The Faculty Senate is an independent advisory body that supports the College in shared governance through its commitment to academic integrity and academic freedom for Otis faculty. It promotes faculty participation in institutional decision-making, works in coordination with the Academic Assembly, and encourages collegiality and cooperation among all members of the Otis community in support of their mutual well-being and the College's mission. To these ends, the Faculty Senate provides a democratic forum for discussion, consensus and proactive communication.
The Faculty Senate provides a forum for faculty consultation and participation in a broad range of institutional issues and policy-making. It discusses issues currently in deliberation in all Academic Assembly committees to accurately represent faculty positions in the discourse and decisions of those committees through its members’ participation on or submissions to those committees. It also conducts independent research into and discusses issues not in committee deliberation — including, but not limited to, policies governing faculty dismissal, promotion, benefits, and workload; budgeting and distribution of College resources; program development, retrenchment, and redirection — and presents a unified position to the Academic Assembly and/or College Administration.
Membership of the Faculty Senate includes Otis Full-time and Adjunct faculty who are not in a position to assign or manage faculty. Part-time faculty may be included in discussions particularly germane to their role and/or experience at Otis.
View or download the Academic Meeting Calendar for Faculty Senate meeting dates and times. Meetings are held in the Forum, unless otherwise noted.