Faculty Policies Handbook:

   1. Organization of the College of Arts and Sciences

1.4 Arts and Sciences Council

1.4.1 Composition
The Arts and Sciences Council shall be constituted of 14 members as follows:
   Six (6) members of the Arts and Sciences faculty elected at-large by vote of the full faculty.

   Eight (8) members of the Arts and Sciences faculty elected as representatives of and by the respective faculties of the School of Fine Arts, the Natural Science Division, the Humanities Division and the Social Science Division. Representation is as follows:

      Humanities Division 2 members
      Natural Sciences Division 2 members
      School of Fine Arts 2 members
      Social Sciences Division 2 members

   Two (2) Arts and Sciences students (non-voting), one to be the Arts and Sciences representative to the Student Senate and the other to be the Fine Arts representative.

The Dean and an Associate/Assistant Dean shall serve as ex officio members of the Council. The Dean, in collaboration with an Associate/Assistant Dean, shall be responsible for recording annual revisions of the Faculty Handbook as necessitated by Council or faculty action.

1.4.2 Election and Terms of Members
Each of the elected members of the Council shall serve a two-year term. Terms shall be staggered, with half of the members elected each year. No faculty member shall be elected to consecutive terms on the Council. Eligibility for election recurs after a lapse of one year. Elections shall be held in the spring and the new Council shall assume its duties with the opening of the academic year in the fall.

Student members shall serve one-year terms; their selection shall occur at the beginning of each academic year.

In the event that a faculty member elected to the Council is unable to complete a term of office or misses three or more meetings in one academic year, the matter shall be referred to the Cabinet for a removal vote. The member shall be notified before such a vote is taken. If a Council member is removed or unable to serve, the person receiving the next highest number of votes in the relevant election shall serve for the remainder of the term if this election has been held within the preceding twelve months. Otherwise a special election shall be held to elect a replacement from the same constituency.

1.4.3 Presiding Officer and Meetings
In the Spring of each academic year, the Council shall elect from its membership a Chair of the Council, who shall serve as the presiding officer. In the absence of the Chair, the Council shall elect a Chair pro tem. The Council shall meet monthly during the academic year, with the option of scheduling more frequent meetings when necessary in order to discharge its responsibilities. The Chair, Dean, or Faculty Cabinet may call special meetings. All meetings shall be open to all members of the university community.

1.4.4 Agenda and Minutes
The deadline for items to be in the hands of the Faculty Cabinet for consideration for inclusion in the Council agenda is noon of the Wednesday of the week prior to the meeting, and the deadline for mailing the agenda to members of the Council is the Friday prior to the meeting. A copy of the minutes of the previous meeting is to be enclosed with the agenda.

Copies of the agenda and allied documents shall be made available upon request in the Office of the Dean. Copies of the minutes shall be sent to the entire faculty or be made available on the web after they have been approved by the Council.

1.4.5 Powers
The Arts and Sciences Council is the chief legislative body within the College. It shall have the following powers:
   a. To establish and maintain policies for the College.

   b. To initiate University policies which shall be submitted to the Faculty Senate for consideration.

   c. To enact academic regulations and requirements.

   d. To maintain the curriculum of the College and approve all changes.

   e. To approve, upon recommendation of the appropriate body, modification of the degree requirements for the various degrees.

   f. To establish standards and procedures to be observed by the Associate/Assistant Dean for making exceptions to degree requirements for individual candidates.

1.4.6 Amendments
Amendments to the regulations establishing this organizational structure of the Arts and Sciences Council (items 1.1 to 1.4.6) shall be initiated by either a two-thirds vote of the Arts and Sciences Council or by a petition from one-third of the faculty. Approval of the amendment shall require a majority vote of the Arts and Sciences faculty. All other amendments may be approved by a majority vote in the Council.