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
The Senate shall contain one-hundred and four elected, voting members, as well as ex officio members. All processes related to Senate constituencies for representation and voted are laid out in the University Bylaws.
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.
Ex-Officio Members
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
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
- Nine undergraduate students and three graduate students
Undergraduate & Graduate Student Members
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.