University Senate (2000 - )

The legislative powers of the College Park campus are vested in the University Senate. This body is an integral part of the system of governance on the College Park campus and is composed of the Senate, the Board of Regents, the President, and the Chancellor. Senate membership is composed of elected representatives from all four segments of the campus community: administration, faculty, staff, and students.

The University Senate considers any matter of concern to the campus, including education; budget; personnel; campus-community relations; long-range plans; facilities; and faculty, staff, and student affairs. The University Senate then advises the other three governing bodies as necessary.

The University Senate's forerunners were the College Park Senate, which operated from September 1993 through March 5, 2000; the College Park Campus Senate, which operated from September 30, 1971 until September 1993; and the Interim Senate, which was active from November 19, 1970 through the summer of 1971. The Interim Senate replaced the original University Senate, which began meeting as early as 1919 but was not officially recognized until 1955. The original Senate worked in conjunction with various administrative bodies, such as the General Administrative Board, the University Council, the General Council, and the Council of Administration.

The College Park Senate changed its name back to the University Senate on March 6, 2000; this action had little effect on the organization's operations.