Bylaws and Regulations of the University Faculty Senate: Section M

• Powers Delegated to the Several Colleges and Divisions

  The Bylaws of the Trustees of the University include the following charges to the faculty:

  The faculty shall:

  1. Formulate rules and regulations for the government and the discipline of the student body.
  2. Provide for the establishment of the curricula and courses in the several colleges and divisions.
  3. Provide for the establishment of a program of extra-course education for students.
  4. Determine educational and academic policies of admissions.
  5. Determine the requirements for degrees and recommend candidates for diplomas, degrees, and certificates that shall be conferred by the President of the University under the authority of the Board of Trustees.
  6. Recommend policies concerning awards, prizes, and scholarships.
  7. Recommend educational and academic policies relating to the administration of the University Library.
  8. Make recommendations for the conduct of formal exercises and public functions held under the auspices of the University.
  9. Adopt regulations governing its own procedures with authority to enact, amend, and repeal its bylaws by a two-thirds vote of those present.
  10. Determine the duties that it will delegate to faculty committees and to the faculties of the several colleges and divisions of the University.

  Section II, Article I of the Constitution of the Faculty of the University of Delaware empowers the University Senate "to determine the duties which it will delegate to faculty committees and to the faculties of the several colleges and divisions of the University."

  The University Faculty recognizes the college faculties as the regular authorized representative agency of each college, having certain delegated functions as follows:

  1. To seek the continual improvement of academic programs, standards, and achievements in the college.
  2. To take an active role in the guidance, planning and administration of the instructional, research, and service activities of the college.
  3. To serve as the official channel for the expression of college faculty opinion.
  4. To consider and make recommendations concerning (policies governing) appointments, leaves, sabbaticals, promotions, tenure, and dismissal of faculty members.

  The adoption of the Constitution by the Faculty indicates that the Faculty has assented to grant the collective powers of the Faculty granted by the Trustee Bylaws to the University Faculty Senate except during the conduct of a special meeting of the full Faculty as provided in Section VIII, paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the Faculty of the University of Delaware. Therefore, the University Faculty Senate retains for the Faculty ultimate responsibility in the general areas of curriculum, admission, degree requirements, awards, etc. The committee structure of the Senate reflects the retention of the responsibility of the Senate in these areas. (Rev. fall 1988)

  Final or ultimate responsibility is not, however, initial responsibility. The burden for curriculum design, admission policies, degree requirements, prizes, awards and ceremonies must remain at the college level. Each college accepts initial responsibility in these areas. Decisions made at the college level would be presented through committee to the University Faculty Senate. Substantive changes in such decisions would be referred back to the colleges in question.

  Decisions regarding the selection of official designees or representatives of a college or division of the University at special ceremonies and celebrations shall be made at the college level.

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February 23, 1995