University Senate Bylaws & Governing Concepts Committee Report

University Senate Bylaws Revisions

Given to the University Senate at its 01-29-07 meeting

Submitted by Dr. J.W. Good

Dr. J. W. Good (Chair), Dr. Betty Block, Dr. Ken Farr, Dr. Lee Gillis, Dr. Tanya Goette, Dr. Anne Gormly, Dr. Jude Hirsch, Mr. Neil Jones, Dr. Karynne Kleine, Ms. Gina Peavy, Dr. Cheryl Reynolds, Dr. Kendra Russell, Mr. Quintus Sibley, Dr. Craig Turner, Dr. Mike Whitfield.  Drafting Subcommittee of USBGCC:  Dr. Craig Turner (Chair), Dr. Ken Farr, Dr. J. W. Good, Mr. Quintus Sibley

The University Senate Bylaws and Governing Concepts Committee (USBGCC) began work on proposed 2007 revisions to bylaws with an initial meeting held August 16, 2006.  Between August 16, 2006 and January 10, 2007 the USBGCC met 13 times with additional work sessions by committee volunteers on the Drafting Subcommittee to construct the actual bylaws determined by the full committee.  Initial committee work was informed by general feedback on ways to improve the structure of shared governance obtained during the 2005-2006 academic year culminating with specific and focused feedback from the 2006 President’s Shared Governance Retreat.

The USBGCC used the following questions to evaluate the draft revisions:

• Do the revisions ensure a focus on academic and faculty issues?
• Do the revisions balance the workload for shared governance among the proposed committees?
• Do the revisions establish a ‘best fit’ between proposed membership and committee charge for an appropriate voice?

The USBGCC proposes revisions to improve the capacity of engaging in shared governance at Georgia College.  The overall impact of these changes on US Bylaws is summarized as follows:

• Establish six standing committees with three committees focusing on academic and faculty issues, one on student issues, one on resources and planning issues and one as a steering and advisory committee to represent all schools and the library with one subcommittee on nominations
• Establish committee membership with representation appropriate for the respective charge.
• Charge committees with three major functions including developing recommendations for new policy, developing recommendations for revision of existing policy and serving in an advisory role.
• Define committee charges as descriptive, not exhaustive, lists of committee authority and responsibility. 
• Stipulate regular meetings of the five standing committee chairs and the members of the Executive Committee.
• Establish three-year terms of service for elected faculty senators.
• Change the role of the University President from presiding officer to ex officio nonvoting member and retain total US membership at 49 members.
• Elect the presiding officer and secretary of the US from those serving as US faculty members.