University Senate (V.B.9)

Volume V: Governance
Chapter B: Governance
Responsible Executive: Provost
Responsible Office: Office of the Provost
Date Issued: See History
Date Last Revised: December 1, 2025

Contacts
Statement of Policy
Reason for This Policy
Individuals and Entities Affected
Exclusions
Responsibilities
Definitions (defined terms are capitalized throughout the document)
Related Documents, Forms and Tools
Website Address for This Policy
History and Updates
Appendix

Contacts

Policy Clarification

Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
765-494-5425 | Faculty Affairs Team

Statement of Policy

It is Purdue’s policy to seek, receive and consider suggestions and advice from faculty when forming university policies and procedures or otherwise making decisions that pertain to teaching and learning, to the terms and conditions of faculty employment, and to other matters concerning which the Board of Trustees grants faculty an advisory role. To this end, the University Senate (Senate) serves as a representative committee of faculty.

Subject matter for discussion and action by the Senate may be submitted to:

The chair, vice chair or secretary of the Senate;
A voting member of the Senate; or
The chair of a Senate standing committee.

Meetings of the Senate, including meetings of Senate committees at which a motion or vote on a matter takes place, are open to the public. Only members of the Senate who are employed by the University may cast votes on matters before the Senate or a Senate committee.

Reason for This Policy

This policy provides faculty with a means of participation through suggestion and advice within the scope set by the Board of Trustees and in compliance with Indiana state law.

Individuals and Entities Affected

Tenured, tenure-track, clinical/professional and research faculty; department heads and deans; and senior administration of the University.

Exclusions

There are no exclusions to this policy.

Responsibilities

President, Provost and Chief Financial Officer

Serve as ex-officio voting members of the Senate.

Secretary of Faculties

Facilitate and support administrative aspects of the Senate, including serving as parliamentarian and attending the meetings.

University Administrative Officers

Utilize the Senate as a means of effective communication between faculty and university administration.

University Senate

Act in an advisory capacity to make recommendations to university administration.
Elect a chair and vice chair to preside over meetings of the full Senate.
Maintain bylaws to address the membership, meetings, committees and other operations of the Senate.
Provide representation from the Senate membership to participate on other duly appointed university committees, as requested by those committees.
Consider subject matter presented to the Senate via the methods listed in the Statement of Policy in a manner consistent with the Senate bylaws.
Communicate the work of the Senate to faculty in their home college/campus.

Definitions

All defined terms are capitalized throughout the document. Refer to the central Policy Glossary for additional defined terms.

Secretary of Faculties
An individual appointed by the President to serve in this role.

University Senate (Senate)
An advisory group consisting of faculty members from the West Lafayette, Fort Wayne and Northwest campuses and other non-faculty employees of Purdue. Faculty members are chosen to serve on the Senate by their academic units. Eligibility, term length, and additional voting and non-voting membership of the Senate is outlined in its bylaws.

Consistent with the University’s commitment to equal access and equal opportunity, all potential members will be considered without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or status as a veteran.

The Fort Wayne and Northwest campuses may maintain their own campus-level senates to serve a similar advisory role as the systemwide Senate described in this policy.

Website Address for This Policy

www.purdue.edu/vpec/policies/governance/vb9

History and Updates

December 1, 2025: Interim status removed.

June 30, 2025: Policy implemented for compliance with IC 21-38-11.

The University Senate was established by vote of the university faculty to adopt Executive Council Document 63-3 (Final Revision, February 17, 1964), as amended and approved by resolution of the Board of Trustees on May 29, 1964.

Appendix

There are no appendices to this policy.