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Chapter 1: Faculty Governance,  Section IV: Standing Committees

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B. Membership

1. Unless otherwise specified in Policy Memoranda 1.501, 1.502, and 1.503, [appointments shall be for two-year staggered terms, commencing on the first class day of the fall semester.] terms of office for faculty members of standing committees shall be three years, commencing on the first class day of the fall semester, with one-third of the faculty membership appointed or elected each year. Faculty members are eligible for immediate reappointment or re-election to a new term of service, unless they have just served six or more consecutive years, in which case they must be off the committee for at least one year before serving on the committee again.1 [During the first half of the spring semester the voting members of each committee shall elect a chair elect, who shall assume the office of chair on the first class day of the following fall semester for a term of one year.] Each General Faculty Standing Committee shall elect a chair elect or vice chair at the beginning of the fall semester. If the committee opts for a vice chair, then the chair elect shall be elected in the spring semester. The chair elect shall be elected no later than the last Friday in February. Faculty members of the committee whose terms of service extend through the following year or who are eligible for reappointment to the committee are eligible to be elected as chair elect. A chair elect whose term of service does not extend through the following academic year will be reappointed for an additional term. A faculty member shall serve no more than three consecutive years as chair on committees with three-year terms. A faculty member shall serve no more than five consecutive years as chair on committees with five-year terms. [During the first meeting of each standing committee in an academic year a vice chair will be elected by the committee.]2 Individuals on early retirement, phased retirement, or modified service shall not be eligible to serve on standing committees when the membership is elected.
2. Except as provided in Policy Memorandum 1.502, all standing committee members from the student body shall be appointed by the President from panels of names submitted by the appropriate student committee. If any student panels have not been submitted to the President by October 1, then the Dean of Students after consultation with student leaders shall supply the needed list or lists of names. All panels shall include at least two names more than required to make initial appointments and considered necessary to fill any subsequent vacancies.
3. Appropriate administrative officers, whether or not members of the General Faculty, shall be designated as administrative advisers to standing committees. Administrative advisers shall not have vote.
4. The President shall serve as an ex officio member of all standing committees. In addition, the Regents' Rules and Regulations may specify other administrative officials to serve as voting members of specific committees.


1 Proposed change (D 8664) approved by the Faculty Council on May 9, 2011. On May 31, 2011, Provost Leslie recommended approval. Pending approval from the president. Final approval resides with UT System.
2 Proposed change (D 8665) approved by the Faculty Council on May 9, 2011. On May 31, 2011, Provost Leslie recommended approval. Pending approval from the president. Final approval resides with UT System.

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  Updated 2011 July 15
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