We, the faculty of Del Mar College, in cooperation with the administration of Del Mar College, adopt the following constitution to authorize an organization and procedures that will enable us more effectively to define, develop, and realize our professional goals.
Article 1. Definitions
Section 1: The faculty are the full-time regular employees of Del Mar College (as defined in the Policy Manual, Chapter V) who occupy positions eligible for tenure and promotion.
Section 2: The voting faculty are the faculty members (as defined in Section I) who are not on leave of absence (Policy Manual, Chapter V).
Article II. The Faculty CouncilSection 1: The Faculty Council shall be composed of elected representatives of the following divisions of the voting faculty:
- Arts and Sciences I
- Arts and Sciences II
- Arts and Sciences III
- Arts and Sciences IV
- Business
- Occupational Education and Technology I
- Occupational Education and Technology II
Composition of these divisions and program areas is defined in the Bylaws. Representation on the Faculty Council from each division of the faculty (defined above) shall be based on the following:
- 1-20 voting faculty= 1 representative
- 21-40 voting faculty = 2 representatives
- 41-60 voting faculty = 3 representatives
Each representative shall be elected by the voting faculty in his or her division. No more than two representatives can represent the same program area when a Council division is entitled to three or more representatives.
Section 2: Members of the Faculty Council will be elected for three-year terms or completion of an unexpired term. No person may serve on the Faculty Council for more than four consecutive years and upon completion of his or her term will not be eligible for nomination for one year.
Section 3: The Faculty Council shall elect from its own members officers who shall retain the privilege to vote as Council members. If the immediate past chair is no longer a Council member, the position will be non-voting.
Article III. Functions of the Faculty CouncilSection 1: It shall serve as a consultative and advisory group to the President.
Section 2: It shall determine procedures for hearing individual faculty members or groups regarding professional rank, tenure, salaries, sabbatical leaves, budget, and other matters of interest to the faculty.
Section 3: It shall represent the full faculty in all school-wide discussions on professional rank, tenure, salaries, sabbatical leaves, budget, and other matters of interest to the faculty.
Section 4: It shall provide a spokesperson for the Faculty Council who shall appear in an advisory capacity before the Board of Regents upon request.
Section 5: It shall hear appeals [in case of faculty dismissal] as provided by Del Mar College policies.
Section 6: It shall make recommendations on membership, functions, and policies for faculty committees to the President.
Article IV. Meetings and Procedures of the Faculty Council and the FacultySection 1: of the Faculty Council:
- The term of a Faculty Council and its officers shall start with
the beginning of the fall semester and shall continue for one calendar
year.
- The new Council shall meet for the sole purpose of electing its
officers in the spring semester following the selection of the new
Council members. This election shall occur immediately after the
adjournment of the last Faculty Council meeting of the spring semester.
In order to stagger the terms, no more than two officers may be
elected from the same class or three-year term period.
- The Faculty Council shall have at least one meeting each semester.
It may be convened at the request of the Board of Regents, the President
of the College, the Vice President of Instruction, the Chair of
the Faculty Council, three or more members of the Council, or twenty-five
or more petitioning members of the voting faculty.
- All meetings of the Faculty Council shall be open to the faculty.
- The Faculty Council shall be obligated to consider any written
communication submitted to it by a faculty member. The Chair or
Secretary of the Council shall acknowledge the receipt of any recommendation.
- A quorum of the Faculty Council shall consist of fifty percent
of its membership.
- A simple majority of those present and voting shall be necessary
to approve recommendations or other matters considered by the Faculty
Council.
- No secret ballots shall be taken in the Faculty Council, except
for the election of Faculty Council officers.
- Recommendations of the Faculty Council and the members' individual
votes shall be recorded in the minutes and filed in the archives.
- Minority reports shall be placed in the archives and, on the approval
of the Council, will be published.
- Three unexcused absences by a Faculty Council member in one year
shall constitute resignation.
Section 2: the Faculty:
- The Faculty Council may call a meeting of the faculty, or the
Chair of the Council shall convene the faculty upon the petition
of twenty-five or more members of the voting faculty.
- Notice of a called meeting must be sent to the voting faculty
at least three days in advance of the meeting. Such notice shall
include the primary agenda for the called meeting.
- The Chair of the Council or a person designated by the Council
shall preside at such meetings of the faculty.
- A quorum of the faculty shall consist of one-third of the voting
faculty.
- A simple majority of those present and voting shall be necessary
in order to approve recommendations or other matters considered
by the faculty.
- A secret ballot shall be taken in a general meeting if requested
by one-third of those faculty present.
Section 1: In the spring of each year, the Faculty Council shall obtain a faculty count by division (as defined in Article II, Section 1) to determine Council composition (as defined in Article II, Section I ) for the following academic year.
Section 2: By March, the Faculty Council shall appoint from its own members a Divisional Election Committee for each of the divisions as needed.
Section 3: Each election committee shall consist of at least two members who shall be representatives of the division whose election they will supervise.
Section 4: These committees shall follow the Divisional Election Committee procedures outlined in the Bylaws of the Faculty Council.
Section 5: When vacancies occur for reasons other than the expiration of a term, the designated divisional alternate described in the Divisional Election Committee procedures outlined in the Bylaws shall be named to complete the unexpired term.
Section 6: Should additional vacancies occur in a division for reasons other than the expiration of a term, special election committees will be appointed subject to the provisions and procedures in Article V, Sections 2, 3, and 4. A special election shall be held as soon as possible after a vacancy occurs and shall take place during the regular school year. The faculty member elected shall complete the unexpired term.
Article VI. AmendmentsSection 1: Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by the Faculty Council or by petition of one-fourth of the voting faculty.
Section 2: Copies of proposed amendments must be distributed to voting faculty members at least seven days in advance of consideration.
Section 3: Amendments shall be ratified by any standard [normal] voting procedure, as prescribed by (Robert's Rules of Order). Ratification shall require a majority vote with at least one-half of the faculty voting.
Section 4: Changes to the Bylaws must be submitted for information to the voting faculty at least two weeks prior to final approval by the Faculty Council.
Article VII. Robert's Rules of OrderExcept as otherwise provided herein, Faculty Council proceedings shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order.
Article VIII. Adjustments in TermsThe terms of Faculty Council members shall not be shortened by any reorganization of the Faculty Council. Adjustments shall be made as terms expire.
Adopted July 11, 1978
Amended April 19, 1985
Amended August 7, 1987
Amended November 7, 1997
Amended October, 2000
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