The Faculty Senate

The University of Louisville Faculty Senate is the representative faculty body of the University of Louisville. It is responsible for continually reviewing University policies and documents affecting the faculty and making subsequent recommendations concerning these matters to the University administration. Jurisdiction over educational policies not reserved for unit faculties and providing recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding the establishment or termination of degree-granting programs are essentials of governance within the Faculty Senate purview. The Senate addresses and makes recommendations on identified issues and responds to requests for consultation from the administration, the Board of Trustees, and others. The faculty is formally represented on the University of Louisville Board of Trustees by the Chair of the Faculty Senate. State statute establishes the Chair of the Faculty Senate as a full voting member of the University's Board of Trustees.

The Faculty Senate is comprised of 70 members. There are 62 full-time faculty members who serve rotating, three-year terms. The number of full-time faculty senate seats for each academic unit is determined by the number of full-time faculty within the respective units. Each academic unit elects the appropriate number of faculty to serve as Senators. Also, annual elections are held by the part-time faculty to fill the six seats allocated to Part-Time Faculty members. The Staff Senate and the Student Government Association hold annual elections to fill their respective one-year constituency terms.