• Permanent office space, files, archives
• Annual budget(travel, telephone, computer, supplies, etc.)
• Secretarial assistance
• Adjusted workload for officers
• Regular meetings with college president
• Consulted on creation of all non-senate committees
• Senate president (faculty officer) presides at senate meetings.
• Bylaws specify areas where senate decisions are normally determinative, co-determinative, or advisory
• Meetings and activities advertised in advance and records of actions widely published
• Attracts both junior and senior faculty who are esteemed as academic leaders
• Is regarded by the campus as dealing with crucial issues
• Has effective representation on other key governance groups
• Senate leadership visible in the ceremonial and symbolic affairs of the campus
• Initiates a major portion of its agenda items
• Defends the core values of academic freedom, determines curriculum
• Provides an effective forum for controversial issues
• Is seen as an agent for necessary institutional change
• Grounds its practices in parliamentary procedure and published and endorsed principles of governance

Participants at sessions of the AAHE National Network of Faculty Senates during the past twelve years have developed and refined these traits. Please let us know of additional traits you think are essential.

American Association of University Professors
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Phone: 202-737-5900 | Fax: 202-737-5526