Prior to the founding of the Faculty Senate in 1988, the General Faculty was the legislative body of the faculty at Iowa State University. Before 1973, the General Faculty was comprised only of associate professors and professors with regular appointments and the administration. By 1975, the membership of the General Faculty had been expanded to include all faculty and adjunct faculty with regular appointments regardless of rank. The General Faculty usually met twice a semester to discuss and determine general educational policies and procedures concerning requirements for admission to the University or college as well as requirements for graduation, the relations between colleges, revisions in the curricula, and to approve candidates for degrees. The University President presided over the meetings.



Due the inefficiency of the General Faculty, the faculty had been working towards the creation of a representative legislative body in the form of a faculty senate since the 1950s. In 1954, the Faculty Council was formed, however, it served as an advisory body rather than a legislative one. After a successful vote of the General Faculty and the approval of the Iowa State Board of Regents, the University officially established the Faculty Senate in 1988. With the creation of the Faculty Senate, the authority of the General Faculty was transferred to it.