Dedman College Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF DEDMAN COLLEGE
SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY (PDF)

Article I.          Purpose and Mission of the College

           

A.   The purpose of Dedman College is to foster the communication, interpretation, and enhancement of knowledge of the humanities, the social sciences, and the mathematical and natural sciences through the education of its students and through the scholarly and creative work of its faculty.

 

B.    The mission of the College is:

 

1.     to offer undergraduate programs which provide students with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives to function in an increasingly complex and interrelated global society and which promote the fullest realization of the graduates’ public and private lives.  The programs of the college should:

 

a.     develop skills of critical thinking and communication, both verbal and analytical; communication both verbal and analytical

b.     nurture social awareness and ethical sensibilities; and

c.     provide the foundations of knowledge that will engender lifelong learning.

 

2.     to provide an educational experience that encourages the integration of liberal and vocational studies as an essential basis for the undergraduate degrees of the professional schools of the University.

 

3.     to offer selected graduate programs in the humanities, the social sciences, and the mathematical and natural sciences which will prepare post-baccalaureate students to become professionals in their chosen fields of study and which will enhance the reputation of the University as an institution of higher education and research.

 

Article II.        Powers and Responsibilities of the Faculty of Dedman College       

 

A.   Through its Faculty Council the faculty shall establish and maintain general    policies and procedures for the conduct of the educational work of the College.  These shall include:

                                                                                                   

1.     The nature of the degrees to be conferred, including (a) the disciplines and interdisciplinary areas which may offer degrees, (b) the kinds of degrees to be offered, and (c) the general requirements for each kind of degree;

 

2.   The requirements for graduation;

 

3.   The criteria for awards of fellowships, scholarships, and prizes    within the College;

 

4.   The policies and procedures regarding faculty recruitment and compensation, contract renewal, granting of tenure and promotion, and the awarding of faculty leaves;

 

5.   The procedures for evaluating students, faculty, and administrators.

 

B.   Through its Undergraduate Council and Graduate Council the faculty shall prescribe:

 

1.     The requirements for admission, in conjunction with faculty members of the other undergraduate schools;

 

2.     The courses and programs of study;

 

3.     The policies for approving individual student petitions.

 

C.   Actions taken on its behalf by the Faculty Council, the Undergraduate Council, and the Graduate Council shall be subject to the review of the faculty upon request of at least thirty percent of the enfranchised faculty, and may be rescinded or revised by a majority of at least sixty percent of those voting within the time specified on a mail ballot submitted to the enfranchised faculty.

 

Article III.       The Organization of the Faculty.

 

A.   The faculty of the College is subdivided into departmental faculties, each responsible for major requirements in an academic discipline or for interdisciplinary degree programs in related fields.

 

B.   The academic departments are grouped into divisions:

 

I. the humanities,  II.  the social and behavioral sciences, and

III. the mathematical and natural sciences.  The departments comprising the divisions are identified in the Bylaws of the College.

 

Article IV.       The Governance Structure.

 

A.   The Dean of Dedman College.

 

1.     The Dean of the College is appointed annually by the Provost and the President of the University.

 

2.     The Dean is responsible to the Provost and, through that office, to the President and the Board of Trustees.  The Dean is also responsible for ascertaining and implementing the will of the faculty in those matters delegated to the faculty by the Bylaws of the University and the Constitution and Bylaws of Dedman College.  The primary responsibilities of the Dean are:

a.     to lead the College in establishing academic goals and in setting appropriate policies and procedures to effect them;

b.     to provide for effective communication on behalf of the College

c.     to administer the policies and assets of the College and to prepare an annual budget in consultation with the Faculty Council regarding major budgetary policies;

d.     to organize and supervise an office which performs these related functions.

 

B.  The Academic Departments of Dedman College

 

1.     The faculty members of each academic department are responsible for the conduct and supervision of studies leading to degrees authorized for their disciplines, for advancing knowledge within their disciplines through research and publication, and for creative work appropriate to their disciplines.

 

2.   The department chair is appointed by the Dean with the approval of      

the Provost, after formal consultation with members of the faculty of     the department.  The appointment is for a term not exceeding four years.  The chair is eligible for reappointment, customarily to serve only one additional term, following the same procedures as for initial appointment.

a.   The chair is charged with the administration of the department and its assets and is responsible to the Dean and, through the Dean, to the Provost, President and Board of Trustees for the exercise of the administrative authority delegated by them.

b.   The chair is also charged with the educational leadership of the department and is responsible for ascertaining and implementing the will of its faculty members in those matters delegated to the department by the Bylaws of the University and the Constitution and Bylaws of Dedman College.  In leading the department, the chair abides by procedures established by the departmental faculty.

 

C.    The Faculty Council.

 

The Faculty Council is the executive committee of the College.  In addition to exercising the powers delegated to it by the faculty in accordance with Article II.A of this Constitution, the Council is charged with the following duties:

 

1.     Determining the policies regulating the methods of work of the departments and other subdivisions of the College.

 

2.     Advising the Dean on major budgetary policies and other policies affecting the College.

 

3.     Advising the Dean in academic planning for the College.

 

4.     Advising the Dean on the award of faculty leaves.

 

5.     When appropriate, acting as a Committee on Committees in preparing slates of nominees for other College elective councils and representative bodies.

           

D.   The Undergraduate and Graduate Councils.

 

In addition to exercising the powers delegated to them by the faculty in accordance with Article II.B of this Constitution, the Councils are charged with the responsibility of representing the College in consulting with other schools within or beyond the University in curricular matters of mutual interest which fall within the purview of the College.

 

E.    The Advisory Committee for Promotion to the Rank of Professor.

 

Faculty representatives elected from the three divisions and a faculty member from another school appointed by the Dean are responsible for advising the Dean on promotion of faculty members to the rank of Professor.

 

F.    The Divisional Advisory Committees for Tenure and Promotion.

 

Three advisory committees, one for each division, comprised of elected faculty representatives from each department within the division, a faculty member form another division appointed by the Dean, and a faculty member from another school appointed by the Dean, are responsible for advising the Dean on the award of tenure and promotion to the rank of Associate Professor in their respective divisions.

 

G.   The Council on General Education.

 

Comprised of representatives from Dedman College as well as other schools of the University, the Council is responsible for establishing and overseeing the curriculum in general education (Common Educational Experience) required of undergraduate students of the University.

 

Article V.    Nominations and Elections.

 

In the College, all professors, associate professors, assistant professors, and lecturers enfranchised by the Bylaws of the University have suffrage.  Eligibility for election to the councils, committees, and administrative posts of the College and procedures for nominations and elections are as specified in the Bylaws of the College.

 

Article VI.   Amendments.

 

An amendment to the Constitution may be proposed by a sixty percent majority of any of the three councils or by at least thirty percent of the enfranchised faculty.  The proposed amendment shall be discussed at a meeting of the faculty, after which a mail ballot shall be sent to all enfranchised members of the faculty.  An affirmative vote by at least sixty percent of those voting within the time specified on the mail ballot shall be required for adoption of an amendment.

 

Article VII.  Bylaws.

           

The faculty may adopt appropriate bylaws that are in accordance with this     Constitution.

 

Article VIII.  Ratification.

 

This Constitution and accompanying Bylaws shall become effective when approved by at least sixty percent of the enfranchised faculty who vote within the time specified on a mail ballot of ratification.