Texas Tech University System governing board lays out guidelines, rules for faculty senates

The Texas Tech University System Board of Regents has created and adopted rules for the creation of faculty senates on each of the five component universities.

This comes after the  Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 37 , which is aimed at moving control of the faculty senate under the discretion of the university's governing boards and the university presidents.

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The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal was able to obtain an advance copy of the new rules and guidelines that would allow the formation of faculty senates. Here's a look at what the rules from the TTU System stipulate and how current faculty senates operate at the five universities in the system.

Regents' rules restrict faculty senates to comply with new state law

Entitled Texas Tech University Regulation 07.20, the Board of Regents allows the establishment of faculty senates at each of its five universities if they comply with the regulations by Sept. 1, 2025.

The regulations stipulate that all of the faculty senate bylines and constitutions must comply with Texas Education Code 51.3522 , with the following expectations:

• The Senate must provide adequate representation in the Senate membership of each college and school at the university.

• Senate membership must be limited to current faculty members at the university.

The regulations further stipulate that the Senate can not exceed 75 members, with each college and school having at least two representatives.

However, the regulations allow the Senate to determine in its bylaws how to ensure adequate representation of colleges/schools.

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For example, the university may indicate that the number of elected faculty from each college/school will be proportional to the total student enrollment of the respective college/school relative to the total student enrollment of the other colleges/schools.

But there are also further requirements for Senate membership — at least one senator from each school/college will be appointed by the university president, and the others will be elected. The regulations further state that:

• Those members appointed by the university president can serve up to six consecutive one-year terms and can only be reappointed two years after the last term.

• Those elected can only serve a single two-year term and can only be re-elected after leaving office.

• Members can be removed from office for "failure to conduct the member's responsibilities within the Senate's parameters or expectations, including but not limited to failure to attend Senate meetings or engaging in other similar misconduct."

• Also, the provost/chief academic officer can recommend, and the president can approve the removal of a senator.

According to the regulations, "the university president shall appoint a Presiding Officer, Associate Presiding Officer, and Secretary from the Senate membership."

Ultimately, the regulations clarify that the Senate's role in the "University's shared governance structure is advisory only, and a Senate may not be delegated final decision-making authority on any matter."

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And that the Senate's shared governance can not be used to obstruct, delay or undermine "necessary institutional reforms or serve as a mechanism for advancing political or economic purposes."

And when it comes to the Senate taking a vote of no confidence regarding any university or Texas Tech System administrator or policies related to curriculum or academic standards, the names of the senators in attendance at the meeting must be recorded.

Current status of faculty senates around Texas Tech University System

Each Faculty Senate is styled similarly across the Texas Tech System, only varying slightly in rules and procedures when comparing their governing documents.

While the new rules adopted by the regents and S.B. 37 invest the power of choosing the senate's presidents, vice president, and secretary to the respective university president, all have already elected this year's new president.

It remains to be seen how each university president will handle the appointment of those already elected to serve in their positions or if the presidents will appoint new individuals to these roles.

Here is a deeper look into each faculty senate at the five universities in the TTU System.

Texas Tech University

The current TTU Faculty Senate in Lubbock, Texas is comprised of 59 senators — representing 13 colleges and the Southwest Collection librarians/archivists who serve three-year terms and can't be re-elected within a year after leaving the office. The only colleges not represented in the senate are:

• The Honors College.

• The Graduate School.

• School of Veterinary Medicine.

• Texas Tech Costa Rica Campus.

In its constitution , the Senate considers itself as an "advisory body to the President of the University and may consider all matters of university concern."

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"Should the President of the University choose not to follow a recommendation of the Faculty Senate, the President shall inform the Senate in writing of the reasons therefore and, upon request of the Senate, the President shall meet with the Senate for discussion of the matter," reads the Senate constitution.

The TTU Faculty Senate's governing documents, meeting agendas and minutes can be found at  www.depts.ttu.edu/senate/. They are scheduled to meet via Zoom at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 21.

Angelo State University

The Faculty Senate at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, is comprised of 25 members , with each department having at least one teaching faculty representative. Each member of the senate serves a three-year term.

According to the Senate's governing document, it too sees itself as an advisory body to the university.

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"The Faculty Senate is advisory to the President of the University and the Vice-President of Academic Affairs (Provost); as such, provides for representative participation of the faculty as interested partners in decision-making and the effective management of the vital affairs affecting campus issues," reads the Senate constitution.

More information can be found at www.angelo.edu/faculty-and-staff/faculty-senate/ .

Midwestern State University

The Faculty Senate at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, is comprised of 25 members who serve two-year terms. Each college has at least two senators in the senate.

"The Faculty Senate shall be an advisory committee to the President of the University, and shall advise, when appropriate, administrative officers of the University on proposed changes in policy," reads the Senate constitution.

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More information can be found at https://msutexas.edu/facultysenate/ .

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

The Faculty Senate of TTUHSC in Lubbock is composed of 20 members representing the university's Lubbock schools with representation from the university's regional campuses in Amarillo, Odessa, Midland, Dallas, and Abilene.

Not a lot is publicly accessible of the Faculty Senate's operations as its meeting agendas, minutes, and governing documents are blocked by a TTUHSC student/faculty/staff login account.

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According to the Senate's website , "the purpose of the Faculty Senate is to promote interaction and collaboration between the members of the faculty of all schools as well as to represent the faculty as an advisory body to the TTUHSC President on common issues affecting institutional governance, the faculty and the faculty's responsibilities in teaching, practice, research, and service."

More information can be found at www.ttuhsc.edu/faculty-senate/default.aspx .

TTUHSC El Paso

The Faculty Senate of TTUHSC in El Paso, Texas is comprised of 16 members representing the four schools of the university and serves three-year terms.

According to the Senate's website, TTUHSC El Paso President Dr. Richard Lange and Vice President for Faculty Success Dr. Koko Aung serve as ex-officio members of the Senate.

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"While members of the Faculty Senate will represent the faculty in regard to institutional issues, they will not be tasked with addressing school-specific issues, unless requested to do so by the faculty governance body of the school they represent," reads the Senate's bylaws.

More information can be found at ttuhscep.edu/faculty-senate/default.aspx .

Mateo Rosiles is the Government & Public Policy reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip for him? Email him:  mrosiles@lubbockonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech System regents establish rules for university faculty senates