Section 2: Governance
2.1 INTRODUCTION TO Faculty Governance
2.1.1.1 Definition of the General Faculty The general faculty of Mary Washington College consists of all persons holding academic rank. Within the general faculty are two further groups of faculty: Instructional faculty are individuals who hold full-time teaching appointments in various academic departments and who teach courses in the College for credit toward Mary Washington degrees. Administrative and professional faculty are those individuals holding academic rank who are appointed by the President to perform the administrative and support functions. This Faculty Handbook applies exclusively to instructional faculty (see Title Page), and all references in the Handbook to faculty are, in fact, to instructional faculty. (A separate handbook applies only to administrative and professional faculty.)
2.1.1.2 Meetings of the General Faculty In order to discharge its responsibilities and exercise its authority (see §2.1.3) the faculty meets twice yearly. Attendance is a professional obligation of all members of the instructional faculty, and all members have the right to speak and vote in these meetings.
2.1.1.3 Voting Privileges at Meetings of the General Faculty Other members of the general faculty may attend faculty meetings and to them all is extended the privilege of the floor when recognized by the presiding officer. However, only members of the instructional faculty may vote in faculty meetings. Non-faculty members of the University community may attend faculty meetings. However, such persons may not vote and may speak only by specific invitation of the presiding officer or by request of a member of the instructional faculty.
2.1.1.4 General Procedures for Meetings of the General Faculty Meetings of the faculty are held according to the schedule set forth in the rules of order (see Appendix A). The Secretary of the Faculty, appointed in accordance with the procedure specified in the rules of order, distributes detailed minutes following each meeting and circulates prior to the beginning of each academic year a summary of formal actions taken by the faculty and the Faculty Senate during the previous academic year (see §2.13.4). Meetings of the faculty operate under rules of order that are Appendix A in this Handbook. Questions about these rules should be addressed to the Parliamentarian of the Faculty, who is elected annually by the Faculty Senate.
2.1.2 The Faculty Senate The Faculty Senate is a representative body, officially known as the Faculty Senate of Mary Washington College, which shall serve as the official voice of the instructional faculty on all matters which fall within its jurisdiction. The purpose of the Faculty Senate is to create an effective legislative and advisory body to ensure representation of faculty interests and to fulfill the authority and responsibilities delegated to the faculty in §2.1.3 in this Handbook. Service on the Faculty Senate is considered an important part of a faculty member’s professional responsibility.
2.1.2.1 Meetings of the Faculty Senate In order to discharge its responsibilities and exercise the authority delegated to it by the faculty the Faculty Senate meets regularly.
2.1.2.2 Voting Privileges at Meetings of the Faculty Senate Members of the general faculty may attend Faculty Senate meetings and to them is extended the privilege of the floor when recognized by the Faculty President. However, only members of the Faculty Senate may vote in Faculty Senate meetings. Non-faculty members of the University community may attend Faculty Senate meetings as guests. However, such guests may not vote and may speak only by specific invitation of the Faculty President or by request of a senator.
2.1.2.3 General Procedures for Meetings of the Faculty Senate Meetings of the Faculty Senate shall be held on the first Wednesday of each month during the academic year. The Secretary of the Faculty distributes detailed minutes following each Faculty Senate meeting. Meetings of the Faculty Senate operate under the rules of order that are Appendix A in this Handbook. Questions about these rules should be addressed to the Parliamentarian of the Faculty.
2.1.3 Authority and Responsibilities of the Faculty The Board of Visitors has designated the President as the chief executive, administrative, and academic officer of the University of Mary Washington, with responsibility for proposing policies and programs for the University, as well as responsibility for their effective implementation upon approval by the Board. Consistent with these responsibilities, the President has delegated the following authority to the faculty of the College:
.1 to determine academic offerings consistent with the established mission of the College;
.2 to determine the requirements for all degrees offered by the College;
.3 to recommend types of degrees and candidates for all such degrees;
.4 to formulate general admissions policies for the College;
.5 to enact and to enforce academic regulations for students in matters of attendance, examinations, grading, scholastic standing, honors, and awards;
.6 to design and to monitor the annual faculty evaluation system;
.7 to recommend policies concerning faculty welfare; and
.8 to develop and to supervise a committee system for the orderly exercise of the authority that has been delegated to it.
2.1.4 Final Authority of Faculty Action Actions of the faculty may be binding or they may be advisory to the President, Dean, or other administrative officials. Most actions of the faculty are advisory. However, where the President has delegated specific authority to the faculty as stipulated above, actions of the faculty are binding unless overridden by the President or the Board of Visitors.
2.1.5 Constraints on Faculty Action Financial constraints, the time element, and the policies of external groups, bodies, and agencies having jurisdiction over the University may set limits to the exercise of the above authority. In particular, such limitations may result from the provisions of state and federal law, Executive Orders of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, policies of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, accreditation standards of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and policies of the Board of Visitors.
2.1.6 Action by the President in Areas of Authority Delegated to the Faculty Though the President can delegate authority, he or she cannot escape responsibility as the Board of Visitors holds him or her accountable for the total welfare of the University. The President therefore must reserve the right not only to initiate action affecting the above but also to veto any action taken by the faculty. Should the President, however, take final action in an area of faculty authority prior to a formal recommendation from the faculty, or exercise the veto prerogative, he or she will communicate the reasons for such action to the Faculty Senate either at the next Faculty Senate meeting or earlier by mail. If the Faculty Senate is unpersuaded by the President’s reasons, it may by majority vote at a subsequent meeting of the Faculty Senate direct the Faculty Affairs Committee to represent and explain the faculty position to the Executive Committee of the Board of Visitors.