(this web version of the constitution is considered an official document of the Academic Senate)

ARTICLE I - THE NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1. NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Faculty of Sonoma State University (hereinafter referred to as the Faculty).

Section 2. PURPOSES

The purposes of this organization shall be (1) to exercise the rights and authority specifically delegated to the Faculty by the Board of Trustees as well as the Chancellor of the California State University, including the legislating of policy governing the awarding of grades and granting of degrees; (2) to serve as the primary consultative body in the University in formulating, evaluating, and recommending to the president policies concerning (a) curriculum and instruction, (b) appointments, promotion, evaluation, and granting of tenure to members of the faculty, and (c) academic administrative matters of the institution; and (3) to serve as the primary body through which members of the faculty may express opinions on matters affecting the welfare of the University.

ARTICLE II - ORGANIZATION AND POWERS OF THE FACULTY

Section 1. MEMBERSHIP

The Faculty of Sonoma State University is defined as follows:

1.1 Individuals who hold appointment to an instructional position, whether tenured, probationary, or lecturer, full- or part-time.

1.2 Individuals who hold appointment as Assistant Librarian, Senior Assistant Librarian, Associate Librarian, or Librarian.

1.3 Individuals who hold appointment at the rank of Student Services Professional II or above.

1.4 Individuals who hold appointment as Athletics Coaches, whether full- or part-time.

1.5 This definition of Faculty also includes anyone on sabbatical or difference-in-pay leave, anyone in the first year of a leave of absence without pay, anyone in the Faculty Early Retirement Program during their period of active Employment, or anyone on part-time Reduced Time Base.

Section 2. POWERS

The ultimate authority of this organization shall be vested in meetings of the Faculty. Specific powers or general powers delegated to the Academic Senate (hereinafter referred to as the Senate) by the Faculty and deriving from the purpose of the Faculty as stipulated in Article 1, Section 2, shall be provisional in that any decision may be referred to the Faculty for approval as hereinafter provided. The Faculty may not take any action that would restrict academic freedom. The Faculty may by resolution delegate its duties to appropriate committees, groups, or individuals, except that it shall not delegate the powers to elect its own officers and faculty committees responsible for faculty personnel decisions.

Section 3. APPEAL

Any action by the Senate which is not referred by that body to the Faculty for approval shall be considered final; except that: (a) upon petition by 10 percent of the Faculty, any action of the Senate may be appealed to a meeting of the Faculty. Said petition must be filed with the Secretary of the Faculty within 15 academic work days of such Senate action. The appeal shall be considered at the next regular meeting of the Faculty, or any additional meeting called under any of the provisions of Article IV, Section 1; (b) upon petition by 10 percent of the Faculty, filed with the Secretary of the Faculty within 15 academic work days of the Senate action, a special meeting of the Faculty shall be called by the Executive Committee of the Senate to take place within 10 academic work days of the filing of the petition. Such a special meeting of the Faculty shall be conducted in accordance with Article IV.

Section 4. OFFICERS

4.1 MEMBERSHIP

The officers of the Faculty shall be a Chair, a Vice Chair, Secretary and Immediate Past-Chair (when occupied).  The term of each office shall be one year, re-electable to a second year. On completing service as Chair, the Chair shall succeed directly to the position of Immediate Past Chair for a term of one year. In the event of a Chair serving a second consecutive term, the Immediate Past Chair seat shall not be occupied.

4.2 NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS OF THE FACULTY

Elections shall be held annually by secret ballot, under procedures specified in the By-laws. Candidates shall be declared elected who receive a majority of all votes cast in the election. In the event that no candidate receives a majority of votes cast, the process is governed by procedures provided in the By-laws.

4.3 RECALL OF OFFICERS OF THE FACULTY

Recall of officers of the Faculty is governed by procedures provided in the By-Laws.

ARTICLE III - ORGANIZATION AND POWERS OF THE SENATE OF SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

Section 1. COMPOSITION OF THE SENATE

The Senate of Sonoma State University shall be composed of the following:

1.1 OFFICERS OF THE SENATE

The Chair of the Faculty shall serve as Chair of the Senate; the Vice Chair of the Faculty shall serve as Vice Chair of the Senate; the Secretary of the Faculty shall serve as Secretary of the Senate.

1.2 COLLEGE MEMBERS

Each College shall have three seats on the Senate. The Library shall have one seat on the Senate. Senate members from Colleges and the Library shall be elected by their represented body. If the represented body is unable to elect members to the Senate, the total size of the Senate shall adjust accordingly. The Colleges and the Library shall communicate to the Senate office each election cycle the results of their elections.

1.3 AT-LARGE MEMBERS

(a) Two Senators chosen at-large by the Faculty and two Lecturer Senators chosen at-large by the faculty from among those who are half-time or more Lecturers. If any of these seats is unable to be filled, the total size of the Senate shall adjust accordingly.

(b) Statewide Senators allocated to the University by the Statewide (CSU) Academic Senate.

(c) Student Services Professionals Senators chosen at-large by eligible Student Services Professionals shall occupy two seats on the Senate. If any of these seats is unable to be filled, the total size of the Senate shall adjust accordingly.

(d) The Past Chair of the Faculty (when occupied).

1.4 EX OFFICIO SENATOR

The Chair of each Standing Committee shall serve as an ex officio voting member of the Senate.

1.5 UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS

The President, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Student Affairs, and the Vice President for Administration and Finance/Chief Financial Officer of the University shall each serve as an ex officio, non-voting member of the Senate.

1.6 STUDENT SENATORS

One student Senator, non-voting, to be selected by SSU Associated Students, and the Associated Students Executive Vice President, non-voting.

1.7 STAFF SENATOR

A member of the University's staff shall serve as an ex officio non-voting member of the Senate. The manner in which this staff representative is selected shall be established in the By-laws.

1.8 CFA REPRESENTATIVE

The Chapter President from the California Faculty Association, or designee, as a non-voting member.

1.9 EMERITUS FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE

One faculty member with Emeritus status shall serve as a voting member. The manner in which this Emeritus representative is selected is provided in the By-laws.

2.0 NO MULTIPLE VOTES

Under no circumstances shall any one person be eligible to cast more than one vote in the Senate.

Section 2. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

2.1 MEMBERSHIP

The Executive Committee of the Senate shall consist of the Chair of the Senate, the Vice Chair of the Senate, the Secretary of the Senate, the Past Chair of the Faculty (when occupied), two Senators elected each year by and from the Senate, one Statewide Senator chosen by lot each year, the Chairs of the Standing Committees, and -- ex officio and non-voting -- the President, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Student Affairs , the Vice President for Administration and Finance/Chief Financial Officer, and the Chapter President from the California Faculty Association, or designee.

2.2 DUTIES

The Executive Committee shall serve as an agenda committee for both the Senate and the Faculty. It shall represent the Senate and the Faculty as needed, and act for the Senate when that body is not in session, reporting its actions at the next Senate meeting.

Section 3. ALL-FACULTY ELECTIONS

3.1 PROCEDURE

The Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary of the Faculty, the Statewide and at-large Senators, and others who are elected to office by campus-wide ballot shall be elected at the beginning of each Spring semester. Election of the representative members shall follow as specified in Article II, Section 4.2.

3.2 VOTING AND GOVERNANCE SERVICE RESTRICTIONS

3.2.1 Tenured or probationary Faculty members whose appointment or teaching assignment is interdepartmental shall vote in the college of their department or equivalent unit regardless of the distribution of their teaching assignment. Lecturers shall vote in the college in which the major fraction of their teaching assignment is located.

3.2.2 Members of the Faculty, as defined in Article II, Section 1, serving in any administrative or management capacity, other than as a department chair or as a faculty fellow, are not eligible to vote on any Faculty or Senate business and are not eligible for election to any Faculty or Senate office or committee.

3.2.3 Only Members of the Faculty as defined in Article II, Section 1, whose appointment is at least fifty percent of the normal full-time load are eligible to vote on any Faculty or Academic Senate business, or are eligible for election to any Faculty or Academic Senate office or committee.

3.3 TERMS

The representatives and at-large members of the Senate shall be elected for three-year terms with no restriction on re-election. The terms shall be staggered, either by agreement or by lot, under the supervision of the Chair of the Structure and Functions Subcommittee.

3.4 RECALL OF SENATORS

Recall of representatives elected at-large is governed by procedures provided in the By-laws.

3.5 REFERENDA

After being approved by the Senate, the Senate election process shall be made available for faculty referenda on critical issues. Referenda shall include pro and con statements and resource implications statements. Only referenda that emerge from the Senatorial process shall be recognized by the Senate as reflecting faculty opinion.

Section 4. POWERS OF THE SENATE

The Senate shall act in lieu of the Faculty in all matters not reserved for direct action by the Faculty in this Constitution. Actions of the Senate shall be deemed to have been approved by the Faculty.

4.1 IMPLEMENTATION OF POWERS

The Senate shall (a) exercise the authority granted to the Faculty alone by the Board of Trustees or the Chancellor; (b) be the primary consultative body to the President regarding educational and professional matters delegated to the President by the Board of Trustees or Chancellor; (c) exercise the right to express its judgment on any matter affecting the welfare of the University, its students, The California State University, or the academic profession as specified in Sections 4.2 and 4.3. The authority retained by the Faculty does not include those items specifically identified under HEERA as belonging to the exclusive representatives of Units 3 and 4, respectively.

4.2 POLICY ACTIONS OF THE ACADEMIC SENATE

The Senate shall adopt policies regarding the awarding of grades, the conferring of degrees and any other matters over which it is granted authority by California Statute, the Board of Trustees, or the Chancellor. Such policy shall be forwarded to the President for implementation as soon as possible.

4.3 POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ACADEMIC SENATE

The Senate shall exercise its right to formulate, evaluate, and recommend policies regarding academic programs and other educational and professional matters by forwarding official "Academic Senate Policy Recommendations" to the President. Those approved by the President shall immediately become official University policy. The President shall return to the Senate, in a timely manner, those which they do not approve or judge to require further consideration or emendation. The President shall inform the Senate of the reasons why recommendations were returned.

Section 5. BY LAWS

The Senate shall adopt a set of By-laws not in conflict with this Constitution.

ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS

Section 1. MEETINGS OF THE FACULTY

Faculty meetings shall be held once each semester. Additional meetings may be called under any of the following conditions:

a) At the request of the Chair of the Faculty;

b) At the request of the Vice Chair of the Faculty;

c) At the request of the Executive Committee of the Senate;

d) At the request of 10 percent of the Faculty, by petition stating the topic(s) for discussion and submitted to the Executive Committee of the Senate; and

e) At the request of the President of the University.

1.1 CONDUCT OF THE MEETING

The Chair of the Faculty shall preside at all meetings of the Faculty. In their absence, the Vice Chair of the Faculty shall preside. The meeting shall be conducted according to the provisions of Robert's Rules of Order.

Section 2. SENATE MEETINGS

Meetings shall be held at least once a month each semester. Additional meetings may be called under the same conditions outlined in Article IV, Section 1.

Section 3. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Meetings shall be held one week in advance of each regularly scheduled Senate meeting to prepare an agenda which shall be distributed to the campus community; or upon the Chair of the Faculty, President of the University or any three voting
members of the Executive Committee.

Section 4. RULES

The Senate By-Laws shall establish rules of order which shall govern procedures in all meetings of Faculty bodies.

ARTICLE V - COMMITTEES

Section 1. ESTABLISHMENT

The Senate, by procedures outlined above and in conformity with its By-Laws, shall establish Standing Committees, Ad hoc Committees, and other such committees as shall be deemed necessary.

Section 2. GENERAL FUNCTIONS

The general functions of committees shall be to make recommendations to the Senate, through the Executive Committee, or if necessary through a meeting of the Faculty as a whole, regarding matters referred to a given committee by:

a. the Faculty or the Senate;
b. the Executive committee of the Senate;
c. other Committees or Subcommittees of the Senate;
d. the administration of the University;
e. any Academic Unit
f. individual members of the faculty, staff, and student body; and all other matters within its charge.

Section 3. MEETINGS

All meetings of Senate bodies shall be open to the public, with exceptions as defined in the By-laws.

ARTICLE VI - AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

The Constitution may be amended on petition of 25 percent of the faculty or through a motion passed by two-thirds majority of the Senate, which petition or motion must be ratified by a two-thirds majority of the faculty voting at a meeting of the Faculty, or by a two-thirds majority of faculty voting in a referendum, and provided that in either case the proposed amendment has been distributed to the Faculty at least 15 academic work days in advance of the action of the Faculty. Amendments become effective upon the concurrence of the President of the University.

ARTICLE VII - ENACTMENT OF CONSTITUTION

This Constitution shall become effective on joint approval by a majority of the Faculty voting and the President of the University.

Adopted by SSU Faculty and Approved by the President: Spring 1984
Amendments Approved by the SSU Faculty: Spring 1989
Amendments Approved by the President: Fall 1989
Amendments Approved by the SSU Faculty: Fall 1990 & Spring 1991
Amendments Approved by the SSU Faculty: Fall 1991
Amendments Approved by the President: Fall, 1991
Amendments Approved by the President Fall, 1995
Amendments Approved by the SSU Faculty and President, Fall 2001
Amendments Approved by the SSU Faculty and President, Fall 2003
Amendments Approved by the SSU Faculty and President, Fall 2008
Amendments Approved by the SSU Faculty and President, Fall 2010
Amendments Approved by the SSU Faculty and President, Spring 2012 
Amendments Approved by the SSU Faculty and President, Fall 2015
Amendments Approved by the SSU Faculty and President, Fall 2024