Issues occasionally arise that implicate the entire College. As a matter of practice, such issues should be placed before the College faculty for careful consideration. In certain cases, it may also be appropriate to poll the faculty, or some portion of it, on a specific question or proposition by way of a formal vote.
While it is ultimately the Executive Dean’s prerogative to call for a College-wide vote, and their responsibility to administer any College-wide voting process, there is a reasonable expectation on the part of the faculty that the Executive Dean will seek the guidance of the College Policy Committee, and its assent in the form of two-thirds majority support, prior to issuing such a charge to the faculty as a whole. If the Executive Dean is unable to secure the assent of the College Policy Committee and decides to proceed with a College-wide vote anyway, it shall be incumbent upon the Executive Dean to issue a statement to the faculty justifying their decision to contravene the advice of the faculty’s elected representatives.
Questions or proposals that merit the consideration of the entire College faculty, or some portion of it, may also originate within the College Policy Committee itself. In such cases, the College Policy Committee may, by a two-thirds majority vote of its members, petition the Executive Dean to initiate a College-wide vote on such matters. If the Executive Dean declines such a petition, it shall be incumbent upon the Executive Dean to issue a statement to the faculty justifying their decision to do so.
The Executive Dean and the College Policy Committee shall consult regarding how best to facilitate College-wide discussion regarding any question or proposition placed before the faculty for consideration. They shall also consult regarding any voting eligibility restrictions placed on specific questions or propositions.