The University Senate (formerly called the Faculty Senate) is a deliberative body empowered to act for the University Faculty and the University Academic Staff in matters of faculty and academic staff responsibility and concern. The faculty senate was officially established in January of 1965, primarily as a response to a growing professional staff. Formerly, all faculty had met as a whole to consider various issues, but President Haas recognized that a new system was quickly becoming necessary. From 1963 to 1965, a development council worked to establish an alternative. The council decided upon the format of a senate to best represent all faculty members. Over the years, very few amendments have been made to the senate's original constitution. The faculty senate works closely with the student senate, occasionally holding joint meetings. A student observer is present at all faculty senate meetings, and a faculty member present at all student senate meetings. The faculty senate is comprised of several committees, including the executive, faculty personnel, student personnel, academic policies, social and finance, and physical plant planning committees.