(a) There is continued the state advisory council of faculty.

(b) Election of members and terms of office. --

(1) During the month of April of each odd-numbered year, each president of a state institution of higher education, at the direction of the faculty council and in accordance with procedures established by the faculty council, shall convene a meeting or otherwise institute a balloting process to elect one faculty member from each institution of higher education to serve on the faculty council.

(2) Terms of the members are for two years and begin on July 1, of each odd-numbered year. Members are eligible to succeed themselves.

(3) For the year two thousand four only, each president of an administratively linked community and technical college shall consult with the faculty council during the month of July to establish procedures and convene a meeting or otherwise institute a balloting process to elect one faculty member from that institution to serve on the faculty council. Members so elected shall take office upon election and serve until the next regularly scheduled election held pursuant to this section; thereafter, faculty members elected to represent administratively linked community and technical colleges serve a regular two-year term.

(c) The faculty council shall meet at least once each quarter and may meet at such other times as called by the chairperson or by a majority of its members. One of the quarterly meetings shall be during the month of July, at which meeting the faculty council shall elect a chairperson from among its members. The chairperson may serve no more than two consecutive terms as chair. A member may not vote by proxy at the election. In the event of a tie in the last vote taken for such election, a member authorized by the faculty council shall select the chairperson by lot from the names of those persons tied. Immediately following the election of a chairperson, and in the manner prescribed by this section for the election of a chairperson, the faculty council shall elect a member to preside over meetings in the absence of the chairperson. If the chairperson vacates the position, the faculty council shall meet and elect a new chairperson to fill the unexpired term within thirty days following the vacancy.

(d) The faculty council, through its chairperson and in any appropriate manner, shall communicate to the commission or the council, as appropriate, matters of higher education in which the faculty members have an interest.

(e) The commission and council each shall meet annually between the months of October and December with the faculty council to discuss matters of higher education in which the faculty members or the commission or council may have an interest.

(f) Members of the faculty council serve without compensation. Members are entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in the performance of their official duties. Expenses are paid from funds allocated to the state institution of higher education which the member serves.

(g) The faculty council shall prepare minutes of its meetings, which minutes shall be available, upon request, to any faculty member of a state institution of higher education represented on the faculty council.