Faculty Senate

The Faculty Senate was approved in May 2007 and had its first meeting on February 8, 2008.

What We Do

The faculty of Pacific University has a distinctive relationship to the mission of the University in that the professional academic credentials of faculty members gives them the primary expertise and preeminent responsibility for carrying out the educational mission of the University. Through the Faculty Senate, the collective university faculty exercises its unique role in university governance, which, when integrated with other decision-making units, makes up the shared governance system of Pacific University. The institution of tenure allows faculty members to take strong and independent positions on the range of issues the Faculty Senate considers. Because of this special relationship of faculty within the university structure, the Faculty Senate has a strong voice in both academic policy and other major policy decisions affecting the University.

The Faculty Senate works in tandem with the University Council and Staff Senate to affect a transparent, effective, equitable governance system. The Faculty Senate has primary control over academic policy matters, faculty personnel issues, and faculty research. In addition, whereas the University Council functions as the deliberative body for non-academic policy, the faculty via the Faculty Senate, functions as the deliberative body on all major policy decisions. All decisions taken by either the University Council or the Faculty Senate are sent to the President of the University for approval. The Faculty Senate is committed to mutual consultation, seeking solutions for shared problems, maintaining an efficient flow of information, and giving voice to the entire university faculty.

Faculty Senate Meetings

Faculty Senate meetings are generally held on the fourth Thursday of the month from 4-6 p.m.; August through May. Two hours of meeting time are scheduled, but we will work to hold meetings to one hour if possible. Meetings are generally held in-person and on Zoom. View the schedule here.