Mission of the Faculty Senate

The Faculty Senate of Howard University is an independent organizational forum and means for the full-time, University-wide faculty to:

(1) participate in the governance of the University by the exchange of information and views with the President, the Administration, the Trustees, Students, Alumni and Staff;

(2) deliberate and determine, independently, the University-wide faculty’s positions (or decisions) on issues of faculty concern and recommendations to the President and the Board of Trustees on matters within the Senate’s jurisdiction as defined in Article V - Jurisdiction, Powers and Duties of the Senate; Article XI - Jurisdiction and Powers of the Council; and Article XV - Jurisdiction and Powers of the Steering Committee [of the Faculty Senate Constitution].

ARTICLE V - Jurisdiction, Powers and Duties of the Senate

The Senate shall meet to hear reports from the President of the University, the Chairperson and Officers of the Senate, and the Chairpersons of the Senate Committees and to discuss, review and make decisions on University Faculty positions on matters affecting the academic interests of more than one school or college of the University. It shall meet to nominate and elect members-at-large of the Council of the Senate, Senate officers and standing committees and to nominate Faculty Trustees to the Board of Trustees as hereinafter provided. Decisions of the Senate shall be forwarded by the Senate Chair to the President and the Board of Trustees as warranted by the substance or nature or such decisions.

ARTICLE XI - Jurisdiction and Powers of the Council

 Section A. General Authority:

1. The Council of the Senate has the power and the responsibility to consider and propose legislative recommendations to the President and to the Board of Trustees on:

(a) Any matter of academic policy which involves more than one faculty, and

(b) Any other matters, substantially affecting the general interest of the University faculty.

2. All matters to be presented to the Council for action shall ordinarily first be presented to the Steering Committee. In exceptional circumstances, as determined by a two-thirds majority vote of the Council, a matter may be considered without prior Steering Committee consideration.

ARTICLE XV - Jurisdiction and Powers of the Steering Committee

Section A. General, Authority:

The Steering Committee may concern itself with all matters within the jurisdiction of the Council.