Part One: SUNY and University Governance

Chapter 130: SUNY Cortland

130.01 College Council
130.02 Administrative Organization
130.03 Faculty
130.04 College Administrative Conference
130.05 SUNY Cortland Auxiliary Services
130.06 Cortland College Foundation
130.07 SUNY Cortland Alumni Association
130.08 Standing Committees Advisory to the President
130.09 Interdisciplinary Centers
130.10 Statement on Diversity

130.01 College Council

The College Council consists of nine members appointed by the governor, serving staggered seven-year terms. The current Student Government Association (SGA) president serves as the student member for a one-year term, and the current Faculty Senate chair serves each year on behalf of university faculty and staff. Both are voting members of the College Council.

The College Council has certain supervisory responsibilities, including the following: to recommend candidates for appointment as president of the university, to review major plans for operation of the university properties, to review proposed budget requests, to foster the development of advisory citizens' committees, to name buildings and grounds, and to make or approve regulations governing the conduct and behavior of students.

Bylaws

Article I. Name

The name of the organization is the College Council of the State University of New York College at Cortland.

Article II. Purposes

The purposes for which the Council is formed are those set forth in the Education Law s356(b), as from time to time may be amended, and generally, to promote the welfare of SUNY Cortland, and its students.
The purposes of the Council are promoted through public meetings and attendance at university-related functions directed toward students, faculty and the community; are developed through conferences, committees, projects and programs; and are governed and qualified by the basic policies set forth in the Education Law s350, as amended.

Article III. Basic Policies

The Council shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian and nonpartisan.
The name of the Council or the names of any members in their official capacities shall not be used in any connection with a commercial concern or with any partisan interest or for any purpose not appropriately related to promotion of the objects of the Council.
The Council shall cooperate with the SUNY Cortland administration to support the improvement of education in ways that will assist and enhance the administration of the university.
The Council may cooperate with other organizations and agencies concerned with public higher education. Persons representing the Council in such matters shall represent only those policies on which the Council has taken a position of record, and shall bring to Council for action any proposals for policies or courses of action.

Article IV. Membership

Only members in good standing of the Council shall be eligible to participate in its business meetings, or to serve in any of its elective or appointive positions. To be in good standing, a member shall make every effort to be present at each meeting of the College Council. Excused absences of College Council members shall be noted in the minutes of the meetings of said Council.

Article V. Officers and their Election

Officers
1. The officers of the Council shall consist of a chair, a vice chair and a secretary. The chair shall be appointed by the governor of the state of New York pursuant to the provisions of the Education Law.
2. The vice chair and secretary shall be elected by ballot annually in the month of September.
3. Only those persons who have signified their consent to serve if elected shall be nominated for or elected to such office.
4. Elected officers shall assume their official duties following the close of the annual meeting in the month of September and shall serve for a term of one year and until the election and qualification of their successors.
5. Elected officers shall serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office.
A vacancy occurring in any elected office shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person elected by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Council, notice of such election having been given.

Article VI. Duties of Officers

The chair shall preside at meetings of the Council (at which he or she is present), appoint standing and special committees and their chairs, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed in these bylaws or assigned to him or her by the Education Law or by the rules and regulations established by the Trustees of the State University of New York.
The vice chair shall act as aide to the chair and shall perform the duties of the chair in the event of the absence or the inability of that officer to act.
The secretary shall ensure that the minutes of all meetings of the Council are recorded and shall perform such other duties as may be delegated to him or her.
All officers shall:
1. Perform the duties prescribed in the parliamentary authority in addition to those outlined by these bylaws and those assigned from time to time.
2. Deliver to their successors all official material not later than thirty (30) days following the election of their successors.

Article VII. College Council Members

The duties of the College Council members shall be
1. to transact necessary business at all meetings and in the intervals between meetings of the Council and such other business as deemed necessary by the Council and consistent with the Education Law;
2. to create standing and special committees;
3. to approve the plans of work of the standing committees;
4. to meet all obligations established by the Education Law s356 as amended.
Regular meetings of the Council shall be held at least four times annually, the times to be fixed by the Council at its first meeting of the year. A majority of the Council shall constitute a quorum. Special meetings of the Council may be called by the chair or by a majority of the members of the Council.

Article VIII. Standing and Special Committees

The Council may create such standing committees as it may deem necessary to promote the purposes and carry on the work of the Council.
The chair of each standing committee shall present a plan of work to the Council for approval. Committees shall recommend action or policies to the Council and shall have no independent authority to act except as specifically authorized by the Council.
The chair shall be a member ex-officio of all committees.

Article IX. Roberts Rules

Roberts Rules of Order, latest edition, shall be the authority on all questions of parliamentary procedure in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with New York state law or these bylaws.

Article X. Amendments

These bylaws may be amended, repealed or altered in whole or in part by a majority vote at any regular or special meeting of the Council.

130.02 Administrative Organization

SUNY Cortland is administered by the president, the president's staff and the faculty. The president, as chief administrative officer, is responsible to the chancellor and the board of trustees. The president's responsibilities are set forth in the Policies of the Board of Trustees, Article IX, Title A, Section 2.

130.03 Faculty

SUNY Cortland faculty shall participate in the development of the educational program of the university and shall be responsible for the conduct of the university's instruction, research and service programs.

130.04 College Administrative Conference

The College Administrative Conference is comprised of the chancellor of SUNY, the president of SUNY Cortland, the vice presidents, deans and such other persons as may be designated by the president. It serves as an advisory and consultative body to the president of the university.

(Policies: Article IX, Title E, Section 1)

130.05 SUNY Cortland Auxiliary Services

SUNY Cortland Auxiliary Services was established in 1952 under the name Faculty-Student Association with the chartered purposes "to promote and cultivate educational and social relations among the students and faculty of the College in every way possible in their study, work, living and extracurricular activities." Primarily it has operated food services and The Campus Store and provided accounting services to student organizations and other groups. The Cortland Auxiliary executive office is located in Winchell Hall and customer service is on the first floor of Neubig Hall.

130.06 Cortland College Foundation

The Cortland College Foundation is incorporated as a nonprofit organization designed to receive and manage gifts in support of SUNY Cortland. A full description of the foundation and its activities is found in 775.06.

130.07 SUNY Cortland Alumni Association

The SUNY Cortland Alumni Association, Inc., is designed to foster a continuing relationship between the university and its more than 60,000 graduates through programs of mutual interest and benefit. An elected board of directors is responsible for managing the organization's business and activities. Alumni programming is founded on the basis of a university-alumni partnership working on behalf of individual graduates and the advancement of the institution. Alumni Engagement is the center for the maintenance of alumni records and provides administrative support for alumni operations. Among the many activities supported by the Alumni Association are student scholarship and award programs, class and regional reunions, the Student Alumni Association, Alumni Reunion Weekend, a newspaper, career networking with alumni for undergraduate students, and communications with alumni. Alumni also assist with the recruitment of new students.

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130.08 Standing Committees Advisory to the President

I. Affirmative Action Committee

A. Function

To advise and support the affirmative action officer.
To review the Affirmative Action Program and its implementation and determine if there are areas of concern requiring appropriate follow up and action.
Recommend major policies to the president in the operation of the Affirmative Action Program in accordance with requirements of federal and state laws.
Serve as anti-discrimination advocates, and when violations are brought to the attention of committee members seek the advice and assistance of the affirmative action officer.
Work collaboratively with other committees and offices on campus such as the Multicultural Life and Diversity Office, Center for Gender and Intercultural Studies (CGIS), Committee on the Status of Women in Education (CSEW), Multicultural Council, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Committee to enhance the climate for protected classes covered under affirmative action and anti-discrimination laws.
a. Mutual collaboration and communication will be achieved, in part, through active participation and involvement with the other committees and offices. Committee members may be asked to serve on one of the aforementioned committees to represent affirmative action concerns. When the Affirmative Action Committee is not represented on a particular committee, committee membership will seek alternative means of communication to provide and get updates.
b. Work on issues of campus climate that affect recruitment and retention.
i. Sponsor and/or promote faculty and staff training and programs related to multiculturalism and diversity in cooperation with the Multicultural Life and Diversity Office and/or other groups on campus.
ii. Work proactively to identify opportunities to improve recruitment of underrepresented populations on campus.
1. Coordinate with the affirmative action officer to identify ideas, evaluate their feasibility and, when appropriate, present the ideas to the president.
iii. Review exit interview and campus climate survey summary data to determine if there are any negative trends requiring attention. When negative trends are identified, work with appropriate groups on campus to address the problems.
Promote and foster support of underrepresented groups covered under affirmative action.
a. Attend at least one diversity or affirmative action event, sponsored or co-sponsored by the Affirmative Action Committee, each academic year.
b. Coordinate with the affirmative action officer to provide support, financial and otherwise, to sponsor affirmative action and/or diversity grants and programs. Grants may be related to programming, infusing diversity into the curriculum, and staff development. Programs may be a part of Black History Month, Women's History Month, Latino History Month, etc.
Vote on waiver of search requests. Notify the president of employees whose waivers extend beyond one year. Address violations of the waiver of search procedure with the president.
When asked by the affirmative action officer, serve on search committees where positions have been identified as underrepresented and placement goals are in effect.

(Approved by President's Cabinet June 29, 2009)

II. The Calendar Advisory Committee

A. Function

To develop a calendar for the years requested by the president
To use all campus resources such as open hearings, questionnaires, etc., to determine the acceptability of a university calendar format
To consider other factors as may be brought to the committee's attention by the president for inclusion in future calendars

III. Institutional Planning and Assessment Committee

A. Function

1. The Institutional Planning and Assessment Committee oversees strategic planning and assessment at the institutional level. In consultation with campus constituents, members identify outcomes and measures related to our four strategic priorities; set targets for those measures; and ensure ongoing assessment. In addition, they convene discussions of assessment findings and make changes to plans informed by those findings.

2. In addition, the committee serves as the steering committee for the Middle States Periodic Review Report (PRR). This includes addressing recommendations from Middle States Self-Study and drafting and vetting the PRR to the campus.

3. Responsibilities of the committee include:

Review the working draft of the Strategic Plan Outcomes (PDF) and share with campus for feedback.
Develop a plan and timeline for the Strategic Plan assessment.
Develop and implement strategy for response to recommendations for the PRR.

(Approved by President Bitterbaum and President's Cabinet March 28, 2016)

B. Membership

Faculty representative from the School of Professional Studies
Faculty representative from the School of Education
Faculty representative from the School of Arts and Sciences
Faculty representative from General Education Committee
Faculty representative at-large
Professional representative from Student Affairs
Professional representative from Institutional Advancement
Professional representative from Finance and Management
Professional representative from Academic Affairs
Professional representative at-large
Provost (ex officio)
Dean of Education (ex officio)
Dean of Arts and Sciences (ex officio)
Dean of Professional Studies (ex officio)
Director of Institutional Research and Analysis (ex officio)
Executive Assistant to the President (ex officio)

Terms are for three years, except for ex officio members.

IV. Committee on the Status and Education of Women/Gender Policies and Initiatives Council

A. Function

To review and assess issues affecting the campus climate and to plan programs and activities to improve gender climate.
To oversee periodic review for compliance through the Title IX Athletics Self-Study and other reports.
To oversee administration, review and discussion of Gender Climate Surveys.
To make recommendations to the president on policies that affect gender climate and to seek ways to achieve implementation.

V. Cortland Intercollegiate Athletics Board

A. Function:

The board shall conduct appropriate reviews and engage in such other activities as will enable it to advise the campus president on intercollegiate athletics program matters such as:

Planning for intercollegiate athletics participation on campus and in conference
Funding for intercollegiate athletics through the following steps:
a. The board shall formulate the annual intercollegiate athletics budget and recommend it to the campus president for approval.
b. The annual budget shall include all available and expected funds for intercollegiate athletics from any and all sources and shall set forth total expected expenditures for intercollegiate athletics.
c. The annual budget shall be based upon the preceding year's final budget, with increases or decreases dependent upon changes in enrollment, fee increases, inflation and changes in the intercollegiate athletics program.
d. In the event that actual allocations and receipts from any and all budget sources fall short of or exceed such budgeted amounts, the board shall revise its budget accordingly and recommend the revised budget to the campus president for approval.
Standards and policies for student participation in intercollegiate athletics
Other matters appropriate to its purview referred to it by the campus president

B. Membership

The president will appoint four faculty to three-year staggered terms: one professional, one from the Physical Education Department, one from the School of Education and one from the School of Arts and Sciences. (Approved April 6, 1998, updated April 18, 2007.)
Three students: treasurer of SUNY Cortland's Student Government Association (SGA) (ex officio), and two appointed by the president to one-year terms from nominations by SGA from varsity team members of previous year in good academic standing (one male and one female).
Three administrators appointed by the president to three-year staggered terms: dean of professional studies (ex officio), chair of physical education (ex officio), and athletic director (ex officio)
Chair, appointed by president from faculty or administration members
All members, including ex officio members, are voting members

VI. Environmental Health and Safety Committee

(The president has delegated responsibility for this committee to the vice president for finance and management.)

A. Function

To solicit and receive from individual members of the committee, faculty, staff and students, concerns regarding matters of health and safety on the campus that have not been resolved through normal administrative channels. Such concerns shall be communicated by the committee to the vice president for finance and management who will reply to the committee within 10 working days. Safety concerns include, but are not limited to the following: employee safety, life safety, toxic/hazardous material handling, storage and disposal, and fire safety.
To review existing campus health and safety documents and to recommend modifications and/or additions to such documents
To advise and assist the environmental health and safety officer (EHSO) in the design and implementation of programs intended to inform and educate the university community in matters of workplace health and safety
To establish subcommittees as desired for the purpose of addressing or investigating specific concerns of the committee

B. Membership

Three members appointed by the UUP
Three members appointed by CSEA
Six members appointed by the president
One member each from other campus bargaining units
One member from Cortland Auxiliary

Those groups having more than one member on the committee shall appoint them for staggered terms. The chair of the committee shall be elected by the membership of the committee.

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VII. Facilities and Master Plan Oversight Committee (FMPOC)

The Facilities and Master Plan Oversight Committee (FMPOC) will oversee space allocation and recommend future space needs as defined by the master plan.

A. Function:

The Facilities and Master Plan Oversight Committee makes nonbinding recommendations to the president on issues and proposals involving campus facilities. The committee is charged with the following responsibilities:

To review requests that involve significant physical change, change of function, reassignment of space to another department or organization, long-term allocation of university space (building and grounds) and/or alternatives to space usage. and make recommendations to the president. Normally, the president, vice presidents or affiliated organizations request committee review of proposals.
To review priorities for capital construction, rehabilitation and space alteration projects and make recommendations to the president.
To review designs and concerns regarding campus grounds plantings, signage, roads, etc. weighing all new proposals in light of their contribution to campus aesthetics and physical harmony.
To regularly assess the progress of the master plan; to continually monitor and review proposals for changes to the master plan ensuring consistency with the mission of the university; and to serve as ombudsperson in resolving future space conflicts that the plan's execution may generate.
To periodically hold an open campus meeting and report on the progress of the master plan update. Once a year a written report on the progress of the master plan shall be submitted to the president and to the chair of the Faculty Senate.

The FMPOC has the authority to form subcommittees and designate members from the campus community to oversee a specific part of the master plan, e.g., space utilization, etc.

(Revisions approved by President's Cabinet July 7, 2006)

B. Membership:

The committee includes representatives of specific campus administrators, academic faculty, the Faculty Senate, the Call for Alteration Committee (CFA), and the Master Plan Steering Committee.

The composition of the membership is as follows:

administrative representatives: associate vice president for facilities management, associate provost for information resources, registrar, assistant vice president for enrollment management or designee, athletic director or designee, one representative from student affairs
the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, the dean of the School of Education, the dean of the School of Professional Studies
one academic or professional faculty from the Institutional Planning and Assessment Committee
one academic faculty appointed by the Faculty Senate
one at large from professional faculty
ex officio: the director of facilities planning, design and construction, the vice president for finance and management
chair: the chair is appointed annually by the president. The position may be rotated annually. (Revised by President Bitterbaum, May 12, 2008)

(Approved by President's Cabinet July 7, 2006)

VIII. Information Resources Advisory Council

A. Function:

The Information Resources Advisory Council will act in an advisory capacity to the associate vice president for Information Resources, who will make recommendations to the university president.
The Information Resources Advisory Council will review and provide feedback on Information Resources' campus-wide vision, strategic plan and policies on technology and library services provided to campus.
Serve as a campus forum regarding information technology and library issues and initiatives.

B. Membership

Associate vice president for Information Resources (chair)
Director, Campus Technology Services (ex officio)
Director, Information Systems and Security (ex officio)
Director of Libraries (ex officio)
Director, Networking and Telecommunications Services (ex officio)
One representative from the Division of Student Affairs
One representative from the Division of Finance and Management
Two faculty from the School of Professional Studies
Two faculty from the School of Arts and Sciences
Two faculty from the School of Education
One representative from the Student Government Association

IX. University Police Advisory Board

A. Function

To advise the president and chief of university police on matters of campus security, public safety, including signage and parking, and personal safety
To review and suggest improvement in safety education programs
To assess availability of counseling services for crime victims
To review victim referral and campus response procedures for sexual assault situations
To conduct ongoing assessment of the quality of campus personal safety policies, practices, procedures, and programs
To conform to the 1990 Amendment to Section 6450 of the Education Law by providing information to incoming students about sexual assault prevention measures, penalties, and related security procedures. Annual reports must be filed with the commissioner of education.

B. Membership

The president will appoint three members of his/her choosing
The president will appoint three members from a list of six nominees submitted by the Faculty Senate
The president will appoint three members from a list of six students submitted by the SGA
The president will appoint one member of the College Council
The chief of university police will serve on the committee ex officio, with vote
At least half the members of the committee will be female

X. Information Resources Security Advisory Council

A. Function

The Information Resources Security Advisory Council will act in an advisory capacity to the senior director of Information Systems and Security and the associate vice president for Information Resources, who will make recommendations to the university president.
The Information Resources Security Advisory Council achieves its purpose by providing feedback to the Information Resources Security Office, the senior director of Information Systems and Security, in achieving the goals of Information Resources' security program and initiatives.
The Information Resources Security Advisory Council will review and provide comment on Information Resources' security program decisions and increase awareness of its priorities.

B. Membership

Senior director, Information Systems and Security (chair)
Associate vice president for Information Resources (ex officio)
Assistant director, Information Systems and Security
Director, Networking and Telecommunications Services
University registrar or appointee
Assistant vice president for Finance and Management or appointee
Director, Financial Aid
Director, Judicial Affairs or appointee
Director, Student and College Financial Systems
Associate vice president for Student Affairs
University Police Department appointee
Institutional Advancement appointee
Chief of Staff or appointee
Faculty representative

130.09 Interdisciplinary Centers

Section A. Definition

Academic departments and schools are the primary units of academic organization of the university. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of some programs, the president may see fit to establish an interdisciplinary center, a unit of the university which sponsors interdisciplinary, cross-departmental curricula (including degree programs), related research and teaching, and other activities as charged by the president. Centers are governed by regular university procedures.

Section B. Center Bylaws

A center must have a set of bylaws governing its operation. The bylaws will include a statement of the purpose of the center, set forth the criteria for inclusion of members in the center, and establish rules by which center members elect the Center Council and the Center Council chair. When the bylaws are approved by the Center Council, the appropriate dean, the provost and vice president for academic affairs, other vice presidents as appropriate, and the president, the center will be considered operational.

Section C. Center Governance

Center policy is established by a Center Council composed of faculty, professional staff, administrators, students, and (as appropriate) members of the community. Center Councils are appointed by the provost after soliciting applications from the university community. The deans of arts and sciences, education and professional studies are ex officio members of Center Councils.

Section D. Center Administration

The provost, in consultation with the Deans' Councils, shall assign administrative responsibility for each center to a school dean. The chair of each center shall be recommended by the respective Center Council (according to its own bylaws) and appointed by the provost, in consultation with the school dean within whose responsibility the center falls. The Council chair shall be assigned responsibilities, in consultation with the dean, for certain aspects of a center's work and administration. The center chair shall submit an annual report evaluating the center's work to the Center Council and to the designated dean, and to the provost.

Section E. Faculty Affiliation with a Center

Faculty working with centers have their appointment and tenure in a department. A faculty member's affiliation with a center shall be established either through work on the Center Council or on one of its committees. As appropriate (and in consultation with the home department and dean) this affiliation may be stipulated in a side letter to an appointment contract. Release time for work with a center is subject to the availability of resources and/or negotiations with the home department and dean. As requested by either the faculty member, the respective department, the department chair, or the dean, the center chair shall provide written evaluations assessing work with a center for purpose of reappointment, promotion, merit and/or tenure decisions. When such evaluations are requested and provided, they must be considered by all relevant personnel committees and administrators.

(Approved by the Faculty Senate Nov. 7, 1989, and by President Clark Dec. 6, 1989; revised August 2003 to reflect the new School of Education)

130.10 Statement on Diversity

Respect for diversity is an essential component of academic excellence that prepares our graduates to be citizens of the greater global community. SUNY Cortland aspires to create a common vision or our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as critical core values of academic excellence. To that end, the campus community upholds the following principles.

SUNY Cortland is dedicated to the premise that every individual is important in a unique way and contributes to the overall quality of the institution. We define diversity broadly to include all aspects of human difference. The university is committed to inclusion, equity, and access and thus committed to creating and sustaining a climate that is equitable, respectful and free from prejudice for students, faculty and staff.

We value diversity in the learning environment and know that it enhances our ability to inspire students to learn, lead and serve in a changing world. We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive campus through the recruitment and retention of faculty, staff and students. As a community, we hold important the democracy of ideas, tempered by a commitment to free speech and the standards of inquiry and debate. To this end, we are dedicated to developing and sustaining a learning environment where it is safe to explore our differences and celebrate the richness inherent in our pluralistic society.

(Approved by President Bitterbaum June 10, 2013)

Back to Chapter 130

Chapter 150: Cortland Faculty Governance

150.01 College Faculty Defined
150.02 Chair and Presiding Officer of the Faculty
150.03 SUNY Cortland Faculty Bylaws
150.04 Bylaws of the SUNY Cortland Graduate Faculty

150.01 College Faculty Defined

The governance of each college shall be comprised of the chancellor, the chief administrative officer and other members of the voting faculty of the college, other members of the academic staff of the college, and such nonvoting administrative officers and professional staff as may be designated by the faculty bylaws of the college.

(Board of Trustees (BOT) Policies: Article X, Section 1)

150.02 Chair and Presiding Officer of the Faculty

The president of the university is the chair of the faculty. The faculty elects a presiding officer as specified by the constitution and bylaws of the faculty. (BOT Policies: Article X, Section 2)

150.03 SUNY Cortland Faculty Bylaws

These bylaws define the role of the faculty in the governance of the university, in accordance with the legal requirements of the State University of New York, the Policies of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York, and the local College Council. They identify faculty responsibilities and obligations within the administrative and academic structures of the university, and provide a plan within which the ideals of academic freedom, intellectual honesty, and social justice may be pursued.

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be: The SUNY Cortland Faculty.

Article II: Responsibility

Section A.

The SUNY Cortland Faculty shall assume the major responsibility for the development of the educational program of the university, and shall be responsible for the conduct of the university's instruction, research and service program.

Section B.

The faculty shall carry out its responsibility through significant involvement at the departmental, school and university levels. The bylaws outline the extent and manner of faculty participation at the college level. In order to ensure adequate faculty involvement at the departmental and school levels, the following specifications shall in all cases be met:

Departmental Organization
Each department shall elect/appoint a personnel committee to deal with reappointments, continuing appointment and promotions, as well as other personnel matters specifically included in the department personnel policies and procedures as the responsibility of the department personnel committee. Chairs of departments may be elected to these committees as the individual departments see fit. The personnel committee shall be operative by Sept. 15 of each year and shall elect one of its members to serve as chair. The committee shall transmit their recommendations to the appropriate people, school or committee, with informational copies to the school dean. The committee shall also transmit their recommendations to the department chair if the chair is not a committee member.
School Organization
The members of each of the three academic schools and the professional staff of the university shall elect/appoint school or divisional committees to deal with personnel matters. In the academic schools, a school curriculum committee shall also be elected/appointed. Committees to deal with any other matters of concern to the school as a whole shall be selected through procedures approved by the members of the respective area and shall report to the school faculty. School committees shall receive and act upon recommendations from departments and shall transmit such recommendations to the people and administrators concerned.

Article III: Membership: The Composition of the SUNY Cortland Faculty

Section A.

In an attempt to be consistent with the Agreement between the State of New York and the Bargaining Agent and the Policies of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York, the faculty of SUNY Cortland shall be defined as the chancellor, the president of the university, those administrative officers designated as management by the Public Employee Relations Board, persons having academic rank and term or continuing appointment, professional staff having term or permanent appointment, and persons with qualified academic rank.
Those with qualified academic rank and academic and professional members of the university staff not included in the above categories are excluded from the College Faculty for purposes of faculty governance except as provided in Chapter 150.03 Article VI, Section A, Paragraph 10 and Chapter 150.03, Article VI, Section B, Paragraph 5g. ["Qualified academic rank" is defined by the Policies of the Board of Trustees (BOT Policies, Article II, (k)), as "Rank held by those members of the academic staff having titles of lecturer, or titles of academic rank preceded by the designations 'clinical' or 'visiting' or other similar designations."]

Section B.

The voting faculty of the university shall be defined as the individuals listed in Chapter 150.03, Article III, Section A, Paragraph 1 above, excluding those with qualified academic rank.

For purposes of voting within areas, each staff member shall be identified with the area in which the individual's primary assignment of responsibility lies. Each member of the voting faculty shall have one vote.

Article IV: Definitions

The phrase "consult with the faculty," as used herein, shall be interpreted as follows:

To meet with the faculty as a whole, or with that portion of the faculty directly concerned with the matter under consideration, for the purpose of determining what the will of the faculty may be. With the approval of the Senate, the opinions of the faculty may be solicited by means other than by a meeting. Meetings for consultation shall be held only after proper notice of time, place, and agenda has been given to all persons concerned. Votes may be taken by secret ballot.

Article V: Officers

Section A.

The president of the university is the executive officer and chair of the SUNY Cortland Faculty. The elected officers of the faculty shall be the chair of the Senate who is also the presiding officer of the faculty, the vice chair/secretary, the past presiding chair and the treasurer.

Section B.

The duties of the officers of the SUNY Cortland Faculty are:
The president of the university shall carry out those duties as prescribed by the Policies of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York.

The chair of the Senate shall:
1. Preside at any meetings of the SUNY Cortland Faculty, the Faculty Senate and the Steering Committee.
2. Propose agenda for Senate meetings and refer matters to faculty committees. The chair shall report to the Senate at its next meeting all matters referred to committees.
3. Appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, committee members not otherwise provided for in these bylaws.
4. Carry out the directives of the faculty and Senate regarding time of meetings, programs, activities and business of the faculty.
5. Be responsible for the proper conduct of elections and voting on proposed amendments to these bylaws.
6. Confer with the president of the university or the president’s delegated representative as the chair sees fit, or as directed by the Senate or by the faculty.
7. Supervise the administrative assistant to the senate.
8. Monitor the work of senate standing and ad-hoc committees.
9. Stay current with University Faculty Senate communications and distribute to campus as appropriate.
10. Serve as a member of select presidential committees.
11. Participate in designated campus events as the representative of the senate.
12. Appoint, with the concurrence of the campus president, committee members for the selection of SUNY Chancellor’s Awards and Distinguished Faculty ranks, and participate in the selection process as delineated in the CAE and DFR procedures.
13. Serve as a member of the Resource Advisory Council.
14. Assume the office of past presiding chair for one academic year following the last term of service as chair. These duties shall be assumed at the close of the spring semester.
15. Serve as a member of the College Council.
The vice chair/secretary of the Senate shall:
1. Serve as chair of the Senate in the latter's absence and in case of a vacancy shall act as chair pro-tem for the remainder of the chair's term. This shall not be considered to be a violation of Article X, Sections 5.c. and 8.b.
2. Discharge such other duties as shall be assigned by the chair with the advice and consent of the Senate.
3. Prepare and submit a slate of candidates for elected Faculty Senate committees (other than senators) to the Faculty Senate not later than six weeks before the end of the spring semester.
4. Confirm that candidates are eligible for the position in conjunction with Human Resources.
5. Present recommendations to the Faculty Senate for all appointed Faculty Senate committees no later than six weeks before the last day of classes of the spring semester.
6. Publicize the above elective slate not later than one week in advance of the Faculty meeting at which further nominations will be received from the floor.
7. Conduct the above elections not later than four weeks before the end of the spring semester each year.
8. Submit names to the Senate to fill the unexpired term for any elected or appointed office during the academic year except for those representatives to the Senate elected by and from their area.
9. Seek nominees for and conduct special elections.
10. Report to the Faculty Senate concerning appointments and elections.
11. Serve as the contact person for elections and committee placement.
The treasurer of the Senate shall:
1. Receive, and disburse with the written acknowledgment of the chair of the Senate, all funds of the faculty.
2. Prepare and submit a faculty budget.
3. Submit, at the end of the academic year, a financial statement of all funds under control.
The past presiding chair of the Senate shall:
1. Serve for one academic year following the last term of service as an advisor to the Chair of the senate to ensure continuity of efforts.
2. Serve as a member of the Senate Steering Committee.
3. Attend Senate meetings as an ex-officio, non-voting member upon request of the current chair of the Senate during the one academic year of service.

Article VI: Faculty Senate

Section A.

The Faculty Senate of the SUNY Cortland faculty shall be composed of:

The officers of the faculty: chair of the Senate, vice chair/secretary, treasurer and past presiding chair (ex-officio without vote).
Seven elected representatives from the School of Arts and Sciences, elected by the voting members in each area:
1. One elected representative from the mathematics and science division (departments of mathematics, biological sciences, chemistry, geology, and physics),
2. One elected representative from the social and behavioral sciences division (departments of Africana studies, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology/anthropology),
3. One elected representative from the fine arts and humanities division (departments of art and art history, communication studies, English, modern languages, performing arts, and philosophy),
4. Four elected at-large representatives from the School of Arts and Sciences, whose terms shall be staggered with those of the three division representatives.
Four elected at-large representatives from the School of Professional Studies, elected by and from the departments of communication disorders and sciences, health, kinesiology, physical education, recreation, parks and leisure studies and sport management.
Three elected at-large representatives from the School of Education, elected by and from the departments of childhood/early childhood education, foundations and social advocacy, and literacy. (Approved by President Bitterbaum January 2004)
Two elected representatives for full-time lecturers: one to be elected at large from full-time lecturers in the School of Arts and Sciences, and one to be elected at large from full-time lecturers in the schools of Professional Studies and Education combined.
(Approved by President Bitterbaum, June 2009)
Four elected at-large representatives from the professional staff, elected by and from the voting members in this area.
One elected representative from the library, elected by and from the voting members in this area.
One elected representative from the management/confidential area, elected by and from the voting members in this area.
The elected faculty representative to the State University Senate. (See Chapter 110.04 for information on the alternate.)
Three members of the student body, elected under procedures determined by the Student Senate.
The elected representative of the classified staff, elected under procedures determined by members of the classified staff.
The elected representative of the graduate faculty, elected under procedures determined by members of the graduate faculty.
The elected representative of the part-time faculty, elected under procedures determined by members of the part-time faculty.
Each chair of a policy committee, or a designated representative.
The provost and vice president for academic affairs, ex officio without vote unless this person is the elected representative of management/confidential.
The vice president for student affairs, ex officio without vote unless this person is the elected representative of management/confidential.
The vice president for finance and management, ex officio without vote unless this person is the elected representative of management/confidential.
The vice president for institutional advancement, ex officio without vote unless this person is the elected representative of management/confidential.
The president of the university, ex officio without vote.
The parliamentarian of the faculty, ex officio without vote.
The chief diversity officer of the university, ex officio without vote.
(Approved by President Bitterbaum May 2004, updated September 2020.)

Section B. Duties and Powers of the Senate

To serve as deliberative body for organizing and carrying out the business of the faculty.
To determine those issues which should be taken to the entire faculty and to forward these to the faculty.
To conduct a referendum on a question not contrary to local, state or federal law, or to provisions of these bylaws, at the formal request of at least 25% of the voting faculty.
To carry out those directives of the faculty which are within the jurisdiction of the Senate and not otherwise delegated in these bylaws.
To assume responsibility for:
1. The formulations of the programs of the business and special meetings of the faculty.
2. The initiation of studies and investigations relative to the achievement of the purpose of this organization.
3. The advisement and support of the chair of the Senate in such of the latter's responsibilities as are specified in this Chapter 150.03.
4. The determination of procedures of secret balloting in the elections of the faculty.
5. The publishing of the annual reports of faculty committees.
6. The approval and periodic review of the organizational structure and operating procedures of the graduate faculty.
7. The approval and periodic review of the organizational structure and operating procedures of the part-time faculty.
8. The changing of a provision of any policy or statement passed by the faculty which is discovered to be null and void because of a conflict with a University policy or statement which must take precedence (e.g., The Board of Trustees Policies or the Bargaining Agreement). The Senate shall have the power to change the provision to make it conform to all necessary University policies or statements.

Section C. Attendance

Any faculty member has the right to attend meetings of the Faculty Senate and participate in the discussion when the floor has been yielded by a senator.

Section D. Quorum

A quorum of the Senate necessary for the conduct of business shall be a majority of its voting membership.

Section E. Open Meeting Standards

The Faculty Senate and its committees shall operate according to New York State's open meeting standards, and these standards shall apply as well to any activity in which the Senate or its designees decide to involve themselves. Any meeting of any committee or entity of the Senate for which a quorum is required in order to conduct business, and which consists of two or more members, shall be open to any employee of SUNY Cortland. Such attendance does not extend to the right of non-committee members to speak during such meetings or activities.
Committees or entities in question may elect to not apply the open meeting principle when information is being discussed that would imperil public safety, would disclose the identity of a law enforcement agent or informer, might impede law enforcement efforts, relates to litigation, involves confidential records specific to an individual, or involves matters that must be confidential under federal or state law.
Any disputes concerning the applicability of this resolution shall be resolved by the Faculty Senate.

(Approved by President Taylor July 19, 2002)

Article VII: Committees

Section A. Duties of Committees

The general duties of every committee of the faculty, and especially of each committee chair, shall be:

To apportion its work efficiently and fairly among its regular members, functioning as a whole or in subcommittees as seems appropriate.
To enlist the participation or advice of the teaching faculty, administrative and professional staff and students to improve the committee's judgment or expedite its recommendations.
To keep minutes or other records of proceedings that will be adequate for use of the chair's successor.
To explore such issues as the Faculty Senate may delegate to it.
To report to the Faculty Senate according to the schedule that is established at the first regular meeting of the Faculty Senate at the beginning of the academic year.
To submit a written annual report to the Faculty Senate at the end of the academic year.
To schedule the first committee meeting for the following academic year. The meeting date shall be determined after spring elections and prior to the last day of instruction in the current academic year.

Section B. Policy Committees

1. There shall be four standing policy committees:

a. The Educational Policy Committee

Membership shall be as follows

two members representing arts and sciences
two members representing education
two members representing professional studies
one member representing library
one member representing professionals
one at large member from the academic faculty
two student members
provost, (ex officio, non-voting)
registrar, (ex officio, non-voting)

b. The Academic Faculty Affairs Committee

Membership shall be as follows

one member representing mathematics/sciences
one member representing social/behavioral sciences
one member representing fine arts/humanities
one member representing professional studies
one member representing education
one member representing library

(the chair should be tenured wherever possible)

c. The Joint Committee on Student Interests

Membership shall be as follows:

one Faculty-At-Large
two members of the teaching faculty/library
one member from the professional staff
three members from the Student Senate Representatives to Faculty Senate

This committee shall elect the following positions from their membership:

Faculty Chair of the Joint Committee on Student Interests, who shall serve on the Senate Steering Committee
Student Chair of the Joint Committee on Student Interests
Faculty representative to the Student Senate

d. The Professional Faculty Affairs Committee

Membership shall be as follows:

one representative from institutional advancement
one representative from finance and management
two representatives from student affairs and the vice president for student affairs office
two representatives from academic affairs
one representative from information resources
one representative from enrollment management and the President's Office
two representatives at-large from the professionals
one ex-officio non-voting UUP vice president for professionals or their designee

2. Membership:

Members shall be appointed to these committees by action of the Senate. The Senate secretary, along with support from the Senate administrative assistant, shall prepare the nominees for Senate action. The members on each committee shall be appointed for staggered two-year terms. The members of each committee will elect a chair of the committee for a one-year term. When determining the slate of nominees, the Senate Secretary shall give due consideration to representation by areas and divisions as well as the major responsibility of the committee, with help from Human Resources, as needed.

The Student Senate shall be entitled to select voting members of the Faculty Senate committees as follows: one member of the Educational Policy Committee. The provost and vice president for academic affairs shall serve on the Educational Policy Committee as ex-officio without vote. The president may appoint consultants as non-voting members of the Academic Faculty Affairs Committee. These members are in addition to student members.

3. Duties:

a. Educational Policy Committee:

To consider and make recommendations to the Senate on matters related to educational policy, major curricular changes and other areas designated to it by the Senate.
To determine the procedures governing change of academic programs and curricula. The committee shall report to the Senate any procedural changes proposed. If no objection is raised by a member of the Senate within one Senate meeting of the committee’s report on the changes, the changes shall be sent to the provost and vice president for academic affairs for approval. If objection is raised, then the Senate will vote on the reported procedural changes.

b. Academic Faculty Affairs Committee:

To regularly review the policies and procedures of academic departments and of the library that affect faculty with academic rank for renewal of term appointment, for granting of continuing appointment, and for promotion as fully described in Section 220.06 and Chapter 220.07 of the SUNY Cortland Handbook.
To conduct a review of Section 220.06 and Chapter 220.07 of the SUNY Cortland Handbook at least once every three years, and upon completing any such review to recommend needed changes to the Faculty Senate (or to certify that no changes are currently recommended to the Faculty Senate).
To provide guidance to any individual faculty member with academic rank regarding the departmental, school or sub-school personnel review process or problems deriving from it. (See paragraph 220.06, H.5 of the SUNY Cortland Handbook.)
To conduct an investigation of the review process used during a personnel action of an individual faculty member if formally requested by that individual.
1. The faculty member requesting the review should submit all pertinent materials related to the review to the chair of the Academic Faculty Affairs Committee. The individual need not submit a portfolio of supporting documents to the Academic Faculty Affairs Committee, since this material typically would not be reviewed, unless there appeared to have been violations directly involving the evaluation of these materials. It is important to note that disagreements between the candidate and reviewers regarding the weighting of materials do not in and of themselves represent procedural violations. The Academic Faculty Affairs Committee should avoid making judgments regarding subjective evaluations by the reviewers.
2. The Academic Faculty Affairs Committee may request additional materials from the individual requesting assistance. If appropriate, the Academic Faculty Affairs Committee also may interview members of personnel committees involved in the process, as well as the department chair and dean, or for librarians, the supervisor, director of libraries and the associate provost for information resources. However, cooperation by these individuals is strictly voluntary.
3. The investigation may be conducted by the Academic Faculty Affairs Committee as a whole, or by a review sub-committee consisting of at least three members of the Academic Faculty Affairs Committee appointed by the chair of the Academic Faculty Affairs Committee. If a sub-committee is appointed, the chair of the Academic Faculty Affairs Committee should serve on the sub-committee, and all members of the sub-committee should have tenure whenever possible. A committee member must recuse themselves in a situation in which a reasonable question might arise as to their impartiality, or if they are already involved in the personnel process for the faculty member requesting the investigation, provided that at least three other members are serving on the investigation.
4. A letter reporting the committee’s conclusions will be issued to the individual and to the assistant vice president for human resources. This letter should include a description of the process used during the investigation and detailed descriptions of any violations of policies described in the Departmental Personnel Policies, the SUNY Cortland Handbook, the SUNY Board of Trustees policies, or the UUP agreement as well as unwritten but consistently followed procedures of that particular department, that may have occurred.
Except for the four duties specified above, all other faculty matters to be considered by the committee will be designated to it in writing by the Faculty Senate Steering Committee. This includes recommendations by departmental, school or sub-school personnel committees, administrators or individuals.

c. Joint Committee on Student Interests:

To consider and recommend to the Faculty and Student Senates, and their committees, matters related to policies and procedures, academic services, and other such matters that directly concern students. Further, this committee may also make recommendations for new policies and procedures, or other such student related matters designated to it by the Faculty or Student Senates.
To work collaboratively to address joint resolutions that pertain to both governing bodies.
The individual(s) selected to represent the faculty or student senates on the Joint Committee on Student Interests shall attend all Faculty and Student Senate meetings and report on the work of the governing body they represent. In the event that these individuals cannot attend a meeting, they will designate another member of similar classification (faculty or student) to appear in their absence.
The Joint Committee on Student Interests shall be responsible for recruiting applicants, reviewing applications, and selecting winners for the Faculty Senate and the Faculty Memorial Scholarships.

d. Professional Affairs Committee

To consider and recommend to the Senate matters related to professional employees, their welfare, and other related subjects designated to it by the Senate. The committee also will review requests from professional employees regarding issues that are not addressed and/or resolved by existing formal processes and will consider such matters as the committee deems appropriate.
To conduct periodic review of procedures and policies related to the employment of professionals, including mechanisms for advancement, rank, permanent appointment, et al, as outlined in the SUNY Cortland Handbook and contained in the current Agreement between the State of New York and United University Professions, including pertinent Memoranda of Understanding. To propose any changes in language or policy related to the above, as agreed upon by the committee, to the appropriate organization through the appropriate liaison or committee.
To communicate important Senate matters to professional employees, at the discretion of the committee.

Section D. College Research Committee

Membership:

Membership shall be appointed to this committee by action of the Faculty Senate. The Senate secretary, along with support from the Senate administrative assistant, shall prepare the nominations for Senate action. When determining the slate of nominees, the Senate secretary, along with support from the Senate Steering Committee, shall give due consideration to the major responsibilities of the nominees for reviewing proposals and recommending university policy regarding research. Those nominated should either have been successful at obtaining funding for their own research or have had experience in reviewing proposals for an agency outside of SUNY Cortland.

In addition, where possible the Senate Secretary, with support from the Senate administrative assistant and Human Resources, should attempt to provide for equal representation by areas of the university. The appointed members of the committee shall serve three-year staggered terms and shall elect a chair for a one-year term. The administrative officers of the university who are primarily responsible for the research function shall serve as ex officio members of the committee without vote.

Duties:

To collaborate with the university’s director of sponsored programs to provide interested faculty with information about, and assistance with, obtaining support for their research.
To make recommendations to the Faculty Senate regarding the development of policies and to implement policies which may affect the research function of the faculty.
To be responsible for the Faculty Research Program.
To consult with the appropriate officers and organizations in making recommendations for matters of university policy regarding research.
To make periodic reports and file a written annual report at the end of the academic year.
To actively pursue sources of external funding appropriately matched to specific faculty research interests.

Section E. Steering Committee of the Senate

Membership:

The four elected officers of the Senate (chair, vice chair/secretary, treasurer and past presiding chair); the four policy committee chairs (Educational Policy, Academic Faculty Affairs, Joint Committee on Student Interests, and Professional Affairs committees); the state senator; and the parliamentarian ex officio shall comprise the membership of the Steering Committee.

Duties:

To receive and prepare agenda items for the Senate and Faculty meetings.
To act on matters referred to it by the Senate.
To identify and initiate proposals for Senate action.
To act for the Faculty Senate during periods when the university is not in session and it is not possible to call a Senate meeting, with such action to be reported to the Senate at the earliest opportunity.

Section F. College Curriculum Review Committee

Membership:

A committee of 14 members shall be nominated by the Senate secretary and appointed by action of the Faculty Senate.
Membership shall be as follows:
- one member representing mathematics/science
- one member representing social/behavioral sciences
- one member representing fine arts/humanities
- two members representing education
- two members representing professional studies
- one member representing professionals from academic affairs
- one member representing the library
- two student members
- dean of arts and sciences or designee (ex officio, non-voting)
- dean of education or designee (ex officio, non-voting)
- dean of professional studies or designee (ex officio, non-voting)
- registrar (ex officio, non-voting)
- associate provost for academic affairs (ex officio, non-voting)
- curriculum coordinator, (ex-officio, non-voting)
Terms of office shall be two years and shall be staggered. Faculty and student representatives shall be restricted to a maximum of three consecutive terms of office and shall not also serve on a school curriculum committee.

Duties:

To consider curriculum changes that affect the three schools of the university and make recommendations to the provost in a timely and efficient manner.
To make recommendations to the Educational Policy Committee on policy changes that may be necessary.

Section G. General Education Committee

Membership:

A committee of 13 members shall be nominated by the Senate secretary and appointed by action of the Faculty Senate.
Membership shall be as follows:
- one member representing mathematics/science
- one member representing social/behavioral sciences
- one member representing fine arts/humanities
- one member representing education
- one member representing professional studies
- one member representing the library
- two at-large members from the academic faculty
- one member representing the professional staff
- one student member
- dean of arts and sciences or designee (ex officio, non-voting)
- director of Institutional Research and Assessment Office or designee (ex officio, non-voting)
- provost or designee (ex officio, non-voting)
Terms of office shall be two years and shall be staggered.

Duties:

To be responsible for coordinating all aspects of the General Education Program. This includes, but is not limited to:
1. Faculty advisement in general education course development.
2. Development of tools and methodologies for assessment of the program.
To make recommendations to the provost regarding approval of general education courses.
To make recommendations to the Faculty Senate regarding changes in the structure and content of the General Education Program.
To make recommendations to the Educational Policy Committee regarding changes in general education policies.

(Approved by President Bitterbaum May 22, 2006)

Section H. Committee on Teaching Effectiveness

Membership:

A committee of seven members shall be nominated by the Senate Secretary and appointed by action of the Faculty Senate.
Membership shall be as follows:
- one member representing the School of Arts and Sciences
- one member representing the School of Education
- one member representing the School of Professional Studies
- one member representing the library
- two at-large members from the academic faculty
- one student member with at least a junior standing, 60 or more credit hours, and at least one year of full-time attendance at SUNY Cortland
Terms of office shall be three years and shall be staggered, except for student terms, which shall be one year.

Duties:

To be responsible for the development and review of a standard CTE form to be utilized by faculty for the evaluation of their teaching.
To approve individual department procedures for the collection of CTE data and to assure departmental compliance with the procedures outlined in Chapter 260.02 of the SUNY Cortland Handbook.
To approve alternative time schedules for the evaluation of teaching utilized by departments, due to exceptional circumstances, in keeping with the principle of regular, systematic, longitudinal evaluation of faculty.
To make recommendations to the Faculty Senate regarding changes in the procedures and instrument utilized in the evaluation of teaching.
In collaboration with the Faculty Development Center, to promote excellence in teaching through on-campus programming and seminars, which focus on issues, related to teaching.
To make recommendations to the administration regarding resources that can be used by the faculty to improve teaching.

(Approved by President Bitterbaum Dec. 7, 2010)

Section I. Ad Hoc Committees

The Senate, in consultation with the Senate secretary, may appoint such other temporary committees as are needed to facilitate the business of the faculty.
A written report of the work of the committee shall be submitted to the Senate.

Article VIII: Graduate Faculty

There shall be a graduate faculty for the purpose of accepting responsibility for graduate curricula and associated graduate academic affairs of the university. The graduate faculty shall provide a direct advisory mission to the administrative officers designated for graduate studies and related affairs.
The organizational structure and operating procedures of the graduate faculty shall be subject to ongoing review and approval by the Faculty Senate. A representative of the graduate faculty shall represent it on the Faculty Senate.
The graduate faculty shall provide the Senate with a written annual report at the end of the academic year.

Article IX: Meetings of the Faculty

Section A. Calling Meetings

Meetings of the SUNY Cortland faculty shall be called and presided over by the chair of the Senate.
Meetings of the faculty may also be called as provided in the Policies of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York.
Upon formal request of at least 15% of the faculty, a meeting of the faculty shall be called and presided over by the chair of the Senate. Such formal request shall include a statement of the business to be considered at the meeting.
There shall be one plenary session of the faculty each academic year to be held during the afternoon of the president's opening address at the beginning of the fall semester or at another time designated by the chair of Senate that will accommodate the largest possible group of faculty. The purpose of this plenary of the faculty shall be to communicate concerns, issues or other business to the Steering Committee of the Senate to consider for the upcoming academic year.

Section B. Agenda

The agenda for each meeting shall be published one week in advance, except that in emergencies less notice may be given.
Proposed items for the agenda may be submitted to the Senate at any time.
New business not on the agenda may be taken up on a motion passed by two-thirds of those present providing the quorum requirement is met.

Section C. Minutes

Minutes of each meeting shall be recorded and published.

Section D. Quorum

Quorum of the faculty necessary for the conduct of business shall be 15% of the faculty eligible to vote.

Article X: Elections

1. Offices of the faculty to be filled by election by the voting faculty:

Chair of the Senate (past presiding chair designate)
Vice Chair/Secretary
Treasurer
Representative and alternate representative to the State University Senate
Elected representatives of the faculty to other organizations.

2. Offices to be filled by election by the professional staff:

Members of the College Review Panel and the Committee on Professional Evaluation will be chosen in elections conducted by the professionals, not in conflict with the bargaining contract.

3. Offices of the faculty to be filled by election within areas:

School committees, as provided in Chapter 150.03, Article II, Section B.2.
Representatives to the Faculty Senate, as provided in Chapter 150.03, Article VI, Section A.

4. Terms of Office:

At the regular election each odd-numbered year the Faculty Senate chair will be elected for a two-year (academic) term. The Chair shall serve for not more than two terms consecutively. Upon the end of service, the chair shall serve as past-presiding chair for one academic year.
At the regular election each year, a candidate shall be elected to the offices of vice chair/secretary and treasurer. The terms of office of the vice chair/secretary and of the treasurer shall be for one year.
A new Faculty Senate chair shall assume office on the day following Commencement. Other officers of the Senate shall assume office immediately following the last day of examinations in the spring semester.
The terms of office for the three elected representatives of the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Professional Studies and Education, the professional staff, library, and management/confidential shall be two years.
At each regular election, one or two Senators shall be elected from each of these areas as needed to ensure a full representation for each area. The term of office for representatives to the Student Senate shall be one year.

5. Eligibility for Election: Every member of the voting faculty is eligible for any position, except that:

A nominee shall not be elected if the nominee has not accepted the nomination.
No member may be elected to more than two successive terms in one elective office of the Senate.
Members elected to the offices of vice chair, secretary, treasurer or serving as representative to the State University Faculty Senate, shall be ineligible to hold, concurrently, any other elective office of the Senate.
Members elected from a particular area of the university must be members of that area and shall be ineligible to continue in office in the event they cease to be a member of that area.

6. Elective Procedures:

The Senate vice chair/secretary, along with support from the Senate administrative assistant shall conduct all elections, regular or special, for officers and members of the Senate. Voting shall be by secret ballot, using written or electronic means. Persons receiving a plurality of the votes cast shall be considered to be elected.
A regular election shall take place on or before April 15 each year. The Senate shall establish the time of any special elections that may be required.
The Senate vice chair/secretary, along with support from the Senate administrative assistant shall conduct all elections, shall prepare a slate of nominees for presentation to the faculty at a time designated by the chair of the Faculty Senate in consultation with the Senate. The slate shall be publicized at least one week in advance of the Faculty Senate meeting at which further nominations will be received from the floor.
The chair of the Senate shall ask for the report of the Senate vice chair/secretary at a Faculty Senate meeting, after which the chair shall ask for nominations from the floor. Any candidate so nominated must consent to run for the office before their nomination is proposed. When the number of candidates is equal to the number of openings for a given position, the Senate may immediately direct the vice chair/secretary to cast a single ballot on behalf of the faculty to elect those candidates. When the number of candidates exceeds the number of openings for a given position, the final slate shall be posted at least one week in advance of the balloting.

7. Installation of Officers:

Newly elected officers and representatives of the SUNY Cortland Faculty shall be installed at a faculty meeting called by the retiring chair of the Senate in consultation with the Senate, prior to the last day of classes of the spring semester. They shall assume their duties at the end of the spring semester as outlined in Article X, Paragraph 4.b.

8. Vacancies:

A vacancy in an elective position shall exist when a person completes the term of office, resigns from the position, takes leave for one semester or longer and is not available to serve, or is no longer a member of the faculty. A vacancy may also be declared to exist by a two-thirds vote of the Senate.
Any vacancy occurring among the elected officers or members of the Senate shall be filled, for the remainder of the vacated term, by a special election conducted among the appropriate voting constituency, within one month from the date that the vacancy occurs.

Article XI: Conduct of Business

Business of the faculty, at the discretion of the chair of the Senate and with the consent of the Senate, may be conducted by distribution of information and ballots through the mail or electronically, providing that all other requirements of this constitution are met.

Business shall be conducted by "Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised," except where otherwise specified in these bylaws.

Article XII: Faculty Fees

No fees for voting membership in the SUNY Cortland Faculty may be assessed.

The SUNY Cortland Faculty may establish fees for the maintenance of its program of activities.

The Senate shall have authority to approve a budget for the faculty, and to assess fees, subject to the following limitations:

The Senate may approve budgetary items only for faculty recognition upon retirement, for distinguished service, and for the operational expenses of the Senate and faculty.
Fees may be assessed by the Senate not to exceed $10 for a given academic year. All other budgetary items and fees in excess of the stated amount must be approved by a majority vote of a quorum of the faculty necessary for the conduct of business as provided in Article VI, Section D.

The fiscal year shall be from June 1 to May 31 inclusive.

Article XIII: Review of Governance Structure

Section A

There shall be a mandatory review of the entire governance structure at least every five years after the adoption of these bylaws. (The last such review took place during the 2018-2019 academic year.)

Section B

A committee shall be elected by the Faculty Senate from nominees prepared by the Senate secretary, along with support from the Senate administrative assistant. This committee shall conduct the review and present recommendations to the Faculty Senate. Included in the review shall be the specific recommendations of the policy committee chairs with regard to procedures affecting their specific area.

Article XIV: Amendments

This constitution or its bylaws may be amended as follows:

Proposals for changes or amendments to these bylaws shall be made in writing to the chair of the Senate who, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall submit them to the faculty for a vote.
Notice of the time and place of voting on proposed amendments to these bylaws must be announced to, and the text of the proposed amendments must be circulated among, the membership at least one week prior to the voting.
Voting on amendments to this constitution or its bylaws shall be by mail or electronic ballot and shall be approved by a two-thirds vote.
Each proposed amendment shall state the time at which it is proposed to take effect.
With the approval of the president of the university this constitution, with any amendments thereto, shall be in effect.

(Amended by the Faculty Senate April 29, 1996, and approved by President Taylor June 20, 1996)

150.04 Bylaws of the SUNY Cortland Graduate Faculty

These bylaws define the role of the graduate faculty in the governance of the university, in accordance with the legal requirements of the State University of New York, the Policies of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York, and the local College Council. They identify faculty responsibilities and obligations within the administrative and academic structures of the university and provide a plan within which the objectives of graduate study may be pursued.
The purpose of graduate study is directed toward the fulfillment of the following objectives:
1. The expansion, deepening, and strengthening of professional knowledge as a scholarly and creative activity;
2. The improvement of techniques for the dissemination and application of existing knowledge and the generation of new knowledge;
3. The development of a greater understanding of the theories and findings underlying individual disciplines; and
4. The fostering of a critical ability to deal analytically and insightfully with the problems, methods, and instruments of research in a given area of study.

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be the Graduate Faculty of the State University of New York College at Cortland, herein designated as the graduate faculty.

Article II: Object

A. General Responsibility

The graduate faculty has major responsibility for all aspects of graduate study and post-baccalaureate education of the university and shall be responsible for instructional programs, research activities, and service functions at the graduate level. It shall administer its own affairs with its bylaws subject to review by the Senate of the SUNY Cortland Faculty, or its elected successor.

B. Specific Responsibilities

The objectives of graduate study require the graduate faculty to assume the following specific responsibilities:

To introduce students to levels of existing advanced scholarship beyond those characterizing undergraduate work and to encourage a spirit of scholarly inquiry;
To guide students in achieving an understanding of, and proficiency in, productive scholarship and research;
To provide advanced training and educational opportunities leading to professional skill and knowledge of high quality;
To define and maintain academic standards and requirements for advanced degrees and post-baccalaureate education at a high level of quality, consistent with the objectives of graduate study.

Article III: Members

The qualifications for membership require that the nominee meet the following criteria:
1. Experience
  The minimum experience requirement is three years of instruction at the graduate level at any institution of higher education, or three years of library service involving graduate programs.
2. Education
  An earned doctorate in the field of specialization, or the highest terminal degree in the field of specialization, or special training and experience which are acceptable as judged by the particular faculty member's field.
3. Demonstrated Scholarly Ability
  Evidence of interest in the scholarly nature of his/her field as demonstrated by research or publication or the judgment of his/her colleagues in the department concerned.
4. Rank
  Holds the rank of assistant professor or above, assistant librarian or above, or administrative position of school dean or above.
5. Involvement in Graduate Programs
  Has, in the opinion of his/her department, an ongoing involvement in, and commitment to, graduate studies at Cortland.
All applications for membership shall be reviewed and acted upon by the executive committee. An application shall consist of a letter of interest describing how the applicant meets the criteria outlined in Article III. A. and a copy of the applicant's vita.
A member may resign by submitting a written letter of resignation to the presiding officer. The presiding officer shall report all resignations to the executive committee.
Should the need arise, as determined by a two-thirds majority vote of the executive committee, membership fees may be levied. The proposed fee schedule must be submitted to the general membership of the graduate faculty for approval by a two-thirds majority.

Article IV: Executive Committee

The graduate faculty shall be represented by and function chiefly through a thirteen-member executive committee that includes eight voting members of the graduate faculty elected by the graduate faculty. Important matters of policy shall be taken to the entire graduate faculty through meetings and ballot votes as hereinafter provided.

A. Composition of the Executive Committee

The executive committee shall be composed of 13 members, as follows:

One member of the graduate faculty elected by and from the departments of biological sciences, chemistry, geology, mathematics and physics.
One member of the graduate faculty elected by and from the departments of English, history and modern languages.
One member of the graduate faculty elected by and from the departments of childhood/early childhood education and foundations and social advocacy.
One member of the graduate faculty elected by and from the departments of literacy.
One member of the graduate faculty elected by and from the departments of communication disorders and sciences, health, and recreation, parks and leisure studies.
One member of the graduate faculty elected by and from the departments of kinesiology, physical education and sport management.
One member of the graduate faculty elected at large from the library and departments having no graduate programs.
One member of the graduate faculty at large.
One graduate student appointed by the Student Government Association.
One administrator appointed by the provost (ex officio, nonvoting).
One representative of the Registrar's Office (ex officio, nonvoting).
One representative of the Educational Policy Committee (ex officio, nonvoting).
One representative of the Admissions Office (ex officio, nonvoting).
Associate dean of arts and sciences (ex officio, nonvoting).
Associate dean of education (ex officio, nonvoting).
Associate dean of professional studies (ex officio, nonvoting).
One graduate student support representative from Advisement and Transition (ex officio, nonvoting).

B. Elections and Term of Office

Elections for membership on the executive committee shall be run by the executive committee each year during the period April 1 through May 1. Prior to elections, nominations shall be solicited from the entire Graduate Faculty.
Only members of the Graduate Faculty shall be eligible to vote for executive committee positions.
Following the nomination period and elections, if any of seats one (1) through eight (8) on the executive committee remain unfilled, the chair of the executive committee may nominate a graduate faculty member with their consent to fill the open seat. Each nomination must be approved by majority vote of the executive committee. After the vote, the committee will appoint the member for the remainder of the vacated term. The chair should consider the following when choosing graduate faculty to fill an open seat:
1. If an unfilled seat is seat one (1), two (2), three (3), four (4), five (5) or six (6), the appointee should be from the same school that the open seat represents.
2. If there is more than one nominee for other seats, a nominee who was not elected should be considered for appointment to an open seat.
The term of office for members of the executive committee shall be staggered two-year terms, commencing at the close of the spring semester.
No person may serve more than three consecutive terms on the executive committee, except for position #7 (Article IV.A.).

C. Duties of the Executive Committee

The executive committee shall perform the following duties:

Elect a chair of the executive committee, and such other committee officers as may be necessary. The chair of the executive committee shall also be the presiding officer of the graduate faculty.
Elect a member of the executive committee to serve as the representative of the graduate faculty on the Faculty Senate.
Call for applications for graduate faculty status throughout the academic year while reviewing and acting on these applications as part of the regular business of the executive committee.
Keep an updated list of membership of the graduate faculty.
Call meetings of the graduate faculty, as necessary.
Refer matters, as appropriate, to a vote of the graduate faculty.
Review, on behalf of the graduate faculty, all new graduate courses, programs, and degrees, and submit recommendations to the provost and vice president for academic affairs.
Consider matters of general policy and practice affecting graduate affairs and programs, formulate recommendations, and forward such recommendations to the appropriate academic departments and/or member of the university administration.
Conduct a referendum vote of the graduate faculty on any matter that has been petitioned by 25% of the members of the graduate faculty.
Conduct nominations and mail or electronic ballot elections for membership on the executive committee, as specified in Article IV.B.
Conduct mail or electronic ballot votes on amendments to these bylaws as specified in Article V.
In the event of a resignation from the executive committee, appoint a replacement from the appropriate constituency for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Carry out such other duties as may be assigned by the graduate faculty.

D. Quorums

A quorum for the executive committee shall be any five of the nine voting members listed in Article IV.A.
A quorum for meetings of the graduate faculty shall be 25% of the members of the graduate faculty.

E. Vacancies

A vacancy in an elective position shall exist when a person completes the term of office, resigns from the position, takes leave for one semester or longer and is not available to serve, or is no longer a member of the faculty. A vacancy may also be declared to exist by a two-thirds vote of the executive committee in response to excessive absences by an elected member.
Any vacancy occurring among the elected members of the executive committee shall be filled

for the remainder of the vacated term
by a special election conducted among the appropriate voting constituency
within one month from the date that the vacancy occurs.

Article V: Amendment of the Bylaws

The executive committee shall submit a mail or electronic ballot to the graduate faculty of any proposed amendment put forth by the executive committee or petitioned in writing by at least ten members of the graduate faculty.
(1) Amendments to these bylaws must be approved by at least two-thirds of the votes cast.
(2) Proposed amendments shall be mailed or emailed to all members of the graduate faculty at least one week prior to the ballot.
Each proposed amendment shall state the time at which the proposed amendment shall take place.

Chapter 180: Cortland Student Governance

View the Student Government Association constitution and bylaws on the SUNY Cortland Student Government Association website.