Senates deal broadly with many types of matters that affect the University community. Members of senates are elected by their peers in their college or unit. There are five senates in the University Senate governance system: the Faculty Senate, the Student Senate, the Civil Service Senate, the P&A Senate, and the University Senate, which comprises representatives from the four other senates.
Each committee has a specific charge, outlining the particular issues that fall under its purview, such as research, educational policy, disabilities issues, and student affairs. Committee members are appointed. There are 23 standing committees, some of which have subcommittees. Each committee reports to one of the five senates.
With a few exceptions, members of committees generally do not need to be senators, and senators are usually not required to serve on a committee.
Click on your group below to learn more about eligibility and how to get involved.
Faculty
Serve on a Senate Committee
| Where to Apply | Interested faculty can APPLY HERE. Appointments are made by the Senate Committee on Committees. |
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| Timeline | Most appointments are made spring semester or the following academic year. Applications will be reviewed during fall semester if there are any openings to be filled. |
| Eligibility | The following individuals are eligible committee service (must be 67% time or more):
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Serve on the Faculty Senate
| Where to Apply | Faculty senators are elected by each college, campus, or unit defined in Article III, Section 1(a) of the Faculty Senate Bylaws. Interested individuals should contact their dean's, chancellor's, or unit office. |
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| Timeline | Elections are held each spring to determine representation for the following academic year. Terms are generally three years. |
| Eligibility | The following individuals are eligible for the Faculty Senate (must be 67% time or more):
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Note: Members of the Faculty Senate are automatically members of the University Senate, as well.
Please contact Amber Bathke ([email protected]) with any questions.
P&A Staff
Serve on a Senate Committee
| Where to Apply | Interested P&A can APPLY HERE. |
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| Timeline | Most appointments are made during spring semester. Appointments are made by the Senate Committee on Committees. Applications will be reviewed during fall semester if there are openings to be filled. |
| Eligibility | P&A staff members who have completed 6 months of service at the University and hold 50% time or greater appointments are eligible for election to the P&A Senate. P&A are only eligible to serve on the Educational Policy Committee or the Research Committee if they are also eligible to serve in the Faculty Senate. P&A are are NOT eligible to serve on the Faculty Academic Oversight for Intercollegiate Athletics Committee or the Judicial Committee, even if they are eligible for the Faculty Senate. |
Serve in the P&A Senate
| Where to Apply | P&A senate members are elected by each college, campus, or unit. Interested individuals should contact Jaclyn Adair ([email protected]). |
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| Timeline | Elections are held each spring to determine representation for the following academic year. Terms are generally three years. |
| Eligibility | P&A staff members who have completed 6 months of service at the University and hold 50% time or greater appointments are eligible for election to the P&A Senate. |
Serve on a P&A Senate Subcommittee
| Where to Apply | Interested P&A should contact the subcommittee chair(s). |
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| Timeline | Subcommittee members can join at any time during the academic year. |
| Eligibility | Any P&A is eligible to serve on a P&A Senate subcommittee. |
Opportunities for Current P&A Senate Members Only
Serve on the University Senate
| Where to Apply | An application is sent to eligible P&A prior to the election. |
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| Timeline | Elections are held at the April P&A Senate meeting. |
| Eligibility | To be eligible for election to the University Senate, P&A must be a current P&A Senate senator, P&A Senate alternate, or P&A Consultative Committee member at the time of election. |
Serve on the P&A Consultative Committee
| Where to Apply | A nomination form is sent to P&A Senate members prior to the election. |
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| Timeline | Elections are held at the April P&A Senate meeting. |
| Eligibility | To be eligible for election to the PACC, P&A must be a current P&A Senate senator, P&A Senate alternate, or P&A Consultative Committee member at the time of election. |
Please contact Jaclyn Adair ([email protected]) for any questions.
Civil Service Staff
Serve on a Senate Committee
| Where to Apply | Interested Civil Service staff can APPLY HERE. |
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| Timeline | Most appointments are made spring semester. Appointments are made by the Senate Committee on Committees. Applications will be reviewed during fall semester if there are openings to be filled. |
| Eligibility | All Civil Service staff covered by the Civil Service Rules who have completed six months of service at the University and hold 50% time or greater appointments are eligible for election to the Civil Service Senate. |
Serve on the Civil Service Senate
| Where to Apply | Civil Service staff are elected within units as defined in Article IX, Section 1(a) of the Senate Bylaws. Interested individuals should contact their dean's, chancellor's, or unit's office. |
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| Timeline | Eligible Civil Service staff are sent an email each spring to apply for the following academic year. Terms are generally three years. |
| Eligibility | All Civil Service staff covered by the Civil Service Rules who have completed six months of service at the University and hold 50% time or greater appointments are eligible for election to the Civil Service Senate. |
Serve on a Civil Service Senate Subcommittee
| Where to Apply | Interested Civil Service staff should contact the subcommittee chair(s). |
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| Timeline | Subcommittee members can be appointed at any time during the academic year. |
| Eligibility | Any Civil Service staff member is eligible to serve on a Civil Service Senate subcommittee. |
Opportunities for Current Civil Service Senate Members Only
| Where to Apply | Application is sent to eligible Civil Service staff prior to the election. |
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| Timeline | Elections are held at the spring Civil Service Senate meeting. |
| Eligibility | Must be a current Civil Service senator or Civil Service Consultative Committee member. |
| Where to Apply | Application is sent to eligible Civil Service staff prior to the election. |
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| Timeline | Elections are held at the spring Civil Service Senate meeting. |
| Eligibility | Civil Service staff must be a current Civil Service Senate senator or Civil Service Consultative Committee member. |
Please contact Deena Barker ([email protected]) for any questions.
Students
Serve on a Senate Committee
| Where to Apply | Interested individuals can APPLY HERE. Applications are reviewed by the Student Committee on Committees in May and September. If you apply outside of those regular application periods, your application will be considered only if openings become available. |
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| Timeline | Appointments are made spring semester (May), for the following academic year and fall semester (September) for the current academic year. If there are additional openings, the Student Committee on Committees may review applications outside of the standard application cycles. |
| Eligibility | All degree-seeking students are eligible to serve on senate committees, regardless of whether or not they serve on the Student Senate or Student Senate Consultative Committee (SSCC). |
Serve on the Student Senate
Where to Apply | Twin Cities campus seats are elected through the All Campus Elections Commission process in March or April of each academic year. Interested students should apply for open seats within their college. (Note: any vacancies that exist after August 15 are filled by the Student Senate Nominating Subcommittee. Students enrolled in a college with open seats are sent an email with a link to apply. The Student Senate Nominating Subcommittee reviews applications and determines which students will be selected. Selected students are approved by the Student Senate at their next meeting.) System campus seats are elected by each student association. For more information about applying, please contact: |
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| Timeline | Elections are held in March and April. Applications will be reviewed during fall semester if there are openings to be filled. Interested individuals can APPLY HERE. |
| Eligibility | All degree-seeking students are eligible to serve on the Student and University Senates. |
Note: All members of the Student Senate are automatically members of the University Senate, as well.
Opportunities for Current Student Senate Members Only
| Where to Apply | The chair, vice chair, and ranking senator are elected by incoming student senators at their May senate meeting; only incoming student senators or SSCC members are eligible to run for these positions. Information is sent to eligible students prior to the election. Other members of the SSCC are elected/appointed by their student association. For more information about applying for those seats, please contact:
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| Timeline | The chair, vice chair, and ranking senator are elected at the final Student Senate meeting of the academic year. Other members are elected/appointed by their student association spring semester. |
| Eligibility | All degree-seeking students are eligible to serve on the Student Senate Consultative Committee (SSCC). Members of the SSCC are also members of the Student and University Senates. |
| Where to Apply | Committee and subcommittee members are elected at the final Student Senate meeting of the academic year in May. Information is sent to eligible senators prior to the election. |
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| Timeline | Elections are held at the final Student Senate meeting of the academic year in May to fill positions for the next academic year. Mid-year vacancies are filled via email. |
| Eligibility | Senators and Student Senate Consultative Committee members are eligible to serve on the Student Committee on Committees and the Student Senate Nominating Subcommittee. The Student Committee on Committees collects and evaluates student applications for Student and University Senate committees, and appoints students to those committees. The Student Senate Nominating Subcommittee collects and evaluates applications for Student Senate seats when there is a vacancy during the academic year, and recommends the appointment of senators to the Student Senate for approval. |
Please contact John Lof ([email protected]) with any questions.
Alumni
Serve on a Senate Committee
| Where to Apply | Interested individuals can apply via the University of Minnesota Alumni Association or by contacting Cristy Leaf, director of board relations & executive assistant at [email protected]. |
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| Timeline | Most appointments are made spring semester. Other appointments will be made during fall semester if there are openings to be filled. |
| Eligibility | Any alumni of the University of Minnesota. |
Retirees
Serve on a Senate Committee
| Where to Apply | Interested individuals can apply through the University of Minnesota Retirees Association. Contact [email protected]. |
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| Timeline | Most appointments are made spring semester. Other appointments will be made during fall semester if there are openings to be filled. |
| Eligibility | Any retiree of the University of Minnesota. |