According to the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), “faculty should have a primary interest in academic affairs, including curriculum, program changes and development, and admission and graduation requirements.” [1] The University of Memphis Faculty Senate represents the faculty in academic and governance matters. Faculty members hold positions on all graduate and undergraduate curriculum committees and tenure and promotions committees.
Curricular additions and revisions are initiated and approved at the level of the unit (department, school, division) responsible for the administration of the program or requirement. After unit approval (e.g., the department committee) requests are reviewed by the college committee and then reviewed by the college dean. Prior to action by the provost, all undergraduate requests are reviewed by the University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee [2] and graduate requests by the University Council for Graduate Studies and Research. [3]
In the spirit of shared governance and responsibility, the Faculty Senate:
A. Serves as the primary vehicle of faculty participation in the establishment of university policies;
B. Evaluates and makes recommendations on policy in academic and closely related areas that touch on academic matters;
C. Approves graduation and general education curriculum requirements;
D. Evaluates and makes recommendations on university-wide minimum criteria for faculty appointment, promotion and tenure;
E. Evaluates and makes recommendations on policies associated with conditions of employment;
F. Evaluates and makes recommendations on policies for the academic use and operation of various academic support functions including the University Library and Computer Services, the university calendar, and other services or functions that directly affect academic matters;
G. Makes recommendations on issues related to academic matters that are not specifically academic in nature;
H. Has responsibility for the maintenance of academic freedom and responsibility at the university;
I. Is the forum for the formulation of faculty opinion.
J. Reviews and approves the Faculty Handbook [4] of the University of Memphis. [5]
The Faculty Senate has standing committees that review and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate on such matters as admissions, retention standards, and residence requirements; library and computer services and other similar support activities; academic freedom and responsibility, Faculty Handbook, faculty tenure and promotion; faculty research opportunities and awards; the allocation and use of over-head funds; and administrative policies associated with the use of buildings, facilities, and areas of student life that are of academic concern. [6]
Almost all university committees have significant faculty representation, including, for example, the university Policy Review Board, [7] Information Technology Policy and Planning Council, [8] the Space Policy Council, [9] and the Faculty Athletics Committee. [10]
3.4.1
