Approved by the Texas A&M Health Science Center Faculty Senate on November 9, 2000

The mission of the Texas A&M University System Health Science Center is to educate and develop physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, scientists, health care educators and public health professionals to advance knowledge through research and to work with clinical partners to deliver quality patient care. The foundation of the Health Science Center is its faculty. Therein lie the knowledge, the commitment to learning, and the source of constructive progress upon which education and research rest. The interests of students, scholarship and society are best served when the faculty brings its special talents to bear through cooperative participation in the governance of the institution.

Therefore, this constitution is presented to foster a community of mutual respect and cooperation within the Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, to facilitate effective faculty participation in academic governance, to broaden communication in matters of concern to the Health Science Center, and to engage the facultyÂs skills in the guidance of the Health Science CenterÂs programs in order to achieve excellence in all areas of its mission.

PART I. NAME AND FUNCTIONS

The body shall be known as the Faculty Senate of the Texas A&M University System Health Science Center (hereinafter known as the Faculty Senate or Senate). The Senate shall report directly to the President of Texas A&M University System Health Science Center as an advisory body. No System or component officer or body shall exercise control over the SenateÂs recommendations. The Senate is the facultyÂs only representative body for system-wide participation in the governance of The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center (Policy 12.04.99.Z1). It shall serve as the representative voice of the faculty of the Health Science Center. It shall receive, initiate, and communicate ideas, reviews, and recommendations of policies affecting the Health Science Center as they relate to the welfare, academic opportunities, and responsibilities of the faculty.

A. Policy

The Faculty Senate may choose to review System Health Science Center policies and regulations dealing with the following matters and submit recommendations to the President and/or other appropriate person or unit. The Faculty Senate may also initiate proposals for such policies and regulations.

1. Policies dealing with curricula and instruction,
2. Policies dealing with academic standards,
3. Policies dealing with all forms of student and faculty distinction, and
4. Policies and procedures dealing with the hiring, retention, tenure, promotion, and evaluation of academic personnel.

B. Advisory

The Faculty Senate may give advice on all matters pertaining to the general welfare of the System Health Science Center.

C. Rhetorical

The Faculty Senate shall be a forum for discussion and debate of any issue vital to the Health Science Center. It will garner faculty opinions and transmit those opinions to the appropriate person or unit.

D. Reporting

The Faculty Senate shall publish the minutes of its meetings and shall present a report annually to the faculty.

PART II. ORGANIZATION OF THE FACULTY SENATE

A. Structure

1. The Faculty Senate shall be unicameral.
2. Initial electoral units shall be the Baylor College of Dentistry, the College of Medicine, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the Institute of Biosciences and Technology and the School of Rural Public Health. Additional electoral units shall be represented in the same manner as new member institutions are added to the System Health Science Center.
3. There shall be 3 senators elected from each electoral unit and each electoral unit shall also elect senator to the Faculty Senate on the basis of apportioned representation as established by the Bylaws.

B. Membership

For purposes of the Faculty Senate, individuals eligible for election shall be anyone appointed by Texas A&M University System HSC as designated in the Bylaws. In the case of questioned status under this provision, the decision of the Faculty Senate shall be final. Senators are to represent the entire faculty of the Health Science Center as well as the member institutions from which they are elected.

C. Terms and Qualifications of Office

1. Following a term of approximately two years for the initial Senate, a senator shall serve for three years. A maximum of two consecutive terms is allowed for each member of the Senate. After serving for two consecutive terms, a faculty member can be elected in any but the next election cycle.
2. To the extent possible, one-third of the senators from each electoral unit shall be elected each year.
3. Faculty members seeking election to the System HSC Faculty Senate shall be self nominated or nominated by the faculty of their electoral units according to guidelines established by the Senate Bylaws.
4. Any faculty member, as defined above, is eligible for election to the System HSC Faculty Senate.

D. Electors and Elections

1. All faculty members, as defined above, are eligible to vote, but shall vote in only one electoral unit with the exception of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS). Full members of the Graduate Faculty (as defined by the GSBS) may vote in and/or represent the GSBS in addition to their primary electoral unit but may not fill two Senate seats simultaneously.
2. Senators shall be elected by a place system, by majority vote, and by secret ballot within their respective electoral units.
3. Elections of senators shall be held annually in December. A time shall also be established for absentee voting by the Faculty Senate Bylaws.
4. Runoff elections shall be held according to guidelines established by the Faculty Senate Bylaws.
5. Vacancies shall be filled by special elections held according to guidelines established by the Faculty Senate Bylaws.
6. The Faculty Senate may petition an electoral unit to hold a recall election in the case of a senator who is unduly absent as detailed in the Bylaws.
7. Faculty senators elected each December shall take their seats at the next regularly scheduled Senate meeting following the faculty Senate certification of the election returns.

E. Officers and Committees

1. Officers
   The officers of the Faculty Senate shall be a Speaker, Deputy-Speaker, and Secretary- Treasurer. The duties of the officers are detailed in the Bylaws.
   1. The speaker of the Faculty Senate shall be elected annually by the Senate from its members and shall serve as the chair of the Executive Committee.
   2. The Speaker shall be the presiding officer of the Senate and shall exercise other powers delegated by the Faculty Senate.
   3. Other offices may be established by the Faculty Senate as necessary to carry out its functions.
2. Standing Committees
   1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the Senate plus Caucus Leaders. The Executive Committee shall exercise powers delegated by the Faculty Senate and detailed in the Bylaws.
   2. An Election Committee shall be elected by the Faculty Senate from its own members. The Election Committee shall exercise powers delegated by the Faculty Senate and detailed in the Bylaws.
3. Other committees may be established by the Faculty Senate as required to carry out its functions.

F. Operation

1. A simple majority of the membership of the Faculty Senate shall constitute a quorum.
2. The Faculty Senate shall establish its bylaws and rules of procedure.

G. Reapportionment

Reapportionment of the Faculty Senate shall take place every three years.

PART III. AMENDMENT

A. Initiation

Amendments to this constitution shall be initiated by:

1. Written petition presented to the Faculty Senate submitted through representative faculty units of the member institutions.
2. A two-thirds vote of the membership of the Faculty Senate, following a written presentation and discussion of the proposed amendment in a previous regularly scheduled meeting.

B. Ratification

After a proposed constitutional amendment is initiated, the speaker of the Senate shall publish notification of the proposed amendment. Within one month after public notification the Faculty Senate shall hold an open meeting to discuss the proposed amendment. Within one month after the open meeting the Faculty Senate shall vote for or against ratification. Ratification shall require approval by two-thirds of the total membership of the Faculty Senate.