Plan of Organization Review Committee

Chair: Patrick Wohlfarth (patrickw@umd.edu) 

Senate Office Contact: Veronica Marin (vmarin1@umd.edu)

About This Council

In January 2022, the Senate Executive Committee (SEC) authorized a review of the University's Plan of Organization for Shared Governance (the Plan) and the Bylaws of the University Senate. The SEC determined that the review should be undertaken because there have been significant changes in the population trends of the campus constituencies represented in the Senate and several procedural issues affecting Senate operations have occurred since the last review in 2015. Senate Document #21-22-30.

The University Senate elected the members of the Plan of Organization Review Committee (PORC) at its December 9, 2021 meeting. The committee includes one representative faculty member from each College, School, and the Library, as well as at least two University-wide administrators, two undergraduate students, two graduate students, and two staff members. Senate Document #21-22-27.

The PORC is charged with reviewing the principles associated with Senate proportional representation and apportionment, the governance principles used by the University Councils, the principles and processes associated with reviewing College and School Plans of Organization, and the principles of shared governance. If appropriate, the PORC should make recommendations for revisions to the  University's Plan of Organization for Shared Governance and the Bylaws of the University Senate. The PORC should submit its report to the Senate Office by March 3, 2023.