Bylaws
Department of Educational Policy and Administration
College of Education and Human Development
University of Minnesota
Adopted May 05, 2003
ARTICLE I. NAME
SECTION 1. Change in Department Name
The name of the Department may be changed to conform to or in
recognition of changes adopted according to the Constitution of the
College of Education and Human Development, the Graduate School or
the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota.
- The Department may initiate a change in its own name by
enacting an amendment to its Constitution following the provisions
of Article IX of that document.
- Should the Department wish to change its name, the recommended
change would be carried forward by the Department Chair through the
governance structures of the University for approval in order to
become effective.
ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP IN THE DEPARTMENT
SECTION 1. Membership in the Department
Membership in the Department belongs to those persons designated
in Article IV of the Constitution and to specially designated
faculty as defined in Section 2 of this article.
SECTION 2. Specially Designated Faculty
The Department has the right to bestow adjunct or other
affiliated membership for reasons that facilitate or enhance pursuit
of the basic mission of the Department.
SECTION 3. Recognized Representative Bodies
The recognized representative bodies of the Department are:
Educational Policy and Administration Student Association (EPASA).
- The recognized representative bodies of the Department will
bring into being and will submit copies of their respective
constitutions to the Department. These constitutions should specify
purposes, organization, officers, and meetings and membership
requirements.
- The Department may recognize additional bodies, provided that
copies of their constitutions are submitted to the Department at
least sixty (60) days prior to the action extending formal
recognition to them.
- Bodies will cease to participate in Department governance by
Department action withdrawing formal recognition from them. The
bodies themselves or the Department may initiate this action by
changing the Bylaws as specified, but only where such pending change
has been announced, published and conveyed to the entire voting
membership of the Department and to the officers of the bodies
involved.
- There are four structural subunits of the Department: Educational
Administration (EdAd), Evaluation Studies (ES), Comparative and
International Development Education (CIDE), and Higher Education (HiEd).
ARTICLE III. CHANGES IN THE ORGANIZATION OF
THE DEPARTMENT
Changes in the organization of the Department shall require
approval by a two-thirds vote of the Department at a regular or
special meeting or by mail ballot. Written notification of the
proposed change shall be sent to all members of the Department at
least ten (10) days prior to the date for action.
ARTICLE IV. GOVERNANCE IN THE DEPARTMENT
SECTION 1. Voting Membership in the Department
Neither membership in a recognized representative body nor
adjunct membership shall imply an inherent right to vote on
Department matters. Voting membership shall be accorded to:
- All faculty members with the rank of assistant professor and
above assigned to structural subunits of the Department, who have at
least fifty (50) percent of their salary budgeted in the Department,
or who serve as coordinator of one of the instructional programs in
the Department.
1) Personnel voting and other decisions involving promotion, tenure
or non-reappointment of faculty whose primary appointment is in this
Department shall be restricted to regular faculty who are senior in
rank, and currently hold primary appointment and tenure in the
Department under policies and regulations of the College of
Education and Human Development, the Office of the Executive Vice
President and Provost, and the Board of Regents.
- All individuals in the Department appointed in the academic
professional and administrative (P&A) categories and who have at
least fifty (50) percent of their salary budgeted in the Department.
- One member of the Educational Policy and Administration Student
Association (EPASA), selected under provisions of their own
constitution. The vote of this representative shall be on matters
affecting programs and services for students. The student voting
member shall be certified by EPASA through written memo to the
Department Chair prior to the date set each Fall Semester for the
first scheduled Department meeting of the academic year.
- One member of the Civil Service/Bargaining Unit (CS/BU) Staff
Association, as designated by its membership and certified through
written memo to the Department Chair prior to the first Department
meeting of the academic year. The vote of this representative shall
be restricted to motions that affect working conditions or working
assignments of civil service and bargaining unit staff.
- A faculty voting member of the Department on authorized leave
from the University shall retain all voting rights during the period
of such leave.
- The conditions of this Bylaw shall not affect the voting status
of faculty members of the Department who are eligible to vote at the
time of its original adoption. An interruption of continuous
Department membership will cause this exception to cease and voting
rights upon rejoining the Department shall then be determined by the
intent of the Bylaws as stated in this Article.
SECTION 2. Voting Procedures
- Matters brought to the Department for action shall be decided
in favor of the majority of those eligible and voting at a regular
or properly called special meeting at which a quorum is present. A
quorum shall consist of fifty (50) percent of those eligible to
vote, plus one. A two-thirds majority vote is required for action if
specified in the Constitution or Bylaws.
- A simple majority means more than half of the votes are cast by
persons legally entitled to vote, excluding blanks or abstentions. A
two-thirds majority means at least two-thirds of the votes cast by
persons legally entitled to vote, excluding blanks or abstentions.
- In lieu of a special meeting, special matters of business may be
acted upon through mail ballot if this procedure is approved by a
majority action of the Department. The deadline for response through
a mail ballot shall not be less than ten (10) days from the time the
ballot is mailed to the membership. Mail ballots may occur either
through paper-and-pencil means or through electronic means as deemed
appropriate.
- The definition of majority in Article IV, section 2, applies in
the case of a mail ballot. The majority shall be of those whose
response is received at the designated point of return no later than
4:30 p.m. on the specified date. The rule for a quorum shall be the
same as that defined in Article IV, section 2.
SECTION 3. Representation on the College Senate
The Department shall elect two (2) representatives to the College
Senate. One shall be elected from and by the regular faculty of the
Department, and will represent the Department in both the College
Senate and the College Consultative Committee. This person shall be
regarded as the “Faculty Senator.” The second representative shall
be elected by the regular faculty and academic professional and
administrative (P&A) staff of the Department. This person shall be
regarded as the “Faculty/P&A Senator.”
- The person receiving the greatest number of votes within the
Department is elected to the Senate. In the case of ties, selection
shall be determined by a coin toss. The person receiving the next
greatest number of votes will serve as the alternate to the Senate
position.
- The term of representatives to the College Senate shall be for
three (3) years, beginning on July 1 following the election and
continuing for three (3) years, ending June 30. At least three (3)
years must elapse before a member completing a full term shall be
eligible for re-election to the Senate.
SECTION 4. Representation on Committees of the College
- The Department shall have a minimum of one (1) representative
on each standing committee of the College.
- The Department Chair shall appoint one (1) faculty member to the
Committee on Academic Affairs.
ARTICLE V. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS
SECTION 1. Procedures to be followed by the Chair
The Chair of the Department shall:
- preside at meetings of the Department or appoint another
regular faculty member to do so and shall serve as chair of the
Administrative Committee;
- appoint a secretary to keep minutes of Department meetings,
establish and maintain a faculty roster, and perform other duties as
appropriate; in those meetings concerning promotion and tenure
decisions, only those appropriate senior faculty shall be in
attendance and one (1) of them shall be designated to keep minutes;
- recommend to the Department the establishment or discontinuance
of subunits and work with the subunits in matters of planning,
budgeting, coordination, personnel, civil service and bargaining
unit (CS/BU) support, and external relations in keeping with the
policies and purposes of the Department, the College, the Graduate
School, the University of Minnesota and the regulations and statutes
of the State of Minnesota;
- assume responsibility for implementation and evaluation of
Department tasks and shall make recommendations as needed for
improving the on-going programs of the Department;
- make recommendations to the Dean of the College about search,
screening and selection and appointment of new faculty for whom the
Dean has requested such assistance;
- preside at an annual meeting wherein recommendations for
promotion and tenure of faculty are established and shall carry such
resulting recommendations forward to the Dean of the College and
shall ensure that all such recommendations are in conformance with
the policies, guidelines, rules and regulations of the Department,
the College, the Graduate School and the Board of Regents on those
matters related to personnel;
- have such other powers as are granted through the Constitutions
of the Department, the College of Education and Human Development,
the Graduate School, the University of Minnesota, the Dean of the
College and other external governing boards where they apply;
- supervise, monitor and coordinate the affirmative action program
in the Department according to the Department, the College, and
University affirmative action plans.
SECTION 2. Vacancy in the Chair
In the event of vacancy in the office of Department Chair, an
acting chair shall be nominated by majority vote of the Department
for consideration by the College Dean’s Office. This nomination may
be made at either a regular or special meeting of the Department,
which will be presided over by the senior ranking faculty person.
The acting chair shall serve by designation of the Dean until such
time as a permanent successor has been named. When the Chair is
absent for a period of more than two (2) days, the Chair shall
designate someone to act on behalf of the Chair.
SECTION 3. Instructional Program Coordinators
The coordinators of the graduate instructional programs in the
Department shall:
- be designated by plurality vote of the graduate faculty
members in the respective programs;
- serve a specified term of not more than three (3) years, but with
the possibility of reappointment;
- supervise and coordinate the evaluation of graduate students
within the program;
- in conjunction with the Director of Graduate Studies, enforce the
regulations of the Graduate School and of the various degree
programs, receiving and arranging for review of petitions submitted
by graduate students, maintain graduate student records, and
initiate and provide data for evaluation of graduate students;
- represent the graduate program by attending meetings of the
Administrative Committee.
SECTION 4. Director of Graduate Studies
The Director shall fulfill the roles and responsibilities as
outlined in the Constitution of the Graduate School. (Link)
SECTION 5. Coordinator of Graduate Studies
The Coordinator assists the Director in
- serving as a liaison to the Graduate School, the Office of
Student Services in the College, and other
appropriate University units;
- monitoring and preparing for review applications and program
documents;
- planning the orientation of new graduate students;
- facilitating professional development activities for graduate
students, including those sponsored by the Educational Policy and
Administration Student Association (EPASA);
- facilitating the assignment of graduate assistantships in the
Department;
- providing orientation for new graduate assistants;
- participating in programmatic and administrative planning in the
Department; and
- coordinating the administration of departmental and program
examinations.
SECTION 6. Directors
- The director of the Postsecondary Education Policy Studies
Center (PEPSC) shall assume primary responsibility for the fiscal
management and institutional reporting of all grants and contracts
within the jurisdiction of the Center and for facilitating the
procurement and performance of such grants and contracts consistent
with the mission of the Center. The director shall be appointment by
the Dean of the College in accordance with existing College and
University personnel policies.
- The director of Licensing and Leadership Development for
Educational Administrators shall assume responsibility for the
operation of licensure opportunities and other continuing education
opportunities for educational administrators, consistent with other
instructional programs in educational administration within the
Department.
ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS
Meetings shall be conducted in the manner specified below:
- The dates of the academic semester meetings will be a matter
of regular Department business. Minutes will be kept.
- The dates of meetings will be published in the minutes of the
Department and will be distributed to at least the voting members of
the Department.
- The dates of all regularly scheduled meetings to be held in any
semester will be set no later than the first meeting of that
semester.
- The first meeting of each Fall Semester will be regarded as a
“Retreat” and will be held before the first day of scheduled
instruction.
- Special meetings may be called by petition of at least five (5)
members eligible to vote on Department matters.
- Special meetings may be called at the discretion of the
Department Chair.
- Special meetings will be scheduled by the Chair of the Department
and written notice will be distributed to the voting membership of
the Department at least ten (10) days in advance of the meeting.
- An agenda of business to be conducted at any meeting of the
Department shall be circulated to all voting members of the
Department at least seven (7) days in advance of the meeting.
- Only those faculty involved in decision making shall attend
meetings at which the promotion and tenure of individual faculty are
discussed. Either the Chair or someone designated by the Chair shall
be designated to keep minutes of such meetings.
- Minutes will be kept of any and all special meetings called.
ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES
SECTION 1. Graduate Studies Committee
The Graduate Studies Committee shall be chaired by the Director
of Graduate Studies and shall include the coordinators of the
graduate-level instructional programs in the Department and others
whom the Chair may designate.
SECTION 2. Administrative Committee
The Administrative Committee shall consist of the Chair, who
shall preside over the Committee, and other departmental
administrators as defined in Article III of the Constitution.
- The Administrative Committee shall function as a continuous
policy formulation and planning entity for the Department. The
Committee’s jurisdiction with respect to these functions shall
extend to all activities of the Department excepting only those
functions closely related to 1) admissions; 2) graduate programs;
and 3) other areas specifically designated by Department action as
being the jurisdictional domain of other committees or offices.
- The Administrative Committee shall coordinate the activities and
budgets of the various subunits of the Department and shall advise
the Department chair regarding the allocation of resources.
SECTION 3. Post-tenure Review Committee
The Department shall establish a post-tenure review committee.
SECTION 4. Grievance Committee
The Department adheres to the current Board of Regents’ Grievance
Procedure (Link) and to the most current Board of Regents’ Student
Academic Grievance Policy. (Link)
- The Grievance Committee shall consist of three (3) faculty
members, and a designated alternate for each (elected by secret
ballot using the Hare system of the voting faculty members of the
Department); two (2) students, and a designated alternate for each,
selected by the members of the Educational Policy and Administration
Student Association (EPASA); and one (1) civil service/bargaining
unit (CS/BU) employee, and a designated alternate. Faculty members
with administrative responsibility in the College or higher units of
the University or the Department Chair are not eligible for election
to the Grievance Committee. The faculty members shall serve two (2)
year terms. Terms shall be staggered so that one (1) member will
carry over each year. All representatives and their designated
alternates are eligible to be selected for consecutive terms.
- The Chair shall appoint a chair of the committee.
- Designated alternates will assume committee responsibilities only
when the person for whom they serve as alternate is a party of the
grievance. If any member of the committee is a part of the
grievance, then the alternate for the person will be seated. If the
chair of the committee is a party of the grievance, the committee
will elect from its membership a pro tem chair until the grievance
involving the permanent chair is either resolved or it is presented
to the College, the Graduate School or the University under
provisions of their grievance procedures.
- The Grievance Committee shall conduct its business according to
the Department grievance policies and procedures as approved by the
College of Education and Human Development and in accordance with
relevant University regulations.
SECTION 5. Standing Committees
Standing committee members will be designated by their respective
organizations no later than the first Department meeting of the
academic year. A year of service for a standing committee member
begins at the first Department meeting of the academic year.
Resignations or other vacancies occurring during the year shall be
replaced by representatives designated by the respective
organizations at the next meeting of the organization, providing
that five (5) days notice of the vacancy has been given to its
membership.
- Unless otherwise stated, each standing committee shall elect a
chair from among its members to serve a one (1) year term.
- Standing committee proposals for making changes in Department
policies and procedures shall be referred to the Department at
regular or special meetings, provided that the proposals shall be
communicated in writing to the Department voting membership at least
thirty (30) days prior to the date that formal action is to be
taken.
SECTION 6. Ad hoc Committees
Ad hoc committees and their chairs shall be appointed for each
academic year by the Department Chair as that individual deems
necessary for the orderly and effective conduct of the Department’s
business. Unless extended by formal action of the Department, the
life of ad hoc committees shall not extend beyond the academic year
in which appointed.
ARTICLE VIII. RULES OF ORDER
Robert’s Rule of Order (revised) shall be the parliamentary
authority on all questions not specifically covered by: 1) the
Constitution and Bylaws of the Department; 2) the Constitution of
the College of Education and Human Development; 3) the Constitution
of the University Senate and 4) the Constitution of the University
of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus Assembly.
|
