Organizational History of the Faculty Senate

The Faculty Senate of the University of Denver was established in 1932. Initially called the University Senate, it was formed to address matters of faculty salary and budget deficits that the University faced during the first years of the depression. When it was formed, the Senate consisted of all faculty members of full professional rank, all members of the Board of Trustees and administrative officers of the University. The faculty felt that they were not adequately consulted in matters of salary and budget decisions, and the Senate was formed in part to rectify the situation.

The Faculty Senate has responsibility for setting faculty personnel policies, including salary guidelines, sabbatical leave, faculty review and tenure. The Honors Committee of the Senate awards the Distinguished Teacher award and the University Lecturer for each year, as well as honorary degrees. The Senate was instrumental in the creation of the Core Curriculum, development of policies regarding domestic partner benefits, and was involved in the decision to become a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I school. Over the years the Senate has also been involved in situations affecting the entire University. For example, the ad-hoc Committee on Student Unrest was formed in 1969 to address the student concerns which led to the “Woodstock West” action in 1970.

Senate Organization and Membership

The composition of the Faculty Senate has changed over the years. In 1947, the Senate consisted of the chancellor, six trustees, including the president of the board, 12 administrators, 15 full professors, 11 associate professors, 10 assistant professors, nine instructors, and three part-time faculty, a total of 67 members. The chancellor was the ex-officio president of the Senate. The vice-president and the secretary were elected annually, one of which was to be a trustee and the other a faculty member. The standing committees of the Senate included committees on Budget, Academic Policy, Personnel, Honorary Degrees, and Nominating.

In 1952 the Senate constitution was amended again. The composition of the body now included the chancellor, 12 other administrators, and 48 full-time faculty of all tenured ranks. The chancellor no longer served as president of the Senate. Six ex-officio members of the Board of Trustees were included, and they now had floor privileges but no voting rights. The president, vice-president and secretary were elected annually by the Senate membership. An executive committee was added to the standing committees. It consisted of the president, vice-president, secretary, and the chairs of the other standing committees. A Committee on Instruction and Curriculum and a Research Committee were added, presumably to replace the Academic Policy Committee, which was dropped. A Committee on Student Life was also added.

In 1955 the Board of Trustees membership was eliminated from the Faculty Senate. A Financial Planning Committee was added in 1967. By 1971 the membership of the Senate was expanded to include representatives from the Denver Research Institute and the Library. The constitution was amended again in 1974, when representatives from the undergraduate and graduate student body were added. A number of standing committees were also added or changed in 1974. The Committee on Student Life became the Committee on Student Affairs, and committees on Computer Policy, Faculty Review, Library Policy, and Sabbatical Leave were added. In 1976 the Bookstore Policy Committee was added. Representatives from the Department of Athletics were added in 1984.

In 1986 the standing committees were reorganized once again. The committees on Instruction and Curriculum and Research were folded into an Academic Planning Committee. This committee was also charged with computer planning and library policies. The duties of the Faculty Review Committee and the Sabbatical Leave Committee were assigned to the Personnel Committee. Bookstore management and policy was assigned to the Committee on Student and Alumni Affairs.

During the 1980's the administration's representation to the Senate was decreased. In 1986 only the Vice-Chancellors for Academic Affairs and Research were given membership in the Senate. The standing committees continued to work with the administration in their respective areas of concern.

As of the fall of 2002, the Senate membership consists of approximately 50 members representing all the academic units. More information on current membership and activities can be found on the Faculty Senate website.