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University Governance

IV. Amendments

Charter approved for adoption July 29, 2026

  1. Any individual or group within the University community can propose an amendment to this Charter.
  2. Suggested amendments must be sent to the UCC, who will categorize it and determine appropriate next steps for approval.
  3. During the course of deliberating amendments, Policy Committees, Councils, other Committees listed in the charter, and other relevant stakeholders should be consulted for feedback. Passage of the amendment requires the approval designated for each category.
  4. Categories for Changes
    1. Minor changes
      1. Minor changes include:
        1. Clerical changes to any part of the document
        2. The addition of clarifying or descriptive text to keep the document consistent with current university structure or practices (e.g., change in administrative titles).
      2. Minor changes must be approved by the UCC and each committee affected by the change.
      3. Following approval, the University President shall be notified of the change(s).
    2. Substantive Changes
      1. Substantive changes include:
        1. Changes to the function of the UCC or individual committees
        2. Changes to the membership of the UCC or individual committees.
      2. Substantive changes must be approved by (in this suggested order):
        1. The UCC
        2. Each committee affected by the change, if any.
        3. The Faculty Senate Council, if the change impacts faculty.
        4. The Staff Senate, if the change impacts staff.
        5. The Associated Student Government Senate, if the change impacts students.
        6. The Reporting Administrator, if the change impacts a specific committee.
        7. The University President
    3. Fundamental Changes
      1. Fundamental changes include:
        1. Addition or removal of individual committees.
        2. Changes to the purpose section of any committee.
        3. Non-clerical changes to sections II, III, or IV of this charter (not identified as “substantive”).
      2. Fundamental changes must be approved by (in this suggested order):
        1. The UCC
        2. Each committee affected by the change, if any.
        3. The Faculty Senate, if the change impacts faculty.
        4. The Staff Senate, if the change impacts staff.
        5. The Associated Student Government Senate, if the change impacts students.
        6. The Reporting Administrator, if the change impacts a specific committee.
        7. The University President
        8. Once the University President approves a fundamental change, they shall determine if the Board of Trustees must approve or simply be notified of the change.
  5. In the case of a disagreement among those designated above over any proposed change, the UCC will attempt to reconcile any differences between the parties.  
  6. Some changes to this charter may also require revisions of the Faculty Handbook, the Staff Policy Manual, or the Student Handbook. If so, the amendment process outlined by the respective document(s) shall be followed after the approved charter change.