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Original draft from the Constitution Revision Task Force, April 30, 2007;
UNIVERSITY
OF MINNESOTA, MORRIS CONSTITUTION Preamble
Article
I. Devolution of Authority Section 1. Authority of the
Board of Regents: "The Board of Regents of
the University of Minnesota was established by the University Charter passed by
the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Minnesota in the Territorial Laws
1851, Chapter 3; and this establishment was perpetuated by the Constitution of
the State of Minnesota, Article XIII, Section 3." (Bylaws of the Board of Regents,
Introduction) "The government of the
University of Minnesota shall be vested in a Board of twelve Regents as
provided in an act approved in 1851 by the Legislative Assembly of the
Territory of Minnesota and affirmed in 1857 in the Constitution of the State of
Minnesota, and as amended thereafter." (Bylaws of the Board of Regents, Article
II.) Section 2. Delegation of
Authority to the President, to the University Senate, and to the Faculty: "All matters relating to
the education and administrative affairs of the University, consistent with
actions or policies of the Regents of the University of Minnesota heretofore or
hereafter taken or established and including those incident to the management
of the student body are, for the purpose of effectuating the government of the
University under and by the Regents, committed to the President, the University
Senate, and the several faculties, as provided in the Senate Constitution and
as amended from time to time." (Bylaws of the Board of Regents, Article VII,
Section B.) Section 3. Delegation of
Authority to campus assemblies: "The University Senate
shall have the power to recognize campus assemblies as official campus
legislative and policy-making bodies and, upon so doing, such organizations
shall have all powers permitted the campus assembly in this Constitution and
Bylaws." (University Senate Constitution, Article III, Section 1.b.) "The University Senate may
delegate authority and responsibility to campus assemblies in administrative
matters concerning only one campus of the University. Each campus shall
determine its own assembly and shall adopt its own constitution and bylaws,
consistent with the constitution and bylaws of the University Senate."
(University Senate Constitution, Article III, Section 1.c.) Section 4. Precedence: Should any provision of
this constitution conflict with any Board of Regents or other University policy
or procedure, the Board of Regents or other University policy or procedure
shall govern. Article
II. Administration Section 1. President of the
University The President of the
University, as its chief executive officer, has general administrative
authority over University affairs. The President may suspend action taken by
the Morris Campus Assembly and ask for a reconsideration of such action. If the
President and the Morris Campus Assembly do not reach agreement on the action,
it may be appealed to the Board of Regents by either party. Section 2. Senior
Administrative Officer of the Morris Campus The senior administrative
officer, hereafter referred to as the Chancellor, is the chief representative
and executive officer of the Morris campus. The Chancellor is appointed by the
Board of Regents upon the recommendation of the President of the University. By
virtue of delegation from the President, the Chancellor has general
administrative authority over campus affairs. The Chancellor shall: A. Articulate a vision for the campus and
build support for that vision among external constituencies; B. Present
to the campus community, at the beginning of each academic year and at such
other times as the Chancellor may choose, a priority listing of the principal
concerns he or she sees as important to the continuing successful operations of
the campus. The Steering Committee
of the Campus Assembly shall review these concerns and ask appropriate standing
committees to consider them. C. Develop
policy, manage financial resources, and provide leadership and direction to
faculty and staff to maximize human and financial capital. D. Make final recommendations to the Board of Regents
for the conferring of tenure and the granting of faculty promotions. E. Appoint
administrative officers, delegate various responsibilities to them, and
initiate performance reviews of them, as specified in Section 3. F. Preside
at meetings of the Campus Assembly and be a member of the Steering Committee. The Chancellor's
performance will be reviewed regularly in accordance with University
policy. There shall be substantial
UMM representation on the review committee, and input from the entire campus
community shall be considered. Section 3. Other
Administrators The Chancellor will
delegate various authorities to other administrators (vice chancellors,
associate vice chancellors, and others that report directly to the Chancellor).
Any reorganization of those administrative offices shall be carried out in
consultation with the campus community. In the appointment of these
administrators, the Chancellor shall use a formal search process that is
visibly inclusive and open. In the event it becomes
necessary to appoint one of these administrators on an interim basis, the
Chancellor shall consult with the Steering Committee and other appropriate
members of the campus community before making an appointment. The performance of
administrators that report directly to the Chancellor will be reviewed
regularly in accordance with University policy. The Chancellor shall consult the Membership Committee
in the formation of review committees.
The review committees shall actively solicit and consider campus input
before making their recommendations.
Section 4. Vice Chancellor
for Academic Affairs and Dean. One of the other
administrators the Chancellor shall appoint is the Vice Chancellor for Academic
Affairs and Dean (VCAA/Dean). The VCAA/Dean, working in concert with the
division chairs and the directors who report to her or him, shall be
responsible for the general administration, organization, and development of
the academic and instructional programs and services of the campus and shall be
responsible for creating and sustaining an environment that advances student
success and serves diverse constituencies. The VCAA/Dean, in
consultation with an advisory committee consisting of tenured professors, shall
make recommendations to the Chancellor for the conferring of tenure and
granting of faculty promotions. The VCAA/Dean ranks next to
the Chancellor in campus leadership and acts on the Chancellor's behalf in the
Chancellor's absence. Article
III. Divisions Section 1. Organization The division is the basic
academic unit of the campus and consists of its professors, associate
professors, assistant professors, instructors, lecturers, teaching specialists,
and other persons the division may designate. Each division shall adopt a
written document specifying its membership and describing its internal
governance structure and procedures. Section 2. Division Chairs A. Duties
and Responsibilities: The Division Chair is responsible for calling and presiding
over division meetings, leading in the formulation of divisional policies and
procedures, executing University and campus policies, hiring new faculty and
staff, conducting performance reviews of faculty and staff in the division,
overseeing curricular development, setting and maintaining standards of
teaching and scholarly productivity, managing budgets, and reporting on physical
facilities. The division chair follows the internal governance structure and
procedures in working with division members on matters of common concern such
as faculty positions, curriculum, budget, special programs, and policies of the
division. B. Appointment
and Review of Division Chairs:
Division chairs are appointed by the VCAA/Dean for five-year terms. To
name a new division chair, the VCAA/Dean shall consult with the Membership
Committee and appoint a selection committee consisting of four members of the
division and one division chair from another division. The selection committee
shall consult with members of the division before making a recommendation to
the VCAA/Dean. The VCAA/Dean shall
consult with the Chancellor before making the appointment. Early
in the third year of an appointment, the VCAA/Dean shall initiate a review of the Division Chair. Years
of service in an interim appointment shall be included in the count. The VCAA/Dean
shall consult with the Membership Committee and appoint a review committee
consisting of four members of the division and one division chair from another
division, to conduct the review. The review committee shall gather broad input
from members of the campus community. The review committee shall complete its
work by the end of February the following semester. The final report must include a recommendation on whether
the division chair's appointment should continue and shall be submitted to the VCAA/Dean
as well as to the Division Chair. In the event it
becomes necessary to appoint an interim division chair, the VCAA/Dean shall
consult with the faculty of the division and other appropriate members of the
campus community before making an appointment. Section 3. Meetings Each division shall hold at
least one meeting each semester. The division chair may call additional
meetings. At the request of three or more members, the division chair shall
call a meeting of the division within seven days. Agendas of meetings of the
division are prepared by the chair and normally are distributed in advance to
members and to the office of the VCAA/Dean. Article
IV. The University of Minnesota, Morris Campus
Assembly Section 1. Organization and
Membership The Morris Campus Assembly
includes the faculty, professional and administrative staff (P&A),, elected
civil service/bargaining-unit staff members (USA), and elected student members.
For purposes of this constitution, faculty, professional and administrative
staff, students, and civil service/bargaining-unit staff are defined as
follows: A. Faculty:
Faculty eligible for membership include professors, associate professors,
assistant professors, instructors, lecturers, and teaching specialists holding
at least a 60% appointment for the semester. Division chairs, Lecturers, and
Teaching Specialists shall be counted as faculty rather than as P&A staff. Faculty
on sabbatical or single-semester leave shall be removed from membership for the
duration of that leave unless they submit a written petition to the SteeringCommittee requesting to remain a member of the Campus Assembly during the
leave. The Steering Committee shall grant all such requests. B. P&A:
Academic Administrative staff (93xx) and Academic Professional staff (97xx)
holding at least a 60% appointment for the semester are eligible for
membership. C. U.S.A.:
Members of the campus community holding at least a 60% civil service/bargaining-unit
staff appointment, who are not included in the P&A categories, are eligible
for election to membership in the assembly. D. Students:
Students eligible for election to membership must be enrolled for eight or more
credits in residence during the semester when the election takes place. Student
members of the assembly must carry at least eight credits in residence during
each semester of their term. E. All
members of committees who have business on the assembly floor are eligible to
participate in the discussion of that business but only Campus Assembly members
may vote on it. F.
An employee whose
appointment is split between the faculty, P&A, and U.S.A. categories, butwhose total appointment is at least 60%, shall be counted as a member of the
category in which the appointment percentage is largest. If the largest
percentage is the same in two or more categories, the individual may choose in
which of those categories he or she will be counted. G.
Civil Service staff with
the title of director who are members of Campus Assembly at the time of the
ratification of this constitution shall continue as members of the Campus
Assembly as long as they continue to hold directorial positions. Section 2. Powers The Campus Assembly is
recognized by the University Senate as the official campus policy-making and
legislative body. The powers and responsibilities include the following: A. Toestablish appropriate policies, procedures, and regulations governing the
campus and to act on all issues that materially affect the campus as a whole.
Areas included are institutional mission, organizational structure, allocation
of resources, budget, curriculum, academic support services, faculty
development, honors, functions, admissions, retention, graduation, study
abroad, student services, athletics, student activities, awards, financial aid,
student behavior, and campus events. Campus Assembly does not recommend
students for graduation or for academic awards as that power is reserved for the faculty. B. To
establish standing and ad hoc committees to assist in the discharge of its
duties. C. To
review the actions of the Steering Committee and of all committees of the
assembly. D. To
receive and discuss reports from the Chancellor and other administrative
officers of the campus or to request reports on matters affecting the campus. E. To
discuss and act upon any measure or question appropriate to the legislative
body of the campus. Section 3. Officers A. The
Chancellor of the campus is the chair of the Morris Campus Assembly. B. The
chair of the Steering Committee is the vice chair of the assembly. The vice
chair presides in the absence of the Chancellor, or when the Chancellor
temporarily vacates the chair in order to take part in the discussion of an
issue. C. The Chancellor
shall provide a secretary for the campus assembly. 1. The secretary is
responsible for the minutes of all meetings of the assembly. The minutes are
subject to additions and corrections by assembly members only. 2. Within four weeks
following each meeting of the assembly, the secretary shall distribute the
minutes to each member of the assembly, to the Office of the Chancellor, to the
Morris Campus Student Association, and to the clerk of the University Senate.
Minutes are available to the entire campus community. 3 The secretary
is responsible for maintaining the membership record and the attendance record.
The attendance record will indicate whether each member was present, absent, or
excused from each meeting. D. A
parliamentarian shall be elected by the Campus Assembly. Only members of Campus
Assembly are eligible for this position. The parliamentarian advises the chair
on the propriety of actions according to the constitution, the by-laws, and
other rules of procedure adopted in writing by the assembly. Where there is no
explicit written rule of procedure, Robert's Rules of Order governs. Section 4. Meetings A. The
assembly shall meet at least twice each semester of the academic year. B. Meetings
of the assembly are called by the Steering Committee. In addition, on request
of ten percent of the members of the assembly, the Steering Committee shall
call the assembly into session within seven days. C. Agendas
of meetings of the assembly are prepared by the Steering Committee. All members
of the campus community may submit business to the Steering Committee for its
consideration as agenda items. The Steering Committee gives priority to items
submitted from assembly committees. Copies of the agenda normally will be
distributed to all members of the assembly at least seven days prior to a
meeting. Copies of the agenda are available to the entire campus community. D. Meetings
of the assembly are open unless an executive session is declared. Section 5. Executive
Session The assembly may, by majority
vote of those present and in compliance with relevant statutes, declare an
executive session. During an executive session, attendance is restricted to
assembly members, members of committees with business on the agenda for the
meeting, and other persons the assembly may include. Section 6. Quorum A quorum shall consist of a
simple majority of the membership of the assembly. The secretary shall compile
a current membership list at the beginning of each academic semester. If a
member cannot attend an assembly meeting and notifies the secretary at least 30
minutes prior to the meeting, that member shall not be included in the
membership count for purposes of quorum determination. Section 7. Election of
Civil Service/Bargaining-Unit Staff and Student Members of the Assembly A. One
student member is elected at large by the student body for each ninety FYE
students or major fraction thereof enrolled the prior fall semester. B. One
U.S.A. staff member is elected at large by the U.S.A. staff for each twenty-five
FTE U.S.A. staff or major fraction thereof employed the prior fall semester. C. Elections
shall take place in March for the following academic year. In each of the two
elections, the Membership Committee will acquire the official enrollment and employment
numbers and take whatever steps are necessary to assure a proper election of
the appropriate number of members takes place. Each
election shall include a determination of alternates who shall be called upon
to fill any vacancy that occurs during the course of the year. Section 8. Removal for Neglect A member of the Campus
Assembly is said to have neglected a meeting of the Campus Assembly if the
member does not attend the meeting and did not notify the secretary in advance. A member of the Campus
Assembly shall forfeit membership by neglecting two consecutive meetings of the
Campus Assembly. This forfeiture shall continue indefinitely or until a request
for reinstatement has been approved. A faculty or P&A member
who forfeits membership shall be so notified by the Steering Committee.
Membership can be regained at any time by submitting a written request to the Steering
Committee and all such requests shall be granted. A U.S.A. or student member
who forfeits membership shall be so notified by the Steering Committee. The
next alternate from the original election shall become a member of Campus
Assembly in place of the person who forfeited. Article
V. Committees of the Campus Assembly Section 1. Committee Structure. A. Constitutional
committees are elected committees specified in the constitution. They are the Steering, Membership, and
Consultative Committees. B. Standing
committees are appointed committees specified in the by-laws. They have a specified charge and
on-going duties with no termination date. C. Ad
hoc committees are appointed committees not otherwise specified in the
constitution or by-laws. They are established
to undertake special charges that do not fall within the purview of the
standing committees of the assembly. Ad hoc committees must have a defined
termination date stated at the time of formation. Section 2. Operations and Procedures of Committees A. All
assembly committees follow the operations and procedures described in this
section. B. Each
committee chair shall call meetings as often as required to discharge the
responsibilities of the committee in a timely manner. The chair shall call a
special meeting if requested in writing by two or more committee members. C. The
chair of each committee shall submit a written report of the committee's
actions to the Steering Committee at the end of each academic year. D. Meeting
times and agendas shall be made public in advance of meetings. E. A
quorum consists of a majority of the voting members of the committee. F. Generally,
committee meetings are expected to be open to all members of the campus
community. However, a committee may, by majority vote of members present and in
compliance with relevant statutes, declare an executive session. During an
executive session, attendance is restricted to committee members and other
persons they may include in the closed session. G. Minutes
of all committees shall be submitted to the Office of the Chancellor and shall
be made public in a timely manner to all members of the campus community. The
campus shall establish and maintain a convenient electronic distribution system
in order to promote greater awareness of the work of governance committees.
Minutes taken during executive sessions must reference the general topics discussed.
Committee minutes must not contain information considered private or
confidential under the provisions of state or federal law. H. Committees
consult, advise, and cooperate with other committees when appropriate. Article
VI. Steering Committee Section 1. Organization A. The
Steering Committee consists of nine voting members and one non-voting member.
Seven of the voting members shall be elected by the Campus Assembly and these
seven shall consist of three faculty, one P&A staff, two students, and one
USA staff. The chair and vice-chair are members of this elected group. The
other two voting members are the Chancellor and the UMM representative to the
all-University Faculty Consultative Committee. The non-voting member is the
parliamentarian of the Campus Assembly. The Chancellor shall arrange
secretarial support for the committee. B. Committee
members shall be elected at a spring semester assembly meeting. Only members of
Campus Assembly are eligible to be on the Steering Committee. The vice-chair
shall be elected first for a term of one year and then serve as chair for the
next year. The other members shall be elected next, terms being one year for
students and two years on a staggered basis for others. There are no
restrictions on reelection. Vacancies shall be filled by special election. Section 2. Responsibilities The Steering Committee has
the following responsibilities: A To
prepare agendas and schedule meetings of the assembly. B. To
request and receive reports and recommendations for action by the assembly. C. To
develop, with the assistance of the Chancellor, an annual agenda for the Campus
Assembly and its committees. D. To
advise the administration on issues that do not fall under the purview of any assembly
committee. E. To
apprise appropriate committees or the assembly of any matter the Steering
Committee considers appropriate. F. To
schedule a meeting of the chairs of all assembly committees at least once per
semester in order to promote communication and coordination among the
committees. The first such meeting each academic year shall include a
discussion of how committees function and interact with the Campus Assembly as
well as how to be an effective committee chair. G. To
monitor the functioning of the Campus Assembly and its committees and to
recommend needed changes in structure. In particular, the Steering Committee shall
periodically evaluate the productivity and necessity of each standing committee
and consider whether its responsibilities are appropriately delineated. H. To
carry out other functions assigned to it by the assembly. Article VII Campus Consultative Committee Section
1. Organization A. The Campus Consultative Committee
consists of three faculty, three P&A staff, three U.S.A. staff, and three
students. Personnel holding the
title of chancellor, vice chancellor, associate vice chancellor, assistant vice
chancellor, or division chair are not eligible for membership. B. Each of the four constituencies elects
its own representatives, in the spring or by special election in the event of a
vacancy. Members are expected to
represent their own constituencies but also act in the best interests of the
entire campus community. Terms are
for two years with a maximum of three consecutive terms. The committee elects its own chair. Section
2. Responsibilities A. Reflecting the balance of its
composition, the Consultative Committee serves as a campus sounding board for
those who wish to seek input or feedback on proposals or initiatives related to
campus governance prior to submitting them to the Steering Committee or who
wish to express or review concerns outside the scope of campus governance
and/or receive recommendations concerning follow-up with appropriate campus
offices or programs. B. The committee may
submit recommendations or proposals to the Steering Committee. All proposals or
recommendations from the committee, regardless of whether or not they are
submitted to the Steering Committee, must be issued in writing and are subject
to the same disclosure policies that govern materials produced by other
governance committees. Article
VIII. Membership Committee Section 1. Organization A. The
Membership Committee consists of four faculty members (one from each division),
one P&A staff, two U.S.A. staff, and two students. Committee
members shall be elected to two-year terms, with the exception of student
members who are elected to one-year terms, at a meeting of the Campus Assembly
late each spring semester. The terms of members shall be staggered so as to
provide some continuity of experience. Only members of Campus Assembly are
eligible for election to the Membership Committee. A vacancy shall be filled by
special election. In the
spring, the committee elects its own chair for the forthcoming years from
among its returning members. Section 2. Responsibilities The Membership Committee
has the following responsibilities: A. To
assign membership and designate chairs of all standing and ad hoc committees.
This shall be done during the spring semester for the ensuing academic year. B. To ensure
the proper elections of members of the Campus Assembly by the Morris Campus
Student Association and the United Staff Association as specified in Article
IV, Section 7. C. To prepare
election slates for positions on the Steering Committee, on the Membership
Committee, and for the position of Parliamentarian. D. To
advise the President on the membership of a search committee in the selection
of a Chancellor. E. To
track the review schedule of the Chancellor and to advise the President on
review committee membership in
accord with Article II, Section 2. F To
track the review schedule of all administrators who report to the Chancellor
and to advise the Chancellor on review committee memberships in accord with
Article II, Section 3. G. To
advise the VCAA/Dean on the appointment of division chair selection committees
and division chair review committees, according to Article III, Section 2. H. To
advise the Chancellor on the appointment of members to search committees for
administrative positions that report directly to the Chancellor. I. To
carry out other functions delegated to it by the assembly. Article
IX. Permanent File A permanent file of the
minutes of all meetings of divisions, Campus Assembly committees, and the
Campus Assembly shall be maintained in the Office of the Chancellor. The file
shall be accessible to all members of the campus community. Article
X. Procedure for Amending the Constitution and By-Laws A proposed amendment to the
constitution or to the by-laws must first be presented for discussion at a
meeting of the Campus Assembly. The proposed amendment, possibly with minor
modifications made in response to that discussion, must then be distributed to
all assembly members at least two weeks prior to the vote on its adoption. After the required
discussion and waiting period, the assembly may vote to adopt an amendment to
this constitution by a two-thirds majority of all votes cast in a confidential
ballot. The voting period must remain open fourteen calendar days. At the
conclusion of the fourteen days, the Steering Committee shall review the
ballots and announce the results. The above procedures govern
the amendment of the by-laws except that only a simple majority of all votes
cast is required for ratification. Article
XI. Ratification This constitution shall be
considered ratified when a two-thirds majority of all assembly members approves
of its adoption in a confidential ballot. Assembly members shall be given two
weeks to cast their ballots. Constitution approved by
campus assembly, December 5, 1984. Revised, November 9,
1992 Revised, November 1993. Edited for Semesters
spring 1999. Revised, July 2005. UNIVERSITY
OF MINNESOTA, MORRIS BY-LAWS Article
I. Committees of the Campus Assembly Section 1. Standing Committees The standing committees of
the Campus Assembly are divided into two groups. Core standing committees are
expected to have a significant workload on a consistent basis, whereas the work
of other standing committees may be intermittent. Section 2. Membership In appointing members and
chairs of committees, the Membership Committee shall adhere to the following
provisions: A. The Membership
Committee shall survey the campus community before making appointments to
committees. B. Members
of standing committees shall be appointed in the spring to serve for the
ensuing academic year. There shall be faculty representation from each division
on each assembly committee whenever possible. C. No
person may serve simultaneously as a voting member on more than one of the
following: Steering Committee, Membership Committee, core standing committees.
This restriction does not apply to other standing or ad hoc committees or to
the Consultative Committee. D. Faculty,
P&A, and U.S.A. staff membership on standing committees is for a term of
three years with a maximum consecutive appointment of six years. Student
membership on standing committees is for a term of one year with a maximum
consecutive appointment of three years. E. The Membership
Committee fills interim vacancies on standing committees by appointment. Article
II. Core Standing Committees Section 1. Secretarial Support The
Chancellor shall arrange secretarial services for core
standing committees. Section 2. Assessment of
Student Learning Committee A. Membership The Assessment of
Student Learning Committee consists of eleven members, including one faculty
member from the Division of Education, two faculty from the Division of the
Humanities, two faculty from the Division of Science & Mathematics, two
faculty from the Division of the Social Sciences, one U.S.A. staff, two
students, and one ex officio
non-voting member--the VCAA/Dean or his/her designee. B. Responsibilities The Assessment of
Student Learning Committee oversees and provides support to all aspects of the
assessment process, receives all data and materials generated by assessment
activities, recommends improvements in the assessment program and disseminates
reports on the results of assessment and the initiatives based on assessment
intended to improve student learning. Section 3. Curriculum
Committee A. Membership The
Curriculum Committee consists of seventeen members, including four faculty, the
four division chairs, one P&A staff, four students, one U.S.A. staff, and three
ex officio, non-voting
members--theVCAA/Dean, who chairs the committee, the registrar, and the
coordinator of the Commission on Women. B. Responsibilities The
Curriculum Committee develops, reviews, and recommends curricular policy. It
deals with majors, minors, general education, the honors program, and all
academic requirements. It oversees the body of courses offered at UMM and
receives and considers all curriculum-related proposals. Section 4. Faculty and P&A Affairs Committee A. Membership The
Faculty and P&A Affairs Committee consists of ten members, including four tenured or tenure-track faculty
(one from each academic division), one non-tenure-track faculty, the UMM
representative to the Senate Committee on Faculty Affairs, two P&A staff
members, one student, and one ex officio, non-voting member, the coordinator
of the Commission on Women. B. Responsibilities The
Faculty and P&A Affairs Committee develops, reviews and recommends policies
and procedures that influence the professional and personal welfare of the
faculty and the P&A staff. It
recommends improvements in the design and implementation of personnel policies,
including such matters as tenure and promotion, workload, salary and benefits,
and hiring and retirement alternatives. It also monitors any legislation and
other policies affecting faculty and P&A staff welfare and procedures. Section 5. Finance
Committee A. Membership The
Finance Committee consists of twelve members, including four faculty, one
P&A staff, two U.S.A. staff, two students, the UMM representative to the
Senate Committee on Finance and Planning, and two ex officio, non-voting members--the Vice Chancellor of Finance
and Facilities and one division chair. B. Responsibilities The
Finance Committee reviews the annual campus budget and advises the Chancellor
on the formation of budgetary proposals. The committee considers the allocation
of financial resources to and within the campus and examines the financial
impact of all major proposals and policy initiatives. The committee reviews and
recommends policies on financial management within the Morris campus. It
monitors deficits, reserves, and endowments. Section 6. Planning
Committee A. Membership The
Planning Committee consists of thirteen members, including four faculty, one
P&A staff, two U.S.A. staff, three students, and three ex officio, non-voting members--the Vice-Chancellor for Finance
and Facilities, the Director of Computing Services, and one division chair. B. Responsibilities The
Planning Committee develops, reviews, and recommends policies and plans with
long-range implications for the development of the campus. The committee
considers matters relating to institutional mission, organizational structure,
marketing, fund development, energy policy, and the development and maintenance
of physical facilities. Section 7. Scholastic
Committee A. Membership The
Scholastic Committee consists of fifteen members, including six faculty members
(one the UMM representative to the Senate Committee on Educational Policy),
four students, one U.S.A. staff member, two P&A members (one from the
athletic staff), and two ex officio,
non-voting members--the VCAA/Dean or his/her designee and the Registrar. B. Responsibilities The
Scholastic Committee develops, reviews, and recommends policies affecting the
quality of education. It is concerned with such matters as admissions, academic
progress, academic advising, student academic honesty, scholarship, and
graduation. It has the power to grant exceptions to academic regulations when
the spirit of such regulations has been satisfied. The committee admits
students and evaluates transfer credit in accordance with standards established
by the campus assembly. Section 8. Student Affairs Committee A. Membership The
Student Affairs Committee consists of twelve members, including three faculty
members, one P&A staff, four students, one U.S.A. staff, and three ex
officio, non-voting members—the
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs or his/her designee, the Director of
Student Activities, and the coordinator of the Commission on Women. B. Responsibilities The
Student Affairs Committee develops, reviews, and recommends policy for student
activities and services, such as housing, health, food, athletics, financial
aid, campus events, and student behavior. It has the power to grant recognition
to student organizations and to approve their constitutions and by-laws, as
well as to review and approve subsequent amendments. It provides for the
enforcement of procedures and regulations to maintain appropriate standards of
conduct within the student community. It develops and implements rules and
procedures for all campus-wide student elections. Article
III. Other Standing Committees Section 1. Academic Support Services Committee A. Membership The
Academic Support Services Committee consists of eleven members, including three
faculty members, one P&A staff, two students, one U.S.A. staff person, and
four ex officio, non-voting
members--the Director of the Briggs Library, the Director of Computing
Services, the Director of Media Services, and the Vice-Chancellor for Finance
and Facilities or his/her designee. B. Responsibilities The
Academic Support Services Committee considers and makes recommendations
regarding academic support provided by the Briggs Library, Computing Services,
and Media Services. In addition, within the context of academic support, the
committee studies issues and makes recommendations regarding the development
and coordination of campus communication infrastructures and technologies. The committee also makes
recommendations regarding classroom management. Section 2. Faculty Development Committee A. Membership The
Faculty Development Committee consists of eight members, including three
faculty members, one P&A staff, two students, one U.S.A. staff, and one ex
officio, non-voting member--the
Director of the Faculty Center for Learning and Teaching. B. Responsibilities The
Faculty Development Committee works with faculty, administrators, and students
in exploring ways to provide faculty with resources for improving the quality
of instruction, research, and service. Section 3. Functions and Awards Committee A. Membership The
Functions and Awards Committee consists of nine members, including three
faculty members, one P&A staff, one U.S.A. staff, three students, and one ex
officio, non-voting member--the
Coordinator of Special Events. B. Responsibilities The
Functions and Awards Committee develops and recommends awards for scholarship
and special merit, and in conjunction with the Chancellor's office, assists
with the development, planning, and execution of academic and awards
ceremonies, including commencement. Section 4. International Programs Committee A. Membership The
International Programs Committee consists of eleven members, including four
faculty, one P&A staff, four students (including at least one international
student and the Study Abroad Advising Service coordinator), one U.S.A. staff,
and one ex officio, non-voting
member--the Director of the Center for International Programs. B. Responsibilities The
International Programs Committee helps develop international policy for the
campus and oversees international programs and activities. It, along with the
Center for International Programs, serves as liaison between this campus and
the Office of International Programs on the Twin Cities campus. Section 5. Multi-Ethnic
Experience Committee A. Membership The
Multi-Ethnic Experience Committee consists of eleven members, including three
faculty, one P&A staff, four students, one U.S.A. staff, and two ex
officio, non-voting members--the VCAA/Dean
or his/her designee and the director of the Multi-Ethnic Student Program or
his/her designee. The voting membership shall reflect the diversity of the
campus. B. Responsibilities The
Multi-Ethnic Experience Committee is responsible for promoting campus-wide
understanding of racial and ethnic minorities and for enhancing their
educational opportunities. It considers and makes recommendations regarding
curriculum, educational programs, and extracurricular activities where these
touch upon the interests of racial or ethnic minorities. Article
IV. Election of Members to the Steering, Membership, and Consultative
Committees, and to the Position of Parliamentarian Section 1. Nominations Two weeks prior to the
Campus Assembly meeting at which the election shall take place, the Membership Committee
shall announce to all Campus Assembly members which committee members' terms
are expiring and which are continuing and shall request nominations for the
open positions. Nominations shall be open for ten days. Continuing members of
the Committee of Membership shall contact each nominated person to ascertain
whether the person is willing to serve. For each election, the
assembly shall be presented with a choice of candidates. There must be at least
one more candidate than there are openings for each category of position. If, for example, two student positions
are open, at least three candidates must be brought forward for the vote. The Membership
Committee shall actively solicit an adequate number of timely nominations for
each open position. Should there not be at least one more candidate than there
are openings for any position, then the election for that position will be
postponed until the next Campus Assembly meeting. Section 2. Sequential Elections For each open position, there
is a separate election at Campus Assembly, administered by the Membership
Committee. Election results are
announced before subsequent elections proceed. This structure recognizes that voters may have concern
for balance, and previous votes may affect subsequent preferences. Elections are held in the
following order: Vice-chair of the Steering Committee; other positions on the
Steering Committee; positions on the Membership Committee; faculty and P&A
positions on the Consultative Committee; parliamentarian. Section 3. Instant runoff voting A.
Voting procedure For
each election, voters rank their preferences, the number "1" indicating first
choice, the number "2" indicating second choice, etc., omitting their least
preferred candidate. Voters
may partially abstain by omitting more of the candidates, but then their
ballots may be discarded at some point in the counting process. B. Counting procedure A
candidate who has a majority of first place votes is the winner. If
there is no such candidate, then the candidate or candidates with the fewest
first place votes are removed from contention and their ballots are distributed
to the remaining candidates according to second choices. A candidate who then has a majority of
the ballots is the winner. If
there is still no winning candidate, the process continues with the last place
candidate or candidates being removed and their ballots being distributed to
the remaining candidates according to highest choices until one candidate has a
majority of the ballots.
This candidate then is the winner. C. Ties A
tie occurs when all candidates in contention have the exact same number of
ballots for them. Ties are
resolved by an immediate revote among just these candidates by the same instant
runoff procedure. Section 4. Assumption of office Newly elected members of
the Steering and Consultative Committees take office the day after spring
commencement. Newly elected
members of the Membership committee shall participate in meetings as non-voting
members upon election and take office the day after spring commencement.
A newly elected parliamentarian takes office the day after spring
commencement. Section 5. Vacancies In the event that the chair
of the Steering Committee cannot serve the remainder of the year, the
vice-chair shall become the chair and a special election shall be held at the
next meeting of the Campus Assembly to elect a new vice-chair. For other vacancies, a special election
shall be held at the next meeting of the Campus Assembly to fill the
vacancy. For all special
elections, the protocols described in Sections 1-3 shall be followed. Article
V. Rules of the Campus Assembly Section 1. Attendance
Records The secretary of the Campus
Assembly shall provide attendance sheets at the doors to the room in which a
meeting of the Campus Assembly is being held. The attendance sheets shall list
the names of all members of the Campus Assembly and provides a space for
members to sign their names when they enter the meeting. Section 2. Duration of
Meetings Meetings of the Campus
Assembly shall be limited to 90 minutes. Meetings may be continued beyond that
limit only if the assembly passes a motion to continue for a specific number of
additional minutes. Section 3. Distribution of
Minutes The minutes of every committee
shall be distributed by e-mail to a list maintained by Computing Services.
Membership in the list is open to all members of the campus community. The
names of those on the list shall be public information. Minutes shall be
distributed within three weeks of the meeting they document. Section 4. Further Rules The Campus Assembly may
adopt further procedural rules for the conduct of its business. By-laws approved by
campus assembly, May 13, 1983. Revised, November 9,
1992. Revised, May 10, 1993. Revised, October 18,
1993. Revised, May 22, 1995. Revised, February 3,
1997. Revised, May 4, 1998 (CC
adjunct committees). Revised, April 1999,
semester language, Honors Committee deleted. Revised, July 2005. |