Published by the Penn State Harrisburg Senate Office

Contents

Penn State Harrisburg Constitution

Article I - Functions

Section 1

The Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate of The Pennsylvania State University shall have the following functions:

a. Legislative Function

To serve as the legislative body representing the Penn State Harrisburg faculty on all matters that pertains to the educational interests of the college. This authority is established by the University Faculty Senate and is subject to the Bylaws and Constitution of this body, as well as by the decisions of the President of the University and the Penn State Harrisburg Chancellor. Matters within the legislative jurisdiction of the Penn State Harrisburg Senate include the following:

  • instructional programs;
  • courses and programs of study;
  • academic admissions standards;
  • retention and graduation requirements;
  • scholarships, honors, and honors programs;
  • access to library and information systems for academic purposes.

b. Advisory and Consultative Function

To act as an advisory and consultative body, both through its corporate whole and any of its constituent parts, to the Chancellor of Penn State Harrisburg on any matter that may affect the attainment of the educational objectives of Penn State Harrisburg such as the following:

  • the establishment, reorganization, or discontinuation of organizational units and areas of instruction or research;
  • policies concerning the planning of physical facilities when these may affect the attainment of the educational objectives of Penn State Harrisburg;
  • policies and administration of the library of Penn State Harrisburg;
  • policies affecting Penn State Harrisburg’s resource development and utilization;
  • matters pertaining to the general welfare of Penn State Harrisburg;
  • overall educational policy and planning;
  • the Penn State Harrisburg calendar;
  • faculty affairs, including academic personnel;
  • student affairs;
  • general admissions policy;
  • other appropriate matters.

c. Forensic Function

To serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas among the members of the Penn State Harrisburg faculty. Members of the Penn State Harrisburg community who are not members of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate will have the right to attend the Penn State Harrisburg Senate meetings as observers and may be granted the privilege of the floor in accordance with rules established by the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate.

Section 2

The Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate interprets its legislation.

Section 3

In case of questions of legislative jurisdiction, the power of decision rests with the Chancellor of Penn State Harrisburg.

Article II - Membership

Section 1

The electorate of the Penn State Harrisburg Senate shall be referred to as Penn State Harrisburg faculty and include all persons currently holding full-time University academic appointments at Penn State Harrisburg whether professorial, research, or full-time instructors (see AC-21 for definitions of those academic ranks).

Section 2

a. The Chancellor is an ex-officio voting member of the Penn State Harrisburg Senate.

b. The Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs is ex-officio, non-voting member the Penn State Harrisburg Senate.

c. The Faculty Senate should have one student representative serving as a voting member. The Student Government Association (SGA) of Penn State Harrisburg is authorized and requested to appoint one (1) student representative to serve as a voting member of the Penn State Harrisburg Senate for a one (1) year term. This member is appointed as soon as possible after the start of the Fall semester. If the appointed student is unable to serve a full term, another student is appointed by the SGA to complete the one (1) year term.

d. The University Faculty Senate member elected to the University Senate Council under Standing Rules, Article III, Section 3 is ex-officio, nonvoting member of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate.

e. The Faculty Senate should have one staff representative serving as non-voting member. The Penn State Harrisburg Staff Advisory Council (SAC) is authorized and requested to appoint one (1) staff representative to serve as ex-officio, non-voting member of the Penn State Harrisburg Senate for a one (1) year term. This member is ideally appointed prior to the last Penn State Harrisburg Senate meeting in May. If the appointed staff representative is unable to serve a full term, another staff representative is appointed by the SAC to complete the one (1) year term.

Section 3

The Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate is elected by the Penn State Harrisburg electorate as defined in Article II, Section 1.

Section 4

The elected members of the Penn State Harrisburg Senate are elected for two-year terms and consist of one (1) member from each School, one (1) member from the Library, and three (3) at-large members. If the President or President-Elect of the Senate is not a member of the Senate, he/she becomes a voting member of the Senate when installed as an officer.

The officers of the Senate consist of a President, President-Elect, and Immediate Past President. The President-Elect is elected by the Faculty at-large in an election to be closed on the first academic day following March 31. The President-Elect, at the end of one year of service, automatically succeeds to the office of President. The President, at the end of one year of service, shall automatically succeed to the office of Immediate Past President. The position of President cannot be held for two consecutive terms. Installations occur at the last scheduled Senate meeting of the academic year. If no candidate for President-Elect receives at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the votes cast or if two (2) or more candidates tie for first place, a run-off election is held. The candidates in the run-off election are the two (2) candidates with the highest number of votes in the original election or the candidates from the original election receiving a tie vote.

If the President-Elect is unable to complete his/her term, then at the discretion of the Senate, a new President-Elect may be elected in a special election. If the President of the Senate is unable to complete his/her term, the President-Elect succeeds to the Presidency, and, at the discretion of the Senate, a new President-Elect may be elected in a special election. If, for any reason, the President-Elect is unable to succeed to the Presidency, a President is elected at the direction of the Senate. Officers elected in a special election serve until the next regularly scheduled election. A recall election for President or President-Elect is conducted if eighteen (18) faculty members petition the Senate or if two-thirds (2/3) of the Senate passes a recall resolution. The President and President-Elect may be recalled if two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast by the faculty in a recall election support the recall. If the President is recalled, the President-Elect succeeds to the Presidency. If the President or President-Elect is recalled, a special election is held for President- Elect. If the President-Elect is not able to succeed to the Presidency, the President continues to serve as President until new officers are elected and installed.

Section 5

In case that a Penn State Harrisburg Senator does not complete his/her term, the School/Library which that Senator represents elects a replacement. If the Senator was elected at-large, the candidate with the next highest number of votes in the previous election of at-large candidates is appointed to the Senate by the President of the Penn State Harrisburg Senate. If no such candidate is available, a special election is held.

Section 6

An administrative support coordinator may be assigned with the concurrence of the Penn State Harrisburg Senate President and the College Administration to aid the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate in the performance of its duties. The administrative support coordinator has the privileges of the floor.

Article III - Amendments

The Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate with a two-thirds vote of all the voting members may propose amendments to this constitution. Such amendments will be voted upon by the faculty electorate. Ballots are distributed to the Faculty one (1) month prior to the deadline for voting. Any thirty (30)-day period during the academic year, from the start of the Fall semester to the close of the Spring semester, constitutes one (1) month. Approval will be by two-thirds (2/3) of the valid ballots cast with a minimum of 50 percent of the electorate voting. Results of the vote are announced within three (3) academic days from the close of the balloting period. An academic day is any day during the Fall or Spring semesters when Faculty would normally be present on campus. Unless otherwise indicated, the amendment is effective when the vote is announced.

Amendments may also be proposed by any member of the faculty electorate as described in Article II Section 1 by obtaining written support from 10 percent of the electorate with at least one signatory from at least three of the College's Academic Units. The proposed amendment will then go directly to the faculty for a vote. Approval of said amendment will be by a 3/4 vote with a minimum of 50 percent of the electorate voting.

No amendment shall be in effect until it has been ratified by the University Faculty Senate.

All amendments to the constitution take effect upon approval unless otherwise specified in the amendment.

Bylaws

Article I - Officers

Section 1

The President and the President-Elect of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate hold office for a one (1) year term.

Section 2

The President

  • presides at meetings of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate and of the faculty,
  • selects the members of the Senate committees and subcommittees from among those who have volunteered to serve on Senate committees and subcommittees, attempting to honor their stated priorities and balance the representation on the committee and subcommittee from among the Schools and then invites a member of each committee and subcommittee to serve as Chair of the committee or subcommittee for the following academic year;
  • determines matters of concern to faculty and direct the faculty governance response to those concerns by referring matters to the Senate or Senate committees or subcommittees or taking other appropriate action;
  • after announcing a situation of special Faculty concern, convenes the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate or the faculty;
  • prepares the agenda for the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate meetings and faculty meetings;
  • as appropriate, initiates, reviews, and modifies, Senate correspondence related to the conduct of Senate business, except for language specifically approved by the Senate;
  • establishes liaison with the Penn State Harrisburg representatives to the University Faculty Senate;
  • oversees Senate officers and Senate committee officers in the performance of their duties and orients new Senators and Senate committee officers to their duties;
  • administers the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate budget;
  • appoints a member of the Senate as Parliamentarian who serves at meetings of the Penn State Harrisburg Senate and at faculty meetings; and
  • performs other duties assigned by the Senate.

Section 3

The President-Elect

  • assumes the duties of the President when the President is absent;
  • informs the Senate of committee activities and the progress or lack of progress of committees in addressing specific charges; advises the Senate of any committee that does not meet for two (2) months during the academic year or does not submit reports for two (2) consecutive months during the academic year; and
  • performs other duties assigned by the Senate President.

Section 4

The Immediate Past President

  • is an ex-officio voting member, of the Senate and serves on the Executive Committee (as defined in Standing Rules Article II, Section 8.7.);
  • assumes the duties of the President in the absence of the President and President-Elect; and
  • performs other duties assigned by the Senate President.

Article II - Election of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate

Section 1

Selection for the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate by members of the faculty is as follows:

a. Any member of the Penn State Harrisburg electorate may serve as a member of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate.

b. Nominations for School/Library positions are made by individual members of the respective Schools/Library. If two or more persons are nominated from a School/Library, the School/Library representative is elected in a School/Library election by Faculty in the School/Library. The administrative support coordinator to the Senate is informed of the representatives selected by the Schools/Library no later than the first academic day following March 1.

c. Nominations for at-large positions are made by individual members of the faculty. If the nominees for a position exceed the number of positions, the representatives are elected in a college-wide election to be closed on the first academic day following March 31.

d. College-wide elections are conducted in the following manner: After being notified that nominations are requested, Faculty have at least five (5) academic days to submit nominations. Elections are by secret ballots except that faculty may choose to vote by verifiable electronic means. Faculty have at least five (5) academic days to return ballots before an election is closed. School/Library elections are conducted as prescribed by the respective School/Library, provided that Faculty are notified at least five (5) academic days in advance of the date, time, and place of any meeting at which the election of a representative to the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate occurs.

Section 2

The names of the newly elected Senators and the President-Elect are announced within five (5) working days from the counting of the ballots.

Section 3

All elections conducted by the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate are supervised by an election commission consisting of the administrative support coordinator to the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate and at least two other members of the Faculty selected by the Senate President. Election commissioners may serve as tellers to count votes. As appropriate, election commissioners may appoint faculty members, with the approval of the President of the Senate, to serve as tellers to count votes. At least two tellers participate in counting of votes in all elections. Any faculty member who is standing for office, or who would otherwise be placed in a position of conflict of interest, may not serve as a member of the election commission or as a teller to count votes. If, in the judgment of the President of the Senate, a conflict of interest exists, the President appoints another faculty member to the election commission and/or as a teller to count votes.

Section 4

A recall vote for an at-large representative is conducted if eighteen (18) members of the Faculty petition the Senate, or if two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Senate pass a recall resolution. An at-large representative may be recalled by two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast by the faculty. A recall vote for a School/Library representative is conducted if two-thirds (2/3) of the faculty in the School/Library or two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Senate pass a recall resolution. A School/Library representative may be recalled by two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast by faculty in the School/Library.

Article III - Committees

Section 1

The Senate determines Committee structure and composition with the following stipulations:

  • except for Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senators, whose committee service as voting members is limited to the Executive Committee of the Senate, any willing Penn State Harrisburg employee or student may be appointed to a committee or subcommittee;
  • at least two-thirds (2/3) of the membership of each standing committee and each standing subcommittee must be Faculty members as defined in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution;
  • the Senate President appoints the chairs and a member of the Senate to serve as Senate Liaisons of the standing committees on the first academic day of the fall. To the extent practicable, chairs should be senior faculty members and it is preferable that they be tenured.

Section 2

Direct consultation between faculty committees and other bodies of the Penn State Harrisburg community is encouraged. Also, monthly reporting by the Senate liaisons of the activities of the committees to the Penn State Harrisburg Senate is also encouraged. However, such consultation should not be construed as action of the Penn State Harrisburg Senate.

Article IV - Meetings

Section 1

The Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate meets at least six (6) times during the academic year–generally once a month beginning in August.

Section 2

Upon the request of the Penn State Harrisburg Chancellor, the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate President shall convene the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate within five (5) academic days to receive information about the status of any future plans for the College, to respond to requests for advice, and to make recommendations for Faculty action.

Section 3

In response to a written petition of at least eighteen (18) members of the Faculty, the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate President convenes, as requested, the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate or faculty within ten (10) academic days to consider proposals of the petitioners, provided the petition contains the following items:

  • a statement of the purpose of the petition; and
  • the names of the three (3) Faculty members designated to meet with the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate who must be authorized by the signatories of the petitioner to discuss, confirm, modify, or withdraw their request.

Section 4

By a majority vote of the members present at any meeting of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate, the date for any subsequent meeting may be changed.

Article V - Quorum

Section 1

A quorum for meetings of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate, and the faculty consists of a simple majority of the voting members. No business, other than discussion, can be conducted without a quorum.

Section 2

A quorum for committees and subcommittees consists of a simple majority of voting members. Subcommittees reporting to a standing committee may consider business without a quorum, provided that such business is approved by the full committee to which it reports.

Article VI - Referenda

The Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate may conduct referenda of the faculty.

Article VII - Amendments

The senate with a two-thirds vote of all voting members may propose amendments to the Bylaws. Such amendments will then be voted upon by the faculty electorate as described in Article II Section 1 of the constitution. The manner of voting will be described with the amendment but with a minimum of one month notice before the vote is to begin and a minimum of two calendar weeks during the academic year being allowed for the vote. Approval of said amendment will be by a two-thirds majority of those voting or a simple majority of the entire electorate.

No amendment shall be in effect until it has been ratified by the University Faculty Senate. All amendments to the bylaws take effect immediately unless otherwise specified in the in The Standing Rules.

Standing Rules

Article I - Rules of Procedure

Section 1

The Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate establishes its rules of procedure.

Section 2

The rules of procedure in the meetings of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate, except as may be otherwise specified in the Constitution, Bylaws, and Standing Rules, are those of the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order. All motions, except as may be otherwise specified in these documents, are determined by a majority of the votes cast. The role of the Parliamentarian is advisory only.

Section 3

The order of business at each regular meeting of the Penn State Harrisburg Senate is as follows:

  • call to order;
  • approval of minutes of the preceding meeting;
  • approval of the recommendations of Curricular Affairs;
  • communications to the Senate;
  • report of the Senate President;
  • comments by the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
  • comments by the Chancellor;
  • comments from the University Faculty Senate Council Representative;
  • new business;
  • unfinished business;
  • new legislative business;
  • forensic business; and
  • advisory/consultative reports.

The Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate President in consultation with the Executive Committee of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate may change the order of business prior to any meeting. Any or all items in this Section may be suspended at the regular meeting of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and at any special meeting called by the Senate President.

Section 4

The President of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate may, with due notice, convene special meetings of the Senate at such times and for such purposes as he/she deems necessary for the effective discharge of the business of the Senate.

Section 5

The order of business for any special meeting of the Penn State Harrisburg Senate is determined by the Senate President.

Section 6

An agenda for each regular meeting of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate is published at least five (5) academic days prior to the meeting.

Section 7

The President of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate appoints such special committees as he/she deems necessary to consider subjects not already assigned to standing committees of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate

Section 8

(a) To introduce new legislative business, a member of the Senate may address a communication to the President of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate through the Senate administrative support coordinator indicating the item of business he/she wishes to be considered, or to any member of an appropriate standing committee or he/she may also request, on the floor, referral to committee or subcommittee by the President. The above procedures represent the normal means for introducing new legislation in that they provide for detailed study by the appropriate standing committee(s), or subcommittee(s). A member may introduce, by direct motion from the floor, new legislation he/she considers to be of exceptional urgency. When such a motion has been made and seconded, it is tabled until the next regular meeting of the Senate unless the President calls a special meeting to consider this item before the next regular meeting.

(b) Forensic business provides an opportunity for senators to discuss any matter that they think is of concern to the college. To introduce forensic business, a senator has to present in writing to the President of the Penn State Harrisburg Senate through the administrative support coordinator of the Senate, a title and brief summary of the matter he/she wishes to discuss at least ten (10) academic days before the meeting at which he/she wishes the matter to be considered. The Senator’s name appears on the agenda together with the title and summary.

(c) At the discretion of the Senate President, any member of the faculty or student body not a member of the Senate may be given the privilege of the floor on any item of forensic business already before the Senate.

(d) Any matter of forensic business under debate as specified in Section 8(b) above becomes legislative business when it is made the subject of a motion on which a vote of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate is when such a motion has been made and seconded, the matter in question is tabled until the next regular meeting of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate unless the Senate calls a special meeting of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate to consider this item before the next regular meeting.

(e) Matters of forensic business cannot be the subject of any motion until the President declares the forensic discussion period to be at an end. Any member wishing to make any matter of forensic business a matter of legislative business may do so under the provisions of Section 8(a).

(f) The President has the authority to place a time limit on the remarks of any non-member of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate.

(g) The rules of this section (Section 8) may be suspended for the duration of a meeting by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present.

Section 9

The Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate publishes an official record of its proceedings within five (5) academic days after each meeting. This record contains the following:

  • actual agenda of the meeting;
  • minutes of the meeting;
  • summaries of remarks made before the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate and/or correspondence with the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate;
  • enumeration of documents distributed prior to the meeting;
  • documents via e-mail communication prior to the meeting; and
  • such other items as the President directs.

Copies of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate Record are deposited in the Penn State Harrisburg Library, filed with the administrative support coordinator of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate, and made available through electronic media.

Section 10

(a) The elective year of the newly installed President and President-Elect of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate begins with the election and installation of the new members and officers at the last regularly scheduled meeting of the academic year following April 15.

(b) The President of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate for the previous year presides until his/her successor is installed in office.

Section 11

(a) The Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate announces the roster of Committee Chairs for the coming year at least two weeks before the start of the next academic year.

(b) The two (2) year terms of Senate committee members and the one (1) year terms of committee officers commence on the first academic day following the commencement of the academic year.

Section 12

(a) The President of the Penn State Harrisburg Senate convenes the faculty of the Penn State Harrisburg at the beginning of each semester to report to the faculty its agenda and current business.

(b) At each of these meetings, the floor is open to the faculty to discuss any business before the Senate or to propose new business that a faculty member deems appropriate for Senate consideration.

Section 13

(a) Senate voting units have the authority to replace a unit Senator who has three or more absences from University Faculty Senate meetings in any given academic year. A voting unit should adhere to the procedures outlined in Article II, Section 5 for identifying a replacement Senator.

Article II — The Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate Committee Structure

Section 1

The President-Elect of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate is an ex officio, non-voting member of all Standing Committees. He/she may authorize any member of the Senate to represent him/her at Committee meetings.

Section 2

With the approval of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate President, any standing committee may add to its membership or appoint ad hoc subcommittees. All committees are encouraged to invite other faculty, students, administrators, and staff to render testimony and advice on particular questions as circumstances dictates.

Section 3

Except for service on the Executive Committee of the Senate, members of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate may not serve as chairs or as voting members of standing committees.

Section 4

Except for members of the Senate, any full-time faculty member may serve on Senate committees. Two weeks prior to the first academic day of the new year, the President identifies faculty willing to serve on committees. Committee members are appointed annually by the President.

Except for members of the Senate, any full-time faculty member may serve as a member of Senate subcommittees. Subcommittee membership is not limited to members of the full Committee. Members of a subcommittee may be appointed by the President of the Senate or elected in a manner approved by the Senate. Any business transacted by a subcommittee must be reported to the full committee. Unless otherwise specified by the Senate, the rules under which a Subcommittee operates are established by the full committee to which it reports.

The Penn State Harrisburg Student Government Association (SGA) is authorized and requested to appoint student members of standing committees and subcommittees to serve as voting members for one (1) year terms. If a student graduates or otherwise is unable to serve a full term, the Senate requests that the SGA appoint another student to complete the term.

If a committee or subcommittee does not meet for two consecutive months during the academic year, does not provide the Senate with reports of its business, or fails to attend to its duties under these Bylaws, by majority vote of the Penn State Harrisburg Senate, the chair may be removed from office.

Unless approved by the committee chair, the absence of a voting committee member from three (3) consecutive committee meetings constitutes an automatic resignation from the committee. Any committee member may be removed by a majority vote of the Senate. If a Committee member resigns or is removed, the Senate President may appoint a replacement Committee member or authorize the Committee to act without the member providing the Committee shall have the minimum number of members. As appropriate, the President may appoint members to Committees.

Section 5

At its first meeting in the fall, each standing committee establishes a schedule for regular meetings for the fall semester and the chair of the committee of the committee shall report the meeting schedule for the fall semester to the administrative support coordinator of the Senate.

At its first meeting in the spring, each standing committee establishes a schedule for regular meetings for the spring semester and the chair of the committee shall report the meeting schedule for the spring semester to the Senate administrative support coordinator.

Each standing committee must submit a report on activities to the Faculty Senate at the end of the fall and spring semesters through the Senate administrative support coordinator.

Section 6

Standing committees take up questions and tasks assigned by the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate President or brought directly to the respective committee by any member of the college community. Regardless of the source of the question or task assignment, committee recommendations must be submitted in writing to the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate for approval. Standing committees have jurisdiction within the boundaries established by the “duties” assigned to them as outline in Section 8.

Section 7

All Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate committees are available for consultation with the Chancellor and with other administrators. Such requests for consultation are forwarded via the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate President.

Section 8

Standing Committees:

(8.1) Committee on Curricular Affairs

Membership:   Seven to ten (7-10) members. The preferred membership is one (1) member from each School and the Library and one (1) voting student member. No more than two (2) additional members may be appointed at-large. Up to two (2) members may be appointed by the Senate President. The Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and the Senate President-Elect are ex-officio, nonvoting members.

Duties: The Committee on Curricular Affairs 

  • reviews, evaluates, and recommends new courses, programs, and other curricular proposals in accordance with published University and college curricular procedures;
  • reviews and evaluates all other curricular matters, including proposals for courses and programs;
  • serves in a consultative and advisory capacity to the Chancellor, Associate Dean for Research, Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies, and the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs through the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate; and
  • serves as an advisory board for academic support and learning

Subcommittees:

Members of the committee are authorized to meet as subcommittees. Any business conducted is ratified by the full committee not later than its next meeting.

(8.2) Committee on Athletics

Membership:  Five to seven (5-7) members and one (1) student athlete. The preferred membership is one (1) member from each school and one (1) member from the Library and (1) student athlete. No more than two (2) members should be from a single academic unit. Up to two (2) additional at-large members may be appointed by the Senate President. The Athletic Director, Faculty Athletics Representative, and the Senate President-Elect will serve as ex-officio nonvoting members.

Duties:  The Committee on Athletics

  • advise and monitor athletic standards related to the educational function of the College and University;
  • help promote a sound academic climate for the intercollegiate athletic program; and
  • support the NCAA Division III Philosophy.a

Subcommittees

Members of the committee are authorized to meet as subcommittees. Any business conducted is ratified by the full Committee no later than its next meeting.

a.NCAA Academic and Membership Affairs Staff, 2012-2013 NCAA Division III Manual, NCAA, July 2012 or latest edition.

(8.3) Committee on Faculty Affairs

Membership: Ten to eleven (10-11) members. The preferred membership is two (2) members from each school and one additional appointed at-large member. The Chancellor, or his/her representative and the Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, the Director of the Library, the Director of Information Technology Systems, the Director for the Center for Teaching Excellence, the Regional Human Resources Strategic Partner, and the Senate President-Elect are ex-officio, nonvoting members.

Duties:  The Committee on Faculty Affairs

  • reviews and recommends policies concerning faculty relations with other educational institutions, research centers, and related organizations;

  • reviews, monitors and makes recommendations relating to the professional, cultural, social, and material welfare of the faculty;

  • reviews and recommends policies pertaining to faculty workload, faculty development, faculty promotion and tenure policies and procedures, instruction evaluation techniques, and privacy and faculty rights issues; 

  • reviews and makes recommendations regarding questions of integrity, ethics, and intellectual properties;

  • reviews guidelines and procedures for awarding faculty teaching, research, and service award(s), and as requested by the Chancellor, review nominations for faculty teaching, research, and service award(s);

  • advises on research policies, guidelines, and procedures; 

  • reviews, monitors, and makes recommendations pertaining to research units and institutes; 

  • reviews and recommends policies for the evaluation of faculty who perform administrative functions, and for professional staff who provide academic support services;

  • investigates and serves as the faculty’s voice concerning the adequacy and other attributes of the University’s provisions for salaries, retirement benefits, sabbatical leaves, hospitalization and medical insurance, investment and saving plans, travel reimbursement, educational benefits, recreational benefits, and other prerequisites, benefits and conditions of faculty employment;

  • reviews and recommends policies pertaining to academic and/or research related computing and information systems, including telecommunications and administrative issues;

  • reviews and makes recommendations regarding the functions of the Library and policies affecting the Library’s collections and services, including long-range planning and development; 

  • assists the Office of Admissions in selecting faculty to attend recruitment functions;

  • facilitates appropriate faculty participation in marketing the college and other outreach activities;

  • Reviews and recommends policies, in cooperation with the Committee on Curricular Affairs, to ensure that educational evaluation procedures are in place to assess all learning activities, including, but not limited to, the following: residential courses, World Campus courses, hybrid courses, credit and non-credit instruction through continuing and distance education, instruction through computer networks, radio and television, technical assistance programs, cooperative extension activities, and extended access courses and degrees; and

  • Serves as a formal liaison with all administrative units that impact faculty matters.

Subcommittees

Members of the committee are authorized to meet as subcommittees. Any business conducted is ratified by the full Committee not later than its next meeting.

(8.4) Committee on Campus Operations

Membership: Seven to ten (7–10) voting members excluding members of the Classroom Design Subcommittee. The preferred membership is one (1) member from each school and the Library and one (1) voting student member. One to three (1-3) at-large members may be appointed depending on the committee’s workload. No more than three (3) members may be from a single academic unit. The Chancellor or his/her representative, the Senior Associate Dean, the Director of the Library, the Director of Information Technology Services, the Facilities Supervisor from the Office of Physical Plant, and the Senate President Elect are ex-officio, nonvoting members.

Membership of the standing Subcommittee for Classroom Design shall consist of seven to ten (7-10) voting members. The preferred membership is one (1) member from each school and the Library and one student member. One to three (1-3) at-large members may be appointed depending on the committee’s workload. No more than two members may be from a single academic unit. The Senior Associate Dean, the Director of the Library, the Director of Information Technology Services, the Director of Business Services, and the Senate President Elect are ex-officio, nonvoting members.

Duties:

  • Communicates to, and solicits feedback from, college faculty about the college Strategic Plan, Master Plan, and Integrated Plan;
  • Reviews the college marketing plan and advises the Senate regarding the plan, the planning process, and future directions for the campus;
  • Reviews and makes recommendations relating to the physical plant, space utilization, and campus beautification, including long-range planning and development; the functions of facilities and maintenance operations; the development and promulgation of safety and security, including fire prevention plans;
  • Reviews and makes recommendations relating to the classroom configurations and design;
  • Serves as a liaison between administrative officials responsible for the physical plant and safety and the faculty; and
  • Serves in a consultative and advisory capacity to the Regional Human Resources Strategic Partner and Director of Business Services from the Office of Physical Plant and the Capital College managers of the various resources and services.

Standing Subcommittees

The only standing subcommittee is the Classroom Design Subcommittee. Voting members of the Classroom Design Subcommittee other than the chair will not be expected to attend the full Campus Operations Committee meetings. The Classroom Design Subcommittee is authorized to provide advice and consent to the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs as needed to deal with issues that arise and with emerging situations without vote of the full Campus Operations Committee. Items that do not require immediate action will be referred to the full Campus Operations Committee for vote and forwarding to the Faculty Senate for action.

Duties:

  • Create procedures to give faculty the ability to oversee and consult with changes to room design and layout before the fact rather than after the fact in such a manner as to not overburden the process of changing classroom setups
  • Create procedures for efficiently and effectively dealing with faculty and student problems with room design and layout
  • Resolve current known problems with room design

Other Subcommittees

Members of the committee are authorized to meet as subcommittees. Any business conducted must be ratified by the full committee not later than its next meeting.

(8.5) Committee on International, Intercultural, Community, and Diversity Affairs

Membership: Seven to ten (7–10) members. The preferred membership is one (1) member from each school and the Library and one (1) voting student member. One to three (1-3) at-large members may be appointed depending on the committee’s workload. No more than three (3) members may be from a single academic unit. The Chancellor or his/her representative, the International Student Advisor, and the Senate President Elect are ex-officio, nonvoting members.

Duties: 

  • Promotes and increases international, intercultural, and diversity awareness throughout the college community, and reviews and makes recommendations regarding international, intercultural, and diversity activities.
  • Reviews and recommends policies for the enhancement of a climate for faculty, staff, and students that supports individual differences and promotes fairness and equity;
  • Assures that outreach activities are appropriate to assist the college in achieving its diversity goals;
  • Reviews and recommends policies for the enhancement of diversity programming initiatives in all areas of diversity (gender, disability, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity), among faculty, staff, and students; 
  • Serves in a consultative and advisory capacity to the Penn State Harrisburg Diversity and Educational Equity Committee (DEEC) and the Capital College managers of the various resources and services on international, intercultural, and diversity issues.
  • Promotes and proposes activities of the faculty within the community and ways to bring community members onto campus and become involved in campus activities

Subcommittees

Members of the committee are authorized to meet as subcommittees. Any business conducted is ratified by the full committee no later than its next meeting.

(8.6) Committee on Student Affairs

Membership: Thirteen (13) members. The preferred membership is two (2) members from each school, one member from the Library and two (2) voting student members. One undergraduate student shall be appointed by the Student Government Association (SGA) and one graduate student by the Graduate Student Association (GSA). The Senior Director of Student Services, the Athletic Director, the Faculty Athletic Representative, and the Senate President Elect are ex-officio, nonvoting members.

Duties: 

  • considers policies involving those aspects of student life on the campus that are of concern to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as policies that are not specifically covered in other committees, including, but not limited to, career development and placement, housing, health, student conduct, student organizations, and extracurricular activities;
  • serves as the principal agency for representing students’ concerns to the Penn State Harrisburg Senate and a point of origin for student proposals;
  • reviews and makes recommendations relating to the quality of student life, the functions of student affairs operations, and athletic programs, including student eligibility and schedules for athletic events;
  • reviews and makes recommendations for student awards in cooperation with the Office of Student Affairs;
  • monitors and makes recommendations to the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate regarding enrollment services, outreach, marketing, continuing education, and distance learning activities of the college, when necessary;
  • monitors enrollment projections data in cooperation with the Office of Admissions, when requested;
  • ensures maximum possible student participation on the Faculty Senate committees, in cooperation with the Student Government Association and Graduate and Professional Student Association; and
  • serves as a liaison between the faculty, the Office of Student Affairs and the Student Government Association and Graduate and Professional Student Association.

Subcommittees

Members of the committee are authorized to meet as subcommittees. Any business conducted is ratified by the full committee not later than its next meeting.

(8.7) Executive Committee of the Senate

Membership: President, President-Elect, and Immediate Past President of the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate and the University Faculty Senate Council Representative from the Penn State Harrisburg Senate and two members at-large. These two members at-large are to be chosen from among the standing Faculty Senators. The members at-large will be proposed by nominations from among the standing Faculty Senators to the Faculty Senate made by the Chancellor and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in order to balance out the diversity of membership in the Executive Committee (regarding gender identity diversity, membership in varied schools across the campus, senior and junior faculty representation, and other considerations). These proposed members would then be voted onto the committee during the first meeting of the academic year.

Duties: 

  • Acts for the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate when it cannot meet, subject to ratification by the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate at its next meeting;
  • Is available for consultation with the Chancellor when the Senate cannot meet or is not in session;
  • Gathers issues needed to be addressed by the Penn State Harrisburg Faculty Senate and with these items in mind plans the agenda items for the next scheduled Faculty Senate meeting.

(8.8) Special Committee on Strategic Planning

Based on the needs of strategic planning and the recommendation of the Senate, the Senate President will charge the Special Committee on Strategic Planning.

Membership: Seven to ten (7–10) members. The preferred membership is one (1) member from each school and the Library and one (1) voting student member. One to three (1-3) at-large members may be appointed by the Senate President depending on the committee’s workload. No more than three (3) members may be from a single academic unit. The Chancellor or his/her representative, and the Senate President are ex-officio, nonvoting members.

Duties: 

  • Represents the Senate on the College Strategic Planning Committee; accordingly, the Senate Strategic Planning Committee chair will co-chair the College Strategic Planning Steering Committee;
  • Consults with other Senate committees on aspects of the Strategic, Master, and Integrated Plans that impact academic programs, and makes recommendations related to potential impact on the academic mission of the college;
  • Reviews and recommends action on matters of college planning that affect the missions of the college;
  • Reviews functions of the college that contribute to, or inhibit, the planning process; and
  • Assesses how the college is making progress on achieving the goals of its past strategic plan
  • other planning activities as approved by the Faculty Senate President.

Subcommittees

Members of the Special committee authorized to meet as subcommittees. Any business conducted is ratified by the full committee not later than its next meeting.

Article III - Other Functions of the Senate

Section 1

Selection of Ombudsperson

As provided by University Policy AC-76, one ombudsperson and one alternate are appointed for Penn State Harrisburg. Appointments will be made by the Senate President in consultation with the Chancellor from nominations solicited from the faculty. Appointments occur in the spring semester and are effective on the opening day of the fall semester. The term of office of the Ombudsperson and alternate is four (4) years. The ombudsperson is a tenured faculty member of senior rank with a minimum of five (5) years’ experience at the Pennsylvania State University, or a retired faculty member holding emeritus rank. In cases in which the ombudsperson is not available or might recuse himself/herself for ethical considerations, the alternate assumes the duties of ombudsperson.

Duties:  The Ombudsperson

  • Clarifies misunderstandings;
  • Advises faculty and administrators as to appropriate courses of action;
  • Assists in the informal resolution of differences;
  • Assures that appropriate department and college procedures are exhausted before referring the case to higher levels; and
  • informs the Chancellor and appropriate college officials if a matter cannot be resolved at the lower level and the case is to be referred to the University Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities.

The Ombudsman does not

  • conduct hearings;
  • exceed the role of conciliator and advisor;
  • substitute his or her judgment for that of appropriate administrative and/or faculty bodies; and
  • serve as counsel for either party to a complaint before the Hearing Board.

Section 2

Selection of College Promotion and Tenure Committee

The committee consists of seven or nine (7 or 9) tenured faculty holding the rank of associate Professor or professor. Six members are elected by vote of the tenured and tenure- track faculty of the college. The election is college-wide from a slate of candidates nominated by the tenured and tenure-track Faculty of the College. To ensure that all Schools are represented on the committee, the faculty member from each School receiving the highest number of votes is elected. If a school does not have any eligible faculty nominated to serve on the committee, then the faculty member(s) receiving the next highest number of votes are elected to represent that school. In no case may any school have more than two elected members, nor more than one appointed member on the committee. All elected members serve two-year terms.

In case an elected member of the Committee does not complete his/her term, a special college-wide election is held to select a replacement from a slate of candidates nominated by the tenured and tenure-track Faculty of the College to complete the original member’s term. The replacement is selected to ensure that all schools are represented on the committee. The above-mentioned distribution pertaining to faculty representation is maintained.

The Chancellor, at his/her discretion, may appoint one or three (1 or 3) additional members who serve for a one-year term. The Chancellor appoints the committee chair and calls the first meeting.

The duties of the committee are as described in University Policy AC-23 and the Administrative Guidelines for AC-23.

Section 3

Representation in University Faculty Senate

The number of representatives from Penn State Harrisburg to the University Faculty Senate is established by a means of the allocation adopted by the University Faculty Senate.

The electorate for representatives to the University Faculty Senate are full-time Faculty members of the Penn State Harrisburg voting unit. For purposes of electing representatives to the University Faculty Senate, a faculty member shall be counted in one and only one voting unit. Only full-time faculty members, as defined in the Constitution Article II, Section 1, who are counted in the Penn State Harrisburg voting unit are eligible to nominate a representative, to be nominated as a representative, and to vote in election of a representative.

The council member is elected at the meeting for non-University Park faculty held before the final Senate meeting of the academic year. The election is by secret ballot. Only senators who will be members of the Senate in the following academic year are eligible to vote. Nominations for the seat are solicited one month prior to that last meeting in the form of a memo distributed by the Penn State Harrisburg administrative support coordinator. This form is delivered to all incoming and continuing Senators in both electronic and hard copy.

Article IV — Amendments

Amendment(s) to the Standing Rules of the Penn State Harrisburg Senate may be adopted at any meeting of the Senate by a 2/3 vote of the Senate, provided that the amendments have been presented in writing at least one month prior to the meeting.

No amendment shall be in effect until it has been ratified by the University Faculty Senate. All amendments to the standing rules take effect immediately unless otherwise specified in the amendment.

Voted and approved by the Penn State Harrisburg Senate on March 21, 2019