The administrative and instructional staffs compose the faculty of Southern Arkansas University and operate under a Faculty Constitution. One of the purposes of this organization is to maintain democratic processes. Much of the work of the faculty is done through the Standing Committees of the University or ad hoc committees. See Section V for Standing Committees of the University.

The Provost, in consultation with the President of the University, prepares an agenda for the Assembly meetings and sends a copy of the agenda and the time of the meeting to each faculty member. Items to be considered for the agenda may be submitted by the Faculty Senate, other Standing Committees of the University, or any faculty member. The President of the University is President of the Assembly and presides at its meetings. In the absence of the President, the Provost presides. The Faculty Assembly expects each member of the Assembly to attend meetings.

Preamble

Efficient operation and democratic process are two ideals for which most American institutions strive, and while the unfaltering quest for either may impair the attainment of the other, history shows that if either is totally absent, the other will not long endure. It is the purpose of the Constitution to provide a framework that will contribute to the optimum realization of both of these ideals at Southern Arkansas University.

Definition of Terms: For the purpose of the Faculty Assembly, the administrative staff shall comprise the Provost, student affairs, administration, finance, facilities, the college deans, and the dean of the school of graduate studies.

The instructional staff shall comprise all full-time staff members whose primary duty is instruction.

The operational staff shall comprise all full-time employees of the University not included above.

Article I

The name of the organization shall be the Faculty Assembly of Southern Arkansas University.

Article II

Section 1. Members of this organization (hereinafter called the Assembly) shall be members of the administrative staff and instructional staff.

Section 2. The administrative staff shall be responsible to the President of the University for the establishment of channels of communication and proper practices for effective administration.

Section 3. The instructional staff shall be responsible to the Provost for the departmental organization and functions contributing to the effective accomplishment of the academic purposes of the University.

Article III

Section 1. The purpose of the organization shall be to provide an Assembly of the entire University faculty.

Section 2. The Assembly, by majority vote, may send any recommendations of the Faculty Senate back to that body for review.

Article IV

Section 1. The officers of the organization shall be the president, the vice president, the secretary, and the parliamentarian.

Section 2. The President of the University shall be the President of the Assembly and preside at the meetings whenever possible. The Provost shall be the Vice President of the assembly and shall preside in the absence of the President. It shall be the duty of these officers to prepare an agenda and notify each member of the forthcoming meeting.

Section 3. The secretary shall be elected by the Assembly from its membership and shall record the proceedings of each meeting and publish the minutes.

Section 4. The parliamentarian shall be elected by the Assembly from its membership and shall advise the presiding officer of parliamentary procedure.

Section 5. The secretary and parliamentarian shall be elected at the last regular meeting and shall assume office at the first meeting in the fall semester.

Article V

Section 1. Periodic Assembly meetings will be held and special meetings may be called at the discretion of the President, the Faculty Senate, or on petition of a majority of the members of the faculty.

Section 2. A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum for any meeting, and each member present shall have one vote. Proxy votes by faculty members absent from Assembly meetings may be cast upon presentation of such proxy to the Provost prior to the meeting.

Section 3. A majority vote of those present shall be sufficient to pass a by-law or recommendation.

Section 4. Meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

Article VI

It shall be the duty of the President to report to the Assembly, no later than the second regular meeting after a vote is taken, the disposition of any recommendation made by the Assembly.

Article VII

This Constitution may be amended by two-thirds vote of those present at any assembly meeting providing the amendment was publicized at the most recent meeting. Amendments may be distributed in a digital format at least two weeks before voting at a Faculty Assembly meeting, or they may be presented at the final Faculty Assembly meeting and voted on digitally one or more weeks after that meeting.

By-Laws

All policies, regulations, and committees in force at the time of adoption of the Constitution which are not incompatible with the Constitution shall continue in force until changed through normal procedures.

All Standing Committees of the University are required to report annually to the Assembly, and will provide that report and all agendas and minutes to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness electronically; the Discipline Committee need not report the details of the committee deliberations.   The Academic Affairs Committee will make their minutes available.  The yearly reports should be given at the last regular Assembly meeting of the spring semester.

The Faculty Senate is the legislative body of Southern Arkansas University in all academic matters relating to or affecting two or more of the Colleges or the University faculty as a whole. The Faculty Senate may consider matters referred to it by any faculty member or administrative officer; and it may, upon its own initiative, undertake the consideration and the determination of policies or procedures relating to courses, curricula, instruction, and the academic welfare of students and faculty.