1995_cc_bylaws

The Council is the principal advisory group drawn from the College community that recommends to the President on a broad range of policy issues concerning College matters with the expectation of a timely response.

1. Chair: Unless otherwise specified this means chair of a regular departmental program of the College .

2. Faculty: Unless otherwise specified this means full time faculty and artists in residence.

3. Student: Unless otherwise specified in this document this means an undergraduate student shall carry a program of not less than 12 credit hours, a graduate student not less than 9 credit hours.

4. As hereinafter referred to the Columbia College Faculty Organization shall be recognized as the CCFO.

5. Administrator: Unless otherwise specified administrators shall refer to the Executive Vice President, the Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs, the Academic Dean, the Dean/Vice President of the Graduate School, the Vice President of Finance, the Dean of Students and the Director of the Library.

6. Officers: Unless otherwise specified refers to the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson and the Secretary of the College Council.

7. Divisions of Departments unless otherwise specified refers to General Studies departments as: Academic Computing, English, Liberal Education and Science/Mathematics; Arts/Media/Communications departments as: Art&Design, Dance, Fiction Writing, Film/Video, Journalism, Management, Marketing/Communications, Music, Photography, Radio/Sound, Television and Theater.

8. College Wide Committee: Such committees designated by the President or otherwise created by the Council to deal with an issue of concern to the community. For the purpose of this document, standing subcommittees shall be governed by the same rules as standing committees. A college wide committee may be either Standing or Ad Hoc.

9. Staff: Any member of the full time staff of Columbia College excluding those with the designation of director of a program or carrying the title of assistant or associate Dean.

Nominations for candidates for the elected Full or part-time faculty position shall be solicited from both the full and part-time faculty in their respective departments by the Department Chairs by March 15 and placed on a single ballot. Part-time faculty nominees must have taught for at least six consecutive semesters excluding summer sessions at Columbia College, and must be teaching in the semester in which they are nominated. Nominations shall be submitted in writing no later than April 1. The election shall be by secret ballot. Such ballots shall be counted by at least one full or part-time faculty member from each of the graduate-only departments not later than April 15. The nominee with the second highest number of votes in this election shall be designated as the Alternate for the Graduate-Only Departments. The results of the count shall be submitted by the chairs to the Secretary of the Council within three days of the election. Results shall be reported by the Secretary to the President of the CCFO and the Chair of the Chairpersons' Council so that related elections may proceed.

Nominations for candidates for the elected Full or part-time faculty position shall be solicited from both the full and part-time faculty in their respective programs by the Directors or Heads by March 15 and placed on a single ballot. Part-time faculty nominees must have taught for at least six consecutive semesters excluding summer sessions at Columbia College, and must be teaching in the semester in which they are nominated. Nominations shall be submitted in writing no later than April 1. The election shall be by secret ballot. Such ballots shall be counted by at least one full or part-time faculty member from each of the non-departmental programs not later than April 15. The nominee with the second highest number of votes in this election shall be designated as the Alternate for the Non-Departmental Programs. The results of the count shall be submitted by the program Directors and/or Heads to the Secretary of the Council within three days of the election.

1. The term of office of elected members of the College Council shall be staggered terms of three years unless otherwise provided in this document, with no member serving more than two full consecutive terms of office.

2. After service of two terms as prescribed, a former member of the Council may be re-elected after an absence of one year.

3. The term of Part-Time Faculty members of the Council shall be two (2) years with election as hereinafter described.

4. The term of Undergraduate Student members of the Council shall be one (1) year with election as hereinafter described.

5. The term of Graduate Student members of the Council shall be one (1) year with election as hereinafter described.

6. Members appointed by the President shall serve a maximum of three (3) years, after which term they may be reappointed for a maximum of one (1) additional term. Members so indicated may not serve again for six years as a presidential appointee after these terms have been completed.

7. Any faculty member of the Executive Committee shall continue service for the remainder of their term in the event their employment status changes from faculty to acting chair or chair.

1. The authority of the Executive Committee derives from and is revocable by a vote of 2/3 of the College Council.

2. The Executive Committee shall consist of five (5) faculty members, two (2) chairpersons and two (2) administrators who shall be elected by the College Council at its first meeting. No member shall serve more than four consecutive years on the Executive Committee.

3. The election shall be by secret ballot conducted by the Chairperson of the Council.

4. The Council will then elect by secret ballot a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and a Secretary from the nine members of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee and the Officers shall be elected at the first meeting of the new Council in June and shall take office immediately.

5. The Executive Committee shall be consulted by the Chairperson in every case in establishing the agenda for meetings of the Council.

6. All agenda items shall be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee provided that items not included in the agenda but proposed from the Council floor and approved by a majority of Council members present and voting may be added.

1. a. The Chairperson shall call and preside at meetings of the College Council and the Executive Committee.

b. The Vice Chairperson shall, in the absence of the Chairperson, preside at meetings of the Council and the Executive Committee.

c. The Secretary shall be responsible for the distribution of the agenda, conducting the roll call and verifying voting rights of members of the Council, recording election results, and be responsible, as well, for producing the minutes of the Council and the Executive Committee.

2. a. Officers are elected for a one year term and may serve a subsequent term of one year. No member may serve as an officer for more than two consecutive years.

b. Faculty serving as the Chairperson or Secretary shall receive at least one course reduction in their teaching loads for each semester of coincident service.

Section A.1 Departmental Representation:

Nominations of at least two candidates for the elected faculty positions shall be solicited from the faculty by the Department chair by March 15. Nominations shall be submitted in writing no later than April 1. The election shall be by secret ballot. Such ballots shall be counted by at least two faculty members of the department not later than April 15. The faculty member with the second highest number of votes in this election shall be designated as the Alternate for that department.

The results of the count shall be submitted by the chairperson to the Secretary of the College Council within three days of the election. Results shall then be reported by the Secretary to the President of the CCFO and the Chair of the Chairperson's Council so that related elections may proceed. Chairpersons shall not vote in departmental elections.

Section B. Chairpersons Representation:

Nominations of candidates for elected chairpersons positions shall be solicited by the Chair of the Chairperson's Council by March 15. There should be at least eight nominees for Chairperson members with the two persons receiving the lowest number of votes in descending order being designated as alternates.

Nominations shall be submitted in writing no later than April 1. The Election shall be by secret ballot. Such ballots shall be counted not later than April 15. The results of the count shall be submitted by the Chair of the Chairperson's Council to the Secretary of the College Council within three days of the election.

Section C. At Large Faculty Representation:

The election of at-large members of the College Council shall be conducted by the CCFO. The election shall be by secret ballot counted by the Election Committee of the CCFO within one week after the close of nominations. The President of the CCFO shall send the results of this election to the Secretary of the Council no later than May 15. There shall be at least three nominees with the person receiving the highest number of votes elected and the next two being designated, in order, as alternates. No more than one nominee may be submitted from each department. Duplicate departmental nominations shall be eliminated by refusal or by random selection.

Section D. Part-time Faculty Representation: (Under construction with Union reps)

Nominations for candidates for elected part-time faculty positions shall be solicited from the part-time faculty in their departments by the Department Chair by March 15. Nominees must have taught for at least six consecutive semesters excluding summer sessions at Columbia College, and must be teaching in the semester in which they are nominated. Nominations shall be submitted in writing no later than April 1, and transmitted to the Academic Dean within three days. The Academic Dean shall conduct the election of Part-Time Faculty representatives by secret ballot, constructed so that one representative and alternate are from the General Studies departments, and one representative and alternate are from the Arts/Media Communications departments as defined in Section III, paragraph 8. Such ballots shall be counted by the Academic Dean, the Secretary of the CCFO, and at least one part-time faculty member not later than May 1. The part-time faculty candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be deemed elected, and those with next highest votes in each category, designated as alternates. The results shall be submitted by the Academic Dean to the Secretary of the College Council within three days of the election, and reported to the part-time faculty by memorandum.

Nomination and/or election to the College Council carries no presumption of continuing or future employment in the College for part time faculty. An elected part-time faculty representative who is not teaching at Columbia College shall be replaced by an alternate ~ See Departmental divisions in section on Definitions.

Section E. Undergraduate Student Representation:

Terms shall be for one year, with two students being elected each year. Until such time as a college-wide electoral process can be implemented, student representatives shall be chosen as follows: The Dean of Students shall identify candidates whose academic performance, leadership qualities, and knowledge of Columbia College are of the highest quality and have indicated a strong potential for success in representing student concerns on the College Council. The Dean shall then nominate no less than four (4) and no more than five (5) of these students for service on the Council and shall send these names, along with any appropriate supporting materials to the Secretary, no later than May 15. After carefully considering all aspects of each student's-qualifications, the new Council shall vote upon the candidates by secret ballot, with the two students receiving the highest number of votes elected and the next two designated, in order, as alternates. An elected student representative who is not currently enrolled at Columbia College shall be replaced by an alternate.

Section F. Graduate Student Representation:

Term will be one year. Nominations for candidates for the elected graduate student position shall be solicited and identified by the department chairs and graduate faculty of those departments which offer graduate programs within the College by March 15. Graduate student candidates must be drawn from those graduate students whose academic performance, leadership qualities, and knowledge of Columbia have been of the highest quality and who have indicated a strong potential for success in presenting graduate student concerns to the College Council. Each Department or program shall submit a nomination in writing to the Dean of the Graduate School no later than April 1. Within three days, the Dean of the Graduate School shall submit the nomination list to the Graduate Policy Council who shall elect, from that listing, no less than three students and shall submit them to the College Council no later than May 1.

The majority membership of the Columbia College Council shall, then elect one of the three nominated candidates for membership on the Council. The graduate student candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be deemed elected, and the second shall be designated as an alternate. Results of this election shall be submitted by the Executive Committee of the College Council to the Dean of the Graduate School and the Graduate Policy Council, who shall report the results to the nominated graduate students within three days.

Section G: Staff Representation:

Terms of Staff members shall be three years. Nominations of candidates for the two elected staff positions shall be solicited by the Human Resources Department from the eligible participants (see definition of Staff) by March 15. There should be at least four nominees with the two persons receiving the highest number of votes elected and the next two being designated, in order, as alternates. No more than one nominee may be submitted from a department. Duplicate departmental nominations shall be eliminated by refusal or by random selection.

Nominations shall be submitted in writing to the Human Resources Department no later than April 1. The election shall be by secret ballot. All full time staff members, not just those eligible to be elected, are eligible to vote. Such ballots shall be submitted to the Human Resources Department by April 15. The ballots will be counted within three (3) working days and the results forwarded to the Secretary of the Council.

Section H: College Council Membership Vacancies:

In the case of a Council position vacancy for any reason, the Secretary shall notify the appropriate alternate of his/her appointment as a Council member and at the same instance shall give simultaneous notice to the members of the Council of the change and the reason for it.

1. Except as hereinafter provided for, responsible for advice and recommendations regarding College wide undergraduate and graduate academic policies including, but not limited to admissions policy, retention, graduation policy, honors and awards including the grading system, transfer policy, probation, policy matters regarding student life and activities, course equivalency and registration, revision of the academic calendar, and the introduction and termination of degree programs, specialized institutes and academic departments.

2. General authority to study and make recommendations within the College community on all matters it deems appropriate as suggested in Section II.

3. General authority to address compelling local, state and national educational issues.

4. General authority to draw up rules and regulations for its own operation.

1. All management rights and functions, unless clearly and expressly abridged by those policies of the College Council that have been duly approved by the Board of Trustees, shall remain vested exclusively in the Board of Trustees.

2. Nothing contained in the By Laws of the Council or in the approved policies of the Council shall be deemed to supersede, violate or prevent administrative officers and employees from engaging in their official duties.

3. The Council shall not consider any policy or rule concerning wages and conditions of employment.

4. The Council recognizes the primary responsibility of the faculty in areas of instruction, including departmental curriculum development and monitoring the departmental curriculum, and its sole prerogative in the assignment of academic grades, the academic certification of students, and the recommendation of candidates for degrees. The faculty are the experts in their disciplines, and as such are the primary decision makers in matters of departmental structure.

5. The Council recognizes the authority of departments to establish academic policies which are consistent with College-wide policies.

6. The Council recognizes the Graduate Faculty Council and the appropriate exercise of its authority as the governing body of the Graduate School in establishing graduate policies consistent with College-wide policies.

7. The Council recognizes the Columbia College Faculty Organization and the appropriate exercise of its authority.

8. The Council recognizes the Chairpersons Council and the appropriate exercise of its authority.

1. Regular meetings shall be held once a month during the academic year, from October to June. The first annual meeting will be the June meeting. The first Fall Council meeting will occur the second week in October so that committees may meet and organize prior to the first Council Meeting. All other Council meetings will occur on the first Friday of the month.

2. Special meetings may be called by the following:

a. The President of the College

b. The Chair of the College Council

c. Written petition by 2/3 of the faculty members of the Council

d. Written petition by 1/3 of the whole Council membership

e. 2/3 vote of the whole Council membership while meeting in a regular session.

3. A special meeting of the Council shall occur within fifteen (15) working days from the date on which the petition is submitted or the Council vote has occurred and been certified by the Secretary of the Council.

4. Failure of a College Council member to attend three consecutive meetings without a written excuse to the Secretary will be deemed to constitute resignation from that position.

5. All meetings of the Council shall be open meetings with the right to conduct closed meetings of the Council reserved to a majority vote when deemed necessary.

1. Call to order

2. Minutes of previous meetings.

3. Reports of Administrative Officers

4. Reports of Chairpersons of Standing Committees

5. Old Business

6. New Business

7. Open Forum

8. Questions

9. Adjourn

1. All matters requiring action shall be submitted to the Chair of the Council at least fourteen calendar days before a meeting. The Chair and the Executive Committee shall prepare the agenda and mail it to the members so as to arrive at least seventy-two hours before a meeting.

2. An item may be added to the agenda at a meeting of the Council by a majority vote of the members present and voting.

3. The agenda for special meetings shall be restricted to the item or items for which the meeting was called.

a. Standing Committees are constituted to perform a continuing function, and remain in existence permanently for the life of the College Council. Standing committees may be added, modified or eliminated as deemed necessary.

b. Ad Hoc committees shall be special committees which go out of existence upon completion of a specified task.

c. Graduate Policy Council:

Last updated in June 2000.