University Faculty Assembly

On September 23, 1955, the Board of Regents approved a faculty organization plan that provided for two bodies, the University Faculty Assembly and the University Senate. The University Faculty Assembly was to be the general electorate and the University Senate was to be the representative body, consisting of elected and ex-officio members of the University Faculty Assembly to act for the faculty in legislative and advisory capacities. The powers, duties and privileges of the two bodies were exercised subject to the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents.

Membership in the University Faculty Assembly was composed of all nonclassified, full-time employees engaged in instructional and/or research activities on the Baltimore and College Park campuses of the University of Maryland who held the academic rank of instructor or higher, and other full-time employees resident on either campus who occupied specifically identified administrative positions.

The University Faculty Assembly was, under the original plan, to meet once each semester, but this was amended in 1957 and changed to not less than once each year. The primary purpose of these meetings was for the faculty to receive a report on the actions and activities of the University Senate.

Five responsibilities were assigned to the Faculty Assembly. They were: 1) to adopt a plan of organization of the faculty of the University of Maryland; 2) to initiate action on any matter of concern to the University which action of the Executive Committee of the Senate shall include in the agenda of the next regular meeting of the Senate; 3) to act as a referendum body on questions referred to it by the University Senate; 4) to receive info of general interest from the University President and the University senate, including an annual report from each; and 5) to elect representatives to the University Senate at elections to be held by the colleges and schools.

The University Faculty Assembly held its first meeting on January 25, 1956 and continued to function until the spring of 1970, when the University revised its Plan of Organization, and formed a new body called the College Park Faculty Assembly.

From the guide to the University Faculty Assembly records, 1956-1970, null, (University of Maryland)