UMass Dartmouth Faculty Senate records

The Faculty Senate is an organization made up of members of the faculty, concerned with academic matters and matters relating to the intellectual life of the university, including policies on admission, grading and academic regulations, granting of awards, student activities and cultural affairs, and policies governing University Research, the library, and computer usage. The Senate consists of 51 voting members, 3 from each of the academic councils (CVPA, Business and Industry, Engineering, Humanities, Nursing and Social Sciences), one professional librarian and 29 members at large; each elected to 3 year terms. The existence of the Faculty Senate is mandated by the Faculty Federation Agreement with the Board of Trustees (the contract). The SMTI Faculty Senate was organized in November of 1965, with Professor Anthony J. John as its first elected Vice-Chairman and Dr. Joseph Driscoll, SMTI president, as ex-officio Chairman. Early meetings were held at Dartmouth High School for lack of a location on campus. The original purpose, as stated in its first constitution, was to represent the faculty in “the determination of educational and research policies” and to make recommendations on such matters as “subject matter and methods of instruction, requirements for admission for academic performance” and, through recommendations, to “maintain and develop public relations.” Primarily, the Senate was organized to serve as a recommendatory body to serve “not only the needs of the faculty but, also, to be of aid to the administration and governing board in matters relating to the faculty.”