The Weber State University Faculty Senate began as a letter series sent to the faculty from the college president. This letter series continued until approximately 1964. During this same period, the Faculty Association was established as a legislative body for the faculty. In the late 1960s, the Academic Council was officially created from the letter series and the Faculty Association. The first chair of this new Academic Council was Tom Burton. In November 1974, the Academic Council members voted 262 to 21 to approve an amendment to the Academic Council constitution that changed the name from Academic Council to Faculty Senate.

The Faculty Senate is the deliberative and legislative agency of the academic community. It derives its authority and responsibility from the constitution and by-laws of the Weber State University Faculty Government (PPM 1-13) approved by the president of the university and by the Utah State Board of Regents.

The Faculty Senate constitution clearly delineates senate powers. The senate formulates policy in some areas such as standards for admission and retention of students; requirements for all degrees and certificates; curriculum; appointment, promotion, tenure, and dismissal of faculty; standards for student activities and general student conduct; and academic freedom and due process. The senate recommends policy in the areas of expenditures of funds for instruction, research, and travel; faculty salaries and benefits; leaves of absences; selection and retention of academic administrators; and teach load of faculty personnel. Most of the work in the areas of policy making and recommendations is done by standing committees and ad hoc committees which report regularly to the Faculty Senate.

The Faculty Senate at Weber State is composed of 39 faculty members elected on an apportioned basis by the various colleges of the university; 13 administrators, including the president and provost and 11 other administrators (in a position higher than department chair) appointed by the president; and 4 students appointed by the Weber State University Student Association. Faculty and students have full voting privileges; administrators may speak to an issue, make and second motions, but may not vote. The president and provost sit with 9 elected faculty members on the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate which meets weekly and serves as the steering and agenda setting committee for the Senate. The chair and vice-chair of the Faculty Senate are elected each year by the Senate. The chair of the Faculty Senate sits on the Deans Council, the Strategic Planning Task Force of the University, and the Salary and Benefits Committee. The faculty leadership is represented on almost every faculty and administrative committee on campus.