University Senate is the principal governing body for the University of Maryland. Similar to a faculty senate at other colleges, the University Senate also includes student and staff voting members. There are 9 graduate student representative positions on the University Senate. Elections are held once a year during the month of April, usually in conjunction with Graduate Student Government elections. Get experience with big picture policy decisions and represent graduate student needs. See information on University Senate campus committees below...

University Senate Committees

One of the best ways to become involved on campus with a fairly small time commitment is through a University Senate committee. These committees often perform most of the behind the scenes work in creating campus policies. Almost all of them have seats for graduate students. If interested contact one of the University Senate graduate student representatives.

Academic Procedures and Standards Committee
The committee formulates and continually reviews policies, rules, and regulations governing the admission, readmission, scholastic standing, and dismissal of all students for academic deficiency.

Campus Affairs Committee
The committee shall formulate and continually review policies and regulations affecting the total campus, its functions, its facilities, its internal operation and external relationships, including the awarding of campus prizes and honors, and make recommendations concerning the future of the campus.

Committee on Committees
(1) As set forth in the Plan (Article 8), responsibilities of the Committee on Committees include (a) identification of individuals for service on Senate committees, (b) identification of individuals to serve as representatives of the Senate on University committees. (2) Additional duties include (a) identification of individuals for service on System committees, (b) ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of committees, and recommendation for improvements and changes in committee operations and structure to the Elections, Representation and Governance.

CORE Liberal Arts & Sciences Committee
The committee shall exercise continuing supervisory authority and general oversight over the Core Liberal Arts and Sciences Program at UMCP. Its authority includes, but is not limited to evaluation, selection, and oversight of courses which satisfy fundamental studies, distributive studies, advanced studies, cultural diversity; capstone, and freshman seminar requirements as mandated by the report on undergraduate education entitled Promises to Keep: The College Park Plan Undergraduate Education, adopted by the College Park Senate in March 1988. It shall also make periodic reports to the Senate on its evaluation of the effectiveness of the program and make any recommendations for revision or improvements it deems appropriate.

Educational Affairs Committee
The Committee shall formulate and continually review plans and policies to strengthen the educational system of the College Park Campus. The committee shall receive ideas, recommendations, and plans for educational innovations from members of the campus community and others. The committee shall inform itself of conditions in the colleges, schools, and other academic units, and shall propose measures to make effective use of the resources of the campus for educational purposes.

Elections, Representation and Governance Committee
The committee shall review and recommend policies regarding the conduct of elections, determine correct apportionments for all constituencies, and investigate and adjudicate all charges arising from the management and results of Senate elections.

Faculty Affairs Committee
The committee shall formulate and continually review policies pertaining- to faculty life, employment, academic freedom, morale, and perquisites

Governmental Affairs Committee
The committee shall initiate activities to provide contact with and provide information for executive and legislative bodies, shall serve as an advisory body to the President concerning campus needs requiring legislation, and shall keep the Senate abreast of legislative issues important to the Campus.

Human Relations Committee
The committee shall carry out its responsibilities as detailed in the Article 1, Section E of the Human Relations Code, University of Maryland, College Park, and recommend any appropriate changes in the code. It shall consider programs for improving University human relations.

Implementation Committee
The Implementation Committee shall be responsible for working with the Senate office to maintain a record of the action on and implementation of previously passed Senate actions, and for corresponding with members of the University administration in that regard. The Committee shall report to the Senate Executive Committee at least once each term on the progress toward implementation of Senate actions and may make recommendations for Senate action where appropriate.

Instructional Resources Committee
The committee shall formulate and continually review policies on all matters pertaining to telecommunications, instructional and research computers, and other instructional aids.

Programs, Curricula and Courses Committee
The committee shall formulate, review, and make recommendations to the Senate concerning policies related both (1) to the establishment, modification, or discontinuance of academic programs, curricula, and courses and (2) to the establishment, reorganization, abolition of colleges, schools, academic departments, or other units that offer credit-bearing programs of instruction or regularly offer courses for credit.

Staff Affairs Committee
The committee shall formulate and continually review campus policies affecting staff members, including policies regarding periodic review of campus departments/administrators that employ staff members.

Student Affairs Committee
The committee shall formulate and continually review policies regarding all non-academic matters of student life including, but not limited to, student organizations, resident life, extracurricular activities, and student concerns in the campus community.

Student Conduct Committee
The committee shall formulate and continually review recommendations concerning the rules and codes of student conduct, as well as means or enforcing those rules and codes.

Marie Mount Hall is the home of the University Senate

2005-2006 Senators

Sadia Asghar
Smith School of Business

David Foster
College of Behavioral & Social Sciences

Pragati Godbole
College of Education

Angela Love Miles
College of Arts & Humanities

Laura Moore
College of Life Sciences

Lisa Pheifer
College of Life Sciences

Chengdong Wang
School of Engineering

Hongxia Wang
School of Engineering

Toni Watson
College of CMPS