Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Academic Senate include the following: approving academic policies and procedures; reviewing structures of programs, curricula, courses, and academic services; establishing committees on appropriate subjects; interviewing prospective deans, vice-presidents, provosts, and presidents; appointing or nominating faculty to the Board of Trustees and its standing committees; structuring search committees and appointing faculty and chair membership.

Functions
The Academic Senate has two primary functions:

1. to assist in the governance of the Institute and to advise the President and the Provost about academic matters and concerns, without review by any other group.

2. to speak as the primary voice of the faculty of the Schools of Architecture, Art & Design, Information & Library Science, Liberal Arts & Sciences, and the Library.