The Constitution of the Faculty Association was adopted by the Faculty Association in the Fall of 1974. Substantially this Constitution was contained in a document written in the spring and summer of 1974 by a committee composed of the president of the University and three faculty members. That earlier document also contained substantially what became the Constitution of the University Academic Assembly. Both organizations were already existing and functioning in 1974.

At the request of the faculty the two organizations are kept separate instead of establishing a single organization with two parts as had been envisioned in the earlier document. Nonetheless, to understand the purpose of the Faculty Association as well as the way it actually functions, it is important to be aware of its relationship to the University Academic Assembly.

The Faculty Association, as such, has no official power outside the organization. It is intended as a place where individual faculty can explore with peers even tentative ideas, positions and problems in an atmosphere which might not be as free if the administration were officially present. It is also expected to uncover any consensus, which might be present in the group.

The University Academic Assembly is the academic policymaking body for this University. The president of the University does not have academic policy-making power. He does have veto power over the actions of the Assembly and the Assembly has the power to appeal a veto to the Board of Trustees.

It is important to distinguish the two committees: the Executive Committee of the Faculty Association and the Coordinating Committee of the University Academic Assembly. Each is responsible for setting the agenda for its respective meetings. It is through the faculty members who have membership on both committees that the connection between the two organizations takes place.

Anyone, including students and staff, has the right to ask the Coordinating Committee to consider an academic item for inclusion on the agenda of the University Academic Assembly. However, ordinarily, at least the majority of the items on the agenda of the Coordinating Committee are set by the faculty members of that Committee at meetings of the Executive Committee of the Faculty Association of which they are also members. This assures the Faculty Association that it has access to the president's Office. At the same time this policy assures the President and Vice President for Academic Affairs that they will be informed of those issues of concern to the faculty.

(The above describes the de facto , four year historical functioning of the Faculty Association and the University Academic Assembly. It is also a fact, however, that there is no formal, explicit, constitutional connection between the two organizations. This means that unless the same people are elected at the meetings of both organizations there is not necessarily any coordination. It is clearly possible to have a situation in which no faculty person holds a position of leadership in both organizations.)

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