The Mission of the Faculty Senate
The UNLV Faculty Senate is the voice of the academic and administrative faculty working transparently with university administration to advance the vision and direction of the institution. Relying on faculty participation in its committee structure, the senate promotes shared governance. Informed by dialogue among constituent groups, the senate encourages thoughtful deliberation on campus and within its elected representative membership. The Faculty Senate assures quality in research, creative activity, teaching, and service while exercising responsibility for maintaining and improving rigorous standards throughout the curriculum. The senate is a strong advocate for competitive compensation, adequate benefits, and an inclusive, equitable work environment conducive to academic achievement. The UNLV Faculty Senate vigorously champions freedom of thought and expression as the basic tenet of the academic environment at UNLV.
The senate thrives only through the active participation of its constituency: the academic and administrative faculty of UNLV. About 400 faculties participate directly as senators and committee members. The entire faculty participates through voting on university bylaws changes approved by the senate, responding to surveys and inquiries promoted by the senate, and reading the regular reports of the chair and committees.
Date adopted: Tuesday, February 21, 2012
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Faculty Senate
About the Faculty Senate
The UNLV Faculty Senate is authorized by the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) and the UNLV Bylaws to provide a representation of the faculty on “matters of faculty welfare, faculty rights and faculty involvement in the primary mission of the University.” Both UNLV’s administration and the NSHE Board of Regents welcome recommendations from faculty conveyed through the Faculty Senate. The senate is the heart of shared governance at UNLV.
Executive Committee
The chair, a vice chair/chair elect, and a secretary lead the senate. These three officers, the past chair, and three senators elected from the senate, form the Executive Committee of the senate. The Executive Committee meets regularly with the president and provost to further communication. They develop the senate’s agenda, oversee the work of committees, and provide initial responses to requests and proposals from the administration and/or NSHE.
Senators
Senators serve three-year terms with no term limits. Each unit (college or school) has proportional representation on the senate. Administrative faculty are represented by a fixed number of senators. Each unit designates a senior senator (usually a senator in the final year of their term). Senior senators are responsible for disseminating information to their units and seeking input to bring back to the senate. They also meet regularly with the chair to advise and share issues from their units.
Meetings
The UNLV Faculty Senate meets monthly during the academic year. Meetings are open to everyone and follow a regular order. Along with dealing with the regular business of the faculty and the University through motions and Senses of the Senate, guest speakers range from the chancellor and board of regents members to deans and administrators.