Chairmen, customarily faculty members, are elected for two-year terms and are responsible for giving direction and leadership to committees. Committee members can expect to receive notice at least two weeks in advance of an impending meeting, and to receive the agenda and other materials about one week in advance. Inability to attend a meeting should be reported promptly to the Senate office since much of the Senate's vital work is carried out in committee sessions. Senate committees follow a policy on confidentiality that is intended to allow the freest discussion possible. The policy makes all committee deliberations confidential, and designates the chairman as the only member able to speak on behalf of the committee to the campus press or other outsiders.
Senators usually serve on two committees.
Shortly after election, senators receive a committee preference sheet which is used by caucuses as the basis for determining committee assignments. Senators are given their first choice, if at all possible, and then assigned a second committee as needed. Committee meetings are usually scheduled monthly and last between one and two hours. Caucuses Student, nontenured, and tenured caucuses, each with a chairman, exist to perform certain organizational tasks, including the nomination of members to the Executive Committee and other standing committees. Senators are automatically members of the caucus of the group they represent.