faculty senate

Definition

The elected body of faculty representatives who govern academic policy and supposedly give faculty a voice in institutional decisions. Democracy theater where professors debate comma placement while administrators ignore them.

Example Usage

The faculty senate passed a resolution opposing the new policy, which administration thanked them for before implementing it anyway.

Origin

Established in American universities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as shared governance formalized

Fun Fact

Faculty senate meetings follow Robert's Rules of Order with religious devotion, because nothing says 'modern higher education' like procedural rules from 1876.

Source: Academic governance structures

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