CONSTITUTION

Preamble

The purposes of the School of Fine Arts of the University of Minnesota, Duluth are to offer a comprehensive education in the visual and performing arts, and to serve as a cultural center for the region. The school believes that undergraduate and graduate study and research, in addition to performance or other creative expressions in the arts, are among the most significant and productive forms of higher education. The school adopts this constitution to facilitate the achievement of these goals. This constitution is not part of the employment contract between the University and its employees. It does not establish terms and conditions of employment.

ARTICLE I. General Powers

Section 1. Distribution of Powers

The school shall exercise all the powers and rights granted it by the policies of the Board of Regents in accordance with the constitution of the Duluth Campus Assembly, and such collective bargaining agreements as shall be approved by the Regents, and subject to subsequent modification by the Boards of Regents, committed to the dean, the school senate, and the school faculty and staff.

ARTICLE II. Dean of the School

Section 1. Position and Authority

The dean, as chief executive officer of the school, shall have general administrative authority over school affairs. The dean shall be responsible for formulating policies and introducing discussions leading to the improvement of the educational programs of the school. The dean is responsible for continuous review of departments and programs within the school. He/she shall instruct the individual departments and programs to conduct a review of their mission, objectives and activities not less than once every five years. The dean shall summarize these reviews and report them to the chancellor.

The dean, as chief executive officer of the school, shall have authority to make recommendations to the chancellor or designee on all faculty appointments, promotions, tenure, and salary adjustments. The dean shall be accountable for the expenditure of funds and shall be responsible for the preparation and presentation of budget recommendations to the chancellor or designee. The dean shall consult with the school senate concerning substantive matters that affect the school as a whole.

Section 2. Selection and Appointment of the Dean

The chancellor or designee, as the president's agent, shall appoint the search committee for the dean. The search committee shall consist of tenured faculty from the school as well as representatives from academic administrative and professional staff, civil service staff, and the school student body. The committee may also include representatives from faculty outside the school and individuals from the community. The school senate shall recommend to the chancellor or designee a slate of nominees to be considered from the school faculty, staff, and student body. The chancellor or designee shall appoint the committee and a chairperson.

Search procedures will be consistent with current University policies and EO/AA guidelines The dean shall be appointed by the Board of Regents upon the recommendation of the chancellor or the chancellor's designee for an initial fixed term of three years (J appointment). In the third year of the initial appointment, the chancellor or the chancellor's designee shall appoint a committee to conduct a major review of the dean. Subsequent appointments for the incumbent dean shall be annual and renewable (K), based each year on a performance evaluation carried out in accordance with University policy. Every five years this annual review will take the form of a major review to be carried out by a committee appointed by the chancellor.

ARTICLE III. Constituencies of the School

Section 1. Faculty

Faculty are individuals with the rank of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor, or Regents professor who have at least sixty-seven percent appointments within a department or unit in the school (including members on leave or phased retirement), the dean, and associate dean. Other individuals who teach in the school (faculty at percentages below sixty-seven percent and academic professionals [teaching specialists and lecturers]) may be granted the right to participate and vote in the school senate upon petition to the senate.

Section 2. Academic Administrative

Academic administrative staff are those in the 93XX appointment series, e.g., departmental director, coordinator, with appointments of seventy-five percent or more.

Section 3. Civil Service

Civil service staff are support staff, both bargaining and non-bargaining unit, who hold appointments of seventy-five percent or more.

Section 4. Students

Students are declared academic majors within the school, enrolled in at least 12 credits, or students registered in graduate programs whose study fields are within the school.

ARTICLE IV. School of Fine Arts Senate

Section 1. Membership

The senate shall be composed of the president of the University of Minnesota, the chancellor of the University of Minnesota, Duluth, the dean of the School of Fine Arts and all faculty members (as defined in Article III) of the School of Fine Arts who hold at least a sixty-seven percent time appointment, one representative from the civil service staff holding at least a seventy-five percent time appointment, one representative from the academic administrative staff, one teaching assistant representative for each recurring full-time equivalent teaching assistant position, and a number of students equal to twenty-five percent, or major portion thereof, of the total senate faculty membership. Students must be full-time, declared academic majors in degree programs within the School of Fine Arts.

Section 2. Voting Rights

All senate members, as so defined, shall have full voting rights with exceptions as cited in the Bylaws.

Section 3. Powers in General

The School of Fine Arts senate shall exercise advisory authority over educational policies and standards pertaining to the school as a whole.

The senate shall:

a. Recommend bylaws for the implementation of this constitution.

b. Discuss and make recommendations involving the educational policies of the school. Such policies shall include, but are not limited to: admission to degree candidacy, scholastic standing, curricula, instruction, grading, degrees, degree requirements, assessment, enrollment management, and honors and awards.

c. Recommend committees as deemed necessary to facilitate the performance of its responsibilities.

d. Receive and discuss reports or recommendations submitted by the school committees, or request such reports or recommendations on any matter affecting educational policy.

These powers shall be exercised only within the framework of general policies established by the Regents and the constitution of the UMD Campus Assembly, as consistent with the collective bargaining agreement.

Section 4. Election of Student, Civil Service and Academic Professional Representatives.

a. Student - Student elections will be administered by the UMD Student Association in the spring. Vacancies after the election shall be filled by the Student Affairs and Appeals Committee. Terms are for one year.

b. Civil Service - All eligible civil service employees shall vote for their representative. The method of election shall be recommended to the dean by the Administrative Committee of the school. Terms are for two years.

b. Academic Administrative - All eligible academic administrative staff shall vote for their representative. The method of election shall be recommended to the dean by the Administrative Committee of the school. Terms are for two years.

Section 5. Senate Officers

a. Chairperson - The dean shall be chairperson of the senate. In the absence of the dean, the associate dean shall preside at the senate meeting.

c. Clerk - A clerk shall be appointed by the dean and shall record the minutes of all meetings and maintain a roster of senate members. The clerk need not be a member of the senate.

Section 6. Meetings, Call, Quorum

At least one regular meeting shall be held each academic year. Other meetings may be called at the request of the dean or by a written request to the dean from any school standing committee or any five or more members of the senate. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of senate membership.

ARTICLE V. Department and Other Units

Section 1. Organizational Units

The academic Departments of Art, Music, and Theatre shall be the basic organizational units of the school. In addition to the existing non-degree-granting units of Glensheen and the Tweed Museum of Art, other units relevant to the educational mission of the school may be established. Each department or unit may adopt a written constitution which shall become effective upon approval by the dean.

Section 2. Membership

A department or other unit shall consist of a head or director and all faculty and staff as defined in Article III, including individuals on joint appointments of at least two-thirds time in the department.

Section 3. Student Representation

Each department and organizational unit shall include, if appropriate, at least one student with voting rights. The number of student representatives shall be determined by the department or unit faculty.

Section 4. Meetings

Each department or unit shall hold regular meetings for the consideration of matters concerning department or school policy, personnel, or curricula. Special meetings may be called by the department head or director. Minutes shall be kept, distributed to, and approved by members of the department and forwarded to the dean.

Section 5. Consultation on Budget and Rank

Recommendations on matters regarding department budgets shall be made to the dean by the department head or director after consultation with members of the department or unit concerned. Recommendations by heads or directors concerning appointment, promotion, tenure, or termination of individual faculty members shall be made to the dean. Those procedures prescribed by University regulations concerning faculty appointment and tenure will be carefully followed. The head or director shall make recommendations to the dean on salary adjustments.

Section 6. Department Heads and Directors

Search procedures for department heads and directors will be consistent with current University policies and EO/AA guidelines.

Department heads and unit directors shall be appointed for specified terms of up to five years and shall be eligible for additional terms.

Department heads will be reviewed at the beginning of the last year of term (or earlier if the dean feels it is appropriate) to evaluate his/her status, progress, and effectiveness. Directors will be reviewed in accordance with established non-reappointment notice dates to evaluate his/her status, progress, and effectiveness. The review committees shall be composed primarily of members of the department or unit and school and shall submit the results of the review to the dean.

ARTICLE VI. Representation to Campus Assembly

Section 1. Eligibility

a. Faculty representation will be as specified in the Campus Assembly constitution as it applies to the School of Fine Arts.

b. Student representation will be as specified in the Campus Assembly constitution as it applies to the School of Fine Arts.

Section 2. Nominating Procedures

All eligible faculty within the School of Fine Arts as determined by the Campus Assembly constitution will appear on a roster.

Section 3. Method of Election

A nominating committee, composed of members currently serving on Campus Assembly committees, will propose a slate of three candidates for each committee opening.

Election of faculty representatives will be determined by secret ballot. Selection will be determined by the ranking of all ballots cast. The SFA dean's office will be responsible for the administration of elections.

ARTICLE VII. Amendments, Bylaws,

Interpretation, Implementation

Section 1. Amendments

Amendments may be proposed by standing committees in the school or by petition of any ten members of the senate. The proposal must be submitted in writing to the dean for inclusion as information only on the agenda of the next meeting of the senate. The proposal may then be presented for action at the next meeting. A two-thirds majority of all voting members of the school is required for passage. Amendments to the constitution are implemented upon approval of the senate.

Section 2. Bylaws

A change in the bylaws may be proposed by any voting member of the school. The proposal must be submitted to the dean in writing for inclusion as information only on the agenda of the next meeting of the senate. The proposal may then be presented for action at the following meeting. A simple majority of all voting members of the school is required for passage.

Section 3. Interpretation

Final authority to interpret this constitution shall reside in a special constitution review committee, if necessary, as outlined in Article II, Section 3 of the bylaws.

Section 4. Implementation

This constitution shall become effective immediately after its adoption by the members of the senate and its approval by the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. All committees, provisions, rules and regulations in existence at the time this constitution becomes effective, and not in violation of its provisions, shall continue until modified in accordance with provisions and procedures established herein.

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I. Assembly Rules of Order

Section 1. Rules of Order

Unless otherwise specified in the constitution or bylaws, or by special action of the senate, Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, shall be followed.

ARTICLE II. Committees of the School

Section 1. Standing Committees

The School of Fine Arts shall have standing committees as designated in these bylaws. These committees shall consist of voting faculty members, students who are majors for degrees offered by the school, academic administrative staff, and civil service staff. Standing committees shall have one or more faculty member from each department. A slate of appointees shall be developed by the dean after consultation with the Administrative Committee. Student members shall be appointed by the dean upon recommendations of the department heads. Appointments to committees are for one year and are renewable.

This slate of appointees with a designated chairperson shall be presented by the dean for confirmation by the senate of the school during the fall quarter. Additional nominations may be made from the floor.

All committees shall submit at least one written report to the dean annually. The dean shall be an ex officio member of all standing committees. The membership and the functions of the standing committees shall be as follows:

Administrative:

The committee shall consist of the dean as chairperson, the assistant and/or associate dean(s), the department heads, and directors of organizational units, and the administrative director of the school. It shall advise the dean on matters of policy and administration of the school, and serve as a liaison between the dean and the constituent units of the school.

Curriculum:

The committee shall consist of the associate dean as chairperson, four or more faculty and staff and two students. It shall review and make recommendations on curriculum proposals and other curricular matters. A representative from one of the graduate programs in the School of Fine Arts to the Graduate Faculty Committee shall serve as an ex officio member of the curriculum committee.

Student Affairs and Appeals:

The committee shall consist of three or more faculty and staff and three students. The committee shall serve as a liaison between the administration and the student body of the school; supervise the appointment of the fine arts students to the School of Fine Arts Senate, and other organizations requiring student representation from the school except those elections and election procedures reserved to the authority of the Student Association as stated in the UMD Constitution; hear and attempt to mediate student-initiated academic grievances between student and faculty member that cannot be resolved informally; and review and make recommendations on all SFA petitions.

Section 2. Administrative Advisory Committees

The dean may appoint advisory and ad hoc committees as is deemed necessary. These committees shall report their findings directly to the dean.

Section 3. School of Fine Arts Senate Committees

The School of Fine Arts Senate may establish special committees as it deems necessary.