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Cornell University

Spring 2021 Faculty Senate Election

Dean of Faculty - to be filled by a member of the University Faculty (including emeriti) for a 3 year term, renewable up to 5 years

The Dean represents the interests of the faculty to the Trustees and the Administration as well as to students, employees, and alumni. Conversely, it is the responsibility of the Dean to ensure that the faculty is fully informed about campus issues and the concerns of each university constituency.

Candidate Profiles


University Faculty Committee (UFC) - 2 vacancies to be filled by a member of the University Faculty (including emeriti) for a 3 year term

The UFC acts as a liaison between the Faculty Senate and the President, Provost, and other senior University administrators. It sets the agenda for Senate meetings. It establishes and/or reappoints ad hoc committees and subcommittees. The UFC advises the Dean on all matters that concern the faculty.

Candidate Profiles


Faculty Senate-At-Large - 4 vacancies (3 for assistant professors and 1 for tenured faculty) for a 3 year term

The Senate has the following specific powers: (1) to select its officers; (2) to approve or reject nominees presented by the Nominations and Elections Committee for election by the University Faculty; (3) to approve or reject the list of members and chairs presented by the Nominations and Elections Committee for appointed committees; and (4) to adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws or other procedures relating to the conduct of its business and the duties and functions of its officers and committees.

Candidate Profiles


The Committee on Nominations and Elections - 3 vacancies to be filled by members of the University Faculty (including emeriti) for a 3 year term

The committee shall nominate candidates for election by the University Faculty for Faculty Trustees, for Dean of the Faculty, for Associate Dean and Secretary of the Faculty, for members at large of the Senate, and for elected committees and offices of the Faculty and of the Senate. The Committee shall propose  to the Senate members and chairs of appointed Faculty and Senate committees and members of administration and faculty-administration committees when the administration makes such requests to the Senate.

Candidate Profiles


Voting Information

Voting Opens - Monday, April 19, 2021 at 8:00 AM (EST)

Voting Closes - Friday, April 30, 2021 at 12:00 PM (EST)


Hare System (Ranked Choice Voting)

What is Ranked Choice Voting? Ranked choice voting (also called Instant Runoff Voting, or “Hare System” Voting) is a method of voting in which voters rank candidates in order of preference - 1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd choice, etc. All first choices are tallied and in a single-winner race, if no candidate receives a majority (50%+1) of first-choice votes, the less popular candidates are eliminated and ballots cast for these candidates are redistributed to more popular candidates, based on their voters’ second choices, until one candidate wins with a majority. As a result, every vote counts and very few votes are “wasted.” Voters cast their vote for their favorite candidate knowing that if he or she doesn’t gather enough votes to win, their vote will count toward their second choice. Your vote always counts for your highest ranked candidate until he or she is elected or eliminated and your vote continues to count once your favorite candidate is elected or eliminated until all the seats are filled. This helps ensure that more voters than ever are represented by someone they voted for and provides greater opportunity for more diverse representation.