1. University Faculty Governance

The Board of Trustees Statement on University Governance (T73-098 as amended) endorses the 1996 joint Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities by the American Association of University Professors, the American Council on Education, and the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges and recognizes faculty primary responsibility in academic matters and faculty status. The Faculty fulfills these primary responsibilities at the department, school and college level through appropriate committees, including personnel committees, and at the campus level through the Faculty Senate with its committees and councils.

Faculty Senate

The Faculty Senate provides oversight and advice to the central administration on most campus matters, including planning, development, budget, and other administrative matters. The Faculty Senate does not exercise responsibility with respect to faculty personnel issues or working conditions, which are bargained by the University administration and the Massachusetts Society of Professors, a union affiliate of the Massachusetts Teachers Association. The Faculty Senate consists of 60-80 elected senators from approximately 20 election districts including all academic departments and the library. There are also more than 20ex officio members, including the President, Chancellor, Provost, Vice Chancellors, and Deans. The Senate’s elected officers include the Secretary, Presiding Officer, Delegate to the Board of Trustees, and two Associate Delegates to the Board of Trustees. The elected officers, plus 4 members elected at-large, comprise the Rules Committee, which elects a Chair from among its at-large members. While the Chancellor is the titular President of the Faculty Senate, the Secretary is the chief operating officer and spokesperson. The Chair of the Rules Committee also plays a substantial leadership role, since the Rules Committee manages the flow of work to the councils and committees, sets the agenda for each full meeting of the Faculty Senate, and meets regularly with the Chancellor and Provost. The Faculty Senate meets approximately every two weeks, but not less than once a month, during the academic year. https://www.umass.edu/senate

Massachusetts Society of Professors

The Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP), 105 Hampshire House, is the exclusive collective bargaining agent for faculty members and librarians on the Amherst campus. Along with its statewide and national affiliates (Massachusetts Teachers Association and National Education Association), MSP represents unit members' professional and employment rights through negotiation and maintenance of a contract with the Trustees. Membership in or payment of an agency service fee to MSP is mandatory and gives unit members the right to representation in most aspects of their employment covered by the MSP contract. Faculty have the right to be represented in meetings that may result in discipline. https://umassmsp.org/

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