Historically, faculty governance at
Butler University ensued through an assembly model that
existed from 1978 to 2008. In 2008, the Faculty Senate began
as a new structure for faculty governance, based on an elected
representative model.
According to the Constitution of the Faculty Senate: "The
faculty is the professional body of the University primarily
responsible for educational policies, faculty productivity,
curriculum, and instructional practices. The Faculty Senate is the
forum and deliberative body for the expression of the faculty's
recommendations regarding these matters. Faculty Senate also has
interests in the economic welfare of the institution and in
protecting the rights and interests of the faculty" (Article II,
Section 1).
As of the 2010-2011 academic year, the Faculty Senate is
composed of elected representatives from the six colleges on
campus, consisting of 14 senators from the College of Liberal
Arts and Sciences (LAS), 6 senators from the College of Pharmacy
and Health Sciences (COPHS), 5 senators from the Jordan College of
Fine Arts (JCFA), 4 senators from the College of Business
(COB), 3 senators from the College of Education (COE),
and 3 senators from the College of Communications
(CCOM). Currently, faculty librarians are represented by a
non-voting member.