Bylaws Preamble

The faculty of the College ofMarin have established the Academic Senate "whose primary function is, as the representative of the faculty, to make recommendations to the administration...and to the governing board of [the} district with respect to academic and professional matters." [Title 5, Cal Code of Regulations, S 532QO(b)J

FUNCTIONS MEETINGS.Regular meetings of the Academic Senate shall be each Thursday of each month that school is in session. The time of meeting shall be 12:45-2:00 P.M. Local time. The place of meeting shall be AC 108 (Administrative Center, Kentfield Campus, Room 108). If any such Thursday be a college holiday, as shown in the academic calendar, the regular meeting shall be held the next available Thursday. If the need arises to change the date and time of meetings from that specified above, this shall be accomplished by a majority vote of the Senate and will not require an amendment to the constitution. At regular meetings all business which the Academic Senate is authorized to consider and act upon, may be a subject for consideration as follows: first meeting -discussion.; second meeting - action. The rules may be suspended for urgent matters, unless expressly subject to other procedures by law. Special meetings may be called by the president, or by a majority of the Executive Committee, upon 24 hours written notice. Special meetings are limited to consideration and action upon only those topics listed in the notice of the meeting. Any senator who attends a special meeting waives all defects in notice.

QUORUM. A majority of senators then in office shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a call for a quorum, the members present may conduct business not requiring action.

AGENDA. The agenda for regular meetings shall be as follows unless modified by action of the senators present.

Call to Order

• Approval and Adoption of Agenda
• Approval of Minutes
• President's Report
• Committee Reports
• Action Items
• Discussion Items
• Requests to Address the Senate on Non-Agenda Items
• Adjournment

1 PUBLIC NOTICE. The Academic Senate shall comply with applicable provisions of Public Meetings laws, Public Records laws, and the Brown Act. Notice of special meetings shall be posted on the Kentfield Campus at the Learning Resource Center mailroom, and on the Indian Valley Campus at the Student Services Mailroom.

VOTING. Senators shall vote at Senate meetings by voice or show of hands. Upon request by any senator, voting shall be by roll. Senators may also vote by proxy on items posted on the agenda by contacting the President with said vote prior to Senate meeting. When voting on election of Senate officers, Senators may vote by proxy if, and only if, the nominating process has resulted in a slate available to Senators at least one week prior to the voting and no other nominations are submitted thereafter.

COMMITTEES. The Senate shall have the following standing committees:

• Academic Standards Committee
• Curriculum Committee
• Instructional Research and Development Committee
• Learning Resources Committee

The president may, with the advice and consent of the Senate, establish ad hoc committees whose composition, duration and purpose shall be set forth in the record at the time of their creation. The president may assign individuals to various tasks which are from time to time deemed necessary. An Elections and Nominations Committee shall be created to assist the secretary or designee in conducting elections.

STANDING REPRESENTATIVES. The faculty shall be represented by two members to the College of Marin Foundation Board. The positions shall be filled by appointment by the President, with the advice and consent of the other members of the Senate. Candidates shall be solicited from Senate members and other appropriate sources and will serve 2-year terms.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. There is hereby created an Executive Committee consisting of the president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer. They shall represent the Senate during intercessions, including summers, and shall be elected by the senators from among their members.

ELECTIONS.

SENATORS.
No later than the last full week in April of each year, it shall be the duty of the Elections/Nominations Committee:

• to prepare notices of election
• identify current senators and the number of vacant positions
• solicit candidates for the office of senator from the faculty
• prepare a slate of candidates
• mail ballots
• count ballots
• certify election results to the Senate

SENATE OFFICERS.
Immediately after the election of senators each year, the President will ask the Nominating Committee to query all senators regarding their interest in a Senate Office. Senators wishing to be candidates for office will have their names placed in nomination. Election of officers will be held at the next scheduled meeting of the Senate.

SENATORS - VACANT POSITIONS.
The position shall be filled by appointment by the President, with the advice and consent of the other members of the Senate. The President shall solicit names of candidates from the senators and other appropriate sources. The replacement senator shall serve for the balance of the term of the vacated office.

SPONSORSHIPS. Faculty groups may request Academic Senate endorsements or sponsorships for purposes consistent with the purposes and authority of the Academic Senate. Such requests shall be in writing and contain the purposes of the group, qualifications for membership, the name of a contact person, and the proposed duration of the group. If the Senate requests, the group shall submit it's Articles or Bylaws for consideration and shall be reviewed annually.

REFERENDUMS. A resolution may be submitted to the Academic Senate, signed by 15 faculty members, calling for a referendum to be voted on by the full faculty. The issue(s) addressed must fall within the purview of Senate responsibilities as mandated by Title 5, Cal Code of Regulations.

Adopted by the Academic Senate: February 27, 1992
Revised: November 14, 1995