Revised April 28, 2025

The Faculty Senate is governed by Faculty Policies and Procedures Chapter 2. This document provides further detail around key operational areas.

Agenda items

• All Faculty Senate agenda items must be approved by the University Committee (UC) at least five business days prior to the scheduled Faculty Senate meeting. (See FPP 2.08 for the agenda item submission deadline and UC decision authority on agenda first reading/action items.)
• All proposed resolutions (excluding memorial resolutions) for the Faculty Senate must be reviewed by the UC at least five business days prior to the scheduled Faculty Senate meeting. The UC reviews resolutions for proper form and may suggest changes to the resolution’s authors.
• All FPP Chapter 6 committee annual reports must be reviewed by the UC at least five business days prior to the committee’s scheduled presentation at a Faculty Senate meeting.
• The UC will review proposed Faculty Senate agenda items for legality and compliance with Wisconsin Administrative Code, the Board of Regents, the Universities of Wisconsin (UW System), and university policies and procedures before an item will be approved for the Faculty Senate agenda.
• Faculty senators strongly encouraged to bring any potential Faculty Senate issues to the UC for discussion/feedback/consideration before making an official agenda item request.

Feedback on Faculty Senate business

• Feedback can be provided on any business before the Faculty Senate by emailing the secretary of the faculty and/or the UC chair.
• The UC may hold open faculty meetings to discuss and solicit feedback on items to be brought before the Faculty Senate.

Written ballots

• Per FPP 2.10.C, written ballots can be requested by 10 senators. This request can be made either 1) prior to a meeting by contacting the Office of the Secretary of the Faculty or 2) at a meeting, prior to a vote on the related item of business. If the request is made at a meeting, a senator may ask for other senators to join them in requesting a written ballot.
• Written ballots will be distributed in both paper and electronic form and follow rules under FPP 2.10.C.

Honorary degrees

• The Faculty Senate vote on UW-Madison honorary degrees will automatically be conducted via written (paper and electronic) ballot, not viva voce or by a show of hands.

Special meetings: threshold for determining likelihood of quorum and whether to hold a special meeting

• See FPP 2.06 regarding the calling of special meetings of the Faculty Senate.
• When there is a request for a special meeting, the secretary of the faculty will poll the Faculty Senate to determine the best day and time for the meeting and likely attendance.
• In consultation with members of the University Committee, the chair of the University Committee will make the final decision on whether to hold a special meeting, taking into account the likelihood of a quorum, including a reasonable threshold to account for possible no-shows, and the likelihood that senators will have a reasonable time to speak with their constituents.