faculty handbook

The Constitution of the Boston University Council

These documents govern the conduct of the Boston University Council.

Article I - Name

The name of the organization shall be the Boston University Council.

Article II - Purpose

The Council may consider and recommend action on any matter that is of common concern to faculty and administrators and that affects two or more Schools and Colleges of the University. The Council shall consider and recommend action, or act, as appropriate, on such other matters as may be referred to it by the President, the Faculty Council, or the Council of Deans.

Article III - Membership

The membership of the Council shall consist of the officers of the Faculty Council; the immediate past Chairman of the Faculty Council; the Faculty Council representatives, or, in their absence, alternate representatives; the Chairman of the standing committees of the Faculty Council; the President; the Provost; the Deans of the Schools and Colleges; and such other administrative officers as the President shall designate by a memorandum transmitted to the Faculty Council and the Council of Deans prior to the first meeting of the Council in each academic year. The Faculty Council may designate, from among the alternate representatives to the Faculty Council, fifteen alternates to serve in the absence of Faculty Council members of the University Council. The President may designate fifteen alternates to serve in the absence of administrative members of the University Council. The total number of administrative officers who are voting members of the Council shall not exceed the total number of faculty members on the Council.

Article IV - Meetings and Procedures

The regular meetings of the Council shall take place twice each semester. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Committee. Fifty percent of the faculty members and fifty percent of the administrative members entitled to vote, counted separately, shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business.

The President shall preside at Council meetings. In the President's absence, the Chairman of the Faculty Council and the Provost shall alternate as presiding officer.

The agenda of the Council shall be prepared jointly by the President and the Chairman of the Faculty Council, or by their delegates.

Proposed actions of the University Council shall be transmitted to the Faculty Council and the Council of Deans for their review and comment. Final actions of the University Council shall be reported to the President, the Faculty Council, and the Council of Deans.

Article V - Executive Committee

The Committee shall act for the Council when it is not in session. The Committee shall report to the Council at each meeting all actions taken by it since the last Council meeting. The actions of the Committee are subject to review and to modification or recision by the Council. The powers of the Committee shall include:

  1. Considering matters referred to the Council and assigning them to appropriate committees;
  2. Receiving reports from other Council committees and recommending their placement on the agenda of the Council, or, as appropriate, taking preliminary action on such reports and transmitting these actions as proposed actions of the Council to the Faculty Council and Council of Deans;
  3. Functioning as a nominating committee for the Council;
  4. Establishing committees of the Council and framing their charge, appointing their membership, and establishing the terms of their existence.

Article VI - Membership in the Executive Committee

The members of the Committee shall be the President, the Provost, the Provost of the Medical Campus, a representative from the Council of Deans, the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary-Treasurer, and immediate past Chairman of the Faculty Council, and the Chairmen of all other committees of the Council.

Article VII - Meetings of the Executive Committee

The regular meetings of the Committee shall ordinarily take place monthly from September through May. Special meetings may be called at any time by the President. Fifty percent of the faculty members and fifty percent of the administrative members, counted separately, shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business. The President shall preside at Committee meetings. In the President's absence, the Chairman of the Faculty Council and the Provost shall alternate as presiding officer.

Article VIII - Other Committees

The Council may establish committees and determine their charge, membership, and term of existence. Committees may be established to consider and recommend action in any area appropriate for Council consideration, including the following:

  1. Admissions and Enrollment Policies
  2. Budget
  3. Curriculum and Degrees
  4. Planning
  5. Scholarly Activities and Libraries
  6. Student Life and Policies
  7. Faculty Policies
  8. Administrative Policies

The Chairmen of all committees of the Council shall be appointed from the voting membership of the Council. Other committee members may be appointed from the faculty or the administrative officers of the University. Insofar as practical, the Council shall maintain parity between faculty and administrative members in the appointment of Chairmen and committee members.

Article IX - By-Laws

The Council shall establish by-laws consistent with the provisions of this Constitution. By-laws shall be adopted, amended, or repealed by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting at any meeting of the Council provided that the proposed change has been submitted in writing to each member of the Council at least ten days before the meeting.

Article X - Amendments

Amendments to this Constitution may be placed on the agenda at the request of one-third of the voting membership of the Council, provided the proposed amendment has been submitted to each member of the Council at least one month before the meeting, and shall take effect when approved by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting, and by the Council of Deans, the Faculty Council, and the Board of Trustees.

Article XI - Relationship to Other Governing Bodies

Nothing in this Constitution shall supersede or limit the customary authority of the Deans and Faculties of individual Schools and Colleges, or the Constitutions of the Faculty Council and the Council of Deans. All provisions, procedures, and by-laws of this Constitution are valid only as they are consistent with the Charter and By-laws of Boston University.

Article XII - Ratification

This Constitution shall come into effect when approved by the Council of Deans, the Faculty Council, and the Board of Trustees.