1.04 – Conduct of University Faculty Business

  1. The Chancellor is the presiding officer of the University Faculty. If the Chancellor is absent, the Provost serves as the presiding officer. In the absence of both the Chancellor and Provost, the President pro tem of the Faculty Senate shall serve as the presiding officer.
  2. The latest edition of “Robert’s Rules of Order,” governs procedure in meetings of the University Faculty, except as it may conflict with special rules which the Faculty may adopt. The Chancellor, in consultation with the Nominations Committee, annually appoints a parliamentarian.
  3. At any meeting of the University Faculty, time may be set aside for the University Faculty to meet as a Committee of the Whole for the discussion of matters of general interest. The University Committee has the responsibility for preparing the agenda for such meetings of the Committee of the Whole, over which the Chair of the University Committee presides.
  4. Schedule & Agenda
    1. The Faculty Senate Rules Committee (see Supplement to Chapter 6, A2.6) sets the schedule for regular Faculty and Faculty Senate meetings and prepares the calendars for regular and special Faculty and Faculty Senate meetings.
    2. Any member of the University Faculty may propose a matter for consideration at any regular meeting of the Faculty by submitting it to the Secretary of the University no later than two working days before the scheduled Faculty Senate Rules Committee meeting. The calendar for a special meeting of the University Faculty is prepared as far as possible in advance of such meeting. To be considered for inclusion on the calendar of a Faculty meeting, proposals must be submitted in writing and accompanied by reports or statements which the Faculty Senate Rules Committee deems necessary for an understanding of the proposed business.
    3. Motion to place upon the calendar any matter omitted from it may be made at any meeting of the University Faculty, and, if such motion is passed, the matter shall go upon the calendar for the next regular meeting of the University Faculty.
    4. The calendar for any regular meeting is published by the Office of the Secretary of the University and is made available to the University Faculty at least one week prior to regular Faculty meetings and as far in advance as possible for special Faculty meetings.
  5. Automatic Passage
    1. The Faculty Senate Rules Committee may put at the head of business for any University Faculty meeting any administrative actions or informational reports of any Faculty committee, or of any college or division of UWM that may appear to be suitable for passage by “automatic consent.”
    2. Any member of the University Faculty may call up and debate any matter recommended for automatic passage.
  6. The Secretary of the University prepares the minutes of each Faculty meeting and makes them available to the University Faculty. The minutes stand approved under the rule for automatic consent, unless the Faculty otherwise determines at the next regular meeting.
  7. Documents which are attached to the calendar of any meeting are given identifying numbers.
  8. Business of a confidential nature, such as a report of the Honorary Degrees Committee, is so indicated on the calendar and in the distributed minutes by title or other brief form, and is explained on the floor.