Bylaws of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
PART I
The College
The Charles E. Schmidt College of Science (the College) is that unit of Florida Atlantic University organized to provide education in the sciences, to conduct research, and to grant degrees in the various scientific disciplines embraced by the College.
In addition to teaching, conducting research, and engaging in service activities, College faculty play an essential role in the development and implementation of College policies.
These bylaws are the rules governing the internal affairs of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. They are subordinate to the rules as set out in the Constitution and Bylaws of Florida Atlantic University, memoranda released by the President and Provost, rules and regulations of the Board of Trustees, and state of Florida law
I. 1. Charles E. Schmidt College of Science Faculty Assembly
Collectively, the faculty of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science will constitute the College Assembly, which considers:
- Educational policy (curriculum, admissions, and degree programs).
- Hiring policies, promotion, and tenure.
- Student affairs.
- General administrative matters (including organization, coordination with other colleges and other campuses, off-campus centers involving the sciences, etc.).
In matters of planning and budgeting, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science Faculty Assembly will be advisory to the Dean.
All full-time members of the College faculty holding the rank of Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor; Assistant/Associate/Scientist/Scholar; and Instructor/Senior Instructor/University Instructor are voting members of the College Assembly.
(Note: Instructors whose appointments are short-term will be appointed as Adjunct Instructors and will not be eligible to vote; the only Instructors/Scientists who will be included in the voting faculty by this amendment are those who are expected to be on continuing and/or multiyear appointments.)
The Chair of the College Assembly will preside at all meetings of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science Faculty Assembly. The minutes of meetings will be recorded and maintained by the Secretary. Both the Chair and the Secretary will be elected by the Faculty at the first Assembly meeting in the Fall semester and will serve until the beginning of the subsequent Fall semester.
Notice of all meetings and agenda will be distributed at least 10 days before the scheduled meeting.
There shall be at least one meeting of the Assembly each Fall and Spring semester. Meetings can be called by the Dean, the Chair of the College Faculty Assembly or by written petition of ten or more members of the faculty.
A quorum is defined as 25 percent of the College faculty (less those on sabbatical or sick leave), and must include at least one representative from each department in the College.
Much of the Assembly's business will be conducted by committees. In most cases, a College Committee will consist of members representing each department. The members of the College Committees will be elected from within each department, or appointed by the departmental Chair, or by the Dean.
I. 2. Dean
The Dean is the chief executive and administrative officer of the College and responsible to the Provost of the University.
I. 3. Departments
Within the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science are organizational units consisting of Departments. These are recognized as the fundamental units that administer the teaching and research, as it is divided among the various fields of science.
Each Department is administered by a Chairperson, who is selected according to University policy.
Each department will operate in accordance with any rules of governance or bylaws drawn up by the department faculty. All Departmental rules are subordinate to those of the College and the University.
I. 4. Centers
Centers are organized units within the college providing a focus for cross-departmental research programs. Each Center is administered by a Director. Faculty with appropriate research interests may participate in the activities of a Center with the approval of the Director, but their primary locus for assignment and evaluation will remain their department.
Centers may serve as the administrative units responsible for degree programs in their cross-disciplinary area. The Director of the Center will be responsible for working with Department Chairs to arrange for faculty to teach courses required by such degree programs.
PART II
II. 1. College Committees
Two types of committees function to accomplish the business of the College. These are Committees of the Faculty Assembly and administrative committees.
Committees of the Faculty Assembly
Five committees are organized by and report to the Dean of the College: the Undergraduate Programs Committee, the Graduate Programs Committee, the Promotion and Tenure Committee, the Honors committee, and the Library Committee.
II. 1. Undergraduate Programs Committee
The Undergraduate Programs Committee will consist of one member elected or appointed from each department. Normally, chairpersons will not serve. The Chair of the committee is elected by the members.
The Undergraduate Programs Committee is responsible for the review and approval of all matters pertaining to undergraduate program curricula, as they are planned and set out by the individual departments.
Normally, the Chair of the Undergraduate Programs Committee will serve on the University Committee that deals with undergraduate curriculum. It is this person's responsibility to ensure that decisions made at the College Undergraduate Programs Committee are successfully carried through the University Committee.
II. 1. 2. The Graduate Programs Committee
The Graduate Programs Committee will consist of one member elected or appointed from each department and one from each of the Interdisciplinary programs, Environmental Science, Complex Systems and Brain Science and Integrative Biology. Normally, chairpersons will not serve. The Chair of the committee is elected by the members.
The Graduate Programs Committee is responsible for the review and approval of all matters pertaining to graduate program curricula, as they are planned and set out by the individual departments.
Normally, the Chair of the Graduate Programs Committee will serve on the University Committee that deals with Graduate curriculum. It is this person's responsibility to ensure that decisions made at the College Graduate Programs Committee are successfully carried through the University Committee.
II. 1. 3. The Promotion and Tenure Committee
Three Promotion and Tenure Committees review respective applicants for promotion and/or tenure of 1. Regular tenured/tenure-track employed as Assistant/Associate/Full Professor; 2. Non tenure- track faculty employed as Instructor/Lecturer, Senior Instructor/Lecturer and University Instructor/Lecturer; or 3. Non tenure-track faculty employed as Assistant Scientist/Scholar/Research Professor, Associate Scientist/Scholar/Research Professor and Scientist/Scholar/Research Professor.
II.1.3.1. The Promotion and Tenure Committee for tenured/tenure-track faculty employed as Assistant/Associate/Full Professor
This Committee consists of one tenured full professor elected from each of the College departments. Chairpersons are not eligible for election. The term of office is one year. The Chair is elected by the Committee.
The Committee is charged with reviewing all applications for promotion and tenure of the tenured/tenure-track faculty in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. The Committee votes on the candidate's tenure and/or promotion. No abstentions are allowed except when a conflict of interest exists. The chair of the Committee provides a written summary of the committee's discussion and vote for each applicant to the dean who provides the summary and vote to the candidate.
This Committee's chair represents the College at the University Promotion and Tenure Committee and presents each case to that committee.
This Committee is not a personnel committee and is not concerned with faculty appointments, nor with administrative appointments with tenure.
II.1.3.2. The Promotion and Tenure Committee for non-tenure track faculty employed as Instructor/Senior Instructor/University Instructor
One full professor and one university instructor, or two full professors will be elected at large by the faculty assembly to serve on this committee. Departments not represented will choose their own representative at the senior instructor level or above. If no senior instructor is available, the department may choose another tenured faculty to serve on this committee. The Chair is elected by the Committee.
This Committee is charged with reviewing all applications for promotion of the non-tenure track faculty employed as Instructor/Senior Instructor/University Instructor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. The Committee votes on the candidate's promotion. No abstentions are allowed except when a conflict of interest exists. The chair of the Committee provides a written summary of the committee's discussion and vote for each applicant to the dean who provides the summary and vote to the candidate.
This Committee is not a personnel committee and is not concerned with faculty appointments, nor with administrative appointments with tenure.
One full professor and one senior scientist or two full professors will be elected at large by the faculty assembly, to serve on this committee. Departments not represented will choose their own representative at the associate scientist level. If no associate scientist is available, the department may choose another tenured faculty to serve on this committee. Chairpersons are not eligible for election. The term of office is one year. The Chair is elected by the Committee.
This Committee is charged with reviewing all applications for promotion from the non-tenure track faculty employed as Assistant Scientist/Scholar/Research Professor, Associate Scientist/ Scholar/ Research Professor and Scientist/Scholar/Research Professor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. The Committee votes on the candidate's promotion. No abstentions are allowed except when a conflict of interest exists. The chair of the Committee provides a written summary of the committee's discussion and vote for each applicant to the dean who provides the summary and vote to the candidate.
This Committee is not a personnel committee and is not concerned with faculty appointments, nor with administrative appointments with tenure."
II. 1. 4. The Honors Committee
The Honors Committee consists of one member elected or appointed from each department. The committee selects students and professors to receive honors awarded by the college or to nominate students and professors to receive university awards. The Chair of the committee will be elected by its members.
II. 1. 5. The Library Committee
The Library Committee consists of one member elected or appointed from each department. The committee deals with matters of interest to the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science related to the operations of the University Libraries.
II. 1. 6. Ad Hoc Committees
Ad hoc committees may be appointed by the Chair of the Faculty Assembly as needed.
II. 2. Administrative Committees
II. 2. 1. The College Executive Committee
The College Executive Committee consists of the Dean (Chair), the Chairpersons of all academic departments in the College, the Associate and Assistant Deans, and the Chair of the College Faculty Assembly. Additional members may be appointed by the Dean as appropriate.
The Executive Committee will serve in an advisory capacity to the Dean in matters of planning and budget and assist in the day-to-day operations of the College.
II. 2. 2. Ad Hoc Committees
Ad hoc administrative committees may be appointed by the Dean as necessary.
PART III
III. 1. Amendments to College Bylaws
The Bylaws of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science are to be considered as in a state of permanent review and subject to change, as required. All changes, modification, and additions require approval by a two thirds majority of the College Faculty Assembly with at least 25 percent of the members of the college faculty assembly who are not on sabbatical or leave, and with at least one representative of each department voting and furthermore subject to the approval of the Office of the Provost.