COLLEGE
OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH
TEXAS
Adopted by Faculty April 7, 1993
Amended by Faculty June 6,
1994
Amended by Faculty November 1, 1996
Amended by Faculty September
2002
PREAMBLE and MISSION
The College of Public Affairs and Community Service (PACS) of the University of North Texas is made up of faculty with expertise in the applied social and behavioral sciences as well as in public policy issues. The school is a community of scholars and other professionals who work together to develop and disseminate innovative and interdisciplinary applied social and behavioral science knowledge throughout local, state, national and international communities by:
# offering instructional programs that prepare undergraduate and graduate students to be effective practitioners and researchers in areas of significant social and behavioral interest;
# conducting basic, applied, and policy research on important social and behavioral issues; and
# developing models of community and professional service to address social and behavioral problems through research and transmitting these models through teaching, publication and consultation.
Within the context of the governance policies and administration of the University of North Texas, this mission is accomplished by a comprehensive program of teaching, research and public service activities; by a school organization that promotes flexibility, innovation and humaneness; and by a continuing attempt to evaluate effectiveness and use the results in a broad-based, continuous planning and evaluation process.
ARTICLE I ORGANIZATION AND MEETINGS
Section 1.1 Faculty Membership
The faculty of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service includes the following: all full-time faculty of the rank of Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor and Instructor at the University who hold a tenured or a tenure track academic appointment in PACS; all full-time faculty of the rank of Research Professor, Research Associate Professor, Research Assistant Professor and Research Scientist I - IV; and faculty who hold an administrative appointment. Those designated above continue to hold membership in the faculty during released time from teaching duties or when on leave of absence.
All other persons holding appointments in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service, full or part-time, teaching or research, visiting faculty, lecturers, modified service, and adjunct faculty shall enjoy all privileges of membership except the right to vote.
Section 1.2 Meetings
A regular meeting of the faculty shall be scheduled at the beginning of the fall semester of each academic year. Other meetings of the faculty may be held at the call of the Dean, by a majority vote of the Executive Committee or on written petition from one third of the voting faculty. The call or petition shall state the reason for the meeting and include an agenda.
Section 1.3 Notification of Meetings
Notification of meetings shall be given to the faculty by memorandum at least five class days in advance of the meeting. Notices shall be sent via E-Mail to each member of the faculty. Those on leave will be notified by mail.
Section 1.4 Meeting Procedures
The Dean shall preside at all meetings unless he or she is unable to attend, in which case the Associate Dean shall preside. The Chairs= Council shall appoint a Parliamentarian annually.
A quorum consisting of twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting members of the faculty must be present to conduct official business.
In all parliamentary questions Roberts' Rules of Order (newly revised) shall apply.
Minutes shall be kept for all members of the faculty and such minutes shall be a matter of record. Copies shall be distributed to all faculty within ten class days following the meeting.
All votes shall be by a show of hands. However, a secret or mail ballot may be used on any question, at the discretion of the Dean, or by a vote of the majority of the faculty present. A mail ballot must be distributed at least five class days in advance of the time that it is to be returned.
ARTICLE II ADMINISTRATION
Section 2.1 The Dean
The Dean is the chief executive officer and shall be responsible for the orderly and efficient administration and academic operation of the school. The Dean shares responsibility with the faculty and staff for the definition and attainment of school goals consistent with the school's and university's strategic plan and mission, for administrative action, and for administering the various components of the school. He/she also serves as the representative of the school to its various constituencies. The Dean has the responsibility to provide leadership for the school in all its endeavors. He/she shall enforce the spirit and provisions of this charter.
Section 2.2 The Associate Dean
The Associate Dean shall be responsible for matters pertaining to academic instruction and the general operation of the school. Upon the request of the Dean, he/she shall represent the school in the conduct of university business.
Section 2.3 Academic Departments and Units
Units within the College of Public Affairs and Community Service include:
Department of Applied Gerontology
Department of Anthropology
Institute of Applied Economics
Department of Behavior Analysis
Department of Criminal Justice
Department of Public Administration
Center for Public Service
Department of Rehabilitation, Social Work, and Addictions
Department of Sociology
Academic units may be added or deleted to the organization of the school as approved by normal university administrative processes. Such additions or deletions do not require a vote of the faculty to amend this Charter.
Section 2.4 Department and Unit Chairs
The Chairs shall be responsible for advancing the teaching, research and service missions of the departments and school. The Chairs have personnel, academic, and fiscal responsibility for their respective units within the policies and procedures established by the College of Public Affairs and Community Service and the university. They also have responsibility for the development and maintenance of a unit charter to govern the activities of the unit.
ARTICLE III COMMITTEES
Section 3.1 Standing Committees
College of Public Affairs and Community Service committees shall be constituted at the beginning of the academic year.
Chairs= Council
The Chairs= Council shall consist of the Dean, the Associate Dean, the Assistant Dean, and the Chair of each academic unit (or their designee). The Dean chairs the Chairs= Council. If the Dean is not available, the Associate Dean is chair of the Chairs= Council. The Chairs= Council shall normally meet at least once per month during the academic year. The Chairs= Council advises the Dean on matters pertaining to the College of Public Affairs and Community Service. These matters include but are not limited to: budgetary issues, long-range goals and strategies, policies and procedures for administrative evaluation, the establishment of ad hoc committees, and other issues that affect the management and growth of the school.
Personnel Affairs Committee
The School Personnel Affairs Committee shall consist of five faculty members elected at-large from among the tenured faculty of the school. The members shall be elected to staggered two-year terms. The Dean shall annually appoint a chair from among the elected members. The nomination of members will occur at the beginning of the academic year. The election for PAC members will occur at a fall faculty meeting, which will be held at the beginning of each academic year. Provisions will be made for absentee votes. In no case, may there be more than one committee member from any one academic unit in the school. The School Personnel Affairs Committee shall be responsible for reviewing departmental recommendations on tenure and promotion as well as continuing reappointment and shall make recommendations to the Dean. In addition, the committee will perform a procedural review of all faculty complaints regarding promotion, tenure, merit recommendations, and other personnel issues.
Departments and other academic units shall form personnel committees and promotion and tenure committees in accordance with UNT and PACS guidelines. Departmental personnel affairs committees shall be responsible for annual peer evaluations and shall make recommendations to the School Personnel Affairs Committee on matters related to faculty reappointment, tenure, and promotion. On the matter of merit increases, they shall make recommendations to the unit chair.
Curriculum (Graduate/Undergraduate) Committee
The Curriculum Committee shall consist of one faculty member from each department or academic unit. Members must hold faculty rank. Representatives shall be selected by their units according to policies established by the unit. The Dean shall appoint a Chair of the committee from among its members. A student member will also be appointed. The primary purpose of the committee is to review requests for alterations in programs and courses and make recommendations to the Dean. The Associate Dean is an ex-officio member.
Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Committee
The Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Committee shall consist of faculty appointed by the Dean. Normally the committee shall consist of at least five members. The Dean shall appoint the committee chair and a student member. The committee’s purpose is to encourage minority student and faculty recruitment and retention and also promote other issues related to enhancing a multi-cultural and diverse environment for the school. The Associate Dean is an ex-officio member.
Library Committee
The Library Committee shall consist of one faculty representative from each department or academic unit except from those units that have separate library budgets. Representatives shall be selected according to rules established by the unit. The Dean shall appoint a Chair of the committee from among its members. The committee's purpose is to assure faculty involvement in collection development and act as a liaison to the university library. The Associate Dean is an ex-officio member.
Student Services Committee
The Dean shall appoint the Student Services Committee. Normally the committee shall consist of at least five members who have undergraduate advising responsibilities in the academic units. The committee chair and a student member shall be appointed by the Dean. The committee's purpose is to review and monitor the status of undergraduate advising in the school. The Assistant Dean is an ex-officio member.
Grievance Committee
(See Article IV, Section 4.1)
Section 3.2 Advisory Council
A Dean's Advisory Council consisting of the Chairs of all school wide committees shall meet at least once per semester. The purpose of these meetings is to share information on committee activities and receive advice on critical school wide issues.
Section 3.3 Ad Hoc Committees
The Dean will appoint ad hoc committees as necessary. Ad hoc committees will be special purpose committees established to develop or implement specific activities. Examples of ad hoc committees that may be appointed from time to time are: Distributed Learning; Awards; Service Learning; Computing and Technology, Space; etc. An ad hoc committee cannot be created for the same purpose for which a standing committee exists. Ad hoc committees will expire when they have fulfilled their charge.
ARTICLE IV. FACULTY GRIEVANCE AND APPEALS
Section 4.1 Definitions
A grievance is a problem arising out of a faculty member's employment at the university. A faculty member has a grievance when he/she thinks he/she has been treated unfairly. Unfair treatment may result from an action or a failure to act. The College of Public Affairs and Community Service Grievance Committee shall hear grievances only after all departmental and school administrative remedies have been exhausted.
Each department shall elect a tenured full-time faculty member to serve on the College of Public Affairs and Community Service Grievance Committee for a two-year term. An additional member will be appointed by vote of the Chairs= Council. The Chair of the committee shall be appointed by the Dean as an additional member.
Section 4.2 Procedures for Appeal
A request for a grievance hearing must be in writing and be addressed to the Chair of the committee. If it is determined that all departmental and school remedies have been exhausted, the committee shall be convened for a hearing within fifteen working days of the receipt of the grievance. If a member of the committee functions as a complainant, a respondent, a witness, etc., he/she may not serve on the grievance panel for that particular case. After an informal hearing of the complainant's request, the Appeals Committee shall attempt to achieve a voluntary settlement of the dispute. If the attempt to obtain a voluntary settlement fails, then the case proceeds to a formal stage.
University policies and procedures supercede those of PACS if there should be a conflict between the two at any point during the grievance or appeal processes.
Section 4.3 Hearing Procedures
If the grievance is not informally resolved, a formal hearing must be held within forty-five working days of the receipt of the original notice of grievance if possible. If the grievance is filed between April 1 and the beginning of the fall semester, the hearing may be continued until the fall term. If this is the case, a formal hearing must be held prior to the first day of October. The Chair of the committee will preside at the hearing and may set time limits for presentations. Upon request, both the complainant and the respondent may have an advisor present at the hearing. The advisor must be a member of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service faculty. The proceedings will be tape-recorded.
The complainant shall deliver an opening statement outlining the nature of the complaint.
The complainant shall then present evidence, i.e., witness and documentary evidence that may include statements from witnesses, followed by any needed interpretations. After the evidence is presented, the respondent may rebut the presentation. This rebuttal may entail the presentation of documents and may involve questioning of the complainant's witnesses. After this rebuttal, the committee may question any part of the hearing.
The respondent shall then deliver an opening statement outlining the nature of the response.
The respondent shall then present evidence, i.e., witness and documentary evidence that may include statements from witnesses, followed by any needed interpretations. After the evidence is presented, the complainant may rebut the presentation. This rebuttal may entail the presentation of documents and may involve questioning of the respondent's witnesses. After this rebuttal, the committee may question any part of the hearing.
The respondent shall present a summary and final statement.
The complainant shall present a summary and final statement.
The committee shall present its decision in a report to the Dean, the complainant and the respondent within ten working days after the hearing is completed. The complete report and evidence submitted shall be stored as records in the office of the Dean.
Section 4.4 Subsequent Procedures
If a complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome of his/ her case at the school level, he/she may appeal to the appropriate university body.
ARTICLE V. AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER
Section 5.1 Amendments
Amendments shall be initiated in one of three ways: 1) by petition containing signatures of at least twenty-five (25%) of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service faculty, 2) by two-thirds vote of the Chairs= Council, and 3) by the Dean.
Section 5.2 Procedures
All proposed amendments shall be received by the Dean and reviewed by the Chairs= Council. Within thirty academic calendar days, the proposed amendment shall be presented in writing to the faculty with a recommendation from the Chairs= Council. Any proposed amendment to the Charter must be presented in writing to the faculty at least fourteen days prior to the mailing of mail ballots to vote on the amendment.
Section 5.3 Ratification
Amendments to this Charter shall be ratified by two-thirds of the faculty casting votes in an election especially called for this purpose. This election shall be administered by mail.
ARTICLE VI. ADOPTION OF CHARTER
Section 6.1 Ratification
This Charter shall be ratified by a simple majority of the faculty casting votes in an election especially called for this purpose. This election shall be administered by mail.
Section 6.2 Distribution
Each member of the faculty shall be given a copy of this Charter. It shall be the responsibility of the Dean to keep the Charter updated. Updated copies of the Charter shall be made available to all members of the faculty at the regular September meeting of the faculty in the academic years following those in which amendments have been added.