School of Public Health Bylaws

Article I. Policy Council

Section 1. Members:

Members of the Policy Council shall be as specified in the Constitution. 

Section 2. Officers:

The Dean shall serve as Chair of the Policy Council. 

Section 3. Function and Powers:

Function and powers shall be as specified in the Constitution. 

Section 4. Election of Policy Council Members:

During the spring semester of each year, each Division shall hold an election to fill the position for any Division faculty representative whose term is expiring at the end of that academic year. The election will be held by secret ballot of the voting faculty of that Division. 

During the spring semester of each year, the School shall hold an election to fill the position for any at-large member whose term is expiring at the end of that academic year. Any member of the voting faculty of the School (as defined in Article III., Section 3.) may nominate any member of the voting faculty as a candidate for an at-large position and all nominating petitions must be signed by five members of the faculty. The election will be held by secret ballot of the voting faculty of the School. The winning candidates should receive a majority of the votes cast, provided a simple majority of voting faculty cast ballots. In the absence of a simple majority, there will be a run-off of the two candidates receiving the most votes in the initial election. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes in the run-off election will be the at-large representative. 

Following the adoption of this Constitution, the outgoing Faculty Consultative Committee shall supervise the election of the at-large faculty members to the new Policy Council. The three candidates receiving the most votes will become the initial at-large faculty representatives. The recipient of the most votes will serve a three-year term, the second highest and the next highest will serve a one-year term. The initial terms of the faculty members elected by the Divisions will be determined by lot, with two three-year terms, two two-year terms, and one one-year term. 

A member of the faculty may not serve more than two consecutive terms as an elected faculty representative to the Policy Council. 

Policy Council members representing the P&A Senate, the Staff Association, the Student Senate and the Educational Policy Committee will be elected annually by the membership of each respective group.

Article II. Assembly and Faculty Meetings

Section 1. School Assembly

Meetings:

Meetings of the School Assembly shall occur at least once each academic year upon the call of the Dean or upon the request of the Policy Council or at least ten members of the Assembly. Meetings will be convened following a ten day written notice. 

Attendance:

School members specified in Article V., Section 3. of the Constitution shall be eligible to attend Assembly meetings. 

Presiding Officer: 

The Dean or a designate of the Dean shall preside at Assembly meetings. 

Agenda:

The agenda for Assembly meetings shall be developed in accordance with Article V., Section 3. and distributed to all members at least five working days in advance of the meetings. The agenda for special meetings shall be distributed to all members with the notice of the meetings. 

Minutes: Minutes of all Assembly meetings shall be kept on file in the Dean's Office. Copies of such minutes shall be distributed to each member and will be available to other members of the School of Public Health through the Division offices.

Section 2. Faculty Meetings

Meetings:

Meetings of the Faculty shall occur at least once each academic semester. Special meetings may be called at the request of at least ten members of the faculty. Meetings will be convened following a ten day written notice.

Attendance and Voting:

Faculty members (as specified in Article III., Section 1. of the Constitution) shall be eligible to attend meetings and have the right of the floor, but only those voting faculty (as specified in Article III., Section 3. of the Constitution) shall be eligible to vote in Faculty meetings.

Presiding Officer:

The Dean of the School or a designate of the Dean shall preside at Faculty meetings.

Agenda:

The agenda for Faculty meetings shall be developed by the Dean in consultation with the Faculty Consultative Committee and be distributed to all faculty at least five working days in advance of the meetings. The agenda for special meetings shall be distributed to all members with the notice of the meetings. 

Minutes:

Minutes of all Faculty meetings shall be kept on file in the Dean's Office. Copies of such minutes shall be distributed to each faculty member.

Article III. Parliamentary Procedure

The most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of all parliamentary situations except as may be otherwise specified in this constitution and Bylaws. In situations where it is deemed appropriate by a Chair or presiding officer, a parliamentarian may be appointed, pro tempore, whose rulings shall be definitive and binding.

Article IV. Committees

Section 1. Standing Committees:

The standing committees of the School shall be: Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee; Faculty Consultative Committee; Educational Policy Committee; Research Committee; Grievance Committee; and Recognition, Awards, and Honors Committee. The Policy Council shall function as a Committee on Committees. It shall be responsible for reviewing the role and function of standing committees. Election/appointment to standing committees will be structured to create overlapping, staggered terms, with approximately one-third of membership changing each year. All terms will be for a period of three years except for the Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee (which shall have terms of two years), Standing committee elections/appointments will take place each spring semester for the following academic year. In the appointment process, an attempt shall be made to create diversity of consideration of factors such as tenure, experience, disciplinary background, and the expertise of committee members. Each committee will elect a Chairperson and may elect other officers as deemed necessary. The responsibility, membership, and means of appointment are defined for each standing committee as follows.

The Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee shall be responsible for the implementation of the provisions of the Academic Faculty Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Policy for the School of Public Health. Membership shall consist of two faculty members from each Division, of which at least one is a full professor, elected by eligible members of that Division. Division Heads are not eligible for membership. Members shall be elected for two-. year terms by secret ballot of voting faculty and may be elected for a maximum of two consecutive terms.

The Faculty Consultative Committee shall be responsible for studying and making recommendations to the faculty regarding matters of concern to the faculty of the School. It shall represent, discuss, and seek action on behalf of the faculty. Members shall consist of faculty members elected to the Policy Council.

The Grievance Committee shall be responsible for hearing grievances brought forth by members of the School of Public Health and shall make recommendations as defined by the University Grievance Policy. Membership shall consist of two faculty members of the School of Public Health, two students, one civil service/bargaining unit staff, and one academic professional and administrative staff, plus three faculty members from outside of the School of Public Health. School of Public Health faculty, staff, and student members shall be elected by their respective groups, and external members will be named by the University Grievance Office. The committee Chair will be an external committee member appointed by the University Grievance Office.

The Research Committee shall be responsible for making recommendations to the Dean regarding distribution of special School research funding. Committee membership shall consist of one faculty member from each Division two students, and one academic professional and administrative staff. Vacancies will be filled through appointment by the Dean upon recommendation of the respective Division, Student Senate President, or P&A Senate Chair.

The Educational Policy Committee shall be responsible for studying and making recommendations to the Policy Council and the Dean regarding modification of or additions to the School of Public Health Educational Policies and education issues of School-wide importance, including but not limited to periodic review of core area education requirements for. the School of Public Health, review and monitoring of existing courses, approval of proposed courses, review of proposed degree programs, and providing a forum for negotiating course requirement issues. The membership shall consist of one faculty member from each cluster of School of Public Health and Graduate School majors plus one student representative. Other significant educational activities may be represented as the Educational Policy Committee shall decide. Vacancies will be filled through appointment by the Dean upon recommendation of the respective major or program directors or Student Senate President.

The Recognition, Awards and Honors Committee shall be responsible for fostering the recognition of outstanding contributions by members of the School community and its alumni, including seeking and reviewing nominations and making recommendations for internal and external awards. Membership shall consist of one faculty member from each Division, one student, one civil service/bargaining unit staff, one academic professional and administrative staff, and a representative of the School of Public Health Alumni Society. Vacancies will be filled through appointment by the Dean upon recommendation of the respective Division Head, or President/Chair of the Student Senate, Staff Association, P&A, Senate, or Alumni Society.

Section 2. Other Standing Committees: 

The Dean, with approval of the Policy Council, is empowered to create other standing committees and appoint members.

Section 3. Special Committees:

Special, ad hoc committees may be created by the Dean, Policy Council, or School Assembly to study and make recommendations on special topics, Special committees shall have a defined charge, appropriate diversity in membership related to the topic and charge, a limited time for operation, and a reporting requirement.

Article V. Amendment of the Bylaws

Section 1.

Proposals for amending these Bylaws of the School of Public Health may be initiated by the Dean, the Policy Council or by at least ten members of the voting faculty, as defined in Article III., Section 3, of the Constitution, Such proposals shall be presented and discussed at meetings of the Faculty, P&A Senate, the Student Senate, Staff Association, and the School Assembly. Following the Assembly meeting at which the proposal(s) is discussed, a mail ballot shall be distributed to each voting faculty member. All ballots received within ten days following distribution shall be counted. Approval by a majority of the voting faculty who vote shall be required for amendment of the Bylaws provided a simple majority of voting faculty (as defined in Article III., Section 3.) cast ballots. Such voting may be held during fall or spring semester, excluding the first ten days following the start of those semesters.

Section 2. Final Adoption:

Proposed amendments to these Bylaws, duly approved and ratified by the voting faculty of the School of Public Health in accord with Section 1. above, shall be submitted to the Senior vice President for Health Sciences for transmission to the President of the University and the Board of Regents. They shall be in effect as of the day following transmission to the Board of Regents.

History

Original Constitution and Bylaws Approved by University of Minnesota Board of Regents, May 1980.

Revised Constitution and Bylaws Reviewed by School of Public Health Faculty, September 16, 1982.

Revised Constitution and Bylaws Approved by University of Minnesota Board of Regents, January, 1983. Revised Constitution and Bylaws Reviewed at School of Public Health Faculty meeting, May 10, 1993.

Revised Constitution and Bylaws Approved and Ratified by School of Public Health Faculty, May 26, 1993.

Revised Constitution and Bylaws, dated June 2, 1995, Approved and Ratified by School of Public Health Faculty, June 12, 1995, Revised Bylaws Reflecting APT Membership Approved and Ratified by School of Public Health Faculty, May 25, 1999

Revised Constitution and Bylaws Updating Titles, Unit Designation and Academic Calendar References, August 20, 1999.