Governing Regulations
The Faculty Senate is governed by a number of UW Trustee regulations, which have the force of law where it pertains to the operations of the University. Such regulations include UW Regulation 2-300 and UW Regulation 2-301. It is further governed by the Faculty Senate Bylaws which describes the work of the senate, provide a forum in which to shape and advise on university policy and serves as the body charged with expressing the collective voice of the University Faculty. The Senate observes and follows Roberts Rules of Order.
University Regulation 2-300 establishes that "The president and professors of the university shall be styled “the faculty”, and may enforce rules and regulations adopted by the trustees for the government of students, reward and censure students as they may deserve, and generally exercise such discipline, in harmony with the regulations, as is necessary for the good order of the institution. The faculty may present to the trustees for degrees and honors such students as are entitled thereto, and in testimony thereof, when ordered by the board, suitable diplomas, certificates or other testimonials under the seal of the university, and the signatures of the faculty. When, in course of time, distinct colleges or departments of the university are duly organized and in active operation, the immediate government of such departments shall, in like manner, be entrusted to their respective faculties."
University Regulation 2-301 establishes the purpose and focus of the Senate, the operational issues which the Senate has input on, and the general duties and responsibilities of the Senate such that "Subject to the powers of the Trustees and President of the University, and relevant laws (state and federal), the responsibilities of the Faculty Senate shall include:
- To establish and review curriculum
- To establish general requirements for conferring degrees and certificates
- To establish standards for admission, retention, dismissal, and education of students
- Participation in formulating and implementing policies governing standards and procedures for faculty appointments, promotion and tenure, post tenure review, dismissal, academic freedom, sabbatical leave, employment benefits, and conduct and discipline
- Participation in planning and decisions regarding physical and human resources, space allocation, and budgetary priorities of the University
- Participation on any Financial Exigency Advisory Committee
- To provide input on the selection of a new President and a Provost of the University
- To propose amendments or additions to, provide recommendations on, and be substantially involved in establishing UW Regulations and Standard Administrative Policies and Procedures that have an impact on the academic mission, including but not limited to curriculum, degrees and certificates, and admission, retention, dismissal and education of students
- To provide a means for which any matter pertaining to the academic mission may be brought to the Faculty Senate or the University Faculty for discussion and appropriate action and
- To establish and maintain the Faculty Senate Bylaws."
Still have questions?
Check out our FAQ!
You can check out our Guide for New Senators and here is this guide to the Duties and Responsibilities of new (or existing) Senators.
Robert's Rules of Order are a guide to parliamentarian processes and procedures to ensure the orderly running of meetings. Here is our summary guide.
Double check your junk mail folder for the materials. If they are not there, please email Beau Brown or the Faculty Senate office to get added to the faculty senate email list-serv.
Please email Beau Brown or the Faculty Senate office. A name tag will be printed and be available at the next meeting of the Senate. Unfortunately, name tags are only available to regular senators, not their alternates.
Faculty senate typically meets twice a month (barring holidays) throughout the academic year, excepting the winter break. You can find the schedule on our records page.
You can find a list on our membership page.
Our standing committees, their charges, and membership make up can be found on our committee page.
The executive committee is responsible for the organization and function of the Faculty Senate. You can learn more about the current make-up of the committee through this page.
Please don't hesitate to contact our office!
What about shared governance?
Shared governance is the practice whereby faculty, staff, students, administrators, and governing boards each have defined, recognized roles and regular, meaningful input into university decisions — especially those affecting curriculum, hiring/appointments, academic programs, budgets that affect teaching and research, and institutional priorities. In healthy models: faculty speak for academic standards and curriculum, administration handles operations and implementation, and the governing board sets policy and fiduciary oversight. The ideal is collaboration + transparent process + mutual respect so decisions are both effective and academically legitimate.
Shared governance is both a constitutional idea for universities (the question of who decides what and how) and a daily operating practice that depends on transparent procedures, mutual respect, and enforceable mechanisms. The Spring 2025 disputes illustrate how quickly governance breakdowns can escalate — and they also create an opportunity: if the Board, administration, and Faculty Senate convert recent attention into clear rules, timely communication, representative committees, and accountability, UW can rebuild trust and make shared governance function as the ideology intends
