I. Organization
 

A.

The Bylaws of the Department of History are to be considered as adjuncts to and amplification of the University Bylaws as stated in the Faculty Handbook, University Policy Statements, and the bylaws and published policies of the College of Arts and Sciences.

1. The Department shall be composed of its faculty members, one of whom shall serve as Chair. Emeriti professors, part-time instructors and adjunct members shall be welcome at meetings but may not vote.

2. The Chair shall serve as the Department's chief administrative officer and shall be responsible for the direction and coordination of departmental activities, including calling and conducting meetings, preparing agendas, reporting to the Department concerning activities and decisions affecting it, and preparing a budget.

3. The Chair shall be recommended to the Dean of Arts and Sciences after a two-thirds vote by secret ballot of the tenured and tenure-track faculty present and voting. The Chair shall hold office for a three-year term in accordance with College and University regulations. The Chair shall be an ex-officio voting member of all committees. It shall be the Chair's responsibility to see that all committees are duly elected and functioning no later than two weeks after the official beginning of the Fall academic term. The Chair shall make appropriate assignments to the various committees.

C.

There shall be a departmental Coordinator of Graduate Studies, who shall be responsible for the administration of the Department's graduate program, including directing of graduate assistants. The Coordinator, to be elected by the Department from those who are members of the graduate faculty, shall report to the Department in the Spring term of each year.

D.

The faculty shall meet at least once in each academic term to discuss departmental matters. An agenda for these meetings shall be distributed to the faculty at least three working days before each meeting. The Chair may schedule called meetings when appropriate. A temporary secretary appointed from the faculty on a rotating basis shall take minutes and submit a typewritten statement to the Chair for approval before distribution to appropriate persons as uncorrected minutes.

II. Standing Committees
 

There shall be several standing committees elected by the tenured and tenure- track faculty during the first meeting of the faculty at the beginning of the academic year. A nominating committee composed of the Chair and two tenured members elected during the first spring term meeting shall nominate a slate of members. Before the first meeting of the faculty at the beginning of the academic year the slate shall be circulated in the agenda statement to the department. Members of the Department may make nominations from the floor. Unless otherwise stated, all committees shall elect their own Chairs. All committees shall function within the provisions established by University and College bylaws and procedures. The committees are as follows:
 

1. The Undergraduate Final Grade Grievance Committee shall be elected by the tenured and tenure-track faculty and act according to appropriate University policy statements.

2. The Graduate Final Grade Grievance Committee shall be elected by the tenured and tenure-track faculty and act according to appropriate University policy statements.

3. The Tenure Committee shall be composed of all tenured faculty and act in accordance with College and University procedures.

4. The Curriculum Committee shall be composed of five members. It shall review the Undergraduate Bulletin and the Graduate Bulletin annually and recommend any changes deemed necessary. It shall monitor activities of the APPC and make appropriate recommendations to the department. The Coordinator of Graduate Studies shall be a member ex-officio of the Committee and shall have a vote in all matters affecting the graduate curriculum.

5. The Library, Bookstore, and Audio-Visual Materials Committee shall consist of three members who shall examine all matters pertaining to library and audio- visual materials and shall make appropriate recommendations.

6. The Scheduling Committee shall consist of three members including the Department Chair who will preside over the committee. It shall recommend policies regarding the schedule. One member shall be responsible for recommending the regular schedule. The Chair shall be responsible for recommending the summer schedule.

7. The Student Relations and Awards Committee shall be composed of no more than five members who shall oversee the activities of student organizations within the Department of History. It shall also administer the Department's student awards program. One member shall be adviser to the Phi Alpha Theta chapter.

8. The History 101-102 Committee shall consist of all instructors teaching these courses.

9. The History 235-236 Committee shall consist of all instructors teaching these courses.

10. The Promotion and Merit Committee shall consist of three tenured elected members and the Department Chair. All tenure-track members with one full year's service in a tenure-track position in the Department shall be eligible to vote for this committee. The Chair shall preside over the Committee. This Committee shall evaluate members of the Department annually and make recommendations about promotion and merit increases. The committee shall be elected at the first annual meeting of the Department. The three members receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected. It shall provide each member with a copy of his or her annual Faculty Evaluation Sheet.

11. The Budget and Departmental Administration Committee shall consist of two tenured or tenure-track elected members and the Department Chair, who shall preside over the Committee. All tenure-track members with one full year's service in a tenure-track position in the Department shall be eligible to vote for this committee. It shall make recommendations about the departmental operating budget for presentation to the Dean for approval. The proposed budget recommendations shall be accompanied by an explanation and justification of each item. The budget proposals and printouts shall be routinely available to the faculty for inspection.

III. Select and Ad Hoc Committees

A.

The Departmental Chair shall appoint such Select and Ad Hoc Committees as necessary. These committees must be approved by the tenured and tenure- track faculty at the next regular departmental meeting. No such committees shall serve longer than one calendar year without a specific vote of approval by the tenured and tenure-track faculty.

B.

All new appointments to the Department shall be recommended by a Select Search Committee appointed by the Chair with the advice and consent of the tenured and tenure-track faculty. The Search Committee will recommend one or more candidates to the Department. All tenured and tenure-track faculty will vote on new appointments by secret ballot. The Chair will then make a recommendation to the Dean of the College, which shall include a report on the preference of the Department.

IV. Quorum and Voting

A.

A quorum for all meetings of the Department shall be a majority of the tenured and tenure-track faculty. A quorum for all committee meetings shall be a majority of the committee members, excluding the Chair of the Department in the role as ex-officio voting member of each committee.

Unless otherwise stated in these Bylaws, all votes shall be decided by a majority of the tenured and tenure-track faculty present and voting. A secret ballot shall be used on any vote not otherwise requiring a secret ballot when at least one member of the Department so requests.

V. Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended at any scheduled meeting of the Department by a two- thirds vote of the tenured and tenure-track faculty present and voting, provided all Bylaw amendments have been announced on the meeting agenda at least three working days in advance.
 

VI. Jurisdiction

No provisions of these Bylaws shall have any effect if they contravene published College or University Bylaws and procedures.