Current Senator Information

Prior to each Senate meeting, Senators are responsible for reviewing the materials to be discussed and preparing for discussion, debate, and voting at each Senate meeting. Senators have the ability to introduce non-Senators to speak on the Senate floor. 

Senate meeting materials are posted on the website one week prior to each meeting. Senators will receive an email with a link to the materials, and may review the materials at any time by clicking on the materials link on the Senate Meetings page.  

Senators who will be unable to attend a Senate meeting or who plan to arrive late must notify the Senate Office of their absence, so that quorum can be calculated appropriately before each meeting. Senators should submit an excused absence request form by 1:00pm on the day of the Senate meeting using the link in the reminder email or the form linked on the Senate Meetings page.

Senators should familiarize themselves with the rules and procedures related to virtual Senate meetings, using the tools below. 

• Virtual Meetings Guidance

During the Senate meeting, if you have any trouble accessing the meeting via Zoom, voting via Top Hat, or if you experience other technical difficulties, please email senatemeetinghelp@umd.edu for immediate support from IT staff. 

Senators are encouraged to communicate on a regular basis with their constituencies. As a reminder, any opinions about University Senate matters communicated to constituents are solely those of the Senator and do not reflect the view of the University Senate Office or other University administrators or stakeholders.

• You can find your assigned Google Group by searching your name in the University Senator and Google Groups List. Please save this spreadsheet to your Google drive or bookmark it so you can easily search for your Google Group in the future. Note that At-Large Senators will have access to more than one Google Group.
• You will receive an email from the University Senate Office when the Senate meeting overview is available to share with your constituency. 

• The University Senate uses one Top Hat account for the entire voting body (meaning you do not need to create an account).     
  At each meeting you will access the University Senate Meeting using a QR code or by typing the URL:  app.tophat.com/guest.
   

• Enter First and Last Name, UMD email address, and the unique Course Password (emailed to Senators prior to each Senate Meeting). 

   

• You’re in! Throughout the meeting votes will appear on your device.
   

• The Senate “course” will appear in your Top Hat account as: University of Maryland - University Senate (Join Code - 722663). 
   
• You will be shown a QR Code at the Senate Meeting. To “open” the QR code, Senators should use the camera application on their mobile device. Hold your phone over the QR Code (do not take a picture!).
   
• Hold the camera still, and a URL link will appear- click the link. You will be automatically directed to the voting interface. 
   
• If preferred, Senators can also vote via a Web Browser at app.tophat.com/guest. 
  
  After you access Top Hat, you will be prompted to enter your First and Last Name, UMD email address, and the Course Password. This will be a unique Course Password generated for each meeting. 
  
  The Course Password will be emailed to Senators prior to each meeting. Please take note of the course password when it is shared. 
  
  Upon joining the meeting, Senators and Deans should access Top Hat and enter the Course Password. Then click "A" to indicate their presence for quorum purposes. The meeting cannot start until we reach the required quorum.