Boards & Committees

University of Kansas, University Governance

Use this guide to understand the governance system at KU, under which Student Senate derives its power.

The Governance system at the University of Kansas has been described as a "shared" system of governance. Article I, Section 9 University Senate Code describes the authority of the University Senate as follows:

"Subject to and in accordance with the control of the Chancellor and the Board of Regents as provided by law, the University Senate is empowered to formulate such Rules and Regulations as it shall deem wise... and to take such steps as it shall deem necessary for their implementations and administration. Affairs of the University ...include, but are not limited to, organization and administration, the framing and execution of long-range plans, decisions regarding existing or prospective resources, fiscal affairs, academic procedures and policies (such as the requirements for graduation and degrees, and methods of evaluating academic work, and the standards of academic conduct of faculty and students) common to all Schools, class and examination schedules, the calendar; the libraries, campus-wide activities and events; and the role of the University in public affairs."

There are four constituent Governance Senates:The Faculty Senate, the Student Senate, the Unclassified Senate, and the University Support Staff Senate.

2009-2010 University Governance Leaders

University Senate President & Chair of Senate Executive Committee
Ben Eggleston (Ex-officio non-voting on SenEx/ FacEx)
be75@ku.edu
864-2332

Philosophy Faculty Senate President & Chair of Faculty
Senate Executive Committee
Barbara Phipps
phipps@ku.edu
864-9685, Curriculum & Teaching

University Senate Vice President
Sarah Shier, student

University Senate President Elect
Megan Greene (Voting member of SenEx/ FacEx)
mgreene@ku.edu
684-9473 Ctr. East Asian Studies

Faculty Senate President Elect
Rodolfo Torres
torres@math.ku.edu
864-7310 Math

The University Senate

University Senate meets on Thursdays at 3:30 pm, and the University Senate Executive Committee meets on Tuesdays at 3:30 pm. If you are interested in attending, visit http://www2.ku.edu/~unigov/ for the schedule, or email MWS.

University Senate Officers
The president of the University Senate (a faculty member) also serves as chair of the University Senate Executive Committee (SenEx), and presides over the meetings of both entities. The vice-president of University Senate (a student) presides when the President is absent. A president-elect (faculty member) is elected annually and shall take office the following year.

University Senate Members
The University Senate consists of twelve student members elected from the Student Senate, three members of the university support staff elected from the University Support Staff Senate, three members of the Unclassified Senate Staff elected from the Unclassified Senate, and thirty nine Faculty members elected to the Faculty Senate. The Chancellor and the Provost are ex-officio, non-voting members. The presidents of the Student, Faculty, Unclassified Senate, and University Support Staff Senate are also ex-officio, non-voting members of the University Senate if they are not among the elected members of the University Senate. The University Senate shall recommend rules, regulations, and policies on behalf of the University’s faculty, staff and students. The University Senate generally meets once a month during the fall semester, and twice a month during the spring semester.

University Senate Executive Committee (SenEx)
The operations of the University Senate are managed by the University Senate Executive Committee, which consists of eleven members of the University Senate elected each April. SenEx includes the six members of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, one member each elected from the University Support Staff and Unclassified Senates, and three students elected by the student senate (two undergraduate and one graduate). Members’ terms begin the day after Commencement of the election year and continue until Commencement the following year. SenEx generally meets every other week during the academic year. The President and President-Elect of the University Senate are ex-officio, not-voting members of SenEx if they are not elected to one of the six faculty positions on SenEx. The Presidents of the Faculty, Student, University Support Staff and Unclassified Senates also serve as ex-officio non-voting members on SenEx if they are not elected as voting members. SenEx writes charges for University Senate Committees and ensures that all functions of the University Senate are carried out in conformity with the provision of the CODE and University Senate Rules.

Overview of Governance Committees

The work of university governance committees is essential to the success of the University and Faculty Senates. It is through the work of the committees that governance studies issues, develops policies, and performs its oversight functions. Each governance committee has responsibility for a particular area of governance activity and policy. Within their fields of responsibility, committees perform a variety of functions, including (1) communication; (2) monitoring and oversight; (3) policy development; and (4) adjudication.

In addition to the committees listed described in this document, governance also appoints or nominates members to a number of other university committees, commissions, and boards, including the University Committee on Promotion and Tenure (UCPT), the University Committee on Sabbatical Leaves, the University Committee on Distinguished Professors (UCDP), the Parking Commission, the Judicial Board, and the Library Appeals Board.

Committees

Academic Computing and Telecommunications (ACTC): This committee works with administrative personnel and other governance bodies to support and improve the academic computing and telecommunications environment at KU and to develop policy concerning information security, intellectual property rights, and other matters relating to information technology.

Academic Policies and Procedures (AP&P): This committee reviews and develops proposals concerning academic policies at KU, including matters such as the grading system, add and withdrawal policies, and other academic matters relating to the instructional mission of the university and is responsible for holding hearings in cases of program discontinuation.

Athletic Committee: This committee serves as the link between governance and athletics programs at KU, and works with athletic corporation to promote the educational experience of student athletes, to support compliance with NCAA requirements, and to address other issues of interest to faculty, students, and staff in relation to athletic programs at KU.

Calendar: This committee is responsible for developing the university’s 5-year calendar, informing the university community about and monitoring compliance with rules concerning the scheduling of examinations and other matters, and considering or developing proposals concerning changes to the calendar.

International Affairs: This committee works to improving the international dimension of KU by expanding opportunities and monitoring success of incoming international students and by promoting, expanding, and enhancing opportunities for KU students, faculty, and staff to have international experiences.

Libraries: This committee works with KU libraries to develop long-range planning for and monitor the allocation of library resources, to promote communication with the library by students, faculty, and staff, to expand access to materials.

Organization and Administration (O&A): This committee considers and develops proposals concerning the structure and operation of university governance, reviews proposals for amendment to the University Senate Code and other documents to ensure consistency of language and format, and address particular issues relating to the structure and operation of governance as they arise.

Planning and Resources (P&R): This committee provides the governance voice and works with administration officials and other governance bodies in the planning processes of the university, including such matters as institutional strategic planning, tuition and related budgetary proposals, and the physical environment of the university campus.

Retirees Rights and Benefits: This committee works to promote communication with retirees, support their participation in the life of the university, inform retirees of their rights, and otherwise improve the experience of retirees both as an acknowledgment of valued service and as an important asset for the university.

Task Forces

• Task Force on Learner Outcomes
• Task Force on Employment Benefits
• Task Force on Faculty Handbook
• Task Force on Scholarly Misconduct
• Task Force on Research Computing
• Task Force on Textbooks
• Task Force on the Assessment of Teaching and Learning

Standing Commissions and Boards

• University Parking Commission
• University Transit Commission (Not a University Senate Commission)
• University Library Appeals boards
• University Judicial board

Student members of University Senate

Sarah Shier, Ben Wilinsky, Matt Vance*, Christine Lee, Sarah Weaver, Casey Briner, Alex Rippberger, Libby Johnson*, Dylan Slaven, Matt Rissien, Kellee Kirkpatrick*, Sharla Cruse, and Michael Wade Smith serves as an ex-officio non-voting member on both University Senate and SenEx.

*Also serve on SenEx