Mission
The ISU Faculty Senate is the preeminent representative body of the Faculty at Idaho State University. Serving as the voice of Faculty at ISU, the Faculty Senate shapes policy and procedure concerning the issues of primary and fundamental responsibilities of the Faculty. Working with all constituent groups on campus in the spirit of shared governance, the Faculty Senate and Senate leadership strive to make the university environment conducive to cutting-edge research, innovative creative activities and scholarship, outstanding teaching, and meaningful universtiy and professional service for the Faculty.
Accepted by Faculty Senate: March 3, 2008
Faculty
Senate meetings are held on alternate Mondays at 4 p.m. in the Faculty
Senate Suite - Room 301 in the Rendezvous Building.
Statement on Faculty Governance
Faculty governance at Idaho State University
is one
of several integral parts in the shared governance structure. The primary focus of faculty governance is to
promote, support, and uphold the academic health and mission of the
University. As such, the Faculty has
primary responsibilities in fundamental areas of academic standards and
curriculum, academic freedom, academic status and personnel policy,
research
policy, faculty ethics and commitment, and areas of student affairs
related to
the educational process. The faculty also provides input regarding
joint
efforts involving internal operations of the institution, such as
budget and
physical resources. Regarding areas of primary faculty responsibility,
the
faculty advocates principles outlined by the Statement on
Government of Colleges and Universities (www.aaup.org/AAUP/pubsres/policydocs),
jointly formulated by the American Association of University Professors
(AAUP),
the American Council of Education (ACE), and the Association of
Governing
Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB). Decisions and
recommendations made
by a faculty governance body concerning the Faculty’s responsibilities
should
be viewed as the product of careful consideration and debate in an open
forum. Coupled with Faculty’s
recommendations, feasible and productive solutions should also be
offered to
ensure joint decision-making and a cooperative partnership between
Faculty and
any policy-implementing body on campus.
In rare circumstance where the needs of the Administration
conflict with
Faculty recommendations, clear and open communication will ensure that
a
reasonable outcome will be achieved.
The Faculty Senate at Idaho State University,
as the
representative body of the general faculty, acts within the scope of
authority
established by the University and its Faculty.
The Senate addresses key issues brought forth by Faculty and
Administration, promotes discussion of these issues, reflects the
opinions and
concerns of the Faculty, and offers productive solutions. The goals and
responsibilities of faculty governance are achieved through policy
recommendations, oversight of and delegation to councils and
committees, and
communication with faculty and other appropriate constituents. Councils
and
committees under the Faculty Senate’s purview represent these interests
and
responsibilities.
Because a primary concern of Faculty relates
to the
educational needs of the community it serves and the formation and
implementation of new knowledge, the Faculty has a leadership role in
all
decisions and university policies that concern curriculum, academic
standards,
standards of admissions, cultural affairs, personnel policies involving
faculty, tenure and promotion, academic freedom, diversity and scope of
research in all academic areas, and the general educational process. Because the academic mission and policy
implementation is a responsibility shared by all constituency groups on
campus
including Administration, Professional and Classified Staff, Students,
as well
as Faculty, shared governance requires a joint effort by all
constituency
groups on campus. Adequate and open
communication, participation, and suggestions for practical solutions
are a
vital part of a productive shared governance where concerns are voiced
and
policies are reflective of the general academic health of the
institution. These Governance Principles
should be carried
to all governance structures within Colleges, Units, and Departments at
Idaho
State University.