College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences

1 College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Bylaws North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina December 4, 2003

2 I. ROLE AND MISSION OF THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICAL AND MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES...3 II. STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE COLLEGE...3 III. CONDUCT OF COLLEGE BUSINESS...4 A. Voting Faculty....4 B. Nonvoting Faculty...4 C. Administrative Officers...4 D. Faculty Meetings...4 1. Schedule of Meetings...4 2. Chair and Secretary...5 3. Agenda...5 4. Quorum...5 5. Voting...5 6. Revision of Bylaws...5 7. Creation, Revision, or Dissolution of Committees...5 E. Administrative Officers' Meeting...5 F. Election of Faculty Senators...6 1. Election Committee...6 2. Nominations...6 3. Ballots...6 4. Nominating Ballots...6 5. Notification of Elections...6 6. Senatorial Vacancies...7 IV. STANDING COMMITTEES...7 A. Advisory Council...8 B. Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee...9 C. Research Advisory Committee...10 D. Teaching Advisory Committee...10 E. Computer Affairs Advisory Committee...11 F. Honors Committee...11 G. Undergraduate Academic Advisory Committee...12 H. Graduate Academic Advisory Committee...12

I. ROLE AND MISSION OF THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICAL AND MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES 3 The mission of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences is to seek knowledge and educate students. This requires an atmosphere that encourages the pursuit of truth, respect for knowledge and recognition of scholarly work and creativity in both research and instruction. Specifically, the principal purposes are 1) to provide a high quality instructional program in the physical and mathematical sciences both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, 2) to conduct an active research program which contributes to advancement of knowledge as well as to development in students of inquiring minds and the scientific and technical skills necessary for discovering and testing new knowledge and 3) to address the instructional and research functions to the needs of North Carolina and the Nation through outreach programs and individual faculty effort. In the instructional and research programs both the basic and applied aspects of the physical and mathematical sciences are stressed so as to prepare students for scientific and technical careers in industry, government, and academia, for entry into programs of study leading to advanced degrees within the physical and mathematical sciences, to pursue advanced studies and research leading to M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in preparation for careers in research and academia, and to pursue degrees in other colleges or universities leading to careers in medicine, engineering, life sciences, textiles, and pharmacy, to name only a few. Toward this end the College considers as inherent to its charge the recruitment of qualified faculty and students regardless of race, age, gender, or physical handicap. II. STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE COLLEGE The teaching and research faculties should be involved in decision-making processes affecting their instructional and research functions. Lines of communication between faculty and College administration (i.e. Dean, Associate Deans, Assistant Deans, Directors, and Department Heads) must be kept open, and there should be maximum feasible participation of the faculty in College affairs. The faculty should be the primary motivators in design and approval of curricula and in selection and evaluation of College programs and administrative officers. Whereas the nature and extent of faculty participation in departmental affairs will vary from one department to another, it should extend at least to the following areas: hiring new faculty, including the choice of Department Head, department curricula and degree requirements, and faculty reappointment, promotion or tenure.

4 To the maximum extent feasible, all faculty should have a voice in determining departmental appointments to College standing committees except those cases where College or University rules dictate procedures, e.g. Physical and Mathematical Sciences Undergraduate and Graduate Advisory Committees. Since departments differ in size, organization, tradition, and mission, each department should develop a set of written procedures for making decisions affecting curricula, degree requirements, hiring new faculty, promotion of faculty and granting of tenure and post-tenure review. Such procedures should be consistent with the spirit of faculty participation in departmental governance as well as with general College and campus policies. III. CONDUCT OF COLLEGE BUSINESS By adoption of these bylaws, the faculty of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences evidences its commitment to responsible participation in governance of the College. The governance procedures described below are designed to provide order and continuity in faculty efforts to express and accomplish its goals and aspirations. A. Voting Faculty. The voting faculty of the College shall consist of personnel who qualify for membership in the General Faculty of North Carolina State University under Article II of the General Faculty Bylaws, and who hold appointments in a Physical and Mathematical Sciences department. B. Nonvoting Faculty. Faculty appointed to the Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry are regarded as nonvoting members of the Faculty; where common interest exists, they shall be accorded the privilege of participating in all discussions at Faculty meetings and of membership on all College Standing Committees except for the Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee. C. Administrative Officers. Administrative officers of the College include the Dean and all administrative persons appointed by the Dean including, but not limited to, Assistant or Associate Deans, Directors, and Department Heads. An administrative officer who also holds a faculty appointment in a Physical and Mathematical Sciences department retains all faculty-voting rights. Campus-level administrators (e.g. Chancellor, Vice Chancellors, Graduate Dean) who hold faculty rank and tenure in disciplines outside of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences are considered ex officio members at Faculty meetings. Administrative officers with titles of Assistant Dean or above shall be disallowed from voting on issues addressed at a Faculty meeting if those same

5 administrators exercise the right of approval on the action subsequent to the faculty vote. D. Faculty Meetings. 1. Schedule of Meetings 1.1 College-wide faculty meetings shall take place at least once per semester (fall and spring) at times to be announced by the Dean. A minimum of ten calendar days advanced notice is required. 1.2 The Dean shall meet at least once a year with each of the departments in the departmental faculty meetings. 1.3 Additional meetings may be called by the Dean, by petition of 10 percent of the eligible voting faculty, or by resolution of any standing committee of the College. Such petition or resolution shall be submitted to the Dean or, in his/her absence, to an Associate Dean. 2. Chair and Secretary -- The Chair of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Faculty shall serve as Chair of the College Advisory Council and shall preside at faculty meetings. The Secretary of the Advisory Council shall record proceedings of meetings of the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Advisory Council and ensure that a designate of the Dean's Office shall record minutes of faculty meetings, circulate copies of minutes to Department Heads, maintain a list of voting faculty, and maintain a list of standing committee members 3. Agenda -- The agenda for a faculty meeting must be distributed at least five calendar days preceding the meeting. Items requiring faculty action or approval may be placed on the agenda by the Dean, by resolution of any College standing committee, faculty action at the previous faculty meeting, or upon petition signed by 10 percent of the eligible voting faculty. Items not included on the announced agenda may not receive final action at a faculty meeting except when this requirement is waived by a two-thirds vote of the faculty present and constituting a quorum. 4. Quorum -- A quorum for faculty meetings shall consist of 15 percent of the eligible voting faculty. Votes taken at a college-wide faculty meeting are not binding unless a quorum is present. 5. Voting -- At college-wide faculty meetings voting shall be by voice vote, standing vote, or secret ballot. Voice or standing vote may be used at the

6 discretion of the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Faculty Chair in all matters unless a request is made for secret ballot. Use of the secret ballot shall require approval by a simple majority of eligible voting members present at the meeting. A tally of all votes shall be distributed to the faculty electronically. 6. Revision of Bylaws -- These bylaws may be revised at any faculty meeting by a two-thirds vote of the voting faculty present at the meeting provided that a quorum is present and that written notice has been sent to every voting faculty member at least two weeks prior to the meeting. Said notice shall contain a copy of the proposed amendments and shall state the time and place of the meeting. 7. Creation, Revision, or Dissolution of Committees -- A standing committee may be created, abolished, or its composition or charge modified only by revision of the bylaws (see Item 6 above). E. Administrative Officers' Meeting. Administrative officers of the College shall meet at least once per month during the fall and spring semesters. Additional meetings of the administrative officers may be called by the Dean or upon petition of three or more of the Department Heads. The College representatives to the Faculty Senate shall select one of their number to attend and participate in all regularly scheduled monthly meetings of the administrative officers. The Chair of the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Faculty will be invited to attend and participate in all regularly scheduled monthly meetings of the administrative officers. F. Election of Faculty Senators. 1. Election Committee -- Election to the Faculty Senate from the college shall be conducted, upon notification by the Chair of the NCSU Faculty, by an election committee constituted as follows: 1.1. The member or members of the Faculty Senate not standing for election shall constitute the election committee. The Chair of the NCSU Faculty, in consultation with the Chair of the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Faculty, shall designate the chair of this committee. 1.2. If only one qualified Senator is available to serve as an election committee, the Chair of the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Faculty shall enlarge the committee to at least two by appointing a member or members from the faculty.

7 1.3. If there is no Senator qualified to serve on the election committee, the Chair of the NCSU Faculty, in consultation with the Chair of the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Faculty, shall appoint a committee of at least two from the faculty of the college and designate the chair of this committee. 1.4. If any member of the election committee becomes a candidate for election, the Chair of the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Faculty shall appoint a replacement. 2. Nominations -- Voting members of Physical and Mathematical Sciences shall be requested to nominate candidates. A nomination will be made public only with that candidate s consent. 2.1. Regardless of the total number of candidates, one may vote for any number of candidates not exceeding the number of vacancies. Write-in ballots shall be permitted. 2.2. The candidates receiving the most votes shall be elected. If ties should occur, the election committee shall determine the winner(s) by drawing lots. When the election involves different terms of office, candidates with the largest number of votes shall be assigned the longest terms: the election committee shall break ties by drawing lots to allocate terms. 3. Ballots -- All elections shall be by e-mail and/or paper ballot, and it shall be the responsibility of the elections committee to take all reasonable measures to assure that all eligible voters receive a ballot. In the event of duplicate votes, the paper ballot will be counted. 4. Nominating Ballots -- Nominating ballots shall be e-mailed not later than five weeks before the last day of classes in the spring semester. 5. Notification of Elections -- The election committee shall notify the winning candidates and shall forward their names to the Chair of the NCSU Faculty and the Chair of the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Faculty on or before the date of the last Faculty Senate meeting in the spring semester. 6. Senatorial Vacancies -- The process to fill all senatorial vacancies shall be initiated immediately. The Chair of the NCSU Faculty in consultation with the Chair of the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Faculty shall appoint a special committee to conduct an election in accordance with the regular election procedure.

8 IV. STANDING COMMITTEES The primary purpose of Standing Committees is to provide advice to the Dean and his or her staff. There shall be eight standing committees whose unique responsibilities are discussed below: Physical and Mathematical Sciences Advisory Council (PAC), Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee (RP&TAC), Research Advisory Committee (RAC), Teaching Advisory Committee (TAC), Computer Affairs Committee (CAAC) Honors Committee (HC), Undergraduate Academic Advisory Committee (UAAC), Graduate Academic Advisory Committee (GAAC). Each committee shall meet at least once each semester. Each committee shall have a voting member from each Physical and Mathematical Sciences department (Heads excluded). In addition, each committee except the RP&TAC shall have a representative from the Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry. The Chair of each committee (except PAC) shall be elected annually by and from among the departmental representatives to the committee. It is understood that ex officio committee members may vote, but may not hold the Chair. Each departmental representative to the PAC, the RP&TAC, the RAC, the TAC, and the CAAC shall be selected by the departmental general faculty. Representatives must be regular, tenure-track faculty, but, except for the RP&TAC, need not be full professors. Departmental representatives to the GAAC, the UAAC and the HC shall be the Graduate, Undergraduate, and Honors Coordinator, respectively. Except for the GAAC, the UAAC and the HC, committee membership shall be for three years. Appointments will be staggered so that each year two members complete their three-year terms and are replaced by two new representatives whose terms commence on July 1. The five-member RP&TAC rotates one member every third year and two members each first and second year. Except for the PAC, the RP&TAC and the RAC, the faculty members on each committee shall be allowed to serve successive terms. If a faculty representative to a committee (other than the PAC, the GAAC, the UAAC and the HC) relinquishes his or her position before the three-year term expires, the relevant department general faculty shall select a replacement to serve out the remainder of the unexpired term.

9 Standing committees can establish ad hoc subcommittees whenever additional expertise or assistance is needed on specific issues. An annual report (not to exceed three typed pages) summarizing each committee's activities during the academic year shall be submitted by each committee to the Dean by the end of May. Further specific details pertaining to committee membership, selection and tenure are given below. A. Advisory Council The Physical and Mathematical Sciences Advisory Council (PAC) shall meet with the Dean to address issues of concern of the faculty and the administration. A primary communication link between faculty and Dean, the Council shall consult with the Dean on a wide range of matters of general interest to faculty such as recruiting practices, curriculum modification, consulting, and long-range planning. The Council is established in the belief that early recognition and discussion of matters of concern to the faculty serve to defuse problems that could otherwise grow to major proportion. The Dean and the Council must exercise caution not to consider issues that fall clearly within the purview of other standing committees. A designee from the Dean's Office shall be appointed to inform the Advisory Council of available awards and convene the Advisory Council for the purpose of discussing awards. The Advisory Council shall forward nominations for certain general University awards such as the Outstanding Extension Service Award and the Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Professor Award, and it shall select the recipients of certain general College awards such as the Garrett Briggs Service Award. The Secretary of the Faculty shall be elected annually by the voting Faculty in an election conducted by the Faculty Senate election committee (see section F) at the time of Faculty Senate elections. Each year following, the Secretary shall assume the chair and a new Secretary shall be elected. The Secretary shall be a voting member and the Chair shall vote only in case of ties. The Chair, or in his/her absence, the Secretary shall preside at all meetings of the Faculty and at meetings of the Advisory Council. The Secretary shall record proceedings of meetings of the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Advisory Council and ensure that a designate of the Dean's Office shall record minutes of faculty meetings, circulate copies of minutes to Department Heads, maintain a list of voting faculty, and maintain a list of standing committee members. In addition to the elected Chair, Secretary and departmental representatives, there shall be an ex officio member elected by and from among the College's Faculty Senate members for a one-year term beginning July 1.

10 If the position of Chair becomes vacant before the end of a term, the Secretary shall assume the Chair for the remainder of that year and will continue to serve the scheduled term as Chair the next year. If the position of Secretary becomes vacant before the end of a term, the Council shall elect an Interim Secretary from among its members to fulfill the duties of secretary for the remainder of the term. The interim Secretary does not automatically become Chair. If both positions become vacant before the end of a term, the faculty of the College, at the time of the next Faculty Senate election, shall elect a Secretary as well as a Chair for the next academic year. If a department representative resigns or otherwise cannot complete the three-year term, a replacement shall be appointed by the department whose Council position is so vacated. While members may not succeed themselves, persons appointed to fill unexpired terms are eligible for reappointment. Meetings of the Advisory Council shall be called at the request of either the Dean or the Chair. B. Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee The Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee (RP&TAC) shall review recommendations for reappointment, tenure or promotion submitted to the Dean by the departments. The purpose of this advisory committee is to assist the Dean in judging the validity of the recommendations by providing the collective and objective independent judgments of an experienced group of senior faculty. The Dean shall provide the Committee with guidelines for its procedures covering such points as vote reporting and voting eligibility. In its deliberations the Committee shall review each departmental recommendation (including resume summarizing research, teaching and service activities, supporting letters, reprints, etc.) and judge the merits of each case. Documents supporting the recommendation must be self-contained; the purpose of the departmental representative is neither to serve as an advocate for the candidate nor to defend the majority or minority opinion of the home department. The member of the committee who represents the department from which a given recommendation is submitted shall neither participate in the Committee discussion nor any Committee vote except when asked to answer a direct question or to solicit additional information from the home department. Neither the Dean nor his or her designee shall participate in Committee deliberations unless requested to do so by the Committee through its Chair. The Committee shall also advise the Dean on ways to correct any procedural weaknesses or inconsistencies reflected in recommendations submitted by the departments. When the Committee has completed its deliberations and reported its conclusions to the Dean, the Dean will immediately schedule a meeting, it necessary, with the full Committee to discuss points on which the Dean and Committee disagree.

11 Although members of the Committee may not succeed themselves, persons appointed to fill unexpired terms are eligible for reappointment. Meetings of the Committee will normally occur in February and March when recommendations are made by the departments for promotion and tenure. Additional meetings may be called at other times of the year if deemed necessary by the Committee Chair or the Dean. C. Research Advisory Committee The Research Advisory Committee (RAC) shall advise the Dean on all matters concerning research in the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. It is principally through the RAC that the Dean's Office will be kept aware of the needs and concerns of faculty engaged in research. The Committee will also be called upon to advise the Dean on matters of development, acquisition and allocation of research resources (including use of College computing resources and overhead recovery funds), evaluation of faculty proposals for College or University research support (e.g. Physical and Mathematical Sciences release time awards, NCSU Faculty Research and Professional Development awards, etc.) and in formulating College long-range research plans. Each member of the Committee shall furnish space information as well as space concerns for his or her own department while collectively the members shall endeavor to solve College-wide research-related space issues and formulate and maintain a long range plan for accommodating College research space requirements. The RAC shall seek out and coordinate submission of nominations of faculty members from the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences for awards recognizing achievements in research. The Committee shall seek out new awards and screen notices that come to the College announcing the availability of professional research awards to determine their suitability for Physical and Mathematical Sciences faculty. It shall publicize the availability of awards and coordinate solicitation and preparation of nominations in accordance with guidelines described by the grantors of the awards. The Associate Dean for Research and the Physical and Mathematical Sciences representative to the University Research Committee, if not already a member of this Physical and Mathematical Sciences Committee, shall serve as ex officio members. Although members of the Committee are ineligible to succeed themselves, persons appointed to fill unexpired terms are eligible for reappointment. Meetings of the Committee shall be called as deemed necessary by the Committee Chair or the Associate Dean for Research.

12 D. Teaching Advisory Committee The Teaching Advisory Committee (TAC) shall advise the Dean on matters concerning instruction in the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. It is principally through the TAC that the Dean's Office will be kept aware of the needs and concerns of faculty engaged in teaching. The Committee will also be called upon to advise the Dean on matters of development, acquisition and allocation of teaching space, use of College computing resources and evaluation of faculty proposals for College or University teaching support (e.g., instructional and computing mini grants, etc.). The Teaching Advisory Committee shall recommend to the Associate Dean nominations from the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences to serve on the university-wide Alumni Outstanding Teacher Award Selection Committee. It also will recommend to the Associate Dean the Chair and faculty members of the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Teaching Awards Committee. The Chair will appoint a student Co-chair. The Teaching Awards Committee will select Physical and Mathematical Sciences faculty members to receive the Outstanding Teaching Award. The Teaching Awards Committee will also nominate Physical and Mathematical Sciences faculty members for the UNC Board of Governors Award for Teaching Excellence and the Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Award. The Committee shall also develop and coordinate procedures for evaluating and rewarding those performing the teaching function at all levels of instruction in the College, including graduate teaching assistants as well as faculty. The TAC shall seek new awards and screen notices that come to the College announcing the availability of professional teaching awards to determine their suitability for Physical and Mathematical Sciences faculty. It shall publicize the availability of awards and coordinate solicitation and preparation of nominations in accordance with guidelines described by the grantors of the awards. The Assistant and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the Physical and Mathematical Sciences representative on the University Teaching Effectiveness and Evaluation Committee, if not already a member of this Physical and Mathematical Sciences Committee, shall serve as ex officio members. Meetings of the Committee shall be called as deemed necessary by the Committee Chair or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. E. Computer Affairs Advisory Committee The Computer Affairs Advisory Committee (CAAC) shall advise the Dean on all matters concerning academic and research computing in the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. It is principally through the CAAC that the Dean's Office will be kept aware of the

13 needs and concerns of faculty who make use of computers in their research and/or teaching. The Committee will also be called upon to advise the Dean on matters of development, acquisition and allocation of computing resources, of the evaluation of faculty proposals for College or University computer support, and of formulating College long-range plans for computing and information technology. The CAAC will serve as liaison with the University Information Technology Committee and the computer committees from other Colleges. Because of overlap in jurisdiction, the Committee should coordinate its activities with those of the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Research Advisory Committee and the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Teaching Advisory Committee. The Assistant Dean for Administration, the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Director of Computing and Information Systems, and the Physical and Mathematical Sciences representative on the University Information Technology Committee shall serve as ex officio members. Meetings of the Committee shall be called as deemed necessary by the Committee Chair or the Assistant Dean for Administration. F. Honors Committee The Physical and Mathematical Sciences Honors Committee shall work with all honors programs in the College and coordinate the activities of those programs. The Committee shall select students to enter Physical and Mathematical Sciences honors programs, advise students in the Honors Program, participate in developing honors courses for the University Honors Program in conjunction with the Director of the Honors Program, and serve in an advisory capacity to the Dean on all matters of undergraduate honors programs. The Committee shall coordinate Physical and Mathematical Sciences involvement in the University Honors Council and the University Honors Program. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs shall serve as an as ex officio member. Meetings of the Committee shall be called as deemed necessary by the Committee Chair or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. G. Undergraduate Academic Advisory Committee The Undergraduate Academic Advisory Committee shall advise the Dean on all matters concerning the undergraduate academic program in the College including review and approval of all proposed curricular modifications recommended by the departments. The committee shall also provide leadership in reviewing and up-dating undergraduate curricula. The tenure of faculty membership on the Committee shall continue as long as the person remains departmental Undergraduate Coordinator. One student member of the Committee shall be selected by the Committee each year for a one-year term. The Director of Multicultural Affairs

14 and Student Services, the Director of Undergraduate Enrollment, the Associate Deans for Academic Affairs, and the Physical and Mathematical Sciences representatives to the University Course and Curriculum Committee and the Council on Undergraduate Education, if not already members of this Physical and Mathematical Sciences Committee, shall serve as ex officio members. Meetings of the Committee shall be called as deemed necessary by the Committee Chair or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. H. Graduate Academic Advisory Committee The Graduate Academic Advisory Committee (GAAC) shall advise the Dean on all matters concerning the graduate academic program, including review and approval of all proposed modifications of the Graduate Catalog recommended by departments and review of the graduate student recruiting practices, tuition waiver allocation policies, admissions criteria and procedures, etc. The committee shall be responsible for selecting recipients of graduate student awards. Membership on the Committee shall continue as long as the person remains the departmental Graduate Coordinator. One graduate student member shall be appointed each year to a oneyear term by the GAAC. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs shall be an ex officio member. The Physical and Mathematical Sciences elected faculty representative to the Graduate Administrative Council, if not a member of this Physical and Mathematical Sciences Committee, shall serve ex officio. Meetings of the Committee shall be called as deemed necessary by the Committee Chair or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Adopted by vote of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Faculty, April 1990. Amended by vote of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Faculty, April 1991. Amended by vote of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Faculty, December 1, 1997. Amended by vote of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Faculty, April 5, 2001. Amended by vote of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Faculty, December 4, 2003.