Governance

Although the Board of Trustees is ultimately responsible for final policy determinations, it encourages the fullest participation of faculty in governing the College. The Faculty Senate is the formal vehicle through which faculty may participate in institutional governance. The full Senate meets three times per year.

The committees of the Senate meet as needed in each semester. Under the leadership of a faculty-elected President, the Senate provides the arena for discussion, investigation, and formulation of recommendations to the Administration. Full-time faculty and librarians are members of the Senate with voting privileges along with five adjunct faculty members elected by the Committee on Adjunct Faculty. All Berkeley adjunct faculty may attend Senate meetings and participate in discussions.

The Faculty Senate maintains the following standing committees: 

• Curriculum, which reviews and approves all new and revised curriculum and programs before they go to the Provost for approval. 
• Academic Affairs, which among other things, reviews and approves the Faculty Handbook before it goes to the Provost for further action. 
• Library and Technology Services, which serves to improve and enhance the offerings and facilities of Library services. 
• Adjunct Faculty, which represents adjunct faculty in all matters directly affecting such faculty, separate from full-time faculty (e.g., compensation, training, appointment, etc.).  

Other committees may be formed on an ad hoc basis as the Senate deems necessary. Current ad hoc committees are: 

• Academic Integrity Committee
• Election Committee

Changes to these Governance provisions are handled through amendments to the By-Laws of the Faculty Senate.