6.11 Faculty Constitution

Purpose

Participation in shared governance by the faculty is requisite to both a thriving university community and maintenance of an engaged, professional faculty. A Faculty Constitution, or similar document, will specify the scope, nature, and expression of faculty governance at the University of Northern Iowa.

Chapter 6: Faculty Employment Policies

Policy Statement

A Faculty Constitution or similar document will provide specific parameters regarding the operation of faculty governance at the University of Northern Iowa, as follows:

  1. It will specify criteria for membership in the voting and non-voting faculty.
  2. It will specify the functions and jurisdiction of the voting faculty, reserving for the faculty primary responsibility for curriculum and educational policy.
  3. It will delegate its functions to a university faculty senate or council, which will be the acting body for the faculty and will maintain bylaws that govern its activities.
  4. It will provide for faculty oversight and review of the activities of the acting faculty senate or council.
  5. It will specify that faculty delegates to the senate and to its committees shall represent the welfare of the entire University community and the State of Iowa rather than represent only home departments or colleges.
  6. It will specify that its functions may be fulfilled by internal agents of University governance, such as faculty committees, as long as they answer to a faculty senate or council.
  7. Its provisions will support the faculty’s role in achieving the University’s mission.
  8. Its provisions will not violate principles specified in the AAUP Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities.
  9. It will provide for ongoing changes to be made by the voting faculty using means consistent with Robert’s Rules of Order or similar parliamentary procedure.

Procedures

  1. The official Faculty Constitution or similar document will be available to the university community on a web page maintained by the acting faculty senate or faculty council.

UNI Faculty Senate, approved April 25, 2022 
President’s Council, approved April 8, 2024 
President, approved April 10, 2024 
[Last reviewed and/or updated 4/2024]