The School committee has completed a draft of the School Bylaws. The next step in the process to approve the Bylaws is to obtain a vote from the members of the School. Please read through the Bylaws below and provide your vote on the next screen. Please vote by the end of the week, May 21.
The School of Psychology, Sociology, and Rural Studies
Bylaws
Mission
The School of Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies is committed to providing a supportive and dynamic teaching and research environment that equips and inspires faculty and students to learn, create, and apply knowledge in psychology, sociology and rural studies. Through teaching, research, service, and outreach, faculty will address challenges faced by the individual, society, and the world.
Vision
The School of Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies will be nationally recognized for its commitment to excellence in teaching and basic and applied research to enhance the well-being of individuals and society.
Core Values
· Excellence in Research
o Conduct research using methods and analyses appropriate to our disciplines
o Contribute to and disseminate knowledge appropriate to our disciplines
· Excellence in Teaching
o Provide curricula and instruction aligned with national standards for disciplines
o Engage students in active learning that stimulates their intellectual curiosity and prepares them for a fulfilling career
· Integrity
o Demonstrate and impart to students an understanding of professional and ethical principles (e.g., American Psychological Association, American Sociological Association, Community Development Society)
o Work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness, and inclusion as well as the principles of academic freedom and free speech
· Diversity and Inclusion
o Create, foster, and embrace inclusive practices in teaching, research, and outreach
o Integrate perspectives of individuals from all backgrounds and with varied social identities
· Engagement and Outreach o Serve as a source of expertise and evidence-based strategies for individuals, communities, and organizations facing challenges
o Encourage faculty and student involvement in activities that enhance the quality of life of the university, professional and other communities.
In order to accomplish this mission and achieve our vision, we have agreed upon the following departmental committees and bylaws. Promoting self-governance and collaborative effort within the School of Psychology, Sociology, and Rural Studies is consistent with the academic and administrative priorities of South Dakota State University. The authority of the School of Psychology, Sociology, and Rural Studies in regard to these bylaws shall be vested in its voting members.
I. Personnel
A. Faculty
a. The School of Psychology, Sociology, and Rural Studies classifies faculty positions into the following categories:
i. Tenure and tenure track professorial rank positions (Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor)
ii. Non-tenure track faculty consisting of full-time non-temporary employees of the department including instructors, lecturers, and senior lecturers.
b. Part-time/temporary faculty are eligible to teach courses and to serve on professional projects or graduate committees. Part-time/temporary faculty are appointed by the director.
c. Affiliated faculty appointments (faculty working for more than one school/department) are made by the Director, in consultation with the Associate Director and faculty. Affiliated faculty are not eligible to serve on standing School committees or to vote on School issues.
d. All faculty with Professorial or Lecturer appointments are eligible to serve on School committees with the exception that only tenured faculty may serve on the School’s Promotion and Tenure Committee.
e. Graduate students (GTA/GRA) may serve as instructors of record and a graduate student representative will report to the school faculty during meetings. Graduate students are not voting members.
f. NFE and Staff members are eligible to attend meetings and serve on appropriate committees, but are not voting members.
B. Graduate Students
a. The Graduate student body consists of all currently enrolled graduate students in the School of Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies.
C. Undergraduate Students
a. The undergraduate student body is comprised of all students in the School of Psychology, Sociology, and Rural Studies who have formally declared majors or minors within the school.
D. School Leadership and Administration
a. Director: Serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the School, is responsive to the faculty of the School, and represents the School to all internal and external constituents.
i. The process for selecting the Director is the same as that used in any other internal or external professorial faculty search with the exception that the chair of the search committee will be appointed by the Dean. The search committee provides candidate strengths and weaknesses to the Dean. The Dean provides a recommendation for hire to the Provost, Provost to the President, and the President will seek SDBOR approval of the hire.
ii. The workload for the Director will be determined in consultation with the Dean.
iii. The annual evaluation of the Director’s performance of assigned duties and responsibilities will be conducted by the Dean.
v. Concerns regarding the Director’s performance should be addressed with the Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
b. Associate Director: Shares administrative responsibilities with the Director depending upon needs, qualifications, experience, and inclinations (with BOR-required exceptions, i.e., hiring).
i. The Associate Director will be appointed by the Director in consultation with the
Dean and faculty. The Associate Director will have a term limit of 3 years. However, the incumbent Associate Director could reapply for the position if interested. All interested permanent full-time faculty and instructor/lecturers are eligible for consideration.
ii. The workload for the Associate Director will be determined in consultation with the Director and the Dean.
iii. The annual evaluation of the Associate Director’s performance of assigned duties and responsibilities will be conducted by the Director using the same process described for the Faculty Annual Review.
c. The Director in consultation with the Associate Director shall appoint a Graduate Program Coordinator from among full-time permanent graduate faculty. The coordinator is responsible for the general administration of the graduate programs including recruiting, admissions, academic counseling and organizing assessment. It is recommended that the GPC receive three workload credits of assigned professional service per academic year for their service; however, the amount of workload credit is negotiated between the faculty member and the Director.
d. The Professional Advisor will advise undergraduate students, including at New Student Orientation. The professional advisor will also work with the Director and Associate Director to coordinate recruitment initiatives and events (workshops).
e. The Director, in consultation with the faculty, will request members to serve as assessment coordinator, major and minor coordinators, advisors to student organizations, liaison to the library, internship coordinator, graduate student advisor, and honors representative, and/or other roles as needed. These appointments will be included in the general service workload within an evaluation period and are negotiated with the Director and the faculty member.
II. Procedures
A. Department Meetings
a. Meeting Frequency and Purposes: The School Director and/or Associate Director shall schedule School meetings at least once per month during the Academic Year. The purposes of these meetings will be: a) to share pertinent information about school, college, and university issues; b) to receive recommendations from school committees and to deliberate upon those issues; c) to take formal actions on committee recommendations; and d) any other purpose deemed appropriate and necessary by the Director. Full-day faculty/staff retreats may also be held usually at the end or beginning of each semester. Additional meetings may be called by the Director or upon the request of two faculty members. School meetings and/or retreats will be held during the nine-month contract period. A special meeting, outside of the contract period, may be called in case of emergency.
b. Quorum and Voting: For purposes of voting, two-thirds of the faculty constitutes a quorum at Department meetings. Proxy votes will be allowed in departmental meetings if a written statement indicating the absent faculty member’s vote has been provided at the meeting. Departmental policy or procedures may also be voted upon electronically providing faculty have 48 hours to review the materials and vote. Voting will occur either through vocal record or upon paper ballot via request. Consensus decision making will be made whenever possible; voting will occur when consensus cannot be reached or for official record.
i. The Director votes only when required to break a tie. In his or her primarily administrative role, the Associate Director is also ineligible to vote unless filling in for the Director in her/her absence and needing to do so to break a tie.
c. Agenda and Meeting Notification: All faculty members will be notified of departmental meetings and an agenda will be provided at least 48 hours in advance. The Associate Director will take the minutes for the meetings. Minutes from each meeting will be made available to departmental members within four working days of the meeting.
i. Affiliated faculty will be notified of faculty meeting dates and are welcome to attend but are not required to do so.
d. Approval of Minutes: Minutes from the previous meeting shall be approved at the next department meeting after any corrections are made.
B. Departmental Committees
a. The Department Tenure and Promotion (T&P) Committee shall consist of all tenured faculty necessary to ensure balanced representation across programs where possible.
i. The Chair of the Committee must be a tenured professor in the school. The chair will be elected by the committee in years where reviews are required. The tenured faculty member receiving the most votes by the committee will be elected Chair of the Tenure and Promotion Committee.
ii. The Tenure and Promotion Committee will identify which members (no less than 3) who will review all departmental materials submitted by applicants for tenure and/or promotion, including external review letters, and forward its recommendation to the Director. Members who reviewed candidates will vote on applications for tenure and promotion to Associate Professor, but only full professors will vote on applications for promotion to Full Professor. The Tenure and Promotion Committee’s recommendation will become a part of the application and will be included in the packet when it is forwarded to the Director. The Committee review will occur as soon as the set of materials is available and prior to the Director’s review and recommendation.
iv. The recommendation of the Tenure and Promotion Committee will be a source of information for the Director, but the Director will not be bound to its recommendation.
v. The Tenure and Promotion Committee will also serve as the committee that evaluates Third Year Review Dossiers and promotion for term-contract.
b. Membership on All Other School Committees shall consist of at least two School faculty, up to two students if available and appropriate, and staff as appropriate. Faculty members normally volunteer for those committees in which they are most interested; the Director may also appoint faculty members to committees. Committee chairs shall be elected by the Committee.
c. School Committee Assignments for the Academic year will be made in the School meeting at the beginning of the academic year as able, and throughout the year as needed.
i. The School shall constitute an Equity and Policy committee consisting of at least one faculty from all programs to address needed changes in the bylaws and standards documents, add to department procedures documents, workload, and address changes in the University and College policy in regard to how they impact School policy.
ii. Ad-hoc committees may be set up at any time to address the needs of the department: 1. Search Committees are charged with the task of making recommendations to fill department positions and will consist of at least three faculty members.
2. Every seven years the School will designate a Self-Study Review Committee to develop the report for external review (IPR) for each program.
3. Additional committees shall be formed in response to University, College or School needs.
C. University/College committees
a. General Service expectations at the College and University levels for tenure-track faculty are focused and intentional and appropriate for rank (one or two activities), and at a level that does not supersede a probationary faculty member’s assigned teaching and research responsibilities.
b. Faculty Senate: Eligible school members interested in serving may put their name forward for election by the College faculty.
c. College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Academic Council: The School will elect two members from two different programs to serve for a three-year term. Faculty may be elected for a second term but may not serve more than two consecutive terms.
D. Amending the Bylaws
a. The Director or any other faculty member with voting privileges may propose an amendment to the Bylaws. The proposed change must be available to faculty for discussion at a faculty meeting at least two weeks prior to the meeting. Changes in Bylaws require 2/3 of the faculty to approve them. Any faculty member can request secret or the use of electronic ballots when amending the Bylaws.
To provide your vote, click on the Continue button below.
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