Established in 1977 and reconstituted as the University Senate in 1992, the University Senate was created to provide a forum for Faculty, Administrators, Librarians, Administrative Professionals, Professional Staff and Students to discuss and recommend policy on academic issues to the Administration as stated in its Constitution.

The University Senate is comprised of the following voting members:

• 12 faculty/librarian members at large
• 18 members elected from each of the following Schools/Colleges:
  • 3 School of Business
  • 3 School of the Arts
  • 3 College of Science and Mathematics
  • 4 College of Education and Human Services
  • 5 College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• 4 Professional Staff (including Academic Advisors)
• 1 Librarian and
• 2 Students, one undergraduate and one graduate

There are 22 nonvoting members giving the University Senate 59 members. The nonvoting members include:

• 1 Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees, ex officio
• 1 Local 1904 AFT President, ex officio
• 7 Vice Presidents, ex officio
• 8 Deans, ex officio
• 1 Chairperson of the Chairperson's Council
• 1 Administrative Professional Representative
• 3 Students (in addition to the two voting student members)

University Senate members are elected to serve a three year term. The Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees is a three year position elected by the faculty with nominations coming from the University Senate.

The Executive Board of the University Senate includes the four elected officers of the University Senate, the Chairs of the Academic Affairs, Administrative Affairs and Student Affairs Councils, the immediate past president and the Negotiation Agent Liaison.

In addition to the University Senate, faculty, librarians, professional staff and student participation in the University's shared governance process occurs through a variety of committees, many of which were created before the establishment of the University Senate in 1977.

Besides the three University Senate Councils, mentioned above, and ad hoc committees appointed by the University Senate, there are also:

1. The Committee on Committees, composed of the Vice President of the University Senate who serves as Chair and four voting Senators, ensures that University committees are staffed, periodically evaluates the effectiveness of the committee structure, recommends to the University Senate the creation of new committees or changing existing committee functions and/or constituencies and maintains a list of all University committee memberships, i.e. Standing, Advisory, Ad Hoc or Contractual.
2. Standing committees are listed in the Bylaws of the University Senate Constitution. They assist in evaluating the effectiveness of existing policy or recommending policy for a particular program or division.
3. Contractual committees are created through collective bargaining agreements.
4. Ad Hoc committees and Task Forces, when needed, shall be created through consultation between the University Senate and the University President.
5. College, school and department committees operate under the organizational structure of individual colleges, schools and departments.