COMPOSITION

The State University of New York was established in 1948 by an act of the State Legislature. It comprises 64 individual campuses which are decentralized in location and administration and diversified in curricula. The public institutions of higher education in New York are the State University of New York and the City University of New York.

GOVERNANCE

The overall direction of the State University is the responsibility of a 16-member Board of Trustees appointed by the Governor (and confirmed by the State Senate), who also designates the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. A student member of the board serves ex-officio.

A System Administration Staff, headed by the Chancellor of the University, functions under the Board of Trustees and is located in the University's system offices in Albany. Each unit of the State University is headed by its own chief administrative officer and functions under the direction and leadership of the System Policy Administration staff.

In addition to the Board of Trustees, which is charged with the responsibility for overall policy direction of the University, the Governor appoints a Council of nine members for each campus. There is also a student member. Responsible for the oversight of certain operations, the duties and the powers of the Council include recommendation of candidates for appointment as campus President to the Chancellor, and through the Chancellor to the Board of Trustees; advisory review of budget requests and recommendation of budgets to the Trustees; review plans for improvement of the faculty, staff, physical plant, or academic program; and have oversight relating to the conduct and behavior of students.

The Faculty Senate of the State University of New York is the official unit through which the University faculty engage in the governance of the University. The Senate works to promote effective educational policies and other professional matters within the University. The Senate is composed of the Chancellor of the University, two University representatives having University-wide responsibilities and one to four representatives from each campus of the University, depending upon the number of full-time professional staff. The professional staff of each unit elects its own representatives and alternates from a slate of two or more candidates nominated by secret ballot, by majority vote, or by an elected Faculty Nominating Committee. The term in office for each unit representative is three years.

The Faculty Senate has the following standing committees:

Executive Committee
Student Life Committee
Graduate Academic Programs & Research
Undergraduate Programs & Policies
University Programs and Awards

Ad Hoc Committees are established as necessary.

Regular meetings of the Faculty Senate are held at least three times a year at a time and place designated by the Executive Committee. Special meetings are called as necessary.

*SUNY Board of Trustees Policies, Article VII