University Senate, 1920-1970

The University Senate began meeting as early as 1919, but was not officially recognized until 1955. During this early period, the University Senate worked in conjunction with various administrative bodies, such as the General Administrative Board, the Administrative Board, the University Council, the General Council, and the Council of Administration.

The University Senate was officially established on September 23, 1955, when the Board of Regents approved a faculty organization plan that provided for two bodies, the University Senate and the University Faculty Assembly. The University Faculty Assembly was to be the general electorate, and the University Senate 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 Regents assigned four functions to the University Senate. These were: 1) to formulate and recommend educational policies of the University as a whole, with the exception of policies specific to any college, school, or division; 2) to formulate and recommend policies pertaining to student life and activities; 3) to advise the University President on all general policy matters pertaining to the employment of the instructional and research staff of the University, when consulted; and 4) to advise the President, or the Board of Regents through the President, on any matter of concern to the University. The Senate carried out these functions through its committees, of which there were three kinds: an executive committee, standing committees, and special committees.

The last meeting of the University Senate was held on November 12, 1970. At this point in the history of the University, each campus of the University of Maryland system was undergoing reorganization. On October 29, 1970, the University Senate passed an amendment to the existing Plan of Organization which established a new body called the Interim College Park Senate to function until a permanent College Park Campus Senate could be created. The membership of this new body was defined in terms of the College Park membership of the former University Senate. The Interim College Park Senate held its first meeting on November 19, 1970 and continued to operate throughout the summer of 1971.

The revised Plan of Organization created what is known as the College Park Campus Senate, which first met on September 23, 1971, and is the governing body in operation today.

From the guide to the University Senate (1920-1970) records, 1923-1970, null, (University of Maryland)