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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Preamble

The basic purposes of Northern Illinois University are to preserve, augment, criticize, and transmit knowledge and to foster creative capacities. These purposes are achieved by a community of scholars free to exercise independent judgment in the planning and execution of their educational responsibilities in an environment designed to allow maximum effectiveness within a framework of university government. Such a governmental framework should be rooted in the following principles:

1. Respect for the intrinsic dignity of each member of the university community, both by the university itself and by each member of that community, is the basic cornerstone governing all community activities. Each member of the community must be recognized as a person of equal and limitless individual human value, possessing significant intellectual potential, and entitled to all the rights and privileges guaranteed to them under the laws of the United States and the State of Illinois.
2. University governance shall be a shared process involving the faculty, students, administrative officers, supportive professional staff, and operating staff, each performing a role appropriate to the affected governance activities.
3. Faculty shall predominate in all policy decisions relating to the faculty personnel system, to the university curriculum, and to policy decisions concerning admissions and academic standards.
4. Students shall predominate in all policy decisions for which the Student Government Association has initial jurisdiction.
5. Administrative officers shall facilitate, support, and provide leadership in the development and implementation of policy in the academic and non-academic areas.
6. Supportive professional staff shall participate in all policy decisions affecting the personnel system for supportive professional staff employees.
7. Operating staff shall participate in all university-level personnel policy decisions exclusively affecting operating staff employees.
8. A requirement of the governance of the university shall be the development of a mix of faculty, students, supportive professional staff, operating staff, and administrative officers which is appropriate to the nature of the decision being made.
9. A requirement of the governance of the university shall be the delegation of authority to the appropriate level. Matters of substance should be decided at the lowest level appropriate.
10. Final decisions on issues of governance should be made on a timely basis with consideration for necessary planning.
11. Department chairs shall act as advocates for faculty and students, and as representatives of the university administration.
12. Appropriate faculty and administrators should have a significant voice in the selection, review, and reappointment of university officers and academic administrators by having a clearly defined role in search and review processes.
13. Students, supportive professional staff, and operating staff should be assured a meaningful input into the selection, review, and reappointment of university-level administrators by having a clearly defined role in search and review processes.
14. Students have perspectives on university programs and activities which can be unique, informed, thoughtful, and significant. Student perspectives should be considered in university decision making at all levels.
15. Faculty constituent groups should select, directly by election or indirectly through nomination or selection by elected bodies of faculty members, their representatives on all governance, personnel, and curriculum bodies. 
16. The purposes of university governance shall be to: 1) promote the pursuit of knowledge and the appreciation of the intellectual value of the arts, the humanities, the sciences, and the professions; and 2) to enhance the quality of campus life for all members of the university community; and, to these ends, to protect and promote the individual rights of all members of the university community.
    
    To achieve governance guided by the first principle, the Northern Illinois University Faculty Senate is established, together with its related councils and committees, to participate in the establishment, direction, and control of educational policy. To achieve governance guided by the second principle, the Northern Illinois University Council is established, together with its related councils and committees.

In order to achieve these purposes, Northern Illinois University has adopted this constitution subject to the limitations imposed by the Board of Trustees Governance Documents.

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.

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Article 1:
The University Council

The University Council, in accordance with Board of Trustees Policies, has the power to:

1.1 Participate in the selection of faculty committees.

1.2 Advise the president on the appointment of administrative officers, including the selection of a president.

1.3 Participate and advise the president and the vice presidents in preparing and administering the annual budget, setting goals and priorities for the utilization of resources, and providing periodic evaluation of progress in achieving goals and priorities.

1.4 Participate and advise the president in determining basic policies with respect to campus planning and building construction and utilization.

1.5 Aid in developing basic policies for the university.

1.6 Establish such standing and temporary committees as may be necessary for the discharge of its responsibilities; to define the membership, jurisdiction, and authority of such committees; to resolve disputes among committees thus established; and to act on the reports submitted by such committees.

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

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.

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Article 2:
Membership on the University Council

The University Council shall consist of voting representatives of the university faculty, students, administration, and staff as defined in the NIU Bylaws.

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.

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Article 3:
Officers of the University Council

3.1 Presiding Officer of the University Council

The president of the Faculty Senate shall serve as the chair and presiding officer of the University Council. In the absence of the chair, the duties of the presiding officer shall be assigned to the president of the university or the executive vice president and provost.

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.

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Article 4:
Standing Committees of the University Council

The standing committees of the University Council shall be as defined in the NIU Bylaws.

Proposed amendment approved by University Council on 04/29/2015; approved by faculty referendum on 05/15/2015; 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

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Article 5:
Meetings of the University Council

5.1 Regular meetings of the University Council shall be held monthly during the fall and spring semesters.

5.2 Written notice of the time and purpose of all meetings shall be given to members of the University Council by the chair in advance of the meetings in accordance with the provisions for advance notice set forth in the university bylaws.

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.

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

6.1 The University

6.1.1 Definitions
The instructional and research core of the university shall consist of five categories of members hereinafter referred to as: 1) tenure track faculty, 2) instructional faculty, 3) clinical faculty, 4) research faculty and 5) limited-term faculty. The definition of each category below serves to inform shared governance rights and responsibilities.

6.1.1.1 Tenure Track Faculty
The tenure track faculty of the university includes the tenure/tenure eligible faculty of the university who have appointments as professor, associate professor, assistant professor, departmental chairpersons and professional librarians other than the dean of the University Libraries. Also included are part-time faculty who hold positions at Northern Illinois University in conjunction with positions at an external affiliate institution as approved by the provost.

6.1.1.2 Instructional Faculty
The instructional faculty of the university includes instructors, adjuncts, lecturers, associate lecturers and assistant lecturers. Also included are faculty with a limited contractual relationship with the university, including part-time and non-compensatory faculty.

6.1.1.3 Clinical Faculty
The clinical faculty of the university includes all persons with appointments as clinical professor, associate clinical professor, assistant clinical professor and clinical instructor. The primary responsibilities of faculty in this category are clinical supervision or clinical instruction, oversight or delivery of professional services to individual patients or clients.

6.1.1.4 Research Faculty
The research faculty of the university includes all persons with appointments as research professor, associate research professor and assistant research professor and includes other appointments that are focused on research, scholarly and technical activities

6.1.2.5 Limited-Term Faculty
Other faculty positions include those that have limited-term appointments, including adjuncts, visiting faculty, post-doctoral fellows and other affiliated faculty. These positions may be engaged in the research, teaching or engagement missions of the university, but with time-limited association with the university and minimal roles and privileges.  

6.1.2 Standing Committees of the University
There shall be standing committees of the University Council as designated in the bylaws. 

6.1.2.1 These committees shall report all actions to the University Council, through the distribution of minutes to the University Council, through annual reports of their activities submitted to the University Council, and through the periodic presentation of action summaries. 

6.1.2.2 Any actions which these committees recognize as involving a substantive change in non-academic policy should be submitted for University Council approval. If action is taken without University Council approval, which the University Council agrees (by majority vote) represents a substantive change in non-academic policy, the committee may be asked to submit the action to the University Council for review. 

6.2 The Colleges

6.2.1 Definition of College Faculty
The college faculty shall consist of those members of the university faculty who hold their appointment within the college. 

6.2.2 Standing Committees of a Degree-Granting College
Each college shall have such standing committees as may be designated in the bylaws to advise the dean on policy, personnel, curricular, budgetary, and other matters as deemed appropriate. These committees shall include a student advisory committee through which students pursuing academic degrees within the college may have input into the college policy-making process. 

6.3 The University Libraries

6.3.1 Definition of Library Faculty
The library faculty shall consist of those members of the University Libraries who hold academic appointments within the University Libraries. 

6.3.2 Standing Committees of the University Libraries
The University Libraries shall have such standing committees as may be designated in the bylaws to advise the director on policy, budgetary, and other matters as deemed appropriate. Some of these committees shall include representation from a student advisory committee. 

6.4 The Graduate School

6.4.1 Definition of Graduate Faculty
The graduate faculty shall consist of those who, on the recommendation of the academic departments and the dean of the appropriate college, have been approved by the Graduate Council and the dean of the Graduate School to be members of the graduate faculty. 

6.4.2 Standing Committees of the Graduate School
The graduate faculty shall participate in the formulation and administration of policies affecting the operation of the programs of the Graduate School through the Graduate Council, provision for which shall be made in the bylaws. Provision shall be made for the participation of graduate student representatives on the Graduate Council. The bylaws of the Graduate Council shall provide for such other standing committees as may be deemed necessary or desirable. Any such other committees shall report regularly on their activities to the Graduate Council. 

6.5 The Council of Deans
The Council of Deans shall consist of the executive vice president and provost as chair, vice provosts, the deans, and such additional academic personnel as the executive vice president and provost and deans shall deem appropriate and necessary to the work of the Council of Deans.

Proposed amendment approved by University Council on 4/3/2019; approved by faculty referendum on 4/19/2019; and approved by the Board of Trustees on 9/12/2019.
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.
Proposed amendment approved by University Council on 3/31/21; approved by faculty referendum on 4/18/2021; and approved by the Board of Trustees on 6/17/2021.

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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.

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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.

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Article 9:
Human Rights

9.1 Academic Freedom
Freedom of thought, inquiry, and scholarly and artistic expression is fundamental and essential to the maintenance of the academic community. In all of its actions, the university shall act to uphold this principle and to create an environment totally conducive to the unfettered exploration of ideas, pursuit of knowledge, and scholarly and artistic expression.

9.2 Equality of Treatment
The university shall afford to all members of its community fair, impartial, and equal treatment regardless of sex, race, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, color, veteran status, political views or affiliation, religious views or affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, physical or mental disability, or other factors unrelated to their scholarly or professional performance. The university may make specific provisions to promote affirmative action.

9.3 Due Process
The university shall establish orderly procedures to insure fairness in its treatment of individual members of the community, and to insure the protection of the rights and welfare of both the individual members of the community and of the university itself.

9.4 Procedures
Procedures for the protection of the above rights shall be set forth in the bylaws.

Article 9.2 amendment approved by the University Council on 11/02/2011; approved by faculty referendum on 11/28/2011; and approved by the Board of Trustees 05/02/2012.
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.

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Article 10:
Amendment Procedures

Amendment of the constitution shall be accomplished by the following sequence of procedures:

10.1 Written notice of a proposed amendment may be presented at any regular meeting of the University Council by any voting or nonvoting member, but no final action shall be taken on a proposed amendment until at least the next regular meeting of the University Council.

10.2 Approval of the proposed amendment by a two-thirds vote of the University Council members voting.

10.3 Approval of the proposed amendment in a faculty referendum in which a majority of those voting concur. For voting eligibility, see Article 6.1.1.

10.4 Approval of the proposed amendment by the Board of Trustees pursuant to the Board of Trustees Governance Documents.

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

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