The University Senate is a legislative body responsible for establishing minimum rules and general regulations of the educational program and mission of the institution, excluding the University of Connecticut Health Center, that are not reserved to the Board of Trustees, to the administration, to the Graduate Faculty Council, or to the several faculties. The University Senate shall be regularly consulted by the Administration on matters pertaining to the Senate's purview. By-Laws of the University of Connecticut, Article IX
Senate Membership
On September 17, 2025 the UConn Board of Trustees passed an omnibus resolution to change the University By-Laws, Article IX relating to University Senate membership. These changes will be integrated starting in AY 2026-2027. Please refer to the University Bylaws. for further information.
Elections shall normally be held between October and March and those elected shall take office on July 1 for a term of three years (for faculty and professional staff members) and a period of one year (for undergraduate and graduate students) unless otherwise noted on the election ballot. All elections shall be in the charge of the Senate Executive Committee. To learn more about Senate elections, check out the Senate Elections FAQ.
Ex-Officio Members (2025-2026)
The ex-officio members of the University Senate shall be the President, the Provost, all Vice Presidents (except the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs), and all Vice Provosts. Ex-Officio members are non-voting members of the Senate.
Elected Members (2025-2026)
The Senate shall contain one-hundred four elected, voting members as follows:
- Three Deans of the schools and colleges, which are Senate electoral constituencies
- Seventy-two members of the faculty elected according to electoral processes laid out in the University Bylaws
- Seventeen professional staff members elected by and from the constituencies according to electoral processes laid out in the University Bylaws
Undergraduate & Graduate Student Members (2025-2026)
The University Senate includes representation in the form of nine undergraduate students and three graduate students.
Of these senators, two undergraduate and two graduate student members are elected to the Senate Executive Committee following processes laid out by the Undergraduate Student Governments of each campus.
Ex-Officio Members (starting AY 2026-2027)
The ex-officio members of the University Senate shall be the President, the Provost, all Vice Presidents (except the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs), the Dean of Students, and all Vice Provosts. Ex-Officio members are non-voting members of the Senate.
Elected Members (2025-2026)
The Senate shall contain a variable number of voting members calculated as follows:
- Three Deans of the schools and colleges, which are Senate electoral constituencies. One Campus Dean (Avery Point, Hartford, Stamford, Waterbury)
- Faculty:
- One faculty Senate member for every twenty-five eligible faculty members or major fraction thereof within that constituency, elected according to electoral processes laid out in the University Bylaws
- Six at-large faculty Senators
- Professional Staff:
- One Professional Staff Senate member for every 125 eligible staff members or major fraction thereof, divided amongst constituency seats (Academic Development: 3; Student Life and Enrollment: 3; University Libraries: 1; Schools/Colleges: 1; Regional Campuses: 1 per Campus) with the remainder going to the at-large constituency.
Undergraduate & Graduate Student Members (starting AY 2026-2027)
- Undergraduate: One student senator for every 2500 active undergraduate students or major fraction thereof, with each campus having at least one student senator
- Graduate: One student senator for every 2500 active graduate students or major fraction thereof
Student Senators are appointed according to procedures established by their respective student governing organizations.
Student Senate seats calculations are derived from the University's census data from the previous fall semester.