ECUS Calendar and Checklists (Review/Revise each year) See Individual List for date of latest revision
Executive Committee Calendar (Fall) Drafted 01-08-07 by Craig Turner, Chair of ECUS 2006-2007 Last Updated 05-01-08 by Craig Turner, Chair of ECUS 2007-2008
Monthly Receive motions at least fifteen calendar days prior to University Senate meeting Prepare University Senate Meeting Agenda and distribute to Senators no later than eight days prior to meeting Meet regularly with standing committee chairs August Identify Parliamentarian for University Senate by August US meeting Appoint membership &chair of subcommittee on nominations (SCoN) Make a plan for room reservations for Standing Committee Organizational Meetings Identify University Senate Archivist (bylaws name the University Archivist or Executive Committee appointee in the absence of same) Draft Executive Committee Operating Procedures Receive Operating Procedures from standing committees Plan Standing Committee Officer Orientation (usually ~Sep 15) o Advertise date with standing committee officers (chairs, vice-chairs, sec) September Implement Standing Committee Officer Orientation Plan Governance Calendar preparation and timeline Receive Corps of Instruction List from Academic Affairs no later than September 15. Complete apportionment by October 1. Share information on election expectations (schools, library) o Letter to Deans/University Librarian o School/Library Meeting o Staff Council Leadership October Announce apportionment for Elected Faculty Senators to Senate no later than October 1 November Plan at-large faculty senator election procedure preparation including timeline (completion deadline March 1) December Receive election procedures by December 1 (schools, library) Archive election procedures in the appropriate format
Page 1 of 11 ECUS Calendar and Checklists (Review/Revise each year) See Individual List for date of latest revision
Executive Committee Calendar (Spring) Last Updated 05-01-08 by Craig Turner, Chair of ECUS 2007-2008 January Finalize details of at-large faculty senator election procedure Coordinate (if necessary) with Staff Council Leadership about staff senators Review logistics (timeline, due date, review/modify template) in consultation with standing committee chairs of comprehensive annual reports Consider/Review/Plan for University Senate Recognitions (Certificates/Pins) February By Feb 1, receive from Staff Council Chair . eligibility criteria for membership in Staff Council from the appropriate Staff Council governance document. University Senate bylaws identify these same eligibility requirements to serve as a staff senator on university senate . the selection process that Staff Council drafts for use in the current year to select the following year’s selected staff senators By Feb 1, receive the Library/School elected faculty senator election results . By Feb 6, announce these election results to university community . Archive election results in the appropriate format Implement at-large faculty senator election; announce results by March 1. Coordinate with the incoming Student Government Association Leadership (as named) regarding the student senators and SGA nominees for next year March By Mar 1, announce results of at-large election to university community By Mar 1, receive from Staff Council Chair results of selected staff senators . Announce these results to university community no later than March 6 Archive election/selection results in the appropriate format Preparation of SubCommittee on Nominations work . survey committee preference (Senators), committee interest (nonSen) Plan for committee organizational meetings (election of committee officers) . Election and Meeting Facilitator . Voting Proxies as necessary By March 31 Receive from Student Government Association Leadership and . eligibility (eligibility to serve as student on University Senate matches eligibility to serve on SGA), selection process, and results for students on University Senate and SGA nominees to RPIPC/SAPC . By April 6, announce these results to the University Community . Archive eligibility, selection process, and results in appropriate format April By April 1, Governance Calendar complete (typically completed by end of Jan) o Announce and publicize meetings dates, places, and times of the University Senate meetings for the following academic year no later than April 1. (governance calendar) No later than April 7, o Complete work with SubCommittee on Nominations for a slate of nominees for committee assignments for following academic year o Be consulted by University President for Presidential Appointees Post committee annual reports with the minutes of the last senate meeting of the academic year (typically a link to the reports is included in Executive Committee report) Implement plan for election of standing committee officers (facilitator, voting proxies as necessary) Incoming Executive Committee holds organizational meeting to elect ECUS Secretary within 10 days of organizational meeting of University Senate
Page 2 of 11 ECUS Calendar and Checklists (Review/Revise each year) See Individual List for date of latest revision
University Senate Recognition Checklist Drafted 01-08-07 by Craig Turner, Chair of ECUS 2006-2007 Last Updated 05-01-07 by Craig Turner, Chair of ECUS 2007-2008
1. University Senator Pins will be one-time-in-a-career recognitions. For each academic year, all incoming senators that do not already have a pin will receive one at the organizational meeting of the University Senate. 2. Each University Senator (except senior administration as determined through consultation with VPAA and University President) will receive a certificate at the conclusion of her/his term of service, noting that the Presidential appointees and students and staff have one year terms, while elected faculty have three year terms. These certificates will be presented at the annual governance retreat. 3. Each University Senate leader (Standing Committee Officers and elected Senators on ECUS) will receive a certificate for her/his service as an officer or ECUS member. These certificates will be presented at the governance retreat 4. All non-Senators serving on standing committees of the Senate will receive a certificate at the conclusion of their term of service. These certificates could be presented at the final standing committee meeting (typically early April). 5. The University President will send letters to each University Senator and to each non-Senator on University Senate committees each fall.
Page 3 of 11 ECUS Calendar and Checklists (Review/Revise each year) See Individual List for date of latest revision
University Senate Education Checklist Last Updated 05-01-08 by Craig Turner, Chair of ECUS 2007-2008 6. Advertise that University Senate and all committee meetings are open due to sunshine laws. 7. Agenda coordination among Standing Committees a. Initiation of standing committee business by University President, ECUS, any committee member, proposal from anyone with three University Senator signatures b. Ensure duplication of effort (two committees considering the same issue) is intentional c. ECUS steering function might be implemented in consultation with Standing Committee Chairs 2. Advertise agenda of University Senate and each committee to university community and appropriate stakeholders. 3. Educate university community on shared governance. 4. Educate university senators, committee officers, and non-Senator committee members in regard to their role in shared governance.
Page 4 of 11 ECUS Calendar and Checklists (Review/Revise each year) See Individual List for date of latest revision
Governance Calendar Checklist Last Updated 01-31-07 by Tanya Goette, Secretary of ECUS 2006-2007
The proposed calendar for the next academic year should to be ready by fall of the current year since the by-laws require its completion by April 1 and changes take time.
The calendar is presented to ECUS for feedback, and then deans, department chairs, and standing committee officers may propose further modifications.
Standing committees need an organizational meeting in April/May (within ten days of the organizational meeting of the new Senate at which they approve the new committee members) to elect officers for the next year.
Standing committee meetings should be several days before the deadline to submit motions for the monthly senate meetings.
Put school and department meeting times on the calendar, and consider scheduling both prior to standing committee meetings.
Check with the University President and VPAA before adding dates for the standing committee officers’ luncheon (both), the senate retreat (both), the academic division meetings (VPAA), and the University faculty meetings (President).
Put the monthly deadlines (no later than 15 days prior to University Senate meeting) for submitting motions on the calendar.
Leave Wednesday open as the common meeting times are only M&F from 12:30-2.
Page 5 of 11 ECUS Calendar and Checklists (Review/Revise each year) See Individual List for date of latest revision
Standing Committee Officer Orientation Checklist Last Updated 01-31-07 by Tanya Goette, Secretary of ECUS 2006-2007 Select a date (confirm proposed date on governance calendar) and let the officers know well in advance. Typically a luncheon, coordinate meeting location and food with the University President’s assistant contingent on approval of President. Consult handouts and notes from past orientations (on US web page) Consider posting notes and handouts used on the web for ready access of officers during the coming academic year and for access by subsequent executive committees when planning this event Items to consider discussing at the orientation meeting: o Distinction among policy, procedure, information items. How to determine if it should be in your committee. o Agenda coordination o Minutes format o Committee Operating Procedures o Roles of officers o Officer coordination with predecessor to promote continuity (e.g. incoming chair coordinate with outgoing chair) o Ask them what help they need o Annual Comprehensive Committee Report Template o Guidance and clarification for the submission of motions (into the online motion database) o Guidance and clarification of setting up working groups within committees . subcommittee (permanent, bylaws change) . ad hoc committee (primarily considered if task is expected to span two or more monthly committee meetings, requires charter) . information gathering group (informal, short term) o Emerging themes from the most recent Governance Retreat o Advertise committee meetings on events calendar and agenda for meetings to University Community
Page 6 of 11 ECUS Calendar and Checklists (Review/Revise each year) See Individual List for date of latest revision
ONGOING REMINDERS for Standing Committee Chairs Revised from Nov/Dec 2006 ECUS/SCC meetings and distributed 01-23-07 Last Revised on 05-01-08 by Craig Turner, Chair of ECUS 2007-2008
1. Options for working groups i. subcommittees (requires bylaws change), ii. ad hoc committee (formal – see note) Note: Bylaws V.Section2.A.3.b. requires a charter in consultation ECUS iii. information gathering group (informal)
2. Be intentional on sharing information with the entire University Community. This might include the identification of particular committee members to share information with students, staff, faculty, administration.
3. Copy (cc) monthly committee meeting agenda to both standing committee chairs and executive committee when distributing it to committee members to keep all in the information loop.
4. At the end of each monthly meeting, consider having the secretary summarize the meeting (this allows committee members to clarify the draft minutes while the meeting is still “fresh” in their minds)
5. At the end of each monthly meeting, consider setting tentative agenda of the following meeting
6. Consider overflow meeting time when drafting/revising committee operating procedures
FYI: From 11-21-06 ECUS meeting: Suggested that for both the larger group and Standing Committees that when motions are made that someone other than the presiding officer track and display in a prominent way the motion statement in the meeting room reflecting any amendments to a motion so that Senators or committee members are able to see the exact motion statements including amendments made from the floor during debate and when they vote on the motions. A recommendation to practice the motion drafting process at the governance retreat was made.
Page 7 of 11 ECUS Calendar and Checklists (Review/Revise each year) See Individual List for date of latest revision
Governance Retreat Checklist Last Updated 02-02-07 by Karynne Kleine, Vice-Chair of ECUS 2006-2007 The Governance Retreat is an annual event that offers the University Senate an opportunity to orient incoming members as well as to assess its performance over the previous year with an eye toward continuous improvement. The charge is to: 1) review the data from the last retreat, and 2) plan the retreat for the upcoming year. The timeline for completing the duties associated with this annual event is as follows: As the academic year commences appoint a committee. Volunteers should be sought but if there are not enough volunteers then individuals should be enlisted to participate. The committee should be comprised of 3-5 members and at least include a previous planner, an incoming senator, and an exiting senator. It should have representation from both faculty and staff. From time to time the committee should report on its progress to ECUS. The committee should meet to review data from the retreat of the previous spring seeking matters that may direct the Senate’s efforts in the upcoming year. The data should also be examined for logistical improvements and enhancements or other points to be improved at the retreat. This may take more than one meeting. By late fall the committee should begin identifying locations for holding the retreat. The locations tend to be off campus, with appropriate facilities, and not too expensive. Currently the President’s administrative assistants have initially identified a small list of facilities that meet these requirements. The committee should explore the premises on the list for suitability and share the possibilities for location and date (if the date has not already been established) with the University Senate for its input. By early February the committee begins to plan the actual event including the date, theme, schedule, and activities, as well as facilitation, personnel and food needs. Within one month of the date send invitations and ask for RSVP. Within one week of the date send a reminder to participants. On the date set-up the facility and participate in the retreat. When the retreat is over gather and organize the data for posting at the University Senate website.
Page 8 of 11 ECUS Calendar and Checklists (Review/Revise each year) See Individual List for date of latest revision
University Senate Faculty Elections Checklist Last Updated 02-19-07 by Kendra Russell, ECUS Member &Chair Committee on Nominations 2006-2007 The dates given here reflect those in the University Senate Bylaws. ECUS receives the Corps of Instruction List from Academic Affairs no later than Sep 15. ECUS apportions elected faculty members to Schools and the Library and reports this apportionment to the Senate no later than Oct 1. In early October after apportionment is known, ECUS distributes letters to each Dean (School and Library) regarding the election of Senators for his/her respective academic unit. Designated members of ECUS meet with respective Deans to share information regarding the election of Senators for his/her respective academic unit and the deadlines for submitting the election procedure (Dec. 1) and results (Feb. 1) to ECUS via email and to answer questions by mid October. Designated members of ECUS meet with faculty at school/library meetings to share information regarding the election of faculty senators by Nov 1. Schools/Library send its elections procedures to ECUS by December 1. School/Library election results are due to ECUS no later than February 1. ECUS shares elections results with the University no later than Feb 6. ECUS identifies one of its members to develop the procedures for the at-large election by mid November. This person will present the procedures for the at-large elections to ECUS no later than the first meeting in January. Note: This person will email the faculty a notice about the procedures for the at-large elections no later than the date indicated in the procedures. If the faculty list (authorization is restricted) is used, the notice will have to be emailed by the administrative secretary in the University President’s office. Items to consider for procedures: 1. Designate a person to receive nominations. 2. Indicate how long nominations and voting will be open. 3. Determine the method by which the Secret Ballot (electronic survey, paper/pencil) will be implemented. 4. Determine how ties, if any, would be resolved. 5. Indicate how replacement elections might be avoided. After the at-large election procedures are approved by ECUS, the procedures are posted on the University Senate website. Results of at-large election are announced by ECUS no later than March 1.
Page 9 of 11 ECUS Calendar and Checklists (Review/Revise each year) See Individual List for date of latest revision
Facilitator of Organizational Meeting of Standing Committees Checklist Last Updated 04-21-10 by Karynne Kleine, Chair of ECUS 2009-2010
ECUS faculty members select or are assigned standing committee organizational meetings to facilitate At meeting (this year it is 30 April, 2010) each ECUS facilitator should address the following: o Convey the purpose of the meeting to the members of the standing committee . Provide context as someone who has been with US for a while or invite previous members to discuss {Disposition of US business through committees unless the Senate approves by two-thirds majority vote to act as a committee of the whole. (Art. IV, Sec 1) ] . Give committee charge: seek out and identify concerns within its area (Art V, Sec 2.B.2) and as such would be called upon to (1) develop new policy (2) revise existing policy (3) serve in advisory role o Elect Officers: Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary Bring paper for ballots if necessary NOTE: New chair might be prepared to take over or ECUS facilitator may continue to help committee (1) review previous year’s Operating Procedures and consider changes (2) establish vision or sense of direction
Provide the information on the following page in handout form for future reference indicating to members of the SC that information will be addressed in officer orientation and/or governance retreat. If members wish to review the information at this meeting they may elect to do so. This session may be conducted by the facilitator or the newly elected Standing Committee Chair.
FINALLY, be sure to ask the participants to evaluate the quality of the organizational meeting. You do not have to use the following for that purpose but evaluation of the 2010 organizational meeting should be conducted by the facilitator to be forwarded to the 2010-11 Presiding Officer.
The name of this meeting’s facilitator:
My role in the Standing Committee (circle all that apply): New Veteran Senator Volunteer Non-senator Officer
I found the AMOUNT of information: Too much Too little Just right No opinion I found the TIMING of the information: Too soon Too late Just in time No opinion I found the FORMAT of the information: Useful for me Not useful for me (with suggestion) No opinion
I found the facilitation to be:
Any other comment: ______Information for Standing Committees to Conduct Business
Page 10 of 11 ECUS Calendar and Checklists (Review/Revise each year) See Individual List for date of latest revision
o Two types of subcommittees (but may form other working groups: Information Gathering Groups) . Permanent Subcommittee Requires bylaws change; at least 2 senators, US elects voting membership and assigns to a standing committee . Ad hoc Committee Ad hoc Committee Charter, at least two Senators, all university community members eligible to serve, chair shall be a Senator, cease to exist after task done or end of academic year – whichever comes first. Committee Report is created by the committee annually o Committee Report made by chair at each University Senate meeting (monthly) in order to inform US and wider community of important work that has been conducted o Annual Committee Report is created by committee as a reflective exercise o Committee Business . Types: Policy, Information, Concern (Refer to “glossary” and provide Proposal Checklist) . Who can initiate (Art IV, Sec 1) . Any committee member, ECUS, Univ. President, anyone with signatures from three U Senators o Quorum – A majority of the membership (at least seven members) (Robert’s Rules) o Who can vote . All committee members including non-Senator members (Art IV, Sec 4) o Review types of motions . Motions that are brought to the full University Senate by a committee . Use Online Motion Database (Motion Flow Checklist) o Motions that are at the committee level and are not submitted to the University Senate . Are not required to use online motion database (committee might use a motion form) o Operating Procedures . Established by committee, filed with ECUS (Art III, Sec 1) . Examples (available in committee annual reports on Senate webpage) o Governance Retreat (purpose, invitees, Wed., 11 Aug., 2010) o University Senate Communication: E-mail Lists, Webpage, myCATS tab
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