The Faculty Secretary is a position of long standing in the university and is currently held by professor Don Crowley. In 1991 the position was redefined as a half-time position (allowing for the creation of a half-time ombuds position) and the responsibilities of the office have evolved over the years (see FSH 1570).

In January 2006 the university established a university policy process (FSH 1460) wherein the title of Policy Coordinator was added to Faculty Secretary. This title brought a new responsibility to the office of overseeing and maintaining all university policies housed in the Faculty-Staff Handbook (FSH) and Administrative Procedures Manual (APM).

The major responsibility of the office is overseeing and supporting shared governance at the university. The immediate governance of the university was entrusted to the faculty through the territorial legislature and state constitution (see FSH 1120 A-2 and A-3). The role of the Faculty Secretary's Office in shared governance lies in its support given to Faculty Senate, Faculty Senate standing committees, Committee on Committees, and oversight of universitywide policy changes (FSH and APM). Meeting records for Faculty Senate, General Faculty Meetings, Faculty Senate standing committees and universitywide policies are kept in the office's archives and are accessible upon request.