About

Faculty Governance

The history of faculty governance at Wright State University is grounded in the founding of the university, beginning with the establishment of Academic Council in 1966, which was also accompanied by quarterly General Faculty Meetings. Academic Council evolved into Faculty Senate in June 1997 and General Faculty Meetings were eliminated in May 2005 when faculty approved a revised Faculty Constitution.

The Goal of Faculty Governance

Our goal is to provide a clear faculty voice in the creation of university policy, curriculum, and programs.

The Role of Faculty Governance at Wright State

Section 1. Powers and Duties (from the Faculty Constitution)

  1. The University Faculty, in consultation with the University President and the University Provost, shall formulate codes of operating procedures governing all aspects of the academic program, admissions, academic standards, student affairs, faculty affairs not covered by the bargaining agreement, and other fields of university operation composed of academic and professional subject matter. The University President shall present such recommended operating procedures to the Board of Trustees for their consideration, amendment, confirmation, or rejection.
  2. The University Faculty shall determine the curricula leading to all degrees and certification programs offered by the university and shall determine the content of all courses in such curricula.
  3. The University Faculty shall determine the requirements for each degree offered by the university.
  4. The University Faculty shall make recommendations to the University President or Provost and to the AAUP-WSU concerning the annual academic calendar of the university.
  5. The University Faculty shall nominate all students to whom degrees shall be granted. Such nominations shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees through the University President.
  6. The University Faculty can:
    1. Initiate and consider policy proposals and express its judgment on those policy proposals submitted to it by the University President or officers of the various academic divisions of the university;
    2. Investigate, discuss, and make recommendations to any appropriate body within the university regarding any matter of interest to the university;
    3. Request information through appropriate channels from any member of the university.

Faculty Governance conducts monthly meetings of Faculty Senate where Roberts Rules of Order are followed to carry out Senate business. Faculty Senate has numerous committees; standing, administrative and ad hoc, which consider and create policy, make recommendations and a myriad of other tasks.

Faculty Senate

Each college has Senators based on the number of fully-affiliated faculty in the college. The Faculty Constitution governs who is eligible to be on Senate, terms of office, and how elections are conducted. By electing Senators, you are putting your faith in them to represent your college and they should report back to the college on Senate activities.