I. Authority and Responsibility of the Faculty as a Whole

A. Primary Responsibilities of the Faculty as a Whole

The Faculty as a whole has primary, though not exclusive, responsibility in the governance of the University in three areas: the curriculum, academic standards, and the approval of earned‐degree candidates. In these matters of the curriculum, academic standards, and the approval of earned‐degree candidates, the full‐time faculty drafts and enacts the policies and regulations that are necessary for academic governance. In such matters, the authority of the Faculty is primary, though responsibility is shared with executive officers and/or academic administrators and overseen by the Board of Trustees.

The Faculty has primary responsibility for:

1. The curriculum of the University and the specific course offerings it encompasses.
2. For new program proposals, including majors, minors, concentrations, and certificates, alignment with the mission of the department, college, and the university must be considered, along with the human and fiscal resources available.
   1. The process of establishing a new academic degree major, minor, or certificate begins with the establishment of a feasibility committee consisting of the sponsoring department’s faculty and the dean. The committee’s product is a feasibility report, which provides an analysis of: alignment with the university’s mission; student demand; faculty credentials and need; resources, including facilities and Information Technology, library materials, or equipment needs; and a pro forma budget reflecting revenue and costs.
   2. If the feasibility report is signed off by the dean, the committee then makes a presentation of its report to the provost for his/her consideration. If the dean does not approve the proposal, he/she will provide a rationale for his/her opposition, the proposing faculty can request a meeting mediated by the Provost with the department chair and college dean. The meeting will include a review of any and all materials, rationales, and comments from both the department and dean. In the event a consensus is not met, the Provost’s decision will determine the direction of the proposal from that point.
   3. Upon approval by the provost the sponsoring department is asked to draft a complete program proposal for consideration by the Curriculum Committee, which, if approved, forwards the proposal to the faculty senate for consideration and possible approval.
   4. Proposals for changes to the Baccalaureate Experience require a collaboration between the provost, the Associate Dean of Baccalaureate Experience, the Faculty Senate, and all appropriate committees of the faculty and, if needed, an ad hoc committee seated for reviews of Baccalaureate Experience matters. The proposal must be approved by the Baccalaureate Committee, the provost, and then shall be presented to the Curriculum Committee, which makes a recommendation to Faculty Senate for consideration and possible approval.  Changes to the Spartan Studies Program requirements are submitted on the UT Changed Major/Program Proposal Form. The proposal must be approved by the Spartan Studies Committee, the Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning and the Provost, and then shall be presented to the Curriculum Committee, which makes a recommendation to Faculty Senate for consideration.
   5. For all new course proposals it is recommended there should be early collaboration of dean, department, and the submitting faculty member. It is recommended to have preliminary input from the department in drafting a course proposal; submitting faculty member should also notify the dean the process has begun. The completed draft proposal is to be submitted to the dean and department for input and recommendations prior to department approval. Where new course proposals have an impact on resources form another college, input and recommendations from the supporting college’s dean occurs at this time. Department approval will then be evidenced by confirmation of department vote (with actual tally of vote provided) through department chair signature. The proposal is then to be submitted to the dean for final approval and signature. If the dean does not approve the proposal, he/she will provide a rationale for his/her opposition and the process then goes to mediation, as outlined above. If the new course proposed is to satisfy a Baccalaureate Experience or Spartan Studies designation, not currently defined in the catalog, then an endorsement by the Baccalaureate or Spartan Studies Committee is required. This may constitute an additional consideration beyond the approval of the department and the college. If necessary, additional approvals may be required if there are non-traditional modes of delivery (i.e. hybrid or travel components). 
   6. Substantive changes to an existing course are all other changes to: existing courses that would require a change in course description, resources, pre-requisites for a course, or mode of delivery (e.g. from classroom to hybrid). Substantive changes to majors, minors, concentrations, program accreditation or certificates are those that require more resources, change in the mode of delivery, or changes in the number of credit hours. All these changes require the signature of the dean. If the dean does not approve the proposal, he/she should provide a rationale for his/her opposition and the process then goes to mediation, as outlined above. If the change proposed affects the way in which the course satisfies requirements of the Baccalaureate Experience or Spartan Studies Curriculum then an endorsement by the  appropriate committee is required. 
   7. Non-substantive changes to courses are those that require no or minimal change to the course content, course syllabus, course title, and no additional human or fiscal resources. Non-substantive chances to existing majors, minors, concentrations, or certificates are those that require no additional resources. For non-substantive changes no dean signature is required. (Approved 11/13/15)
3. The academic standards of the University, including the grading system, examination procedures and practices, and requirements for graduation; and
4. Approval of candidates for earned degrees. (Approved April 8, 2015)

B. Shared Responsibility of the Faculty as a Whole

Apart from the areas of primary faculty authority and responsibility listed above, the Faculty participates with the Board of Trustees, the president, the provost, the deans and others in decisions regarding the present condition and future development of the institution. The Faculty participates in shared governance through actions taken by the faculty of academic units, the faculty of colleges and the University Faculty as a whole.

The range of this shared decision-making includes, but is not limited to:

1. The institution of new colleges, schools, major and minor areas of study, or programs and the termination of existing ones:
2. The advising of students;
3. Guidelines for student conduct and activities;
4. Requirements for admission to the University;
5. The recruitment, appointment, retention, tenure, promotion or dismissal of members of the faculty
6. The establishment of the fiscal priorities of the University;
7. The establishment of the University calendar;
8. The acquisition, renovation and/or reassignment of classroom space;

The definition and/or amendment of faculty responsibilities and duties.