top floor windows and details around the roof of the Brantly building

Faculty Senate

The Voice of the Faculty

The Faculty Senate represents faculty in the shared governance of the University of Montana. Through discussion, collaboration, and voting, senators help shape academic policies, review important initiatives, and provide faculty input on issues that affect the University community.

Shared governance works best when faculty are actively involved. Whether serving as a senator, participating on a committee, or sharing concerns and ideas, faculty play an import role in helping the University fulfill its academic mission. Faculty expertise and engagement strengthen decision-making, support academic excellence, and help ensure that faculty perspectives are heard.

Faculty Senate Chair Valerie Moody with Graduation Mace

Faculty Leadership

The Faculty Senate Chair serves as the primary representative of the faculty and works closely with University leadership on issues affecting faculty, students, and the institution. The Chair represents faculty in a variety of campus and system-wide groups, including the Board of Regents, the Montana University System Faculty Association Representatives (MUSFAR), the University Budget Committee, the President's Cabinet, and the University Planning Committee.

Faculty are encouraged to contact the Faculty Senate Chair with questions, concerns, suggestions, or issues they would like the Senate to consider.

Chair: Paul Kirgis (2026-2027)
Chair-Elect: TBD

Paul Kirgis, Faculty Senate Chair

11

Voting Groups

College of Arts & Media
College of Business
College of Education
College of Forestry & Conservation
College of Health
Humanities
Mansfield Library
Missoula College
School of Law
Sciences
Social & Behavioral Sciences

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Senators

Faculty Senate representation is based on faculty full-time-equivalency (FTE), with one senator elected for every 10 FTE faculty members in a voting group.

1961

Establishment

The Faculty Senate was established at the University of Montana by a vote of the faculty on May 24, 1961. Approved by President Newburn and the Budget and Policy Committee, creating a formal structure for faculty participation in University governance.