Welcome to the Faculty Senate

1. Welcome to the Faculty Senate Welcome to new and returning senators. On behalf of the Faculty Senate, I wish to thank each of you for agreeing to serve as senator of your respective voting units. The following presentation is intended to provide each of you with information that will assist you in performing your duties as a senator. Again thank you for your service and I look forward to working with you in the coming year. Sincerely, Astrid Klocke, FS President

2. Faculty Senate ResponsibilitiesAs Articulated in the By-Laws Faculty Senators are faculty members of Northern Arizona University elected by their academic units. Senators are expected to • Attend Senate meetings • Report to the faculty in their respective academic units and bring feedback from their constituents to the Senate • Serve on a Senate committee, Senate council or as a Senate representative on a university committee

3. Faculty Senate Responsibilities (cont.) • Senate Meetings Know what to expect before the monthly meeting begins. The agenda and materials for the meeting are sent to you prior to each meeting. Please read them so you are ready for the discussion. All materials will be distributed electronically this year. No more paper. Please bring your mobile devices or make your own hard conpies. Senate meetings begin promptly at 3:00pm.

4. Faculty Senate Meetings • The Faculty Senate meeting schedule can be found on the Faculty Senate website: http://home.nau.edu/facultysenate/ • Meetings are generally held on Mondays. However, you should always check the meeting calendar as there are some instances when a meeting is held on a Tuesday.

5. Faculty Senate Responsibilities (cont.) • Senators are expected at all meetings. • If you cannot attend a meeting you must notify the Senate office of your anticipated absence and the name of your substitute. • Your substitute enjoys all the privileges of your office during your absence. • Should a senator or his/her substitute miss three or more meetings in a given academic year, his/her seat can be declared vacant.

6. Faculty Senate Responsibilities (cont.) • Report to the faculty in their respective academic units. • Carrying information between the Faculty Senate and your academic unit is essential to the Faculty Senate’s success. • How you accomplish this may vary, but regular e-mailings and/or unit caucuses are some methods that have proven successful. • All approved minutes are posted on our webpage.

7. Faculty Senate Responsibilities (cont.) • Service on a Senate committee or as a Senate representative on a university committee. • Membership on Senate or university committees and councils is part of your commitment and is vital to the success of various committees and the health of the university system. • It is always good to have both veteran senators as well as freshman senators on these committees. • Both can offer their collective knowledge of the workings of the university as well as sometimes bringing a new perspective on matters before the committee.

8. Faculty Senate Responsibilities (cont.) • Service on a Senate committee or as a Senate representative on a university committee (cont.) • The Senate committees are • Council on Learning • Planning and Budget Council • Faculty Rights & Responsibilities Council • Senate Executive Committee • Nomination/Election Committee • Bylaws Committee and • Budget Committee

9. Faculty Senate Responsibilities (cont.) • The University Committees are • Academic Standards • Assessment • Inter Collegiate Athletics • Intramural Grants • Liberal Studies • Library • University Curriculum • University Graduate

10. Contact Information The Faculty Senate operates an office located in Room 235 of the Cline Library (building #28). The office contact information is: • Address: PO Box 6038 • Phone: 928-523-9053 • Fax: 928-523-9085 • E-mail: Faculty.Senate@nau.edu The Faculty Senate also maintains a website located at: http://home.nau.edu/facultysenate/ The website contains various information including • Contact Information • Documents • Faculty Resources • Meeting Calendar • Membership Administrative Assistant for the Faculty Senate is Pamela Lynch-VanWyck

11. Welcome and Thank You! We look forward to working with you as we continue the task of shared governance at Northern Arizona University.

12. Faculty Senate Dues • The Faculty Senate is the recognized voice of the NAU faculty in the shared governance of the university. The Senate works to represent faculty concerns and interests with Provost Huenneke, President Haeger, and the Arizona Board of Regents. Furthermore, the NAU Senate interacts with the senates and administrations of other Arizona institutions though the Arizona Faculties Council. • In addition, the Senate office staff organizes and supports many meetings between faculty and service or administrative personnel, produces and distributes publications for faculty, handles paperwork that deals with faculty grievances, and generally provides support for the Faculty Senate and its councils and ad hoc committees. • Not surprisingly, these activities require financial support. The Senate does receive, and is grateful for, support from the university, but that contribution does not cover all of the Senates operating costs. If we are to act as a truly independent body, we need your financial support.

13. Senate Dues (cont.) • Dues may be paid through payroll deduction, check or money order. • A form for dues payment is available on the website.