum; admission standards; scholastic standards; examination and testing programs; the award of student honors; and the approval of candidates for earned degrees. Such rules and regulations are subject to final approval by the President and, where appropriate by virtue of the University’s Charter and the Board’s bylaws, the Board of Trustees.

3.2 The University Faculty is authorized by the Board of Trustees to advise and make recommendations to the President in the spirit of collegial responsibility on the formulation of policies and decisions regarding University development and welfare. The subjects of the advice and recommendations include policies related to the appointment, retention, promotion, and tenure of faculty; the appointment of administrative and academic officers; faculty duties and prerogatives; the institution or elimination of colleges, schools, departments, independent centers and institutes, and degree programs (whether on-campus or off-campus); the merger of colleges and/or schools; student responsibilities and discipline; the setting of fund-raising priorities for development and academics; the formulation of priorities and review of the annual operating budget of the University; the development and expansion of the campus; and the expression of University views on matters of public concern. The President is pledged to work toward consensus with the faculty on these matters. The provisions of this section are subject to Article XV hereof.

3.3 To enable the University Faculty to fulfill its responsibilities in making recommendations on policies and decisions regarding University development and welfare as enumerated above, the President, the Administration, and the Board of Trustees will inform the University Faculty, following agreed-upon procedures, of new initiatives and priorities, including the proposed annual budget, in a timely and comprehensive manner. The University Faculty, through its Faculty Senate, will complete its recommendations in a timely manner and forward them to the President.

3.4 In order to exercise these responsibilities, the University Faculty herein establishes its own organization and rules of procedure through a Faculty Senate and a University Assembly.

ARTICLE IV. THE FACULTY SENATE

4.1 The Faculty Senate (hereafter, “the Senate”) shall be the legislative and executive agency of the University Faculty. The Senate is empowered to legislate in academic matters affecting more than one academic unit of the University and to advise and make recommendations to the President in those areas of collegial governance enumerated in Article III, above.

4.2 The Senate may establish standing and ad-hoc committees, and membership on such committees shall not be limited to Senators. The Senate may adopt resolutions in its own behalf and may enact and amend its own by laws. The Senate shall act upon petitions, resolutions, recommendations, or legislation submitted by its own members, its own committees, by the faculty of any academic unit, by the President, or by a Senior Vice President, and pertaining to the academic governance or general welfare of the University. The Senate shall conduct a formal review of the annual operating budget prior to its submission to the Board of Trustees. If the 3 President cannot accept the Senate’s advice or recommendations on these matters, the Senate and the President shall attempt to achieve consensus.

ARTICLE V. COMPOSITION OF THE FACULTY SENATE

5.1 The Senate shall be composed of (1) voting members of the University Faculty who shall be elected by the constituent academic unit’s faculties and the Department of Athletics, in accordance with their established voting procedures but with the assurance of written ballots; (2) the academic deans (including directors of freestanding schools) who shall be ex-officio with voice but not vote; (3) three undergraduate student representatives and three graduate/medical/law student representatives with voice but not vote, to be elected by their constituent bodies, and (4) the Provost, Senior Vice Presidents, and General Counsel of the University, ex-officio, with voice but not vote. All other members of the University Faculty, as defined in Article II, may participate in meetings of the Senate, with voice but not vote.

5.2 The Chair of the Nominations Committee of the Senate shall validate the number of voting faculty members in each academic unit at the beginning of each calendar year from a list provided by the Provost, and shall allocate the appropriate number of Senators to each academic unit according to the following procedure: i. An academic unit having fourteen (14) or fewer voting members is allocated one Senator ii. An academic unit having between fifteen and thirty-four (15 to 34) voting members is allocated two Senators iii. An academic unit having between thirty-five and fifty-four (35 to 54) voting members is allocated three Senators iv. An academic unit having fifty-five (55) or more voting members is allocated four Senators. Any voting member of the University Faculty is eligible to serve as a Senator, subject to the approval of the faculty of his/her academic unit in accordance with the established voting procedures of the academic unit. The number of Senators allocated to each academic unit, as determined annually by the Nominations Committee, shall be subject to the approval of the Steering Committee.

5.3 Each academic unit shall also elect an alternate or alternates who shall serve in place of the Senator in his/her/their absence and shall enjoy all privileges of the Senators during the period of service. Each academic unit shall elect a number of alternates at least equal to its number of Senators. Senators serving ex-officio, and student members, shall not have the privilege of being represented by alternates.

Alternate Senators should be prepared to attend meetings whenever a senator must be absent. The Senator should provide sufficient notice regarding his/her absence to ensure the presence of a duly elected alternate and should arrange such representation from the list of alternates of his/her academic unit.

Any Senator missing three meetings in each of two consecutive terms, without being represented by an elected alternate, should be replaced for the remainder of his/her term by one of the elected alternates of his/her academic unit. The alternate Senator should, in turn, be replaced by a special election in his/her academic unit. The Nomination Committee will inform the academic unit of the need for the special election to replace the alternate Senator.

5.4 The Department of Athletics shall elect one representative, according to rules established by that Department.

5.5 Senators shall be elected for three-year terms, with approximately one-third of the Senate being elected each year. Each year, each academic unit will elect a number of alternate Senators 4 equal to the number of Senators elected in that year. Alternate Senators serve one-year terms.

5.6 The Nominations Committee shall notify each academic unit and the current Senators of that academic unit by March 1st of the Senate positions to be filled by each unit for the coming year. Nominations shall be received and presented to the faculty of each constituent college or school following the election procedures established by the individual academic units. Elections shall be held on or before the first Tuesday in May for the Senate positions open in that unit in such a way that all voting members of the University Faculty within the academic unit are represented, and eligible to cast one ballot each. The newly elected members of the Senate shall assume office on the first day of October of the next academic year.

5.7 The current Senators and alternate Senators of each academic unit will constitute the Senate Caucus of that academic unit. The senior Senator(s) of each Senate Caucus will convene that caucus. The duties of the Senate Caucuses shall include:
(1) Serving as a conduit for two-way communication between the academic unit and the Senate,
(2) Working with the Nominations Committee of the Senate to select candidates for open Senate seats, open alternate Senate seats, and representatives on Senate committees and any other committees formed by the Senate.
(3) Organizing the election of Senators, Alternate Senators, and committee members for the academic unit, in cooperation with the administration of the academic unit.
(4) Counting the ballots of the election, determining the winners, and announcing the results of the election to the faculty of the academic unit and to the Senate.

5.8 If a Senator is unable to complete his/her three-year term of office, a replacement will be elected in the next May election to complete the unfinished portion of the term. An alternate Senator from that academic unit will fill the vacant Senate seat until the election occurs.

ARTICLE VI. OFFICERS OF THE FACULTY SENATE AND THEIR DUTIES

6.1 The Senate shall annually elect three Officers: a Chair, a Vice-Chair, and a Recording Secretary, from among the voting members of the newly formed Senate at the first regular meeting of the Senate, following the election of a new Senators. Nominations for the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Recording Secretary shall be submitted in writing to the chair of the Nominations Committee one week before the elections. The Senate shall be informed in writing of the list of nominees at least 48 hours before these elections. If no candidate is available for an Officer position, nomination of candidates from the floor is allowed.

6.2 To be eligible for election as an Officer of the Senate, a Senator must be a tenured faculty member or hold the rank of Associate Professor or higher. The newly elected Officers shall serve as Officers-designate until the first day of October of the following academic year, at which time they shall assume the duties of their office. During the period from the election of the Officers- Designate until the time of assuming office, they shall serve as members of the current Steering Committee with voice but not vote.

6.3 The Chair of the Senate shall preside at all meetings of the Senate and shall sign the official copies of all Senate actions. He/she shall report periodically on faculty concerns at the Dean’s Council of the Provost and the Academic Council of the President, or at meetings of equivalent bodies, if otherwise named.

6.4 At all regular and special meetings, the Senate shall function as a large assembly. The Chair of the Senate shall typically refrain from participating in discussions of pending questions and her/his vote shall only be cast as a tie-breaker.

6.5 The Chair, Vice-Chair, and Recording Secretary of the Senate shall meet regularly (at least twice per academic quarter) with the President in order to maintain communication concerning issues of concern to the faculty and to facilitate cooperation between the Administration and the Faculty. Such meetings of the Senate Officers with the President are for informational purposes and shall not be construed to represent consultation with the Senate. Such consultation is a formal procedure which requires the full discussion and consent of the Senate, as the elected representatives of the University Faculty.

6.6 The Chair and/or Vice-Chair, together with at least one other member of the Senate, shall represent the faculty at all meetings of the full Board of Trustees and at the Board of Trustees of the Philadelphia Education and Health Corporation. The Chair or Vice-Chair shall represent the Senate at all meetings of the Executive Committee of the Drexel University Board of Trustees.

6.7 The Vice-Chair of the Senate shall preside at meetings of the Senate and of the Steering Committee in the absence of the Chair. The Vice Chair of the Senate shall serve as the Chair of the Nominations Committee of the Senate

6.8 The Recording Secretary shall preside at the meetings of the Senate and the Steering Committee in the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair. The Recording Secretary shall prepare all ballots and keep all records of the Senate, including the website, and shall prepare and distribute all minutes and materials for Senate elections and for referenda of the University Faculty. The Recording Secretary shall record the results of all such elections and referenda.

ARTICLE VII. PROCEDURES AND ACTIONS OF THE FACULTY SENATE

7.1 The Provost, the Senior Vice Presidents of the University, and the University General Counsel shall be considered ex-officio members of the Senate and shall have floor privileges with the exception of offering or voting upon motions. The President may request to address the Senate at the opening of any Senate meeting and to present such reports and information as may concern the University Faculty.

7.2 The Senate shall meet at least once in each of the four academic quarters. The Chair, in consultation with the Steering Committee, may call such other meetings as he/she deems necessary. A quorum of the Senate shall consist of a majority of its members, excluding exofficio members. An action of the Senate is ratified only if passed by a majority of its members in attendance. Attendance and voting at Senate meetings by video-conferencing is acceptable. Proxy votes and votes in absentia are not acceptable. A majority of the three Senate Officers may rule that a particular Senate vote (on a motion or amendments) shall be by secret ballot. Except as described in this Charter, all meetings of the Senate and its committees (standing, adhoc, subcommittees) shall be conducted according to the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.

7.3 Meetings of the Senate shall be open to the University Faculty, members of the administration, students, and interested members of the public. Agenda and minutes of such meetings shall be distributed to all members of the University Assembly (see Article XIV, below).

7.4 Floor privileges and voting privileges are extended to Senators, as specified in Article V. Other interested persons present at a Senate meeting may ask the Chair for floor privileges on specific agenda items and the Chair will rule.

7.5 Actions within the purview of the Senate include: (1) creating rules and regulations and advising and recommending on fulfillment of the powers granted under Article III, subject to the approval of the President and, where appropriate, the Board of Trustees; (2) reviewing the 6 implementation of decisions made under Article 3.1 and 3.2, above; (3) reviewing the annual operating budget; (4) creating or amending by laws of the Senate, subject to the approval of the President and, where appropriate, the Board of Trustees; (5) holding hearings on questions of general faculty concern; and (6) establishing standing or ad-hoc committees to report as instructed to the Senate.

7.6 In the areas in which the University Faculty has the responsibility to formulate rules and regulations and to advise and make recommendations to the President (see Article III), legislative actions of the Senate shall require the written concurrence of the President. The Recording Secretary of the Senate shall prepare and the Chair shall transmit to the President all such legislation within ten working days of its passage for his or her concurrence. The President shall normally respond within thirty working days and shall transmit instructions for action on approved legislation to all appropriate administrators. In the case of non-concurrence, the President shall transmit to the Senate a written statement of exception to the legislation as proposed. A joint committee consisting of representatives of the Steering Committee and of the President and other academic or administrative officers as may be appropriate shall attempt to resolve the differences expressed. The Chair shall report to the Senate on all changes agreed upon, and these changes shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate. If no agreement can be reached, the matter shall be referred to the Steering Committee and/or the Senate for recommendation. In the event that the Senate and the President do not reach agreement, the matter shall be referred to the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees for final resolution.

7.7 Protocols of Understanding among various parties shall be attached to the Charter, with the power of rules. The approval or removal of Protocols of Understanding represents an amendment to Charter and follows the procedures detailed in Article XV.

7.8 On motions (and their corresponding amendments) on the floor of the Senate addressing the following issues only tenured and tenure-track faculty are eligible to vote:
i. Policies and procedures on tenure and promotion of tenured and tenure-track faculty members
ii. Sabbatical and leave policies for tenured and tenure-track faculty members;
iii. Other issues, as they become relevant and as approved by a two-thirds majority of the Senators in attendance.

7.9 In voting on issues for which only tenured and tenure-track faculty are eligible to vote, the issue will be resolved by the majority of those tenured and tenure-track faculty in attendance, as long as a majority of the serving tenured and tenure-track Senators is present at the meeting.

ARTICLE VIII. THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE FACULTY SENATE

8.1 The Steering Committee shall be composed of the Chair, the Vice-Chair and the Recording Secretary of the Senate and the chairs of the standing committees of the Senate. Whenever the membership of the Steering Committee is such that an academic unit is not represented, the Senators of that academic unit shall elect one of their number to the Steering Committee. If a member of the Steering Committee cannot attend a meeting, he/she may designate an alternate, under these terms:
i. If the absentee serves on the Steering Committee as chair of a standing committee, the alternate must be another Senator from that committee.
ii. If the absentee serves on the Steering Committee as an academic unit representative, the alternate must be another Senator or elected alternate from that academic unit. The newly elected members of the Steering Committee shall assume office on the first day of October of the next academic year. 7 To be eligible for membership (either as a member or as an alternate) on the Steering Committee, the individual must be a tenured faculty member or hold the rank of Associate Professor or higher.

8.2 The Steering Committee shall be the committee of reference for the establishment of Senate standing or ad-hoc committees, for any subcommittees or task forces needed by Senate committees, and for appointments of representatives of the Senate not otherwise specified in this Charter. The Steering Committee shall coordinate the decisions and actions of the various committees of Senate, shall forward the recommendations of these committees to Senate for approval, and shall serve as an information clearinghouse for the constituent collegial faculties and other University personnel. The Steering Committee shall monitor requests for faculty opinion or action coming from administrative officers of the University, and shall monitor issues arising within the University which fall within the scope of responsibilities given to faculty under the Charter, and shall refer these matters, as appropriate, to Senate committees for study and response. The Steering Committee shall monitor the implementation of legislation and recommendations approved by Senate and transmitted to the President in accordance with Article 7.6. Instances of inappropriate implementation shall be reported to Senate and to the President, to be redressed by new Senate legislation or by administrative action.

8.3 The Steering Committee shall interpret the Charter of Faculty Governance subject to review by the Senate and subject to the concurrence of the President. Where differences of interpretation cannot be resolved, the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees shall, upon representation from both parties, determine the interpretation to be adopted. Whenever changes to the Charter are required, the Steering Committee shall appoint an ad-hoc Charter Review Committee from its members or from among Associate and Full Professors to prepare proposed amendments to the Charter and coordinate their approval by the Senate, Assembly, Administration, and Board of Trustees, as appropriate.

8.4 The Steering Committee shall be responsible for monitoring the University’s compliance with the Charter of Faculty Governance and shall report to the Senate on any matters of concern to the University Faculty.

8.5 The Steering Committee shall be responsible for communicating all Senate activities and any other important matters to the entire university community, on a regular basis.

8.6 The Steering Committee shall prepare the agenda for Senate meetings. It shall include in the agenda its own recommended items as well as any recommendations or resolutions within the purview of the Senate submitted in writing by (1) the Standing Committees and other committees of the Senate; (2) the University Assembly; (3) ten percent of the voting members of the University Faculty; (4) the various collegial assemblies;(5) Duly constituted organizations of the student body; and (6) the administrative officers of the University. The Steering Committee may, at its discretion, invite formal or informal presentation of such recommendations or resolutions before the establishment of the Senate agenda.

8.7 The Steering Committee shall not alter proposals or presentations forwarded for Senate action without the authorization and consent of the originating bodies. The Steering Committee may, however, transmit to the Senate such proposals and presentations with a positive or negative recommendation, or with an alternate proposal.

8.8 Meetings of the Steering Committee shall normally be open to all members of the Drexel University community.

8.9 The Recording Secretary of the Senate shall prepare minutes of all Steering Committee meetings and distribute them to the Senate, after they have been approved by the Steering Committee.

ARTICLE IX. COMMITTEES OF THE FACULTY SENATE

9.1 All committees of the Senate, unless otherwise specified, shall be established by the Senate, with committee membership being determined by the Senate or by its delegated representatives. The Chair of the Senate, shall convene the new committees annually for the purpose of electing incoming chairs. Should the elected Chair of the committee not be a Senator, that person shall serve as an At-Large Senator with voice and vote in both the Senate and the Steering Committee for the period during which that person is the chair of the Standing Committee. At-Large Senators shall serve on the Senate as representatives of the entire University community and not as representatives of their individual academic units. To be eligible for election as a Committee Chair, the Committee member must be a tenured faculty member or hold the rank of Associate Professor or higher. These elections shall be held on or before the last day of July. The new Chair shall serve as a chair-designate until the first day of October of the following academic year, at which time he/she shall assume the duties of his/her office. During the period from election to the time of assuming office, the chair-designate of each Standing Committee shall serve as a member of that committee with voice but not vote. The outgoing/current chair shall also communicate the results of the election to the Senate Chair. The newly elected members of the Standing Committees shall assume their duties on the first day of October of the academic year following their election.

and may consider matters within its competence referred to it by the Senate and by faculty members, faculty bodies, administrators, or students. Each committee shall meet at least once each academic term. Minutes of all committee meetings shall be filed with the Office of the Senate. Each committee shall report to the Senate or the Steering Committee as required, and shall submit an annual written summary of its activities and recommendations to the Senate. Such annual summaries shall be submitted by the end of May and shall be retained in the permanent files of the Senate by the Recording Secretary of the Senate. In addition, all committee Chairs shall prepare summaries of their attendance at meetings of the standing committees of the Board of Trustees and submit those summaries to the Office of the Senate.

9.3 Elections of members of committees of the Senate shall be normally for a period of two academic years. No committee member may serve more than six consecutive years or three consecutive terms on the same committee. As circumstances may require, the full Senate may add to or alter the composition of any committee to assist it in the accomplishment of its charge.

ARTICLE X. STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE FACULTY SENATE

10.1 The following standing committees of the Senate are hereby established. The Chair of each of the standing committees shall be elected by the members of that committee, with the exception of the Nominations Committee, for which committee the Vice Chair of the Senate shall serve as Chair.

10.2 The Nominations Committee. The Nominations Committee shall consist of one faculty representative from each academic unit, elected by the voting members of that academic unit, and at least two, but no more than six, members at-large elected by the Senate. The Chair of the Nominations Committee shall convene the Committee at the beginning of each academic year in 9 order to begin preparing slates of nominations for the various committee and officer positions, including Senators, alternate Senators, and representatives of the academic units on standing committees of the Senate and on University Advisory Committees, to be filled throughout the year. The Committee shall ensure that a broad representation of the faculty of each academic unit is achieved and that the procedures specified in Article 5.6 of this Charter are carried out.

10.3 The Academic Affairs Committee. The Academic Affairs Committee shall be the academic policy committee of the Senate and shall monitor and review matters related to academic standards, and curriculum, and shall serve in an advisory capacity in matters related to cooperative education, and admission standards and policy. The Committee shall formulate policies and proposals to be submitted to Senate. The Committee shall serve as liaison with appropriate administrators and administrative bodies of the University, and members from the Committee shall represent the faculty, with voice and vote, on the appropriate University committees and councils and the appropriate committees of the Board of Trustees, including the Academic Affairs Committee. The Academic Affairs Committee shall consist of one faculty representative from each academic unit, elected by the voting members of that academic unit, and at least two, but no more than six, members at-large elected by the Senate. The Provost and the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, or their equivalents if otherwise named, shall serve as exofficio members of this committee, with voice but not vote.

10.4 The Academic Support Committee. The Academic Support Committee shall monitor and review the academic services, quality of instructional facilities, computer services, cultural programs, and museum and library services of the University. The Committee shall formulate policies and proposals to be submitted to the Senate. Members from the Committee shall serve as liaison with appropriate administrative officers and councils of the University, and shall represent the faculty, with voice and vote, on the appropriate University committees and the appropriate committees of the Board of Trustees. The Academic Support Committee shall consist of one faculty representative from each academic unit, elected by the voting members of that academic unit, and at least two, but no more than six, members at-large elected by the Senate. The Provost and the Dean of Libraries shall serve as ex-officio members of this Committee, with voice but not vote.

10.5 The Faculty Affairs Committee. The Faculty Affairs Committee shall be responsible for policy recommendations concerning faculty rank and welfare, faculty leave, and matters of professional conduct; shall formulate policies and proposals to be submitted to Senate; and shall monitor and review policies and procedures concerning the adjunct faculty of the University. It shall serve as the planning and policy committee of the Senate on matters of faculty equity, equal opportunity, and affirmative action. Members from the Committee shall serve as representatives of the faculty, with voice and vote, on appropriate University committees and councils and the appropriate committees of the Board of Trustees, including the Academic Affairs Committee, the Honors and Awards Committee and the Personnel Committee. The Faculty Affairs Committee shall consist of one faculty representative from each academic unit, elected by the voting members of that academic unit, and at least two, but no more than six, members-at-large elected by the Senate. The Provost shall serve as an ex-officio member of this Committee, with voice but not vote.

10.6 The Student Life Committee. The Student Life Committee shall monitor and review questions and policies concerning athletics, student financial aid, admissions, cooperative education and the quality of student life. It shall serve as liaison in these matters with the appropriate administrative offices and committees. It shall serve as the planning and policy 10 committee of the Senate on matters of student equity, equal opportunity, and affirmative action and shall formulate policies and proposals to be submitted to Senate. Faculty members from the Committee shall represent the faculty, with voice and vote, on the appropriate University committees and councils and on the appropriate committees of the Board of Trustees, including the Student Life Committee. The Committee shall consist of one faculty representative from each academic unit, elected by the voting members of that academic unit, a representative from the Department of Athletics, six student representatives, who are serving as members of the Senate under Article V, and the Dean of Students, who shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Committee, with voice but not vote.

10.7 The Budget, Planning, and Development Committee. The Budget, Planning, and Development Committee (BP&D) shall be the faculty committee of reference for all matters pertaining to the University budget and for the planning and development activities that directly impact the financial condition of the University. It shall originate and submit to the Senate for review and approval recommendations for academic policies and priorities related to the University operating budget and academic needs and priorities related to external funding. The Committee shall be responsible for presenting an analysis of the budget and any planning and development initiatives via the Steering Committee to the Senate for its review and recommendations. The Senate’s analysis, review and recommendations, subject to the approval of the full Senate, will then be forwarded in writing to the President for transmission to the Board of Trustees before its consideration of the budget. The Committee shall serve as liaison to the Treasurer and to other appropriate administrators and administrative policy bodies of the University. Members from the Committee, as selected with the approval of the Steering Committee, shall represent the faculty, with voice and vote, on the appropriate University committees and appropriate committees of the Board of Trustees concerned with the budget and with planning and development, including the Building and Properties Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Strategic Planning Committee. The Committee shall consist of one faculty representative from each academic unit, elected by the voting members of that academic unit, a representative of the Department of Athletics, and at least two, but not more than four, representatives of the faculty, to be selected by the Committee and approved by the Steering Committee, to serve one-year terms on the Committee. The members of the BP&D Committee must be tenured faculty members or hold the rank of Associate Professor or higher. The Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Vice President for Administration, and the chief financial officer of the University, or those holding equivalent positions, shall serve ex-officio on the BP&D Committee, with voice but not vote.

10.8 The Research and Scholarly Activity Committee. The Research and Scholarly Activity Committee shall represent the faculty in matters pertaining to all types and kinds of research and scholarly activity. The main purpose of the Committee is to advocate for the appropriate institutional policies, support structures and facilities for diverse research and scholarship activities throughout the University. The Committee is tasked to participate in the development, monitoring, and evaluation of all matters and policies related to the research enterprise at the University. These policies include, but are not limited to, matters concerning intellectual property, patents, translational research, technology transfer, distribution of overhead funds, university-wide research initiatives, conflict of interest, and compliance. The Committee shall serve as liaison with appropriate administrators and administrative bodies of the University and members from the Committee shall represent the faculty, with voice and vote, on the appropriate University committees and councils. Members of the Committee shall attend meetings of the 11 Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees. The Committee on Research and Scholarly Activity shall consist of one faculty representative from each academic unit, elected by the voting members of that academic unit, and at least two, but no more than six, members atlarge elected by the Senate. All faculty members of the Committee are expected to undergo Human Subjects Research and HIPPA1 and HIPPA2 certification. The Provost, Vice Provost for Research and Associate Vice Provosts for Research Compliance and Administration, Technology Commercialization and Regulatory Compliance and or their equivalents if otherwise named, shall serve as ex-officio members of this Committee, with voice but not vote.

ARTICLE XI. INHERENT POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENTS TO FORM COMMITTEES

11.1 The powers devolved upon the Senate to establish committees shall not be construed to circumscribe the inherent powers of the President and the Senior Vice Presidents to establish such committees, whether of the faculty, the administration, or jointly of both, as they shall deem necessary to the administration of the university.

11.2 When such committees are formed to include faculty members, the President and/or the Senior Vice Presidents shall consult with the Senate in determining the charge, scope, composition, schedule, and method of operation of such committees. The details of the charge, scope, composition, schedule, and method of operation of such committees shall be filed with the Office of the Senate, in an established format.

ARTICLE XII. SEARCH COMMITTEES

12.1 Faculty representation on Search Committees for senior academic and administrative officers is crucial for the realization of shared governance, as described in Article 3.2 of the Charter of Faculty Governance.

12.2 All Search Committees for Deans/Directors of academic units shall include at least one Associate Professor or Professor (from an academic unit other than the one in which the open position exists) representing and selected by the Senate and reporting to the Faculty Affairs Committee of the Senate.

12.3 All Search Committees for senior academic and administrative leaders (at or above the rank of Vice President and Vice Provost), for the Dean of Libraries, for the Director of Co-operative Education, and for equivalent positions shall include at least one Associate Professor or Professor representing and selected by the Senate.

ARTICLE XIII. UNIVERSITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES

13.1 When it is deemed important to assemble a diverse set of viewpoints and expertise to address an issue that affects the University community more broadly than can be effectively addressed by a Standing Committee of the Senate, a University Advisory Committee (UAC) may be formed. UACs are important bodies of the University that engage the broader community to provide advice in the decision-making process. UACs may be standing or ad-hoc.

13.2 A request to form a UAC may arise either from the President and/or Senior Vice President or from the Faculty Senate. Upon consultation between President and/or Senior Vice President and the Senate, such a committee may be designated a UAC by the President and/or Senior Vice President.

13.3. Once a committee is designated a UAC, the President and/or the Senior Vice President shall consult with the Senate to determine its charge, scope, composition, schedule, and method 12 of operation, and these details shall be filed with the Office of the Senate, in an established format.

13.4 Faculty members to serve on a UAC shall be appointed with equal representation of members appointed by the Senate and by the senior administrator to whom the UAC reports, based on the total number of faculty members determined for the UAC during the consultation at the formation of the UAC.

13.5 Faculty members selected by the Senate shall be nominated by the Steering Committee of the Senate, with the advice of the Senate standing committee(s) whose charge(s) are most closely aligned with the responsibilities of the UAC. These individuals will be confirmed by vote of the full Senate. While the appointment of faculty members to the UAC is the prerogative of the senior administrator to whom the UAC reports, normally s/he will accept the Senate’s nominee(s).

13.6 Each UAC shall be linked to a standing committee of the Senate or to the Steering Committee of the Senate, as agreed upon during the formation of the UAC. The faculty members on the UAC shall prepare an annual summary of its activities for distribution to the entire University community through the Senate.

13.7 Non-faculty members (administrators, staff, students, and other resource personnel) may be appointed to a UAC by the senior administrator to whom the UAC reports. In the case of the appointment of student members to the UAC, the senior administrator shall consult with the Dean of Students. The senior administrator may also appoint ex-officio members, other than faculty members, to the UAC.

ARTICLE XIV. THE UNIVERSITY ASSEMBLY

14.1 The University Assembly is the assembled body of the University Faculty. The President is the presiding officer of the Assembly and shall preside at all of its meetings. He shall be assisted by the Senate Chair during the report of the Senate. In the absence of the President, the Senate Chair shall preside. The President shall plan and arrange the agenda for the University Assembly meeting in collaboration with the Senate Chair.

14.2 The University Assembly will normally be convened by the President at the beginning of the academic year to hear the President’s report on the state of the University and plans for University development, and at least once during each subsequent quarter. The President shall also convene the University Assembly at the request of the Senate, the Steering Committee, or ten percent of the voting members of the University Faculty.

14.3 The University Assembly may offer resolutions on general education and research policy or pertaining to the general welfare of the University and requests for action by the Senate, provided that a quorum of sixty voting members is present. Voting on such matters shall be by written ballot. The Chair of the Senate shall give account to the Assembly of matters referred by it to the Senate. Resolutions by the University Assembly of a memorial nature shall not require a regular quorum. The University Assembly shall annually approve the list of qualified degree candidates for graduation in the colleges and schools. The meetings shall normally be open to all members of the Drexel University community.

ARTICLE XV. ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND ACADEMIC DUE PROCESS

15.1 All members of the faculty are guaranteed full academic freedom in the discharge of their University functions, as defined in the 1940 Statement of Principles of Academic Freedom and 13 Tenure formulated by the Association of American Colleges and the American Association of University Professors, as amended.

15.2 The rights, duties, and responsibilities described in the Charter of Faculty Governance and its bylaws are contractual conditions and obligations of appointment at Drexel University. Under these terms, academic due process means that all faculty evaluations shall be carried out according to the norms, criteria, and standards expressed therein, and that their application shall be substantive at each stage of the evaluation process.

15.3 No provision of the Charter of Faculty Governance and its bylaws shall detrimentally prejudice the rights, privileges, and status of faculty existing at the time of its adoption.

ARTICLE XVI. PROVISIONS FOR AMENDING THE CHARTER

Actions amending the Charter of Faculty Governance shall require approval by a two-thirds majority at a meeting of the Senate followed by a two-thirds majority of those voting at a duly constituted meeting of the University Assembly. Concurrence of the President and the Board of Trustees is required. In the case of non-concurrence by the President, the procedures described in Section 7.6 above shall be invoked.

ARTICLE XVII. RESERVATION OF TRUSTEE RIGHTS

No provisions herein shall, nor shall be deemed to, derogate from or supersede any rights, powers or duties of the Board of Trustees under the Charter or Bylaws of the University, it being understood that such rights, powers and duties are expressly and fully reserved hereby.