I. Purpose

The purpose of this organization is to cultivate cooperation and understanding among faculty, to make recommendations to the President of Amarillo College on policies that affect instruction and general faculty welfare, to make recommendations on general policy, and to offer a line of communication with other constituencies of Amarillo College. The Senate functions to promote quality instruction, professional integrity, and other contributions to the college as a whole (Board of Regents Policy Manual) and within the provisions of Subchapter G, Chapter 51, Texas Education Code, Section 51.3522.

II. Members of the Faculty Senate

1. Each academic community shall be represented by a minimum of three senators, consisting of:
   1.  At least two senators elected by the full-time faculty of that community.
   2. One senator appointed by the President of the College from among the full-time faculty of that community.
2. Academic units or full-time faculty not represented by an academic community shall also receive representation under the same structure (two elected and one appointed).
3. Additional representation shall be determined by the total number of full-time, board-appointed faculty members within each Academic Community, using the following scale:
   1. 1–18 faculty members = 2 elected senators + 1 appointed senator (minimum)
   2. 19–30 faculty members = 3 elected senators + 1 appointed senator
   3. 31–42 faculty members = 4 elected senators + 1 appointed senator
   4. 43–54 faculty members = 5 elected senators + 1 appointed senator
   5. 55–66 faculty members = 6 elected senators + 1 appointed senator
   6. For each additional 12 full-time faculty members beyond 66, one additional elected senator shall be added.
4.  Larger memberships will have staggered terms to ensure continuity of representation.
5. Elected senators shall serve two-year terms.
   1.  In communities with an odd number of elected senators, approximately half shall be elected in odd-numbered years and the remainder in even-numbered years.
   2.  In communities with an even number of elected senators, half shall be elected in odd-numbered years and half in even-numbered years.
   3. No elected senator may be re-elected until two years after the completion of their previous term, in accordance with state law.
6. Appointed senators shall serve one-year terms, renewable annually for up to six consecutive terms, as provided by state law.
7. If a new membership area is created or there is a reorganization within the college, initial terms shall be determined by lot so as to maintain staggered elections thereafter.
8.  If a faculty senate election results in a tie, the Election Committee shall conduct a runoff election at the earliest convenient time, no later than the last Friday in April.

III. Responsibilities of Faculty Senate

1. The President of the College shall appoint a faculty senate president, vice president, secretary, parliamentarian, and historian from the members of the faculty senate. 
   1. The Faculty Senate may hold a vote to select potential officers and advise the President of the College of the outcome. 
   2. The President of the College may consider, but is not bound by, that vote when appointing officers.
2.  The Faculty Senate President, appointed under (A)(i-ii), shall preside over meetings of the faculty council or senate and represent the council or senate in official communications with the institutional administration and any system administration.
3. The Faculty Senate shall act as a Professional Standards and Relations Committee and as a Salary Committee.
4. The Faculty Senate shall meet as often as it deems necessary, but at least once each semester for general faculty business. 
5. At least once per semester, the Faculty Senate shall meet with the College President.
6. The Faculty Senate may appoint ad hoc committees as needed. These committees may consist of faculty not on the Senate (For example: Election Committee, Nominating Committee, etc.).
7. The Faculty Senate shall make its own bylaws, have the right to expel a member for excessive absences, and hold a special election to fill this vacancy.

IV.  Elections for Faculty Senate

1. Nominations shall be made through a nominating ballot sent to each faculty member in the area for which an election is appropriate. 
   1. Elections shall be conducted in the spring semester or as vacancies occur. Terms for new Senators shall begin at the conclusion of the May transitional meeting.
2.  A faculty member may be elected to fulfill a vacancy and will serve the duration of the unexpired term.
   1. A replacement Senator may be re-elected for a new consecutive two-year term if he or she has served less than 50% of the unexpired term.
3. Whenever any reorganization of programs, departments, communities, or other service areas affects representation of the Faculty Senate, the Senate officers, acting in concert, shall be empowered to remedy the imbalance temporarily through whatever means are acceptable to the Senate as a whole. The remedy adopted shall prevail until the next general election.

V. Meetings and Reports

1. All Senate meetings, except those where the Senate is acting as the Professional Standards and Relations Committee, shall be open to all faculty members, student association representatives, and the public following Subchapter G, Chapter 51, Texas Education Code, Section 51.3522 (j)-(o). 
2. A quorum for the Faculty Senate shall constitute a majority (50% +1) of the membership.
3. Minutes and reports of the Faculty Senate shall be distributed to all full-time faculty members.

VI. Votes and Amendments

1. Faculty Senate voting shall be carried by a majority of members present.
2. Amendments to the Faculty Senate Constitution must be ratified by two-thirds of the senate.
3. To the extent any provision of this Constitution conflicts with Subchapter G, Chapter 51, Texas Education Code, Section 51.3522, that law shall control.
4. The Constitution shall be amended to conform to state law when necessary without the vote required in Subsection (B).

Approved: This Constitution was adopted by the Amarillo College Faculty Senate on October 3, 2025.
Updated:  May 2026