1. Standing committees of the Senate

1. General duties
2. Membership selection
3. Term of office
4. Conduct of business
5. Records
6. Reports
7. Orientation meeting

1. General duties. Standing committees of the Senate exist to assist the Faculty Senate in the performance of the duties assigned by the Faculty Governance Document. Unless these Bylaws specifically state otherwise, each committee is responsible to, and reports to, the Senate. A committee assists the Senate by:
   1. studying and reporting its recommendations to the Senate regarding any matter that may be submitted to it by the Senate or the general faculty. A committee may also consider matters within its jurisdiction submitted to it by the administration, the Student Government Association, or any faculty member or group of faculty members.
   2. providing to the President of the Senate a list of all recommendations considered and the actions taken on all recommendations. This shall be done promptly after each committee meeting.
   3. conducting on its own initiative a continuing review of all matters within its jurisdiction and reporting its recommendations to the Faculty Senate. In addition to preparing legislation for action by the full Senate, committees are responsible for gathering, assimilating, and disseminating information for use by the faculty and administration. Therefore, each committee should at its own discretion or at the request of the Senate conduct hearings and polls, and use other means of acquiring needed information, and should make reports in a timely manner.
2. Membership selection. Members of standing committees shall be appointed by the Senate Steering Committee. In the selection of faculty members the Senate Steering Committee shall consider responses to committee preference forms and the need for appropriate representation of the various sectors of the faculty. On those committees where school representation is not specified, the Steering Committee should insure representation from at least two of the professional schools and the College of Arts and Sciences. At least one-third of the members of each committee shall not be senators. Student members shall be appointed upon receipt of recommendations from the President of the Student Government Association.
3. Term of office. Except where other terms of office are specified, faculty members shall serve two-year staggered terms, and may be reappointed for an additional term. Student members shall serve one-year terms.
4. Conduct of business
   1. Organizational meeting. All standing committees shall be convened no later than September 30 by the previous chairperson or, in the chairperson's absence, by a committee member designated by the Steering Committee. The purpose of the meeting shall be to elect officers, to review the responsibilities given to the committee by the Senate, and to determine the conduct of committee business.
   2. Quorum. To conduct business a majority of the voting members of the committee shall be present.
   3. Alternates. A committee member may appoint an alternate. Alternates may attend committee meetings to observe or report, but may not vote or act in any other official capacity.
   4. Hearings. When issues of major importance are under consideration, committees shall hold hearings at which time any faculty member, administrator, or student may give testimony. Due notice shall be given prior to the holding of hearings.
5. Records
   1. The chairperson of each committee shall be responsible for minutes of committee meetings.
   2. Copies of minutes of committee meetings shall be sent to the President of the Senate with a file copy for the Secretary.
   3. Outgoing committee chairpersons shall provide information to newly appointed chairpersons when requested to do so.
6. Reports
   1. After each meeting of the committee, the chair shall provide the President of the Senate with a list of all recommendations considered and the action taken on each recommendation, as well as a list of current or pending issues.
   2. Periodic reports may also be made to the Senate at a Senate meeting.
   3. All standing committees shall submit written reports to the President of the Senate at the end of the academic year for distribution to the faculty. [See Art. V, Sec. 4 - Gov. Doc.]
7. Orientation meeting. By October 31 of each year, the chairpersons of standing committees shall meet with the President of the Senate and members of the Steering Committee for orientation and planning.