Student Trustee
Students will be notified when there is an opening for a student trustee on the Board of Trustees. Students who are interested in serving as a student trustee will complete the form and return it to the President’s Office by the deadline indicated. A committee comprised of two current students and faculty trustees along with the Vice President and Dean for Student Affairs will review applications and prospective candidates to be interviewed by the Governance Committee of the Board of Trustees. Two Student Trustees serve on the Board. The Student Trustees will hold membership on various committees of the board, vote on college issues and express student needs and concerns. The term of office is for four years or until the student graduates or leaves the college, whichever occurs first.
Procedure for Endorsement
• Acquire a Student Trustee petition form from the Campus Center, President’s Office or other locations as announced.
• Attach two letters of recommendation.
• Have the petition signed by a current Trustee.
• Return the petition to the President’s Office by the deadline indicated on the application form.
Faculty Trustee
One faculty member is elected in the spring of alternating years by the Board of Trustees from a slate of nominees to represent the Otterbein faculty on the Board of Trustees for a four-year term. Two faculty members serve on the board and hold membership on various committees of the board, vote on college issues and express faculty needs and concerns.
Procedure for Endorsement
• You must be a full-time faculty member and be able to serve one four-year term.
• Acquire a Faculty Trustee petition form as distributed by Faculty Council.
• Have the petition signed by three full-time faculty members, who may sign only one petition.
• Return the petition to the President’s Office by the designated date and time.
• You may campaign from the time you submit your petition until Election Day.
• Winners of this election are then presented to the Board of Trustees as the endorsed candidates for the trustee positions.
Voting
Full-time faculty members (including full-time librarians with faculty status) may vote for one candidate for faculty trustee by 3:30 p.m. on the indicated election day. The candidate is endorsed with 51% of the vote. If no candidate receives a majority, a runoff election will be held between the top two candidates.
Departmental Student Senator
Departmental Senators are students elected from each academic department to represent their area at Senate meetings. You cannot be both a Senator-at-Large and a Departmental Senator.
Procedure for Election
• Express interest in the position to the department chair.
• Attend the departmental meeting at which elections will be held (spring or early autumn).
Voting
All department members present shall cast a secret ballot for the candidate of their choice. The candidate with the majority of votes wins the election. If a majority is not obtained on the first ballot, then a second balloting shall be conducted between the top two candidates.
Student Senator-at-Large
A Student Senator-at-Large represents the Otterbein student body at the College Senate meetings. Senators vote on issues presented by the Senate committees and/or individual senators. Student senators-at-large are elected in autumn quarter.
Procedure for Election
• Download the Intent to Run form posted on the senate website at http://www.otterbein.edu/home/senate/index.htm.
• Return the form to the President’s Office or Campus Center Office by the designated date and time.
Voting
Each student shall cast a ballot for a maximum of fifteen candidates, and the candidates shall be ranked according to the number of votes received. In the case of a tie, a runoff election will be held until the number of vacancies shall be filled. If the required number of students is not elected, those positions on the College Senate shall remain unfilled.
COMMITTEE ELECTIONS
Procedure for Election to Committees
• Faculty and administrators who are members of Senate at the time of the elections and all students are eligible to run for committee membership.
• Acquire a petition online.
• You may run for two committees but only one judicial body (see Bylaws).
• The petition indicates the various committees, when they meet and the number of positions available.
• Submit the petition on-line by the designated date and time.
• A list of all candidates will be posted online.
Voting
The members of the College Senate will elect the membership of each committee on the indicated Election Day. Results will be posted and all terms of office begin July 1.
STANDING COMMITTEES
Fourteen permanent or standing committees, whose task it is to examine specific issues of the college, report to the Senate but function independently. The duties and requirements for membership on each committee are outlined in detail in the College Bylaws, Articles VI through XVIII. For example, the Bylaws limit service on committees to a maximum of four consecutive years and all faculty and student positions are for one year except as noted (Curriculum Committee, 2 years for faculty; Judicial Council, 2 years; Personnel Committee, 3 years for faculty). Be sure to study the Bylaws carefully before running for committee membership. The back page of this booklet presents a visual representation of the committees, which are:
Academic Council
Decides cases concerning academic discipline and status. Among its duties are to guide the honors and distinction programs, nominate award recipients and evaluate examination and transfer credits. Membership: The Vice President for Academic Affairs (presiding) or a representative; the Vice President for Student Affairs or representative; the principal officer responsible for study skills; representative from Continuing Studies; the Registrar; three faculty and three students.
Administrative Council
Assumes a variety of responsibilities in providing general campus leadership. The council acts as a forum for campus problems, nominates members to other committees, approves the calendar framework and advises the President and Board of Trustees concerning the budget. Membership: The President as chair, the Vice Presidents, six faculty and six students.
Appeals Council
Hears appeals brought from other councils and committees and has final authority in many cases involving violation of college rules. Appeals Council members may not serve on another judicial body. Membership: three faculty and three students for two-year terms, with a limit of four consecutive years.
Curriculum Committee Recommends appropriate changes in academic offerings to the Senate; evaluates instruction; appoints subcommittees with responsibilities for areas related to the curriculum including the Library Subcommittee, Continuing Studies Advisory Subcommittee, and the Intercultural Relations Subcommittee; and initiates major changes in the academic calendar. Schools shall elect members of the committee. Membership: The Vice President for Academic Affairs; faculty members elected by Schools, one to be elected each year for a two-year term; students elected by each school for a one year term; the Director of the Library; Registrar; Curricular Representative of Continuing Studies; The Dean of College Programs or designee; Director of the Center for Community Engagement; and a representative from Student Affairs as appointed by the Vice President of Student Affairs. No elected member shall serve more than four consecutive years.
Faculty Development Committee
- Formulates and facilitates a program to encourage members of the faculty to participate in self-improvement in areas of teaching effectiveness and professional development. Membership: nine voting full-time faculty members elected for three-year terms on a rotating cycle; four members elected by faculty of the School of Arts and Sciences; two members elected by the faculty of the School of Professional Studies; three at-large members elected by the Senate as a whole; three voting student members elected by the Senate to terms of one or two years, depending on the class standing of the student; the VPAA or her/his designated representative, the Director of Sponsored Programs, and the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning are non-voting members ex officio.
Governance, Bylaws and Communication Committee
Serves as a clearinghouse that considers governance system rules, reviews and updates the Bylaws, and coordinates the campus elections. Membership: Two faculty, two students, and two administrators and the Senate Parliamentarian. No elected member shall serve more than four consecutive years.
Graduate Committee
Monitors all policies relating to graduate programs, including admission, retention and graduation; reviews resources and makes recommendations for future needs to the graduate programs. Membership: (A) The Dean of the Graduate School as chair; (B) the Program Director of Graduate Studies from each department with a graduate program; (C) one faculty member, teaching at the graduate level, elected for a two-year term, from each department with a graduate program; (D) two faculty elected for two-year terms by the Senate from departments not offering graduate programs; (E) liaison faculty from the College Curriculum Committee; (F) one graduate student from each department with a graduate program; the Registrar; a faculty library representative. Faculty members shall possess a doctorate or other terminal degree.
Institutional Effectiveness Committee
To work with departments and programs of the college to ensure and document that the college is adequately meeting the Higher Learning Commissions criteria dealing with institutional effectiveness practices. The Higher Learning Commissions focus on effective assessment, effective teaching, and effective learning environments indicates the importance of being able to demonstrate the Otterbein students and graduates are meeting the goals of the institution and their chosen programs and that there is "value added."
Judicial Council
Hears complaints concerning rule violations filed by any member of the college community. Judicial Council members may not be members of any other judicial body. Complaints are filed with the Student Affairs Office which refers them to Judicial Council. Membership: Three faculty and four students for two-year terms. No one shall be elected for more than four consecutive years.
Personnel Committee
Studies all aspects of personnel problems and makes recommendations to the President about promotions and tenure, salary, leaves of absence, and the establishment of new positions. This committee does not report directly to Senate. Membership: Seven tenured members of the full-time teaching faculty, two from the School of Professional Studies, three from the School of Arts and Sciences, and two at large members at least one of whom must be a tenured full professor, nominated and elected by the full-time teaching faculty for three-year terms in accordance with the procedure of Article VI; and two students, being of at least junior status, for one year terms, named by the College Senate. The committee members by a majority vote of the quorum present at its first meeting will elect one of the faculty members to serve as chair. Members, excluding students, may not succeed themselves. Faculty terms shall be staggered so that no more than three members will be new in any given year.
Personnel Appeals Hearing Committee
Hears complaints and recommends further action on college decisions affecting the rights of college employees. No members may be trustees, department chairs, members of personnel or sabbatical leave subcommittees or administrative officers. The committee reports directly to the President. Membership: Five tenured faculty members, subject to the limitations outlined above.
Student Life Committee
Recommends and supervises policies governing co-curricular activities and promotes interest in on-campus and off-campus social, cultural and education events and activities consistent with the educational aims of the college. Membership: The President and/or representative; Vice President for Student Affairs; a faculty representative elected from the Arts Division; a faculty member to represent the Athletic and Intramural Programs; the Chaplain; a representative from the Center for Student Involvement; a representative from the Office of Institutional Advancement; a representative from the office of Ethnic Diversity; a representative from Residence Life; a representative from the Business Office; four faculty at-large; and nine students chosen in accordance with Article IV, Section 5. The Vice President for Students Affairs of his/her designee shall serve as chair.
Teacher Education Committee
Recommends curriculum policies for the Teacher Education program and assists students in meeting certification requirements. Membership: The chair of the Education Department as chair; two faculty members from the Department of Education, one secondary and one elementary; three faculty members from departments other than Education; the Director of Graduate Studies; one student enrolled in the Master of Arts in Teaching program and one student in the Master of Arts in Education program; one junior student already admitted to teacher education and one other student. No elected member other than members of the Department of Education shall serve more than four consecutive years.
Traffic Council
Hears all major cases involving violation of the college motor vehicle rules and is the final authority for decisions regarding minor violations. The council may suggest changes in traffic regulations. Members of Traffic Council may not be members of any other judicial body. Membership: One faculty, one student, one administrator.
