Powers

  • Formulate and develop comprehensive educational policies and regulations.
  • Define and establish Institute-wide policies on academic matters, including admission policy, grading standards, and the requirements to be met by the candidates for the various degrees.
  • Establish the Standing Committees herein defined and such temporary committees as may be needed to conduct its business in an orderly and efficient manner.
  • Consider all candidates for degrees and recommend to the President that the appropriate degree be conferred on each approved candidate.
  • Recommend through the President to the Board of Regents the establishment, modification, or discontinuance of degrees, of departments of instruction and of colleges; and the establishment, modification, or discontinuance of centers which function to coordinate interdisciplinary educational and research programs.
  • Consider proposed general regulations governing student conduct, all phases of student life and activities, and all forms of student organizations insofar as these matters are properly subject to the jurisdiction of the Institute. All such proposals must be approved by the Academic Faculty and the President prior to implementation.
  • Rescind or modify actions of the Academic Faculty Senate.
  • Make recommendations to be considered by the Research Faculty or the whole Faculty.
  • Establish its rules of procedure and determine all matters pertaining to its own meetings not otherwise specified in this Handbook.

Meetings

The President shall be the presiding officer of the Academic Faculty.  The Academic Faculty shall meet at least once a year, in the Spring semester. The time of meeting shall be determined by the Faculty Executive Board. One hundred (100) members present at a scheduled or properly called meeting shall constitute a quorum.  Special meetings may be called on the President’s own volition or shall be called by the President on petition of fifty (50) members to the President, or on the recommendation of the Faculty Executive Board.  In such special meetings the matters considered shall be restricted to those listed in the call for the meeting.

In the President’s absence, the Provost shall preside.  In the absence of both the President and the Provost, the Chair of the Faculty Executive Board shall preside. All members of the Academic Faculty shall have the right to vote.

Minutes shall be kept by the Secretary of the Faculty and shall be posted online.

Presidential Veto
The President shall have the power of veto over any action of the Academic Faculty. The President shall notify the Secretary of the Faculty, in writing, of the veto and the reasons for it, within sixty (60) days from the date of the action of the Academic Faculty.  The Academic Faculty may appeal the veto to the Board of Regents through the Chancellor by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at a scheduled or properly called meeting. Any such appeal shall be sent via the President who shall forward it to the Board of Regents through the Chancellor.

Standing Committees
The Academic Faculty serves as the parent body to the following Standing Committees whose functions and procedures are specified in Section 2.6:

  • Institute Undergraduate Curriculum Committee
  • Institute Graduate Curriculum Committee
  • Student Regulations Committee
  • Student Academic and Financial Affairs Committee
  • Student Activities Committee
  • Student Grievance and Appeal Committee
  • Student Honor Committee
  • Student Computer Ownership Committee
  • Academic Integrity Committee

Recommendations from these committees may be approved by the Academic Faculty or by its Academic Faculty Senate.