Constitution Committee Recommendations (2012 - Present)

• March 5, 2024
  • The UF Faculty Senate received queries at the February 20, 2025 Faculty Senate Meeting on the UF constitutionality of having the Hamilton School of Classical and Civic Education outside of a College and reporting directly to the Office of the Provost.
    • Interpretation: FL Stat § 1004.6496 (2024) states that “(2) Beginning January 1, 2025, and by each January 1 thereafter, the University of Florida must report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the progress toward establishing the center as a permanent college at the university.” The UF Constitution is clear that “The provisions of this Constitution are governed by and subordinate to Florida law...” Establishing the Center as a permanent College is mandated by state law; the Hamilton Center has the prerogative to determine the intermediate steps required to satisfy the legislative mandate and has proposed becoming a School (as defined in Article VI § 3) as such an intermediate step. The UF Constitution is subordinate to this legislative mandate and therefore should be interpreted in a way that accommodates such intermediate steps as long as they are prima facie reasonable. The establishment of the Hamilton School under its current reporting structure to the Office of the Provost is prima facie reasonable.
• December 11, 2013
  • The Senate office has had requests from some senators on sabbatical to be considered “offsite” senators so they can participate in senate meetings. 
    • Interpretation:  Senators who are on uncompensated leave of absence are not considered “offsite”.  However, if a senator is on “assignment” or on compensated leave, then he/she can be considered “offsite”.
• November 28, 2012
  • Senator voting and Departments in Dual Colleges (example:  Epidemiology and Biostatistics are formally housed in PHHP and MED)
    • Interpretation:  All faculty in departments in dual colleges who have not expressed membership in one college or other belong in Group 1 unit for purposes of Senate membership, voting, and apportionment. (Epidemiology and Biostatistics are assigned to Group 1.) (see January 20, 2014)
• October 17, 2012
  • Cheri Brodeur, Faculty Senate Chair asked for Interpretation of Article VI, Section 3 (D)
    • Interpretation:  The Dean receives input from the department before hiring a department chair.
• February 6, 2012
  • Replacement vs Proxy - How long does “temporary absence” need to be to qualify for a replacement rather than proxy, given that replacements are allowed while proxies are disallowed?
    • Interpretation:  Constitution is clear on this matter. “Absence from three consecutive meetings of the Senate constitutes resignation from the Senate, except that a Senator whose term is interrupted by a temporary absence from the University may be replaced by a temporary senator”.
• February 6, 2012
  • Is deciding the tenure probationary period one of the responsibilities delegated to the Faculty Senate as part of “criteria for tenure,” or is it part of an administrative determination of eligibility for tenure that does not require a Senate decision?
    • Interpretation:  This does not affect the colleges’ bargaining unit. Tenure probationary period falls under university policies which do not go before the Faculty Senate.   The constitution language is vague and may need to be clarified.  The current language indicates tenure probationary period policies are not under the Faculty Senate purview.  If the Faculty Senate wishes to change or clarify the language, it should refer to a relevant committee.
• January 9, 2012
  • Issue regarding the reallocation of senators proportional to the number of faculty in each college.  If a department is to lose a senator and no one is rotating off, what is the appropriate procedure?
    • Interpretation:  If a department is to gain a senator and another is to lose one with no one rotating off, then reallocation for the two departments stays the same for that year.  No department should “retire” a senator until his/her term is over.