Shared Governance
    [This section was updated on October 19, 2000.  For edited version, please click here.] The governance structure assists the President and Vice Presidents in formulating recommendations and policies affecting the academic community. It is composed of the Faculty Senate, councils, and standing committees. While formally advisory in nature, the governance structure establishes forums for internal discussion, initiates policies touching on faculty concerns, gathers and disseminates information of interest to the faculty, and provides a faculty voice to the external community. Staff support for recording deliberations and actions is generally provided by the administration to the Faculty Senate and the councils by the Provost, and to the standing committees by the senior administrator to whom they report. Faculty Senate The members of the Faculty Senate are elected by the faculties of their respective colleges. The Faculty Senate operates under its own constitution. The Faculty Senate considers and makes recommendations to the President of the University of Houston on matters of interest to the entire faculty. The Provost, who is the university's chief academic officer, sits with the Senate in its regular meetings.

For the Constitution and bylaws of the Faculty Senate see Appendix B

 University Councils and Standing Committees

   Definition

Each university council or standing committee has a specific charge; meets on a regular, ongoing basis over a period of more than one year; and has as its appointing officer an administrator at the level of Vice President or higher. Councils and Standing Committees are advisory to their appointing officer.    Procedure A.      Each council or committee shall elect its chair annually, and that individual shall be a student or a faculty member below the rank of dean. Each committee and council shall elect its chair for the coming year at the last meeting of the current academic year.
  B.       No council or committee member shall have a designate serving in his/her place unless approved by the committee and also by the appropriate nominating body.
  C.      Council and committee chairs shall make every effort to schedule committee meetings at times when all members can attend. Written notices of scheduled meetings shall be circulated to all committee members, the Faculty Senate, the Students' Association, and the appropriate university offices as far in advance of the meeting as possible.
  D.      At the first meeting of the year, each council or committee shall be given a written statement of its duties, relative responsibilities, and objective issues to be addressed.
  E.      Major councils and committees shall submit in writing formal actions such as policy recommendations and decisions. They shall be distributed to the academic deans, the President of the Faculty Senate, the President of the Students' Association, and the appropriate administrative offices.
  F.       Each council or standing committee is required to prepare an annual written report at the end of each academic year. This report shall be sent by the committee chair to the Faculty Senate, the Students' Association, the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost and other relevant university administrators.
  G.      There should be regular contact between the council and committee chairs and their related university offices in order to communicate recommendations and specific actions under consideration.
  H.      Councils and standing committees shall meet at least twice a semester.

I.       Extended or regular absences of a council or committee member shall be

communicated by the chair to the appropriate nominating body. The latter and/or the chair will ask such members to resign and communicate that request to appropriate campus offices. Replacement members shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the usual procedures.
  J.      The authority to alter the composition or charge of a standing council or committee rests with the appointing officer of the university. Any such changes must be preceded by consultation among the members of the committee involved, the appointing official, and the Committee on Committees of the Faculty Senate.    Councils Councils at the University of Houston have representation from both the academic and administrative communities. The councils are generally responsible for developing specific policies relevant to the area of their concern. Graduate and Professional Studies Council The Graduate and Professional Studies Council is the academic governance committee charged with the responsibility for advising and making recommendations to the Provost about the quality and uniform oversight of graduate and professional programs at the University of Houston. Specifically, the Graduate and Professional Studies Council will work with the Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies in advising the Provost and the President on matters pertaining to the:

A.      Admission and selection of graduate and professional students, including international
         graduate students;

B.      Development and assessment of graduate and professional programs together with

criteria for admission, standards of instruction, and standards for graduation aimed at excellence;
  C.      Review of and advice about programs and courses in the graduate and professional
          curricula; and

D.      Other matters identified by the Provost of interest to the faculty, administration,

and graduate and professional students.
         Each college with a graduate and/or professional program selects two members for three year terms in accordance with the bylaws of the college. The Faculty Senate and the Research Council appoint one of their members to serve ex-officio. Two graduate students members are appointed by the Students' Association. Undergraduate Council The Undergraduate Council is the academic governance committee charged with the responsibility of advising and making recommendations to the Office of the Provost about the qualitative development of programs and activities that have an impact on undergraduate education at the University of Houston.

Specifically, the Undergraduate Council works with the Associate Vice Provost for Academic Programs who is primarily responsible for undergraduate studies in advising the Provost and the President on matters pertaining to the:

A.       Assessment and strengthening of undergraduate academic programs and

curriculum offerings;
  B.      Setting of standards and priorities leading to academic excellence;

C.      Monitoring of college and departmental requirements for baccalaureate degrees;

D.      Stimulation and assessment of excellence in teaching;

E.      Development and implementation of strategies for the recruitment and retention of
          undergraduate students;

F.       Implementation of crucial recommendations from any university-level study and

its impact on the undergraduate student;
  G.      Refinement and monitoring of the admissions criteria and process, particularly for target
          populations; and

H.      Any other matters pertaining to or having an impact on undergraduate education.

       Faculty members are elected to the Undergraduate Council by their respective college according to existing bylaws for a three-year term. The number of representatives from any one college is based on the SCH (semester credit hour) enrollment of undergraduate students. Student members are appointed by the Students' Association. Administrative representatives serve ex officio.

       The Undergraduate Council is governed by a set of procedural bylaws. They are available for review in the Office of the Provost and from the chair of the Undergraduate Council.

 Research Council The Research Council is responsible for advising and making recommendations to the Vice President for Research, on the matters pertaining to research development and related research activities at the university.

The Research Council's specific responsibilities include:
 

The Internal Grants Program: Structure the program each year in light of available resources, prepare and issue the call for proposals, coordinate review of proposals, and make recommendations on the allocation of the funds to the Vice President for Research.

The Research Excellence Award: Establish guidelines, issue request for nominations, and oversee the activity of the selection committee and make recommendations of awards to the Vice President for Research.

Provide recommendations to the Vice President for Research that affect research development and the policies relating to the conduct of research at the university.

         Representation on Research Council:  The Research Council shall consist of a fixed distribution of members representing tenure-line faculty from degree-granting units, research faculty, Centers and Institutes, students, and research administrators on campus. The by-laws will be reviewed at least every five years for changes in the College representation specified below.

Research Council representatives will be selected as follows:
 

One member from all degree granting units, plus a second member from the College of Social Science, plus two additional members each from the Colleges of Engineering and Natural Sciences and Mathematics (no two members shall be from the same academic department); one member of the Graduate and Professional Studies Council and one member of the Faculty Senate. Frequently, Research Council members will also be members of the Graduate and Professional Studies Council or of the Faculty Senate and those persons can serve the liaison function, reducing the faculty membership. Selection of the representative simultaneously serving on the Research Council and the Graduate and Professional Studies Council will alternate annually between the two Councils.

A member representing the research faculty. This position could be filled by an individual working in or out of a Center or Institute.

A member representing the collective body of Research Centers and Institutes. This individual could be a member of the research faculty or the tenure-track faculty.

A staff member representing the Office of Research Policies, Compliance and Committees in the Division of Research in a non-voting, ex-officio capacity.

The Vice President for Research  in a non-voting, ex-officio capacity.

A graduate student member appointed by the Students' Association in a non-voting capacity.

  Selection of Members:
  College faculty members are selected by their respective colleges according to college bylaws for a three-year term. The number of representatives from each college is specified above and should be on a rotating basis such that approximately one-third of the members are replaced each year.

The Vice President for Research shall provide a mechanism for selection of a Research Faculty member representative of research faculty serving both within and outside of the Centers and Institutes.

The member representative of the Centers and Institutes will be selected from the collective body of Research Centers and Institutes as recommended by the Council on Research Centers and Institutes coordinated by the Vice President for Research.

  Officers

The Council shall have a Chair and a Vice Chair who shall be members of the Council.
 

The Chair and the Vice Chair shall be elected by the Council for a one-year term from among those members who will be returning to the Council the following year, at the last meeting of the Spring term. They shall assume their offices at the conclusion of the Spring term. Usually, the Chair will be in his/her last year and Vice Chair in his/her next to last year on Council while serving in their offices. The Vice Chair is a strong candidate for the Chair the following year.
  The duties of the Chair are:
  In consultation with the incoming Council, to set the dates for the meetings of the Council. Traditionally, meetings have been set on designated Fridays of each month that do not conflict with University holidays and teaching breaks.

To set the agenda for the meetings of the Council.

To preside at all meetings of the Council.

To appoint the chairs and members of the committees of the Council as described under Section IV of these Bylaws.

To notify the Dean of the appropriate College of the resignation of any member or the extended or frequent absences from the Council Meetings of any member (see Paragraph V - F) and request assurances that either the member will attend or that an appropriate replacement shall be selected.

To assure that the approved minutes of the Council, including its actions, are transmitted to the Vice President for Research in a timely manner.

To serve as member of the Esther Farfel Award Committee.

To appoint the members of the University Research Excellence Award Committee and then serve as chair of the committee. The committee is usually chosen to represent the colleges of the nominees. When possible previous winners of the Research Excellence Award are given preference to serve on the committee.
 

 The chair may:
  Call special meetings of the Council and set the agenda for those meetings.

Participate in the discussion of the Council at its meetings, unless prohibited from doing so by a vote of two-thirds of the members of the Council present and voting.

Vote during meetings of the Council.

With the approval of the Council, appoint non-Council members to the committees of the council.
 

The Vice Chair shall serve as Chairman of the Internal Grants Committee. This committee, with the approval of the Council, is responsible for the administration of the formal Internal Grants Programs of the University. The Vice chair shall perform the duties of the Chair during the Chair's temporary absence. If the office of the Chair or Vice Chair becomes vacant, the Council shall hold a new election to determine the successor.
  Committees
  Standing Committees:   The Committee on Centers and Institutes is chaired by a member of the Research Council. It is responsible for providing a review of all Centers and Institutes on a rotating basis and making recommendations to the Provost regarding their viability. Additionally, the Committee on Centers and Institutes has the responsibility for making recommendations for approval (or disapproval) to the Vice President for Research.

The Research Awards Committee is chaired by the Vice Chair of the Research Council. This committee makes funding recommendations for the internal grants programs. The committee may be composed of members of the Research Council and/or supplemented by other faculty appointments outside the membership of the Research Council.

The Research Excellence Awards Committee is chaired by the Chair of the Research Council. Members are appointed by the Research Council Chair in conjunction with the Vice President for Research after the nominations are submitted. Appointments to the committee usually come from previous Research Excellence Awards winners and faculty in areas which represent the nominations.
 

 Ad Hoc Committees:
  The Chair of the Council shall appoint Ad Hoc Committees (and their chairs), as needed, to help formulate and develop issues discussed by the Council. The chairs of the ad hoc committees shall be members of the Council, but the other committee members may not be. The chair of each ad hoc committee shall be prepared to report on the activities of the committee at each Council meeting when called upon by the Chair. At the end of the academic year or when the charge of the committee has been accomplished, the chair of the committee shall prepare a written report of the committee's activities and submit it to the Chair of the Council.
  Meetings
  The Council shall hold regular meetings during the Fall and Spring semesters. The Chair shall announce, in writing, the dates of the meetings.

Should the need arise, the Council may hold special meetings upon the call of the Chair or the written petition of at least five members. The Chair or members who call the meeting shall notify the members at least one week in advance of the meeting.

Members who are unable to attend a meeting shall notify the Chair as soon as possible.

  At meetings of the Council one-half the "active membership", i.e., voting members currently in good standing (see Paragraph F), shall constitute a quorum.

All meetings shall be conducted according to Roberts Rule of Order, Newly Revised, except where a contrary rule is provided by these Bylaws.

Members shall be regular in their attendance at meetings of the Council. Members who are absent from either three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings of the Council or one-half the regularly scheduled meetings of either the Council or its committees during a one-year period beginning with the first day of the Fall Semester (as defined by the University Class Schedule) may be removed from the Council. The administrative officer of the unit represented will be contacted for replacement. An exception can be made for members who cannot attend any meetings of the Council for an entire semester due to a time conflict or absence from the campus. They may be replaced for that period by the unit they represent.
 

 Elections And Voting
  All elections and matters voted upon shall be determined by a majority of those voting, except where these Bylaws provide otherwise. Upon the call of five or more members, the vote shall be by written-ballot.

There shall be no voting by proxy.

Ex-officio members may participate in discussion but do not have voting

privileges.
 

 Amendments
  These Bylaws may be amended in two ways:
  At meetings of the Council by a two-thirds vote of the members present, provided that written notice of the proposed amendment shall have been distributed to the members of the Council at least one week in advance.

By a three-fourths mailed ballot vote of the entire (voting) membership of the Council. Members shall have at least two weeks to cast their votes.
 

 Unless it specifies otherwise, an amendment shall become effective immediately upon its adoption. Standing Committees Committees are charged with specific tasks by the senior administrator to whom they report. With the exception of the Grievance Committee, which is elected by the faculty through university-wide balloting, all faculty members are nominated by the Faculty Senate Committee on Committees and appointed by the President or the Vice President in whose area the committee falls.

For charges to standing committees, please consult the offices to which they report.

 Office of the President Athletic Committee
Committee on the Status of Women
Sexual Harassment Board and Ombudspersons
Title IX Grievance Committee
University of Houston Committee on Art Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost Grievance Committee
Health Professions Advisory Committee
Library Committee
Promotion and Tenure Committee
Teaching Excellence Award Committee
Undergraduate Admissions Review Committee Office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance Bookstore Advisory Committee
Faculty/Staff Traffic Court
Food Service Advisory Committee
UH System Fringe Benefits Committee
Transportation and Parking Advisory Board
Safety and Security Advisory Board Office of the Vice President for Information Technology Information Technology and Computing Committee* Office of the Vice President for Research Intellectual Property Committee Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs A. D. Bruce Religion Center Policy Board
Child Care Center Advisory Board
Students with DisABILITIES Advisory Board
Health Center Policy Board
International Students Advisory Board
Organizations Board
Student Fees Advisory Committee
Student Publications Committee
Student Traffic Court
Substance Abuse Advisory Committee
University Center Policy Board
University Hearing Board

*Also reports to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost and Vice President for Researh

 Other Governance Bodies Staff Council
Students' Association

For the composition and charges of these bodies, see the Staff Handbook and Student Handbook, respectively.