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CHEP Bylaws (PDF Version)
Article
I - Mission of the College
As part of the University community,
the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy
shares a commitment to teaching, research, and service as
well as the responsibilities embodied in the Universityœs
mission as a land-grant institution. We seek excellence
in all our educational programs, we seek the highest standards
of scholarship, and we are committed to an active program
of public service that brings scholarship to bear on pressing
local, national, and international issues.
As a professional college,
we are distinctive in our three-part mission:
- to generate and synthesize knowledge
relevant to the many and diverse problems facing individuals,
families, schools, communities, and public, private, and
nonprofit organizations today and in the future;
- to utilize this knowledge in
the preparation of professionals who will assume leadership
positions in major institutions in society;
- to work in partnership with those
in Delaware and beyond to enhance human development across
the life span, to improve educational policies and practices,
to improve the delivery of needed goods and services,
to help formulate effective public policies and sound
public management, and to promote equity, diversity, and
social justice throughout society.
Article II - General Powers
1. Source of Powers
1.1 All matters relating
to the educational and administrative affairs of the College
and consistent with the University Charter, the Bylaws
of the Board of Trustees, the University Faculty Bylaws
and other University regulations, heretofore and hereafter
taken or established, have been delegated to the College
faculty and professional staff for the purposes of effectuating
the government of the College.
2. Authority of College Faculty
2.1 The College faculty shall:
(1) provide for the establishment of curricula and courses;
(2) determine educational and academic policies of admissions
to the college; (3) determine the requirements for degrees
and recommend candidates for diplomas, degrees, and certificates;
(4) recommend educational and academic policies relating
to the administration of University services (e.g., university
library, computing center, etc.) as they pertain to the
College; (5) adopt regulations governing its own procedures;
(6) make recommendations for conduct of formal exercises
and public functions held under the auspices of the College
and Schools and Departments thereof; (7) make recommendations
for conduct of formal exercises and public functions held
under the auspices of the College.
2.2 While responsibility for
acting for the faculty will generally be delegated to
standing and/or ad hoc committees of the College, the
Faculty retains the right to review all such actions
and to re-consider them. A petition signed by five (N=5)
voting faculty will suffice to bring any action taken
by a College committee on topics within the purview
of faculty authority to the full faculty at its next
meeting, or at a special meeting. (Note: Actions of
the College Promotion and Tenure Committee pertaining
to individual cases of promotion and/or tenure are excepted
from this "right of petition" rule.)
3. Authority of College Professional
Staff
3.1 The College professional staff
shall: (1) advise on the development and adoption of policies
and programs in the College and University that further
the interests of the College mission; (2) represent the
positions and views of the professional staff on significant
College and University issues; and (3) develop forums and
procedures to aid in the discussion of issues of concern
to the professional staff.
Article III - College Community Membership
1. Faculty Membership
1.1 The faculty of the
College, as defined in the Faculty Handbook, shall
consist of the Dean, Associate Dean(s) and/or Assistant
Dean(s) of the College, Chairs and School Directors, Professors,
Associate Professors, Assistant Professors, Instructors,
Lecturers, Adjunct Faculty, and Visiting Faculty who hold
primary or secondary faculty appointments in the College.
2. Professional Staff Membership
2.1 The professional staff shall
consist of those in the College designated as professional
staff by the University.
3. Salaried Staff Membership
3.1 The salaried staff shall
consist of those in the College designated as salaried
staff by the University.
4. Student Membership
4.1 Students shall consists of
all matriculating students admitted to any of the Collegeœs
undergraduate majors or graduate programs.
Article IV - Dean of the College
1. Leadership
1.1 The Dean, as chief representative
and executive officer of the College, shall have full
administrative authority over College affairs and has
immediate responsibility for supervising and coordinating
all administrative, teaching, research, and service activities.
In accord with University convention, the Dean will provide
leadership in formulating College policies concerning
academic programs, budgetary matters, and faculty, staff,
and student personnel. The Dean will also provide leadership
in implementing these policies and in interpreting them
to the University and to the wider professional and general
communities.
2. Administrative Authority
2.1 The Dean, as chief executive
officer of the College, shall have final authority to
make budgetary and personnel recommendations to the Provost.
The Dean shall consult with the Department Chairpersons/School
Directors on matters which affect the Department/School,
and consult with members of the College community concerning
budgetary matters which affect the College as a whole.
3. Appointment of Committees
3.1 The Dean may appoint committees
to advise on any matters of concern to the College. The
Dean may call joint meetings of any College standing committees
and the College Council.
Article V - College Council
1. Charge
1.1 A College Council will be
established to advise the Dean on matters affecting the
general welfare of the College. The Dean shall consult,
as appropriate, with the College Council on the following
matters: strategic planning, allocation of resources,
research issues, program evaluation, College organization,
and other similar topics having significant effects on
the College community.
2. Members
2.1 Members will be elected to
two-year, staggered terms from each of the Collegeœs departments
and schools except in the case of student representatives
who will serve one year terms. Each Department and School
shall elect one member on the College Council for every
10 voting faculty, rounded to the nearest number. (as
amended May, 1999)
2.2 The terms of all members
of the Council will be staggered -- with those initially
elected assigned to one-year or two-year terms by lot.
2.3 In addition to the faculty
members, one undergraduate and one graduate student
representative, three professional (non-faculty), and
one salaried staff representative will serve as voting
members. The student representative shall be selected
by students with a procedure established by the Council.
The student representatives shall be selected by the
CHEP Student College Council. The professional and salaried
staff representatives will be selected by a procedure
designed by the respective groups. (as amended May,
1999)
2.4 The chairs of the standing
committees of the College will be ex-officio, non-voting
members of the College Council -- with voice, but without
vote, unless they are also elected representatives.
2.5 The chairs or their representatives
of standing committees and other councils of the College
that do not have direct representation on the College
council may sit as ex-officio, non-voting members of
the College Council. (as amended May, 1999)
3. Meetings
3.1 The Council will meet at
least twice each semester at the call of the Dean and/or
the Chair of the Council. The Council will elect one of
its voting members as chair. The Chair will preside over
the meetings of the Council. In consultation with the
Dean, the Chair will prepare an agenda for each Council
meeting and make arrangements for Council minutes to be
distributed to all members of the College community. Meetings
may be held in conjunction with the Professional Staff
Council.
Article VI - Standing College Committees
and Councils
1. College Faculty Promotion and
Tenure Committee
1.1 The Committee charge is to
advise the Dean and College faculty in regard to policies
pertaining to promotion and tenure applications and to
implement the extant policies of the College. In addition,
the Committee will address other issues sent to it by
the Dean or the College Council.
1.2 The College Faculty Promotion
and Tenure Committee will consist of not more than five
members selected by the College Council or a committee
designated by it based on nominations from each academic
unit (Department or School). Each spring, each unit
will nominate one Full Professor and one other faculty
member. The College Council or its designated committee
will then compose the committee from those nominated
in such a way as to ensure that a majority of the committee
is at the rank of Full Professor. The Council Committee
will also seek to ensure continuity of membership on
the Promotion and Tenure Committee and diversity of
representation. The Promotion and Tenure Committee will
elect a chair from its membership. All members of the
Promotion and Tenure Committee will be voting members
for the purpose of election of chair and voting on promotion
and tenure of candidates not from their own departments
or schools.
2. College Undergraduate Curriculum
Committee
2.1 The Committee charge is to
review all proposals for revised and/or new undergraduate
programs for the purpose of preparing a recommendation
for the University Senate. The Committee, once comprised,
will develop policies and procedures for its own operation
to be approved by the College Council. The procedures
will give faculty within the College the opportunity to
comment on or challenge proposals put forward by units
within the College. Any challenge should be given a hearing
and, as a result, should be resolved by the Committee
before being forwarded to the Faculty Senate.
2.2 The Committee shall have
five faculty members, selected by the College Council
or a committee designated by it, based on nominations
from each academic unit (department or school). Each
spring, each unit will nominate up to two faculty members.
The College Council or its designated committee will
then compose the committee from those nominated in such
a way as to seek to ensure continuity of membership
on the committee and diversity of repre-sentation. The
Committee will elect a chair from its membership. In
addition, one undergraduate student shall be selected
by students as a voting member by a procedure established
by the College Council.
3. College Graduate Curriculum Committee
3.1 The Committee charge is to
review all proposals for revised and/or new graduate programs
for the purposes of preparing a recommendation for the
University Senate. The Committee, once comprised, will
develop policies and procedures for its own operation
to be approved by the College Council. The procedures
will give faculty within the College the opportunity to
challenge proposals put forward by units within the College.
Any challenge should be given a hearing and, as a result,
should be resolved by the Committee.
3.2 The Committee shall have
five faculty members, selected by the College Council
or a committee designated by it, based on nominations
from each academic unit (department or school). Each
spring, each unit will nominate up to two faculty members.
The College Council or its designated committee will
then compose the committee from those nominated in such
a way as to seek to ensure continuity of membership
on the committee and diversity of representation. The
Committee will elect a chair from its membership. In
addition, one graduate student shall be selected as
a voting member by procedures established by the College
Council.
4. Chairs Council
4.1 The Councilœs charge is to
advise the Dean regarding the academic programs of the
College, efficiencies of programs and operations, and
program innovations and opportunities.
4.2 The members of the Chairs
Council will be the Department chairs and School directors
in the College, supplemented by associate deans and
others as appointed by the Dean. The Dean will chair
the Council.
5. Directors Council
5.1 The charge to the Directors
Council is to advise the Dean regarding the activities
College-wide centers, efficiencies of programs and operations,
and program innovations and opportunities.
5.2 The members of the Directors
Council will be the Directors of the Collegeœs research
and public service centers and others as appointed by
the Dean. The Dean will chair the Council.
6. Professional Staff Council
6.1 The charge to the Professional
Staff Council is to serve as a forum to discuss policies,
procedures, and programs of significance to the College
and professional staff and to ensure that the views of
the professional staff are put forward in the College
Council, to the Dean, and other places as appropriate.
6.2 The members of the Professional
Staff Council will be elected by the professional staff
of the College using procedures established by the professional
staff which ensure a diversity of representation with
respect to the Collegeœs units, race, gender, and types
of staff, e.g., student service, public service. The Council
shall elect its own chair.
7. Professional Staff Promotion Committee
7.1 The Committee charge is to
propose new and revised policies pertaining to making
recommendations to the Dean concerning the promotion of
professional staff members of the College and to implement
the policies of the College. In addition, the Committee
will address other issues sent to it by the Dean or the
College Council.
7.2 The members of the Committee
shall be elected by the professional staff who are subject
to the promotion policies of the College in a manner
that they approve. The Committee shall elect its own
chair.
8. Student Association(s)
8.1 The charge to the student
association(s) is to serve as a forum to discuss policies,
procedures, and programs of significance to the College
and students and to ensure that the views of the students
in the College are put forward to the College Council,
to the Dean, Department chairs, School and Program Directors,
and other places as appropriate.
8.2 The organization of student
associations is to be decided by students in cooperation
with individual units of the College and the College
Council and Dean. The College Council has the responsibility
for recognizing student organizations. The student organizations
recognized at the time of the ratification of this document
will be considered as recognized student organizations
in the reorganized College.
9. Student Services Advisory Council
9.1 The Councilœs charge is to
assist in the coordination of student service. In addition,
the Council will provide advice to College administrators
concerning improving, evaluating, and maintaining student
service programs.
9.2 The members of the Council
shall be appointed by the Dean to include representatives
from the various academic programs within the College.
The Dean shall appoint the chair of the Council.
10. College Committee Procedures
10.1 As appropriate College committees
will establish procedures for guiding the conduct of members
and for dealing with the business that comes before them.
Committee procedures will be made public and copies will
be made available to all persons who come before the committee.
College committees will conduct their business in ways
that ensure comity and fairness to all persons who come
before them. Fairness includes a chance to present views
and respond to concerns and criticisms. College committee
meetings will be open to members of the College community
as appropriate. With the exception of individual personnel
matters, College committees will distribute agendas of
meetings and minutes to the College community. All committees
will be guided by Robertœs Rules of Order, Newly Revised
if other specific procedures have not been adopted by
the Committee.
Article VII - College Meetings
1. College Community Meetings
1.1 At least once per year the
Dean of the College shall call and chair a meeting to
report upon the state of the College to faculty, professional
staff, salaried staff, and students.
2. Faculty Meetings
2.1 Regular meetings of the College
faculty shall be called by the Dean on a periodic basis.
2.2 Special meetings of the College
faculty shall be called by the Dean upon: (a) the request
of a College Committee Chair; (b) a written petition
of 20% of the faculty; or (c) by a majority vote of
the faculty at a regular or special meeting.
2.3 The Dean of the College shall
chair the College faculty meetings. The Dean shall otherwise
appoint a member of the faculty to serve as Chairperson
Pro Tem whenever the Dean is unable to attend
a scheduled meeting or when the Dean takes the floor.
2.4 Voting members of the faculty
shall be those specified in Article III who are (a)
voting members of the University faculty, and (b) who
are budgeted at least half-time in the College or who
have regularly assigned academic responsibilities in
the College, and (c) who are members of a Department
or School within the College. Faculty who have voting
privileges in a Department or School of the College
shall have such voting privileges in the College. The
College faculty may elect either to voting or non-voting
membership any other member of the College body whom
it deems advisable.
2.5 The agenda of College faculty
meetings shall be established by the Dean. It shall
be prepared for distribution to the College faculty
at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting, preferably
with one week's notice. Proposed agenda items must be
submitted to the Dean's office at least one week prior
to the meeting.
2.6 One-third of the voting members
of the College faculty shall constitute a quorum. Rules
of procedure shall be guided by the membership of the
College faculty, but in cases where rules are not explicit,
or where applicability or interpretation of rules is
in doubt, Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised
shall be the procedural standard. A parliamentarian
may be appointed by the Dean to assure compliance.
2.7 The order of business for
meetings shall be: Call to order, approval of minutes,
approval of the agenda, old business, new business,
adjournment.
2.8 A recorder for each College
meeting shall be designated by the Dean. The recorder
shall be responsible for writing and distributing minutes
from the College meetings.
Article VIII - Amending the Bylaws
The bylaws of the College may be
amended by: (1) a two-thirds vote of the voting members
of the faculty present, provided previous notice of intention
to amend has been published in the meeting agenda and distributed
to the College faculty members at least one week prior to
the meeting in which the proposed amendments are to be considered;
or (2) by two-thirds of those faculty voting by a mail ballot.
If the matter pertains to the position of professional staff
in the College--especially to the Professional Staff Council,
the Professional Staff Promotion and Review Committee, or
to professional staff representation on the College Council--the
amendment process shall include the participation and voting
of all professional staff who are budgeted at least half-time.
Proposals for changes in the bylaws
to be voted on as described above may be initiated either
by a vote of the College Council or by a petition stating
the proposal and signed by five members of the College Faculty.
Proposals for amendments relating to professional staff
matters may also be initiated by vote of the Professional
Staff Council or by a petition signed by five members of
the College professional staff who are eligible to vote
on bylaw changes.
Once an amendment has been proposed,
the College Council will distribute the proposed amendment
to the college community, determine whether the amendment
is a matter relating to professional staff, and determine
whether the amendment is a matter relating to professional
staff, and determine whether the amendment is to be voted
on at a college faculty meeting or by mail ballot. (as
amended May, 1999)
Article IX - Ratifying the Bylaws
After consultation with salaried
staff and student organizations, two-thirds of the voting
members of each existing college in the prospective College
are needed to approve these by-laws by mail ballot no sooner
than two weeks after distribution. With a positive vote
in all three existing Colleges, the bylaws will become effective
on July 1, 1997.
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