Written mostly by Gretchen Gould, Immediate Past Chair, UNI Faculty Senate. Minor edits by MHW, current Chair.
This is a proposal to amend the UNI Faculty Senate Bylaws Section 7.4 addressing the order of business each Senate meeting should follow. The intent of this proposal is to move routine and/or non-controversial items to a consent agenda. This will allow Senate to take care of routine issues efficiently and easily so that more time can be spent on substantive matters. A consent agenda process would allow UNI Faculty Senate to review and group routine and/or non-controversial items and adopt these items all at one time without debate. At the beginning of each Senate meeting, a consent agenda will be presented by the Senate Chair. Items may be removed from the consent agenda on the request of any one senator. Items not removed may be adopted by general consent without debate. Removed items may be taken up either immediately after the consent agenda or placed later on the agenda at the discretion of the Senate. The following is loosely based on procedures followed by ISU’s Faculty Senate.
I. Call to Order
II. Call for Press Identification
III. Consent Agenda
a. Minutes of Faculty Senate Meeting – dates of minutes
b. Emeritus requests
c. Docket calendar
d. Other routine and/or non-controversial items?
IV. Announcements and Remarks
a. President Nook
b. Provost Wohlpart
c. Faculty Chair Kidd
d. Senate Chair Walter
V. Unfinished Business
VI. New Business
VII. Good of the Order
VIII. Adjournment
Be it resolved that the UNI Faculty Senate will discuss and vote to approve or reject a change in Senate Bylaws Section 7.4 addressing the order of business each Senate meeting should follow. This change moves routine and/or non-controversial items to a consent agenda.