Join the Faculty Senate
The University of Rochester Faculty Senate plays a vital role in shaping academic life, institutional priorities, and the broader direction of the University. Serving on the senate is an opportunity to engage meaningfully with colleagues across schools, provide leadership in shared governance, and ensure that faculty perspectives inform major decisions.
If you are committed to strengthening the academic environment, advocating for faculty needs, and contributing to thoughtful, collaborative change, we encourage you to consider serving.
Who Can Serve?
Membership in the Faculty Senate is open to any full-time faculty member holding the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor. Senators come from across the University’s schools and colleges, representing a wide range of disciplines and academic perspectives.
Faculty currently holding senior administrative positions—such as the president, provost, or a school dean—are not eligible to serve.
How Are Senators Elected?
Senate members are nominated and elected by their peers. Each year, the Committee on Elections oversees a secure nomination and ballot process that ensures fair representation across the University. Elections provide an opportunity for faculty to select colleagues they trust to represent their interests, raise important issues, and participate actively in shared governance.
If you are interested in serving, consider speaking with current senators, asking colleagues to nominate you, or nominating yourself during the annual election cycle.
What Do Senators Do?
Serving on the Faculty Senate involves thoughtful engagement with University-wide academic and administrative matters. Senators:
- Deliberate on proposed policies and initiatives that affect teaching, research, and campus life
- Collaborate with colleagues from different disciplines and schools to address shared concerns
- Serve on standing and ad hoc committees examining topics such as academic freedom, diversity and equity, faculty welfare, and educational policy
- Communicate faculty perspectives to University leadership and help keep their departments informed about ongoing discussions and decisions
Senators are essential to the University’s commitment to shared governance. Their work strengthens transparency, collaboration, and the alignment of institutional goals with faculty priorities.
Time Commitment
The Faculty Senate meets at least eight times per academic year, from September through May. In addition to these monthly meetings, senators may take part in the work of committees, depending on their interests and availability.
Members should expect a moderate but manageable time commitment.
Why Serve?
Faculty choose to serve on the senate for a variety of reasons, but many point to the same core benefits:
- Impact: Contribute to meaningful decisions that shape the academic environment and long-term direction of the University.
- Advocacy: Ensure faculty voices are heard and considered in key conversations with senior leadership.
- Leadership: Develop skills in governance, communication, and collaborative problem-solving.
- Community: Build relationships with faculty across departments, schools, and disciplines.
Serving on the Faculty Senate is a direct way to help strengthen the University of Rochester’s academic mission and support a vibrant, inclusive community of scholars.
If you’re considering getting involved, we encourage you to learn more, talk with current senators, and participate in the next election cycle.