University Council NIU Constitution and Bylaws of Northern Illinois University

Constitution

Preamble

Article 1: The University Council

Article 2: Membership on the University Council

Article 3: Officers of the University Council

Article 4: Standing Committees of the University Council

Article 5: Meetings of the University Council

Article 6: Faculties, Standing Committees, Councils and Boards of the Faculty and Administration

Article 7: Related Councils

Article 8: Selection of a President

Article 9: Human Rights

Article 10: Amendment Procedures

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Article 7:
Related Councils

7.1 Students
The right of students to organize an association to provide a means for participation in the governance of the university is recognized. Upon acceptance of the constitution by student referendum and by the president of the university, it will be accepted by the university community (i.e., faculty, staff, students, and administrators) as an integral part of the university's system of governance. The students, through their association, may communicate their concerns to the University Council, to the Faculty Senate, or to the associate vice president for student affairs and, through that associate vice president for student affairs, to the provost and to the president of the university and have ultimate appeal to the Board of Trustees.

7.2 Operating Staff
The right of the operating staff to organize a council to represent that constituency of the university community is recognized. It will be accepted by the university community as an integral part of the university’s system of governance. The operating staff, through its council, may communicate its concerns to the University Council, to the appropriate vice president(s), to the president of the university and shall then have ultimate appeal to the Board of Trustees.

7.3 University Faculty
The right of the faculty of the university, which shall be defined for this purpose as those regular, full-time university faculty in the academic division of the university, excluding the president, the president's staff, the executive vice president and provost, the executive vice president and provost's staff, the deans and the deans' staffs, to organize a Faculty Senate to represent that constituency of the university community is recognized. It will be accepted by the university community as an integral part of the university’s system of governance. The Faculty Senate is the body empowered to act as agent for the university faculty, with delegated power to formulate broad policies with regard to the educational functions of the university. The faculty, through the Faculty Senate, may present educational policies to the University Council, to the executive vice president and provost, and to the president of the university, with the ultimate approval authority residing in the appeal to the Board of Trustees. The Faculty Senate is empowered to act as the authoritative and official voice of the faculty of Northern Illinois University. The Faculty Senate Bylaws shall specify the membership of the Faculty Senate, its method of selection, and its duties and responsibilities.

The Faculty Senate, in accordance with Board of Trustees policies, has the power to establish the educational and academic policies of the university. In fulfillment of this charge, the Faculty Senate shall:

7.3.1 Participate through its appropriate curriculum councils in the determination of the university curriculum.

7.3.2 Be concerned with, and participate actively in, decisions made on other matters that may directly affect educational policies for which the Faculty Senate is primarily responsible.

7.3.3 Act upon reports from designated committees, boards, commissions, or councils whose actions affect the educational and academic policies of the university.

7.3.4 Advise the president and the vice presidents on policies affecting the quality of student life on campus.

7.4 Supportive Professional Staff
The right of the full-time supportive professional staff to organize a council to represent that constituency of the university community is recognized. It will be accepted by the university community as an integral part of the university’s system of governance. The supportive professional staff, through its council, may communicate its concerns to the University Council or through the appropriate vice president(s) to the president of the university and have ultimate appeal to the Board of Trustees.

Proposed amendment approved by University Council on 09/09/2015; approved by faculty referendum on 10/02/15; and approved by the Board of Trustees on 12/10/2015.
Proposed amendments to the NIU Constitution approved by University Council on 04/29/20, approved by faculty referendum on 05/10/20, and approved by the Board of Trustees on 06/18/20

Article 8:
Selection of a President

8.1 In the selection of a president for the university, the members of the Board of Trustees, the faculty, the students, the supportive professional staff, the operating staff, and all other members of the university community are vitally concerned. Accordingly, when a search for a new president has been authorized, it shall be conducted by a university search committee composed as follows:

• the chair of the University Council; 
• one tenured faculty member from each degree-granting college and the University Libraries; 
• three additional tenured faculty members from the degree-granting colleges, apportioned so as to reflect, in so far as possible, the ratio between the number of regular full-time faculty members in each college to the total number of faculty members in all colleges used in the most recent apportionment of faculty seats on the University Council; 
• two undergraduate students selected by the Student Government Association; 
• one graduate student selected by the student members of the Graduate Council in consultation with the graduate student members of the Student Government Association Senate; 
• one operating staff member selected by the Operating Staff Council; 
• one supportive professional staff member selected by the Supportive Professional Staff Council; 
• and one alumni representative selected by the Northern Illinois University Alumni Association. 

8.2 All groups selecting members shall make a special effort to include an appropriate representation of women and minority group members among their nominees. Each degree-granting college shall submit a list of nominees equal to the number of its designated representatives plus two. The Faculty Senate shall choose the apportioned number of nominees from each college list. In so doing, the Senate shall seek to achieve appropriate representation of women and minority group faculty members on the committee.

8.3 When the search committee as selected in accordance with Articles 8.1 and 8.2 above does not contain an elected faculty representative who is a woman or who is a member of a minority racial group, the elected faculty representatives shall meet and elect such representatives. The persons thus elected shall be chosen from among the faculty members of the university who are eligible for election to the search committee. Prior to conducting such an election, the elected faculty representatives on the search committee shall seek nominations for this position from the college faculties, and shall elect one of the persons thus nominated.

8.4 The search committee shall adopt procedures enabling appropriate representative constituencies to participate in the interview process. The search shall be coordinated on campus, the university providing space and support personnel.

Proposed amendments to the NIU Constitution approved by University Council on 04/29/20, approved by faculty referendum on 05/10/20, and approved by the Board of Trustees on 06/18/20