University of Virginia Library

New Faculty Senate Constitution
Clarifies Structure, Purpose

News Analysis

By MARGARET ALFORD

The University Faculty
Senate, representative voice of
the University's General
Faculty, convenes today in its
first meeting of the year.
Though primarily organization
in nature, the meeting may
mark the beginning of a new
era of Senate vitality.

Recent records show some
effective Senate action, but the
group has not touched many
significant University issues,
possibly because of ill-defined
structure, range and powers. Its
primary concern is educational
policy.

No Priorities Recommended

A Senate study made in 1970
stated that the Senate "has not
recommended or discussed any
overall plan or priorities for
growth of the
University...externally
sponsored research has become
a major activity without
attention...faculty tenure,
compensation and benefits
have not been discussed" and
that racial desegregation,
coeducation, equal
opportunity and ROTC were
not considered.

However, the same study
reported that the present
official statement of University
purpose was prepared in 1964
by the Senate prior to Board of
Visitors approval. In 1946-47
and in 1958-59, the Senate
organized consultation with
Board committees on selection
of a new University president.
In 1964 a Senate committee
report also led to approval of
degree programs and activation
of the Faculty of Graduate
Arts and Sciences as an elective
body.

Constitution Adopted

Through Senate reform
passed last spring by the
General Faculty, the group has
adopted a new constitution
which clarifies its purpose,
membership, procedures and
organization.

The Faculty Senate deals
with "action affecting all
faculties, or more than one
faculty, of the University,"
according to the constitution.

Schools within the
University are traditionally
autonomous with regard to
individual regulations and
policies.

The Senate primarily deals
with establishment of degree
programs, major modifications
of degree requirements, faculty
grievances under a new hearing
procedure, and advice on
behalf of the General Faculty
to the President, Rector and
Board of Visitors on
"education policy and related
matter affecting the welfare of
the University."

The Senate is an entirely
different and separate
organization from the
Assembly of Professors. The
Assembly acts as a type of
company union to protect
faculty interests and although
all members of the University
faculty are automatically
members, it acts outside of
regular University structure.

The Assembly meets only
when an issue of interest to the
entire faculty rises. During the
May, 1970 student strike, for
instance, Govt. and Foreign
Affairs Prof. Dante Germino,
then Assembly president,
called a meeting concerning a
faculty resolution on the strike.

Similar to the American