Rules

1. Meeting notification

Notification of Faculty Senate meetings shall be in accord with the state requirements of Wisconsin's open meetings law. An agenda must be available at least 24 hours before the meeting. No actions may be taken at the meeting that are not listed on the agenda as planned or possible actions.

2. Preparation of agenda

Preparation of the agenda is the responsibility of Secretary of the Faculty and Staff, Speaker of the Senate, University Committee, and the Chancellor (52.07 B. 1.). Items for future agendas may come from: items introduced in a Senate meeting during New Business (52.06 F.); petitions from ten percent of the Faculty (52.08 B.); or requests from individual faculty members through a senator (52.08 B.) or through the University Committee.

3. Parliamentary procedure

Parliamentary procedure shall be governed by Robert's Rules or the Standard Code.

4. Quorum definition

A majority of Senate members, not counting ex-officio members, shall constitute a quorum.

5. Automatic consent

There shall be no "automatic consent" items on the Senate agenda, although there may be items such as the approval of minutes that are automatically included on the agenda.

6. Proxy, absences, subs

(For 2004-2005) Senators may be replaced as per (52.05) for the remainder of their terms, but if a Senator cannot make a particular meeting, there shall be no voting by proxy or substitution as per (52.03 B. 4).

(Beginning September 2005) Senators may be replaced as per 52.05 for the remainder of their terms. If a Senator cannot make a particular meeting, there shall be no voting by proxy, but a duly elected alternate may attend and vote as per 52.03 B. 4.

7. Speaking recognition and limits

The Speaker of the Senate must recognize all those who speak at a Senate meeting and may limit participation in the interests of full discussion. Robert's Rules suggest recognizing people who have not yet spoken before giving the floor to someone who has already spoken and that ten minutes is a reasonable limit for holding the floor.

8. Disposition of approved motions

Actions taken by the Senate shall be sent to the Chancellor for implementation. Resolutions calling for action should include a date of effectiveness.

9. Policy on first and second readings

Proposals to change codification or make significant policy change shall come before a meeting of the Senate for discussion prior to any action taken at a subsequent meeting.

10. New business

New Business may include: discussion items intended to be enacted at the next meeting (first readings of proposals); discussion items not intended for action; items (except code changes and significant policy changes) for immediate action; and proposing items for future consideration.

11. Open forum

An Open Forum is an opportunity for any member of the Senate to pose a question or raise an issue and an opportunity for other members to react. No motions may be enacted during an Open Forum.

12. Order of business

The categories of business before the Senate shall have the following order:

Call to Order; Approval of the Minutes; Chancellor's Report; Continuing Business; New Business; Provost's Report; University Committee Report; Open Forum; Adjournment.

13. Adjournment procedure

Adjournment happens automatically at 5:00 p.m. unless the meeting is extended by a two-thirds vote.

Adopted by vote of the Faculty Senate 12-10-2003, amended 2-18-2004