Article I: Name
This organization shall be known as the Sierra College Academic Senate, hereinafter referred to as “the Senate.”
Article II: Powers and Responsibilities
Section 1. The purpose of the Academic Senate is to provide the faculty with its formal representative voice.
The Senate represents the Sierra College faculty in “academic and professional matters” as defined in AB 1725 and Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. Title 5, paragraph 53200 (b) states that the Academic Senate is an organization whose primary function is to make recommendations with respect to academic and professional matters. Section 53200 (c) defines “academic and professional matter” as 1) Curriculum including establishing prerequisites and placing courses within disciplines, 2) Degree and certificate requirements, 3) Grading Policies, 4) Educational program development, 5) Standards or policies regarding student preparation and success, 6) District and college governance structures, as related to faculty roles, 7) Faculty roles and involvement in accreditation processes, 8) Policies for faculty professional development activities and assessment, 9) Processes for program review, 10) Processes for institutional planning and budget development, and 11) other academic and professional matters as mutually agreed upon between the governing board and the academic senate. “Faculty” is defined as any full- or part-time faculty member.
Section 2: Board Delegated Responsibilities
The Senate may accept any powers and responsibilities delegated to it by law and/or by the Board of Trustees.
Section 3: Recommendations to the Board
The Senate shall present its written views and recommendations directly to the Board of Trustees or through other regularly established channels.
Section 4: Consultation
The Senate shall be available to act as a consultative body both to the president of the college and to the Board of Trustees in any matter affecting the conduct and welfare of the college.
Section 5: Meetings
The Senate shall be responsible for conducting any meetings necessary for carrying out these responsibilities as stated in Article II, section 1.
Section 6: Creating Faculty Committees
The Senate shall have the responsibility of creating standing committees of the Senate as appropriate to address faculty responsibilities. The Senate shall maintain oversight of standing committees and must approve all changes in standing committee policy. Committees of the Senate will conduct meetings and make independent decisions within policy guidelines. Standing committees of the Senate are specified in the Bylaws.
Subsection 1: Merging and Disbanding Faculty Committees
The Senate may disband or combine any faculty committee(s) not required by law. Committees of the faculty may be disbanded or merged only after public deliberation and only to assist the Senate and faculty in carrying out their responsibilities as specified in Article 1, Section 1.
Section 7: Appointments to Committees
The Senate shall appoint all faculty members to serve on college standing committees and ad hoc committees.
Article III: Organization and Election of Officers
Section 1: Composition and Representation on the Academic Senate
The Senate shall consist of representatives from organizational units of the college, of at-large representatives, and representatives of the part-time faculty. The membership of the Senate shall be comprised of 10% of the Full-time obligation as set by the Chancellor’s Office for the district with two faculty representatives from each division, two faculty members from student services and two faculty representatives from the part-time faculty. The remainder of the positions shall be at-large positions. The maximum size of the Academic Senate shall not exceed 25 members. In the event of a divisional reorganization at the college, the Academic Senate will correct its membership over time, as individual Senator’s terms expire.
Section 2: Senate Officers and Duties of the President
Senate officers shall include a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer and as stipulated by the Bylaws. The president’s duties shall include but not be limited to presiding over meetings, attending Board meetings, meeting with administrators, serving on the central planning and governing board of the college, communicating the will of the Senate and all faculty to appropriate bodies, acting as liaison with faculty and other faculty bodies, maintaining communication with the State Senate, and other duties as required. The duties of the Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be set forth in the Bylaws. Terms of office shall be two years, reelectable for a period not to exceed two consecutive terms. All senators are eligible to serve as officers with the exception that the office of the President must be filled by a full time faculty member. The responsibilities and duties of any office may be borne by only one individual and are not transferable to any other officer or member. Officers shall be elected by simple majority of the Academic Senate.
Article IV: Senator Election Procedures and Terms of Office
Section 1: The Election Process
The Vice-President will serve as chair of the election process.
Section 2: Voting Dates and Terms of Office
Regular elections to fill vacant seats shall be held annually in March. Newly elected Senators will serve 3-year terms beginning on June 01.
Section 3: Election Procedures
The Academic Senate shall designate election procedures, times and polling places in its Bylaws or by a vote of the Senate.
Clause 1
Any qualified voter may appeal alleged election irregularities to the Academic Senate by initiating a petition signed by twenty fellow faculty members, either full- or part-time, and presenting an oral appeal to the Academic Senate during a regularly scheduled meeting. Senators may resolve the appeal by a vote recount or by voiding the election and re-conducting the election or any other appropriate action as decided by a simple majority vote of the Academic Senate.
Section 4: Nominations to serve as an Academic Senator
Members of the faculty shall be nominated to serve as a Senator through nomination petition.
Clause 1: Full-time Faculty
Full-time faculty may become candidates by
- Originating a petition that must be subsequently endorsed by seven other members of the full-time faculty, or
- Accepting (signing) a nominating petition that has been signed by seven members of the full-time faculty.
- Two faculty members may be nominated to share a single senate position that shall be restricted to a single vote in the decision making process.
Clause 2: Part-time Faculty
Part-time faculty senators will be nominated to serve by
- Originating a petition which must be subsequently endorsed by seven other members of the part-time faculty, or
- Accepting (signing) a nominating petition that has been signed by seven members of the part-time faculty.
- Two faculty members may be nominated to share a single senate position that shall be restricted to a single vote in the decision making process.
Section 5: Senatorial Leave-of-absence
Senators, whether full- or part-time, may request a leave from Senate duties for up to one year. Interim replacements will be sought from the appropriate represented area and elected through simple majority by the Academic Senate.
Section 6: Senatorial Terms of Office
A senate member’s term shall be 3 academic years. Senators will serve from June 01 of year 1 to June 01 of year 3. Senators elected in mid-term will serve for the remainder of the term. Replacement elections for senators unable to complete their full terms shall be conducted as noted in Article IV, Section I.
Article V: Procedures
Section 1: Meetings and the Brown Act
All meetings and notices of meetings will be held in accordance with the Brown Act. The Senate may hold closed meetings only to discuss those issues requiring confidentiality; no actions may be taken in closed sessions.
Section 2: Recommendations, Agendas and Referrals
The Senate shall determine appropriate procedures for preparing and presenting recommendations, formulating agendas, referrals to committees, and holding and conducting meetings.
Article VI: Changes to the Constitution and Bylaws
Section 1: Changes to the Constitution
Amendments to the Constitution require a two-thirds majority of all votes cast by Sierra College faculty.
Section 2: Changes to the Bylaws
Changes to the Bylaws require the consensus of the Senate.