We hold that the governing of Glendale Community College is the joint responsibility of the Governing, Board, the administration, and the faculty of the college. In order to promote the full participation of the faculty in the determination of education policy and the execution of that policy, the adoption of this Constitution establishing a faculty Senate is hereby ordained.

The primary functions of the Senate shall be to serve as the exclusive representative of the faculty. of this college to the local college or District administrations and to the Governing Board with respect to academic and professional matters, to select representatives to serve on administrative councils and on coordinating committees of the college's faculties, and to participate in the formation and implementation of educational policies for the local college and the District.

"Faculty," as used in this Constitution, means full-time certified members of departments engaged primarily in teaching and/or research. librarians. teaching, counselors, and certified audio-visual personnel. Further. those who are currently participating, in the MCCD Active Retirement Program at the 49% or 40% level shall also be included in this definition. However, no more than two (2) such retirees may serve on the Senate at the same time, and no retiree may serve as an officer of the Senate.

Only faculty members who are recorded by the Treasurer as having paid or formally pledged the current annual assessment for support of the Senate and the District Faculty Association before November 15 shall be eligible to vote in the election of certain officers (new Senators, President of the Senate, Vice-President of the Senate, District Executive Council non-Senator Representatives), in amending the Senate Constitution, and on other issues directed to the Faculty Association. The positions of Senator, President of the Senate, Vice-President of the Senate, and District Executive Council Representative can be sought and held only by faculty who have met the assessment deadline and have completed one full semester on campus.

The Senate shall consist of fifteen members to be elected at large. In any business affecting a specific department which is not represented, that department shall be called in for consultation.

Section 1. The election of Senators shall be held prior to the second Wednesday in April, and the Senators shall serve from the time of their election.

Section 2. The nominees receiving, the greatest number of votes cast for the existing vacancies will be elected. In case of a tie which would cause the number of elected Senators to exceed the number of existing, vacancies, a run-off election will be required.

Section 3. In an election of multiple Senators, Representatives, or other delegates the Nominating, Committee may choose to conduct the balloting by preferential voting, as illustrated in Robert's Rules of Order and adapted to local needs.

Section 1. Members of the Senate shall serve terms of three years. The terms shall be arranged so that one-third of the membership is elected annually. Term of office for the Senators originally elected shall be determined by the actual number of votes received (i.e., the first five receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected for a term of three years; the next five for a term of two years: the remaining five for a term of one year).

Section 2. There shall be no limitation on the number of terms which Senators may serve, however. they may serve only two terms consecutively.

Section 1. Vacancies shall be declared by the President upon direction of the Senate. New members shall be elected by the faculty to fill unexpired terms.

Section 2. The President shall declare vacancies when a Senator has been absent three consecutive times or four total times during, the academic year. Official school absences resulting in non-attendance are not included.
 
 
 
 

Section 3. A Senator pro tem shall be elected to fill a Senate vacancy resulting, from a sabbatical leave or leave of absence.

On the petition of thirty-five percent or more of the Faculty Association members.. a Senator, or President or Vice-President of the Senate may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of all members of the Faculty Association (Senators, President and Vice-President included).

The officers of the Senate shall include, but shall not be restricted to, a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

Section 1. In the spring of even-numbered calendar years. the Faculty Association shall elect the President and Vice-President of the Senate prior to or at the same as the Senate election prior to the second Wednesday in April.

Section 2. Candidacy for the Senate or incumbency on the Senate shall not disqualify a member of the faculty to stand for election to the President or Vice-President of the Senate.

Section 3. The President and Vice-President of the Senate shall be elected by a simple majority of the votes cast. If no candidate receives a simple majority of the votes cast, a run-off election will be required between the two candidates who received the largest totals of votes in the first election.

Section 4. Officers, other than the President and Vice-President. shall be elected (in secret balloting, only when a candidate is opposed) from among the Senators by a simple majority of the Senators present. This election shall take place at the first meeting following the election of the Senators.

Section 1. The term of office for the President and Vice-President of the Senate shall be two years and shall begin immediately upon election. In the event a special election for President is necessary, the newly elected President will take office immediately and serve the unexpired term of the predecessor.

Section 2. The term of office for officers other than the President and Vice-President shall be one year.

Section 3. All officers shall be eligible for re-election.
 
 

Section 1. President: The President is the presiding officer of the Senate and conducts meetings of the Senate and the Executive Committee. Other duties include appointment of members to serve on special committees subject to Senate approval, ex-officio membership on all committees, convocation of special meetings of the Senate or the Executive Committee, official representation of the Senate and the Faculty Association, and responsibility for communication between the Senate and other groups or individuals, and maintaining appropriate correspondence files. The President must call a general faculty meeting once each semester and may call others when needed.

Section 2. Vice-President: The Vice-President shall perform such duties as may be assigned from time to time by the President or the Executive Committee In addition, the Vice-President shall preside in the absence of the President, and shall succeed the President should the President vacate the office prior to expiration of the term of office.

Section 3. Secretary: The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the Senate and shall be responsible for a written report to the faculty at large, concerning actions and activities of the Senate, following each meeting of the Senate.

Section 4. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of assessments, the keeping of all financial records and making periodic financial reports.

The Executive committee shall be composed of the officers of the Senate. It shall act to prepare the priority agenda for Senate meetings and to recommend actions to the Senate.

 Section 1. The Senate shall elect from its number representatives to administrative councils as they now exist or may be established.

Section 2. Appointments to District coordinating committees shall be determined by the Senate President. They may be Senate members or qualified faculty, All appointments shall be confirmed by the Senate.

Section 3. Representation to the District Faculty Association shall be determined in the following way: a simple majority of the representatives shall be selected by the Senate from its number. The remaining members shall be elected by the Faculty Association from its membership, excluding those who are Senators.

Section 1. The Senate shall meet at least once monthly during the academic year or more often at the call of the President or by request of the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Senate meetings shall be open to faculty members only: however, the President, Vice-President or Senate members may invite non-faculty members for official business.

Section 3. Faculty members may participate at any time as non-voting members.

A majority of the elected Senate shall be considered a quorum.

Section 1. The President of the Senate shall vote only in the event of a tie.

Section 2. A voting record of each Senator shall be kept for every matter requiring a vote in the Senate, except for the election of Senate officers, which shall be by secret ballot only when candidates are opposed. Such voting record shall indicate by the name of the Senator either a "yes" a "no" or an "abstention."

Section 3. In the event the President of the Senate is required to vote to break a tie, that vote of "yes" or "no" shall also be recorded.

Section 4. This record shall be a regular item in the Secretary's written report to the faculty.

On all matters of internal functioning not other-wise covered by the Constitution of the Senate, these shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order.

Section 1. By unanimous vote of the Senators, the Senate may resolve itself into an executive session where only Senators may be present.

Section 2. In executive session, no record shall be kept of debate, except that which is ordered by the Senate, and no Senator shall reveal the nature of the executive proceedings to any person without the permission of the Senate.

Section 3. No recommendations either to the administration or to the trustees of the District shall be enacted during executive sessions.

Section 1. There shall be no standing committees of the Senate other than the Executive committee.

Section 2. Special committees may be established by simple majority approval of the Senate.

Section 3. Special committees shall at the pleasure of the Senate.

Section 4. The size. purpose, and membership of a special committee shall be determined or modified by the Senate. Non-Senate membership on special committees may be permitted by the enabling action of the Senate with specification concerning a non- Senate member's right to vote in committee.

Section 5. Membership of continuing special committees shall be reconfirmed or modified by the Senate prior to October of each academic year.

Section 6. Vacancies on special committees shall be filled by the President of the Senate, subject to approval of the Senate membership.

Section 7. Special committees shall report and be responsible to the Senate.

Section 8. A Nominating Committee composed of two non-officer Senate members and three non-Senate Faculty Association members shall be established by February 15 of each year. The Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Senate shall select the members of this Nominating Committee. If a replacement is needed for a Senator, Vice-President, or Representative before February 15, the same method shall be followed to form an Ad Hoc Nominating Committee.

Section 9. The Nominating Committee shall announce to the Senate in March a slate of candidates for the Senate positions which will become vacant. The number of candidates will exceed the number of vacancies. Before preparing the slate of candidates, the committee will, by general announcement, encourage submission of names of faculty members who have agreed to be candidates for the Senate. The nominating Committee will also be responsible for counting votes.

Section 10. In the spring of even-numbered calendar years, the NominatingCommittee shall present a slate of at least two candidates each for the offices of President and Vice-President. The Committee will utilize the same procedure designated for preparing the slate of Senate candidates.

Section 1. None of the above provisions shall restrict or limit the power of the Senate to propose or participate in Joint committees involving the Governing Board, the District administration. the local administration. other colleges in the district. or the students of Glendale Community College. The nature and extent of participation of Senate members on the joint committees shall be determined by the Senate as the need or opportunity arises.

Section 2. Special committees may be designated by the Senate to represent the Senate in joint committee activities.

Section 3. Regular reports of the progress of Joint committees shall be made to the Senate.

Section4. Recommendations of a joint committee shall be referred 16 the Senate for approval; other-wise, such recommendations shall not apply the concurrence of or be binding upon the Senate.

The administrative head of the college, any member of the Senate, or ten percent of the members of the faculty may place an item on the agenda of the Senate by written notice to the President of the Senate. The President shall provide the faculty with an agenda one week in advance of all meetings except the executive sessions.

Section 1. The Faculty Senate shall of its own determination concern itself with any academic and professional matters which it deems important to the welfare of the college or the enlightened self-interest of the faculty.

Section 2. The Senate shall be the agency of the faculty in exercising its primary responsibility for such matters as curriculum, subject matter and methods of instruction, faculty status (including appointments, evaluations, and dismissals), and those aspects of student life which relate to the educational process.

Section 3. The Senate shall. on behalf of the faculty, actively participate, directly or through its representatives, in the determination of policies and procedures governing salary, fringe benefits, sabbaticals, and general conditions of

employment.

Section 4. The Senate shall, on behalf of the faculty. participate in the selection of administrators of the college. bringing its recommendations to the attention of the Chancellor and the Governing Board of the District.

Section 5. The Senate shall work jointly with administration officials on the appointment of faculty members to the administrative committees and to extracurricular responsibilities.

Section 1. The Senate may request the administrative head of the college to call a -general faculty, meeting for consideration of matters of general faculty interest.

 Section 2. The Senate may request the advice of the general faculty through written ballots or other communications.

Section 3. Any matter considered by the Senate must be referred to the faculty for a secret ballot on petition of ten percent of the total faculty or on demand of onethird of the Senators.

Section 4. A general faculty meeting shall be called by the President of the Senate upon presentation to him/her of a petition of ten percent of the faculty. The President shall call the meeting within three days of the receipt of the petition.

Recommendations of the Senate shall be forwarded through regular established administrative channels. However. the Senate may, after consultation with the administration, present its views and recommendations directly to the Governing Board.

Faculty members will be asked to pay an annual assessment. the amount to be determined by the requirements of the Senate and the District Faculty Association budgets. Faculty members who have not paid or formally pledged the full assessment by November 15 will not be eligible to vote in Faculty Association elections or be nominated for or retain the position of Senator, President, Vice-President or Executive Council Representatives.

This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of Faculty Association members present at any general or specific faculty meeting called for that purpose or of those returning a written ballot. provided that the proposed amendment shall have been presented in writing to each member at least one week in proceeding the voting.

This constitution shall become effective by a simple majority vote of the total faculty by a secret ballot in meeting or by written ballot submitted to the total faculty.