APPENDIX A: FACULTY GOVERNANCE

CONSTITUTION OF THE FACULTY

PREAMBLE

“As a community of learners, Seattle Pacific University seeks to educate and prepare students for service and leadership. We are committed to evangelical Christian faith and values, and to excellence in teaching and scholarship for the intellectual, personal and spiritual growth of students.” This, the Seattle Pacific University mission statement, guides all the functions of the University. To fulfill this mission, the Seattle Pacific University Bylaws invest responsibility for the control of the University in the Board of Trustees and commit its administration to the President. In the context of, and subject to, these responsibilities, effective functioning of the University depends on the cooperative efforts of students, staff, faculty, and administration. By tradition and by virtue of their position as professionals in the field of higher education, faculty members and the Faculty as a group take specific responsibilities for leadership in implementing the University’s mission. In order to clarify the lines of these specific responsibilities and to enhance communication and cooperation among all responsible parties, we establish this Constitution of the Faculty."

1. The Faculty corporately has primary responsibility to recommend and implement policy and practice for such fundamental areas as curriculum, subject matter, and methods of instruction, research, faculty status and those aspects of student life which relate to the educational process.
2. The Faculty shares responsibility with other components of the university community for policy development in such areas as student affairs, business affairs, public affairs, longrange planning, and intercollegiate athletics.
3. Therefore the Faculty shall have the authority and responsibility, with appropriate student participation in decision making, and subject to approval by the President.
   1. To formulate, recommend, and, within the lines of responsibility established by the Seattle Pacific University Bylaws, to implement curricula, subject matter, methods of instruction, degree requirements, admission and retention requirements, and all other matters relating directly to the academic program.
   2. To formulate and recommend policies with respect to those student activities which relate directly to the academic process.
   3. To recommend policy concerning acquisition and use of educational resources and budgetary allocations.
   4. To formulate and recommend requirements for and make recommendations concerning appointments, evaluation, tenure, and promotion of its members.

The faculty shall also have the authority and responsibility, subject to approval by the President.

1. To recommend to the Board of Trustees all candidates for baccalaureate and advanced degrees and/or honors.
2. To enact such rules and regulations, so long as they are consistent with the Articles of Incorporations, and to establish and activate such committees or other agencies, as it deems necessary for the effective exercise of its responsibilities.
3. To recommend discipline of any of its members and to provide for a fair and impartial hearing in cases involving alleged misconduct.

The members of the Faculty shall be the President of the University, full-time and continuing part-time faculty members, including librarians with faculty rank; Associates elected to membership by the Faculty; and the following administrative officers: Vice President, academic officers officially titled as Deans, the Dean of Students, and the University Librarian.

The Associates of the Faculty shall be Presidents Emeriti and Faculty Emeriti; Lecturers; Part-time instructors, and visiting faculty; Administrative Officers and Professional Staff not mentioned in Section 1. Associates shall have every membership privilege except voting, which privilege may be granted by the Faculty Senate.

Art. III, Section 7.  Academic Structure 
The University’s basic academic structure shall be the responsibility of the President, with advice, meaningful participation, and informed response of the Faculty Senate and subject to approval by the Board of Trustees.

The Faculty Senate shall meet at least monthly during the academic year. Agenda and scheduling are regulated by the Bylaws to this Constitution.

Art. V, Section 1. 
Any proposed amendment to this Constitution shall be placed on the agenda of the Faculty on written request of the President of the University [acting either as the First Member of the Faculty, or as designated agent of the Board of Trustees], any standing faculty committee, or any ten members of Faculty.

Art. V, Section 2. 
A proposed constitutional amendment may be discussed at the meeting at which it is introduced, but final action may not be taken on it until the next regular meeting, at which time it shall have priority over all other business.

Art. V, Section 3. 
Approval of a constitutional amendment shall require approval by two thirds of those voting, a quorum being present. It shall become effective immediately upon approval by the Faculty and the President. The President shall be responsible to assure that no constitutional provision is in conflict with or contradictory to University ByLaws. If a Faculty-recommended ByLaw is recommended by the President despite such conflict, it shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees and shall not become effective until the Board of Trustees has acted affirmatively.

Art. V, Section 4. 
ByLaws to implement this Constitution shall be placed on the agenda in the same manner as constitutional amendments. A ByLaw or an amendment to the ByLaws may be approved by the Faculty at the meeting at which it is introduced, providing that it has been published to the Faculty with the agenda for the meeting. A new ByLaw or an amendment to the ByLaws has precedence at the meeting over all other business except constitutional amendment. Approval of a ByLaw or an amendment to the ByLaws shall require approval of a majority of those voting, a quorum being present. ByLaws shall become effective immediately upon approval by the Faculty and the President, except that the President is responsible to assure that no Faculty ByLaw is in conflict with or contradictory to University ByLaws. If a Faculty-recommended ByLaw is recommended by the President despite such conflict, it shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees and shall not become effective until the Board of Trustees has acted affirmatively.

Art. V, Section 5. 
The Faculty shall by ByLaw establish a means for interpreting this Constitution, the ByLaws which implement the constitution, and the Faculty Handbook personnel policies.

Art. V, Section 6. 
This Constitution supersedes all previous Constitutions of the Faculty of Seattle Pacific University and shall become effective with the beginning of the academic year following its recommendation by the Faculty and approval by the President.