Complete Policies of the SIS Faculty
Article I
Name
The name of this organization shall be the School of Information Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Article II
Purpose
The purpose of this organization shall be to:
- Promote the mission, goals, and objectives of the School of Information Sciences as stated in the current Graduate Catalog of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
- Provide an operational framework for democratic and collegial interaction among the members of the Faculty to discuss and to determine academic and professional policies, standards, and procedures.
- Promote the mission of the University of Tennessee, which includes excellence in instruction, research, and public service.
- Further a commitment to diversity and equal opportunity for all since diversity and fairness are the foundation that unites the School’s faculty, staff, students, and the larger library and information science community.
Article III
Membership
Section 1. Academic faculty are those full-time, tenure-leading and tenured members whose primary appointment, as determined by the Director at the time of the appointment, is to assume teaching and/or research responsibilities. Hereafter, they shall be referred to in the Bylaws as “the Faculty.”
Section 2. Privileges: All faculty members shall have the following privileges:
- Attending and participating in all faculty meetings
- Serving on committees as appointed
- Voting
- Acting as delegates or representatives of the School to other organizations, meetings, and conventions.
Article IV
Meetings
Section 1. Regular meetings of the Faculty shall be called by the Director or the Director's designate and shall be held at least once each semester during the academic year.
Section 2. Notice of all Faculty meetings should be given at least one week before the date of the meeting. Whenever possible, specific recommendations of any committee should also be distributed to the Faculty one week prior to the meeting at which they are to be considered.
Section 3. Agenda items for the Faculty meetings must be presented in writing to the Director at least three (3) days before the date of the meeting. Items may be added after this date by a majority vote of the faculty.
Section 4. Faculty meetings shall be conducted according to the rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order.
Section 5. The Director may call a special meeting of the Faculty whenever deemed necessary or in response to a written request of at least one-third of the membership.
Section 6. Decisions by the Faculty shall be determined by a majority vote.
Section 7. A simple majority of the faculty (but not including the Director) shall constitute a quorum. Absent faculty may vote by the means of written, signed statements given to the Director prior to the meeting except in personnel matters.
Section 8. Minutes of each faculty meeting shall be taken, approved by the Faculty, and preserved for future public access, with draft copies distributed for review to each Faculty and staff member.
Article V
School Committees
Section 1. The standing committees shall be:
- Curriculum: The Curriculum Committee reviews proposals for significantly revised courses (revisions include: number, title, catalog description, and content). Once approved, these courses go through a process that involves a vote of the SIS faculty and then vetting to the Curriculum Committee of the Graduate or Undergraduate Council as appropriate.
- Student Affairs: The Student Affairs Committee reviews and recommends: admission policies and procedures, including student recruitment, retention and placement initiatives; financial aid policies/criteria; students for SIS awards; comprehensive examination policy and procedures; hears student appeals; and develops policies and procedures to improve the quality of SIS student life.
- Faculty Affairs: The Faculty Affairs Committee reviews and recommends policies and procedures relating to workload equity, faculty evaluation, hiring and review of adjunct faculty, teaching issues (e.g.; team teaching, introducing new instructional technology), and faculty development/training needs and priorities.
- Tenure and Promotion: Section 1. The Tenure and Promotion committee consists of tenured Faculty members. This committee is called by the Director to review and recommend on tenure and promotion as the need arises. Section 2. The Director shall appoint faculty and student members to the committees as appropriate. There will be student members of the Curriculum Committee, and the Student Affairs Committee. Section 3. The Director shall appoint the committee chairpersons. Section 4. With the exception of the Tenure and Promotion Committee, at the beginning of each academic year, the Director will insure that the committee chairperson of each committee has a written charge as a guide for committee activity. Section 5. With the exceptions of the Tenure and Promotion Committee, each committee shall meet at least once each semester during the academic year. Section 6. The Director shall serve as a non-voting, ex officio member of each committee. Section 7. AD HOC Committees may be established by the Director as appropriate. The Director shall provide the chairperson of each ad hoc committee with a written charge as a guide for committee activity. The charge and committee membership shall be shared with the Faculty.
Article VI
College and University Committees
Faculty will participate in College and University committees according to the selection policy and procedure for those committees. In some cases, the Director will nominate individuals to serve in consultation with those individuals.
Article VII
Records and Reports
The recorder of each committee, standing and ad hoc, shall create two copies of the minutes of each meeting and two copies of each annual report. One copy, the official copy, will be kept by the SIS Communications Specialist, publicly available, and one copy will be presented to the Director. The official copy will be maintained permanently. The Comprehensive Examination Committee will provide a brief summary report each term in lieu of minutes.
Article VIII
Amendments
The faculty shall have the power to make, amend, and repeal the Bylaws by a vote of two-thirds majority of those members present at any regular or special meeting, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing to faculty members one week prior to the meeting.
Article IX
Policies and Procedures
Section 1. The Faculty, with the approval of the Director, shall adopt such policies and procedures as are necessary to insure the well-being of the School. These policies shall be consistent with those adopted by the University of Tennessee, including the Faculty Handbook, and the College of Communication and Information.
Section 2. Policies will be preserved in a policy archive maintained by the Communications Specialist. Each policy will include the date adopted by the Faculty, the date approved by the Director, and the date that the policy was implemented.
Section 3. All School policies dealing with Faculty personnel issues such as evaluation, workload, tenure and promotion will be attached to these by-laws.
Notes
Originally adopted on February 12, 1986. Revised September 2007.
